Turkish food: Menemen

I found this recipe in a recipe binder at my house, so I don't know where it's originally from. It is a Turkish street food, and it tastes great! Changes I made: I used chilli powder instead of the fresh red chilli. I also used fresh tomatoes instead of the canned tomatoes.

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
2 red onions, cut in half length ways and sliced along the grain
1 red or green (bell) pepper, halved length ways, seeded and sliced
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1-2 tsp Turkish red pepper, or 1 fresh red chilli, seeded and sliced
1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes
1-2 tsp sugar
4 eggs
salt and ground pepper

Serves 4

Instructions
1. Heat the oil and butter in a pan. Stir in the onions, sliced pepper, garlic and Turkish red pepper or chilli and cook until they begin to soften.
2. Add the tomatoes and sugar and mix them in well. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Crack the eggs over top of the tomato mixture, cover the pan and cook until the eggs are just done.
4. Top with parsley and serve.

Chicken Fried Rice

I found this rice recipe here.  My family always orders Chinese food for special events so I thought I'd try to make some just because.  The rice was a big hit, and enjoyed by everyone.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cold cooked rice
• 8 ounces cooked chicken (or substitute cooked turkey, etc.), chopped
• 2 eggs (more if desired)
• 1/2 cup green peas
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 green onion, diced
• Seasonings (add according to taste):
• Light Soy Sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Salt
• Pepper
• Oil for stir-frying, as needed

Preparation:

Beat the eggs lightly with chopsticks, add a dash of salt (Add a bit of oyster sauce if desired).

Chop the chicken meat and dice the onion and green onion. 
Heat wok and add oil. When oil is ready, pour 1/2 of the egg mixture into the wok and cook over medium heat, turning over once.  Cook the other half the same way.  Cut the egg into thin strips, and save for later.

Stir-fry the onion on high heat for a few moments, remove and set aside. Do the same for the green peas.

Add oil, turn down the heat to medium and stir-fry the rice.  Add the soy sauce, salt, pepper and oyster sauce.  Add the chicken, onion and green peas and combine thoroughly. Serve chicken fried rice with the strips of egg on top and the green onion as a garnish. (Alternately, you can mix the green onion and egg in with the other ingredients).

No changes

Oliebollen (dutch donuts)

Oliebollen has been made in our Dutch family for years- my oma makes it all the time. Unfortunately I couldn't find the original recipe so I found another here.

Ingredients:

• 1 (0.6 ounce) cake compressed fresh yeast
• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup dried currants
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1 granny smith apple- peeled, cored, and finely chopped.
• 1 quart vegetable oil for deep-frying

Instructions:

1. Break up the compressed yeast, and stir into the warm milk. Let stand for a few minutes to dissolve. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Stir the yeast mixture and egg into the flour and mix into a smooth batter. Stir in the currants, raisins and apple. Cover the bowl, and leave the batter in a warm place to rise until double in size. This will take about 1 hour.
2. Heat the oil in a deep-fryer, or heavy deep pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Use 2 metal spoons to shape scoops of dough into balls, and drop them carefully into the hot oil.
3. Fry the balls until golden brown, about 8 minutes. The doughnuts should be soft and not greasy. If the oil is not hot enough, the outside will be tough and the insides greasy. Drain finished doughnuts on paper towels. Serve hot if possible. Serve with confectioners' sugar.

Changes:

I didn't change anything. Although this was a different recipe then usual it happened to turn out real good! :)

Mexican Casserole

Mexican Casserole

1 pound lean ground beef

2 cups salsa

1 can chili beans, drained

3 cups tortilla shells, crushed

2 cups sour cream

1 can slices black olives, drained

1/2 chopped green onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Stir in salsa, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed. Stir in beans, and heat through.
3. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread crushed tortilla chips in dish, and then spoon beef mixture over chips. Spread sour cream over beef, and sprinkle olives, green onion, and tomato over the sour cream. Top with Cheddar cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Choodles

I am so proud because last night I made choodles, a family recipe from the dutch side, and for the first time I didn't burn them and they were extra fluffy!! : )

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup cocoa

1 1/4 cup butter
2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Directions: Preheat the oven to 300 F. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Next, mix both bowl together (if not opposed it's messy but easiest with hands). Take a small amount of dough and roll into a ball then roll in a bowl of sugar. Note: this bowl of sugar is not considered part of the ingredients, you must grab more sugar.  Place balls on a pan and then put into the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Changes: The only changes I can think of are to roll the dough balls into bigger or smaller pieces depending on preference. My personal changes were that these were the best ones I have made so far. Although after making them I remembered I don't like cookies that much.

Alfredo Pasta

Alfredo Sauce

1/4 cup butter

1 cup heavy cream

1 clove garlic

1 1/2 cups grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add cream and simmer for 5 minutes, then add garlic and cheese and whisk quickly, heating through. Stir in parsley and serve.

For this meal, I used bowtie noodles and added chicken, but you can use any type of pasta and add shrimp as well 

Orange Sorbet Smoothie

When I arrived home this evening I looked for beverage recipes and couldn't find any that seemed interesting. Alas I simply threw in delicious ingredients for an ice cream smoothie. I would have a lovely picture but I forgot and drank it all. I confess I usually do not share my cooking.

Ingredients:
orange sorbet ice cream
around 2 Tbs of milk
1 cup of water
4 Tbs of vanilla yogurt
1/2 a banana (optional)

Directions: This is not complicated. Simply place each ingredient in any order into a blender then blend together.

Changes: I can't say I changed anything because it was delicious but after tasting it I added some banana too, which may taste better with vanilla ice cream but it was alright nonetheless  With a more bland vanilla it can also be complimented nicely with more fruits such as an orange or an apple. If Ice cream is a big no-no I suggest using vanilla extract, ice cubes and more yogurt.