Italian Chili

I have to admit it – I don’t like chili very much.  However, this recipe, enhanced with spicy Italian sausage and corn, is pretty good, esp. with a dollop of sour cream on top. Ingredients Part 1: The Beans 2 c Peruano (a,k.a. Peruvian or Mayocoba) white beans 1/2 onion whole 2 garlic cloves, whole…

Jalisco Red Pork Pozole

Pozole is a holiday mainstay for Mexicans, especially those from the state of Jalisco. Pozole is like a Mexican version of chili, with pork instead of beef, and hominy instead of beans. And it’s pretty delicious. Note that you can’t complete this meal in the 8qt InsantPot, we cook the meat (Ingredients 1 below) and…

My Favorite Bourbons

Since moving to Tennessee, I’ve moved from being a Bourbon n00b to someone who loves to sip the delicious ones. There is a huge difference between common popular swill like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s to those in this list. And it’s not about price, but taste. And of course, we all have our own…

Bourbon Beef Stroganoff (InstantPot)

I have searched for a creamy stroganoff that didn’t suck. Here it is. Ingredients 2 lbs sirloin tips (you can buy steaks and cut them up) 1 medium onion,  chopped 3 T olive oil 2 T butter 8 oz sliced mushrooms 3-4 ounces Bourbon (1-2 shots) 3 cloves crushed garlic 3 T flour or corn…

New York Cheesecake (InstantPot)

This recipe is actually a direct adaptation of the perfect recipe in The Joy of Cooking (75th Anniversary Edition). For an 8qt InstantPot, you’ll need to get an 8 inch springform pan. Ingredients Part 1: Crust 10 graham crackers (one package) 8 T (1 stick) salted butter 3 T brown sugar parchment paper Part 2: Cheesecake…

Creamy Spicy Chicken

Normally I totally avoid recipes that call for a can of cream of mushroom soup. But this one is too good to ignore. Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded (you can use the ones from Papi’s Chicken Broth) 1 Medium onion,  Cut in half and sliced 5 Dried árbol chili peppers 2 cans cream of…

Esme’s Chicken Salad

We love this for lunch and after-school snacks. Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped (you can use the ones from Papi’s Chicken Broth) 3 sticks of celery, chopped 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped 2/3 cups of mayonnaise 2 t Dijon mustard 1/2 t black pepper 1 T kosher pickle juice Instructions Combine all ingredients in…

Papi’s Chicken Broth

Chicken broth is a staple ingredient in many dishes, but is also a favorite around our house just as a hot beverage. I (“Papi”) have learned from my wife and tweaked this to fit my taste. It’s generic, but never fails. Ingredients 5 chicken breasts (skinless boneless, but you can use regular ones for more…

Authentic Guacamole

There are, of course, a few variations on guacamole, but most boil down to (1) do you add tomatoes or not, (2) how finely do you mash the avocado, and (3) what type of chile do you use (jalapeño or serrano).  Here’s our preference. I figure you know what guac looks like, so I chose…

Maggi and Lemon Salad Dressing

Want a really delicious alternative to vinaigrette dressing that’s not as tart but still healthy? My wife makes this it is awesome. Ingredients 1/2 c   fresh lemon juice 1/2 c   extra Virgin Olive oil 1/4 c   Maggi seasoning sauce                spice to taste (black pepper, parsley, oregano) Notes Don’t…