What's Cooking Resurrected in 2012!

"Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans."

No idea who said that but it rings true. After disbanding What's Cooking New Mexico on 770 KKOB I never thought I'd get another food show opportunity but guess what! I did!

KALB News Channel 5 has asked me to be a repeat guest on their news show, "Jambalaya" on Thursday mornings. Not only do I get to cook... I get to do it on TV!

So the blog continues... with a new name of course.

I'm pleased to announce, "What's Cooking LA" will continue!

Blog in for new recipes and good food.

The fun continues!

M.

Crab Bites

20 Mushrooms, big enough to stuff, cleaned with stems removed. *Should have a hollowed out spot for filling.
1 lb thick cut peppered bacon cut in half.
8 oz (1 brick) cream cheese
1 can of crab meat, drained.
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1 fresh jalapeno, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
toothpicks

Mix cream cheese, cheddar, jalapeno, garlic and crab. Fill mushrooms with a teaspoon filling. Wrap with 1 half strip of bacon and secure with toothpick.

Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes, turning once to crisp bacon.
Serve hot or room temperature (if they make it that long).

Simply Pancakes & Blueberry Syrup

When I ask my kids what they want for dinner I usually get one of two answers. Pizza or Pancakes! With two boys (3 and 5) its easy to get burnt out on pizza so I happily comply with the pancake request. If you're buying pancake mix, stop. Waste of money and flavor. Try these and see what you think. Jimmy's Cafe in Albuquerque NM set the bar very high for pancakes but these are close.

2 eggs
1/4 cup and butter, melted
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 t. salt

Mix all but 1 T butter until smooth. Batter should be thick enough to not run and runny enough to form a circle easily.

Melt remaining butter in skillet or griddle. Medium heat. Pour batter in pan in half dollar to baseball size puddles. Allow to cook until bubbles form in middle. Flip until other side is golden rown too. Serve hot with Homemade Blueberry Syrup.


Blueberry Syrup (Any berries actually)

1 cup berries, washed and destemmed.
1 cup brown sugar
1 t. vanilla
1/2 cup water

Bring all ingedients to a boil. Turn heat to medium and allow to cook down until syrup is desired thickness. Usually about 5-7 minutes.

Jalapeno Potato Salad- Not Your Mama's Potato Salad!

Jalapeno Potato Salad

I prefer easy sides. Quick without much effort so I can give the main attraction my full attention. This cold potato salad doesn't disappoint as its high on flavor and low on effort.

Serves 6

5 large red potatoes
4 T mayonaise
2 T sour cream
1 large jalapeno -diced
1 medium red onion or 1 t. onion powder (PersonallyI like the fresh onionbut the hubby does not)
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. cracked pepper

Cut spuds into large chunks. 1 inch pieces work well. Leave skins on! Boil for 20 min. Submerge in ice bath or cold water. Drain. Chill in fridge while you assemble the wet ingredients.

Mix mayo, sour cream and all spices. Mix well. Add to potatoes. Toss together until coated. Refrigerate and serve chilled. Goes great with BBQ!

Joshua Droddy's Award Winning Apple Dumplings

This is the winning submission from the NM International Auto Show Recipe Contest with Chef Fabio. They are truly fantastic!

Apple Dumplings

2 large granny smith apples, peeled and cored
2 10oz cans of crescent roll dough
1 cup butter
1 ½ cups of white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 can/bottle (12oz) Mountain Dew soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge into a triangle starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place on baking dish.

Melt butter in small saucepan. Add cinnamon and sugar until dissolved. Pour over dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew over entire mixture and bake for 35-45 minutes.

Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Grilled Pineapple Dessert

This recipe is simple and delicious! I recommend a fresh pineapple but canned will do in a pinch. Don't forget the vanilla ice cream!

1 fresh pineapple (cored and shaved)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Your grill should be hot and clean. Oil just before putting pineapple slices on.

Pineapple should be sliced into flat slices. I prefer it cored but it's up to you. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves in shallow bowl. Dredge wedges in sugar mixture. Coat both sides. Save remaining mixture and head outside!

Drop individual slices on hot grill. Space them so there is no overlapping. The sugars will carmelize and burn off a little. Stick around and watch for flare ups. Flip after 4-5 minutes and carmelize the top side.

Once flipped sprinkle a little more of the sugar mix on the top. Once both sides are carmelized they are done!

Serve hot with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

Pig Wings with Chipotle Honey Glaze

Since I so whole heartedly raved about the Pig Wings at the now closed Independence Grill I thought I owed the readers a surrogate recipe. This sauce is close. When I had the original Pig Wings they were pork ribs with the meat cleaned off one side of the bone, deep fried in a light batter and then lightly glazed with this delicious sauce.

Honey-Chipotle Sauce

1/2 C. honey
1/2 C. soy sauce
1 t. black pepper
1/4 C. chipotle chilies, canned in adobo sauce
1/4 C. lime juice
1/2 C. olive oil
2 lbs. chicken tenders or sliced chicken breasts
12 10-inch wooden skewers, soaked in water
salt to taste

Combine honey, soy sauce, black pepper, chipotle chilies and lime juice in blender; process until emulsified. Add salt to taste.