All Food Posts

Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

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I prepared this soup on February 16th, the day of the Chinese new year and the beginning of the year of the dog.
I had planned to prepare and publish this post well before the 16th, in order to give my readers a chance to bring this wonderful, traditional dish to the table as part of the new year’s dinner celebration. Alas, some unforeseen events kept me from doing so. Now then, here it is, “Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup, two weeks late for the New Year celebration, but NOT TOO late, since these wonderful dumplings can, of course, be enjoyed anytime during the year. 🙂
Chinese egg dumplings, also known as dan jiao, are also often served in hot pots, in other soups or just as is, with a tasty dipping sauce.
These dumplings may look a lot more complicated and difficult to prepare as they actually are, so there is no reason not to enjoy them often. 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
These dumplings cook in a very short time when simmered in soup, so you should add them towards the very end of the cooking time !
They can also be prepared ahead and frozen, then easily reheated in simmering soup.
However, if you serve the dumplings without soup, bake them or steam them for a short time, since the original short cooking time in the omelet is not enough to cook the meat through !
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P.P.S.
This soup is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year because of its long noodles (longevity),
and the color of the dumplings, which resembles the color of gold coins ( prosperity)
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Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: to 2.5 qt of water add 2 lbs of cubed pork leg, 3 stalks of scallion, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1/2 tsp grated ginger, 1/2 tsp sugar, kosher salt and white pepper to taste, bring to a simmer, skim the foam from the top regulary until the meat is tender, about 2 to 2,5 hours

: meanwhile, mix 14 oz ground pork with 2 sliced scallions, 1 whole raw egg, garlic paste, grated ginger, five spice powder, salt and white pepper to taste

: mix well but do not overmix, otherwise the stuffing becomes dense

: whisk 10 whole eggs with chili paste and kosher salt to taste

: brush a moderately hot 4 inch pan lightly with peanut oil, , add 1/8th of the whisked eggs

: before the eggs have set, add 1/8th of the pork stuffing, fold-over half of the egg, remove to a flat surface

: let the dumpling rest until the egg has completely set

: egg dumplings

: when the cubed pork is almost tender, soak 8 oz of rice sticks in hot water for 30 minutes, drain

: when the pork cubes are tender, (there should be about 1,5 qt of stock left at this point, if not, add some chicken stock to make up the quantity), add the rice sticks, skim off the impurities one more time

: add 10 oz of nappa cabbage and 1 tblsp toasted sesame oil, stir, simmer for another minute or until the rice sticks have the proper texture, check/adjust seasoning

: top the soup with the egg dumplings cover and slowly simmer until the stuffing is cooked through, between 2 and 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the eggs and the stuffing

: cover and slowly simmer until the stuffing is cooked through, between 2 and 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the eggs and the stuffing

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

: to serve, add the soup, pork and cabbage to a serving bowl

: top the soup with the dumplings

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

: Chinese New Year Egg Dumpling Soup ( 蛋饺 ) ( Dan Jiao )

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EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

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“Sausage & Peppers” seem to be an American/Italian thing that most of us fail to enjoy and/or appreciate.
And of course, there is a good reason…….
Sausage and peppers are usually just an afterthought on Italian/American restaurant menus, often using inferior/leftover/stale ingredients, and therefore being treated as food for the fools 😦 .
While traveling and living in Italy, I never came across anything similar in any restaurant, although in private homes, using leftovers and whatever the fridge and/or cupboard provided, could occasionally provide a similar dish………
When I first encountered this dish here in the US a few decades ago, I ordered it a few times and also saw it on plates my fellow diners ordered.
Frankly, more often than not, it was less than appealing, to say it in a nice way.
So, for many years it never occurred to me to prep this dish at home, until it just so happened that Italian sausage meat and peppers were the only things I found in my fridge before going to stock-up my supplies.
Long story, short solution – just look at the pics in this post to see what you can do with these most basic ingredients if you put a bit of love and feeling in the preparation of this so often abused and massacred dish 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
If you ever had this dish in a typical Italian/American restaurant, it was probably prepared with sliced Italian sausages, instead of the plain Italian sausage stuffing, shaped into balls, as I did here.
The texture will be very different, but the taste will be the same (Assuming you use “first-class ingredients”) 🙂
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EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: shape 1 lb Italian Sausage meat into 9 balls

: cut 1 ea yellow/green and red peppers into 1″ pieces, add to 1 tblsp olive oil in a medium hot pan, add 1 tblsp tomato paste, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1 tsp dry oregano,and kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: saute for 3 minutes

: top with the sausage balls, add 1 cup water or unsalted chicken stock, bake in a 373F oven until sausage balls are cooked through but not dry, ca 20 minutes

: EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

: EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

: EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

: EASY DOES IT # 35 – Italian Sausages And Bell Peppers

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P.S.
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This dish is part of my upcoming meal plan –
“HANS’ LIGHTER, HEALTHIER COMFORT FOOD” – MONTH TWO
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Click here for
“HANS’ LIGHTER, HEALTHIER COMFORT FOOD” – MONTH ONE
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Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries & Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

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Once in a while, my neighborhood fishmonger receives an overnight delivery of fresh-caught, never frozen salmon. He usually leaves me an e-mail message the same morning, so by noon I’ll have salmon in my kitchen which happily swam in the ocean or stream just one or maybe a couple of days before that. Ahhh, the wonders of our modern times 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries & Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: from a side of salmon, cut a 8 oz portion

: remove the skin (if you plan to eat the skin, scrape it clean of all fat and meat particles; this one was for Bella, so I omitted this step)

: season with salt and cayenne pepper, saute in peanut oil until golden on one side, about 4 minutes

: turn the fish and skin, cook until 162F in the center (or less if you prefer, but please remember food-safe temperatures are strongly suggested for a reason, and required by law in commercial establishments ! )

: to 1 cup baby arugula add 8 ea quartered strawberries, 1/2 cup very finely sliced red cabbage, 1/4 cup walnuts and 1/4 cup raspberry vinaigrette, mix, place salad on a serving plate, top the salad with the salmon filet, drizzle the salmon with the juice from a caramelized lemon

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

: Sautéed Salmon With Arugula, Strawberries And Walnuts In Raspberry Vinaigrette

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Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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This was such a pleasant salad to enjoy early in the day.
The colors, flavors and lightness of its ingredients brightened the rest of my day and gave me a wonderful, guilt-free lunch. (I am still working on losing some of the many pounds I added while in Argentina.
So far it’s going well, 13 lbs in about one month, while always eating good and plenty. 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: score 12 ea drumsticks all the way to the bone

: marinade with 1 tblsp chili paste, 2 tblsp thai chili sauce, 1/2 cup hoisin sauce, 1 tblsp garlic paste, 1 tblsp sweet paprika (for extra bright color), 2 tblsp Greek yogurt, kosher salt to taste, mix well

: marinate overnight

: next day, place the drumsticks on a rack, roast at 385F until cooked through but still juicy, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the drumsticks

: cover the chicken lightly, let cool to roomtemperature

: wash and cut 1 large head of endive

: add 5 ea sliced raddishes, 1 medium sized, julienned onion and 2 tblsp chopped Italian parsley

: mix the salad with 1/3 cup honey/mustard dressing, plate on a large serving dish, pull (or cut if you prefer) into bite-size pieces, place on top of the salad, garnish with fresh basil

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

: Salad Of Endive & Chili Chicken

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P.S.
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This dish is part of my upcoming meal plan –
“HANS’ LIGHTER, HEALTHIER COMFORT FOOD” – MONTH TWO
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Click here for
“HANS’ LIGHTER, HEALTHIER COMFORT FOOD” – MONTH ONE
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Congee With Mushroom, Carrot & Egg

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“Congee With Mushrooms, Carrots & Egg (Chinese Rice porridge)“
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Excerpt from a previous post of Congee on ChefsOpinion :
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” Rice Porridge –
The first thing that comes to mind is probably baby food or hospital gruff.
Most folks would never think of ordering it from a menu in a restaurant, much less wake up and crave it for breakfast, if they hadn’t tasted or at least seen it before.

Now, let’s try again :
Congee. Lúgaw. Chok. Xifan. Juk. Okayu.
OK now, that’s better 🙂

Sounds more interesting and exotic? These are just a few names given to rice porridge around the world. If there is a country or region which traditionally eats rice, then there is some form of rice porridge eaten.
Congee can be enjoyed as breakfast, snack, lunch or dinner. Congee most often contains rice, but other grains can be used.
Ideally, it is made with strong, tasty stock that infuses great taste and debt into the dish. But from there on, let your fantasy run wild. Congee can be made with seafood, meat, vegetables or a combination thereof.
Then there are the toppings – Pickled vegetables, fried shallots, sliced scallions, any mushroom, crisp fried garlic, dried shrimps, 100-year eggs, cilantro, etc, etc.
If you like it, put it on.
Below is a version I made on Sunday for breakfast. The texture is more like a Filipino Lugaw, with the rice VERY soft but still keeping its shape. “.
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Click here for Congee With Smoked Pigs Tails & Vegetables on ChefsOpinion
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Congee With Mushrooms, Carrot & Egg

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: to 1 qt chicken stock, add 2 cup cooked Fan (Chinese steamed rice) and 1 cup cleaned, sliced carrots; simmer until the rice and porridge has the desired texture and the carrots are tender (if too dry, add more chicken stock)

: meanwhile, saute 1 cup sliced mushroom of your choice in 1 tblsp peanut oil until lightly browned, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste, reserve

: when the congee has the desired texture, add 4 whole whisked eggs, simmer one minute, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning, plate in a bowl

: drizzle with chili oil (optional)

: sprinkle with 1 tblsp sliced scallions, top with the sauteed mushrooms

: Congee With Mushroom, Carrot & Egg

: Congee With Mushrooms. Carrots & Egg

: Congee With Mushroom, Carrot & Egg

: Congee With Mushroom, Carrot & Egg

: Congee With Mushroom, Carrot & Egg

: Congee With Mushrooms. Carrots & Egg

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Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

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Goulash is my favorite meat stew, no matter which protein is used – beef, veal, pork, poultry or game. The texture, color, and flavor have great appeal to me.
While there are of course different ways of preparing goulash, as well as different recipes, the main mark of a good goulash is to use the same amount of onions as protein, a great amount of sweet paprika powder for color and texture (sometimes hot paprika is added), as well as a special season mix of 1/3 thyme, 1/3 caraway seeds, and 1/3 lemon peel (yellow part only), all finely chopped and added to the meat while sauteing, to impart a rich, un-mistaking goulash-flavor. Of course, salt and pepper is a must.
Naturally, as with most dishes that have been around that long, there are dozens of variations,- you can add (or not) garlic, rosemary, bell peppers, potatoes, marjoram, red wine, bell peppers (zigeuner goulash) and even sauerkraut (Szegediner goulash). Also very popular is goulashsuppe (goulash soup). The big difference between preparing goulash and a regular stew is that for goulash, the onions are sautéed first until broken down and lightly colored, THEN the meat is added, and sautéed until all liquid has evaporated.
Because of the collagen in the meat, as well as the large amount of onions and ground paprika, no flour is needed to thicken the sauce.
Best enjoyed with pasta, goulash can also be served with rice, bread dumplings or potato dumplings, mashed potatoes, croquette potatoes, roast potatoes or just plain rustic bread.
Myself, I enjoy any type and version of goulash, paired with any good side dish that’s available 🙂
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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !
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Click here to read all about “Original Hungarian Goulash”,
as well as its History and Evolution through the Centuries.
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Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: remove bone and skin (optional, I like the skin in my pork goulash) from a whole, medium size pork butt

: cut the meat in cubes

: saute the meat and bone (optional), together with 1/3 cup goulash seasoning (1 tblsp lemon peel, 1 tblsp caraway seeds and 1 tblsp thyme, all finely chopped) in 1 tblsp olive oil until the meat is seared

: meanwhile, chop 2 ea med size onions,1 ea large, de-seeded red, green and yellow bell peppers

: add the veggies to the meat, saute until the onions are translucent

: add 1 cup tomato paste, 1 cup sweet paprika, 1 tblsp curry powder, 1 tblsp garlic paste, kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste, saute another minute, add 1 1/2 qt pork,- veggie- or,chicken stock

: bring to a simmer

: cover and slowly simmer until the meat is very tender but NOT falling apart

: meanwhile, cook 8 oz pearl pasta (Israeli couscous) until tender, drain, mix with 4 stalks finely sliced scallions, 2 tblsp melted butter and salt and pepper to taste

: saute banana peppers (optional) until lightly blistered, season with salt and pepper to taste

: saute 1 ea cup of mixed, diced bell peppers, season with salt and pepper to taste, add 2/3 into the goulash, simmer another 3 minutes, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

: to plate, top the goulash with the sauteed peppers (and banana peppers if chosen)

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

: Hans’ Pork Goulash With Peppers & Pasta Pearls

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Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

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This tandoori chicken sandwich needed no simple or fancy condiment to elevate it. The chicken was very juicy, very tender and VERY tasty. Usually, I would serve this with raita, sliced onions, sliced tomato, sliced cucumber, a few spritz of fresh lime, plain yogurt, finely sliced cabbage slaw, or any other addition to moisten the sandwich, elevate the texture or the flavor. But on this sandwich, that would have been a wasted effort, since it was perfect, in every aspect, the way it was.
(If I would serve this in a restaurant, I would of course “improve” the presentation to make it seem fancier and justify a higher selling price, but since this was at “Chez Bella” (our home), I did not deem this a requirement. 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
I prefer to cook the chicken bone-in and tear the meat from the bones at the table. For a less messy way, you can, of course, use boneless thighs and knife and fork 😦
P.P.S.
Because I am a huge Stones fan, for obvious reasons I almost called this sandwich “Sticky Fingers”, but then something (good sense?) advised me against it. 🙂
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Garam Masala Recipe:
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You will need :
Coriander seeds, black cardamom pods, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, peppercorn, a small amount of cinnamon bark. Dry roast in a pan on low heat until fragrant, about one minute. Put in spice blender until powder-fine. Remove to a jar, cover airtight.
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Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: mix 1 cup Greek yogurt (or strain your own yogurt overnight in a suspended cheesecloth)) with 1 tblsp garam masala, 1 tblsp turmeric, 1 tblsp sweet paprika (instead of the usual artificial food coloring), 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, 1/3 tsp granulated ginger, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cumin, chili flakes and kosher salt to taste

: mix all ingredients well, add 3 ea deep-scored chicken thighs, mix, cover, keep in fridge over night

: next day, place the chicken on a rack, roast at 450F until golden crisp and cooked through (35 to 45 min); however, the length of time depends on the size of the chicken, the type of oven, etc; if you have a food thermometer remove the chicken when it registers 162 at thickest part on the bone, remove the chicken, cover lightly and let rest for 5 minutes before serving

: crisp, juicy, golden – done……

: tondoori chicken at it’s finest 🙂

: while the chicken rests, prepare fresh naan or reheat good quality frozen naan

: Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

: Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

: Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

: Chicken Tandoori/Naan Sandwich

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My Trip To Buenos Aires, Argentina

On December 19^th 2017, after eighteen years of absence, I finally returned to Argentina to spend a month with my “adopted family” and friends in Buenos Aires, where I lived and worked for nearly five years during the nineties.
I visited Buenos Aires for the first time in the seventies and had an immediate affection for the city, the country, the people and the great food.
Great food in Argentina means mostly meat, pasta, empanadas and salad, although modern public relations, foodies hype, young wannabe food stars and wannabe food critics will try to have you think otherwise. Granted, there is a small (very small) movement to make modern? Argentinian cuisine play a role in the world of modern food, but in reality, it is just a tiny movement, confined to very few, mostly insignificant restaurants in the big cities.
On the other hand, traditional food is as good or even better as it ever was 😊
Argentinian meat, especially beef, is legendary around the world, and pork, lamb, and poultry are not far behind.
Pasta is second only to what you find in the best kitchens in Italy, Argentine empanadas are second to none, and yes, even the salads are in a class of their own, thanks to the fact that most produce you’ll find in either small groceries or big markets, in small villages or big cities, usually travels only a few miles from down the road, having been harvested that very morning from some local farmers vegetable patch. Same with all fresh food ingredients, eggs, cheese, fruit, etc, and of course most meat that’s available to you either in a shop or restaurant; most of it is local, never frozen, and as fresh as can be.
After one month, I have a books-worth of impressions of Buenos Aires and Argentina. However, I have decided that I will not say anything negative about this country I love so much. Argentina and its people have a lot of bad crap to deal with, but most of this information is readily available elsewhere to the folks who are interested in it, so there is no need for me to wallow in it on my blog.
On the positive side, I am happy to report that the majority of all people of Argentina are extremely friendly, generous, loving, big-hearted and the most gracious host’s one could wish for. They make the most of what they have, and friends and family is their greatest treasure. After the month I spent this time, it was hard for me to leave my friends and Family behind and I hope we will all reunite soon again 😊
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Click here to read “All About Argentina”

Here are some random pictures of the beauty of this country.
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Click here for many more Beautiful Vistas Of “Argentina”

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Click here for more Beautiful Vistas Of “Buenos Aires”
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First Day Welcome Dinner .
Dinner with my “Family”: Carlos, Gladis, Dana, Lara, and Jorge, at a great Parrilla restaurant in Ezeiza, just outside of Buenos Aires

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Of course, on Christmas and on New Year’s Eve, which we celebrated with just a few close members of the family at the house, the featured main attraction was, what else, Asado (parrilla).
There were also many other “goodies”, such as hors d’oeuvres, salads, pasta, empanadas, artisanal cheese, cakes, pudding, bread, etc, all in great varieties and all very delicious.
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Another dinner, another Asado (parrilla), this time in the Argentinian countryside. This was on January 3^rd. Of course, right after the Holidays, not many folks spend money in restaurants, also it was pretty early, about 8.30 PM, which is too early to have dinner for most Argentinians, so we had the place to ourselves.
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Dana, Carlos’ and Gladis’ younger daughter loves to prepare gnocchi and on this day she came to the house early to prepare lunch for us (early lunch – ca 3.30 PM) ………..
! Best ! gnocchi I ever had 😊

Auntie, Gladis, me, Dana

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My farewell dinner was combined with the birthday party of a family member. There were family and friends, monstrous platters of food (we all ordered a la carte) many bottles of red wine and a great party. (Below is a link to the FB site of this restaurant).
Do yourself a favor when you visit Buenos Aires – visit this place for at least one dinner, it will be well worth your time 😊
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Yes, this is one portion ! All Mine. 🙂 Each of the platters of food below contains one single portion !

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Click here for a link to the restaurants FB Page
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Before I started my trip, I made it clear to Carlos and the family that I was not keen to travel around at all. Because I lived in Buenos Aires for so long, there was not really much I hadn’t seen while I was there, so there was no great lure for me to spend my days traveling. The traffic is usually horrendous in and around Buenos Aires and it was also way too hot to spend hours on the road. Outside of Buenos Aires, many roads are not paved, so when it has not rained for a while, the dust in the air is brutal.
I just wanted to visit Recoleta, where Maria and I rented a wonderful Apartment while we lived in BA. This is by far the nicest and most beautiful part of the city, and the cost of living is accordingly. (Twenty years ago, our apartments rent was about US $ 3500.00 a month, which should give you an idea about the exclusivity of Recoletta.
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: Located in Recoleta,the home where Maria and I lived for 5 years. Only two apartments, each one entire floor. The top floor was storage only, the ground floor the rooms for the help. The second floor was our home, the third floor the owners. All rooms with marble fire places, each apartment with an inside winter garden, big balconies and terraces towards the inside court yard, elevator, staff elevator, butlers pantry, maids room behind the kitchen. The good life 🙂

: our street……

A short video of our street…..
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Click here for more impressions of Recoleta
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So, during my month there, we stayed mostly at home, had great conversations, played with the animals, enjoyed too much great food and too much great wine and other great spirits. Lots of milanesas, pasta, beef, fiambres, empanadas, salads and what not.
Never a dull moment, lots of happiness and love in the air.
Aaahhhhh, the good life 😊
(And yes, I gained twenty pounds ! Dammmn ! )
– I am in the progress of shedding those extra pounds now, but it’s not as fun and easy as putting them on. I also still carry a few extra pounds from September/October, when I enjoyed the same excesses in Germany and Spain) ☹
Life can be soooo tough !
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Even the housing for the dead is exclusive in Recoleta……….(Eva Peron resides here…..
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The other side……………
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The Family…
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: La Familia

: La Familia

: the girls, Lara and Dana

: Gladis, Dana, Me, Lara

: Carlos and I

: Carlos and I in front of the former Ceasar Park Hotel, where we worked together for five years

: New years Eve, candle-lit baloons instead of fireworks (because of the animals)

: Carlos, slightly toasted, bringing more supplies….

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More Family…..
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The House (La Casa)
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The Guest House (La Casita)
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And there you have it – four weeks Argentina.
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On my way back to Miami……….
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Life is Good !
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Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Little Sandwich ( NOT ! )

Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

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And here we go – another beautiful, tasty example of what a sandwich can be if you love food and take it serious 🙂
(If you wonder about the name “Torta”, click the link below to learn all there is to know about this great Mexican sandwich 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
Because I used a double layer of beef, I did not use standard breading (flour, egg, and breadcrumbs) for the beef, instead, I just dipped the beef slices in a mixture of 50/50 flour and panko. However, if you use a single layer of beef, I suggest you employ the traditional breading method.
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Click here to read all about Mexican Torta on ChefsOpinion
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Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

avocado, radish, and cucumber salad

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: thinly sliced beef round, ciabatta, avocado, tomato, cucumber, radish, cilantro

: cut veggies into large dice, add garlic paste, lime juice, cayenne pepper, olive oil and kosher salt to taste, mix well; let marinade for 30 minutes, then add diced avocados and tomatoes, mix carefully

: avocado, tomato, radish and cucumber salad

: mix 1 cup panko crumbs,1 cup a/p flour and kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste, dredge 2 ea beef svallops

: saute the beef scallops until medium well, remove to absorbent paper, keep warm

: cut a 5 inch piece fresh-baked ciabatta horizontally in half

: top the bottom half of the ciabatta with 1 ea beef scallop, top with a generous amount of the salad, repeat

: ciabatta bottom, 2 layers of beef and 2 layers of salad, top with the top part of the ciabatta

: Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

: Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

: Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

: Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

: Torta De Milanesa De Res – A Dainty Sandwich ( NOT ! )

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Banana And Cranberry Salad With Homemade Sugar-Free Banana Ice Cream

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If you are prepared, life (cooking) is easy ! 🙂
I usually have some sort of frozen dessert in my freezer for my (too frequently happening) sweets-craving-attacks.
More often than not, it’s some sort of frozen banana dessert, as it was this afternoon. I always have fresh bananas and dried cranberries in my cupboard, so this dish was an easy decision, and thanks to the ice cream in the freezer, a matter of a few minutes to execute 🙂
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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !
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P.S.
Obviously, there is natural fruit sugar in the ice cream and the banana/cranberry salad, but, besides the organic honey, there is no added sugar.
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P.P.S.
The ratios of fructose and glucose are pretty much the same in both fruit and table sugar.
Generally, there’s no advantage to substituting honey for sugar in a diabetes eating plan. Both honey and sugar will affect your blood sugar level. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar, so you might use  a smaller amount of honey  for sugar in some recipes.
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Click here for Sugar Free Banana Ice Cream Recipe   on ChefsOpinion
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Click here for more Lighter, Healthier Food on ChefsOpinion
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Banana And Cranberry Salad With Homemade Sugar-Free Banana Ice Cream

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: cut bananas into slices, drizzle with fresh lemon juice

: add dried cranberries, add a splash of organic vanilla extract, organic honey and brown rum (optional – alcohol will convert to sugar ! ), mix, let macerate for 1 hour