An Inspired Cook

An Inspired Cook
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  • Category: Recipes

    • Cranberry Orange Sweet Rolls

      Posted at 11:06 am by NativeNM, on January 5, 2021

      One of my favorite combinations is cranberry and orange.  Let’s face it, these two just belong together, whether it’s scones, muffins, cranberry sauce or cranberry relish.  Cranberries are in season now so if you love this tarty fruit you might want to pick up a bag or two and put in the freezer.  I started freezing them so that I had some to cook with all year long.  I prefer fresh or frozen berries to dried cranberries plus they don’t have the added sugar that dried cranberries do.  Along with antioxidants, they provide many vitamins and minerals that we all need in our daily diet.  I must confess, sweet rolls probably negate all the positives of eating cranberries but after the year we’ve had I’m going to give myself a break and indulge in a few rolls.  The rest can be frozen for up to a couple month’s.  I like to freeze 2 rolls per package and that way I can have a sweet roll now and then.   These rolls are messy and don’t look as perfect as some of my other sweet rolls but the taste is among the best.  For me it always starts with brioche dough, I never waver with any other dough, it’s just that good.  The cranberry orange jam was adapted from “Plated Cravings”.  I had an idea of what the filling should be and this recipe was about as perfect as I could have imagined.  And if that’s not enough I made an orange glaze that soaked into every crack and crevice of these rolls.  I hope you’ll keep these in mind next time you are craving sweet rolls.  They have a festive feel for the holidays but I think they would be perfect any time of year.
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      Posted in Breakfast, Dessert, Recipes | 12 Comments | Tagged Brioche Dough, Cranberry Jam, cranberry orange brioche rolls, cranberry orange brioche sweet rolls, cranberry orange sweet rolls, Orange Glaze, sweet rolls
    • Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix

      Posted at 10:54 am by NativeNM, on December 29, 2020

      Around the holidays one of the things I enjoy most is a cup of hot chocolate.  Just holding a cup of hot cocoa brings a warmth and serenity especially during the cold winter days and nights.  I’ve made my own cocoa mix many times but this year I varied just a bit and made some Mexican blend with a hint of red chili and cinnamon.  It tastes so decadent and creamy.  On the weekends I enjoy some quiet time with a good book and a cup of cocoa. If you like this pretty cup you can find it at Persephone Bakery Cafe in Jackson Hole, WY.   I hear the pastries, sandwiches and coffee are to die for.  It’s where Josh calls home now and is a barista by day at both Persephone Bakery and Picnic.  With Covid 19 this past year we cancelled our plans to visit but fingers crossed we will make it up to Jackson Hole next summer and let Josh be our guide around the Tetons and beyond.
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      Posted in Breakfast, Favorite Drinks, Recipes | 3 Comments | Tagged Cinnamon, Dark Chocolate Bars with infused Chili, Hot Chocolate, Hot Chocolate Mix, Hot Cocoa Mix, Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix, Mexican Hot Cocoa
    • Green Chile Chicken Noodle Soup

      Posted at 9:26 am by NativeNM, on December 9, 2020

      What’s more comforting that a bowl of steaming hot chicken noodle soup?  Maybe a bowl of chicken noodle soup with roasted green chile.  The steamy broth and heat of the chile gives you a cozy feeling whether you are under the weather or trying to keep warm on a cold day.  I seasoned the chicken with verde seasoning to give it a little Southwest flavor and let it simmer in chicken broth for a couple hours until it was so tender it would just fall apart.  Once the chicken is prepared everything else can go back in the pot with the exception of the green chile.  In the time it takes to cook the noodles this soup is done.  The green chile is already roasted and chopped so it can be added to the cooked soup along with a sprinkle of dried cilantro and your done.
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      Posted in Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Recipes, Soups, Stews and Chili | 9 Comments | Tagged Chicken Noodle Soup with Green Chile, Green Chile Chicken Noodle Soup, Homestyle Egg Noodles, New Mexico Green Chile Chicken Noodle Soup, Pulled Chicken, Verde Seasoning
    • Burnt Ends Kansas City Style

      Posted at 11:36 am by NativeNM, on December 1, 2020

      Kansas City is home to some of the best barbeque on earth, especially their burnt ends.  As many of you know Joe and I made our home in the Kansas City area for 25 years.  One of the things we miss most is the barbeque and particularly the burnt ends from Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que.  Joe’s is by far our favorite bbq and we’ve ordered it several times since moving back to New Mexico.  Yes, you can order their champion barbeque which is packed in dry ice and sent straight to your door.  Each meat is smoked to perfection and vacuum sealed with a handbook of instructions on how to reheat each item, whether it be brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken or burnt ends.  I successfully made smoked ribs a few years back which was a triumphant moment for me.  Burnt ends would be the ultimate goal if I could pull it off.  As it turned out, my oldest son Josh was home for a visit and he was a huge help.  We worked together keeping the charcoal going and trying to keep the grill temperature steady while waiting patiently for the internal temperature of the beef to reach the magic number.  It took a little over 8 hours to reach our goal and our burnt ends were so tender and flavorful.  We smoked 6 1/2 pounds and it was gone in a matter of days.  Josh and I agreed that this is our new tradition, when he comes home we make burnt ends.
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      Posted in Entree, Recipes | 0 Comments | Tagged Burnt Ends Chuck Roast, Burnt Ends Kansas City Style, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que Burnt Ends, Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que Sauce, Joe's Rub, Kansas City Burnt Ends, Oklahoma Joe's BBQ, Poor Man's Burnt Ends
    • Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Honey Mustard Coleslaw

      Posted at 9:31 am by NativeNM, on November 3, 2020

      Recently I came across a recipe for honey mustard coleslaw.  It sounded intriguing but at the same time I was skeptical.  When it comes to coleslaw I’ve always been about the tried and true recipe which has never failed me.  I decided to just go with it and picked up a bag of pre-chopped cabbage and added my own spicy honey mustard sauce.  To my surprise it was delicious!  And it makes a great chicken sandwich which was too good not to share.  If there were any doubts, I can truly say this is one of my favorite ways to dress a sandwich.  I think I will try it next on some pulled pork or pulled chicken.
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      Posted in Burgers, Sandwiches, Paninis and Wraps, Recipes, Side Dishes | 6 Comments | Tagged Brioche Buns, Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Honey Mustard Coleslaw, Honey Mustard Coleslaw
    • Steak and Potato Skillet Dish

      Posted at 10:53 am by NativeNM, on October 23, 2020

      My husband Joe is a steak and potatoes kind of guy.  I have to be creative sometimes to come up with different ways to serve it so it’s not the same old dish time after time.  This idea came from a pinterest photo that looked like stir fried steak and potatoes.  However when I tried to connect to the recipe it was no longer available so I just went by the picture and took ideas on how to make it my own.  The picture clearly had steak, potatoes, corn and red pepper plus some green herbs that were not distinguishable.  And it also looked like it had some type of sauce, perhaps Siracha or salsa with pepper flakes.  It looked so appetizing I thought I would give it a try.  Instead of making it a wok dish I decided to cook some things on the grill and then add everything together in a cast iron skillet with salsa to bind it together.  It was truly delicious and spicy.

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      Posted in Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes, Red or Green | 2 Comments | Tagged Fried Potatoes, Grilled Skirt Steak, Jan's Salsa, Roasted Corn, Roasted Red Chile, Steak and Potato Skillet Dish, Steak and Potato Stir Fry, Stir Fried Steak and Potatoes
    • Red Plum Jam

      Posted at 10:14 am by NativeNM, on October 9, 2020

      Awhile back I picked up some red plums that were some of the best I’ve ever tasted. They were naturally sweet and flavorful, perfect for making jam.  I’ve only made jam a few times but I’m learning more through each process.  To preserve the jam I like to pack it in jars and seal using a hot water bath.  It’s easy and has so far been very reliable.  The one thing I’ve found is that the more naturally sweet your fruit is, the less sugar you need to add.  Ball has a “Low or No Sugar” pectin that is an easy way to thicken your jam without all the sugar.  Now that I’ve figured that out I plan to pick fruit when it is in season and at the height of sweetness. If you make a few jars here and there you will have a variety of jam to enjoy for several month’s or share with family and friends.
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      Posted in Breakfast, Condiments and Sauces, Recipes | 8 Comments | Tagged Homemade Plum Jam, Low or No Sugar Pectin, Plum Jam, Red Plum Jam, Red Plums
    • Spanish Beef and Potato Pie

      Posted at 12:42 pm by NativeNM, on September 25, 2020

      There are recipes that I’ve collected over the years that I have tucked away.  Along with my hand written recipe cards and favorite cookbooks,  I have kept some old magazines that have tried and true recipes that are like an old friend.  I pull them out from time to time and the other day I came across an old Good Housekeeping magazine from March, 1988.  On the cover is Elizabeth Taylor and one of the articles is on the International Hamburger Cookbook with recipes from countries around the world.  I tried several of their recipes but the one that stands out is the Spanish Beef and Potato Pie.  Throughout the years I’ve made this dish many times but I’ve added a New Mexican twist with roasted red and green chiles, often called Autumn roast, and seasoned with a green chile salt blend.  It’s so delicious and makes a complete meal.  Just yesterday Joe and I went to Sichlers and got some red and green chile.  They roasted it separately but within the green batch there were several chiles starting to turn red.  I was so happy to have a batch that I could freeze together for an Autumn roast blend.  And the roasted red is so good this year, a bit hotter than the green but with that hint of sweetness that makes it so perfect.  Earlier in the season we picked up a small amount of green chiles so I am beyond myself with the good fortune of having a variety of roasted chiles to experiment with.  Hope you enjoy this NM Inspired Spanish Beef and Potato Pie, it is delicious, I promise!
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      Posted in Breakfast, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes, Red or Green | 4 Comments | Tagged Autumn Roast Chile, Frittata Spanish Beef and Potato Pie, Green Chile, New Mexico Beef and Potato Pie, Roasted Red Chile, Spanish Beef and Potato Frittata, Spanish Beef and Potato Pie
    • Grilled Chicken Gyros

      Posted at 12:41 pm by NativeNM, on September 18, 2020

      Some of the best gyros I’ve ever tasted were from our time in Detroit and Kansas City.  We moved to from Albuquerque to Detroit in 1990 where I got to see where Joe grew up in the great state of Michigan.  At that time we had two little boys under the age of 3 years old and didn’t get to eat out much.  One time Joe surprised me with tickets to go see the Detroit Red Wings play hockey.  Growing up in New Mexico I knew nothing about hockey but the experience was thrilling and I immediately became a fan.  Joe Louis Arena was located downtown and we would park and ride the people mover transportations rails to get to the arena.  Greektown which had some amazing food was located on one of the people mover stops so we would park there and grab a bite to eat before heading over to the game.  If you are ever in Detroit and need a great place to eat, visit Olga’s Kitchen or any one of the great restaurants in Greektown.  We also had some great Greek food in Kansas City.  I loved the gyros at Mr. Gyros which was one of our frequent haunts in KC.  One thing about Mr. Gyros is that the servings are huge and everything tastes fresh.  This year has been challenging at best to find those those “little known” restaurants here in Albuquerque, especially not being able to sit down and experience a meal indoors.  We rarely go out except for takeout and I haven’t found a great Greek restaurant yet to recommend here in ABQ.  I’m sure it’s out there, I just haven’t found it!  Sorry for the long story but I have been craving a gyro which always brings back memories.  I went with grilled chicken gyros which tasted so good with homemade warm flat breads wrapped around Greek and lemon seasoned chicken. The marinade made the chicken tender and juicy.  With some tzatziki sauce and freshly sliced tomato and red onion it was one of the tastiest wraps I’ve ever had.  I’m a tough critic when it comes to gyros and this one is one of the best!
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      Posted in Bread, Burgers, Sandwiches, Paninis and Wraps, Recipes, Sandwiches & Paninis | 2 Comments | Tagged Chicken Gyro Sandwich, Chicken Gyros, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Chicken Gyros, Hand Held Chicken Gyro, Lemon and Greek Marinade, Tzatziki Sauce
    • Shrimp Etouffee

      Posted at 3:11 pm by NativeNM, on September 11, 2020

      One of the first things I learned about Joe is his love for cajun/creole food.   I didn’t grow up with it and neither did he but his family traveled quite a lot and he had opportunities to experience many different cultures and local flavors.  He always remembered the spicy flavors of New Orleans as one of his favorite trips.  Joe and I went to New Orleans a few years back and we sampled many of the delectable dishes that the locals enjoy.  The etouffee was so memorable and one of the best things I ever ate.  To make it easier on myself and anyone else who is intimidated with cajun or creole cooking I broke the recipe down into 3 parts.  First I started by making the broth earlier in the day.  Once the roux and stew/gravy comes together it should simmer for 20 minutes giving sufficient time to make the rice.  And lastly the shrimp was cooked separately which only took a few minutes from start to finish and was ready at just the right time to top the bowl off.  I found that the shrimp was cooked perfectly and did not overcook as it might have if simmered in the gravy for a longer period of time.  I thought it was visually appealing with the layered rice and etouffee gravy topped by the shrimp.  As with most dishes that have a spice blend the flavors develop over time.  The first bowl needed a little kick so I added a sprinkle of cayenne pepper, however when we had leftovers the next day, all the flavors had time to meld together and it tasted even better.
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      Posted in Entree, Recipes | 2 Comments | Tagged Etouffee Gravy, Etouffee Stew, New Orleans, Rice, Roux, Shrimp, Shrimp Etouffee
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