Chef Mud: Day 3

The Green Chili Chicken and Sweet Corn Cake was a resounding success.

Filed under: Cooking, Family, Food, Love, Mexican, Recipes

Chef Mud: Day 2

Last night we enjoyed Grilled Steaks w/ Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes.

I learned some things with this meal.

• Preparing garlic takes a lot longer than you might think.
• Peeling tiny little potatoes is dangerous.
• Tonia still doesn’t appreciate medium rare steaks.
• Lots of garlic will give you ferocious gas later in the evening.

All in all, I enjoyed my time in front of the grill, but I’m looking forward to tonight’s meal a little more today. I did have a little flag band-aid on after dinner, so I guess I’m more patriotic than you.

Filed under: Cooking, Garlic, Potatoes, Recipes, Steak

The Big Salad

In case anyone was wondering why I only had 4 recipes for my week of playing Chef Mud, it’s because on Tuesdays I lead an awesome men’s group. On those days I have one hour between the end of work and the time the group starts, so I always grab something on the run. Lately I’ve been getting lucky because both my mom and my brother have been inviting me over to their places for a free meal.

Yesterday when my mom invited me over for a big salad, all I could do was think about that Seinfeld episode. She sure didn’t disappoint.

Filed under: Cooking, Dinner, Mothers, Recipes, Salads, Seinfeld

Chef Mud: Day 1

Well, tonight was Day 1 of Chef Mud Week. On the menu tonight were Pierogies w/ Bacon, Peas, Sautéd Onion, and Sour Cream.

[recipe via Cooking Light]

The funny thing is this was anything but a “light” meal, but any great meal must start with a healthy portion of butter, onions, and bacon. Mmmmmmm……

This is the first time I made pierogies using a recipe and, to be honest, I prefer my own methods. It wasn’t horrible, but normally I cut up some polish sausage and cook it with the pierogies. We did try out a new brand of pierogie which we liked a lot better.

All in all, it was a nice and simple start to the week.

Filed under: Cooking, Food, Pierogies, Recipes

Chef Mud

I recently informed Tonia that next week I will be doing all of the cooking for dinner. Don’t ask me why. Probably a combination of not pulling my weight lately, wanting some specific meals, and wanting to wear an apron more often.

Anywho, here’s what’s in store.

• Pierogies w/ Bacon, Peas, Sautéd Onion, and Sour Cream

• Green Chili Chicken w/ Orzo

• Grilled Steaks w/ Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

• Pan-Seared Asian Salmon w/ Hot Sesame Noodles

No doubt I’ll be posting some updates as we go next week. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

Filed under: Cooking, Food, Recipes

Chicken Curry

As we were preparing dinner tonight I got so excited about what we were having that I just had to share. The following recipe is and has been a staple of the Mud Puppy diet. As you will see, it probably factors into my high cholesterol levels, but it is SO worth it!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 1/2 TBSP curry powder (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups cooked and cubed chicken
• 2 cans cream of chicken
• 1 can chicken broth
• 2 cups sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Sauté onion and butter until tender.

2. Add soup and broth and heat until bubbly.

3. Lower heat and add remaining ingredients.

4. Heat until piping hot.

5. Serve over prepared rice.

6. Garnish with crushed pineapple, chopped peanuts or raisins.
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Previous Recipe: Pan-Seared Asian Salmon w/ Noodles

Filed under: Chicken, Cholesterol, Cooking, Curry, Food, Recipes

Mud Puppy Cooks

I’ve always been a big fan of cooking. I’ve never done too much of it however because I hate the thought of spending an hour working on something only to devour it in 5 minutes. But I keep clipping out and printing recipes with thoughts of some day trying them. Well folks, today is the day. I am making a concerted effort to prepare new recipes on a regular basis. I kicked it off tonight with the following dish—which I must say was quite delightful!!

Pan-Seared Asian Salmon w/ Noodles

INGREDIENTS:

SALMON
• 2 TBSP Butter
• 1/4 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
• 2 TBSP Garlic, chopped
• 2 oz Brown Sugar
• 2 oz Lime Juice
• 2 oz Soy Sauce
• 1 tsp Corn Starch
• 2 oz Orange Juice
• 2-4 Salmon Filets (4 oz each)
• 1 TBSP Sesame Oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

PASTA
• 1 package Udon or Soba Noodles
• 2 tsp Hot Pepper Sesame Oil
• 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
• 2 tsp Soy Sauce Soy Sauce
• 1 TBSP Garlic Gomasio

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°.

2. In a small sauce pan combine first 8 salmon ingredients. Bring to simmer to thicken. Remove from heat.

3. Season salmon well on both sides with salt and pepper.

4. Heat large oven proof skillet till hot. Sear salmon in sesame oil. Flip salmon, pour prepared sauce over and place skillet in oven.

5. Cook for approx 4-6 minutes till medium done.

6. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse, drain.

7. Combine hot pepper sesame and toasted sesame oils in a sauce pan. Bring to simmer and add pasta. Cook on medium for 3 minutes. Mix in soy sauce and cook for another minute.

8. Top pasta with gomasio and plate with salmon.
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*Adapted from a recipe on rossipasta.com.

Filed under: Cooking, Pasta, Recipes, Salmon

Mud & Steel: Webisode 013

Filed under: Cheerios, Cooking, Mud & Steel, Pizza, Video