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Easy Homemade Tartar Sauce

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Tartar sauce really brings out the flavor or fried fish. You can purchase a jar in any supermarket, but when it’s processed it can have all sorts of preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. Just make it fresh instead — it’s so easy! Homemade tartar sauce consists of just a few simple ingredients that are probably in your kitchen right now. If you try this recipe, purchasing the store brand tartar sauce will be a thing of the past.

 

 

Homemade Tartar Sauce
Ingredients

1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 cup sweet relish
1/2 tablespoon of shredded carrot (optional)
A pinch of salt and pepper
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon (a whole lemon if you really like it tart)

Instructions

In a medium bowl add all ingredients and mix well. Taste sauce to ensure that it tastes to your liking.

It’s just that simple. You can feel free to use the mayonnaise of your choice for your homemade tartar sauce. If you tend to like your sauce a little spicy just add a pinch of cayenne pepper. Allow the tartar sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.

Check out our recipe for Battered Fish and Shrimp with French Fries.

Enjoy!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta and Sour Cream

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This recipe for Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta is one of my all time favorites. This is not a loose type of sauce but rather a meaty, rich and super tasty meal. Many people use a combination of ground beef and pork, but I really enjoy using just ground beef. As for the pasta, you can use what ever pasta that you enjoy the best. I prefer penne because the hollow middle fills up with the thick meat sauce.

Ingredients

1 box of Penne Pasta (Cooked Al Dente)
2 Pounds of Ground Beef (80% meat, 20% fat)
2 Tablespoons Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 6 Ounce Can Tomato Paste
3 8 Ounce Cans Of Tomato Sauce
1 Teaspoon Of Sugar
1 Small Onion Diced
1 Small Green Pepper Diced
2 Stalks Of Celery Diced
2 Medium Carrots Diced
3 Cloves Of Garlic Grated
1 Beef Bouillon Cube (dissolve cube in 2 tablespoons of very hot water)
2 Tablespoons Of Dried Oregano
1/2 Teaspoon of Dried Chili Flakes
1/4 Of Red Wine
1/2 Teaspoon Of Salt And Pepper ( to taste )

Instructions
In a large sauce pan on medium heat add the olive oil, diced onions, peppers, carrots and celery and sauté until soft. Remove from pan and set aside. In the same pan, on medium heat, brown the ground beef until done. Remember, not to mince the beef. You want the meat rather chunky. Drain excess oil and discard. Now add the sautéed vegetables to pan. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar and stir well. Bring mixture to a simmer, then set heat on low. Add the grated garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and cook on low for 30 minutes. Remember to gently stir sauce during this time so that sauce does not stick to bottom of pan. After 30 minutes add red wine and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Serve meat sauce over pasta with a dollop of sour cream.

Make this delicious Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Penne Pasta for family dinner tonight!

Posted by Eve

Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia

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When it’s oppressively hot outside, the last thing anyone wants is to have to count calories when consuming a delicious frozen treat. No worries when you make these delicious frozen Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia — they’re made with just three ingredients.

Keep in mind that you don’t have to follow the recipe exactly — you can use different fruits such as blue berries, raspberries, mangoes, pineapple, etc. — whatever fruit you enjoy the most. Also, do not put any water in the mixture or it will form ice crystals and weaken the taste of the pop. Instead, if your mix is extremely thick add more yogurt to thin out. Taste your mix before placing it in molds to check for desired sweetness.

** You can find ice pop molds just about anywhere, at a really affordable price.

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt PopsIngredients
2 cups whole strawberries (or the fruit of your choice)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup Stevia

Instructions
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Fill ice pop molds with mixture.

Allow the mixture to freeze for about 3 hours.

Enjoy your Strawberry Yogurt Pops Made With Stevia!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Tomato Soup

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If you enjoy homemade tomato soup, I have an awesome recipe for you to try.  It does not cost much and any extra soup can be frozen for later consumption.  This recipe is a chunky version but you can make a less chunky version by simply allowing it to pulse in your food processor longer.

Ingredients

Homemade Tomato Soup
Homemade Tomato Soup (Chunky)

3-4 Lbs Roma Tomatoes
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-2 Teaspoons Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
5 Large Cloves Garlic (grated)
1 Tablespoon Basil (dry)
1 Tablespoon Oregano (dry)
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Flakes (optional)
1-2 Tablespoons Cilantro (fresh)
1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
1 1/2 Cups Water

Directions

Steam your tomatoes in a colander for 5 minutes.  Set aside and allow it to cool. Then gently peel off skin.  Removing the skin is important because if this step is avoided the skin will roll up into a “needle” and ruin your soup.
Place tomatoes in a saucepan and add spices.
Allow tomatoes and spices to simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.
Carefully, pour mixture into a food processor and pulse until tomatoes are broken down.
Return mixture to saucepan.
Slowly, add 1/2 of a cup of water at a time and gently stir.  Add more water, if you prefer a thinner soup. Taste to see if more salt is required.
Allow soup to simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Serve soup with garlic bread or French bread for a light afternoon lunch.
If you like a more creamier soup add a spoon of sour cream or heavy cream to each serving.

If you love tomatoes as much as I do, you might find yourself addicted to this healthy and simple homemade tomato soup. Enjoy!!

Posted by Eve

Eve’s Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

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My family really enjoys spaghetti night and anyone who knows Italian food understands that the tomato sauce is what makes the dish. This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is great to use for just about any pasta dish, such as baked ziti, lasagna and even as a pizza sauce.  Double this recipe and make plenty so that you can freeze and thaw the rest on another night for a super easy dinner.  This recipe is best made with fresh ingredients, but it’s perfectly fine to use dried spices.

Ingredients:
Spaghetti Sauce29 ounce can of tomatoes (I like Tuttoroso brand)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 of a small onion ( diced)
1/2 of a green pepper (diced)
3 garlic cloves ( grated)
1 lb of ground beef ( optional)
1 tablespoon of oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried red chile flakes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 cup of water

Instructions
In a large sauce pan set on medium heat sauté diced onions cook till soft and place to the side
Add ground beef to pan and cook until meat is browned
Add can of tomato sauce and mash tomatoes with a potato masher
Add tomato paste
Bring to a simmer
Add onions and green pepper and grated garlic combine well
Add oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt and pepper and water
Stir together
Set heat on low and simmer 45 minutes stirring occasionally
Serve over spaghetti or noodle of your choice.

This homemade spaghetti sauce is savory and delicious — so good that you might find it hard to resist grabbing a second helping. Enjoy!

Posted by Eve

Homemade Mini Chimichangas Recipe

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Homemade chimichangas are one of my favorite recipes to make at home.  They are delicious little flaky pockets filled with Mexican inspired ingredients.  I can remember the first time that I tried them.  It was a cute Mexican restaurant located on West 4th Street in Manhattan.  It was love at first bite!  I was totally surprised to find out, later on, that they were not originally an authentic Mexican dish.  I also, realized that there is no wrong way to make them.  Chimichangas are basically burritos that are deep fried.  However, I do my best to stay healthy, so needless to say, that I am not keen on deep frying anything these days!  I figured out a healthier version that maintains its flavor and is very satisfying.

Ingredients

image58-10 Tortillas
1- 2 Skinless Chicken Breast
1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese ( or cheese of your choice )
1/2 Cup Refried Beans
1/4 Cup Finely Diced Mushrooms ( optional )
1/2 Cup Finely Diced Onion
1/2 Cup Finely Diced Green Pepper
2 Tablespoons Chipotle Peppers In Adobo Sauce
2 Teaspoons Garlic Powder
2 Teaspoons Onion Powder
1 Tablespoon Cumin
2 Teaspoons Salt
1/4 Cup Vegetable (or Peanut) Oil
4 Tablespoons Water

Instructions

In a large non stick skillet, set heat on medium, add two tablespoons of water and add chicken breast to thoroughly cook breast(s) for about 3-4 minutes each side.
Remove breast from skillet and shred breast in a large plate using two forks.

image1Now, on medium heat, add to skillet:
Onions
Green peppers
Mushrooms
Sauté until soft

Add shredded chicken to skillet and add:
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Chipotle
Cumin
Salt
Water
Combine well

image2Simmer for about 3 minutes and remove from heat with lid on

In a large skillet place 1/4 cup of vegetable oil on medium high heat

Assemble the chimichangas.
First, warm tortillas in microwave for 30 seconds. Then, spread approximately 1 teaspoon of refried beans on a tortilla, image4add cheese and 1 tablespoon of chicken mixture.  Next, fold tortilla in half, then fold in the sides and roll over. Repeat.

Place Chimichangas in oil, folded side down until golden brown on each side.

Optional Garnishes
Sour cream
Salsa
Pico de gallo
Guacamole
image3Iceberg lettuce (shredded)

Enjoy this Homemade Mini Chimichangas Recipe!

Posted by Eve