Green Bean, Potato, and Tuna Salad

Green Bean, Potato, and Tuna Salad
Originally uploaded by kel h

I donated blood today, and wanted to make myself something with a good amount of protien. I had yukon gold potatoes instead of red (which i think would have held their shape better) and i didn't have tomatoes, but this was a mighty tasty lunch!

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds slender green beans, trimmed, halved crosswise
3 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste
2 large red potatoes, diced
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
9 ounces canned tuna packed in oil, drained
Directions
Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling water until crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Using a mesh strainer, transfer the green beans to a large bowl of ice water to cool completely. Drain the green beans and pat dry with a towel.

Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the same cooking liquid and bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the potatoes to the simmering liquid and cook until they are just tender but still hold their shape, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to the ice water to cool completely. Drain the potatoes and pat dry with a towel.

In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, garlic, oil, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the tomatoes, basil and parsley in a large serving bowl. Add the tuna and toss gently to combine. Add the green beans and potatoes and gently combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.

Balsamic BBQ tofu over brown rice and broccoli

Balsamic BBQ tofu over brown rice and broccoli
Originally uploaded by kel h

So, I moved to a new apartment, one that has cable! I've been watching a lot of food network, especially Alton Brown and Giada DeLaurentis. This is a recipe that she made (only she did chicken instead of tofu)

Ingredients
For the Balsamic BBQ sauce:
1 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and stir until all the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Simmer over medium heat until reduced by 1/3, about 15 to 20 minutes.

I poured it over some firm tofu that I pressed and sliced into "tenders" and baked at 375 for about ten minutes (could go longer I think)

Fetet Hummus

Fetet Hummus
Originally uploaded by kel h

(made at the cooking class at Yasin's for Teri's Birthday)

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups cooked chick peas (reserve 1 c broth)
1/2 c lemon juice
4 tbsp tahini
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp syrian red pepper (aka aleppo pepper)
1/4 c parsley
2-3 tbwsp butter
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 large pita, toasted
1 head broccoli cut into small pieces

in blender puree 1/2 c chickpeas, 1 cup broth, and the lemon juice. Transfer to bowl and mix in tahini, garlic, half of the pepper and half of the parsley. it should look like super runny hummus

melt and brown the butter

crumble the pita into quarter size pieces.

layer as follows

bottom layer: crumbled pita
on top of that: broccoli
on top of broccoli: chickpeas
on top of chickpeas: pour the tahini sauce (aika runny hummus)
pour the browned butter over the whole thing, then sprinkle the rest of the pepper and the parsley

pasta puttanesca ala caprese

pasta puttanesca ala caprese
Originally uploaded by kel h

super simple pasta dish

1 box rotini pasta

2 pints grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
pinch salt
1/2 c kalmetta olives halved
1 tbsp capers
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 c fresh mozzerella, cut into small cubes
3-6 basil leaves chopped

Boil pasta in salted water

Put chopped garlic into hot pan with olive oil and stir until softened
add the tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. Squish them with a fork or spoon after a minute or two
add the olives, capers and red pepper flakes and cook until warmed
add the mozzeralla and cook until just a bit melty (don't cook too long)
mix in drained pasta, and add the basil just before serving

Super easy and super tasty!

champagne cupcakes for new years

champagne cupcakes for new years
Originally uploaded by kel h

Cupcake Ingredients
2/3 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 3/4 c flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 c champagne
6 large egg whites

1) Preheat oven 350 degrees

2) Cream butter and sugar together

3) Sift flour, baking powder and salt

4) Blend dry ingredients and butter and sugar

5) Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. fold white into batter in thirds

6) fill liners 3/4 full. Bake for 20 min

Frosting Ingredients

3/4 c vegetable shortening
12 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp champagne
4 1/2 c confectioners sugar

Beat sugar and shortening together. Add champagne, Slowly add sugar until smooth. Add additional champagne to achieve desired consistency

Black Bottom Cupcake on the "cupcake server"

Black Bottom Cupcake on the "cupcake server"
Originally uploaded by kel h

taken from The Cupcake Project

For cake:

2 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3/4 C butter, room temperature
1 1/3 C sugar
2 eggs
2/3 C plain yogurt
1 t vanilla extract
1/3 C milk
5 oz baking chocolate, melted
For goat cheese topping:
8 oz goat cheese (I used Ile de France goat cheese, but any non-flavored goat cheese would work)
1/3 C sugar
1 egg
2 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
Whisk flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and milk until blended.
Alternately fold in flour mixture and melted chocolate, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the goat cheese topping.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the topping onto the center of each cupcake.
Bake at 350 F for thirty minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry.

periodic table of beer

periodic table of beer
Originally uploaded by John602

this looks handy