Homemade Guacamole Dip .. with a Tip!

Ingredients:


4 Ripe Avocados ( Reserve 1 avocado, chopped to add towards the end for chunkiness)
2 tbsp Sour Cream 
3 tbsp Lemon Juice + 1 tbsp Lime Juice (Optional)
Few drops of Tabasco Sauce (Optional)
2&1/2 Ripe Tomatoes, Seeded & Chopped (Reserve 1 tomato, chopped to add later for chunkiness)
Handful of Chopped Spring Onions
Handful of Finely Chopped Coriander
Sea Salt to taste
1 Fresh Red Chili (Mild), Seeded & Finely Chopped


Method:


- In a food processor, throw in 3 avocados, 1 tomato, and the red chili and pulse.
- Add the spring onions & coriander and pulse again.
- Add the sour cream and a good pinch of salt and taste. Pulse for the last time.
- Remove the mixture from the food processor and add the remaining chopped avocados & tomatoes for chunkiness.  
- Season with more sea salt and lemon & lime juice until you reach the desired taste.
- Add the Tabasco and mix well.
- Serve with Tortilla chips or homemade pita chips.


Tip 1: To keep the guacamole bright green and avoiding that bad browning from oxidizing, keep one of the avocado seeds in the dip and add enough lemon or lime juice.


Tip 2: To keep the guacamole in the fridge for a few days without it changing color and oxidizing, put it in a Tupperware and put a direct cling wrap (plastic wrap) on the guacamole dip and let it stick to it to block air and then close it with the lid.


Enjoy!

Satay Chicken ~ Thai

Ingredients:

6 Chicken breast halves boned, skinned and cut into strips

To marinade it:

1 tablespoon Light brown sugar
1 tablespoon Curry powder
2 tablespoons Crunchy peanut butter
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
Crushed dried chile peppers


For the peanut Sauce:

2/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1&1/2 cups Coconut milk
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon fresh ginger root, grated
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cayenne pepper
Grated lime zest
Fresh cilantro sprigs


Method:


- For the marinade, combine the brown sugar,curry powder, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic and chile peppers in a shallow dish.

- Thread the chicken strips onto bamboo skewers, place the skewers into the soy sauce mixture and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight.

- Make the peanut sauce by combining the peanut butter, coconut milk, lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and garlic in a saucepan. Season to taste with cayenne pepper.

- Cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce is as thick as heavy cream (about 15 minutes).

- Transfer to a food processor or blender and puree briefly. Add chicken broth and cream and blend until smooth. This mixture can be made several hours ahead and stored in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

- preheat a broiler.

- Cook the skewered chicken, turning several times and basting with the marinade, until crispy on the outside but still moist on the inside, about 8 minutes.

- Sprinkle grilled chicken with lime zest and garnish with cilantro leaves. Serve with the peanut sauce as a dip.


Enjoy...

Mexican Fajitas - Mexican

Ingredients:

450 g sirloin steak
1/4 cup beef stock
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 tabelspoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 small green & red bell peppers, cut in thin strips
1 large tomato, diced
4 large flour tortillas
Salsa, sour cream or guacamole (optional) - Found at Sultan Center


Method:

- Slice beef in thin strips.

- In a medium bowl, combine stock, lime juice, garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, half the coriander and pepper. Add beef, turning to coat each piece, and refrigerate, covered, for 15 minutes.

- In a large frying pan heat oil, drain beef, reserving marinade. Add beef to pan and stir-fry until no longer pink, about five minutes.

- Add onion and bell pepper and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until tender-crisp.

- Stir in marinade and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes. Add tomato and chili, turning ingredients, until hot through. Add remaining coriander.

- Wrap tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

- Serve beef mixture wrapped in warmed tortillas. Top with salsa, sour cream or guacamole, if desired.

Enjoy...

Marinates ~ JO

Some Marinates by Jamie Oliver..


Cajun Spicy

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, ground
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
3 tablespoons of onion flakes
2 tablespoons of dried oregano
salt

Method:

Crush all the ingredients together until you have a powdery consistency, and rub all over your chosen meat.



Asian Marinade

Ingredients:

2 sticks lemon grass, crushed and bruised
1 small handful of kaffir lime leaves, torn
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
1 fresh red chili, finely chopped
2 limes, halved, juiced and skin squashed
10 good splashes of olive oil

Method:

Crush and crumble together in a bowl and coat over your chosen meat. Also works brilliantly with fish.



Olive oil & Lemon juice

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method:

Mix all together and use of your chosen meat.

Grilled Shrimp with Cilantro Sauce

Serves 4


Prep time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes


Ingredients:

6 cups (1 head) cabbage, shredded
2 tablespoons canola oil
Fresh lime juice
Toasted sesame seeds
Coarse salt and ground pepper
32 medium shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled and deveined
1/4 cup Asian Cilantro Sauce


Asian Cilantro Sauce Ingredients: (makes 1/2 cup)

2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
Pinch of crushed red pepper


Method:

1. Heat grill to high. In a large bowl, toss 6 cups shredded cabbage with 2 tablespoons canola oil, fresh lime juice, and toasted sesame seeds. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Thread 32 peeled and deveined medium shrimp on 8 skewers. Place in a shallow dish; toss with 1/4 cup of the Asian Cilantro Sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Grill until opaque, 2 to 4 minutes per side.

3. Serve the shrimp skewers with sesame cabbage, remaining 1/4 cup cilantro sauce, and lime wedges.


For the Asian Cilantro Sauce:

1. In blender, purée ingredients until smooth.

Note: If not using immediately, the sauce should be refrigerated; cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly on the sauce to preserve the bright color. This sauce will keep for up to three days.

Enjoy...

Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 ripe avocado, diced
1 finely chopped cucumber
1 small red onion finely diced
1 large handful parsley
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1/2 lime
4 tablespoons olive oil
200g Smoked Salmon.


Method:

- Put 1 diced avocado in a large bowl. Add the cucumber, red onion, parsley, fish sauce, and olive oil. Squeeze the juice from the lime, then gently toss to mix, being careful not to mash the avocado.

- Cut the salmon fillets into slices and add the salsa on top.


Tip:

for a little zing...you can add 2 large red chillies and an additional lime. Using a sharp knife cut the top and base off the lime. Sit the lime on a chopping board and run the knife down all sides, removing the skin and pith. Run the knife between the membranes to release the lime segments then finely chop them and gently stir them into the salsa. Finely chop the chillies and sprinkle over the top.

Enjoy...

Key Lime Pie

Ingredients:


For the Crust:

3 tablespoons butter, melted
3 tablespoons sugar
graham cracker crumbs (15 full crackers)

For the Filling:

1 cup Key Lime juice (20 - 40 key limes, depending on size and juiciness)
2 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk
2 egg yolks
2 whole eggs
zest of 2 limes



Method:

- Mix all crust ingredients thoroughly. Press into bottom and sides of a 10" pie tin with fingertips. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Do not let burn. Remove from oven.

- Combine filling ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. Pour into pie crust.

- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until firm.

- Remove and let cool. Refrigerate. Serve with dollop of whipped cream and fresh lime zest.


Enjoy...