Tag Archives: Garlic

Sweet and Spicy Honey Grilled Shrimp

Dinner, Lunch, Recipes 4 Comments

It’s almost that time of year. Grilling season. Well technically, the weather has been so nice lately that some of you may have been grilling already. Some of you may have indoor grills (I definitely need one) Shrimp is a fabulous food to grill. Small, perfect for skewers and tons of flavor!

Sweet and Spicy Honey Grilled Shrimp

You know how much I like a little heat in a lot of my food and this is just the right amount of kick! You can always add a little more kick!

Ingredients

  • 2-2 1/2 lb. raw, shelled, de-veined shrimp. (Tiger Shrimp are great).
  • 1 tablespoon minced or pressed garlic
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh ginger
  • 1/4 cup hot chili garlic paste
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili garlic paste
  • 1 cup  honey
  • 1 cup fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • Skewers to thread shrimp
  1. Rinse shrimp in cold water and place in a large Ziploc bag.
  2. Combine garlic, ginger, both chili pastes, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper, and oil in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly. Set aside 1 cup of the marinade.
  3. Pour remaining mixture over shrimp and refrigerate for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.
  4. When ready to cook, thread shrimp onto skewers.
  5. Preheat outdoor grill. This should really should be done outside because they get VERY smokey! When grill is hot, reduce heat to low and quickly place all skewers over the heat. Brush with reserved marinade. When they’ve cooked for 1 1/2-2 minutes, quickly flip them over and brush or drizzle with remaining marinade. Cook for another 1 1/2-2 minutes, or until opaque and pink.
  6. Remember, shrimp cook QUICKLY. You want to be careful not to overcook them.
  7. Remove skewers from grill and remove shrimp from skewers. Pile them on a plate, drizzle with any remaining reserved marinade, and squeeze the juice from a lime all over them.
  8. Serve with rice or french fries any of your other favorite sides!

Easy Garlic Chicken

Basics, Dinner, Lunch, Recipes Leave a comment

Looking for a quick dinner recipe that your friends and family will enjoy? This chicken has a touch of sweetness that is sure to please with ease.

Easy Garlic Chicken

These chicken breast get a touch of sweetness with a touch of brown sugar. Serve with white rice (or brown) and your favorite sides for a great dinner that doesn’t require a lot of kitchen time!

Via Food.com

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs (drumsticks work well too- use your favorite piece of chicken)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  1. Preheat oven to 500°F and lightly grease a casserole dish.
  2. In small sauté pan, sauté garlic with the oil until tender.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar.
  4. Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture.
  5. Add salt and pepper to taste. (You can always add more after your chicken has cooked. It is very easy to over salt and pepper any dish so be careful. Salt lightly and then if you need more, add it)
  6. Bake uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes.

Didn’t I still you it was easy! This dish would go great along side Garlicky Baked French Fries! 

ENJOY!!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Baked Basil Fries

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We’ve got our sweets for St. Patrick’s Day. We have our Irish Soda Bread. But I feel like we are missing something. Maybe a potato recipe? Of course! These baked french fries have some basil for that touch of green that you can’t leave out on St. Patrick’s Day. Plus they are baked so they are better for you! Preheat that oven and let’s get to it!

Baked Basil Fries 

Ingredients

  • 2 lb fresh russet potatoes (about 2 large)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil and set aside.
  2. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
  3. In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Toss potatoes with mixture.
  4. Spray foil with cooking spray. Place potatoes on cookie sheet in single layer. Bake 15 minutes; turn potatoes, and bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until tender.

French fries are so easy, delicious and the perfect lunch or dinner side. Eat by themselves or your favorite dipping sauce.

ENJOY! 😀

Benihana Style Chicken Fried Rice

Dinner, Lunch, Recipes 2 Comments

Benihanas is one of my favorite places to eat. I can request my meal not be made with soy sauce and all is right with the world!! We’ll now I can recreate that DELICIOUS fried rice at my house!!

Benihana Style Chicken Fried Rice

You can be just like the chef’s at Benihana with this quick and delicious fried rice recipe. Grab some gluten free soy sauce and get cooking!

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces cooked chicken
  • 8 ounces steamed rice
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons carrot, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green peas
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seed
  • 3 tablespoons vegan butter
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil or canola oil
  • 2 teaspoons gluten free soy sauce (or more to taste)
  • 6 pinches pepper
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 1 tsp fresh grated ginger
  • Sesame seeds
  • Salt to taste
  1. Heat a wok with a little bit of oil until very hot. Crack the eggs into the wok.
  2. Scramble eggs very well. (They should be a little bit brown)
  3. Saute chopped onion, green onion, seasoning and carrots in the oil until done and mix with chopped scrambled egg and chicken.
  4. Break off chunks of steamed rice and mix with vegetable, egg and chicken.
  5. Add sesame seed, minced garlic, ginger, salt and pepper, stirring well.
  6. Add vegan butter and gluten free soy sauce into the mixture, stirring well until done.

Hmmm…this maybe what I’m having for dinner tomorrow! But with a fork (I still haven’t mastered chopstick…one day…ONE DAY!)

ENJOY!!

Kwegyirba Croffie is a freelance Associate Producer at News 12 Connecticut and a Special Events/Event Planning and Social Media Intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Quinnipiac University alumni and a sister of Alpha Delta Pi. She enjoy cupcakes,Broadway musicals, Forever 21 ,giraffes, peacock feathers, orchids, lillies and anything Disney.

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, E Peperoncino

Basics, Dinner, Lunch, Recipes 2 Comments

It’s almost dinner time. A quick and easy recipe for dinner is pasta. I love putting pasta dishes together because they are SO easy and 9 out of 10 times, you always have some pasta and sauce in your pantry somewhere.

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, E Peperoncino translates to spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili pepper flakes. I KNOW we ALWAYS have these ingredients in my pantry at home. This is a delicious and simple dish that your whole family is sure to love.

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, E Peperoncino

Spaghetti aglio, olio, e peperoncino is a traditional Italian pasta dish. It’s well loved by many because it’s so easy and inexpensive to make. This is a perfect solution whenever you’re pressed for time, stumped on what to have for dinner or just looking for something nice and simple. 

Ingredients

  • 7 ounces of your favorite gluten free spaghetti
  • 2 large or 3 small garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili pepper flakes
  • 1/4 to 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
  1. Cook spaghetti according to the directions on the package, until it is al dente.
  2. Strain spaghetti and place in a large serving dish.
  3. Add minced garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix together very well. (You want every bite of spaghetti to be covered)
  4. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ENJOY!

<a href=”http://www.mycitycuisine.org/wiki/Spaghetti_Aglio,_Olio_e_Peperoncino”><img alt=”Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino” src=”http://www.mycitycuisine.org/exlink/index.php?pg=1429&tp=4&#8243; style=”border:0px;padding:0px;width:500px;height:113px” /></a>

Grilled Barbecue Pork Bites

Drinks, Lunch, Recipes Leave a comment

For dinner last night my mom and I marinated a couple of pork chops with balsamic vinaigrette dressing (one of the easiest marinades I have used and it works with so many things!) and it got me thinking about other ways to use pork. We usually have ground pork or pork chops when using pork. So what about little pork bites? These grilled barbecue pork bites are prefect for indoor and outdoor grilling or even on the broiler or on your stove top. Grilling isn’t just for the summer anymore!

Grilled Barbecue Pork Bites 

Ingredients

  • 1 pork tenderloin (3/4 to 1 lb)
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne) (or more for some extra heat)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1 medium green onion, finely chopped (1 tablespoon)
  1. Cut pork into 32 (1-inch) pieces; place in medium bowl. In small bowl, mix chili powder, cumin, brown sugar, garlic powder and red pepper. Reserve 2 teaspoons spice mixture; sprinkle remaining mixture over pork pieces; stir to coat completely. Let stand 15 minutes.
  2. In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, reserved 2 teaspoons spice mixture and the onion; set aside.
  3. Heat gas or charcoal grill. Spray grill basket (grill “wok’) with cooking spray. Spoon pork into basket.
  4. Place basket on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes, shaking basket or stirring pork once or twice, until pork is no longer pink in center. Serve with toothpicks and mayonnaise mixture for dipping.
  5. OR if you do not have a grill, heat a little bit of olive oil or canola oil in medium pan on medium heat. Cook pork 10 to 12 minutes until pork is no longer pink in the center. Serve with toothpicks and mayonnaise mixture for dipping.

Now I have a small craving for some good old fashioned southern barbecue ribs! 🙂 I cannot wait for summer to be here!