quick Archives - MyFoodChannel

Fried Plantains Recipe …try Platanos Maduros!

04/07/202407/21/2018 by Chef Buck

Try this easy fried plantains recipe. In the store, plantains are sold green and unripe, yellowing, or even totally black. A totally black banana is yucky, but a totally black plantain is okay. It’s fine to buy plantains at any stage of ripeness and use them for various recipes. For frying plantains, I like to buy the medium-ripe plantains and slice them into planks and fry in oil in a skillet. They have a nice sweetness and make a tasty side dish for breakfast, especially with rice and eggs.

What you need for this Fried Plantains Recipe

PLANTAIN …medium-ripe to ripe
OIL for sauteing
and seasoning is optional
…I like a bit of
CHILI POWDER
CINNAMON
SALT
and for an even sweeter
dessert-style side dish add
BROWN SUGAR
…but that’s crazy

How to Fry Plantains

Choose ripe plantains for frying, and buy plantains that are yellow to black in color. Feel the plantains and select ones that are semi-firm to soft, you can buy the super soft blacker plantains, but I prefer more texture.

Heat a skillet on medium heat and add oil.
Slice the tips off of the plantain and peel away the skin.
Cut the plantain in half through the center, and then cut each half lengthwise into 3-4 planks.
Slide plantains into the hot skillet.
Season top half if desired.
Fry until the bottom begins to brown, then turn and brown other side.
Add more seasoning if desired, or even some sugar, if you’re crazy.
Once the plantains are cooked to desired color, remove and drain on a paper towel,
Serve warm.

They are great alone as a snack, or a tasty side dish, especially with rice or a seasoned meat dish. Have you ever heard of the expression “a little sweet and some meat”? Plantains make a perfect combo for this dining idea. I really enjoy fried plantains for breakfast with fried eggs.
Give fried plantains a try and let me know what you think, and try green plantains, as well. Depending on the ripeness of the plantain, you can use them for a wide variety of dishes.

How to Cook Green Plantains

Green plantains are a great ingredient, but unripe plantains definitely need cooking. They are not sweet, harder to peel raw, very starchy, and much like a potato. I like to boil green plantains, because it’s easy.

Slice off the very tips of the plantain, but leave on the peeling.
Cut the unpeeled plantain into three sections.
Bring a pot of salted water to boil and add the plantain sections.
Reduce the heat and let the plantains simmer for about 20-30 minutes, or until a knife passes easily into the plantain.
Remove the plantains from the water.
Make a slice along the length of the cooked plantain and remove the peeling.
The banana will be very starchy, savory, and neutral in flavor, and you can use it just like you might a potato.

One of my favorite ways to use boiled plantains is to mash them with onions and seasoning, kind of like a plantain version of mashed potato.
Experiment with green plantains a try them in some of your favorite potato recipes, and let me know what you think.

For more tasty vegetarian dishes, check out my Vegetarian Recipe Playlist, and if you liked the idea of green plantains, you might like trying this Easy Yuca Recipe, too.

Be sure to sign up for our website mailing list and receive our latest recipe video right in your inbox. And if you like hanging out on Youtube, subscribe to the Chef Buck Cooking Channel.
Thanks for checking out this Fried Plantains Recipe and video, if you enjoyed the dish, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Chayote Squash Facts and Low-Fat Recipe

04/07/202406/30/2018 by Chef Buck

What is chayote? Chayote squash is a fruit, but in the same way that squash and cucumber are fruit, it’ll never win a fruit contest. Chayote, aka choko or mirliton, is completely edible cooked or raw, from the skin to the flesh to the seed in the center. Chayote squash has a neutral flavor, so this “fruit” needs a lot of seasoning. It’s an ideal ingredient for it’s texture more than it’s flavor, like jicama and young green jackfruit. Chayote squash is an easy ingredient to work with and a healthy dining choice, so definitely give it a try if you find it in your local market.

Chayote Fun Facts

“Fun” might be too strong a word.
Chayote is an excellent source of dietary fiber, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
It is a member of the “gourd family” along with pumpkin, squash, and cucumber.
Known as chayote, sayote, mirliton, choko, chocho, vegetable pear, and is eaten all around the world.
When buying, choose chayote that are smooth and firm. Pick medium sized chayote. Older, larger fruit will sprout sooner.
Peeling chayote exposes you to the juice, which can feel “weird” on your skin, but you don’t have to peel it; the skin, inner seed, and flesh are all edible.

What you need to Cook a Spicy Chayote Recipe

1 CHAYOTE thinly sliced
1 ONION chopped
2-3 GARLIC cloves
1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS
HOT PEPPER as desired
1-2 Tbsp CURRY SEASONING
SALT to taste
OIL for sauteing

How Cook Chayote Squash in a Skillet

Slice the chayote thinly. Chayote has a dense apple like texture that holds up very well under heat, so it takes a bit to soften up when cooked, so slice very thinly
if you like your chayote less crispy crunchy.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat and add cumin seeds.
Add onion and garlic.
Add fresh hot pepper if desired.
Saute for several minutes.
Add seasoning and cook about 2 minutes more.
Add sliced chayote, mix well, and saute for a minute.
Add a small amount of water, cover, and simmer to desired tenderness. Add more water as needed, but never too much.

That’s it!
Give Chayote squash a try and let me know what you think!

Have you ever tried Rutabaga? It’s another interesting ingredient you might want to give a try.
And for more tasty vegetarian dishes, explore my Vegetarian Recipe Playlist

Thanks for checking out the recipe and video, if you liked the dish, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Vegetable Soup Recipe with Rutabaga

03/05/202005/26/2018 by Chef Buck

Try a tasty vegetable soup featuring rutabaga. Rutabaga is a healthy root vegetable you can use like a potato, but with less than half the calories and carbs of potato. Rutabaga is like a larger version of a turnip, only sweeter. It’s related to cabbage, and has a mild cabbagy taste, but not the “scary” cabbagy taste. Rutabaga is great in soups, and I love it simply seasoned and roasted in the oven. Like most produce, when buying rutabaga choose one that’s firm and seems heavy for it’s size, because that means it’s not too old, or dried out. Next time you’re at the market, pick up a rutabaga and give this vegetable soup a try and let me know what you think.

What you need for this Rutabaga Vegetable Soup Recipe

1 large RUTABAGA
1 ONION
2 stalks of CELERY
2 CARROTS
4-6 GARLIC
HOT PEPPER as desired
OIL for sauteing
CUMIN and FENNEL 1-2 tsp
(seeds optional)
1 Tbsp GARLIC POWDER
1-2 Tbsp CURRY POWDER
1 Tbsp SMOKED PAPRIKA
SALT and PEPPER to taste
(I use water in the soup if making ahead of time, or ready-made broth if eating soon)
Also, it’s soup; so add whatever else you want and clean the odds and ends out of your fridge.

How to make a Vegetable Soup with Rutabaga

Slice the ends off the rutabaga and cut away the outer skin with a knife.
Chop rutabaga into large cubes, approximately 1/2″ squares, but err on larger pieces.
In a large soup pot, heat oil on medium heat.
Add seeds and cook about 20 seconds.
Add garlic, hot pepper, and onion and saute for another 4-5 minutes.
Add in seasoning and mix well.
Add carrot, celery and rutabaga and mix well.
Fill pot with enough broth or water to cover veggies (use veggie or chicken broth instead of water if eating soup the same day, use water if sitting overnight), cover with a lid, and bring pot to a
boil.
Reduce heat and simmer on low for 40-50 minutes until rutabaga is fork tender.

That’s it!
Give this easy rutabaga soup recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Is Rutabaga Healthier than Potato?

Rutabaga has LESS THAN HALF the calories of potato.
Rutabaga has 60% FEWER CARBS than potato.
Rutabaga contains about the same amount of Dietary Fiber as potato.
Potato wins the vitamin count; rutabaga provides more Vitamin C than potato,
but overall, is less nutrient rich than potato.

So, don’t give up on potatoes, but add rutabaga into your menu rotation and you’ll find it makes a great change-up from the regular potato routine. If you want to jazz up your breakfast, you can start with this Hash Browns Recipe with Rutabaga, or get down to basics
with this Roasted Rutagaba dish.

rutabaga recipe — Roasted rutabaga makes a great alternative to a potato side dish.

For another super vegetarian recipe idea, try this No-Meat Vegetarian Chili Recipe.

Thanks for checking out this rutabaga soup recipe, and if you liked the dish, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Jackfruit Pulled Pork Recipe for Vegetarian BBQ

04/07/202405/12/2018 by Chef Buck

Here is the easiest jackfruit pulled pork recipe ever. A faux pork vegetarian recipe made with canned young, green jackfruit will deliver the taste and texture of your favorite BBQ pork, and it’s a much healthier choice. This recipe is basically a BBQ sauce delivery system. Unripe canned jackfruit makes a perfect meat substitute that works well for either pork or chicken, so definitely give it a try.

Ingredients for Jackfruit Pulled Pork BBQ

1 20oz can young, green JACKFRUIT
1 medium ONION
2-4 cloves GARLIC
your favorite BBQ SAUCE
1 tsp CUMIN POWDER
½ tsp CHILI POWDER
some SALT and PEPPER
OIL for sautéing

How to Make Vegetarian Pulled Pork BBQ with Jackfruit

Rinse and drain the young, green jackfruit. Make sure to buy unripe jackfruit and NOT the
yellow ripe jackfuit. You can buy jackfruit online. Check CURRENT CANNED JACKFRUIT PRICES on Amazon.
Shred the jackfruit. I do this by hand, it’s very easy, but you can use a knife, too.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat.
Add thinly sliced onion and finely chopped garlic and saute 3-4 minutes.
Add in seasoning.
Add jackfruit and a little BBQ sauce.
Raise the temperature and heat the jackfruit through, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the dish reduces as the water cooks out of the onion and jackfruit.
Add more BBQ sauce to desired sauciness, and then remove from heat.

This jackfruit pulled pork substitute is great all on its own, served over rice, or perfect on a soft roll or bun, so definitely give it a try. If you like pulled pork BBQ, you will be amazed at this vegetarian option and how easy it is to prepare.

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is exactly what it sounds like, a fruit, but it’s HUGE. A 50 pound jackfruit is not uncommon. This giant tropical fruit grows on trees and is very popular in Asia. Unripe jackfruit can be cooked and used in savory dishes. Ripened jackfruit can be eaten raw and, unlike young green jackfruit, is very juicy and sweet.

Buying and cleaning fresh jackfruit is quite an endevour, so canned jackfruit is a perfect alternative. I prefer the green jackfruit and find it to be a terrific ingredient to experiment with in a variety of vegetarian recipes. The mildness of its flavor allows young jackfruit to be incredibly versatile, and it will enhance a recipe without overpowering it.

I’ve used green jackfruit as a pulled pork BBQ, as a faux meat filling in tacos, in an Indian-style variation of Jackfruit Tikka Masala, and as a No-Potato Hash for breakfast.
Its super nutritious, readily available at Asian markets, and well worth giving a try, so seek it out.

jackfruit recipe — Seasoned and baked Jackfruit makes a convincing faux chicken when added to this rich Indian inspired tikka masala.

Thanks for watching our recipe videos!

Thanks for checking out the canned jackfruit pulled pork recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list to never miss a new cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends, and follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

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Vegetarian Chili is not just for Vegetarians!

08/04/202304/28/2018 by Chef Buck

Here’s a satisfying and hearty vegetarian chili recipe that’ll put a little pep in your step. If you’re a die-hard carnivore, then your initial reaction is probably NOPE, but you should give meatless chili a try. I love a good meat chili, and when I get chili at a restaurant I generally order a meat and bean chili, but at home I’m vegetarian chili all the way. Vegetarian chili just tastes great, and I don’t miss the meat, plus it’s a perfect way to clean out all the veggie odds and ends in your fridge. The key to a hearty meatless chili is lots of seasoning, onions, and peppers. I like to add at least two kinds of beans, and the veggies can be whatever you like, so be creative!

What You Need to Make a Great Vegetarian Chili

15 oz can CHICK PEAS
15 oz can KIDNEY BEANS
1 BELL PEPPER (chopped)
Lg ONION (chopped)
JALAPENO PEPPER (diced, very optional)
2-3 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
1 ZUCHINNI (cut into large pieces)
1 cup CAULIFLOWER (chopped)
2 ROMA TOMATOES (chopped)
28 oz can CRUSHED TOMATOES
1 heaping Tbsp DRIED OREGANO
1 Tbsp CUMIN
1 tsp GARLIC POWDER
1 Tbsp CHILI POWDER
1 Tbsp SMOKED PAPRIKA
SALT and PEPPER, to taste
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL for sauteing
WATER as needed…add slowly
I also add a little leftover RUTABAGA to this recipe, but that is very optional. A vegetarian chili is a great way to clean out the fridge of all those veggie odds and ends, so use what you have.

How to Make Easy Vegetarian Chili

Slice, dice, mince, and chop all your ingredients. Prepping this dish is the most labor intensive part of this recipe. Once your ingredients are ready, it’s pretty eazy peezy.
Heat some oil in a large pot on medium heat.
Add in the onion and hot pepper and saute for 4-5 minutes.
Add in the rest of the peppers, garlic, and seasoning, then mix and saute for another couple minutes.
Add in everything else, plus about ½ a can of water. Be conservative with the water. The dish might seem overly thick, but a lot of water will be released from the veggies as the chili cooks. You can always add more water later.
Cover and bring the pot to a bubble, reduce the heat down to a simmer, and cook covered for about 45 minutes, adding water as needed and desired.
After 45 minutes give the dish a taste test and adjust seasoning, but remember, the flavor of the chili will intensify on its own as it sits.

Like any soup or stew or chili, it’s ideal if you make the recipe ahead of time, because the dish will get exponentially better as the days pass, so be sure to make a big pot of chili so you’ll have plenty of leftovers.

That’s it! Hope you like it, and if you’ve got a bigger pot, CLICK HERE for a double-sized variation of this vegetarian chili recipe.

If you want jalapeno corn muffins to pair with chili, here’s a recipe that tastes great and is a breeze to make.

Jalapeno Corn Muffin Recipe

¾ cup cornmeal (whole, medium grind)
1¼ cup all-purpose flour
2½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp chipolte (or regular chili powder)
½ tsp salt…unless the corn or butter already contain salt
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp oil (alternative butter, melted)
3 Tbsp honey
1 large egg
1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
¼ cup pickled jalapenos, chopped
¼ onion, minced
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (plus ¼ cup for topping)
optional: 1 jalapeno (deseeded and sliced for topping)

Place rack in middle of the oven and preheat to 400°F.
Grease 12 muffin pan cups or line with parchment paper baking cups; set aside.
Combine dry ingredients in bowl.
Combine remaining ingredients in another bowl (minus topping, jalapeno). Add to dry ingredients and stir until ingredients are moistened.
Fill prepared muffin cups evenly.
Top with remaining jalapeno rings and cheese.
Bake 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and muffins are golden brown.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tins.
Serve warm or cold. Serve with butter or honey butter.
HONEY BUTTER:
½ cup butter, softened
2 Tbsp honey

I hope you like these recipe ideas. Give this healthy chili recipe a try and let me know what you think, and for more hearty meat-free options, try this very easy blackened eggplant Veggie Burger Recipe or this fantastic faux pasta made with Zucchini Zoodles.
Or visit my Vegetarian Recipe Playlist over on The Chef Buck Youtube Channel.

Thanks for Watching our Vegetarian Chli Recipe!

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

If you like what CG and I do, support us on Patreon, or throw us a tip in our Paypal Tip Jar. We’ll happily enjoy a coffee on the road – Thanks! We appreciate all the support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

We include affiliate links for products on our website. Making a purchase after clicking on our links and we may earn a commission which helps us produce more videos and drink more coffee :^) We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program. It provides a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, so we can make more videos.

Rutabaga Recipe for a Low Carb Diet

03/05/202004/14/2018 by Chef Buck

Here’s an easy Roasted Rutabaga Recipe that you will love, and it’s a great alternative to potato. Rutabaga is a low-carb root vegetable you can use just like a potato, but with less than half the calories and carbs of potato. In appearance rutabaga is like a larger version of a turnip, but it tastes a bit sweeter. It’s related to cabbage, so it has a very mild cabbage taste. It’s great baked in the oven, cooked in soups, and I love it shredded and cooked into breakfast hash browns. Like most produce, when buying rutabaga choose one that’s firm and seems heavy for it’s size. Give this rutabaga recipe a try and let me know what you think.

What You Need for a Roasted Rutabaga Recipe

RUTABAGA cubed
OLIVE OIL
SALT
CHILI PEPPER
BLACK PEPPER
ROSEMARY

How to Roast Rutabaga in the Oven

Buy a rutabaga that’s heavy for it’s size and not dried out.
Slice the end off the rutabaga and cut away the outer skin with a knife.
Cut into roughly 1/2″ square cubes.
Toss the rutabaga cubes in a bowl with olive oil.
Add seasoning and toss until cubes are well coated
Spread rutabaga on an ungreased baking sheet. Aluminium foil is a good idea.
Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 45 minutes.
Halfway through the cooking process, you can check on the rutabaga and give them a turn to prevent overcooking on one side.

And that’s it!
Roast some rutabaga in the oven let me know what you think.

Is Rutabaga Healthier than Potato?

Rutabaga has LESS THAN HALF the calories of potato.
It has 60% FEWER CARBS than potato.
Rutabaga contains about the same amount of Dietary Fiber as potato.
Potato wins the vitamin count; rutabaga provides more Vitamin C than potato,
but overall, is less nutrient rich than potato.

So, don’t give up on potatoes, but add a rutabaga recipe into your menu rotation, it’ll make a great change-up from the regular potato routine. One of my favorite faux potato dishes is this Mock Potato Salad made with cauliflower.
And for another tasty rutabaga recipe idea, try Rutabaga Hash Browns.

hash browns recipe — click pic for recipe

Thanks for checking out this baked rutabag recipe and video, if you liked the dish, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Must Try Egg Bread Bake Recipe

03/13/202303/10/2018 by Chef Buck

Egg bread is a fancy dish for breakfast or brunch, and it’s an easy recipe to prepare. The recipe is a cross between baked eggs, bread pudding, and stove top stuffing. It’s a great way to use up old and stale bread. I go light on the cheese in this egg bread recipe, but adding more cheese and making a cheese bread is super tasty. One thing you don’t want to do is go light on the seasoning, especially if you’re using a plain loaf of bread; the more seasoning the better–especially rosemary!

What You Need for an Egg Bread Bake

crusty BREAD cubed
6 EGGS
about 1 cup MILK
2 GREEN ONION chopped
HOT PEPPER finely chopped
shredded CHEESE
1-2 Tbsp dried ROSEMARY
1 tsp dried OREGANO
PAPRIKA
BLACK PEPPER
GARLIC POWDER
CHILI POWDER (optional)
BUTTER/OIL to grease the baking dish

How to Make Baked Egg Bread

Any bread will do, but ideally use a hard and crusty loaf. If you’ve got a loaf of bread you’re thinking is to stale to eat, then this is a perfect recipe to save it.

Slice the bread into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. I like using larger cube sizes for a rustic looking dish.
In a bowl, whisk 2 eggs and milk.
Add the egg/milk mixture in with the bread and toss, coating the bread.
Add in the herbs and spices, onion, hot pepper, and cheese and toss until the bread is well coated.
Lightly grease an oven safe baking dish and add the bread mix, spreading out evenly. Check current prices on a Pyrex Baking Dish on Amazon.
With a spoon, make an impression on the top of the bread mix for each egg serving.
Crack an egg into each depression.
Slide into a preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes, until the eggs are baked to desired doneness.
Slice into servings and serve hot or cold.

That’s it! Takes a little while to bake, but otherwise this egg bread is a fairly quick dish to prepare, and a fancy way to use up stale bread.

Give this baked egg bread recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for a less bready baked egg dish, try this Fancy Egg Bake Recipe.

Thanks For Watching Our Recipe Videos!

Thanks for checking out this Egg Bread recipe, and all of our recipes. Sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a new recipe. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Hash Browns Recipe w/ Rutabaga and Zero Potato

03/05/202003/03/2018 by Chef Buck

Try a no potato hash browns recipe with rutabaga. Rutabaga is a root vegetable you can use just like a potato, but it’s a healthier choice with less than half the calories and carbs of potato. Rutabaga is like a larger version of a turnip, but a bit sweeter. It’s related to cabbage, and has a very mild cabbage taste. Rutabaga is great in soups, and I love it simply seasoned and roasted in the oven. Rutabagas look sorta like turnips, but they’re usually bigger. Like most produce, when buying rutabaga choose one that’s firm and seems heavy for it’s size. Give rutabaga a try and let me know what you think.

What You Need for a Rutabaga Hash Browns Recipe

2 cups shredded RUTABAGA
2 chopped GREEN ONIONS (separate white bottoms from green tops)
some chopped HOT PEPPER
1 EGG
shredded CHEESE (optional)
SALT to taste, for flavor and drawing out the water
season to taste, I like:
SMOKED PAPRIKA, GARLIC POWDER,
CHIPOTLE, BLACK PEPPER, etc. …use flavors you like
OIL for sauteing

How to make Hash Browns Recipe with Rutabaga

Slice the end off the rutabaga and cut away the outer skin with a knife.
Shred about 2 cups of rutabaga using a hand grater or food processor.
Place rutabaga in a colander and lightly sprinkle with salt. Mix and let sit for a few minutes while you prepare the other ingredients, this will give the salt time to draw out the water.
Squeeze excess water from the rutabaga and place in a bowl.
Add green onion bottoms, peppers, egg, and seasoning. Mix well.
Heat a skillet and oil on medium heat.
Add in the rutabaga mix and cook until browned, turning occasionally.
When near completion, stir in green onion bottoms and cheese.

That’s it!
Give an easy Rutabaga Hash Browns Recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another breakfast hash recipe idea, try out this canned Jackfruit Breakfast Hash Recipe.

Thanks for checking out this rutabaga hash brown recipe and video, if you liked the dish, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Egg Bake Italiano with Spinach and Tomato

03/13/202302/03/2018 by Chef Buck

An egg bake recipe is one of the easiest and least expensive meals to prepare, and an Italian egg bake is one of the tastiest. I’ll often clean out the fridge and use odds and ends to make a random egg casserole recipe, but an egg bake doesn’t always have to be a random mishmash of ingredients. If I have fresh spinach and sun dried tomato on hand, then an Italian Egg Bake is a cinch to make. It’s almost like a lasagna, but a whole lot easier and less expensive to prepare. An egg bake is an easy way to feed a family or gathering, and a casserole travels very well, so it’s a perfect recipe for a potluck or dinner party or any event where you need to bring a dish.

What You Need to Make an Italian Egg Bake

(ideal ingredients for a 1½ quart baking dish)

7 EGGS
8-10 oz SPINACH
1 med ONION (chopped)
SUN DRIED TOMATOES (chopped) …smoked sun dried tomatoes are my favorite!
6-10 cloves GARLIC (minced)
½ tsp dried ITALIAN SEASONING
1 cup shredded PARMESAN
or ROMANO CHEESE
½ cup MILK or YOGURT
SALT and PEPPER and
seasonings to taste, like:
garlic powder
onion powder
chili powder
paprika
…add others, or leave some of
these out.
OIL for sauteing

How to Make an Italian Egg Bake

In a large bowl, crack the eggs, add milk and dried Italian seasonings, and whisk well. Set bowl aside.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat.
Into the skillet add the onion, garlic, and sun dried tomatoes and saute 4-5 minutes.
Add in the seasoning and continue sauteing 3-4 minutes.
Add in spinach. Stir until spinach wilts and cooks down, which will happen quickly.
Lightly spray a 1½ quart baking dish and line the bottom with freshly shredded Romano or Parmesan cheese.
You don’t need a lot of cheese, line the bottom of the dish and whatever is left reserve to melt on top of the dish later. Check here for current prices on a Pyrex Baking Dish set on Amazon.
Remove the sauteed skillet ingredients and spread them evenly over the cheese layer.
Gently pour over the whisked egg and milk.
Slide the baking dish into an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake about 20 minutes or until the egg is firm.
Remove from the oven. If desired, top with more shredded cheese and return dish to the oven for about 5 more minutes.

And that’s all there is to this egg casserole.
An Italian egg bake tastes great right out of the oven, but will taste even better the next day.
Serve hot or cold. I actually prefer it cold or at room temperature, so this egg bake recipe makes a great snack, or perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner; or even brunch, if you’re one of those kinda people.

And that’s it! Give this easy Italian Egg Bake Recipe a try and let us know what you think. And for another breakfast or brunch recipe idea, check out this Fancy Oven-Baked Eggs Recipe.

baked eggs — Baked eggs are an easy way to impress folks for breakfast.

Thanks For Watching Our Recipe Videos!

Thanks for checking out this Egg Bake recipe, and all of our recipes. Sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a new recipe. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Jicama Recipe for Easy Breakfast Hash

03/05/202001/17/2018 by Chef Buck

Try a tasty breakfast hash made from fresh jicama. Jicama makes an easy hash recipe because jicama is crunchy and can be eaten raw, just cook it long enough with the other ingredients to impart flavor and heat the jicama through. I like lots of onion and peppers in this jicama recipe, but experiment with other ingredients as well. A hash is a great dish for cleaning out the fridge. Jicama root is like the offspring of a potato and an apple; the root is white and crunchy and can be eaten raw, it has a very mild flavor, and is not too sweet, so it makes an ideal ingredient for many recipes. Give this jicama recipe a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients for this Jicama Recipe

1 JICAMA diced into cubes
chopped ONION
chopped BELL PEPPERS
chopped HOT PEPPER
finely chopped GARLIC? why not.
seasonings:
SALT for jicama
PAPRIKA
CHIPOTLE
GARLIC POWDER
BLACK PEPPER
but use whatever
seasonings you like
…sometimes I use dried
ITALIAN SEASONING
…give it a try

How to make a Breakfast Hash with Jicama

Buy jicama with an unblemished, unbroken skin, one that seems
heavy for its size since jicama is mostly water, just like you.
Wash and cut the skin of the jicama off with a knife.
Dice jicama into cubes and toss in a bowl with salt and set aside.
Heat oil in a skillet and add in the onion, peppers, and garlic.
Saute for 2-3 minutes and then add in seasonings to taste, but don’t be shy.
Continue sauteing another 2-3 minutes.
Dry salted jicama with a paper towel and add into the skillet.
Saute jicama with the other ingredients as desired.
Once the jicama is heated through, the dish is ready!

Give this easy jicama recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another vegetarian breakfast dish idea, try out this canned Jackfruit Hash Recipe.

Thanks for checking out the jicama recipe and video, if you liked this quick breakfast hash idea, click a button or two below and share it with your friends.
I appreciate it, thanks!
–Chef Buck

Canned Jackfruit and Potato Hash Recipe

04/07/202410/21/2017 by Chef Buck

Make a tasty breakfast potato hash with canned jackfruit. Young, green jackfruit is a great meat substitute that works well in this classic breakfast recipe of potato and peppers. Canned jackfruit is easy to use, inexpensive, and a extremely versatile ingredient. Unripe jackfruit adds a nice texture when pulled apart, and its neutral flavor makes it ideal for many recipes.

Ingredients for Canned Jackfruit Potato Hash

1 20oz can young, green JACKFRUIT
1 cup chopped POTATO (any kind you like, sweet potato makes a nice change-up)
½ cup chopped ONION
chopped PEPPERS (I like using a combo of jalapeno and bell peppers, but use whatever you prefer)
finely chopped GARLIC (optional, but always a good idea)
1 tsp CUMIN POWDER
1 tsp PAPRIKA
1 tsp TURMERIC
2 Tbsp WORCERSTERSHIRE
some SALT and PEPPER

How to Make Jackfruit Potato Hash

Rinse and drain canned jackfruit. You can buy jackfruit online. Check current canned jackfruit prices on Amazon.
Shred it. I do this by hand, it’s very easy, but you can use a knife, too.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium high heat.
Add chopped onion and peppers and saute 3-4 minutes.
Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Add seasoning and mix well, continue sauteing for another minute.
Add in shredded jackfruit and Worcestershire sauce and mix well.
Raise skillet heat and add in potato. Add 1 can of water and mix.
Cover skillet and allow ingredients to come to a bubble.
Reduce heat to a simmer and continue cooking until potatoes are near done.
Remove cover and continue cooking hash until potatoes are done.
Serve as a breakfast side or the main dish.
Top with eggs, if desired.

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is exactly what it sounds like, a fruit, but it’s HUGE. A 50 pound jackfruit is not uncommon. This giant tropical fruit grows on
trees and is very popular in Asia. Unripe, jackfruit can be treated like a starch, cooked and used in savory dishes. Ripened jackfruit can be eaten raw and is very
juicy and sweet; quite a combo. Buying and cleaning a fresh jackfruit is quite an endevour. For me, canned jackfruit is a perfect ingredient.

I prefer unripe, young, green jackfruit and find it to be a terrific ingredient to experiment with in a variety of recipes. The texture of unripe jackfruit makes it a fantastic faux meat,
and the mildness of its flavor allows it to be incredibly versatile.

I’ve used it as a meatless pulled pork BBQ, as a faux meat filling in tacos, in an Indian-style variation of Jackfruit Tikka Masala, and as a potato hash for breakfast.
Its super nutritious, readily available at Asian markets, and well worth giving a try.

No canned jackfruit on hand, but still want a tasty potato dish for breakfast? Try this classic Crispy Potato Breakfast Recipe.

home fried potatoes recipe — home fried potatoes

Thanks for watching our recipe videos!

Thanks for checking out the canned jackfruit recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list to never miss a new cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends, and follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Salmon Recipe – quick and easy cooked salmon fillet

08/25/202305/23/2017 by Chef Buck

My favorite salmon recipe calls for crisping the fish skin on the stove top then finishing the salmon fillet in the oven under the broiler. This is a simple salmon dish with just a bit of oil and seasoning and a maple glaze to add a hint of sweetness. Honey can be substituted for the maple syrup, or this step can be skipped entirely. I often season salmon with just salt and pepper and then cook the salmon fillet in the same manner.

Ingredients for salmon recipe

SALMON FILLET w/ skin
OLIVE OIL
PAPRIKA
GARLIC POWDER
SALT and PEPPER
MAPLE SYRUP (optional, or substitute honey)
OIL for frying

How To Cook Salmon Recipe

Wash the salmon filet and pat dry with a paper towel.
Coat the salmon with olive oil, skin side as well.
Generously season fish.
Using an oven safe skillet, on med. high heat, heat a little oil on the stove top. Check current prices for a stove top and oven safe cast iron skillet on Amazon.
When oil is hot, add salmon fillet skin side down and cook about 3 minutes.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and continue cooking the salmon under the broiler for 2-3 minutes –adjust time depending on the size of the fillet.
When the salmon is almost finished cooking, apply a glaze of maple syrup, and continue broiling for final minute. If you don’t have a nice syrup
on hand, substitute honey.
Remove skillet from the stove and transfer fish to a plate.

Hope you like the salmon dish. Ever try baked catfish? This recipe tastes like fried catfish, but better.

fried catfish recipe — Not Fried Catfish …tastes great, easy, and less mess.

Thanks for Watching our Salmon Recipe Video!

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Ginger Chicken Recipe Chinese Restaurant Style

06/13/202402/10/2017 by Chef Buck

This Ginger Chicken Recipe will remind you of a delicious dish from your favorite Chinese restaurant. The key to a tasty ginger chicken dish is fresh ginger, and lots of it. You won’t need hard to find ingredients, just a little soy sauce, sesame oil, and some fresh produce will make all of the difference.

What You Need To Make This Ginger Chicken Recipe

1 lbs. CHICKEN
1 Tbsp CORN STARCH
1 Tbsp SESAME OIL
1 Tbsp SOY SAUCE
SALT and PEPPER (to taste)
4-6 cloves GARLIC
½ cup GINGER
½ cup ONION
½ to 1 cup CARROTS
½ to 1 cup CASHEWS
1 cup chopped Zucchini or other veggies (optional)
some OIL for sauteing
HOT PEPPER (optional)

Sauce Ingredients:
1 Tbsp SESAME OIL
2 Tbsp SOY SAUCE
2 Tbsp RICE VINEGAR
2-3 Tbsp JAM (or substitute sugar)
1 Tbsp CORN STARCH
½ to 1 cup WATER

How To Make Ginger Chicken

Use skinless and boneless white or dark meat chicken, whichever you prefer.
Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces and place into a bowl.
Add 1 Tbsp sesame oil, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp corn starch, and salt and pepper to taste.
Mix well with the chicken and then set the bowl aside.
In another bowl, combine sauce ingredients and set aside.
Prepare the veggies; this dish will cook fast, so have all the veggies chopped before beginning to cook the chicken.
Chop fresh ginger into matchstick sizes; fresh ginger and lots of it make this recipe delicious,so don’t be shy with the ginger.
Cut carrots into matchstick sizes.
Finely chop the garlic.
Chop onions (I prefer green onions if I have them on hand, but any onion will work.
Chop hot pepper if desired; the fresh ginger will add a bit of bite to the dish,
so skip the pepper if you prefer a milder recipe.
Heat a skillet and oil on medium high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, and adjust heat as needed. If you need a nice skillet, you can check current prices for a NON-STICK SKILLET on Amazon.
After 5 minutes, add onion, garlic, ginger, and hot peppers.
Cook another 5 minutes, then add carrots and any other veggies; add sauce and mix well and continue to cook for 5 more minutes.
Add more water if desired. The sauce will be thicker or thinner depending on the amount of water added.
To finish the dish, stir in cashew nuts and remove from the heat.

And that’s it! Serve over rice.

Give this this super simple and flavorful ginger chicken recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another Chinese favorite, check out this General Tso’s Chicken Recipe.

Thanks for Watching our Ginger Chicken Recipe

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

If you’re new to home cooking, get a bunch of spices, pots and pans, and start experimenting with different recipes. It’s a healthy hobby that can save a lot of money in the long run. Check out current prices for Complete Kitchenware Sets on Amazon as well as Complete Starter Spice Kits. Or try a thrift store! I’ve found some of my favorite kitchen gear at second-hand stores.

Cocktail Recipes for Breakfast or Anytime

06/13/201912/16/2016 by Chef Buck

Here are a few easy cocktail recipes for breakfast or anytime you feel like a nice libation. Coldbrew coffee can make a great mixer for a morning pick-me-up, but if you’re not a coffee person, then root beer will do in a pinch. Check out the video for quick and easy cocktail ideas, and look a bit farther below for tips on making coldbrew coffee at home.

Easy Cocktail Recipes

COLDBREW COFFEE COCKTAIL
6oz Coldbrew Coffee
1oz Vodka
1oz Irish Cream
…also add a splash of half ‘n half if you like

ROOTBEER FLOAT COCKTAIL
4-5oz Rootbeer
1oz Vodka
1oz Irish Cream
…also add a splash of half ‘n half if you like

MIMOSA:
equal parts chilled
Champagne and orange juice

SCREWDRIVER:
1-2oz Vodka to
5oz Orange Juice

GREYHOUND:
1-2oz Vodka to
5oz Grapefruit Juice

BLOODY MARY:
2oz Vodka
4oz Tomato Juice
Lemon Juice
…and then just a little bit of everything else in your refrigerator

SHOT OF JAMESON:
shot of Jameson

Want to Know How to Make Coldbrew Coffee?

What You Need To Make Cold Brew Coffee

COFFEE …Buy whole beans and grind them at home, fresh-ground coffee makes all the difference.
WATER …We use cold tap water, ’cause we’re savages (I mean eco-friendly / cheap)
TIME …This is the hardest part, allow at least 12-24 hours. My wife prefers 36 hours…it’s pretty subjective.

How to Make Cold Brew Coffee for the Best Iced Coffee

Use your favorite coffee beans. Shop around. Experiment. The beans make all the difference.
Buy whole beans and grind them fresh at home.
Grind the beans coarsley.
Place the ground beans in a sealable pitcher or jar and add water.
We like a ratio of 1½ cups whole beans to 4 cups water, but experiment and adjust to your taste…nothing is more subjective than a cup of coffee.
Stir.
Seal the container and place in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours (or more, if you like).
When the time is up, simply strain the mixture through a coffee filter and it’s ready to drink.
Make multiple batches of cold brew coffee at one time, then you won’t have to wait.
Make extra batches of cold brew for coffee ice cubes: just pour coffee into an ice tray and freeze it…coffee ice cubes are fantastic for iced-coffee …it’ll keep the coffee chill without diluting the flavor.

Why Cold Brew?

Cold brew coffee is super smooth, and can be less acidic than coffee brewed hot, so it might be a better choice for sensitive tummies.
Cold brew stays fresher longer than hot brewed coffee, so you can make bigger batches at a time without
the coffee growing old and stale to taste.
It’ll put pep in your step.

Give cold brew coffee a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Feel like a Redneck Martini Recipe

Thanks for checking out the videos and recipes. If you like what you see, click some of the buttons below and share it with your friends and family on social media, I appreciate it!
–Chef Buck

Crispy Salmon Recipe – How to Cook Salmon

11/18/202204/01/2016 by Chef Buck

This crispy salmon recipe is delicious. Cooking salmon with a crispy skin adds great texture and flavor. Keep it simple; all you need is a little oil, salt, and pepper to cook up this tasty fish dinner. Give this super easy crispy salmon dish a try…it’s a winner.

How to Cook A Crispy Salmon Recipe

SALMON FILET w/ skin on
OLIVE OIL
SALT and PEPPER to taste
OIL for frying

Wash the salmon filet and pat dry with a paper towel.
If your cut of fish has pin bones, remove them.
Coat the salmon with olive oil, skin side as well.
Generously season fish with salt and pepper.
Using an oven safe skillet, on medium high heat, heat a little oil on the stove top. Check current prices for a stove top and oven safe cast iron skillet on Amazon.
When the oil is hot, add the salmon fillet skin side down and cook for 2-4 minutes –adjust time depending on the size of the fillet.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and continue cooking the salmon under the broiler for 1-3 minutes.
Remove the skillet from the stove and transfer salmon fillet to a plate, skin-side up …resting the fish skin-side down will cause the skin to lose it’s crispiness!

Give this simple crispy salmon recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And don’t just cook salmon this way! Any tasty fillet of fish with skin on can be prepared in this manner. To appreciate fresh fish, keep it simple.

And for another tasty fish dish, try this healthy baked cod recipe.

baked fish recipe — oven baked fish fillets

Thanks for Watching our Videos!

Thanks for checking out our crispy salmon recipe. Sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a new recipe. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Best Southwestern Quinoa Salad Recipe

06/13/202403/25/2016 by Chef Buck

Everywhere you turn, there’s a Southwestern quinoa salad, and for good reason. It’s delicious, easy to make, and a great choice for a healthy meal. Since quinoa is a complete protein, this Southwestern inspired salad makes an ideal vegetarian recipe, doubly so since this quinoa is paired with black beans.

What you need to make a Southwestern Quinoa Salad

2 cups COOKED QUINOA (check current prices for QUINOA on Amazon)
1 15 oz can BLACK BEANS
10-15 sliced CHERRY TOMATOES
1 AVOCADO
½ diced YELLOW BELL PEPPER
3-5 chopped GREEN ONIONS
¼ cup chopped, pickled JALAPENO
½ cup chopped CILANTRO
1 LEMON …juice and zest
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
SALT and PEPPER to taste

How to make a Southwest Quinoa Salad

Cook up the quinoa just like rice: 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa and then set aside uncovered to cool.

While the quinoa cools, prepare the veggies:

Dice ½ a yellow bell pepper, or any color pepper, but if you’re like me and you’re making a corn-free southwest quinoa salad, then using a yellow pepper will make your quinoa salad more lovely to look at. Slice some cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes have a great flavor, and the hardiness of the tiny tomato makes it the perfect choice for a salad.

Remove and mince the zest from 1 small lemon, and then slice the lemon in half. Check current prices for a lemon zester on Amazon.

Chop up some green onions, and cilantro. If you like a little heat, chop up some pickled jalapeno, too, and reserve a Tbsp of the jalapeno pickling juice for added kick and flavor.

When the quinoa cools:

Add 2 cups of the cooked quinoa to a large mixing bowl.
Rinse and drain the black beans and add them to the bowl.
Add the yellow pepper, jalapeno pepper, onion, cilantro, lemon zest, olive oil, juice from half the lemon, and salt and pepper.
Mix ingredients thoroughly.
Add tomato.
Slice avocado and add to salad.
Take the remaining lemon half and squeeze its juice over the cut avocado, this will preserve the vibrancy of the avocado.

Gently mix the salad and serve.

This Southwestern quinoa tastes great on it’s own, as a healthy side dish, or served over a bed of fresh greens for a super salad topping.

Give healthy southwest quinoa salad recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

For another healthy option with a southwestern flair, check out out this meat-free Vegetarian Chili Recipe that even carnivores will love.

Thanks for Watching our Quinoa Recipe Video!

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Candied Pecans – Easy Pecan Candy Treats

04/07/202401/29/2016 by Chef Buck

You can make a super simple and tasty candied pecan treat. This sugar pecan recipe
is an easy way to impress friends and family. My mom gives tins of pecan candy out
as gifts for the holidays, and it’s a sure hit for any party or get-together.
CG especially likes these nuts as ice cream toppings.

What You Need to Make Candied Pecans

1 lb. PECANS
1 cup SUGAR
1 tsp CINNAMON
½ tsp SALT
1 EGG WHITE
1 Tbsp WATER

How to make Pecan Candies

Buy a pound of pecan halves. When buying, be sure to choose pecans that are in good shape
…a bag of broken and busted up pecans doesn’t look as pretty in a dish. Pecans can be pretty pricey, but check here for current pecan prices on Amazon.

In a bowl, combine the cinnamon, sugar, and salt, and then mix well.
Set that bowl aside, and in another bowl, combine 1 egg white and 1 Tbsp. of water.
Whisk the egg white and water into a frothy foam.
Add the pecan halves into the egg white mix.
By hand, mix the pecans until coated thoroughly.
Once the pecans are coated completely, transfer then into the dry mix bowl. Still using your hand,
mix the pecans in the cinnamon sugar until they are coated well.

On an ungreased baking sheet, spread the coated pecans into a single layer.
Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check here for current prices for baking sheets on Amazon.

Remove the baking sheet every 10 minutes to give the pecans a stir and spread them out again; this will let the pecans bake evenly and keep from sticking together.

After a total of 30 minutes baking time, remove the pecans for a final stir, then set aside to cool.
That’s it. As soon as they’re cool enough to eat, then eat away.
Be sure to allow the pecans to cool completely before sealing in a container.

These sugar pecan candies make a great holiday treat or anytime treat. My mom makes them all the time for family gatherings and they’re
a sure fire hit.

Give this candied pecans recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

For another quick tasty treat idea, try this classic Peanut Butter Candy Recipe.

Thanks for checking out this candied pecans recipe, and all of our recipe videos. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list and never miss a new Chef Buck cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
–Chef Buck

Thanks for watching our recipe videos!

Potato Cake Recipe — How To Make Sweet Potato Latkes

06/13/201911/06/2015 by Chef Buck

Check out this simple potato cake recipe. Or do you call them potato pancakes? Or potato latkes? I like to use sweet potatoes because they are less starchy and cook up quicker than white potatoes, plus sweet potatoes just taste great, and they are a good nutrition and energy source.

Ingredients to Make A Sweet Potato Cake Recipe :

1 med SWEET POTATO
ONION (½ as much as potato)
Fresh HOT PEPPER (optional)
2 EGGS
2 Tbsp FLOUR
1 tsp CURRY POWDER
½ tsp CHILI POWDER (optional)
……or whatever seasonings you prefer!
SALT and PEPPER (to taste)
OIL for cooking

How to Make Sweet Potato Latkes :

Shred sweet potato into strings, and thinly slice onion into stringy lengths.
I like to also thinly slice a jalapeno pepper; the pepper adds a nice zing, flavor, and color, but you can skip the pepper if you’re a “fraidy cat”.
In a bowl, combine the potato, onion, and pepper with the flour until well coated.
Beat two eggs and add into the mix, stirring well.
Add seasonings as desired. I like a lot of seasoning, and the potato and onion like it, too, so be liberal with the salt, pepper, and flavors you prefer; it’ll make for tastier cakes.

Heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat and spoon the potato mixture into the skillet and press and shape into patties. The potato cakes should be about the size and thickness of a nice ¼lb burger, but not too thin.
Don’t crowd the skillet. I use a ten-inch skillet and get two batches of three patties each, which is a terrible sentence, and almost sounds like math, so sorry for that.
Cook patties for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning carefully.
Adjust the burner temperature as needed; reduce heat to cook each potato patty for 3-4 minutes without burning.
Cook until nicely colored, then remove potato cakes from the skillet and drain on a paper towel.

It’s a great dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Give this simple potato cakes recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit.

And for another yummy potato dish, check out this classic Home Fried Potatoes Recipe.

Thanks for watching. If you like the potato cake recipe, use some of the share links below to share the dish with your friends and family.
I appreciate it!
–Chef Buck

Frozen Yogurt Banana Pops – make a healthy treat

06/13/201910/12/2015 by Chef Buck

Try a healthy Frozen Yogurt Banana Treat. It’s easy to make, and a nice dessert option instead of ice cream when you’re trying not to be too bad. Crushed peanuts and coconut flakes make this yogurt banana popsicle extra tasty, and a chocolate chip or two won’t hurt, especially if you’re making it as a ghostly Halloween treat for some lucky kid.

What You Need to make a Frozen Yogurt Banana Pop

Banana
Crushed Peanuts
Coconut Flakes
Chocolate Chips
Greek Yogurt
(or melt
white chocolate
instead of yogurt)
and some Wax Paper

How to make a frozen Yogurt Banana Pop

Peel a banana!
You can use 1 banana to make 2 popsicles, or 4 popsicles.
For two frozen treats, just cut the banana in two. This size makes a yummy pop, but can be a bit much if frozen for a loooong time; for easier to eat frozen banana popsicles, cut the halves into lengthwise halves.
Poke a stick into the center of the banana. A thin stick will be needed for smaller popsicles, otherwise the banana will split.
Roll or dip the banana stick in yogurt and coat thoroughly. Thick, Greek yogurt is ideal for a nice coating.
Place pops on wax paper and Freeze AT LEAST 1 hour. The longer it freezes, the more like a popsicle they will become, but it will take at least 1 hour for minimum frozen popsicle satisfaction.
For fancy popsicles, roll the banana sticks in crushed peanuts and coconut flakes. This can be done before or after the pops are coated in yogurt.
For extra coconut flavor, toast the coconut flakes.
For a more decadent dessert, sprinkle the yogurt covered pops with chocolate chips before freezing. Or M&M’s…or any kind of sprinkles you like.
And for a spooky treat for the children, use chocolate chips to shape eyes and a mouth to make a yogurt/banana ghost. This is an easy and healthy low-calorie treat to make around Halloween.
And if you’re not counting calories, use white (or dark) chocolate instead of yogurt; simply melt chocolate in a skillet and roll the banana sticks to coat.

Give this frozen yogurt covered banana recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another tasty (and healthier) dessert idea, check out this Chocolate Cake made with garbanzo beans.

THANKS FOR WATCHING! If you enjoyed the post, share it with your friends …be a cool kid and hit some of the share links below. I appreciate it!
–Chef Buck

Make the Best Bean Soup Today !

12/30/202207/16/2015 by Chef Buck

This bean soup recipe is super tasty and easy to make. Doesn’t bean soup sound delicious? Especially if you’re a kid. I use cannellini beans and black beans in this recipe, but you can use whatever beans you like. Ham or sausage is great in bean soup, too, and it doesn’t have to be a lot; just a little meat adds great flavor to bean soup. If going meat free, be sure to add lots of spice and maybe and extra veggie or two…beans need all the excitement they can get.

Bean Soup Recipe Ingredients:

2 15oz cans CANNELLINI BEANS
1 15oz can BLACK BEANS
2 medium sized ONIONS chopped
4-5 cloves GARLIC finely chopped
some leftover SAUSAGE or HAM (cooked)
32 oz BROTH (or ½ water ½ broth)
a little HALF AND HALF if you want
1 tsp CHIPOTLE POWDER
(or use some other kinda heat)
SALT and PEPPER to taste
1-2 Tbsp Oil
chopped PARSLEY if you want

Bean Soup Recipe Directions:

Heat 1 to 2 Tbsp of oil in a soup pot.
Add the onion and garlic and saute for several minutes.
If you’ve got fresh chili or jalapeno peppers, dice and add a little of that, too…if you want.
Add seasoning. I use salt, pepper, and chipotle powder in this recipe. Chipotle is awesome in bean soup. It adds great flavor
and a little heat. Don’t have chipotle powder? Add chili powder or chili/garlic paste instead, or anything you like, soup is all about
improvising.
Cook the spices and onions together for a few minutes and then add broth (meat or veggie broth, whatever, dude).
Toss in a bay leaf and bring the pot to a bubble.
Add in beans. I like to use a mix of cannellini and black beans.

If you have some sausage or ham on hand, chop and toss a little into the soup.
Reduce the heat down to a low simmer, cover and let cook 30-45 minutes.
After simmering, remove the bay leaf.
Use a hand blender to blend the soup to desired consistency. Check here for current prices on Hand Blenders at Amazon.

I like to add a little half and half for added creaminess; not a lot, just a little does the trick, around ½ a cup.
Turn off the heat and stir in a little chopped parsley or cilantro, and that’s it!
If you can make it a day ahead, all the better; soup only gets tastier with time!
Hope you love it!
Give Bean Soup recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit.

And for more bean fun, check out this crazy awesome Vegetarian Chili Recipe that even the meat lovers in your family will enjoy.

Thanks for Watching our Videos!

Thanks for checking out our bean soup recipe. Sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a new recipe. Also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Popcorn : How To Cook Popcorn On The Stove Top

06/13/201905/29/2015 by Chef Buck

90% of all U.S. households have a microwave oven, but we don’t, so when we make popcorn, it’s on the stove top. Generally we buy the store brand, it’s considerably cheaper than name brand popcorn, and we find it offers the same result.
We cook popcorn in coconut oil. Coconut oil has a high heat point and retains it’s nutritional value when heated.
We like to add flavorings, too. My favorite is grated Parmesan cheese. Of course we always add butter and salt, but I’ve found that fresh ground black pepper is a great addition as well.

How to Cook Popcorn on the Stove top:

1) On Medium Heat, add 2 Tbsp of coconut oil in a heavy bottomed pot.

2) Add a couple of test corn kernels into the pot.

3) When the oil heats through, and the test kernels have popped, add ½ cup of popcorn kernels.

4) Shake the pan to distribute the kernels along the bottom of the pan. They should form a single layer.

5) Cover the pot with a lid, but don’t cover tightly, leave the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape; this will keep the popcorn from tasting stale.

6) Allow the kernels to pop until the popping sound almost completely subsides.

7) Once popped, removed pot from burner and pour popcorn into a bowl.

8) While hot, add melted butter and salt and whatever seasonings you desire.

and that’s it!

Below is a video we made experimenting with bacon, but I think I prefer basic popcorn, although the fresh ground black pepper tasted awesome.

Fun Facts:

–Two tablespoons of unpopped corn kernels produce a quart of popcorn for about 25 cents.
–In movie theaters, for every dollar spent on popcorn, about 90 cents is profit.
–A cup of plain popcorn contains about 31 calories.
–Americans eat more popcorn than any other country.
–About 70% of popcorn sold in America is eaten in the home.
–By volume, popcorn is America’s most popular snack food.

For another tasty snack idea, check out these Cashew Coconut Lemon Bites

energy snack — power snack in a yummy treat!

Garlic Quinoa Recipe …instead of garlic rice

07/18/201505/15/2015 by Chef Buck

This garlic quinoa recipe makes a terrific side dish. I use quinoa often to provide the protein in vegetarian meals, but quinoa is also a smart choice to serve with other proteins. This garlic quinoa side is filling and tasty, and a great accompaniment for many meat and fish dishes.

Garlic Quinoa Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups QUINOA
3 cups WATER
3-4 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
SALT and PEPPER to taste
and add chopped PARSLEY …if you like, man

Garlic Quinoa Recipe Directions:

In an oven proof dish, add 3 cups of water.
Add in the olive oil, or melted butter.
Add the quinoa.
Add finely chopped garlic. I find 3-4 cloves to be plenty (this is one of those rare dishes where I have found too much garlic to be too much).
Add salt and pepper to taste.
If you want to add a little heat, add some finely chopped red chilis (it adds a nice color, too), or just a little cayenne pepper.
Stir the ingredients together well and place top or foil covering over the baking dish.
Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes. No attention to the dish is required while baking.
After 90 minutes, remove the dish from the oven, uncover and let set for a few minutes.
Fluff with a fork and serve.
It’s a great side dish for meat, fish, and vegetarian meals.
Any leftovers can be used to make quick quinoa salads.
Give this Garlic Quinoa Recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

raw quinoa — uncooked quinoa…looks like a grain, but it’s a seed.

Quinoa is a terrific ingredient to incorporate into your diet for many reasons, here are a few:
1) It is a complete protein (provides all essential amino acids).
2) High in fiber and nutrition.
3) High in magnesium and iron.
4) Is low on the Glycemic Index, making it a good choice for blood sugar regulation.
5) it can easily be substituted for rice in many recipes

For more quinoa inspired recipes, check out my QUINOA PLAYLIST.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe for Cakes…and cupcakes

06/13/201903/06/2015 by Chef Buck

Need an easy, super tasty cake frosting? This cake frosting recipe is ready in minutes and makes the perfect icing for cake (and cupcake!) perfection! It’s an especially great balance for a chocolate cake. You can make this frosting as thick or thin as you like, just add more powdered sugar to thicken, and more milk to thin, but add the milk just a wee little at a time–it doesn’t take much.

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Ingredients:

8oz CREAM CHEESE, softened
¼ cup unsalted BUTTER, softened
2 cups POWDERED SUGAR
1 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
1 Tbsp MILK

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Directions:

About an hour ahead of time, set out the cream cheese and butter to soften.
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, and vanilla extract and blend with hand mixer.
Once ingredients begin to come together, add in the powdered sugar. Add the sugar a bit at a time to avoid a sugary blending mess.
Mix until the frosting is smooth. To thin the frosting add a small amount of milk–no more than a Tablespoon at a time! For a thicker frosting,
just add more powdered sugar.
And that’s it.
Spread on your dessert and eat away!

Give this cream cheese frosting recipe a go and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for more tasty dessert ideas, check out these tasty treats:

baked pears — click the pic for more desserts!

“Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” ~Ernestine Ulmer
“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.” ~Carl Sagan
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” ~Erma Bombeck

French Toast with Cream Cheese Filling

06/12/202301/23/2015 by Chef Buck

Why have Plain French Toast when you can have French Toast with a cream cheese filling? A little creamy cheese and cinnamon ginger apples can transform your breakfast into a 10-year old’s dream breakfast.

French Toast Ingredients:

BREAD (sliced, stale)
1½ cups MILK
4 EGGS
BUTTER for frying, and apples
APPLES (peeled, sliced)
CANDIED GINGER (sliced)
WALNUTS (toasted)
8 oz CREAM CHEESE (soft)
15 oz RICOTTA CHEESE
CINNAMON (to taste)
optional: sugar and vanilla

French Toast Directions:

Stale bread makes great French toast, so slicing bread ahead of time is a great idea; at least a few hours ahead of time, but ideally overnight. Stale bread will soak up the French toast batter without becoming overly soggy and falling apart, especially if you’re using thinner slices of bread, and the thinner or thicker the slices will depend on your particular tastes. This French toast recipe doesn’t need thicker slices, since you’re basically building a French toast sandwich; I’m using thicker slices of challa bread for this video, but I often use regular slices of Hawaiian sweet bread, which works great.

Mix the cream cheese and ricotta cheese together. Be sure to set your cream cheese out ahead of time to soften, this will make mixing it with the ricotta cheese much easier. I’ll often mix these ingredients ahead of time. If making a smaller amount, the cheese mix is about a 2 to 1 ratio of ricotta to cream cheese. I sometimes add a tsp. or two of sugar to the cheese mix, but this is optional; I prefer it without the added sugar, since the apple mix will be quite sweet.

Any leftover cream/ricotta mix can be used as dessert topping, and makes a tasty filling for omelets. I generally make too much apple mix, but that’s a good thing, too. I’m generous with the apple topping, and any leftover apple mix is a perfect topping for oatmeal or ice cream.

To make the apple mix, peel, slice, and remove the cores of the apples. Apples vary quite a bit in size, but I usually end up with about 4-6 cups of apple slices, and I generally use gala or Fuji apples, which take little time to cook down.

Melt about 2 Tbsp of butter in a pot and add apples. Mix with butter and cook over medium heat. Add candied ginger slices; I think ½ to 1 cup is a good amount of candied ginger, but there is no wrong amount, follow your gut. Add 1-2 Tbsp of sugar and cinnamon to taste, Mix and cover and cook about 20 minutes, until apples soften and get juicy. For extra liquidy goodness, stir in about ¼ cup water. You want the apples to be a little syrupy, that way you won’t have to use any maple syrup with the French toast. Once the apples are cooked to your liking, cover and set aside.

Mix the French toast batter. A basic batter is eggs and milk, and I’m also adding cinnamon, but often folks will add a little sugar or vanilla extract. I don’t add vanilla or sugar to the batter with this particular dish, because the creamy cheese center and apple-ginger topping will add more than enough flavor. In a bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and cinnamon to taste (½ tsp is a good amount). Whisk together well and then pour some into a shallow bowl–or all–it depend on the size of your shallow bowl; you don’t want the batter to be so deep that it runs into the cheesy part of your French toast sandwich.

To build the French toast sandwich, simply spread the cheese mixture onto a slice of bread and top with another slice, making a basic cheese sandwich.

You can also add toasted walnuts into the sandwich for a nice crunch, or simply top the toast later with toasted nuts, but definitely add nuts at some point, cause the crunchy contrast makes the dish perfect, and toasted walnuts are awesome.
To toast the walnuts: spread walnuts on a baking sheet and roast at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes. It won’t take long. As soon as the nuts begin to color up, remove them from the oven; they will burn if ignored, so set a timer and watch them closely. Taking the time to toast the walnuts is well worth the effort…it’s a great taste.

Once you’ve constructed the cheesy French toast sandwich, heat a little butter in a non-stick skillet on medium heat. Check current prices for a Non-Stick Skillet on Amazon.
Place the sandwich in the batter and let soak a moment and then turn and batter the other side.
Place sandwich in the skillet and cook on medium heat until golden brown, turn and cook other side and remove from the heat.
Slice French toast and then top with apples and walnuts (a dusting of powdered sugar is optional). For a splash of color, add fresh berries or mint.

Serve this cheese stuffed French toast with maple syrup, or without–I find the cooked apples to be syrupy enough, and the warm cheesy center keeps the French toast from being too dry.

It’s a super delicious dish and a great treat for company.

Give this fancy pants Cream Cheese French Toast recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another fancy pants breakfast dish, try this Pancake Recipe.

Fancy pancakes are easy to make. — Fancy pancakes are easy to make, and better looking, too.

Thanks for Watching our French Toast Recipe Video!

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Baked Pears Recipe … An Easy Dessert Idea!

09/08/202401/09/2015 by Chef Buck

This Ginger Baked Pears recipe is a simple and delicious dessert idea. It’s easy to prep and put together. Just throw it together, throw it in the oven, and forget about it…well, almost forget about it–you’ll need to baste the pears a couple of times while they bake. This baked pear dish will be a crowd pleaser for any fancy meal.

What you need for Baked Pears

3-4 ANJOU PEARS (or bosc pears)
BUTTER for greasing baking dish
1½ cup HEAVY CREAM
¼ cup BAKER’S SUGAR (superfine ground sugar)
½ tsp CINNAMON
½ tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
1 heaping Tbsp grated GINGER
ORANGE ZEST
optional:
top with toasted nuts
and whipped cream!

How to make this Baked Pears Recipe

Use a firm pear ideal for baking, like an anjou or bosc pear.
Peel the pears and slice in half lengthwise and remove the core–use 3-4 pears, depending on need and the size of your baking dish. If you need a decent oven-safe baking dish, check out some current pricing for a Pyrex dish on Amazon.
Lightly butter the bottom of your baking dish and place the pears sliced side down.

In a bowl, combine the cream, sugar (use superfine baker’s sugar, or regular sugar that has been ground in a food processor), cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, and orange zest. Whisk ingredients together and pour over the pears. The top half of the pears should still be sticking out of the cream.

Slide the dish into an oven preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove the dish every 15-20 minutes and baste the tops of the pears with the cream.
Cook 45-55 minutes or until the pear tops are a golden brown.

The cream will be thin when hot, but as it cools it will thicken. Serve pears with a topping of the cream sauce.
For a crunch, add toasted nuts–and a little whipped cream on top would be quite decadent.
I threw maraschino cherries on top for color, but a little more orange zest on top would work, too.
Give this Baked Pears recipe a try and let me know what you think!

And for another tasty dessert, check out this Easy Apple Crisp Recipe.

Thanks for Watching our Baked Pear Recipe!

Click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. You can also follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

How to Eat Pomegranate Fruit — great nutrition!

06/13/201901/02/2015 by Chef Buck

How to eat pomegranate. First off, Pomegranate is a weird, messy fruit.

When selecting a pomegranate, choose a fruit that is heavy for its size; like with most fruits, this signifies that it is fresh and juicy. The skin should be firm.

How to Eat Pomegranate

Pomegranate juice can be quite messy, and will easily stain clothing. It is a good idea to slice and prepare pomegranate in a large bowl or kitchen sink where the juice splatter can be contained.

The edible part of the pomegranate are the red “seeds” within the fruit. These seeds are called arils. Inside the arils you’ll find an inner seed that is a little gritty, but it is edible and contributes to the overall texture of the pomegranate, which is…interesting. Pomegranate is a food folks tend to love or hate, but whichever camp you fall into, pomegranate will provide an attractive and nutritious experience. Pomegranate is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins C, and potassium.

To remove the arils, slice the pomegranate in half, and then into wedges. The arils are held firm by a membranous inside that is bitter and not to be eaten. The arils can be easily pulled away from the membrane. There are quite a lot of arils in a pomegranate, so this can take a little time…playing some cool jazz will help.

Some folks like to remove the seeds while holding the pomegranate beneath a bowl of water…this will cut down on the splatter, but it will also dilute any of the juice within the fruit.

How to eat pomegranate? Pomegranate can be eaten raw, juiced, or cooked.

Pomegranates keep for a week at room temperature, or up to 3 weeks if refrigerated.

Pomegranate is often referred to as “the food of the Gods”. Give ’em a go. You’ll either love it or hate it.

And for another interesting fruit experience, give DRAGON FRUIT a try.

Biscuit Recipe – Best Southern Biscuits

04/18/202010/16/2014 by Chef Buck

It’s easy to make friends with this easy, awesome tasting biscuit recipe. You biscuits in all manner of meals. Serve them alone as a breakfast side, pile them up into the perfect breakfast sandwich, ladle them with gravy for a wholesome entree, or top them with whipped cream and strawberries for a decadent dessert!

Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe Ingredients

4 cups ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 Tbsp BAKING POWDER
1 tsp BAKING SODA
1 tsp SALT
1 Tbsp SUGAR
1 cup BUTTER (diced, chilled)
1½ cups BUTTERMILK (chilled)
(plus buttermilk for brushing biscuit tops)

Buttermilk Biscuit Recipe Directions

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar (optional). Mix ingredients together well. Add diced butter. For best results use chilled butter –keep the diced butter in the refrigerator until needed. Cut butter into the flour using a pastry cutter or knives. Check here for current prices for a pastry cutter on Amazon.

Butter should be cut into pea-sized bits, but there’s no reason to be militant about it…nice chunks of butter are nice. Once the butter is cut into the flour, add buttermilk. Keep the buttermilk chilled until you are ready to use it–cold butter and buttermilk are best for this recipe.

Pour the buttermilk into the bowl, and using a spatula (or your hand), roll the flour around the edge of the bowl until the buttermilk is absorbed and the dry flour begins sticking together. Roll until there is very little loose flour…add a drop more buttermilk if needed, but do so sparingly–you don’t want the flour to be “wet”.

On a lightly floured surface, empty the bowl and press the flour together, knead once or twice and then spread the dough out into a flat, ½ inch thickness. Do not knead or “handle” the dough too much.

Flour the edges of a biscuit cutter or drinking glass and cut out biscuits. I like my buttermilk biscuit about 2″-3″ across, but make whatever size you like. Giant biscuits can be fun :^) Cut the biscuits closely and get as many out of the first press as you can. Once all of the biscuits are cut from the first press, bring the dough together again and cut out remaining biscuits–again trying to handle the dough as little as possible.

Arrange the biscuits touching side by side on a lightly greased pan or on parchment paper. Lightly brush the tops of the biscuits with buttermilk or melted butter–this will help them to brown nicely. Place biscuits in the oven and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 15 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown to your liking.

Give these biscuit recipes a try and let me know what you think, and for another breakfast bread dish, try this Egg Bread Recipe.

Thanks for checking out our biscuit recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list and never miss a new Chef Buck cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
–Chef Buck

Thanks for watching our recipe videos!

Watermelon Salad Recipe –or how to save a sad melon

06/13/201909/18/2014 by Chef Buck

Watermelon Salad is simple to throw together and a tasty way to save a crappy melon. CG loves watermelon, but once in a while she brings home a dud that just doesn’t make the cut; so what does one do with an unsweet, flavorless melon? Turn it into a savory salad dish!

Watermelon Salad Recipe Ingredients:
6 cups crappy, unsweet, seedless WATERMELON
1-2 Tbsp fresh MINT (chopped)
¼ cup RED ONION (chopped)
¼ cup FETA CHEESE crumbles
½ cup toasted ALMOND SLIVERS

dressing:
¼ cup BALSAMIC VINEGAR
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 Tbsp DIJON MUSTARD
1 Tbsp MAPLE SYRUP (or substitute honey)
1 clove GARLIC (minced)
SALT and PEPPER to taste

Watermelon Salad Directions:
This salad works best with a seedless melon–’cause it’s a salad–and no one wants to dig seeds out of a salad.
Wash your melon and cut away the rind. Slice the red flesh into hearty, but mouth-sized pieces. If it’s sweet–then you’re set! Chow down, because that’s what a melon is for! –but if it’s not sweet, if it’s a flavorless lump that sits in your mouth like play-doh, then don’t despair…it’s salad time.
First thing, make the dressing.
In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, maple syrup (or substitue honey), garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix together and set aside.
In a larger bowl combine cut watermelon pieces, mint, red onion, feta cheese, and almond slivers. I’ve suggested some ingredient measurements–but that’s just a loose guildeline, man. It’s a salad…follow your heart (and taste buds).
Add salad dressing to taste and toss.
Boom.
That’s it, dude.
Your crappy melon has been transformed into a delicious salad.

Give this Watermelon Salad recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another tasty salad recipe, try this Black-eyed Pea Salad Recipe.

Fried Quinoa Recipe — Quinoa Fried “Rice”

06/13/201909/02/2014 by Chef Buck

This fried quinoa recipe is a quick and tasty take on Chinese fried rice. Quinoa makes a great substitute for rice in many recipes, especially quinoa fried “rice”. Quinoa is a complete protein, which makes this dish a complete meal, even if you leave out the egg–which is an easy way to make this a vegetarian recipe. Of course you can go the other route and throw in a little diced pork chop or ham if you like, but I’m quite happy with just a couple scrambled eggs thrown in.

Fried Quinoa Recipe Ingredients:
1 cup QUINOA (before cooking)
1 cup PEAS
1 CARROT (diced)
4-6 GREEN ONIONS (chopped, tops separate)
3-5 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
2 Tbsp GINGER (finely chopped)
HOT PEPPERS (as desired, finely chopped)
2 EGGS (scrambled)
2-3 Tbsp OIL for sautéing
SOY SAUCE as desired
SESAME OIL 1-2 tsp
SALT and PEPPER to taste

Fried Quinoa Recipe Directions:
This is a great dish for leftover quinoa. The next time you’re making a pot of quinoa for another recipe, just make a little extra for this fried rice recipe knockoff! But if you don’t have any leftover
cooked quinoa handy, just prepare this quinoa a little ahead of time to give it time to cool down–this will keep the quinoa from easily overcooking and becoming mushy.

Quinoa is easy to prepare–just like rice, in fact! Rinse the quinoa if needed (many brands come pre-rinsed). In a pot, add 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce pot to a
simmer, and then cover and let cook 13 minutes (this will result in slightly al-dente quinoa, which is what you want for frying). Remove the quinoa from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
Then fluff with a fork and allow to cool completely (salt if desired).

For fried rice, I like to scramble my eggs first and then set aside. I Use two eggs for this recipe, but feel free to use 1, or 3, or none if you want a vegetarian fried quinoa. Whisk the eggs (add a
splash of milk if desired–makes scrambled eggs smoother). Heat oil in a skillet and quickly scramble eggs on med-high heat and then set aside for later.

In a large skillet, heat 2-3 Tbsp oil on medium.

Add raw, diced carrots (should be about pea size). Add chopped hot peppers, too–if desired. I like adding a little fresh red chili peppers for taste, but jalapenos would work just as well, or red
pepper flakes, or even just a little sriracha later, if desired–or no heat at all–it’s up to your tastes; follow your heart, but spicy food is good for you, right?

Sauté the carrot and peppers for a minute and then add the ginger, garlic, and chopped green onion bottoms (reserve the chopped tops for a flavorful garnish).

Continue sautéing another minute and then add in the quinoa. Stir fry until heated through, this won’t take very long.

Add sesame oil and peas. I like to use frozen peas (thawed), because they hold their texture better than canned peas. Stir until mixed. Add soy sauce to taste. Add fish sauce if desired. The
sauces will provide plenty of salt, but if you want a little black pepper, go ahead and throw that in now.

Mix up and then add the scrambled egg. Mix and fry for another minute and then remove from the heat.

That’s it.

This dish is ready pretty quick. Top the fried quinoa with chopped green onion, crushed peanuts, or both. Serve fried quinoa it’s own or with a veggie side (broccoli or bok choy or Thai eggplant
are nice).

Give this Fried Quinoa recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!
And for more tasty quinoa dishes, check out my Quinoa Video Playlist.

Boiled Peanut Recipe – A Southern Tradition

04/26/202108/28/2014 by Chef Buck

This boiled peanut recipe is a southern tradition and a delicious mess. You can readily find boiled peanuts sold along roadsides throughout the Southern USA. Boiled peanuts are a messy treat–and a little bit of work to eat–they’re kinda like eating pistachios in a soggy shell (not taste-wise, just work-wise). I love ’em–I don’t make them, ’cause I’m too lazy–but I’m always happy to eat them when CG boils up a batch, especially if she’s digging them out of the shells for me.

Boiled Peanut Recipe Ingredients

3 lbs RAW “green” PEANUTS
½ cup SALT
optional:
BAY LEAVES
CHILI POWDER
GARLIC fresh or dried
HOT PEPPERS fresh or dried
HOT SAUCE
flavored BOULLION (broth)
…pretty much any seasoning that you like!

southern boiled peanuts — southern style boiled peanuts

How to make a Boiled Peanut Recipe

Ideally you want to use raw “green” peanuts. Green peanuts are not green, that just means they’re minimally processed–pretty much just out of the ground. Use green peanuts quickly, because they will not keep long and are prone to mold. Green peanuts are ideal because they will more quickly and most readily absorb the seasonings during the boil. You can use peanuts that have been dried in the shell, but don’t use roasted peanuts.

Wash and rinse the peanuts thoroughly, and then place them in a large pot and cover with plenty of water.

Place on the stovetop, cover and bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and allow the peanuts to cook for 2 hours. Add more water to the pot as needed. The peanuts should always be covered in plenty of water. At first the peanuts will float, but after time, the peanuts will sink.

After 2 hours, add seasonings (it’s in the latter part of the boil that the peanuts absorb the most flavor). Add salt, which is the primary ingredient–in fact salt is all you need; many folks JUST USE SALT–they’re plenty tasty that way, but we prefer to add other seasonings as well, which is generally called “cajun boiled peanuts”. For this batch we added several cloves of raw garlic, dried chili peppers, and ½ cup chili powder. But you can add whatever seasonings you like.

If you’re just getting into home cooking and don’t have a lot of seasoning choices, you can check out current pricing for a Complete Starter Spice Set on Amazon.

Cover, and allow the peanuts to continue bubbling on medium heat for 30 more minutes.

After thirty minutes, remove the peanuts from the heat and allow to sit in the seasoned water until they reach the desired flavor, anywhere from 2-5 hours. The longer they sit cooling in the pot, the more seasoned they will become. Give them a try every half hour until you’re happy with the flavor.

They are a mess to eat, but delicious and addictive. Once you start eating them, it’s hard to stop–they will go quickly! If you have leftovers, just drain them and store them in the fridge in ziplock bags. You can also freeze them in ziplocks for longer storage.

Give this Boiled Peanut Recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Thanks for watching! Click a button or two and share the dish if you like it.
And for another tasty southern style treat, try this Country Fried Steak Recipe.

Homemade Guacamole Classic Recipe

06/13/201906/23/2014 by Chef Buck

The guacamole you make at home from fresh ingredients will always be superior to store-bought guacamole–and it’s such a quick and easy dish to prepare!–so why wouldn’t you?

Classic Guacamole Recipe Ingredients

3 AVOCADO (ripe, pitted and skinned and diced)
1-2 Tbsp LIME JUICE (or sub lemon juice)
¼ cup ONION (chopped)
2 ROMA TOMATO (chopped)
1 clove GARLIC (minced)
1-2 Tbsp CILANTRO (chopped)
½ tsp CUMIN (optional)
dash of CAYENNE or HOT SAUCE as desired
½ tsp SALT …adjust to taste

How to make Homemade Guacamole

Choose ripe avocados!–an avocado is ripe if it’s soft (not too soft and not too firm–right in the middle) …a ripe avocado will give slightly when pressed. If it feels hard like a rock, then it’s not ripe…if it feels mushy, then it’s overripe. If the skin feels papery and dry (crackly)–then it’s too old. It’s not rocket science–just go through the avocados at the market and pick whichever one Goldilocks would pick.

Run a knife around the center of the avocado and pull it apart to reveal the pit. Remove the pit, cut the halves into quarters and peel away the skin. Dice the avocado and place in a bowl.
Quickly add the lime or lemon juice and toss well, coating the avocado–this will add a great flavor and more importantly keep the avocado from browning!

Add salt. If desired, add a little cumin, cayenne pepper, hot sauce for bite–but this is optional.

Mix the ingredients well and, with a fork, smash up the avocado–but not too much–the ideal guacamole is lumpy, not smooth.

Add chopped roma tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and garlic. Use fresh ingredients! –the key to a delicious guacamole is fresh ingredients.

Toss everything together and then cover and place the guacamole in the refrigerator until needed.

Give this guacamole recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Guacamole is the perfect accompaniment for this fantastic Family Style Burrito recipe.

cauliflower pizza crust recipe — click pic for video recipe

If you’re new to home cooking, get a bunch of spices, pots and pans, and begin experimenting with different recipes. Cooking is a healthy hobby and skill that will save you money in the long run. Check out current prices for Complete Kitchenware Sets on Amazon as well as Complete Starter Spice Kits. Or go to a thrift store! I’ve found some of my favorite kitchen gear at second-hand stores.

Thanks for checking out the recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list so you’ll never miss a Chef Buck cooking video, and click a button below and share the dishes with your friends. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!
–Chef Buck

Home Fried Potatoes Crispy Breakfast Recipe

07/13/202111/21/2013 by Chef Buck

This crispy home fried potatoes recipe makes a tasty breakfast side. I use onion and hot pepper in this video/recipe, but a little added green bell pepper is nice, too.

Home Fried Potatoes Recipe Ingredients

1 large POTATO
2-3 Tbsp BACON FAT
1/3 cup ONION (finely chopped)
¼ cup GREEN BELL PEPPER (finely chopped, optional)
HOT PEPPER (to taste, finely chopped)
1 tsp SMOKED PAPRIKA
SALT and PEPPER to taste

How to Make Home Fried Potatoes

In a skillet, fry up 4-5 pieces of fatty bacon, this will give you enough grease to cook up your potatoes.
Peel your potato, which is something I hate to say, ’cause potato skin is so delicious, but the breakfast home fries I grew up with were peeled, so that’s how I gotta roll.
Dice your potato into dinky cubes; they don’t have to be exactly the same same, but mostly they do, so cut them as uniformly as possible.
Add your diced potato to the skillet of hot grease–and by hot, I mean that your potatoes start to sizzle and cook when they hit the pan–but not overly hot, ’cause it will take 20-25 minutes to cook these potatoes up just right. Medium-low heat is a good temp, keep the potatoes sizzling, they need to crisp on the outside, but they also need to cook through on the inside, otherwise you’ll end up with a bunch of crispy, raw potato; so go slow, amigo.
Mix your potatoes with the grease and spread them out in the skillet and let them brown for about 5 minutes.
Add finely chopped onion and hot peppers; if desired, also add a little finely chopped green bell pepper for taste and color…I usually do, but if I don’t have it on hand, it’s not the end of the world–it’s just breakfast, man.
Mix the ingredients well and spread out in the skillet and let cook another 5 minutes. If you don’t have a good pan, here are some current prices for cast iron skillets on Amazon.
Add paprika, stir and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are cooked through and done to the desired crispness.
The key is to not cook the potatoes too fast.

Give this home fried potatoes recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for a fancy pants breakfast dish, try this Baked Eggs Recipe.

Thanks for checking out the home fried potatoes recipe, and all of our recipes. Be sure and sign up for our mailing list to never miss a new cooking video, and also click a button below and share the dishes with your friends, and follow Chef Buck on Youtube. We appreciate all the kind comments and support, and we’ll see you next time in the kitchen!

Thanks for watching our recipe videos!

Spinach Salad Recipe with Pear and Cheese

04/07/202411/12/2013 by Chef Buck

This is the easiest, best spinach salad recipe in the world. We first had one of these spinach, pear, blue cheese, walnut, raspberry dressing salads years ago at a little tapas place in Key West, and we’ve been making them ever since–especially if we have a pear on the edge–the riper, softer, and juicier the pear, the better the salad is gonna taste.

What You need for the Best Spinach Salad

SPINACH
1 PEAR (ripe, diced)
WALNUTS (toasted) current WALNUT prices on Amazon
BLUE CHEESE (crumbled)
dressing:
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 Tbsp RASBERRY JAM
1 Tbsp VINEGAR
½ tsp ITALIAN SEASONING
SALT and PEPPER to taste

How to Make a Pear Spinach Salad

Crumble and spread your walnut pieces on a baking sheet and toast at 300 degrees F for 5-10 minutes until the nuts are toasted to your liking. Keep an eye on them–nuts are easy to over-toast and it’s usually worth setting a timer so they’re not forgotten.
While your nuts toast, throw together your salad dressing–basically and oil and vinegar dressing with a little jam added for flavor.

I make this dressing with all kinds of jams, but raspberry and strawberry are my favorites–although definitely give raspberry a try with this recipe. Combine your oil, vinegar, jam, salt, and Italian seasonings. Mix well. Taste and adjust as needed to your liking. A little sugar can be added if desired, but I usually find that the jam adds plenty of sweetness, plus the pear will add sweetness to the salad as well.

Toss the dressing with your spinach leaves until all are well-coated. Divide spinach into serving bowls. Chop pear into nice chunks and add to salad. An overly-ripe pear works best. Sprinkle the toasted walnuts over the salad, then sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles. Lots of blue cheese. Or less. I like blue cheese. There are no ratios with this salad. Check prices for WALNUTS on amazon

And that’s it. This is the best spinach salad in the world. So it is written, so it shall be done.
Give this Spinach Salad recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

For another tasty salad idea, try this Kale and Beet Dish!

Thanks for Checking Out Our Spinach Salad

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Baked Eggs Recipe with Spinach and Tomato

06/13/201911/04/2013 by Chef Buck

This baked eggs recipe is a delicious treat for breakfast or brunch, and it’s easy to prepare even though it looks super fancy. I’m throwing spinach, tomato, and Roman cheese in this baked eggs recipe, but it’s a versatile dish, and anything that’ll work in an omelet will work in this preparation. For a spicier version, add a dash or two of hot sauce as the tomatoes cook.

What you need for a Baked Eggs Recipe

(this recipe serves 2)
4 EGGS
OIL for sauteing
2 cup fresh SPINACH
2-4 GREEN ONIONS (chopped)
2 small ROMA TOMATOES (chopped)
3-4 GARLIC cloves (finely chopped)
1-2 tsp dried ITALIAN SEASONING
chopped JALAPENO (optional)
freshly grated PARMESAN or ROMANO CHEESE
4 Tbsp HALF N HALF
SALT and PEPPER to taste
½ cup chopped PARSLEY (optional)
sprinkle of PAPRIKA and fresh herb for GARNISH (optional)

How to Make Oven Baked Eggs

Heat oil on medium high heat in a small saute pan.
Add garlic and chopped bottoms of the green onion. Saute for 1 minute and then add the tomato.
Continue to saute for 2 minutes and then add salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix and cook for 1 minute.
Add green onion tops and spinach, and any fresh herbs you desire.
Saute until spinach is wilted.
Lightly grease an oven-safe dish. If you like the dishes I used in the video, you can check out current prices for au gratin baking dishes on Amazon.
Add a layer of cheese to bottom of the if you like, but this is optional.
Spoon and spread the spinach and tomato mixture into the bottom of the dish.
Drizzle Half n Half or cream over top and then sprinkle shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese.
Carefully crack eggs and top the dish with them.
Place in an oven preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If the baking dish/ramekins are small, place on a baking sheet for easy handling
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and cooked as desired.
When eggs are finished baking, top with additional cheese if desired. Sprinkle with paprika or garnish with fresh parsley, or basil, or cilantro, or whatever, but a touch of freshly chopped green will make this dish quite lovely.

Serve right away, because eggs are best hot, dude.
Give this baked eggs recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

For another fancy pants breakfast dish, try this tasty Huevos Rancheros Recipe.

Thanks for checking out his baked eggs recipe. If you liked it, then click a button or two below and share it with friends and family. I appreciate it!
–Chef Buck

Broccoli Recipe – Best Blue Cheese Broccoli

06/13/201911/01/2013 by Chef Buck

Try this super-quick and awesome broccoli recipe. If you like blue cheese then you’ll love this dish, in fact, you’ll actually love broccoli if you only just liked it before …I know, kinda confusing, but trust me, this is a pretty damn tasty broccoli dish–and healthy, too. So make it.

Bad-ass Blue Cheese Broccoli Recipe Ingredients:
5 cups BROCCOLI FLORETS
¼ cup CARROT strings
2-3 oz BLUE CHEESE crumbled
¼ cup SUNFLOWER SEEDS (shelled and toasted)
SALT and PEPPER to taste

directions:
Toast the sunflower seeds (already shelled). This can be done quite quickly in a hot pan or skillet. Heat pan or skillet on medium/med-low heat; not too hot or seeds will burn. Add sunflower seeds and spread them into a single layer. Do not use any oil or spray in the pan. Stir the seeds in the skillet for a couple of minutes until they begin to brown, lightly browned is perfect; they’re easy to over-toast, so don’t leave them too long. It will only take 2 minutes on medium heat.
Remove seeds from heat and set aside.

Cover the bottom of a pot with about ¼ inch of water, just enough for steaming the broccoli and carrots. Add The broccoli florets to the pot and top with the carrot strings. Raise the heat, cover the pot, and allow the veggies to steam for approx. 5 minutes; ideally the florets will be cooked through, soft but not soggy!

Turn off the heat and drain any remaining water in the sink. Add salt, pepper, the toasted sunflower seeds, and 2-3 ounces of crumbled blue cheese.
Lightly toss ingredients together and serve while hot.
This dish is super-simple and amazingly delicious –as long as you like blue cheese.
Give this broccoli recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another great veggie dish, try this tasty Beet Greens Recipe.

Pickled Daikon and Carrot Relish –Vietnamese Style

06/13/201910/22/2013 by Chef Buck

Vietnamese Pickled Daikon and Carrot Relish

Vietnamese-style pickled daikon and carrot make a handy relish than can be used with salads, sandwiches, and all kinds of recipes. It’s a must have for making a banh mi sandiwich and I use it quite often as a salad topper and also dice it up to add to tuna, chicken, and quinoa salads. Keep a jar of pickled daikon and carrot in your fridge and experiment adding it to some of your favorite dishes.

Pickled Daikon and Carrot Ingredients:
2 cups cut DAIKON
2 Cups Cut CARROT
1-2 tsp SALT
¼ SUGAR
½ cup WATER (hot from tap)
½ cup VINEGAR

directions:
Daikon is a BIG radish. When buying, choose one that is firm–if the daikon has green tops attached, choose one without wilted leaves, but often the tops are not attached. The skin is thin and can be peeled off with a simple vegetable peeler. The same is true for carrots, although I generally leave the skin on the carrots, but follow your heart. Slice and cut the daikon and carrot into matchstick sizes and place into a bowl. Add salt to the bowl and mix well with the daikon and carrot so that the veggies are coated. This will draw water out of the vegetables and soften them. Set bowl aside.
In a smaller bowl, prepare the pickling solution. Combine warm tap water and sugar. Stir until dissolved and then add the vinegar. And that’s it!
In the larger bowl, the salt will have started drawing moisture from the daikon and carrot matchsticks. When they have softened enough, cram them into a storage container and add the pickling solution.
This pickled combo will keep in your fridge for 2-3 weeks. It’s a must have topping for Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and works well in all kinds of sandwiches. Use this relish as a topping for salads or chop it up to incorporate in whatever dish you desire (it’s great in a coleslaw or quinoa salad).
Give this pickled daikon and carrot relish a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

And if you wanna see this relish in action, check out this deconstruction of a Banh Mi Sandwich.

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