Hawaiian Tacos

July 3, 2008 Kid-Friendly, Poultry, Recipes Comments Off

Someone I knew once made me tacos with teriyaki-marinated chicken. Other than the teriyaki flavor, these were pretty standard tacos, but I remember the uniqueness of the Asian-style chicken in the Mexican dish and like it quite well. Maybe that’s what people mean by “Asian Fusion?”

I’ve taken the idea of teriyaki-marinated chicken and blended it with pineapple, salsa, and cilantro. Yes, it sounds odd, but I’ve never met anyone who tried it and didn’t like it.

Ingredients
6-8 eight-inch flour tortillas
2 boneless, skinless half-chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce (or use the soy-free variety here)
3/4 cup fresh (or canned) pineapple, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup roasted, diced green Chile peppers
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Sour Cream
Fresh Salsa

Method
Marinate the chicken in teriyaki and pineapple juice for 2-6 hours. Sautee in a skillet over medium heat until chicken is cooked, liquid is evaporated, and sauce is thick and slightly sticky.

Heat tortillas in an empty skillet over low heat with cheese. Remove once cheese is melted

Assemble tacos with about 2 tbsp chicken, pineapple chunks, fresh cilantro, green Chiles, salsa, and sour cream.

Makes 6-8 tacos.

Garlic Bread

July 3, 2008 Grains, Kid-Friendly, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian Comments Off

This one owes a credit to my husband. He makes the best garlic bread and it has been our staple with pasta for the last 10 years. Any fresh loaf will do, but I prefer sourdough or sweet French without frills like whole grain, seeds, or other toppings.

Ingredients
1 loaf of fresh bread
5-6 cloves of fresh garlic, peeled and trimmed
1/4 tsp kosher salt
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

Method
Preheat oven on broil setting
Slice the bread to about 3/4 -inch thickness.
In a blender or food processor, combine garlic, salt, lime juice, pepper, and olive oil. Blend on high speed until garlic is thoroughly liquefied and entire mixture is slightly emulsified and opaque.

Brush the mixture over one side of each slice of bread and lay the bread on a baking sheet. Heat under broiler for 3-6 minutes or until bread is slightly browned and crunchy at the crust. Serve immediately.