Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Green Beans with Pine Nuts

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Try this tasty Green Beans with Pine Nuts Recipe! It is the perfect vegetable side dish for any meal. Everyone will love this delicious green bean recipe. The toasted pine nuts give this dish an extra special flavor that will impress your guests! It is so easy to make, healthy and super delicious! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Green Beans with Pine Nuts.

Serve this tasty Green Beans with Pine Nuts dish at your next dinner. This green beans recipe is perfect for everyday meals and also for fancy meals. Watch this cooking video and make this delicious, healthy, easy Green Beans with Pine Nuts recipe today!

 

Yield: 4 servings

Green Beans with Pine Nuts

Ingredients

  • 1 pound green Beans, stem end removed
  • 2 teaspoons butter (or as desired)
  • 3 tablespoons pine nuts
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Fresh ground pepper to taste.

Instructions

  1. Add 1 inch of water to a medium saucepan. Bring the water to a boil.
  2. Add green beans and return to a boil.
  3. Once the water returns to a boil, decrease the heat to medium and cover the pan. Boil gently for 8 to 10 minutes or until desired tenderness.
  4. While green beans are cooking, add the butter to a large skillet. Heat the butter over medium heat until it melts. Be careful not to brown or burn the butter (reduce the heat if needed).
  5. Add the pine nuts. Stir frequently and cook until the pine nuts are golden.
  6. Drain the green beans.
  7. Add the green beans to the pine nuts. Gently stir together until the butter coats the beans.
  8. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Notes

You can use frozen French Style Green Beans in place of the regular green beans. If you cook these instead, reduce the water to 1/2 cup (or cook according to package directions). Stir once during cooking. Cook to desired tenderness.

You can toast the pine nuts without butter and stir vegan butter in with the finished dish.

© Karen Breyer

 

Roasted Butternut Squash

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Learn how to Roast Butternut Squash! Butternut squash is a winter squash with a nutty, sweet flavor. Roasting Butternut Squash brings out it’s delicious rich, nutty sweet flavor even more! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Roasted Butternut Squash. Watch this cooking video and make some delicious Roasted Butternut Squash today!

Yield: 4 - 6 servings

Roasted Butternut Squash

Ingredients

  • 6 - 8 cups butternut squash, 1 inch cubes
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons grapeseed or olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Baking spray (or use parchment paper)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with baking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together the butternut squash and oil.
  3. Stir in the salt and pepper.
  4. Spread the butternut squash in a single layer on the baking sheet.
  5. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn and roast 10 to 15 minutes more until the butternut squash is tender. A knife should slide easy into the center of the squash when it is done.
  6. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Notes

Butternut squash is a winter squash with a nutty, sweet flavor.

6-8 cups of diced butternut squash is about 3 pounds.

You can make the butternut squash cubes bigger or smaller than 1 inch. Just make them about the same size. Bigger cubes will take longer to cook. Smaller cubes will cook faster.

You can add other seasonings if desired. Try brown sugar, maple syrup or herbs.
To cut a whole butternut squash into 1 inch cubes: Peel the squash, cut it in half, scoop out and discard the seeds. Then dice the squash into 1 inch cubes or the desired size. Larger cubes will take longer to cook. Smaller cubes will cook faster.

© Karen Breyer

 

How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash

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Want to learn how to peel and cut a butternut squash? In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash into cubes. Your butternut squash cubes will be ready for your favorite butternut squash recipe.

My favorite way to cook butternut squash is roasting. What is your favorite butternut squash recipe? Whatever it is, watch this cooking video and learn how to peel and cut a butternut squash so you can make that favorite recipe!

Yield: Varies

How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash

Ingredients

  • A Whole Butternut Squash

Instructions

  1. : Rinse and pat dry a whole butternut squash.
  2. : Cut the stem and bottom ends do both ends are flat.
  3. : Cut the squash in half between the neck and the bulb.
  4. : With a regular and/or y-shaped vegetable peeler, peel away the skin. Also peel away any green streaks so you have only vibrant, orange flesh.
  5. : Cut the bulb side in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and stringy fiber.
  6. : To make 1 - inch cubes, cut each half in 1 inch slices. Then cut each slice lengthwise in 1 inch strips. (Adjust the cuts to make your desired size cubes).
  7. : Turn and cut across the strips so you have 1 inch cubes.

Notes

Butternut squash is a winter squash with a nutty, sweet flavor.

The y-shaped vegetable peeler makes it easier to peel on some of the more curvy areas. A regular, straight peeler is easier on other areas. Use what is easier for you.

Adjust your cuts to make any size butternut squash cubes you desire.

© Karen Breyer

 

Cajun Potato Wedges

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Love Potatoes? Love Cajun food? Try these easy, healthy Cajun Potato Wedges! Bake these potato wedges in the oven and make them as crispy or fork tender as you like! Dip them in ketchup, sour cream, sauce or dressing for an extra fun flavor boost! These are a perfect side dish anytime!

In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Cajun Potato Wedges. Watch this cooking video and learn how to make these tasty Cajun Potato Wedges today!

Yield: 1 serving per potato

Cajun Potato Wedges

Ingredients

  • Russet potatoes
  • Cooking spray
  • Cajun seasoning
  • Kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Line baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  3. Rinse and scrub potatoes with vegetable brush under running water. Pat dry potatoes.
  4. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Then cut in 6 - 12 wedges. Thinner wedges will cook faster and be more crisp. Thicker wedges will be more fork-tender.
  5. Place potatoes on baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
  6. Sprinkle potatoes evenly with Cajun seasoning and salt as desired.
  7. Turn the potatoes over. Spray and season the other side of the potatoes like the first side.
  8. Bake 20 minutes then turn the potatoes over.
  9. Bake 10 - 15 more minutes or until the potatoes are as brown and crispy as you like them.
  10. Serve.

Notes

You may like to dip these Cajun Potato Wedges in ketchup or sour cream. Try my Tofu Sour Cream and Chives recipe. It is a perfect dip for these potato wedges.

© Karen Breyer

 

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