Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Easy Guacamole

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Yield: 4 servings

Easy Guacamole

Ingredients

  • 2 avocados, ripe
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (Kosher or sea salt preferred)
  • 2 - 3 tablespoons salsa

Instructions

  1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pits (seeds).
  2. Scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon and put it in a bowl.
  3. Mash the avocado with a fork until it is the consistency you prefer.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients except the salsa and mix together. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.
  5. Add the salsa. Mix well.
  6. The guacamole is best if it is chilled for about an hour. Serve.

Notes

To seed the avocado first cut the avocado lengthwise. Then hit the seed with the sharp edge of a knife (Be careful!). Next hold the avocado tight and twist the knife to loosen and remove the seed.

When you add the salsa try not to get too much juice.

You can try different types of salsas to see which you prefer best. I often use a mild or medium chunky style salsa.

To tell if an avocado is ripe place it in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze. Do not apply pressure with your fingertips as this may cause bruising. Avocados ripen after they have been harvested so if they are not ripe yet, wait until they are.

Once the avocados are ripe they should be eaten within a day or two. To slow down the ripening process you can put them in the refrigerator.

See a cooking demonstration of this Easy Guacamole recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Thai Style Vegetable Curry

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Yield: 6 servings (8 - 9 cups)

Thai Style Vegetable Curry

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups onion, diced
  • 1 cup carrots, diced
  • 1 cup bell peppers, diced (combine 2 colors; red, yellow, green, or orange)
  • 4 - 5 cups zucchini, diced
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts (divided: 3/4 and 1/4 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup garbanzo beans, canned (rinsed and drained)
  • 1 cup peas, frozen
  • Water if desired to thin curry mixture (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash and dice vegetables.
  2. Heat large pot over medium-high heat and add olive oil.
  3. After the oil is hot, add the garlic and onions. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté for a couple minutes until the onions are soft (about 1 or 2 minutes).
  4. Add the carrots and peppers and stir. Reduce the heat to medium - low and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender. Stir frequently.
  5. Next add the zucchini. Stir, reduce the heat to medium - low and cover the pan. Simmer about 5 minutes.
  6. While the vegetables are simmering, blend 3/4 cup peanuts, tomato sauce, soy sauce, curry powder and salt in a blender until smooth.
  7. Add blended curry mixture to the cooked vegetables and stir thoroughly.
  8. Add the garbanzo beans and peas to the cooked vegetables and stir. Stir in a little water (as desired) if you would like a thinner curry mixture.
  9. Cook curry mixture until it is hot throughout. Taste and add more salt and/or curry powder if desired.
  10. Serve curry over rice and top with peanuts.

Notes

You can vary the amount of diced vegetables in this recipe to your taste or to what you have on hand.

Adjust the garlic, curry powder and salt to taste.

You may also serve this curry over couscous or quinoa.

I usually serve the extra peanuts in a dish and let each person add their desired amount to the top of their curry.

You can add a little water near the end of the cooking time if you desire a thinner curry mixture. I sometimes add about 1/4 cup of water after I add the peas if I think the curry mixture is too thick.

See a cooking demonstration of this Thai Style Vegetable Curry recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter

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Yield: 3 cups

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
  • 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chilled chocolate chips (mini or regular)

Instructions

  1. Put chocolate chips in the freezer for about an hour or until cold.
  2. Add oil to blender or food processor. Add the peanuts.
  3. Blend until smooth. Start on low and then increase the speed to high.
  4. Slowly add remaining peanuts and blend until desired consistency.
  5. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and blend thoroughly.
  6. Add more salt as desired a little at a time.
  7. Pour in airtight container.
  8. Fold in the chilled chocolate chips. If you want chocolate swirls, stir in some room-temperature chocolate chips. The warm peanut butter will melt the chocolate. The more you stir, the more they will melt and swirl.
  9. Refrigerate the peanut butter until it is firm. In the first two hours of chilling, gently fold the chocolate chips up from the bottom of the container every now and then. Stir as little as possible.
  10. Store this chocolate peanut butter in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Notes

You can also use dark chocolate chips.

You can use raw peanuts instead of roasted if you want.

I like the taste of Kosher salt best.

When using a Vita-mixer, use tamper through lid opening and push the peanuts down towards the blades.

When using a regular blender (needs to be strong enough to blend nuts) stop periodically and scrape the peanut butter down the sides to help it along.

You can also use a food processor.

If using salted peanuts, reduce the salt to taste.

This peanut butter will stay fresh at least a month in the refrigerator.

See a cooking demonstration of this Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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Garlic Egg Pasta

by 2 Comments

I hope you are having fun learning how to cook! Please share with me your favorite easy recipe that you have tried this year. So far my favorite easy recipe is Easy Garlic Egg Pasta. It has only a few ingredients and tastes so good! I would suggest using a Teflon pot to make clean-up easier. I think Easy Garlic Egg Pasta may become one of your favorite recipes too. Below is the cooking video for this recipe in case you want to try it. Happy Cooking!

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