Banana chocolate chip bread pudding, for the morning after (also known as 'Better than make-up sex' bread pudding)

• 

Update, April 2020: I've made banana chocolate chip bread pudding more times than I can count since this post first appeared a decade ago. It's getting us through our COVID-19 quarantine at the moment. The first time I made this recipe it was a peace offering. Now it's our ultimate comfort food. Enjoy.

Husbands and wives argue. It's just one of those things - a given of marriage, a by-product of sharing so many of the important issues and ho-hum mundanities of life. A little irritation leads to big words. Stubborn begets stubborn. Heels dig in. Movement and compromise seem unnatural, uncomfortable, even impossible. You reach a level of exasperation where you wonder how you ended up in this life and wildly consider all the possible avenues out of it. And then you leave the room, slam the door, hold your head in your hands, and fume. Or weep, depending on the particular situation and your particular personality.

Married people out there, I see you nodding your heads. And for all you smug singles who think this will never happen to you and your future spouse...I think you know what I'm going to say, so I won't bother.

I've heard the old saying about not going to bed angry, but that doesn't always work for me. When I get heated up, I need more time for my steam to dissipate. But ultimately I'm a peacemaker. Which is why, a few weeks ago, I made banana chocolate chip bread pudding early one morning before heading to work. We'd gone to bed mad, and I meant the bread pudding as my fragrant, sweet, silent apology. Which, fortunately, is how it was received. [April 2010]

Banana chocolate chip bread pudding

• 8 eggs
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur, or brandy
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 loaf challah, torn into small pieces (about 8 cups)
• 2 ripe bananas, sliced or cut into small chunks
• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, cream, milk, liqueur and salt. Add the bread pieces, bananas, and chocolate chips and toss to combine thoroughly - you want all the bread covered with the custard mixture. Leave the bread pudding mixture in the bowl about 1 hour, mixing every 15 minutes to redistribute the ingredients.

Spray a large casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, then pour in the bread pudding mixture. Bake until the bread pudding is puffed up, golden brown on top and set in the center - when you jiggle the pan, the middle shouldn't wobble. Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a rack at least 30 minutes. It will deflate as it cools, but that's normal, so don't be concerned.

Serve warm or at room temperature. I think whipped cream is gilding the lily, but if you like it, go ahead.

 More bread pudding recipes: Chocolate-cherry bread pudding * Roasted wild mushroom bread pudding with bacon * Savory bread pudding with caramelized onions and Comte cheese

Meyer lemon spaghetti with goat cheese

• 

Dinner for one: Spaghetti with Meyer lemon and goat cheese

[Update: I originally wrote this post in 2010. It's now a decade later and much of the country is sequestered at home because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, including my family. I pulled out this recipe yesterday to share with my older son, who is across the country holed up in his apartment in Connecticut. I'm sending him a box of Meyer lemons from our tree so he can make this anytime he wants. Stay safe, friends, and STAY HOME.]

When I was young, single and living in New York City, I often ended the day with a simple bowl of pasta. I was working long hours in the publishing business, and while I did have a social life, there were plenty of 14-hour workdays when I'd arrive home at 11pm starving, exhausted and fed up. On nights like that, a bowl of hot pasta with olive oil and garlic was a good friend indeed.

My husband Michael is a protein kind of guy, so my bowl of pure carbohydrate comfort doesn't appeal to him. But today one kid was away on a playdate, and Michael and the other son had gigantic burritos for lunch. When dinnertime rolled around, I was the only one who needed a meal. And I needed a warm bowl of pasta.

This is one of the simplest, yet most delicious, pasta dishes I know. It requires only a few ingredients: spaghetti or angel hair, a lemon, some cheese, a splash of olive oil. If you're feeling fancy and have fresh basil (I didn't), slice it into thin strips and toss it in. Be sure to inhale deeply before you take the first bite - it adds significantly to the pleasure.

Meyer Lemon Spaghetti with Goat Cheese

Yield: 2 servings

Author: Erika Kerekes

Total time: 10 M

This fragrant, simple pasta dish requires only spaghetti or angel hair, a lemon, some cheese, and a splash of good olive oil. The best comfort food on the planet.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb spaghetti or angel hair pasta
• 1 Meyer lemon (you can substitute regular lemon, but don't use as much of the juice or it will be too sour)
• 1/2 cup grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan) cheese
• 2 ounces fresh, soft goat cheese
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

How to cook Meyer Lemon Spaghetti with Goat Cheese

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water, then add the pasta. Cook until the pasta is al dente, and not a moment longer.
2. While the pasta is cooking, grate the zest of the Meyer lemon into a large bowl. Juice the lemon into the same bowl, then add the cheeses, olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a healthy grind of black pepper. Ladle a bit of the hot pasta cooking water from the pot into the bowl. Whisk everything together until it's smooth.
3. When the pasta is cooked al dente, drain it and add it to the bowl with the lemon mixture. Toss, grind on a bit more pepper, and eat. Makes dinner for two, or dinner for one plus tomorrow's lunch.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Creamy cauliflower soup {keto, low carb}

• 

In my house, making soup is a surefire way to get everyone to eat more vegetables. It always surprises me how quickly a container of soup disappears. This Creamy Cauliflower Soup and my Cream of Mushroom Soup are my family's clear favorites.

I make all my creamy vegetable soups the same way, and it's super simple. Saute onion and maybe some garlic in olive oil or butter. Add the vegetable, whether it's mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, or whatever you like. Cover with the best chicken broth you can find. I make my own, but some of the boxed versions are fine, and if you prefer vegetable broth, that works too. Cook until everything is tender, at least half an hour, sometimes more. Blend, adding a little cream, a squeeze of lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. And that's it.

This soup is great if you're on a low carb or keto diet, like me. If you want to skip the cream, add a small potato to the pot when you add the vegetables—it will act as a thickener and smooth everything out when you blend.

print recipe

Creamy cauliflower soup

by Erika Kerekes October-07-2018

Simmer the cauliflower in the best quality chicken or vegetable broth you can find (or make your own), then add a splash of cream when you blend it.

Ingredients

• 1 large head cauliflower
• 3 Tbsp butter or olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• juice of 1 lemon
• salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

Cut the cauliflower into florets. Peel the tough outer skin off the stem, then chop the remaining inner stem into small pieces.In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter or olive oil and saute the onion 4-5 minutes or until it turns translucent—don't let it brown. Add the cauliflower and chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Turn down the heat and simmer the soup, covered, until the vegetables are very soft, about 30 minutes. Add the cream and lemon juice, then puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender until very smooth, or transfer to a countertop blender, being careful not to burn yourself. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 35 mins Total time: 50 mins Yield: 6-8 servings

Low carb waffles with zucchini and cheese

• 

Have you ever tried making low carb waffles? After more than two years following a keto (ketogenic, or low carb) diet, I don't miss sweet waffles drenched in syrup. Instead, I have become a huge fan of savory waffles, with almond flour and eggs as the base, shredded vegetables and onions for flavor, and cheese holding the whole thing together in the most delicious way.

I use a mixture of almond flour and a little bit of coconut flour for these savory keto waffles, plus two or three kinds of cheese. Zucchini throws off a lot of liquid, so there's no need to add milk or water - the zucchini provides all the moisture you need.

I serve these low carb zucchini waffles as a side dish with roast chicken or steak, but I can tell you from experience that leftover zucchini and cheese waffles are extremely tasty for breakfast with a fried egg on top. Scroll down for the recipe....

More favorite low carb recipes:
Paleo fried chicken with an almond flour crust
Cheeseburger stuffed mushrooms
Low carb stuffed peppers

print recipe

Low carb waffles with zucchini and cheese

by Erika Kerekes February-11-2018

Serve these savory low carb waffles with shredded zucchini and cheddar cheese as a side dish with roast chicken or steak, or top them with a fried egg for breakfast. Perfect for keto diets!

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup almond flour
• 2 Tablespoons coconut flour
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups raw zucchini, shredded or spiralized
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (or cheddar/jack combination)

Instructions

1. Heat your waffle iron.2. Crack the eggs into a medium-sized bowl and beat them with a fork. Add the almond flour, coconut flour, parmesan, salt, pepper and baking powder, and combine well. The mixture will be very thick.3. Add the zucchini and onions to the egg mixture and combine well. Let sit 10 minutes, then stir again. The salt will draw out some of the water from the zucchini, making the mixture looser. Add the cheddar cheese and mix again.4. Spray your waffle iron with nonstick cooking spray. Use about 1/3 cup mixture for each waffle, or adjust based on the size of your waffle iron. Let the waffles cook until medium-brown, about 5 minutes - these low carb waffles will take a bit longer than traditional waffles, so don't be impatient or they'll fall apart. You need the extra time for the eggs and cheese to do their bonding work.5. As you take the waffles out of the waffle iron, put them in a single layer on a rack set over a baking sheet. Keep warm in the oven until you finish the whole batch. Serve immediately.LEFTOVERS: Reheat in the oven or toaster oven for best results. The microwave will make them mushy.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 12 waffles

Grain-free apple cinnamon muffins with pecans {paleo, gluten free, dairy free}

• 

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post and I didn't get anything for free. I paid for the product mentioned below with my own hard-earned money and am mentioning it because I really like it and love supporting my fellow food entrepreneurs.

I love to bake. Because I now follow a low-carb diet to control my type 2 diabetes, I mostly bake for other people. But my family has gotten so used to keto, sugar-free, low carb meals that they actually prefer baked goods made without grains and with much less sugar. These Paleo Apple Cinnamon Muffins are full of shredded apples and nuts and contain a little bit of coconut sugar, so they're perfect for those of us who prefer less sugar in our lives.

Recently I discovered Birch Benders Paleo Pancake & Waffle Mix, which I adore. The primary ingredients are cassava starch, coconut flour and almond flour. It's not completely low carb, but it's much lower than similar baking mixes made with wheat. This mix makes an excellent base for muffins. I've also used it for savory pancakes and savory waffles.

Because of my diabetes, these Paleo Apple Cinnamon Muffins are a "once in a while" treat in my own diet. But I'm happy to feed them to my family anytime!

print recipe

Paleo Apple Cinnamon Muffins

by Erika Kerekes December-10-2017

Healthy grain-free muffins that aren't too sweet. Paleo, gluten free, dairy free, low in sugar.

Ingredients

• 1 large or 2 medium apples, peeled
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup avocado oil
• 1/3 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/4 cups Birch Benders Paleo Pancake & Waffle Mix
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 12 whole pecans, for decoration

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick baking spray.Using a hand-held cheese grater, shred the apple into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the eggs, oil, coconut sugar, almond milk and cinnamon. Whisk together until well combined.Add the Birch Benders Paleo Pancake & Waffle mix and chopped pecans. With a large spoon, mix gently until all ingredients are combined. Let the batter stand about 5 minutes.Scoop the batter into the muffin tin, dividing evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Lay one whole pecan on top of each muffin.Bake 20 minutes, or until the edges are brown and the muffins are cooked through. Let cool in the muffin tin 3 minutes, then use an offset spatula or knife to remove the muffins to a rack for cooling. Eat and enjoy.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 12 muffins

Almond cheddar tea biscuits {keto, low carb}

• 

Disclosure: I received this particular block of cheese from Cabot as a gift, although I also buy quite a lot of it on my own dime.

I've been cutting back on grains lately, but that hasn't stopped me from craving cookies and crackers.

And then I made a miraculous discovery.

Replace the all-purpose flour in my Parmesan Smoked Paprika Crackers with almond flour or almond meal and you end up with low carb cheese crackers (or cheese "cookies," as I prefer to call them) that are even more delicious than the originals.

These Almond Cheddar Tea Biscuits are also keto, low carb, gluten-free, grain-free, and the perfect snack for people following a LCHF (low carbohydrate, high fat) way of eating.

Here's the basic recipe. I used Seriously Sharp Cheddar from Cabot Creamery, one of my favorites, but you can use any shredded hard cheese - Parmesan, Gouda, Jarlsberg, or any strong cheddar cheese. Feel free to add herbs or spices to suit your taste.

print recipe

Almond Cheddar Tea Biscuits {Keto, Low Carb}

by Erika Kerekes September-14-2015

Crisp, crumbly and extra cheesy, these easy cheese crackers contain three ingredients and bake for just 15 minutes. A perfect snack for those eating grain-free, gluten-free, low carb or keto.

Ingredients

• 4 Tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup almond flour or almond meal
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (substitute any shredded hard cheese)

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Blend all ingredients together in a bowl with a wooden spoon or hand mixer, or use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix (aggressively if you're doing it  by hand) until a smooth dough forms.Roll 1-inch balls of dough between your palms and place on two lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each dough ball. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingers. Bake 15 minutes, or until the edges of the crackers start to brown. Cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove the crackers to a rack to finish cooling.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 20 mins Yield: about 24 crackers

Chocolate zucchini muffins

• 

Muffins are always a hit in my house. My younger son prefers my banana chocolate chip muffins, and I have to say those are pretty good. But both boys like zucchini muffins, and I get a perverse thrill out of making sweets with vegetables. I normally make zucchini muffins with wheat germ, but sometimes I change it up and add the chocolate. No surprise - they prefer the chocolate version.

Two notes: I use coconut sugar for this recipe because it brings a dark, rich flavor you can't get from white sugar. And I prefer olive oil in this recipe. I think it works well with the chocolate. However, feel free to use canola, grapeseed or another more neutral vegetable oil if you think the olive overtones would bother you.

print recipe

Chocolate zucchini muffins

by Erika Kerekes September-20-2010

These chocolate zucchini muffins are easy to make and good for you - I put them in my kids' lunchboxes without guilt.

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar (I prefer coconut sugar)
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups zucchini, grated
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, olive oil, cocoa powder and vanilla until well blended. Add the zucchini and mix to incorporate.In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add all at once to the egg mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until the flour is mostly incorporated. Be careful not to mix too aggressively - this will make your muffins tough. Fold in the chocolate chips.Line a 24-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Using a spring-loaded ice cream disher, fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full. Bake about 25 minutes, until the muffins spring back when you touch them and a toothpick comes out clean (except for the melted chocolate chips, which you're bound to hit when testing). As soon as you can touch them, remove the muffins from the pan and cool on a wire rack.Note: I put one dozen in the freezer immediately so I have something left for the boys' lunchboxes. If I left the whole batch on the counter, they'd be gone in a day.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 25 mins Total time: 35 mins Yield: 24 muffins

Sweet and sour unstuffed cabbage with Fruitchup {Paleo, keto, low carb}

• 

My Grandma Rose made the best stuffed cabbage, sweet-and-sour style with raisins and lemon slices. But she didn't make it often because it was a *bleeping* pain in the *bleep* to blanch the cabbage, separate the leaves, and roll up all those little suckers.

Right after I launched my new Fruitchup Paleo ketchup, which is sweetened with raisins and dates instead of added sugar or artificial sweeteners, I realized that it was the perfect ingredient for Sweet and Sour "Unstuffed" Cabbage, because it actually contains everything Grandma Rose would have put into her stuffed cabbage, except for the meat and the cabbage.

This Sweet and Sour Unstuffed Cabbage recipe is Paleo and Whole30 compliant, requires only four ingredients, takes only 10 minutes of actual work (plus a few hours to simmer on the stove), and will bring my Grandma Rose right into your kitchen. I gave some of my last batch to a friend and her whole family loved it, including a preschooler and a baby.

print recipe

Sweet and Sour Unstuffed Cabbage {Paleo, keto}

by Erika Kerekes May-6-2017

This delicious, hearty stew comes together in just a few minutes and uses only four ingredients, including Fruitchup Paleo ketchup. A variation on my Grandma Rose's classic stuffed cabbage recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 6 cups chopped green cabbage (about 1/2 large head of cabbage)
• 1 bottle Fruitchup Paleo ketchup
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large pot over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.Add the onion, cabbage, and Fruitchup Paleo ketchup. Stir to combine and bring to a boil.Turn down the heat, cover the pot, and simmer 1.5 to 2 hours, until the cabbage is wilted and the flavors are well combined.Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot. For those not following a Paleo or Whole30 way of eating, the Unstuffed Cabbage can be served over rice.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 2 hour Total time: 2 hour 10 mins Yield: 8 servings

Cream of mushroom soup

• 

The key to good cream of mushroom soup is a really good blender

There are three secrets to an aromatic, smooth, ultra-delicious cream of mushroom soup:

1. High-quality chicken stock, homemade if possible
2. Butter
3. A high-powered blender

We eat a lot of mushroom soup, especially now that I am following a low-carb, high fat diet to control my diabetes. And yes, I am in love with an appliance. Why are you smirking? A kitchen appliance. Get your mind out of the gutter.

My Vitamix blender is my sweetheart, my crush, the apple of my eye.

An immersion blender is handy when you're making soup because you can puree it right in the pot. But it never gets totally smooth. I've made this cream of mushroom soup many times with an immersion blender, and while it tastes fabulous, it's always got a little texture to it. But the Vitamix produces cream of mushroom soup as smooth as milk. The cream I added just gilded the lily.

I'm a convert. The Vitamix is expensive (I bought it at Costco for about $400) but I think it's worth it. There's a lot of soup in my future.

Note: No one paid me anything or gave me anything to write this post. I bought my Vitamix with my own hard-earned money. And I intend to keep it for a good, long time. The link included in this post is an Amazon affiliate links, so if you click and buy anything, I will get a (very small) commission.

print recipe

Cream of mushroom soup

by Erika Kerekes November-19-2011

The better your blender, the smoother your soup will be. Flavorful Baby Bella mushrooms (also known as crimini mushrooms) add more personality than standard white button mushrooms, but use any mushrooms you like.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 1 pound Baby Bella (crimini) mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped (use the stems too!)
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• juice of 1/2 lemon

Instructions

Add the butter and oil to a large pot over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, add the chopped onion and saute about 4 minutes, until the onion is softened. Add the mushrooms and chicken stock. Bring the soup to a boil, turn down the heat, and simmer gently about 30 minutes, until all the vegetables are soft.Transfer the soup to your blender, working in batches if your blender isn't big enough to hold the whole pot. Puree the soup in the blender until very smooth, 1-2 minutes depending on the manliness of your appliance. (Alternatively, puree the soup in the pot with a hand-held immersion blender.)Return the soup to the pot, add the cream, and stir just until steaming. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 40 mins Total time: 55 mins Yield: 8-10 servings

Roasted Hatch chile mayonnaise

• 

It's Hatch chile season again, and food lovers in my neighborhood are going nuts. The long, tapered green chiles from New Mexico have a cult following here in southern California. I can get both the hot and mild varieties at just about every grocery store within a 10-mile radius.

Many stores have chile-roasting events in their parking lots so you can take home bags of freshly roasted chiles instead of having to roast them at home. Personally, I don't mind roasting them at home.

I wash the Hatch chiles, turn the burners on my gas stove to high, and lay the peppers directly on the iron grates of my stove. I turn them until they're blackened on all sides, then pop them into a zip-top bag to steam. The charred skin slips off easily and I'm left with strips of fragrant roasted chiles to use in sandwiches, quesadillas, casseroles, and condiments like this Hatch Chile Mayonnaise.

I've already made several quarts of this roasted Hatch Chile Mayonnaise since Hatch chiles showed up in local stores a few weeks ago. My husband and sons love it on a roast beef sandwich. Or you could:

• Spread it on a sandwich with roast turkey, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples, shaved red onions and watercress
• Spoon it on a burger (put some diced roasted Hatch chiles in the burger itself, too)
• Serve it with broccoli fritters, zucchini fritters or spinach pancakes
• Use it as a sauce for oven-roasted salmon fillets or chicken
• Mix it with chopped hard-boiled eggs for the best egg salad of your life

Enjoy!

print recipe

Hatch Chile Mayonnaise

by Erika Kerekes July-21-2015

A simple condiment made with roasted fresh Hatch chiles from New Mexico

Ingredients

• 6 Hatch chiles (hot or mild)
• 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice

Instructions

Wash the Hatch chiles. Roast them over an open flame on a gas stove (I lay mine directly on the burner grate), turning frequently, until the skin is black and charred on all sides. (If you don't have a gas stove, broil the peppers in the oven, turning frequently.)Put the charred Hatch chiles in a zip-top bag for 30 minutes. They will steam as they cool.Slip the charred black skin off the chiles. If you want your Hatch Chile Mayonnaise very mild, remove the seeds and ribs from inside the peppers. Put the roasted Hatch chiles, mayonnaise and lime juice into a food processor. Process until smooth.Store in a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Details

Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 5 mins Total time: 25 mins Yield: 2 cups

Hatch chile chicken salad

• 

When Hatch chiles are in season, I turn into a crazy girl who stalks her local produce guy and pounces on every case he sets out. Thank goodness Melissa's Produce keeps Bob's Market, the family-owned market in my neighborhood, fully stocked with both mild and hot Hatch chiles when they're available.

Every year I roast dozens of Hatch chiles over an open flame right on my stove, slip off the charred skins, and freeze them in zip-top bags. (See How to Roast Hatch Chiles on Shockingly Delicious for detailed instructions.)

Hatch chiles have a unique flavor and meaty texture that's long been prized in New Mexico where they're grown. They can be hot or mild, but even the mild ones have a little kick. In fact, I love Hatch chiles so much that I created a new flavor of Not Ketchup around them - and now Tangerine Hatch Chile Not Ketchup is my best-selling sauce!

When I puree roasted Hatch chiles with mayonnaise and make chicken salad, my family weeps with joy. Okay, maybe they weep because it's spicy, but whatever. They really like it. And you will too.

print recipe

Hatch chile chicken salad

by Erika Kerekes August-21-2013

Roasted Hatch chiles add a welcome zing to this spicy chicken salad.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 4 mild or hot Hatch chiles, roasted, peeled, and seeded
• 1 lime, juice only
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

Puree the mayonnaise, Hatch chiles, lime juice, and garlic in a blender or food processor until smooth.Pull the chicken meat off the bones, shredding it with your fingers. Discard the bones and skin (or save them to make chicken stock). Put the chicken meat in a large bowl with the green onions. Spoon the Hatch chile mayonnaise into the bowl and stir to combine. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.Serve chilled. If you have time to let the chicken salad sit in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving, great - the flavors will mingle and intensify.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 5 mins Total time: 20 mins Yield: 4-6 servings

Fresh corn tortillas with zucchini flowers

• 

My specialty is making food that tastes good. I'm not quite so skilled when it comes to making food that's beautiful.

But when I saw these stunning fresh corn tortillas with zucchini flowers on Girl + Fire a few years back, I thought I'd take a shot. And guess what? It wasn't actually that hard.

I love zucchini season and have created a ton of favorite zucchini recipes over the years. This is one of them.

These tortillas with zucchini flowers aren't something I'm choosing to eat right now, but remember, I also cook for my family, and they don't need to restrict their foods just because I am.

I've become a big fan of Maseca corn flour and now keep a bag in my pantry at all times. Mix Maseca with water to make dough, roll the dough into golf balls, press each one thin in a tortilla press, a minute in a nonstick skillet, and presto - tortillas. For a girl from Long Island who tasted her first tortilla long after her first legal margarita, it's pretty magical. 

You can use either waxed paper or plastic wrap to line the tortilla press and keep the tortillas from sticking to the press. If you don't have a tortilla press, I bet you could use the back of a heavy skillet and do it on the kitchen counter. (I haven't tried it, though, because a tortilla press is pretty easy to come by here in Los Angeles.)

If you can't find zucchini flowers, any edible flower will do, or try a branch or two of tarragon, chive flowers, a few sprigs of dill, thin strips of roasted bell pepper, or sliced olives. 

print recipe

Fresh corn tortillas with zucchini flowers

by Erika Kerekes February-13-2012

Fresh corn tortillas are easy and quick to make. Press edible zucchini blossoms into the tortillas for a dramatic presentation. Look for zucchini flowers at gourmet grocery stores or local farmers markets.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Maseca corn flour
• about 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 12-16 zucchini flowers, washed and gently patted dry

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the Maseca and water until a soft dough forms. It should be moist but not sticky. Roll the dough into balls about 2 inches in diameter, somewhere between a walnut and a golf ball. Cover the dough balls with a damp towel or a piece of plastic wrap to keep them from drying out.Line a tortilla press with waxed paper or plastic wrap. Place one dough ball on the press, put another piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap on top, and press down to flatten the tortilla. Lift the press, put one flower on the tortilla, replace the paper or plastic, and press down again gently to embed the flower into the raw tortilla.Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the tortilla until dry and cooked through, flipping to make sure both sides are cooked. Move the finished tortilla to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep it warm. Continue with the rest of the tortilla dough and zucchini flowers. While one tortilla is cooking, press the next so it is waiting when the pan is empty. Serve warm.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 40 mins Yield: 12-16 6-inch tortillas