Caribbean Fried Rice

3 tablespoons sliced scallions

1 tablespoons minced ginger

2 1/2 cups cooked long grain rice

1/4 cup banana slice in cubes

1/4 cup apple slice in cubes

1/4 cup golden raisins soak in water about 30 mins

1/4 cup almonds

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cilantro for garnish

Cook day old Rice or cold rice. Heat a large non-stick pan with your favorite oil over high heat. Add the ginger and scallion to the pan and very quickly toss until fragrant. Add the rice, banana, apple, raisin and almonds and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot

Okra Parmigiana

A Southern take on eggplant parmigiana using fresh summer instead of eggplant.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

salt and pepper to taste

1½ pounds fresh okra pods, each about 3-4 inches long

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

¼ cup all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1½ cups shredded Mozzarella cheese


Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion  and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauté another 2 to 3 minutes. Add oregano.

Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste.Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add parsley. Sauce will be thick. You can add a little water if you wish to thin it out.

Cut off cap end of okra pods and cut pods in half lengthwise. Combine bread crumbs and flour in a pie plate.

Dip okra pods in egg and then roll in bread crumb mixture to coat.
Add enough Vegetable oil to a large skillet to coat the bottom with about ¼-inch oil.

Heat over medium-high heat. Add half the okra and brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Turn heat down some if it is browning too quickly.

Drain on paper towels and immediately season the okra with some salt. Add more oil to skillet and cook remaining okra.

Coat bottom of prepared baking dish with a thin layer of tomato sauce. Layer ½ the okra in the dish and top with half of the tomato sauce. Repeat layers. Top with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses.

Place in preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until bubbly and browned.

Spicy Bean Chips

I love bean chips. But have you check out the prices in the store. Costing about $ 4.00 a bag and some changes. Well you can make them and enjoy the favors you create with this recipe.


1/2 pound dried black or pinto beans

2-3 stalks celery, chopped finely

1/4 cup onion, minced

4-5 cloves crushed garlic

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon cumin


Soaked beans, celery, onion and garlic in a pot. Cover with 3 cups of water, bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer gently until beans are tender.

Pour the beans into a food processor and add the salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, cilantro leaves. Blend until smooth.taste and see if you need more favor.If favor is just right, drop spoonfuls of bean mix 1/4 inch thick, onto a solid drying sheet that has been wiped with oil. Dry until crispy.

Smothered Chicken...Giving Honor To Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s  smothered chicken is delicious and quite easy to cook. It  tastes yummy and creamy yet it’s sinless because the ingredients used are healthy stuffs.

Oprah calls this suffocated chicken!

Serves 8

Ingredients:

2 (3-pound) fryer chickens
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 medium onions , sliced
1 pound button mushrooms , sliced
1 clove garlic , minced
2 cups chicken broth
Preparations:

Wash and pat dry the chicken. Cut each chicken into pieces and place the pieces in a bowl with lemon juice and water to cover. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Wash the lemon water off the chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken pieces in 3/4 cup of the flour.

In a large skillet, heat the butter and 1/4 cup of the vegetable oil over high heat. Add the chicken pieces and fry until dark brown. Remove them from the skillet.

Add the remaining 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup vegetable oil to the skillet. Cook the flour until it’s brown.

Add the onions, mushrooms and garlic, stirring constantly.

Put the chicken back into the skillet. Add the chicken broth and water to cover. Turn the heat to medium and cook for 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.