Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)

We had this meat pizza at one of the Mediterranean restaurants at the resort in Cancun that we all really liked.  It was a set appetizer that we didn't order, so I had to google search it.

This recipe was modified from the Mediterranean Dish.

--I used ground turkey (93 + 99%) instead of ground beef/lamb. 

--I used pita as base with the pizza stone.

--I also pre-cooked the meat and put on top instead of cooking it with the pizza since I was using already cooked pita.

--Could try using pre-made frozen pizza dough from store.

--I quadrupled the recipe (7 oz meat per 1/2 lb pizza dough)

--Served with Mediterranean veggies on the side: 1 green BP, 1 zucchini, grape tomatoes, 1 red onion + red onion slices to put on the pizza (fewer veggies since I'm using 2 red bell peppers and 4 shallots in the meat concoction). Although Eric said he would have liked his veggies on the pizza.

Ingredients (for 32 oz ground meat):

-2 red bell peppers

-4 shallots

-1 head of garlic

-2 oz fresh parsley (I didn't use this much, but would try to do more next time - i.e. whole bunch of the organic parsley

-1 thing of 99% and 1 thing of 93% ground turkey

Spices:

-4 tsp smoked paprika

-4 tsp ground allspice

-2 tsp ground cumin

-2 tsp Aleppo-style pepper (I used regular paprika instead)

-2 tsp ground cinnamon

-2 tsp cayenne pepper

-2 tsp salt

-more garlic powder

-16 Tbsp tomato paste (I used more like 8)

-8 Tbsp olive oil (did less and estimated)

Directions:

1. Cuisinart bell peppers, shallots, garlic, parsley (did 2 batches with smaller bear chopper)

2. Mix with meat, tomato paste, olive oil

3. Heat pizza stone up: 15 min at 450 F

4. Cook meat on stove

5. Cook Mediterranean veggies in oven (see other recipe)

6. Separate the meat into servings

7. Mix A LITTLE hot water with tomato paste for sauce

8. Make pita pizza: tomato sauce --> meat --> sliced onions

9. Cook in oven for about 7-10 min

Notes:

-Eric liked it, but wanted veggies on pizza

Thai Green Curry

Recipe taken from recipetineats.com

--I wasn't sure because I messed with the amounts and order of things if it was going to turn out ok, and it turned out great! Eric really liked it. 

--He wanted it less saucy/liquidy, too, so I halved the liquid. I used half of the full fat can + half cup of chicken broth and am wondering if I should have just gotten the lite can since making less liquidy.

--I also used more ginger and garlic than recommended as usual and that worked out. Didn't have the lemongrass paste though.

--I cooked chicken in the pan first, then created a hole in middle to cook or "dry out" the curry paste, but maybe try the curry paste in pan first, then add the chicken so as not to overcook the chicken. Also, original recipe has me adding the liquids to pan before chicken, but I like a nice sear on the chicken.

--Apparently, I made this one before and didn't see from Dec 2023 (I deleted) I marinated the coconut milk and broth with lemongrass prior to adding to drain out the lemongrass, but since I didn't have lemongrass this time, didn't do. Also, as I mentioned, don't cook the chicken after the broth because it's too "boiled." Also, I cooked with eggplant last time and just not a good veggie for us (too chewy)

Ingredients:

-1 jar of green curry paste

-garlic (1 head)

-ginger (1 inch piece)

-1 tbsp lemongrass paste (didn't have)

-1 cup low sodium chicken broth (used 1/2 cup)

-1 can full fat coconut milk (Thai Kitchen Organic) (used 1/2 can)

-1 tsp fish sauce (used 1/2 tsp)

-1 tsp sugar (used 1/2 tsp)

-6 kaffir lime leaves (didn't have)

-thai basil leaves

-lime as garnish

VEGGIES used: 2 bell peppers, 1 yellow onion (2 small in this case), 1 zucchini, and 1 bag of snap peas + 8 or so small serranos from the garden

Directions:

1. Marinated chicken with salt/pepper/garlic + 1 tsp or so of the green curry paste jar

2. Prep and bake veggies in oven - added salt/pepper/thai spice, and some of the chopped garlic/ginger

3. Heat oil in pan - curry paste + ginger + garlic + lemongrass + serranos - cook ~2 min until "dries out"

4. Add chicken 

5. Add broth and coconut milk (half if you want less saucy)

6. Add fish sauce and sugar (try adding/mixing to broth beforehand?)

7. Add kaffir lime leaves and bring to simmer

8. Add snap peas or snow pea leaves

9. Add everything to bowl and add thai basil leaves - garnish with lime wedge

Basque Cheesecake

Recipe from Aaron and hummingbirdhigh.com

So back in 2022, I had asked what Nat's favorite dessert was, and Aaron said cheesecake.  Looked like a complicated recipe, so I just bought from HEB, which wasn't that great. He texted me a recipe, and I never tried making - until this past Saturday for Nat's b-day. I searched a recipe to fit a 9 inch springform pan.  I'm not sure if Nat ever tried it, oh well.

Ingredients:

-4 cream cheese 8 oz boxes - ROOM TEMP (put in a ziploc bag in hot water for 15 min)

-1.5 cups granulated sugar (298 g)

-5 large eggs - ROOM TEMP (put in the hot water)

-1.5 cups heavy cream (340 g) - ROOM TEMP (forgot this room temp)

-1/4 cup all purpose flour (33 g)

-1 tsp kosher salt (note there are salt differences in weight)

-1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. Use cooking spray or butter the 9-inch springform pan and line with 2 parchment papers making sure it sticks up 2 inches above the sides of the pan. I also used butter on the parchment paper on the inside, too (per the Allrecipes guy)

2. Beat cream cheese on medium until soft and creamy, 1-2 minutes. 

3. Add sugar and beat on low until light and fluffy, 1 minute.

4. Add vanilla

5. Add eggs ONE at a time - I used just a spatula to mix

6. Slowly pour cream down side of bowl and beat until combined, about 1 minute

7. Put flour and salt in sieve and add gradually, beat until combined on low for 30 seconds (used spatula)

8. Pour batter into pan and whack on counter to get bubbles out

9. Bake for 55 minutes until edges are set but center still wobbles

10. Cool at room temp for 2 hrs before putting in fridge

NOTES:

-I overcooked it because comments were saying how it never set, so I got scared and went too long, but 55 minutes or just when you see it turn brown on top would be good I think.

-I didn't beat the cream cheese before adding sugar - whoops

-I probably beat the mixture too long bc pouring cream too slowly - whoops. Maybe use spatula here

-I also beat too long pouring in flour/salt too long

-can be kept at room temp for 1 day, but stored in fridge up to 3 days

Chicken Biryani

Recipe taken from website indianhealthyrecipes.com

I used 2 cups rice, and it was to much. Next time 1 cup at least.

Rice was also mushy - too much water?

Had cooked the veggies separate in oven.

Ingredients:

Chicken marinade:

-6 TBSP plain yogurt/Indian curd (I used Greek yogurt)

-2.5 TBSP ginger garlic paste

-1-2 TBSP garam masala

-1 tsp salt

-1/2 tsp turmeric

-1-2 TBSP red chili powder

-2 TBSP lemon juice

Spices in pan:

-ghee

-1 bay leaf

-4 green cardamoms

-6 cloves

-1 inch cinnamon piece (FORGOT)

-1 star anise

-3/4 tsp caraway seeds

-1/2 onion (thinly sliced) yellow or red? + sliced serrano peppers

-mint leaves (didn't use)

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken for 1 hr or overnight

2. Rinse basmati rice (TRY 1 CUP), and soak for 30 min. Drain into colander after 30 min. 

3. Heat ghee in pan and add spices --> then add thinly sliced onions + serrano peppers

4. Boil 1.5 cups water with salt (rice cup)

5. Add marinated chicken and cook (don't overcook)

6. Add 1/4 cup yogurt + 1 tsp garam masala + mint leaves + 1/2 tsp chili powder (DID NOT DO)

7. Layer rice all over chicken

8. Pour 2/3 water across sides of pan + 1/3 water over the rice gently

9. Level rice on top + add mint leaves on top (DID NOT DO)

10. Cook on medium heat until rice completely cooked. Add more boiling water if needed

11. Rest covered for 15 min

Spicy Sweet popcorn

Wanted a popcorn that used cardamom.
Used macrocmama.com and 177milkstreet.com recipes

Amounts are estimated.

Try skipping the cayenne or try paprika instead as we were coughing

Ingredients:

-Ghee melted

-1/8 - 1 tsp cardamom

-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

-1/2 tsp cumin

-1/4 tsp coriander

-1/4 tsp ginger powder

-1/4 tsp hot paprika/cayenne -- NEXT TIME SKIP BC COUGHING

-1/8 tsp salt

-1/8 tsp turmeric

-1-2 tsp brown sugar

Kofta (sans Kebab)

Modified from themediterraneandish.com
I just used the spices from the recipe and added to ground turkey. Typically, you have a feeling how something is going to taste based on the spices, but I had no idea how it would taste, and it turned out pretty good! Eric appreciated that it was different than typical.

Ingredients:

-1 medium yellow onion, diced

-garlic, diced

-ground turkey- used 2 lbs total - 1 lb of 99% and 1 lb of 93% lean

-salt and pepper

-1.5 tsp ground allspice (used 2 tsp)

-1/2 tsp cayenne (used ~3/4 tsp)

-1/2 tsp ground green cardamom (used ~3/4 tsp)

-1/2 tsp ground sumac (used ~3/4 tsp)

-1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (used 3/4 tsp)

-1/2 tsp paprika (used 3/4 tsp)

Directions:

1. Cooked garlic and onions in pan 

2. Add ground meat + spices

Served with Mediterranean roasted veggies + Mediterranean rice

Sprinkle of roasted pine nuts, grape tomatoes (cold), and avocado as toppings.

Mediterranean chicken sandwiches

Eric likes chicken sandwich from Papouli's, so wanted to give it a try on the stainless steel pan.

Loosely used receipt from little spice jar.

Ingredients:

-Chicken breasts (I used 3 large chicken breasts and split in half for 6 servings, but next time would try the thinly sliced chicken breasts (5 to a package, buy 2 and freeze the rest for later).

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/2 tsp black pepper

-1/2 tsp fresh chopped rosemary

-1/2 tsp dried oregano

-1 tsp fresh thyme

-1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

-1 Tbsp minced garlic

-3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (1 lemon + zest)

-3 Tbsp olive oil

-1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

Directions:

1. Marinate chicken for 30 min - 2 hrs in everything from above

2. Grill (I used stove)

Notes:

-Would try the thinly sliced chicken breasts as above because uneven weights

-Served on brioche buns (Eric like HEB brand better), but he said he would prefer to use sourdough bread next time

-On the sandwich, also used red onions, butter lettuce, avocado, jalapenos and tomatoes from the garden.  Eric also made an asparagus dip from the ends of the asparagus that served as a sort of sauce - very yummy!

-Served with "double B potatoes" - boiled baby potatoes, then smashed them in the pyrex dish, seasoned with rosemary, garlic, and spices, then baked in oven.  On reheat, I put them in the ceramic pan to heat up (takes a while, so do this first)

-Also served with asparagus