Lime | I Can Cook That

Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

I have been in full on grilling mode recently. I can’t seem to get enough of recipes made on the grill! So as the end of summer continues to creep closer, I am trying to get in all of the grilling I can. As much as I would love to grill in the colder months, I’m a wimp and know I just won’t stand out in the cold.

I’ve used indoor counter top grills in the past and really wasn’t thrilled with the cooking results — it didn’t seem to heat up enough to get proper grill marks, all of the juices would flow out of the grill making for a very dry protein, and I’d always under or overcook the meat.

So when I was contacted to test out the T-fal OptiGrill as part of T-fal’s OptiGrill Blogger Bash, I had some reservations about if this grill would really live up to expectations. Well, I was really pleasantly surprised! What sets the OptiGrill apart is its Precision Grilling Technology that adjusts the cooking time and temperature depending on the type of protein and the thickness of whatever you’re cooking.

The T-fal OptiGrill has a cooking level indicator with a color changing display that notifies you when your protein has reached rare, medium, or well-done. It also beeps when your food reaches each of the cooking stages. (Keep in mind that if you want your meat to rest before slicing, it continues to cook. So if you wanted a steak at medium rare and planned to let it rest for 5 minutes, you should probably take it out when the OptiGrill hits the “rare” notification.)

The grill comes pre-programmed with 6 settings that adapt cooking temperature and times for different types of food: burger, poultry, sandwich, pork/sausage, red meat, and fish/seafood. There is also a frozen food function button so that you can cook your protein even when frozen; just push the snowflake button and then one of the 6 pre-programmed buttons. The grill will defrost and cook the protein in one easy step! When cooking fruits and veggies, just use the manual mode, which allows you to determine when the food is done cooking. The OptiGrill also takes into account the thickness of your food using an integrated thickness sensor so that the protein is fully cooked correctly.

The grill is made of brushed stainless steel with die-cast aluminum plates with a non-stick coating. The plates are removable for easy cleaning and are even dishwasher safe. The plates are angled so that drippings can flow into the removable drip tray, which surprisingly doesn’t leave the meat tough, dry, or chewy.

Want to see the grill in action? I decided to test it out with a yummy recipe from Cooking Light that uses both chicken thighs and chicken breasts. Chicken is so easy to overcook leaving a dry meal so I thought it would be a perfect way to test what this grill can really handle. This recipe also includes grilled pineapple so I was able to test out the manual setting as well. I made the marinade from this recipe for Jerk-style Chicken and the salsa from this recipe for Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa.

**I also am giving away one T-fal OptiGrill to one lucky reader, courtesy of T-fal OptiGrill! Details below the recipe.**

Note: I was sent a T-fal OptiGrill to test for this review. T-fal is also offering one I Can Cook That reader the chance to win their own T-Fal OptiGrill. All opinions are my own.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon grated lime rind
1/4 cup fresh lime juice plus 1 tablespoon, divided (about 3 limes)
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon brown sugar (substitute 1 tablespoon molasses to make paleo)
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
3 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 (1-inch) slices fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/3 cups sliced green onions

Continue reading Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Sparkling Honey-Ginger Bourbon Lemonade

When I have friends coming to visit, I like to make a batch of cocktails beforehand so that I have a pre-made refreshment to serve. Lemonade-based drinks are a favorite of mine: I’ve made a Rhuby-Lavender Lemonade as well as a Bourbon-Peach Lemonade in the past.

So to keep my trend going, I decided to make this Honey, Ginger Sparkling Lemonade with Rosemary and added in some bourbon. (My friends are big bourbon fans, if yours aren’t, vodka would work as an easy substitute). I changed the recipe a bit to fit my tastes, but you can find the original recipe here.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup local honey
1/2 cup water
the juice of 5 lemons, plus the zest of 1 lemon
the juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup minced ginger
10 full rosemary stalks
2 1-liter bottles of club soda
1 1/2 cups bourbon
Ice cubes

Note: Bourbon does include grains that contain gluten. However, distilled alcohol is considered gluten-free because the process of distillation removes the harmful gluten protein, which is why I have this recipe listed as gluten free. If you are highly sensitive to gluten, bourbon may be off limits for you.

Continue reading Sparkling Honey-Ginger Bourbon Lemonade

Spice Roasted Salmon

So sorry for the lack of posts! I just moved and finally dug out my pots and pans, spices, and pantry items and am ready to get cooking again! Because unpacking is still taking up most of my nights, expect a few quick recipe posts in the coming days. I thought I’d get started with my favorite meal: salmon! This recipe for Spice Roasted Salmon takes just fifteen minutes!

This recipe from Cooking Light is so simple but packs a ton of flavor. The salmon is sprinkled with garam masala, a spice mixture commonly used in Indian cooking. The ingredients can vary, but typically include ground pepper, cumin, cloves, and cardamom. There is a slight heat to garam masala, so the salmon is topped off with a cooling yogurt mixture.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 (6-ounce) sustainable salmon fillets
3/4 teaspoon garam masala
5/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/3 cup plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Continue reading Spice Roasted Salmon

Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls with Guacamole

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, IMUSA and McCormick Spices have teamed up to sponsor a great giveaway for I Can Cook That Readers! Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15 and celebrates the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking Nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

I will be giving away a Cuban/Caribbean-themed package which includes the following:

IMUSA’s Wood Mortar and Pestal, Caldero, and Tostonera
McCormick’s Black Pepper, Garlic Salt, Curry Powder, Paprika, Cinnamon, Oregano, Black Peppercorn Grinder, Chicken Bag n’ Season, and Black Beans and Rice Mix

Details on how to enter will be at the end of this post!

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I also received a nifty little package myself which included an IMUSA Cloth Tortilla Warmer, IMUSA Multicolor Salsa Dishes, IMUSA Granite Molcajete, and McCormick’s Black Pepper, Cumin, Mexican Oregano, Chili Powder, Cilantro Leaves, Taco Recipe Mix, Enchilada Recipe Mix, and Tinga de Pollo Recipe Mix.

So what better time to whip out the slow cooker and make Chicken Taco Bowls topped with Fresh Guacamole?

I adapted this recipe from a Budget Bytes recipe; the recipe is perfect for large crowds so I tested it out on a group of friends who came to visit this weekend. It also makes for one delicious reheated lunch option during the week!

Ingredients:

Taco Bowls

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 (16 oz) jar mild salsa
2 (15 oz) cans black beans, drained
2 (8 oz) bags frozen corn
1 packet Taco Seasoning Mix
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
½ tablespoon Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Mexican Oregano
Salt and pepper, to taste
8 cups chicken broth (or water), divided
3 cups long grain rice
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Guacamole

3 Haas avocados
The juice of 1 lime
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ cup (~1/2 small onion) diced red onion
½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 plum tomatoes, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Continue reading Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls with Guacamole

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

I am in a never ending search to find ways to make chicken into a new and different meal. Cooking Light’s September issue had this recipe for Japanese Chicken Meatballs, or Tsukune, that were mentioned as a great “party snack.” I decided to change the recipe size and pair it with grilled baby bok choy and some rice to make this traditional appetizer/snack into an entrée.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
5 ounces sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger, divided
2 minced garlic cloves, divided
1 tablespoon dry sherry
1 teaspoon red miso (soybean paste)
1 pounds ground chicken
1/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large egg white

Sauce:

6 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
6 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
The juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1 serrano chile, thinly sliced

Remaining ingredients:

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
½ cup long grain rice
1 cup water or chicken broth
1 baby bok choy

Continue reading Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Salmon Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

For some reason I really haven’t mastered the whole crispy skin thing for fish. Which is kind of ridiculous. I eat/prepare salmon probably once a week on average. Anyways, even when I fail at achieving crispy skin, I still thoroughly enjoy my salmon dish. And this is another one of those cases. This recipe should result in crispy skin. And. Well. It just didn’t, but it’s absolutely delicious anyways!

Ingredients (serves 4):

1 pint cherry tomatoes (I used heirloom)
2 teaspoons plus 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 (6 ounce) salmon fillets, skin-on
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
4 oz mixed baby lettuce leaves

Continue reading Salmon Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

My poor slow cooker never gets a break. Even in the summer, I use it quite a bit! Slow cooker meals are great because they don’t heat up your entire kitchen, and usually make at least 8 servings, great for a party or for leftovers. Plus, you can put the ingredients in a slow cooker, go to work, and have dinner nearly finished when you return!

My love of tacos is fairly obvious on my blog. I’ve made everything from Huevos Rancheros Tacos to Steak Tacos with Lime Mayo to even Kung Pao Chicken Tacos. But I’ve basically avoided doing a pork taco, mainly because I just don’t eat much pork.

But I need some variety every now and then, so I decided to finally try my hand at making some. This recipe for carnitas from myrecipes.com is really simple. All of the ingredients can be found in your local grocery store.

Ingredients:

1 (3-pound) boneless pork shoulder
10 whole garlic cloves, peeled
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 chipotle chiles canned in adobo sauce, drained and chopped
20 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed
2/3 cup chopped onion
2/3 cup fresh salsa (I have a Fresh Salsa recipe on my blog. Just omit the corn.)
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
10 lime wedges

Continue reading Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Grilled Sirloin Steak with Mango Chile Salad

I realized a few days ago that I rarely make steak. I tend to gravitate towards fish and shellfish recipes because they are usually so simple and quick to prepare on weekdays. But grilled steak is also a really great quick option, especially on hot days when you don’t want to use your stove. (Are you seeing a theme in my posts recently? My apartment is on the top floor and it gets quite warm up there in the summer months so my stove gets a break for the most part from June to August.)

The latest Cooking Light had a recipe for a simple grilled sirloin steak served with a really beautiful mango chile salad. The whole recipe from start to finish took less than 30 minutes, perfect for a weeknight!

Ingredients (serves 4):

1 pound sirloin steak, trimmed
1 teaspoon olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
The juice of one lime
1 medium ripe mango, peeled and diced (I used a Haden mango)
1 red jalapeno pepper, seeded and roughly chopped (you can use green if you can’t find red)
2 tablespoons chopped unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts

Continue reading Grilled Sirloin Steak with Mango Chile Salad

Watermelon Mojito

A few weeks ago, I had some watermelon I couldn’t finish. So I decided to blend the watermelon, drained it through a sieve, and froze it for future use. I knew I wanted to make a Watermelon Mojito and having the frozen watermelon puree would make the process much easier.

So when I was contacted by Polar Seltzer to try some of their summer seltzers, I knew the time had arrived. Even better, one of the flavors sent my way was Mint Mojito!

So I broke out the Watermelon puree and let it thaw in the refrigerator. You can also blend fresh watermelon right before making the mojitos.

Ingredients (Makes 1, multiply as needed):

4-5 mint leaves, plus more for garnish
the juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon agave (I used Agave in the Raw)
2 oz white rum
3 oz watermelon puree
Polar Mint Mojito Seltzer

Continue reading Watermelon Mojito

Lower Calorie Sangria

Last year, I gave my dad sangria for Father’s Day. He loves sangria, so I thought I’d make it a yearly thing.

This time around though, I was also trying to sneak something by him. Instead of using sugar in the sangria, I used Monk Fruit In The Raw, a natural substitute. My father is diabetic, and Monk Fruit In The Raw is diabetic friendly (according to their website, “Monk Fruit In The Raw contains less than one gram of carbohydrates (by food exchange measure) and may be used in conjunction with food programs for people with diabetes as well as with guidelines for people with diabetes who use carbohydrate counting.”)

Now, I understand sangria in itself is not exactly diabetic friendly. But he is able to enjoy a glass or two once a year. The real reason I am trying the Monk Fruit In The Raw within the sangria is to see if he can taste a difference. You see, not only is he diabetic, but he is what some refer to as a “super taster.” He can tell you the secret ingredient in a recipe, and knows whether a wine is worth drinking. But, boy can he be picky too.

Unlike stevia, which leaves behind an aftertaste, Monk Fruit should be undetectable. So this is the first test to see if I can sneak Monk Fruit In The Raw into future recipes for my dad. So what is a Monk Fruit? Monk Fruit is a vine-ripened fruit found in Asia that kind of resembles a tiny watermelon. Monk Fruit In The Raw is made from Monk Fruit extract, which is about 300 times (!) sweeter than sugar. To make it measurable for consumption, dextrose (a natural bulking agent) is blended with the extract. Monk Fruit In The Raw also comes in a Bakers Bag, which is measurable cup-for-cup like sugar (in volume, not weight). The Bakers Bag contains Maltodextrin, which is also a natural bulking agent, that does not change the flavor of the sweetener. I used the Bakers Bag for this recipe.

Lower Calorie Sangria Ingredients:

1/2 cup brandy
1/2 cup fresh orange juice (~3 oranges)
1 bottle Rioja wine
1/4 cup Monk Fruit In The Raw (Bakers Bag)
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 orange, thinly sliced and quartered
1 lemon, thinly sliced
2 limes, thinly sliced
club soda, to taste

Continue reading Lower Calorie Sangria

Steak Tacos with Lime Mayo

I had corn tortillas left over from making the Fish Tacos with Tomatillo Sauce. I needed another taco recipe that was completely different flavor-wise than the fish tacos, so I went for Cooking Light’s Steak Tacos with Lime Mayo in the May issue. (Note: the May issue has a ton of taco recipes, even a dessert one!)

Ingredients:

20 baby sweet peppers
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed
3 tablespoons canola mayonnaise
the zest and juice of 1 lime
2 garlic cloves, mined
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1/2 cup refrigerated fresh salsa
2 ounces queso fresco, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)

Continue reading Steak Tacos with Lime Mayo

Fish Tacos with Tomatillo Sauce

I’m having a busy week at work, so I need some quick meals that still taste delicious but I can make in no time. My go-to for quick meals are Cooking Light’s tacos. I don’t know how they do it, but their taco recipes are awesome. Here’s one of their newest, from this month’s issue.

Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves
2 medium tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1/2 medium jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup cilantro stems
3 tablespoons canola mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
2 cups very thinly sliced red cabbage
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cooking spray
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Continue reading Fish Tacos with Tomatillo Sauce

Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

It’s funny how you can go years, even decades, thinking that you don’t like a certain food only to find you can’t get enough of it when you’re older. Fish tacos is one of those foods for me. They pack a ton of flavor but are a healthier option than other proteins (as long as the fish isn’t fried, that is). I also love how quickly you can cook them up, perfect for a weeknight dinner! Cooking Light always has the best taco recipes so I naturally went in search of a fish taco recipe there. I found this recipe in the myrecipes.com new cookbook: Myrecipes’ America’s Favorite Food Cookbook, which you can win by entering below!

Ingredients

Crema:

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon grated lime rind (I just used the zest of one lime)
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (I used the juice of one lime)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced

Tacos:

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets
Cooking spray
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cabbage (or romaine lettuce)

Continue reading Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Chilean Sea Bass Tacos with Chipotle Cream

I have never made a taco recipe from Cooking Light that I didn’t love. Honestly, how do they manage to deliver fantastic recipe after fantastic recipe? This one for Chilean Sea Bass Tacos with Chipotle Cream is no different, although the original recipe was made with red snapper. I’ve been having really bad luck recently coming across the fish I want when I go to the market, so I had to sub in Chilean sea bass instead.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, seeded and minced
1 1/2 cups chopped onion, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped tomato, divided
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 pound Chilean sea bass
1 teaspoon grated lime rind
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas

Strawberry-Mint Sparkling Limeade

I have a confession. I honestly don’t get the brunch obsession with mimosas. Every time I order one, I end up drinking maybe half of it. It just doesn’t do it for me. I love the general idea of them though: sparkling wine with fruit juice. So I was really excited to find this drink recipe in Cooking Light. It sounds right up my alley!

Ingredients (makes 6 servings):

1 container of strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
the juice of 4 limes
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 (750-milliliter) bottle sparkling wine, chilled

To make, place the strawberries, mint leaves, limes, water, and agave nectar in a blender.

Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.

Pour enough of the mixture into a glass to fill the glass half way.

Carefully fill with the sparkling wine and gently mix to combine.

Serve garnished with mint leaves and a whole strawberry, if desired.

So as you can see from my ingredients photo, you do not need to buy an expensive sparkling wine for this. I used a rose to give it a little extra flavor, but a normal white sparkling wine will do just fine.

This is one of the most refreshing drinks I’ve ever had! The lime and agave completely balance each other out, so it’s not to sweet or too sour.

The mint-strawberry-lime flavor can be tasted in every sip, it’s just perfect!

Note: you can substitute in 3 cups club soda for the wine if you’d like an alcohol-free version. I personally would add another maybe teaspoon of agave to account for the lack of sweetness in the club soda.