Make Ahead | I Can Cook That

Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef Tacos

Note: I was sent a Cosori Premium 6qt multicooker in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

I’m not going to lie, pressure cookers have always kind of intimidated me. I was under the impression that they were difficult to use, and easy to mess up.

Well, after trying out the Cosori Premium 6qt pressure cooker over the past couple of weeks, I’m here to tell you they are actually quite easy to use!

Pressure cookers are definitely having a moment right now, but they’ve actually been around since the 1600’s in some form or another. Pressure cookers use steam pressure to help cook food faster. When cooking tough meat, pressure cookers help tenderize the meat and cook it surprisingly quickly in the process.

The Cosori Premium 6qt pressure cooker is actually a multicooker – it’s a pressure cooker, hot pot, steamer, slow cooker, food warmer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and rice cooker – all in one! The unit has 17 smart cooking programs, but you can also adjust the cooking time, temperature, and pressure cooking levels to customize your cooking.

I couldn’t wait to test the pressure cooker out! I immediately thought of barbacoa – super tender and shredded meat (typically lamb or beef) with seasonings, so it’s time to try making Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef Tacos!

We eat a lot of tacos in my house, so I knew this would be a perfect test of the pressure cooker’s ability. This recipe actually uses two of the features available -” sauté/brown” and “meat/stew” pressure cooking. The Cosori premium pressure cooker is quite large (6 quarts!), so I decided to make a huge batch for future dinners. (It’s always helpful to have a full freezer for busy fall weeknights.)

Note: If you’ve been considering purchasing the Cosori Premium 6qt pressure cooker, click on this link and use code UCS9PK3K to receive 10% off! (The code is only good through October 31, 2018, so be sure to purchase before then!)

Ingredients: (makes 12 servings)

6 garlic cloves
1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
1 chipotle in adobo, plus 3 tablespoons chipotle in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground oregano
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
zest and juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 cups beef broth, plus a tablespoon or two, divided
6 lbs boneless chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
Salt and pepper, for seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 bay leaves
12 corn tortillas
1 small white onion, finely chopped
Cilantro, for garnish
Lime wedges

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Ranch Chickpea Cucumber Salad

I’ve been trying to think up more bring-to-work lunch ideas recently. We tend to just eat leftovers or traditional salads for lunch, which can get boring quickly.

So when my Hungry Harvest (note: this is a referral link) came with absolutely huge cucumbers, I figured I could make a slightly different lunch (or a make ahead side for dinner) with it!

This dish has chickpeas to make it a bit more hearty, red onions for flavor (and color), and of course, cucumbers. I tossed all of those in a lemony, zesty ranch Greek yogurt mixture.

Ingredients:

1 large (or two medium) cucumber(s), cut into bite sized pieces
1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoons ranch seasoning mix
the zest and juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

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Balsamic Honey Roasted Carrots

I’m not sure what took me so long, but I’ve just started using Hungry Harvest. Hungry Harvest rescues produce that would normally go to waste, packages them up in different box options, and delivers it to your doorstep. Each box is customizable, so if you don’t like something in it, you can opt for another product through their website before delivery. There are also add-ons, like eggs, crushed tomatoes, or other fruits/vegetables.

To be honest, I don’t really see an issue with any of the produce I received. Apparently, reasons include that the produce is too big, too small, has some discoloring, are oddly shaped, or there were just too many in the crop. For example, the carrots I used for this post were “randomly sized and have some curve to them.” They still taste the same to me!

Anyways, I am loving having veggies delivered to my house and am experimenting with some new sides to add to my rotation. These carrots are inspired by a dish at a local Italian restaurant in South Philly: Ristorante Pesto. After ordering, they bring out a nice bruschetta plate as well as these awesome balsamic marinated carrots that I couldn’t get enough of! They serve theirs cold as an appetizer, but the below recipe for Balsamic Honey Roasted Carrots can be served either hot or cold.

Note: This is not a sponsored post, but if you’d like to try Hungry Harvest, feel free to use my referral link to sign up. You’ll receive $5 off your first order. I will also receive a credit when you receive your first delivery.

Ingredients: (serves 2, multiply as needed)

8 oz carrots, washed and peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon honey (or agave to make vegan)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of salt and pepper
fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

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Tex Mex Stuffed Peppers

The school year has begun. I don’t have kids, but I am married to a teacher, so this time of year gets pretty hectic. Which means it’s about time I started stocking my fridge and freezer on weekends so weeknight dinners are a bit more manageable.

These Tex Mex Stuffed Peppers are a super tasty (and easy) make-ahead meal. You can cook these over the weekend and reheat during the week, or freeze before cooking, thaw, and cook when ready to eat!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
4 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 cup jarred salsa (mild or medium)
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 oz) box of yellow rice, cooked according to package directions
6 bell peppers
1/4 cup water
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

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Smores Bars

I come from a fairly large family. Growing up, my cousins and I would see each other nearly every Sunday for dinner at our grandparents. As we’ve gotten older, we clearly don’t have as many opportunities to see each other. So we decided to have a cousin barbecue for those of us that still live in the Philadelphia area.

Whenever I think of outdoor cooking, I naturally think of S’mores for dessert.

Because I was hosting, I wanted to pre-make as much of the food as I could, so I decided to make Smores Bars for us to enjoy!

These are super easy, and absolutely addicting!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (12 oz) bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk
60-70 full-size marshmallows (about 1 1/2 10-ounce bags)

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Chocolate Cherry Banana Bread

Note: I was sent Northwest Cherries in order to write this post and recipe for Chocolate Cherry Banana Bread. All opinions are mine alone.

My husband and I were recently invited to go down the shore with our friends, and I wanted to bring something as a thank you for a weekend at the beach. Luckily, I had some overripe bananas sitting on my countertop, so I made this chocolate cherry banana bread to bring with us.

As I mentioned in my recent post, I have quite a few cherries in my house at the moment, so I decided to snazz up the banana bread with some fresh chopped cherries and chocolate chips.

Ingredients:

2 to 3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cherries, pitted and roughly chopped
1/2 cup chocolate chips

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Homemade Maraschino Cherries

Note: I was sent Northwest Cherries in order to write this post. All opinions are mine alone.

July is peak cherry season, which means I have A TON of cherries in my fridge! I was sent quite a few bags of cherries from Northwest Cherry Growers, and had to dive right in to using them! Fun fact: Northwest Cherry Growers is a group of 2,500+ farms that produce at least three-quarters of the nation’s entire sweet cherry crop.

Northwest-grown sweet cherries tend to boast the highest fruit sugar content of any cherries. The naturally high sugar content makes them such a yummy snack on their own, or great in baked goods and other recipes. They are also one of the lowest fruits on the glycemic index. (In case you’re wondering, a general rule of thumb is that the darker the cherry, the sweeter it is.)

Cherries are also a superfruit and have been credited with reducing the risk of some serious diseases. Published research points to the health benefits of sweet cherries, including a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The study discovered consuming sweet cherries can help prevent chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. These powerful superfruits also contain melatonin, which may increase your quality of sleep and reduce jetlag.

Cherry season is pretty short, from July to mid-August, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to use these beautiful cherries in a bunch of different recipes. Fresh cherries keep for approximately two weeks when refrigerated in a sealed bag or container. If you want to enjoy them year-round, you can also freeze cherries by rinsing, drying, and packing them up in freezer bags.

I’m kind of in a canning state of mind after making my Blueberry Chia Seed Jam a few weeks ago, so I wanted to can some of these beautiful cherries. You may have noticed I’m a fan of cocktails, so I just had to make homemade maraschino cherries!

Maraschino cherries are named for the Marasca cherry grown originally in Croatia, which when distilled, produce a liqueur. Whole cherries that are preserved in this liqueur became known as Maraschino Cherries.

These maraschino cherries are not those bright red guys you’ll find in a Shirley Temple. No no, these are the adult, more refined version. There is no artificial coloring, and much less sweetener added. And they are perfect for cocktails and adult ice cream sundaes!

Ingredients:

2 bags (~100 cherries) fresh cherries, pitted
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
2 cinnamon sticks
the zest and juice of 2 lemons
1 cup water
2 cups cherry (maraschino) liqueur

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No Bake Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake

I mentioned in my Blueberry Chia Seed Jam post that you’d see it pop up in a recipe shortly, and here it is! This No Bake Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake is a great make ahead dessert that’s a beautiful end to a barbecue or summer dinner party.

If you’re not familiar with icebox cakes, they are layered frozen cakes traditionally made with whipped cream and chocolate wafers. This Bon Appetit version incorporates some of my favorite flavors, blueberries and lemon, to create a beautiful Blueberry Lemon Icebox Cake!

This isn’t a cake that involves much precision or patience, and looks pret-ty darn good even when giving off that “homemade” vibe, like mine does. You also don’t need any special tools – just a 9×5 loaf pan, some plastic wrap, and a hand mixer. An offset spatula would also come in handy if you have one.

Ingredients:

1 (8 oz) container mascarpone, at room temperature
3/4 cup powdered sugar
the zest of 1 lemon
2 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream (leave in the fridge until ready to use)
1 cup lemon curd, divided
16 graham crackers, divided
1 1/2 cups Blueberry Jam (like this Blueberry-Chia Seed Jam), divided
1/3 cup fresh blueberries

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Blueberry Chia Seed Jam

This Blueberry Chia Seed Jam is an awesome “beginners” jam recipe, because it doesn’t use any pectin; the chia seeds add as the thickener.

In fact, you just might have all of the ingredients you need for this recipe already in your house!

Ingredients:

6 cups fresh blueberries
the juice and zest of 4 lemons
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup chia seeds

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Grilled Margaritas

You’ve probably noticed by now that I love to grill. And with that, sometimes I grill some strange things, like this recipe for a Grilled Peach Old Fashioned Cocktail, or this recipe for Grilled Margaritas.

I’ve wanted to make another grilled cocktail since I made the Grilled Old Fashioned. Citrus is always a great option for grilling because the heat helps release the juices of the fruit. So I figured Grilled Margaritas would work great!

I also substituted in Mezcal, which is like tequila, but has a smoky flavor, perfect for grilled margaritas!

Ingredients (serves 4):

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
10 limes, halved
12 oz mezcal
2 oz triple sec or other orange liqueur
ice cubes
salt, for garnish

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Spicy Cucumber Salad

Note: I was sent a bottle of Chabé® Sambal Chili. All opinions are mine alone.

We are big fans of spicy foods in my house. So whenever I am given the opportunity to try a new hot sauce or paste, I always jump at the chance.

Since the moment this little bottle of Chabé® Sambal Chili entered my home, my husband has basically put it on everything. Sambal is a hot sauce or paste made with chili peppers found in Southeast Asian cooking. Chabé® Sambal Chili’s secret formula uses fresh chilies, garlic and a unique artisan technique that adds an explosion of heat and flavor to just about anything you add it to. It’s fairly thick and is incredibly flavorful, so a little bit goes a long way. What I really like about this sambal is that it has a balanced heat — you get the hit of spiciness up front, but it has a hint of sweetness toward the end.

The story of Chabé® Sambal Chili begins in the late 1900’s in the lush islands of Indonesia. The founder’s late grandfather developed one of the earliest recipes for sweet soy, a flavorful base ingredient that was once only available to the locals & chefs in Southeast Asia. Passionate about introducing more sauces that boast indigenous ingredients of Java and share a rich culture with the world, the founder launched a 50-year-old family recipe of Chabé® Sambal Chili. A flavor-rich, savory & sweet blend of fiery Cayenne and Bird’s Eye chili peppers, harvested from the tropical, mountain-side farms of Indonesia, combines with fresh garlic and tropical spices.

This Spicy Cucumber Salad really shows off the flavors of Chabé® Sambal Chili, and would be awesome as a side at a barbecue. It’s also great as a snack!

Ingredients (makes 4 servings, multiply as needed):

8 mini seedless cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup chopped peanuts, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons Chabé® Sambal Chili
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated
pinch red pepper flakes, for garnish

To make, cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and then chop crosswise into bite-sized pieces.

Add to a medium-sized mixing bowl along with the scallions, cilantro, and chopped peanuts. Toss to combine.

In a separate bowl, mix together the Sambal Chili, toasted sesame oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and garlic cloves.

Pour the mixture over the cucumber mixture, tossing to combine.

Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Add to a serving bowl and top with more chopped scallions, cilantro and peanuts. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes on top, and serve.

I really love spicy cucumbers. The crunch of the cucumbers with the spicy dressing is just so satisfying!

The Sambal Chili is the start of this dish. It complements the freshness of the cucumbers nicely. The peanuts add another layer of crunch and flavor as well.

You can make this ahead of time, just keep in mind the longer it sits the more time the sauce has to soak into the cucumbers.

This Sambal Chili clearly has a permanent home in my fridge. You can pick up your own bottle on the Chabé® Sambal Chili website.

Yum

Spicy Cucumber Salad

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

8 mini seedless cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup chopped peanuts, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons Chabé® Sambal Chili
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped or grated
pinch red pepper flakes, for garnish

Instructions

To make, cut the cucumbers in half lengthwise and then chop crosswise into bite-sized pieces.
Add to a medium-sized mixing bowl along with the scallions, cilantro, and chopped peanuts. Toss to combine.
In a separate bowl, mix together the Sambal Chili, toasted sesame oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and garlic cloves.
Pour the mixture over the cucumber mixture, tossing to combine.
Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
Add to a serving bowl and top with more chopped scallions, cilantro and peanuts. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes on top, and serve.

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Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Last week, I shared a savory breakfast casserole, great for a large crowd.

So today, I wanted to share a version for those who love a sweet breakfast!

This Blueberry French Toast Casserole is easy to make the day of, or to assemble the night before for an easier next-day breakfast. My recipe is adapted from a version you can find here.

Ingredients:

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf of challah bread, cut into cubes
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cut into small cubes
2 (6 oz) packages fresh blueberries
12 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup maple syrup

Blueberry Syrup

1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 (6 oz) package fresh blueberries
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
juice of 1/2 lemon

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Black Eyed Peas with Collard Greens

Happy New Year! I’m a bit late in posting this recipe, but honestly, this comfort food Southern staple for Black Eyed Peas with Collard Greens makes for a delicious meal on any cold winter night.

Black eyed peas are a New Years Day staple in the South, as eating them on New Years Day is thought to bring you prosperity throughout the year.

This version is a bit of a fridge and pantry cleaner. Or, at least it was for me after hosting a New Years Eve party.

I used leftover sandwich rolls to make bread crumbs, leftover bacon from New Years Day morning, collard greens from a Blue Apron meal I forgot to make (oops), and then added in what was left of the onions, garlic, carrots and herbs I had on hand, which kind of turned this recipe into a cassoulet of sorts.

Ingredients:

1 cup dried black eyed peas
6 oz bacon, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced, divided
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 sprigs of rosemary, divided
4 sprigs of thyme, divided
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste
about 1 cup chopped day old bread (I used one sandwich roll)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 bunch collard greens, ribs discarded, leaves chopped
2 cups cooked rice

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Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine

This cold snap feels like it will never end. One good part about the cold weather is I definitely do more cooking!

One of my husband’s favorite recipes I make is one for Slow Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Tagine. I wanted to try a tagine with a different meat, so when I found this recipe for Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine on the cooking section of the New York Times, I used it as a base to make a slow cooker version.

Tagine or Tajine dishes are Moroccan slow cooked dishes named after the pot they are cooked in. The dishes are typically a stew with a protein, spices, and fruit. And, well, they are fantastic; they make for a perfect comfort food meal!

I braved the cold so I could pick up the ingredients for this yummy dish. I’m lucky enough to live close to Reading Terminal Market, and La Divisa Meats in the Terminal cubed some lamb leg meat for me for this recipe. If you do not have a local butcher, lamb stew meat works too.

Ingredients:

3 pounds cubed boneless lamb leg meat
salt and pepper, to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
large pinch saffron
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1 3/4 cups beef broth
1 cup dried apricots
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or margarine to make dairy free, or ghee to make paleo)
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 scallions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
fresh lemon juice, to taste

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Slow Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding

This past Sunday was crum-my. It rained ALL day. So I was in comfort food mode. Along with making another batch of Lemony Red Lentil Soup, I decided to make a rice pudding recipe in my slow cooker, heavily inspired by Phyllis Good’s Stock the Crock recipe for Coconut Rice Pudding.

My version for Slow Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding uses a different flavor profile, so be sure to check out the original in the cookbook as well as the below. (I made another recipe from this awesome cookbook as well. Go check my post on Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala here.)

Rice Pudding is found in different forms around the world. It is eaten as a breakfast, dessert, or sometimes even dinner. Many countries have a version of rice pudding that is traditionally served for Christmas.

My version adds some of my favorite flavors to one yummy dish: coconut, rose water, cranberries, and pistachios.

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice
2 cups water
2 (13.5 oz cans) coconut milk, well shaken
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon rose water
1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup dried cranberries
unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted
pistachios, chopped
additional coconut milk, if desired

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