Category Archives: Forking Recipes

Interesting twists on everyday things as well as the unusual

Huitlacoche Stuffed Eggs with Pickled Onions Recipe

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For this recipe you have to make two of my other recipes for the eggs to come out the same way. Your eggs will come out tasting very different with substitutions. The other recipes are Forking Awesome Pickled Cascabella pepper recipe and Forking Awesome Tomatillo with Pickled Cascabella Pepper Salsa Recipe. I used frozen Huitlacoche (not canned or bottled) for this recipe. Another thing I should mention is that I made a pound of pickled onions that should last about a month. Use the extra pickled onions on sandwiches, on top of tacos, steaks, burgers, sandwiches or in salads. I note that the Cascabella pepper is an especially delicious pepper and when you pickle it and or make salsas with it that most of the work making something delicious is done.

Recipe makes 6 servings and extra pickled onions

Ingredients

1 lb red onion – sliced thin on mandolin

1 cup white vinegar

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

2 Tablespoons sugar

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/4 teaspoon ground thyme

6 hard boiled eggs – peeled and cut in half (either way I don’t care) yolks and white separated

3 oz Huitlacoche (2 oz for egg mixture and reserve about 1 oz or twelve small pieces to top each egg)

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

pinch course sea salt

pinch ground coriander

pinch chili powder

pinch ground annatto (also called achiote)

pinch ground oregano

pinch ground cumin

1 Tablespoon cascabella pepper brine

1 Tablespoon tomatillo pickled cascabella salsa

1 oz queso fresco

pinch course sea salt

pinch Aleppo pepper

pinch smoked paprika

pinch oregano

pinch chili powder

pinch ground annatto also called achiote

1 teaspoon fresh parsley – chopped

1 teaspoon fresh cilantro – chopped

1 teaspoon fresh mint – chopped

1 teaspoon fresh epazote – chopped

Directions

Make the pickled onions. Put the onions in a sterilized jar or tub. In a sauce pot bring to boil the vinegar, salt, sugar, bay leaf, pepper, mustard seeds and thyme. After it boils make sure the salt and sugar has dissolved…..It probably did already. Then you pour the liquid over the onions and set to the side. When it gets to room temperature then you can refrigerate.

In a small fry pan melt the butter on medium heat. Add the Huitlacoche and a pinches of salt, coriander, chili powder, annatto, oregano, and cumin. By now you should lower the heat slightly more around medium low and add the brine. DON’T CLEAN PAN…..You need it for seasoning the egg whites….SET EMPTY PAN TO THE SIDE. This mixture now gets blended with the queso Fresca and the tomatillo salsa. It would be best to blend in a small container with a stick blender.

Add to the used pan with all the remaining pinches of seasoning- salt, Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, chili powder and ground annatto. Put the egg white in the pan on cut side and then turn them over and side them around the pan so they get all seasoned up.

Fill the eggs with either a spoon or a pastry bag. Add a few strings of pickled onions to them. Top each mound of egg with a small piece of huitilacoche Top the eggs with some chopped herbs.

Huitlacoche Stuffed Eggs with Pickled Onions

Different unique and delicious!

The Forking Truth

Forking Awesome Raw Tomatillo With Pickled Cascabella Salsa Recipe

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I enjoyed food at the Barrio Gran Reserva that was made with cascabella peppers and it was like from another planet ULTRA delicious! So I found my own cascabella peppers. They were so hot I couldn’t eat them so I pickled them. The cascabella peppers are small mostly yellow peppers with a lot of heat but also a lot of amazing flavor. I discovered that when I pickled them a lot of the heat and flavor comes out and flavors the brine so I’m left with delicious pickled peppers that are brought down to a manageable jalapeño hot and a brine that is so delicious you should drink it in something. If you are a fan of Mexican or Southwest Style Food you should find the cascabella pepper and pickle them the way I did. This recipe is simple but delicious. You don’t need to do much with that bomb of deliciousness from the cascabella peppers and the brine. It does a lot of the work for you.

Ingredients for around 12 servings

3 lbs tomatillos – husk removed – washed very well – cut in quarters

1 large sweet onion – chopped

6 garlic cloves – ground to paste or microplane

1 Tablespoon course sea salt

1 Tablespoon (slightly heaping or to taste) pickled cacabella peppers – fine chopped – preferably wwwTheForkingTruth.com recipe called Forking Awesome Pickled Cascabella Pepper Recipe)

1/2 cup cascabella pepper brine

1/2 cup cilantro leaves and some fine stems – rough chopped

Directions

Blend to desired smoothness. Taste and decide if you want to add more fine chopped cascabella pepper.

Serve.

Will stay fresh for a week or so.

Forking Awesome Tomatillo Salsa with Pickled Cascabella Pepper

Fat Free Creamy Polenta with Crispy Mushrooms Recipe

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When you prepare polenta correctly it will come out very creamy and will have a rich feeling. You don’t have to add fat or cheese to it. It really easy to prepare crispy mushrooms in the oven. You just toss them with a few things and they go in a 300 degree F oven for about the same amount of time it takes you to prepare the polenta (40 minutes). I was roasting beets at the same time so I just added a few slices. I topped it with some fresh crushed sea salt, black pepper, part of a dried Calabrian pepper, fresh basil and a couple leaves of sage that I fried in the oven.

Ingredients for around 6 servings

4 1/2 cups water

3/4 teaspoon course sea salt

1 cup polenta (not instant)

5 oz oyster mushroom (any type of cluster mushroom) – cleaned however you prefer to clean them and broken down

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 garlic clove – ground to paste or microplane

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

scant 1 oz. shredded parmigiano reggiano (weigh .08 oz)

fresh crushed sea salt to taste

fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Set oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium mixing bowl add the rosemary, garlic, oil, cheese and give it a good mix then mix in the mushrooms and get them all coated with everything. Next spread the mushrooms out in a single layer with a little room around each mushroom piece. They go in a pre=heated 300 degree F oven till crispy. Timing will differ due to size of mushrooms. Usually 30 – 40 minutes for me.

While your mushrooms are in the oven make the polenta.

Add the water and salt to a pot and bring it to a boil and then slowly add the polenta and keep stirring. Slowly lower the heat and keep stirring. When it seems thick you can put the heat on your lowest setting. You don’t have to stand there for 40 minutes stirring but the more your stir the creamier your polenta will be. You can loosely cover the pot with foil and get up to stir about every five – ten minutes till done. (about 40 minutes)

Serve. Top with mushrooms. Add fresh ground sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. You can get a little fancier if you want with crispy sage and some fresh torn basil. A little high quality olive oil too if you like.

Fat Free Creamy Polenta Topped With Crispy Mushrooms

Enjoy!

The Forking Truth

Asian Style Lettuce Wraps with Miso Tahini Sauce

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I got the idea to do a lettuce wrap and got this new canned wild yellow fin tuna to try out. My husband isn’t a fan of Asian peanut dressings so I thought tehini might be even better with fish because it’s made from sesame seeds and I had this one Tablespoon of miso left so this is what I came up with. I think the fried enoki mushrooms sort of elevate the dish. I wasn’t too impressed with the canned wild yellowtail…..use whatever fish you feel like.

Ingredients for around 2 servings

6 large butter lettuce leaves

1/2 cup pea sprouts

1 carrot – shredded

2 radishes – sliced thin

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro just leaves some tender stems

1 Tablespoon fresh parsley leaves

1 Tablespoon mint leaves

2 Tabllespoons scallions – sliced thin

3.5 oz enoki mushrooms

Your favorite medium spicy red pepper to taste (I used piment d’ espelette but Korean pepper, togarashi or cayenne would also work well)

paprika a small amount to taste

2 oz unsalted butter

1/2 cup cornstarch (you will waste some…you can try to use less)

1 Tablespoon reduced sodium miso (I used all natural Marukome Brand from Asiana Market

1 orange – just the fresh squeezed juice

1 Tablespoon tahini – (Sadat brand is usually pretty good)

1 teaspoon reduced sodium tamari (you can substitute low sodium soy but it will have less flavors)

1 Tablespoon sriracha – (I used Shark Brand that is very smooth and sort of sweet)

1 garlic clove – ground to paste or microplane

1/4 teaspoon granulated ginger

5 oz of cooked fish

Directions

In a small mixing bowl combine miso, orange juice, tahini, tamari, sriracha, garlic and ginger and mix well. Set to the side.

Either wipe down the mushrooms with a damp rag or rinse them and shake off the wetness. Roll them around in the cornstarch.

Get a small fry pan on medium to slightly medium/high heat with the butter. As soon as the butter is almost melted start frying up the mushrooms and fry them on both sides. They fry up pretty fast and let them drain on a paper towel lined pan. Sprinkle the mushroom with some red pepper and a little paprika.

Either put the lettuce wraps together and serve or let everyone make their own. Remember to serve with the dressing.

Asian Style Lettuce Wraps with Miso Tahini Sauce

Tasty and light everyone will ENJOY!

The Forking Truth

Falafel Flavored Chickpea Side Dish Recipe

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I came up with this because I was going to make falafels…but then I got thinking that I didn’t want to eat a lot of fried food so I thought I’d make a healthier side dish out of chickpeas that taste similar to falafels. If you like the taste of falafels you should enjoy this. I note that you have to get the chickpeas started in water the night before.

Ingredients for around 12 servings

1 lb dried chickpeas – inspected and rinsed – must soak over night in a little more than twice the amount of water (you can do the one hour method but I don’t like it as much)

5 1/2 cups water to cook drained and rinsed – already soaked chickpeas (after cooking save one cup for making the tahini sauce)

1 lb carrots – peeled – chopped into pieces around the size of chickpeas

1/4 cup water

1/4 teaspoon vegetable base

sweet onion – chopped around chick pea size (around 13 oz)

3 medium sized bell peppers (preferably mixed colors) – chopped around chickpea size

3 garlic cloves – ground to paste or microplane

1 Tablespoon Aleppo pepper

1 Tablespoon course sea salt

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 cup fresh parsley leaves – chopped

1/4 cup fresh cilantro (leaves and some tender stems) – chopped

4 Tablespoons (some were heaping) tahini (this is for tahini sauce)

1 garlic clove – ground to paste or microplane (this is for tahini sauce)

1 nice lemon – just the fresh squeezed juice (this is for tahini sauce)

1 teaspoon sea salt (this is for tahini sauce)

1 teaspoon cumin (this is for tahini sauce)

1 cup chickpea water (leftover from cooking the chick peas) (this is for tahini sauce)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Your chickpeas should have been inspected, rinsed and soaked over-night first. Now drain and rinse the chickpeas again. Bring about twice the amount of water to what you have of chickpeas to a boil (around 51/2 cups water). Once the chickpeas are boiling then reduce them to simmering. Let them simmer at least an hour and then check to see if they are done. Mine took exactly one hour. Once done drain the chickpeas and save one cup of cooked bean water and set the chickpeas and chickpea water to the side.

While the chickpeas are cooking get the carrots in a pan. In a small mixing bowl mix the 1/4 cup of water with the vegetable base and pour it on to the carrots. Cover the pan with foil and set in the preheated oven till the carrots are fork tender. (in my oven this took around 40 minutes….yours may differ)

Also while the chickpeas are cooking……. on one small sheet pan add the onions and on the other add the peppers and broil on high till vegetables look charred. Remove onions and peppers when charred.

By now or soon the chickpeas will be done. Add the peppers, carrots and onions to the chickpeas. Now add three cloves garlic, Aleppo pepper, 1 Tablespoon salt, 2 teaspoons cumin, coriander, turmeric, parsley and cilantro and gently mix.

In small bowl add the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt, cumin and chickpea water and mix well. You can keep this on the side and add as you please or just mix it into the chickpea mixture.

Falafel Flavored Chickpea Side Dish

Enjoy!

The Forking Truth

Today’s QUICK Cherry Tomato Sauce Recipe

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This is Today’s Quick Cherry Tomato Sauce. I call it today’s because tomorrow I might have made it different. I had a pound of rainbow cherry tomatoes that I had to use up so I made them into a quick sauce. Just cut each tomato is half and cook them up. around ten minutes later you will have a delicious sauce for about two generous servings.

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 lb cherry tomatoes (made sure that the tomatoes are very ripe and sweet or you might need sugar) – cut each in half.

3 garlic cloves – either ground to paste or microplane

1 cherry pepper (I used a jarred hot/sweet ) minced (you can substitute a pinch of crush red pepper but it won’t taste as good)

2 bay leaves

2 Tablespoons wine (dry white or a red)

1 teaspoon vegetable soup base (instead of salt and it adds flavor)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions

Put your sauce pot on medium high heat with the olive oil. As soon as the oil is hot add the tomatoes, garlic, bay leaves, cherry pepper, wine and soup base. Stir it up and the tomatoes will start to break down and before you know it the sauce will have thickened. Shut off heat and add the herbs and remove the bay leaves.

Today’s Quick Cherry Tomato Sauce

I latter used some of the sauce with dinner and the rest went on top of a pizza I made.

Today’s Quick Cherry Tomato Sauce topped my pizza

Serve with pasta or rice or it can be the start of a delicious soup or stew.

The Forking Truth

Leek Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe

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I got this bundle of leeks that were unusually nice and tender so I thought I could make a salad out of them so this is what I came up with. You can only do this recipe with tender white parts of the leek……Some leeks aren’t tender enough and you might have to slice them thinner than I did…..This is for only when you find those really nice really fresh looking leeks. This makes two salad entree servings or four smaller servings. Free free to add a protein. I think some anchovies or sardines with maybe an egg would work well here but pulled, poached or grilled chicken would be just as good.

Ingredients for 2 servings

2 leeks – trim off roots and green end – half it longways and slice it up – soak in a big bowl of warm water and swish around to get bugs and dirt off. Soak it in fresh new water for at least ten minutes. Rinse and soak again ten minutes to make sure you got off all the dirt.

1 cucumber- remove skin – slice in half long ways and scoop out the seeds with a spoon – slice up the cucumber.

2 radish – shredded

1/4 cup golden raisins

1 Tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

1 preserved lemon – scoop out the insides and try to scoop out as much as the pith (white stuff in rind) as you can. Then fine chop the yellow rind.

1 Tablespoon whole grain mustard (I used Maille Brand)

1 Tablespoon dijon mustard (I used Amora Brand)

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon date syrup (I used McClendon’s)

salt and pepper to taste if desired (I think there is enough salt from the preserved lemon…)

Directions

Leeks, cucumber, radish, raisins and fresh oregano go in a large mixing bowl.

In a small mixing bowl add the preserved lemon, whole grain mustard, dijon mustard, olive oil, vinegar and date syrup. Mix well till it emulsifies. Taste it and decide if you need any salt or pepper.

Mix the dressing into the salad and serve or serve the dressing on the side.

Leek Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Enjoy! This was really delicious!

The Forking Truth

Forking Awesome Pickled Cascabella Peppers Recipe

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While dining at the Barrio Grand Reserva in Phoenix Arizona I ate this salsa that was OUT- OF – THIS – WORLD delicious that was made with cascabella peppers. It was the most delicious salsa that I have ever tasted in my life. I remember that it was so FORKING AMAZING that I would have to try to find these peppers someday. I finally have come across these peppers at the ninety-nine cent store so I picked up a couple packages of them. When I got home I washed them up well like three times and trimmed off the ends. I go to taste one and it’s so hot that it is too difficult to taste so I know that I have to pickle them so that’s what I did. BUT WOW! They turned out FORKING AMAZING. When you pickle the cascabella pepper the heat comes out in the brine and the brine alone is incredible. With these pickled cascabellas you too can make the most delicious salsas and more ever! It’s easy to make pickled peppers you just heat up the liquid and pour it over the peppers but I do recommend THAT YOU SHOULD WEAR GLOVES TO PROTECT YOUR HANDS. These stay fresh for many months even without canning.

Ingredients

28 oz cascabella peppers – soak and wash well – remove stem end

2 cups white vinegar

2 cups rice wine vinegar

2 cups water

4 Tablespoons kosher salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 sweet onion – sliced paper thin

6 garlic cloves – chopped

1 Tablespoon black peppercorns

1 Tablespoon coriander seeds

2 bay leaves

1 carrot – shredded

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Directions

The cascabella peppers go in a large bowl with the carrots and onions. Set this bowl to the side.

In a sauce pot on medium high heat add the vinegars, water, salt, sugar, garlic, peppercorns, coriander seeds, bay leaves and oregano. Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer. Let simmer maybe ten minutes. Pour the hot liquid and all the contents over the bowl of peppers. Let the bowl of peppers cool to room temperature and then put in sterilized containers or tubs. Wait at least a day to taste….they are even better a few days latter. Now you will be hooked on them.

Forking Awesome Pickled Cascabella Peppers

Forking Delicious!

The Forking Truth

Forking EZ Delicious One Pot Southwest Chicken & Corn Recipe

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We’ve been having the most incredible sales on corn and chicken quarters. Three cents an ear of corn from Safeway. Corn often has been eight for a dollar from Sprouts Grocery. Chicken quarters are often ninety – nine cents or less a pound from Safeway and also Walmart Grocery. This meal is delicious and even easier to make than other one pot meals I’ve posted because I skipped the step to sauté the vegetables…I also wanted to cut the sodium even more so I did and everything is still delicious and very flavorful. One thing I need to mention is that the chicken skin does not come out crisp in these one pot recipes. You also have to cook with a thermometer because you have to check for safe eating temperature. According to the government chicken is safe to eat at 165 degrees F. I prefer my dark meat chicken cooked between 180-200 degrees. I like when it falls off the bone and is very tender and flavorful. You might prefer it less cooked. I can’t tell you the exact minute your dish will be done since ovens and pans do differ but on the middle rack this will be ready around 120 minutes.

Ingredients for around 6 servings

4lbs chicken quarters (one tray of leg quarters around 4 pieces)

kosher salt – to taste (sprinkle well on both sides of chicken)

ground black pepper – to taste (sprinkle well on both sides of chicken)

granulated garlic – to taste (sprinkle well on both sides of chicken)

2 celery ribs – around one inch pieces

2 carrots – around one inch pieces

1 onion – chopped

13 garlic cloves – chopped

4 ears of corn – trimmed off the cob

4 medium sized peppers – chopped (I used Mexican Yellow peppers that are fruity but have some heat like shisitos) (Fresnos maybe 6-8 would also be good or a mix of bell peppers and a jalapeño)

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon ground annatto (also called achiote)

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 bay leaves

1 cup water

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leans and some tender stems (to finish)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Chicken gets browned on both sides. It doesn’t matter if you do it in a fry pan or under a broiler for about 10 minutes a side. Leave the fat in the pan because you need it to flavor everything. (extra fat can be removed after chilling finished dish)

In a very large pan or oven safe pot (I used a half buffet pan) add the celery, carrots, onion, garlic, corn, yellow peppers, coriander, cumin, oregano, annatto, smoked paprika, chili powder, bay leaves, water. Mix well and top this with the chicken. Cover tightly with foil. Leave in oven till the chicken is at least 165 degrees F. but I prefer the chicken between 180-200 degrees F. (around 120 minutes) You do how you like the chicken best. You might want to clean the chicken when it’s cool enough to handle. You should remove the bay leaves and give it a stir. Finish with fresh cilantro……….. (***If you make this ahead of time you can chill and easily remove the extra fat that stays on the surface and then reheat……as this is the perfect dish for that kind of cookery)

Forking EZ Delicious One Pot Southwest Chicken and Corn

Everyone will enjoy this! It’s not too spicy but it is very flavorful and it was easy to prepare.

The Forking Truth

No Added Fat Delicious Southwest Style Corn Recipe

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This week corn was 3cents an ear from Safeway and also Sprouts had a secret sale that they send via email for 10 ears of corn for $2.00 so it was easy to get cheap corn this week. I came up with a few corn dishes and here is one of them that I made with no added fat and things I had in my refrigerator. You can sautés without fat when you add salt because the salt sweats the vegetables and gives off enough liquid to cook with. Next step is to add lots of flavors so you don’t miss the fat….That’s what was done here. This recipe will make around 4-6 servings depending on size of your corn. I was in a hurry to make this so I just sautéed it all real fast but you can also grill the vegetables or char them under a broiler if you have more time.

Ingredients for around 6 servings

4 ears of corn – cut off the cob

6 oz shishito peppers – stems cut off and cut in about thirds

1 red bell pepper diced

1 medium sweet onion – diced

1 hot pepper – fine chopped (jalapeno or Serrano or whatever hot pepper you like)

1 1/2 teaspoon course sea salt (or to taste)

2 garlic cloves – either ground to paste or microplane

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground annatto (also called achiote)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 lime (just the fresh squeezed juice)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro – chopped (just leaves and a few tender stems)

2 Tablespoons fresh epazote – chopped

Directions

Get a pot on medium high heat with the bell pepper, hot pepper, onions and salt in it. Cook until peppers are soft and onions are clear. Add garlic and mix well then add the corn and shishito peppers, cumin, coriander, annatto and black pepper. Cook a few minutes add the lime juice and serve with the fresh cilantro and epazote.

No Added Fat Delicious Southwest Style Corn

Delicious, very flavorful with a little heat and no added fat.

The Forking Truth