Posts Tagged ‘new recipes’

Last Minute Tortilla Soup

August 31st, 2009

Last night I had grilled some steak on the grill. Needless to say, I had some leftovers and wanted to do something with it. After searching around my pantry for a couple of staples, here’s what I came up with for a last minute tortilla soup.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 can whole tomatoes (28 oz)
  • 1 can whole corn kernels, drained (16 oz)
  • 1 can black beans, drained (16 oz)
  • 1 bottle beer. Be sure to pick something not too bitter as that will increase with cooking (I use a good Hefeveizen)
  • 2 dried Chipotle peppers
  • 2 dried chili peppers
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cumin
  • 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • 1/4 C corn starch
  • 1 steak, any cut, cooked in any fashion, diced

In a large sauce pan, add the tomatoes and their juices and blend together (I have an imersion blender). Combine all of the ingredients, except for the corn) and place over medium heat and let simmer for about 45 minutes or until the peppers and onions are soft. Add the corn and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with some crushed tortilla chips and enjoy!

Need to Sharpen my Knives

January 30th, 2009

Last night, I had tried this slow roast recipe I found from this magazine/cookbook that I had picked up at the grocery store the other day. After about three hours of cooking in the oven, I was ready to cut into this baby, only to realize that my carving knife was so dull that it basically smashed the meat before it actually cut anything. Needless to say, I was slightly disappointed that I couldn’t make really, really thin slices of meat so that I could make sandwiches out of the left overs. Besides that, the roast turned out superbly, and I’ll definitely have to make it again!

After last night’s vain attempt at slicing meat, I had come to the realization that, yes, my knives have indeed taken a beating after three years of hard use, and that they are in desperate need of a good sharpening. I had tried using a knife sharpener at home, but it just didn’t cut it (sorry for the pun!), so I believe it’s time I found a “professional” to take care of this.