Alternative Pie

I love my Sunbeam mini-pie maker. I use it to make all kinds of pies. Last week I made some chicken McNugget pies as part of a student project. Check out the video and help me win a viral video contest. It's a two minute video and kind of funny. Enjoy.

What kind of pie would you make?

Mexican Beef Stew (Caldo de Res)

Caldo de res is a traditional Mexican dish. This warm broth is comforting on a chilly day. The meat and vegetables make it nutritious and filling. Preparing this meal is a bit involved, but it makes a great Sunday dinner.

Cut beef into one-inch cubes.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Start with a basic recipe and change it up to suit your taste. You can substitute beef stew meat for the beef shank. Keep the chunks around one-inch. Any bigger than that and it will take longer to cook.



Sauté two cloves of minced garlic with onion.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Sautéing two cloves of minced garlic along with the onion will enhance the flavor. Save the cilantro for the garnish. It tends to wilt if you cook it with the stew. Adding a tablespoon of cumin gives a nice nutty flavor.

Red potatoes will cook faster than Russet.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

The recipe calls for Russet potatoes. However, they take longer to cook. Red potatoes cook faster and have a more delicate flavor. They will also absorb less of the stews flavor than Russets. Use six red potatoes, since they are smaller. You may also want to use zuccini instead of chayote. The zuccini will cook faster and does not have the grainy texture of chayote.


Serve with your favorite garnishes.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Serve the stew piping hot with some warm tortillas and your favorite garnishes. You can easily make your own corn tortillas with Maseca flour. If you are not inclined to make your own tortillas, Los Cinco Puntos in East Los Angeles sells handmade tortillas.

This meal will taste better the second day because all the ingredients will have time to marinate. It also freezes well; so you can save some to enjoy on a weeknight.

Quick and Easy Dinner

If you are in a hurry to make dinner, two key ingredients will have your table set in under 30 minutes. Ground beef and potatoes are staples in most kitchens. Food.com has a great recipe for you.

Both of these ingredients are fairly inexpensive. This week ground beef is on sale at "Fresh & Easy" for $2.49 a pound. It is sold in a two-pound package. You can double this recipe or freeze half of the ground beef to use later. A ten-pound bag of potatoes can often be bought for around $1.00. 

Cube potatoes into half-inch pieces.
Photo by Sandy Brambia

The first thing to do is cube the potatoes. Then you heat the oil over a medium flame. Try using grapeseed oil. It is a healthy option that has a high smoke point. This makes it great for browning meat.

Add meat when potatoes start to look translucent.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Cook the potatoes for about ten minutes. They will start to look translucent. At this point add the ground beef and break it up into small clumps. It is best to use lean meat so you don't have to drain the grease.

Once the meat is fully cooked you can season it with salt, pepper and a little cumin. 

Add your favorite garnish and enjoy.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

This dish will go great with some homemade tortillas. Top it with sour cream or guacamole and enjoy.

Hearty Ham Makes Great Soup

Leftover ham bone.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

If you have a leftover ham, don't throw it out. Make some ham bone soup. Ham bones are usually quite meaty and can stretch your budget by adding a few inexpensive ingredients. The basic recipe is listed on allrecipes. The recipe calls for four cups of water and six cubes of chicken bouillon. This makes the soup a bit salty. Four cups of low-sodium chicken broth fixes this and also adds more depth to the stew.

Chop potatoes, onion and bell pepper.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Chop up all the veggies. That’s the hard part.

Place the ham bone in the crockpot surrounded by the vegetables. Pour liquid ingredients on top and add two bay leaves and some thyme. Cover crockpot and set it on high until liquid starts to boil. Then switch it to low and let it simmer for six hours. If you don't have a crockpot, use a 12-quart stock pot. Bring soup to a boil, then simmer for four hours. You will need to stir the soup occasionally. 

Mix all ingredients in the crockpot and set on high.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

If you put this together before you head out the door in the morning, you can come home to a hearty bowl of soup. Now that’s something to look forward to. Serve this with some rosemary bread and you’ll be all set.

Photo from Allrecipes.com

This recipe will feed four to six people. Leftovers will freeze well.
If you're on a tight budget, Honey Baked Ham sells ham bones with plenty of meat on them for $6.00.

Homemade Flour Tortillas

Photo from Allrecipes.com

Are you craving warm flour tortillas, like your mama made? Then all you need is some flour, salt, baking powder, and some vegetable shortening. You may already have these basic ingredients in your pantry.

Were you raised in a traditional Mexican household? Then tortillas were very likely a staple in your diet. Flour tortillas can be found in nearly any market. However, store-bought tortillas can never replace the soft-buttery texture of homemade tortillas.

Making your own tortillas can also save you money. A dozen of flour tortillas costs an average of $2.00. A five-pound bag of all-purpose flour cost $3.25. This will make a whole lot of tortillas.

If this is your first time making them, try this recipe from Allrecipes. It is simple and basic. 

Form dough into evenly-sized balls.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Once you combine the ingredients, you will form evenly-sized round balls of dough. They should be about the size of golf balls. 

Roll dough on a floured surface.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

You can roll them out and cook them right away. Or you can cover some of them in a tea towel and roll them out later.

Tortillas are ready when they start to bubble.
Photo by Sandy Brambila

Now, if you want a healthier version, you can try these texas flour tortillas. They are made with whole wheat but are just as tasty.