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September 22, 2020 Easy Ideas

Pickled Green Tomatoes, the Quick Method


Here’s something super easy to do with unripe tomatoes. The classic pickling process involves preserving in a jar. However, quick pickling can achieve similar results in a skillet with some oil, salt, and vinegar. It’s super easy. This is something I usually do with slices of jalapeño peppers, or banana peppers. But with an abundance of green cherry tomatoes from my balcony garden this year, pickled green tomatoes turned out to be an excellent easy idea. 

pickled green tomatoes complete

Pickled green tomatoes are awesome when incorporated as topping in any mac ‘n cheese recipe. Yesterday I piled them on some store-bought hummus and pita to enhance a mid-day snack. You can also stick with the theme of Neo-Soul Food and pile them on my Black-Eyed Pea Dip with Roasted Garlic recipe. 

This growing season was brutal for tomatoes. Many of mine simply would not ripen. Or they would only ripen half way. I felt a sense of relief when I heard the same frustration on Instagram from a local home gardener in Staten Island, @plant_miss_z. Seemed like it was a New York problem until my sister in Seattle casually mentioned the same issue one day. So I’m just going to file this under another dysfunction of the year 2020. 

cherry tomaotoes growing

Tomato harvest 2020

Here is an accurate snapshot of the lack of tomato ripening this growing season.

When you’re given lemons, you make lemonade; this failed crop should be no different. On the path of optimism, I had already put an entire harvest of green tomatoes to use by making a batch of green tomato sofrito, referred to my Sofrito of the Amerian South. Making pickled green tomatoes is the next best thing to do in this situation. I learned this pickling method from watching Chef Daisy Martinez do the same with onions in her Mangu recipe when I first moved to New York in 2004. So many thanks to her! 

This is so easy that an actually recipe isn’t really needed here. It’s more of a concept. Also, you can tailor it to your own personal preferences … like how much salt, how much vinegar, how much oil, what type of oil, or you can even use water instead of oil. 

Here’s What to Do

  1. Slice your tomatoes crosswise into 1/8-inch thickness. Or, if you have really tiny baby cherry tomatoes you could probably just cut them in half. 
  2. Heat some oil in a skillet to medium high heat. Add enough green tomatoes to make one layer. Avoid piling them too high because they all need to get even exposure to the heat surface. Making multiple batches is most successful.
  3. Once they’re all spread out and cooking nicely, add some salt to your own liking, plus about 1 to 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Swirl the vinegar in the pan to make sure it get distributed evenly. 
  4. Turn the heat to medium low. Sit back, relax, and let them cook down slowly until they’re all translucent. If some of them caramelize, thats just fine – even better in my opinion. Then you’re done.

Categories: Easy Ideas Tags: pickled green tomatoes

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I’m Ben, a home cook with a less-meat approach cross-cultural comfort food, sharing cooking tips and recipes in Astoria, Queens, NYC.

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Here's my house-standard Air Fryer Chicken Wings w Here's my house-standard Air Fryer Chicken Wings we have on Friday wing nights. It’s a simple chicken recipe using a spice blend of some quite common ingredients, tossed in an acid (this time apple cider vinegar) to help penetrate the wings. 

My rule for the seasoning is a 3:1 ratio of spice blend to salt.

🍗 For the spice blend, I never really measure exactly:
▪️garlic powder
▪️Cayenne pepper 
▪️parsley flakes, crushed
▪️Mexican oregano, crushed
▪️black pepper, toasted and freshly ground

🍗 For the salt:
⅓ of the total amount of spices

🍗 For the acid:
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar for a dozen wings

Typically they get marinated starting Thursday evening, then they’re taken out of the fridge around 3:00 on Friday so they come up to room temperature by dinner time … because ya never want to be cooking chicken while it's still cold (makes it tough). A 3-hour marinade can work too if you do it by noon on Friday. 

Sometimes they get REALLY sauced up, but often times I like just a few shakes of hot sauce.

#chickenwingsrecipe #airfriedwings #airfryerrecipes #arifryercooking #cookingchicken #chickenwings #airfriedfoods #spiceblend #spicywings #spicychicken #chickenrecipe #chickenseasoning
If you’re looking to learn or improve your ravio If you’re looking to learn or improve your ravioli making skills, consult the Top 10 Secrets to Make the Best Homemade Ravioli from on @stefangourmetblog website. Follow his instructions word for word!

I always wondered why my ravioli attempts were quite "blah" before and ALL of my questions have now been answered and corrected. 

👇🏻Here’s just a few add-on tips from my trial and error...

🇮🇹 When getting the flour to egg ratio correct, use LARGE eggs with the “00” flour. Then the ratios works exactly like he explains … ⅝ cup of flour for each egg. I don’t have a scale to weigh it and I used up every bit of my flour for a successful pasta that can be rolled paper thin. This is not a case where bigger is always better, so don’t try using extra large or jumbo eggs. Actually large eggs are the standard in all published recipes.

🇮🇹 Stay optimistic. It may seem like the pasta will be too dry but don’t worry … just keep kneading. Like he says … more flour will absorb during the resting phase. 

🇮🇹 Make sure your eggs are room temperature. Don’t use cold eggs directly out of the fridge. 

🇮🇹 If you don’t have the “zig-zag” ravioli cutter (as I didn’t), just use a pizza cutter and crimp them with a fork. 

#homemadepasta #homemaderavioli #pastamaking #spinachravioli #spinachricotta #freshpasta #italiancooking #homecooking #italianfood #stuffedpasta #cookingtips
A simple 4 ingredient pineapple mango smoothie jus A simple 4 ingredient pineapple mango smoothie just has to happen after you come across such ripe and  aromatic mangoes in the store.  It's smoothie time! 

If you’re trying to eat more fresh fruit to your diet, a nutribullet-type mini blender is a great way to help that happen. It’s so much quicker easier than dealing with a big bulky blender. Just sayin’

#smoothieshare #pineapplemango #smoothiediet  #fruitsmoothie #mangosmoothie #smoothietime #smoothiemeal #smoothielife #smoothielove
What to do when you only have one eggplant … sau What to do when you only have one eggplant … sauté it up with some onions, tomatoes, and some store bought jarred ingredients (roasted red pepper, olives, capers, and Calabrian peppers) to help stretch it out. 

Didn’t realize that I came really close to making a Sicilian Caponata eggplant spread, an appetizer that goes well on tiny pieces of toasted bread for a quick and easy snack food idea. And it’s great for when you only have one piece of bread, or if you have bread of different sizes.  It can be served hot or cold, but I highly recommend enjoying it at room temperature. 

#caponata #eggplantsalad #eggplantspread #eggplantrecipe #eggplantcaponata #sicilianfood #aubergines #auberginerecipes #gardentotable #italianfood
You can always rely on store bought 🇯🇲 jerk You can always rely on store bought 🇯🇲 jerk marinade #walkerswod to make your jerk barbecue chicken prep  much quicker and easier. Just be patient on the other end with the low ‘n slow cooking for successful jerk chicken that falls off the bone. 

Here’s a few “cooking chicken on charcoal” tips …

🍗 For the coals:
1. You really don’t need a lot of coals. You can always add more, and its harder and a little dangerous to take some away. You don’t want to handle hot coals. 

2. First arrange them in one layer for the initial smoking with the wood chips to also achieve even cooking on both sides … flipping it often. 

3.Once the coals burn down, arrange them in a pile to one side with more soaked wood chips. 

🍗 Chicken placement:
4. Place the chicken on the opposite side of the coals for indirect heat.

5. Because the breast is so prone to drying out, I like to arrange it so the thighs are closer to the coals. They can take the heat! Sure, give the breast a little direct heat to cook it thoroughly, but this initial strategic placement will give you a more moist chicken breast. 

#charcoalbbq #cookingchicken #barbecuing #barbecuingchicken #jerkchicken #spatchcockchicken #chickenonthegrill #bbqchicken #wholechicken #bbqlife #chickenbbq #barbecuetime
For a bright red homemade salsa that’s not too s For a bright red homemade salsa that’s not too spicy, use Guajillo peppers. 🌶️ Then to add some depth and earthiness add some Ancho chiles, which are poblano peppers that have been dried.

When you select dried 🇲🇽 Mexican Chile peppers they should be fragrant and pliable … not super dried out and stiff … factors which affect the flavor. Not all peppers are the same which makes it difficult to quantify amounts for salsa recipes. It may turn out different every time, so enjoy the surprise!

Normally I'm pushing spiciness 🔥 in my feed, but today mild salsa is what's happening with these Mexican flavors. If you really want to turn up the heat, add more Árbol chile peppers with some caution. They're tiny but oh so spicy. And three garlic cloves 🧄 is the maximum for this amount of salsa, otherwise it becomes overwhelming and overshadows the pepper flavors. 

#mexicanchiles #salsaroja #redsalsa #tomatosalsa #guajillochile #guajillo #freshsalsa #mexicancfood #mexicancuisine #salsalover #chipsanddip #salsas #tomatorecipes
Shishito peppers are hard to find. But when you co Shishito peppers are hard to find. But when you come across them, pop them in an air fryer or  onto a hot skillet to make a salmon salad. Just cut the stems off with kitchen scissors and mix them into your summer salad (I like to cut them into smaller pieces too). Or just eat them whole.

They're super easy to grow if you have just the slightest amount of outdoor space and some patience. I don't even get the recommended amount of sunlight on my tiny balcony garden and they still flourish. Homegrown peppers are super rewarding. 

#shishitopeppers #salmonsalad #summersalad #shishitos #eatyourgreens #quickmeals #saladgreens #saladgram #airfriedveggies #airfryerrecipes #pepperlover #pepperlovers #homegrownpeppers
Make a simple tomato sandwich 🍅 with the sandwi Make a simple tomato sandwich 🍅 with the sandwich spread in my Reel from yesterday, featuring white Cannelini beans and goat cheese. Just remember to place the tomato slices in the middle of the sandwich so you don’t get soggy bread. 
🍅
A simple sandwich like this is a great thing to make if you’re growing tomatoes and only have one beauty ready to harvest. Or if you find one decadent heirloom tomato at the store,  just buy one and savor the flavor.  Fantastic summer food!
🍅
#tomatosandwich #tomatoseason #summerfood #homegrowntomatoes #simplesandwich #tomatosandwichseason #gardentomatoes #heirloomtomato #tomatolove #gardeneats #eatprettythings #igrewthis  #growyourownfood #tomatoharvest
Use my white bean and goat cheese filling for air Use my white bean and goat cheese filling for air fried stuffed pepper poppers, 🫑 or simply use it as a cheese spread on some bread or crackers. 

▪️▪️▪️
Here's a brief back story…
This is my redo of a childhood family recipe called "Cream Cheese and Olive". Yup, it's exactly what it implies… olives (and it's juice) chopped up and mixed with cream cheese, then and stuffed into celery sticks 😅. I can't stomach all of that cream cheese nowadays, but we had those #appetizers at EVERY family holiday as a kid. It's a 70s recipe that hung around our house until the 80s and 90s.
▪️▪️▪️

So now that I know how to cook, I decided it just needed some culinary love to make it less heavy and more nutritious … goat cheese, a bean protein, garlic, @eatdivina Sicilian Castelvetrano olives and some Calabrian pepper spiciness 🌶️. 

You could also add more beans, olive oil and olive juice, and call it a bean dip.

Also, it's the perfect thing to do if you're also a #peppergrower and they just won't get bigger. Cut your losses and make stuffed peppers. 

#pepperpoppers #stuffedpeppers #fingerfoods #appetizers #pepperrecipes #horsdoeuvres #bananapeppers #simplerecipes #easyrecipes #appetizerideas #gardentotable #freshfromthegarden #homegrownveggies
Here are some tips and notes about my Rhode Island Here are some tips and notes about my Rhode Island Clam Chowder recipe. As a native Rhode Islander I was long overdue to bring this to you. You can find the full recipe up on my blog.

▪️Make a white roux separately, then used that to thicken the broth as desired 

▪️Par-cook the potatoes because it removes the unwanted starchiness … a tip I learned from watching @mac_and_thebigchz. 

▪️Cut the potatoes really small so they break down quicker 

The Clear Broth...
Rhode Island style chowder by default has a clear broth. Old skool chowder recipes call for “adding the potatoes and clams in layers and dredging each layer with flour, salt and pepper”. Thickening it with a classic white roux achieves the same effect, and you can control the thickness more easily this way. So, "clear" to me translates to "no milk". It's clear-ish.

The Simplicity...
My chowder recipe is super basic so it highlights the briny clam flavor. Many times chowders become needlessly “fancy” and complicated with extra herbs and so many veggies as if it’s almost a vegetable soup. 

No pork...
If you’re on a pork-free diet, this recipe is definitely for you. Many classic recipes use bacon or salt pork, and I’m just not about it. Instead, I rely on a bay leaf for some background flavor. 
 

#clamchowder #rhodeislandclamchowder #chowderrecipe #clamchowda #clamchowdah #rhodeislander
#rhodeislandfood #souprecipes #clamrecipes #seafood #seafoodlover
A grilled cheese sandwich with grilled eggplant dr A grilled cheese sandwich with grilled eggplant dressed in your favorite marinara sauce really hits the spot on days when you don’t want to use the oven … just sayin’. 

Check further down in my feed for more ideas sandwich ideas … many are vegetarian, some have a little meat. Sandwich lover here! 

#eggplantsandwich #grilledcheesesandwich #gardentotable #vegetariansandwich #grilledcheeseplease #italianrecipe #grilledaubergine #sandwichideas #italiancooking
You can make 🌶️ Chipotle pepper paste simply You can make 🌶️ Chipotle pepper paste simply by hydrating dried Chipotle peppers and carefully scraping the flesh just like any other pepper. And use it to make a spicy mango salsa. Also added an Árbol Chile as well.

Operative word is “carefully” because they're a little delicate.

Normally I break them down in a food processor then extract the flesh through a fine mesh strainer. However, this scraping method is cleaner and simpler if you're not feeding and army … today I just had one mago and wanted to make a small bowl. 

And sure … you can use Chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce, but there's always so much leftover in the can after you used what you want. 📢 Pet peeve alert: Things that sit in the fridge for way too long, but they're too fantastic to throw out. 

So with this #kitchenhack you can just hydrate as many Chiles as you need.

#mangosalsa #homemademangosalsa #mangorecipes  #chipotlemango #spicysweet #sweetandspicy #freshfruit #summersalsa #fruitsalsa
Here's how you make a fruity cashew cream base for Here's how you make a fruity cashew cream base for a fruit smoothie, instead of always relying on a banana for a thickener. It’s also a good way to add some protein in a liquid meal. 

A pineapple mango 🥭🍍smoothie was my answer to not wanting to use the stove or oven on a hot day.☀️

▪️Blend ½ cup cashews with ⅔ cup of fruit nectar (I chose guava today) and it will turn creamy after about 30 seconds. 

▪️Cashews may still be chunky, so add more liquid (I chose coconut water) in small increments until all the cashews break down fully. 

▪️Then build your smoothie from that.

#fruitsmoothie #mangosmoothie #smoothietime #pineapplesmoothie #smoothieoftheday #smoothiemeal #smoothielife #smoothiediet #smoothieshare #smoothiemaking #cashewnuts #cashewcream
If you like things on the spicy side, use the Cala If you like things on the spicy side, use the Calabrian pepper oil @eatdivina to make a spicy vinaigrette. @onthebiasnyc got me hooked on these awesome peppers. 🌶️

▪️½ cup Calaprian pepper oil
▪️¼ cup lemon juice
▪️2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
▪️2 heaping tablespoons chopped tarragon
▪️3 heaping tablespoons minced shallot
▪️1 teaspoon honey
▪️kosher salt to taste (about 1/2 tsp.)

With everything so expensive right now, I've been procrastinating buying a new can of olive oil, so this pepper infused oil REALLY had my back. And for this summery bean salad, just mix up some simmered (then chilled) blackeyed peas, #cherrytomatoes #sungoldtomatoes, stovetop roasted banana peppers, and parsley. 

#beansalad #eatdivina #gardentotable #tomatosalad #wholefoodplantbased #easyrecipe #wholefoodplantbased #plantbasedrecipes #nutritiousanddelicious #healthyrecipes #saladsofinstagram #salads #eatfreshfood #summersalads #eatwhatyougrow
Instagram post 18044614531350062 Instagram post 18044614531350062
The star of today's breakfast salad was air fried The star of today's breakfast salad was air fried okra seasoned with with a little 🇯🇲 Jamaican curry as salad toppings. 

They were simply tossed in canola oil and Jamaican curry, then spent 20 minutes in the air fryer at 400 degrees. 

For people who complain that okra is slimy, this right here is your solution. 😎

#breakfastsalad #poachedeggs #brunchrecipes #airfriedfood #breakfastideas #healthybreakfastideas #saladtoppings #airfryerrecipes #airfried #curryokra
The simple #cookingtip for quesadillas that steppe The simple #cookingtip for quesadillas that stepped up my game was giving them a light brushing of canola oil because it makes them nice crispy. Canola oil because it’s flavorless. 

Corn tortillas for black bean and cheese quesadillas are fantastic when ya don't want the gluten from flour tortillas. And about that pineapple salsa from yesterday’s Reel … it’s even better today! 

#quesadillas #glutenfree #beanandcheese #fingerfood #corntortilla #texmexfood #noglutenhere 
#blackbeanquesadilla #quickandeasyfood #quesadillasvegetarianas #vegetariansnack
When ya come across such sweet @delmonte fresh pin When ya come across such sweet @delmonte fresh pineapple at your local store (mine being @ctown_official) to make some pineapple salsa, and grab some Black Label @elyucateco_hotsauce for a smokier and spicy edge. 

Now is the time for easy summer recipes … no rules or measurements. Just watch and make it your own. To break it down, use a pastry cutter because it does a combination of mashing it as well as chopping and it doesn’t whip air into the mixture as a food processor would. 

#pineapplesalsa #easyrecipes #homemadesalsa #elyucateco #pineapplerecipes #sweetandspicy  #freshpineapple #freshsalsa #summerfoods #salsapicante #citrussalsa #pineapplelover
Here's how you convert my jerk marinade (in my las Here's how you convert my jerk marinade (in my last Reel) into a poaching liquid for poached salmon. 

▪️Add equal parts water to vinegar (or any acid like lemon juice or wine) just until fish is submerged. 

▪️Pack in more flavor with more salt and thyme.

▪️Bring it to a brief boil then simmer with the lid on until done (8 to 11 minutes, depending on the cut of salmon).

Put it on top of some crispy lettuce greens, veggies and your favorite dressing to make a fantastic salmon salad.

#poachedsalmon #salmonsalad #poaching #poachedfish #salmonrecipe #cookingsalmon
For quicker and leaner jerk chicken 🍗, here’s For quicker and leaner jerk chicken 🍗, here’s a simple jerk marinade to make grilled chicken lettuce wraps on hot summery days. ☀️

Simply brush it on some chicken cutlets, then quickly grill it up! Such a quick and easy summer recipe with no carbs, refreshingly crisp from the lettuce, and no need to worry if the chicken gets cold. In fact … it’s preferred. 

Yeah, typically jerk chicken is done with leg quarters and is cooked low and slow for hours. But this chicken breast option delivers the same spicy and herby Jamaican 🇯🇲 flavors in a fraction of the time. 

It’s super important to take the time and de-stem your thyme as shown. The thick, woody stems do not cook down, especially since we’re grilling the chicken for such a short amount of time. You don’t want to ingest them.

#summerrecipe #summercooking #lettucewraps #grilledchickenbreast #chickenmarinade #jerkmarinade #jamaicancooking #jamaicanfood #jerkchickenbreast #jerkchicken #nocarbs #ketofriendlyrecipes #lettucecups
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