Chile Con Queso

Excellent with tortilla chips. Be sure to shred your own cheese, otherwise the dip may not be smooth.

Chicken Shawarma

A recipe Adrian discovered and adapted. Great on salad or with flat bread and shredded vegetables.

Empanadas

This is very similar to what our Spanish tutor said her mom made when SeƱora Swart was growing up in Argentina. Since 8 April is National Empanada Day, we decided to surprise her with some during our lesson.

Pasta Fagioli

There are so many different ways to make this bean and pasta soup. This is just a rough guideline.

Chicken Tikka Masala (with dairy free option)

This is a simple recipe that can be made ahead. It is wonderful for company or just a fancier than normal dinner. Use our tikka paste recipe or your favorite blend. One green Serrano chili is not very spicy, but it is needed in this recipe. If you prefer a spicier dish, add more chili’s and serve dry tikka spice on the side. If the dish is too spicy, add a little cream or yogurt. This is very good served with naan!

To make this dairy free, replace yogurt with full fat coconut milk. Either omit the butter or use your favorite plant based butter if you want to use before grilling.

Jamie’s Potato Soup (Almost)

My friend Jamie, makes this soup often for potlucks. It is very popular and the children ask for it often at home. It is wonderful with a green salad on the side.

Some good potatoes to try are Russet, Red potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes. Each will have a slightly different flavor.

Cornbread Stuffing

When I asked what type of stuffing to make for Thanksgiving, I was told “cornbread!”. Then we discussed the difference between “stuffing” and “dressing”. In case you do not know, you stuff “stuffing” and bake “dressing” in a casserole dish.

Beans and Rice

Allan was introduced to Caribbean rice and beans many years ago when a friend brought some extra into work to share. While ours in no where near as good, here is a recipe we often make and enjoy.

While it is tempting to garnish this with cheese or sour cream, it is wonderful as is. Serve next to a simple, but colorful side salad.

Our original recipe did not call for bacon, so if you prefer not to use it, just replace it with 2 Tbl of oil to saute the onions in. Both recipes are great!

Tomato Salsa (for canning)

This is a less spicy recipe that does not use much cilantro. Adjust the seasonings and peppers to create a spicier salsa if preferred. Just remember that the total of all the combined peppers should be between 4-5 cups, no matter what type used. Also, if desired, add a little hot sauce or extra ground chipotle to spice it up a little more.

Depending on the tomatoes used, this can be a very sweet salsa. Add a little additional vinegar if too sweet. Lastly, feel free to use lemon or lime juice instead of the apple cider vinegar for variety.