A Spoonful of Sofrito: NYC Fried Chicken!

A Spoonful of Sofrito:  A pinch of advice that will add  a lot of flavor to your life.

NYC Fried Chicken!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

If you think good fried chicken comes from places called KFC, Popeyes, Kennedy Fried, or Texas Fried Chicken, then please put down that drumstick-which I'm sure is Pigeon-and take note!

The following article from Eater.com lists 26 restaurants in NYC, where you can taste ACTUAL delicious fried chicken and not the questionable poultry you're used to-again, I'm pretty sure you're eating flying rat meat.

I love this list's diversity!  There's Southern, Japanese, Latino, and Caribbean style fried chicken dishes that will allow you to explore the unlimited deliciousness of one of the most versatile proteins we cook with.

Read the article, find one of these places, and taste for yourself!  Real fried chicken will change your life!  ¡Buen Provecho!

NYC Fried Chicken: 26 Dishes to Try

By Robert Sietsema Jul 26, 2016, 6:35p

Golden brown and crunchy on the outside, moist and flavorsome on the inside, fried chicken is America's greatest contribution to world gastronomy. And here in New York City it's available in a dizzying array of permutations. There's frying going on in hipster fast food joints, Indian fusion restaurants, Japanese ramen parlors, effete bistros and beer halls, and in the soul food spots where it originated, or was at least reintroduced to the city nearly a century ago. (Fried chicken was also popular in colonial times.) In fact, any place that can summon a giant reservoir of bubbling fat — or a collection of well-blackened cast-iron pans — can make an exemplary batch of fried chicken. The latest fad is sandwiches, many made with proprietary composed patties of incredible scrumptiousness, some with spices built in.

Here are some of our favorite places around town to score some oil-boiled yardbird.

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Southern Style Dirty Rice.

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Southern Style Dirty Rice!

Sofrito Lovers,

Check out my video below!

Iheartrecipes's Southern Style Dirty Rice 

recipe from:

http://www.iheartrecipes.com/dirty-rice/

Recipe:

1 cup rice

2 cups beef stock

1 lb chicken gizzards

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 lb ground beef

2-3 andouille sausage link, diced

1 small onion, diced

1/4 cup diced sweet peppers

salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Rinse the rice, then place it in a rice cooker along with the beef stock. If you do not have a rice cooker, you will need to cook the rice on your stove top.

Wash the chicken gizzards, then place them into a baking dish. Drizzle the olive oil over the gizzards, then season them with the onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Place the gizzard in the oven on 375 F, for 35-40 minutes. Once the gizzards are done, place them into a food processor, and mince them up OR use a knife to dice the gizzards.

In a skillet, over medium heat, add in the ground beef. Cook the beef , and add in the diced onions and sweet peppers.

Once the meat is browned, add in the diced andouille sausage, and then the minced gizzards. Cook for about 5 minutes, then add in the rice. 

Stir the ingredients, and make sure everything is well combined, and let it cook for an additional 5 minutes…

SERVE!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Refreshing Watermelon Juice

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Refreshing Watermelon Juice

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter than the surface of the sun!  If you're like me-with an errands list down to the floor-than you'll be outside braving the heat and disgusting humidity!  You'll probably need some delicious hydration to keep you moving.  Posted below is a tutorial on how to make a tangy watermelon juice, that is healthy, hydrating, and easy to make.

This recipe, from Cheerful Syanu, is quick, but does require some advance preparation-remember to refrigerate the watermelon before making the juice.  Other than that, it' an amazing cool beverage to beat the heat!  Make it and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen provecho!

 

A Spoonful of Sofrito: New York City's 30 Most Iconic Dishes!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

New York City's 30 Most Iconic Dishes!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

Recently, Eater.com published an article titled, "New York City's 30 most Iconic Dishes", a list of 30 dishes that allegedly have made NYC's culinary scene the one to beat!  As I reviewed the list, I realized that I've barely sampled the incredible dishes on this list-I was shocked! Am I really the foodie, I think I am?

This has truly been a rude awakening!  I consider this a culinary/foodie call to action! This article has become my new "To Do" list!  I make this vow: By the end of the year, I'm going to have tasted all of these iconic dishes!  I'm going to blog about each dish and let you know what I think of them!

I'll be following up on this soon!  Mark my words!  I will taste all thirty by the end of December!  Read this awesome article and go taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

New York City's 30 Most Iconic Dishes

By Eater Jul 13, 2016, 6:00m

 You could spend a full year eating out every night and still never try all of the great food that New York City has to offer. But if you want a taste of classic NYC, and the dishes that shaped the current dining scene, here's a starter kit. These 30 dishes have all achieved legend status. Some are very old, while a few were created in the last five years. Some are expensive, while others can be obtained for pocket change. All of them are worth trying once if you want a taste of what makes this the most exciting dining city in the world. 

Check out the rest of this article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Cuban Sandwiches/Cubanitos

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Cuban Sandwiches/Cubanitos!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

When I was a kid my father would take to the "Flor de Broadway" bakery/coffee shop/sandwich place on W. 139th St. and Broadway so we could enjoy their delicious Cuban treats.

My father would order Cuban style espressos with a Croqueta de jamon (Ham croquette) and he would treat me either to a lemonade with a croqueta or a delicious Cubanito sandwich.  For the unenlightened, a Cubanito sandwich is an amazing work of sandwich art, that combines roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles with either butter, mojo, mustard or mayo.  It's made with pan de agua o de manteca (Water or Butter bread) and pressed flat on a sandwich press; these days people are using panini presses, which I don't like.  These sandwiches can be found in almost any Caribbean Latino neighborhood with a myriad of variations.

Being a self proclaimed Cubanito conosuir, I've traveled throughout our fair city tasting Cubanitos anywhere I could find them.  I've loved and despised many, but the best are made at home!  

The article posted below, from Serious Eats, features a great recipe for a Cubanito, which I plan on making this weekend!  I'll let you know how it turns out!  But, don't wait for my post to see how it turns out!  Make your own! Read it, make it, and taste for yourself.  ¡Buen Provecho!

Cuban Sandwiches Recipe

J. Kenji López-Alt

 

 

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When Past You gives Present You leftover Cuban roast pork, first you drink a toast to Past You for the generosity and forethought (a mojito is both thematically and gustatorily appropriate), then you pay it forward by making a Cubano sandwich for Future You.

Check out the rest of the article here!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: Southern Smothered Chicken!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

Southern Smothered Chicken!

 

Sofrito Lovers,

This weekend, I took a big step in my career as an amateur cook: I STARTED COOKING SOUL FOOD!  Since I started cooking as a hobby, I've been wanting to learn how to cook my favorite Soul Food recipes and with one dish I have started this journey towards becoming a Soul Food Kung Fu Master-the pride has made me delirious!

This weekend, I decided it was time to learn so I looked up a  recipe on YouTube and came across IheartRecipes, an awesome Channel hosted by this disembodied chef/master/amazing/incredible young woman named Rosie!  Her instructions were clear and easy to follow; her website with the written recipes were also a  huge help!

After some preparation and patience, I cooked an amazing Southern Style Smothered Chicken, that made by finicky bear, David, lick his lips in pleasure.  I got a ton of gravy flavored kisses that night!  Gracias Rosie!

Folks, check out IHeartRecipes, start cooking, and taste for yourself!  ¡Buen Provecho!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: How to make Chinese Hot Oil!

A Spoonful of Sofrito: A Pinch of advice that will add a lot of flavor to your life.

How to make Chinese Hot Oil!

Sofrito Lovers,

I like my Chinese food spicy; if it's not doused with Chinese mustard or Siracha, then I ain't eating it!  If I'm not farting fire after a Chinese meal, then something wrong.

As much as I love the above mentioned piquant condiments, nothing compares to the gloriousness of Chinese Hot Oil!  This neon red concoction is an amazing accompaniment to any meal because adds earthy depths of flavor and spice. 

For a long time now, the amateur cook in me has been wanting to learn how to make this magic potion and now I can!  The video posted below from Strictly Dumpling, hosted by one of my favorite YouTube foodie personalities Mike Chen, has an easy and fun recipe for making hot oil.  

This is wonderful!  I can finally create an unlimited supply of this red lava flavored panacea and now you can too!  Watch it, cook it, and FART FIRE! ¡Buen Provecho!