Author: thebigkitchentable
Rice Pilaf – A side dish staple
Rice Pilaf
When deciding what to make for dinner, I usually ask my family what they want to eat. If we are grilling, they love to have Rice Pilaf as a side dish. I always have the ingredients in my pantry, and my husband and boys have cravings for it. It's definitely a family comfort food. When the boys have been away from home for a couple weeks, I know that they need rice pilaf with dinner.This is the recipe for 4 people. I always double it for my family of 5.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cube butter
- 1 cup Uncle Ben’s Original Rice
- 1 handful instant onions
- 2 handfuls of browned vermicelli see note
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- sprinkle of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a sauté pan. Add the rice and cook for a minute making sure it is well coated in the butter. Add the onions, vermicelli, and chicken broth. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes until done.
Notes
*Browned vermicelli pasta – break up the noodles on a sheet pan and brown under a broiler until they are golden. You can also sauté them in the butter before adding the rice, but this is a time saver.
Presnac – Millie’s Cheese Soufflé
Another Presnac recipe, and this one is just a little bit different. This is from another family friend – Millie. These presnac are really cheesy, and my mom said this is one of her favorite. Ingredients: 5 beaten eggs1 tsp. salt1 T. sugar1 cube butter1 …
Presnac – Val’s Cheese Soufflé
Another Presnac recipe…just a little different. This would be Valerie’s recipe, and my mom just loves this one. Simple, easy and delicious. I have a better chance of having all of these ingredients in my house, so this is definitely a go to. Ingredients: 6 …
Presnac- Anka’s Recipe
This is a recipe that was shared with by Baba Dot from a family friend. The woman’s name was Anka, and she didn’t share many of her recipes. This continues to be a family favorite, so that is why I have added it here. It is moist, gooey, cheesy and always a wonderful addition to a party menu.
Ingredients:
6 whole eggs
1 cup half and half
1 tsp. baking powder-sifted with the flour
1 lb. jack cheese-cubed
1 small carton large curd cottage cheese
1 small cream cheese, cubed
1 cup flour
1 cube butter
Directions:
Cube the cheese. Melt the butter in a pan.
Beat eggs for 10 minutes. Add salt, sugar, milk and beat together.
Blend in flour and baking powder. Fold in the cheese and butter
Bake for 30 minutes at 375°.
Presnac – Baba’s Serbian Cheese Soufflé
As I add recipes from my recipe box, I oftentimes come across several recipes for the same dish. In this case, I have 4 recipes and all of them are just a little different. This is the recipe that my Great Grandmother – Baba Zorka …
All-Crust Sheet Pan Scalloped Potatoes
My sister introduced me to this very simple week night recipe from the Food Network. This easy and delicious potato dish takes very little time, and everyone seems to love it. The potatoes pair well with any main dish, and they cook relatively fast because …
Paco’s Fajitas
In 2020 I had the opportunity to do a USC Alumni online cooking class, with Paco’s Mexican Restaurant in Arcadia. I have always wondered what their secret was for some of the best tasting fajitas in Southern California. I can’t thank them enough for sharing the recipe with fellow USC Trojans, and for making it such a fun night of cooking and learning.
Ingredients:
8 oz. Chicken breast or Rib Eye Steak
3 oz Green Bell Peppers
3 oz. Brown or Red onions
2 oz. Button mushrooms
2 oz. Zucchini
2 oz. Tomatoes
2 oz. Teriyaki Sauce
2 oz. Chablis White Wine
Salt
Pepper
Garlic
Canola or Vegetable oil
Directions:
Slice the bell peppers into strips. Slice the onions in half and then also cut them into strips. Cut the zucchini in half and then slice into half circles. Cut the stem off the mushroom and then slice.
Preheat pan to medium high heat.
In a small bowl combine garlic, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. black pepper. Season the chicken or steak.
Add the chicken to the pan and cook until done and set aside.
Add the onions, bell peppers, and zucchini into a large cast iron pan with oil. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper. Cook them for about 6-8 minutes and until tender. Add wine and teriyaki to the vegetables. Finally, add the mushrooms and tomatoes.
Add the chicken to the vegetables and serve with warm tortillas.
I like to serve the fajitas right out of the cast iron pan, similar to getting them served to you on a the skillet at Paco’s.
Secret Lemonade
What is the secret to really good lemonade? Good lemons! I have a very fruitful Meyer Lemon tree in my backyard and my friends say that they are the best and juiciest lemons ever. I have to agree! Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups lemon juice 1 …