Daring Cooks’ Challenge: Edible Containers – Savory

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baking, cooking, Daring Cooks, leeks, NZ, pie, potatoes, recipes, savory, vegetarian

(Is it a food blogger faux pas to have the same very obvious plate two posts in a row?)

Renata of Testado, Provado & Aprovado! was our Daring Cooks’ April 2011 hostess.  Renata challenged us to think “outside the plate” and create our own edible containers!  Prizes are being awarded to the most creative edible container and filling, so vote on your favorite from April 17th to May 16th at http://thedaringkitchen.com!  (Note: this entry isn’t eligible, but go vote for others!)

I am totally late posting this!  It feels super lame to make excuses, but I have a few…  I was  having trouble coming up with ideas for this challenge even though I have some for the sweet challenge.  Then earlier this week, I thought of something after being inspired by the first few pages in the DC forum.  Being the procrastinator that I am, I was planning to do the challenge on the 13th, then post on the 14th.  (typical…)  The problem with this was that I thought the 14th was on Saturday for no apparent reason, and didn’t realize this until Thursday….the 14th.  Gah! 

Daring Cooks’ Challenge: Papas Rellenas!

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black beans, Daring Cooks, kale, mushrooms, onions, peppers, Peru, potatoes, quinoa, recipes, salsa, sweet potatoes, vegetarian

Kathlyn of Bake Like a Ninja was our Daring Cooks’ March 2011 hostess.  Kathlyn challenges us to make two classic Peruvian dishes: Ceviche de Pescado from “Peruvian Cooking – Basic Recipes” by Annik Franco Barreau.  And Papas Rellenas adapted from a home recipe by Kathlyn’s Spanish teacher, Mayra.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love the Daring Kitchen?  Last month with the Daring Cooks, it was Japanese (sigh…) and now Peruvian food!  Peru is a place I’d like to go to someday even though I don’t know much about it.  I hadn’t even thought a whole lot about Peruvian cuisine, but if it’s all as good as this experience, I want to go to there, stat.

This challenge actually featured a number of recipes (ceviche, papas rellenas, salsa criolla, and pisco sour), but we were only required to do the ceviche and/or the papas rellenas.  Even though I do eat fish, ceviche kind of freaks me out, so I nixed that one.  I’ve had chile rellenos, but hadn’t ever heard of the potato equivalent, so I was excited to try it.  Filled and fried mashed potatoes?  HECK YES.  I also made the salsa criolla because onions and I are buds.

Roasted Broccoflower and Cheese Soup

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broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, cooking, gluten-free, potatoes, recipes, soup, vegetarian

Okay, okay…let me start off by saying that I didn’t actually use broccoflower, though I’ve had it before and enjoyed it.  This has broccoli and cauliflower in it, and I just have an inexplicable fondness for portmanteau.  (You could totally use actual broccoflower.)

In the wee hours this morning, San Antonio got a tiny dusting of snow and ice, which shut down major highways and all school districts, of course.  As you can imagine, it was pretty much all gone by late morning, but it was probably best to keep people off the streets.  Folks here don’t know how to drive in it, plus the city doesn’t have the equipment to deal with it.  To give you an idea, the last time I saw snow here was a couple weeks before my 3rd birthday.  Yep.  But don’t worry.  I got plennnty of it while living in Baltimore and Cleveland.

Creamy Vegan Potato Corn Chowder

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chowder, cooking, corn, easy, gluten-free, leeks, low-fat, potatoes, recipes, soup, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

Okay, so you know the show Iron Chef?  I know, who doesn’t… Pretend this is an episode and that I am about to reveal The Secret Ingredient.  You can imagine me as the Chairman and then maybe Alton Brown (yeah, we’re playing the American one).

Sidenote:  If you were a challenger, which Iron Chef would you choose to go up against?  I’d pick Michael Symon because he’s from Cleveland!  Well, no…I couldn’t choose any because that would be laughable!  Anyway, I totally watched his winning episode of the Next Iron Chef at a swanky Cleveland restaurant/bar, and EVERYONE shouted when he won!  That city really needed that win. /sidenote

Okay! Let’s do this.

Today’s secret ingredient is……

[over-the-top dramatic music]

New Zealand Yams

Tags

cooking, easy, gluten-free, NZ, potatoes, recipes, sides, vegetables

I am such a sucker for anything claiming to be from New Zealand.  Is it possible to have a crush on a country?  Evidently…  It’s not just because I’ve been there.  Oh, no.  Why would a girl with an unstamped passport just pack her bags on a whim and head to New Zealand of all places?  Don’t most Americans tend to make Europe their first big trip?  I mean, I’ve never even been to Canada, let alone Mexico, which is probably about a 3 hour drive away.  New Zealand customs were suspicious!  And then, you’d think that since I’ve been there, I’d be satisfied, yet every day my thoughts are consumed with the place.

I haven’t gone completely off my rocker, though.  The nearby snooty grocery store sells 24-packs of New Zealand water.  Seriously, folks.  I bought a bottle of water once in Auckland, and it was at an outdoor music festival where containers weren’t permitted through the entrance.  So, no, I haven’t been tempted by the imported water…yet.