Project Paula: Foodie

Showing posts with label Foodie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foodie. Show all posts

RECIPE | My AVOCADO Smash Brunch Bowl


I enjoy preparing and especially enjoying Mexican-inspired dishes. This fresh and delicious Avocado Smash Bowl was a bright take on brunch fare or a remixed salad! I first had an interpretation of this dish in my work cafeteria. While rushing out of the house one morning, I left my lunch behind. So, I had to venture to our company cafeteria around noon. I noticed one of the cafeteria employees at a new station that offered made-to-order brunch items. I was intrigued! I chose a rendition of this bowl and enjoyed it so much - I was hooked. So hooked that I had to try my own version. All of the ingredients were real, accessible, and easy to assemble in under 20 minutes!

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How I made it...


Ingredients
- Avocado
- Fresh Spinach
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Tortillas
- Feta Cheese
- Eggs
- Butter
- Lemon
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- Optional: Vinegarette, Red Pepper Flakes

Helpful Cooking Tools

Instructions

Pan-Seared Tomatoes: Heat a Cast Iron Skillet to medium heat. Spray the pan with oil. Once hot, place half-sliced cherry tomatoes into the pan and cook until tender. Feel free to add salt and pepper to taste.

Tortillas: Heat a Cast Iron Skillet on low heat. Spray the pan with oil. Once hot, place the full tortilla into the bottom of the pan. Let set for 20 seconds, then flip and let cook for another 20 seconds. Remove from the pan and once slightly cooled, cut into triangles. You can also cut into triangles ahead of cooking - up to you!

Avocado Smash: Cut an avocado in half and discard the pit. Using the tip of a paring knife, score the avocado flesh into medium squares. Use a large spoon to scoop out the cubes into a bowl. Top the Avocado with fresh or dry herbs and seasonings. Squeeze a quarter of a lemon. Mash the mixture together until you reach the desired consistency.

Over Easy Eggs: Crack 2 large eggs into a small bowl. Heat a nonstick skillet over low heat and add 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. When the butter stops foaming, pour the eggs into the pan. Season with 1 pinch of salt and 1 grind of black pepper and cook, still over low heat, for 1 to 11/2 minutes. Check the whites for opaqueness; when they are set, flip the eggs. As the eggs turn, try to bring the pan up to meet them. Return the pan to the heat and slowly count to 10. Re-flip the eggs to their original side. (This time it won't be so tricky.) Slide onto a warmed plate and serve immediately with toast for wiping up all the goodness. 

Place fresh greens of your choice in a large bowl. Drizzle the greens with a vinaigrette or lemon juice/oil dressing. Assemble the over-easy Eggs, smashed Avocado, and seared Tomatoes atop the greens. Sprinkle with Feta crumbles. Add Tortilla slices for garnish/enjoyment. 

Recipe Substitutions and Tips
  1. Take it easy on mashing up those avocados; leave a few chunks for texture.
  2. Want a perfect fried egg? Start by cracking them into a cup or bowl first, then slowly add to a heated and buttered pan. This step eliminates shell pieces being included in your egg and helps maintain the shape of it. Oh, most important - it won't break your yolk!
  3. Add a hash underneath. Really want to take this brunch dish up a notch? Fry or bake some potatoes to add to the bowl.

Try it out and let me know what you think!



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Review | Chipotle's NEW Carne Asada and My #Keto / #LowCarb Take

My $14 Chipotle Carne Asada Salad (pico, cheese, veggies, tomato salsa and a side of guac)

Temperatures in my city (Columbus, OH) reached 94 degrees today. Yes, on the first day of October. OCTOBER! Because of this, I had minimal interest in doing much of anything, let alone sweltering over a hot stove. While I pride myself on preparing my own meals at home - it's unreasonable to think that I would never eat out again. Well today, I stepped outside of my kitchen to try a Low Carb/Keto take on Chipotle's new Carne Asada. And I'm better for it.

My skepticism peaked when I saw countless Chipotle ads announcing the 'limited time' roll out of another protein/steak option. My biggest question was, "Why?" Are they simply re-purposing a concept they already have? Oh, hey, Taco Bell! I quickly remembered that Chipotle is a pretty stand up company; touting clean food/ingredients and responsible sourcing, which has always stood out to me. So, why not give it a try?

I can usually bet on pushing a few cubes of the original steak option to the side of my signature bowl, due to them being a bit on the tough or mostly fat side. The fact that it's an affordable and easily accessible moment to enjoy steak usually makes the sacrifice of a few cubes worth the overall indulgence. But, I think that the new Carne Asada is going to give those original steak cubes a run for its moo-ney! It was flavorful, and best of all - TENDER! No slice was spared, rather, enjoyed.

How it's made: Chipotle's Carne Asada is cooked sous-vide (a cooking method that involves vacuum-sealing and submerging a protein in warm water). It is then quickly seared - reaching a pink center or medium cook. It's hand-sliced into strips and paired with a mouth-watering blend of seasonings of chipotle peppers, cinnamon, clove, and Kosher salt. Then sprinkled with the refreshing and on brand juice of a lime. The new offering is described by Chipotle's VP, Neville Panthaky, as:

... very simple, very straightforward. 

I totally agree! It's simple, straightforward, and delicious and how I prefer my own food. I will definitely be trying these again soon before the 'limited time' runs out.

Have you tried Chipotle's Carne Asada?

What is your go-to meal at Chipotle?
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