Grilled Corn on the Cob with Jalapeno Lime Seasoning…Spice It Up!

By Jodee Weiland

Everyone loves corn on the cob, but lately I keep seeing recipes all over the internet using seasoned butter, mayo, and so much more to make an all-time favorite for most of us.

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Now I am truly a health nut, and I come by it honestly, because my little Italian mother, who lived to be ninety, was a health nut long before it was ever popular.  In fact, there was no internet when she was what we today would call a health nut.  She would work all day, and then at night while she watched the news, she would get down on the living room floor and exercise.  She also did Jack La Lanne exercises for those of you who remember that name.  Now he sells and promotes juicers.

But my mom, Tess as my father called her, not only exercised, she cooked and ate healthy as well.  We didn’t go out to eat much, but when we did it was never fast food.  If we ate out it, it was at a sit down restaurant and usually Italian.  Both my parents lived to be ninety, and I’m sure that was due in large part to using mostly extra virgin olive oil, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of nuts and beans, fresh breads, and only what was considered healthy meats or fish at that time.  My father loved to cook hot peppers in olive oil, and make a pepper sandwich on Italian bread for a meal.

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So when I decided to grill corn on the cob, I eliminated the butter and the mayo, and still ended up with a very tasty and delicious version of grilled corn on the cob.  Most people would taste it, and if I didn’t say anything they would think it had butter on it, but my recipe does not.  Don’t get me wrong, those other things are great if that is what you prefer, but being a health nut like mom, I prefer extra virgin olive oil.

https://learnfromyesterday.comSo here it is, my version of Grilled Corn on the Cob with Jalapeno Lime Seasoning, a blend of granulated salt, garlic, onion, jalapeno pepper, and lime powder.  Believe me when I say, this is not rocket science; it’s just one of my preferred methods to prepare corn on the cob.  I found this particular blend at the Farmer’s Market and have used it on numerous grilled meats and vegetables, as well as on Kale Chips.  It’s great!  Can’t wait to try and make my own using dehydrated ingredients, but that will have to be another post in the future.

Grilled Corn on the Cob with Jalapeno Lime Seasoning

Fresh corn on the cob
Extra virgin olive oil
Jalapeno Lime Seasoning

That’s it!  That’s all you need, and the rest is easy!  Just clean each ear of corn.  Then put it in a shallow dish with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.  Cover loosely and microwave for about two minutes.  Drain any water from the dish.  When the corn cools slightly, rub olive oil on each entire ear of corn.  Sprinkle on the Jalapeno Lime Seasoning to taste, and your corn is ready for the grill.  Grill the corn for about four minutes turning it from side to side during this time.  Once done, it’s ready to eat!

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This is so easy.  Anyone could do it.  Usually when you grill, your focus is on the meats, so doing this part way in the microwave means less time on the grill and an easier option when cooking other things as well.  This recipe is great, and we know when we eat it, it is healthy as well.  So if you decide to give it a try, remember you can change up the seasonings, but use olive oil and stay healthy!  Try it, and I’m certain you will be surprised that this is as good as using butter, and in my mind better.  Try it, and enjoy!

 

Kale Chips with Jalapeno Lime Seasoning…Spicy and Healthy

By Jodee Weiland

How healthy is kale for you? Exceptionally healthy!

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Kale chip recipes are all over the internet these days with everyone trying to eat healthier.  The funny thing is they really are good.  Most recipe versions of kale chips out there today start with torn kale leaves and olive oil.  From there seasonings are added and the leaves are usually baked until crisp.  Some people add lemon juice after the kale leaves are baked and some even have dips to go with them.  No matter what the recipe is, one thing is certain. They are actually very tasty aside from being healthy.

When I first heard about them, it was from my daughter who had tried a recipe she found, and everyone in her family, including my grandchildren, loved them.  They sounded great so my husband and I decided to give them a try.  We loved them as well, so we often buy kale and make kale chips as an afternoon treat now.  Since we first tried the recipe, I have been looking for a new way to make them for a little variation.  I think I found it on a trip to the Farmer’s Market last week.

We were at the Farmer’s Market in our area, and we approached the stand with all kinds of fresh seasonings and seasoning blends.  As I looked over what they had, I found a Jalapeno Lime Seasoning Blend.  I took one look at the ingredients and thought this would be great for all kinds of dishes, but especially with kale chips.  I was right!  It’s great, and I know I’ll be using it with fish and chicken next.  It is a blend of granulated salt, garlic, onion, jalapeno pepper, and lime powder.  So here is how I used this blend to spice up kale chips in a new way!

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Kale Chips with Jalapeno Lime Seasoning

1 to 2 large bunches of fresh kale
About 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt lightly sprinkled (optional/keep this light if the blend you choose already has salt)
Jalapeno Lime Seasoning to taste (you’d be surprised how many stores have blends similar to this)
Juice from 1/2 to 1 freshly squeezed lemon (how much is a personal preference)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and cover baking sheets with parchment paper for easy clean-up when finished.

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Pull the kale away from the heavy stem on each kale leaf.  Try to keep the pieces a good size so they won’t burn when baking.  Wash each leaf as you do this and put it into a strainer to get off any excess water.  When done, pour the extra virgin olive oil over the kale pieces in a large bowl and toss the leaves until all are coated with the oil.  Then spread the leaves on to the baking sheets covered with parchment paper.  Lightly sprinkle with sea salt if desired and then sprinkle with the Jalapeno Lime Seasoning.  Put the baking sheets in the oven on a center rack when cooking and bake at 350 degrees for 9 to 12 minutes.  The time will vary depending on the size of your kale pieces.

https://learnfromyesterday.comOnce the kale chips look crisp, but still a dark green color, remove them from the oven.  Be careful because kale chips can go from crisp to burnt in less than a minute.  Plate your chips and sprinkle with the desired amount of lemon juice.  When done, you’re ready to sit back and eat!  We love this snack and the Jalapeno Lime Seasoning gave it just the right amount of spice and flavor.  I can’t wait to go back to the Farmer’s Market next week to see what other blends they have that might work.  I especially can’t wait to be able to use our home grown kale from our garden this year.  In my family, trying new ways of cooking things was always part of the fun.  I think if you try this, you will like it, but remember you can always find a blended seasoning you like and try that as well.  Whatever you decide to do, try kale chips for a healthy snack and enjoy!

Recipe Rock

Italian Braciole…Italian Beef Rolls with Imported Parmesan Reggiano Cheese

By Jodee Weiland

When I was a little girl, I watched my mother make Italian Braciole in our kitchen.

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She would take the thinly sliced beef, lay it out and then spread a mixture across it made of grated Italian cheese, seasonings, and Italian bread crumbs. She would then roll the beef up with the mixture inside just like a jelly roll. She used toothpicks or sometimes string to hold them together while she cooked them in a wonderful Italian tomato sauce. The smells in the kitchen while they were cooking invited everyone in the house to imagine what a delicious dinner we would all share that evening. And without fail, dinner was absolutely delicious and appreciated by all.

 

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When I grew up I decided to make some minor adaptations to this dish that I felt would only improve the taste and enrich the eater’s experience overall.  In my family, changing recipes here and there was encouraged, and even became a sort of challenge between me and my dad, who was also a fabulous cook. My adaptation was really very simple. I chose to leave out the Italian breadcrumbs. To me, breadcrumbs were for the most part a filler that could be substituted in this recipe. Instead, I used more cheese giving my Italian Braciole a rich flavor from the imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese that I use.

 

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Some people use imported Pecorino Romano, another good choice, but a slightly different taste than imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese. Try both and then decide for yourself which you prefer. Whichever you choose, buying a good quality cheese is key to this recipe’s taste. A number of other things can and have been added to Italian Braciole recipes, such as provolone, prosciutto, spinach, and more. In Italian Braciole you can use many things, but sometimes the simplest way is the best. So I am going to share with you my recipe for Italian Braciole, simple but definitely a family favorite in my home.

 

Italian Braciole…Italian Beef Rolls with Imported Parmesan Reggiano Cheese

2 pounds thinly sliced lean top round steak or flank steak
1 to 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

 

For tomato sauce:

28 to 29 ounce can of tomato puree
6 ounce can of tomato paste
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 teaspoon basil or use 1 tablespoon fresh basil cut up
1/2 teaspoon dried or ground oregano
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper (optional for those who want spicy)
1 tablespoon sugar (some people prefer to use 2 carrots finely shredded or chopped for sweetness)
Water about 1/2 cup or to desired consistency (1/2 cup red wine is optional)

 

For beef roll filling:

1 cup grated imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese
3/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 tablespoon minced onion
1 teaspoon basil or use 1 tablespoon fresh basil cut up

 

Round toothpicks

Pasta of your choice (12 ounce packages work well if you like a thick sauce)

Freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese

Take olive oil and spread over rectangular deep baking dish.
In a medium size bowl, mix together the tomato puree, the tomato paste, garlic, minced onion, basil, oregano, ground red pepper (optional), and water as needed, usually about I/2 cup of water, depending on desired consistency.  Add in the sugar if you do not use carrots. Set aside.

 

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In a small bowl, mix together, grated imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese, ground black pepper, minced onion, chopped garlic, and parsley.  Set aside.

 

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Lay out the thinly sliced strips of beef.  Spoon onto the beef a good layer of the cheese mixture. Once done, begin rolling gently starting from the narrowest end.  Once rolled, like a jelly roll, put two toothpicks in each roll to hold together the beef roll.  Place rolls parallel to each other in the olive oil prepared baking dish, one next to the other. When all rolls are done, take any leftover cheese mixture and sprinkle over the rolls. Then pour tomato sauce mixture over the top of the rolls covering all of them and filling the deep dish with the remaining tomato sauce mixture. Top it off with some freshly grated imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese.
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Bake uncovered for one hour at 350 degrees in the oven.  I have a Teflon sheet on the rack below my baking dish for any tomato sauce splatter while cooking. Cook pasta al dente during the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time for the Italian Braciole.  Timed right, the pasta should be ready to drain just prior to taking out the Italian Braciole. Put the beef rolls in a serving dish and mix the remaining sauce into the cooked pasta.

 

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When the Italian Braciole is plated, serve it with the pasta and Braciole sauce.  Top it off with some freshly grated imported Parmesan Reggiano cheese to taste.  Add a loaf of good bread or focaccia and a side salad for a truly delicious meal.  We enjoy having a nice glass of Toscana or Chianti wine with our meal.  However, you decide to serve this dish, you will never be disappointed in the meal itself.  You can have the Italian Braciole with a vegetable, like Italian green beans or spinach cooked in garlic and olive oil, or the pasta of your choice.  You decide.  Hopefully, you will be able to have this wonderful dish soon and see for yourself why it is a family favorite in my house.  Enjoy!

Kitchen Universe, The Kitchen Store