Saturday, June 2, 2012

Tito's Kitchen on Youtube (Gettin' Closer!)



Working on my video editing skills again this week ...

Much more pleased with the results this time ...

Stayed tuned ...

Monday, May 28, 2012

Memorial Day Chicken and Pork Chili




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tito Jorge's Southwest Style Rotini Pasta

This Pasta is real easy to do and tastes GREAT!

Southwest Style Rotini Pasta


Ingredients:

1 pound ground Beef
1 can (29oz) Tomato Sauce
1 can (15oz) Chili (NO BEANS)
1 can (10oz) Diced tomatos
1 Onion (diced)
3 cloves Garlic (diced)
1 large Bell pepper (diced) (Any color you like!)
1 large Jalapino pepper (diced)

3 sticks Celery (sliced)
1 cup Fresh Mushrooms (sliced)
1 Package (16 oz) Rotini Pasta


14" Wok

The amounts in this recipe are perfect for a 14" Cast Iron wok ... but you can also use a Dutch oven or any large pot ...

Brown the meat and season to taste - I just use cracked black pepper. You can use anything you want. Dont be afraid to experiment - Then add Onion and Garlic - cook until the onions are translucent.

Add the rest of the fresh ingredients and give a good stir.
Cover and let cook on low heat for 10 minutes

Add all the canned ingredients, give another good stir and let simmer on low heat another 10 minutes.

Now while the sauce mixture is cooking, bring a pot of water to boil and drop several drops of Olive oil in it.

Add the Rotini to the boiling water and let cook for 5 minutes. You dont want the pasta fully cooked but just soften it up a bit ...

Drain the pasta in a colandar then add the pasta to the sauce mixture.
Give it another good stir mixing the pasta in real well and cook on low for 15 minutes ...

NOTE: The Jalapino is optional ... use more, less or none at all at your own discretion. I find one pepper with the seeds removed and diced into small bits works real good for me. You could also substitute a Tablespoon of Green Salsa instead of the Jalapino ...

I hope you enjoy this Pasta ... it's one of my favorites!






Sunday, May 20, 2012

Five Spice Powder

Five Spice Powder
Recently I've been reading about something called "Five Spice Powder" also known as "Asian Five Spice" or "Chinese Five Spice"  ...

I wanted to try cooking with it , but I had a devil of a time finding it in any local grocery stores ...

I finally found some in a local Korean grocery store, and tried it in my Chicken Chili this weekend ...

I just sprinkled it on the Chicken a few minutes before tossing it in to cook.

WOW! It really gave the Chili a fantastic flavor!  And what a great smell!  I'm going to be trying this in some other recipes soon!

It comes in several different brands, but may be difficult to find.
Ingredients in Five Spice Powder include Cinnamon, Star Anise, Fennel, Ginger and Cloves. There are several variations and different brands may have a slightly different set of ingredients.

If all else fails you can find it at Amazon.com ... search for "Five Spice" ...

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Tito Jorge's Chicken Chili


This Chili is healthy and easy to prepare ... Give it a try!


Ingredients:
1 pound ground Chicken (can substitute groundTurkey)
1 pound Boneless / Skinless Chicken Thighs or Breasts (cut into cubes)
2 cans (15oz) Navy Beans
1 can (10oz) Diced tomatos
1 Onion (diced)
3 cloves Garlic (diced)
3 large Anaheim peppers (diced)
1 large Jalapino pepper (diced)
1/4 cup Tomatillo sauce (can use fresh Tomatillos if you can find them OR can also use Green Salsa)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour (I use Wondra)


The amounts in this recipe are perfect for a 14" Cast Iron wok ... but you can use a Dutch oven or large pot ...

Brown the meat and add Onion and garlic - cook until the onions are translucent.
Sprinkle in all purpose flour to make a rue (you may need more or less - Just sprinkle it in until it "looks right").

Add the Navy Beans undrained.

Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.


Reduce the heat, cover and simmer on "low" for an hour or two - or until it just "looks right"...

This is the same basic recipe as my Chili Verde with some small adjustments.
You can substitute any kind of meat you like or tweak the ingredients as much as you want but this works pretty good ...

         Remember ...

You're the Boss of your own Chili!





Monday, May 7, 2012

Hawaiian Pizza Tito Jorge Style!

Quick'n Eazy Week Night Dinner - Hawaiian Pizza Tito Jorge Style!

Hawaiian Pizza

Tossed together a pizza for dinner tonight ... and its real easy to do ...

Grab a Pillsbury "Pop'n Fresh" Pizza Crust from your Grocer's refridgerator section ... OR you can use any other pre-made Pizza crust ... OR if you are feeling adventurous and have some time ... make your own Pizza dough ...

Me ... Im not that adventurous ... I like Pillsbury just fine ...

Pre-heat your oven to 425 (or just follow the directions for your particular Pizza crust) ...

Place your Pizza crust on a Cast Iron Griddle OR Pizza pan OR Cookie sheet ...

Assemble your Pizza with the following:

Canadian Bacon ... Pineapple ... Mushrooms ... Jalapinos ... Red Sweet Peppers ... Mozzarella Cheese ... and Tito Jorge's Magic Twist ... Mild Taco Sauce ...

Toss it in the oven for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the crust nice and golden brown ...

Not bad for a quick'n eazy week night dinner ...

Of course you can use any toppings that you like ... Remember ...

                        You're the Boss of your own Pizza!



Thursday, May 3, 2012

Tito Jorge's Chili Verde


This Chili is easy to prepare and oh so good! ... Give it a try!


Ingredients:

1 pound ground Beef
1 pound Pork (cut into cubes)
1 can (15oz) Navy Beans
1 can (15oz) Black Beans
1 Onion (diced)
3 cloves Garlic (diced)
3 large Anaheim peppers (diced)
1 large Jalapino pepper (diced)
1/4 cup Tomatillo sauce (can use fresh Tomatillos if you can find them)
2 tablespoons all purpose flour (I use Wondra)


I make this in my 14" Cast Iron wok ... but you can use a Dutch oven or large pot ...

Brown the meat and add Onion and garlic - cook until the onions are translucent.
Sprinkle in all purpose flour to make a rue (you may need more or less - I just sprinkle it in until it "looks right").

Add the Navy Beans undrained.
Drain and rinse the Black Beans then add them too.

Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, cover and simmer on "low" for 2 hours.

NOTE: You can add more Jalapino Peppers or use none at all ... its up to you!

I'd go easy on the heat myself - but thats just me.

You're the Boss of your own Chili.