Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake cupcakes

Sometimes a recipe needs no changing: http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/08/06/raspberry-swirl-cheesecake-cupcakes/

Note to self: 3 tbsp of butter is plenty

Arroz con Pollo

Chicken and rice! As simple and as complex as that. The idea started with making biryani but I didn't want to marinate the meat for hours or bust out all the different spices. 

So I made this Spanish version which is basically chicken and rice with the veggies I had in the fridge. You can add/omit veggies. Here's what I did:

Ingredients:

- Rice - 1.5 cups (I used parboiled because I had it and I find it stands better to long cooking times)

- chicken thighs - 1 pack (abt 4, I trimmed some extra fat, bone in)

- 1.5 medium onions (2 small or 1 large - red or white. I had red)

- 2 ears of corn 

- tomatoes - abt 1 cup (I used cherry tomatoes from my garden) can used canned tomatoes

- 1 jalapeño chopped (de-seeded - substitute with 1/2 of green pepper)

- 1/2 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

- 2 packets Goya sazon

- Chipotle powder abt 1/2-1 tsp (can be skipped or substituted for cayenne or paprika)

- Thyme 2 sprigs from my garden(1 tsp if using dried)

- 2 bay leaves 

- 2-4 cloves garlic (smashed and chopped fine)

- 1/2 inch ginger (smashed and chopped fine - can be skipped)

- 3 cups water (note to self decrease to 2 3/4 next time)  

- cilantro for garnish (can be skipped or use parsley) 

- 1 tablespoon pesto (because I need to use it up. Totally can be skipped)

Here's what I did: 

- Heat about a tablespoon of Olive oil in a large Dutch oven on med-high

- Salt and pepper the chicken on both sides generously 

- Add chicken skin side down. Brown on both sides. Set aside. 

- In the same pan, add onions and sauté for 2-3 mins. 

- Add garlic, ginger, jalapeño and cook for a minute. Umm smells wonderful so take your time to smell it. 

- Add tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. 

- Add seasoning, thyme and bay leaves 

- Add rice and corn and coat everything in mixture. Toast rice for a minute or two

- I had some pesto so I added it now and mixed well. Add water - top with Chicken and all juices (skin side up). Cover and cook for 45 minutes

- After 35 minutes, I took the chicken out, added black beans, chopped the chicken into smaller pieces and mixed in the rice and let cook for last 10 mins. 

- Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve!!!

I can envision topping this with chopped avocado or salsa or sour cream. I didn't do it coz didn't have any of those but next time!!!

Granola

This is so good and customizable to anything you want. Came out of my laziness to go drive to the store and I had all the ingredients at hand. Googled some granola recipe and came up with this. 

Ingredients

1.5 cup rolled oats

3/4 cup nuts (I used walnuts but almonds, cashews anything would work)

1/2 of one egg white 

1 tbsp vanilla (skip this and add the entire egg white)

1 tbsp sesame seeds (skip if you don't like)

1 tbsp flax seed or flaxseed meal (again can be skipped)

2 tbsp brown sugar (packed)

1/8 cup olive oil

1/8 cup agave or honey (I used agave)

1/2- 1 tsp kosher salt

What I did:

Warm oven to 300F. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Spread in a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes. I baked it for 40-45 so it's a bit more browner but it will be lighter if you take out earlier. The granola will crisp up when it cools down. You can even add raisins or craisins now (abt 3/4 cup). I skipped this. Enjoy with yogurt and fruits!