Mushroom Stroganoff and Mexican MOLE!

Mushroom Stroganoff

Hey all, so we made some more yummy dishes this week. First off, we made a mushroom stroganoff recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. We wanted an easy dish that night, and it definitely delivered. Basically just boiled up some pasta (fettuccine) and made a nice creamy sauce. The sauce called for sour cream, however we substituted non-fat plain yogurt (which we had on hand). It didn't have quite the same taste as normal stroganoff, but it was still pretty good (with a little pepper). The recipe can be found: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/pasta/mushroom-stroganoff/ (here). Button mushrooms are far cheaper than Shitake (which was recommended), this is what we used and it still tasted great! We also made two side dishes: boiled carrots and broccoli. The carrots went well with the dried dill, the broccoli just stayed as is. The sides were refreshing with the heavy main course.

A picture of the Mushroom Stroganoff and the Boiled Carrots and Broccoli!

Chicken and Oaxacan Yellow Mole with Green Beans and Chayote

So, BEST recipe we've tasted (so far) from Rick Bayless' Mexican Everyday. You can find the recipe here: http://www.cookstr.com/recipes/chicken-in-oaxaca-yellow-mole-with-green-beans-and-chayote-or-potatoes. Where to start? Well, initially we had some trouble finding the dried guajillo chili peppers that were requested. Luckily, we live in L.A. and there are quite a few Mexican Grocerias nearby. I'm sure that something could be substituted. The groceria we went to had plenty of dried chili selections and more. We know that we'll be able to find whatever we need to make future Bayless recipes. Started with some yummy Chayote squash

 Gina modeling the Chayote squash, you can find this in just about any grocery store.

Dried Guajillo Chilies and Chayote Squash

So this recipe was relatively straightforward, just blend up the guajillo chilies with some spices (Allspice, cinnamon, oregano, and cumin)  and chicken broth (although we used vegetable broth) in a blender. Then we just let it simmer in the pan until it made a paste. Then added more vegetable broth and masa harina (corn flour). Simmered a little more, then threw in chicken, green beans, and chayote pieces. Simmered some more and it was IMMACULATE! Mouthwatering, perfect amount of spice. The spices really came out in the flavor along with the chili, I would highly recommend this recipe to everyone. Check out the link, it has all of the steps. Gina loved it because of the flavor and the nutrition. It is a very simple recipe with simple ingredients that really pack in the nutrients without the calories. Lots of vegetables and spices with very little fat!

Simmering the vegetables and chicken in the mole sauce

The finished product with some cilantro on top.