Marinades, Chia Pud + Strawberry Milk

Life is hard; food doesn't have to be #129 [vol4, 4.3]

I “met” today’s guest writer, Sandy from Plantains & Challah, during the pandemic through Instagram. Sandy trained at The Culinary Institute of America in New York and cooked in kitchens professionally for over 12 years, including private home kitchens.

Now she’s a mom of two and understands home cooks are forever searching for recipes to come up with meals! Sandy is a gifted teacher and gives the skills behind the recipes so you can feel empowered in your kitchen! I love that she has training AND breaks it down, no-nonsense style for a home cook.

Sandy recently wrote about marinades and I asked to share it with you. Take it away, Sandy!

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Marinades - Flavor, Tender, Moisture by Sandy

There are different kinds of marinades and they all achieve the same thing: add FLAVOR, tenderize and add moisture.  Similar to seasoning with salt, the larger the protein, the earlier you can marinade - especially if it has bones. Large pieces can typically go 8 hours to overnight and smaller pieces up to 2 hours. Just keep in mind enzyme marinades can break down proteins quicker so play around with less time.

Pounding meat with a mallet also helps but isn't necessary. Below I cover the different types of marinades. They are made with the main component that helps to break down the proteins but you can add any additional spices and flavors.

ACID MARINADES

Any acid like citrus, vinegars and even dairy marinades like yogurt or buttermilk also work to help break down proteins.
Try this Flank Steak Marinade by Tip Buzz - it has a nice balance of acid, sweet, salty and seasonings.

ENZYME MARINADES

Fruits like pineapple, mango, papaya, kiwi and even fig have an enzyme called protease that helps breakdown proteins faster. You can use these in marinades for poultry, beef and even seafood and fish - but don't leave the latter in too long because the delicate proteins will turn to mush! 30 minutes should be plenty.

Try this Spicy Pineapple Marinade by Recipe Girl

Try Persian-Style Marinated Fish by Caroline's Cooking 

DRY MARINADES

Dry marinades are more like rubs and they have a combination of spices and herbs that are rubbed all over the meat and time allows it infuse the meat with the flavor.

Try this "Ultimate Dry Rub" by Will Cook For Smiles.

Sandy from Plantains & Challah

• Let’s stay in touch! Find me on Instagram as Plantains and Challah.

• Learn to cook without recipes by joining the Cooking Course waitlist.

• Check out my website for more cooking and knife skills content. Sign up for emails to learn more from me.

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Chia Pudding for Breakfast

Did you know that 2T chia seeds have 5g protein, 10% DV of iron and calcium + 4% potassium? I ate this entire recipe one morning for breakfast. Then immediately made it for my kids to have as an after school snack. Mine was not very sweet. The kids wanted more sweet.

Photo by Mathilda Khoo

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk, any kind

• ¼ cup of chia seeds

• 1-2 T of almond or peanut butter

• 1-2 T maple syrup or honey, optional

• pinch of sea salt

  optional toppings:

• banana + walnuts + cinnamon

• jam, any kind

• strawberries + almonds

• fig + walnuts + cinnamon

• 100% pure pumpkin + pecans + pumpkin pie spice

• warm apples (or apple sauce) + cinnamon + pecans

Instructions

1. Combine milk + chia seeds + nut butter with a whisk in a small sauce pan.

2. Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring often until mixture starts to bubble.

3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

4. Top with you favorite toppings.

Double the recipe and store in individual containers for busy mornings.

Strawberry Milk

I can’t remember the reason I made this recently…but it’s been on repeat. Simple and refreshing. Portions written below are approximate. Play with it for your taste buds.

Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography

In a blender, add:

• 3 frozen strawberries

• 1T sweetener like maple syrup, honey or sugar

• 1 c milk

Blend for a few seconds until the strawberries are blended into the milk. Drink with a straw because that’s more fun.

Life is hard, food doesn’t have to be,

Julie

PS - the semi-annual Friends and Family sale is going on with Beautycounter. It’s a great time to stock up on safer sunscreen.