Simple Tomato Salad

The leftovers demonstrate what epople choose so lets take a look at testing a dish and how to come to a consensus. To me this means listen carefully to the consumers (those you are serving) and look at the bowl following the meal to see what is left over. These two simple measuremenbts are key in recipe development. They have been a great guide for decades. It just works!

I am always reminded of a time we wer on the way to a pot luck at our son’s school. Everyone brought fancy salads, some of which were hard to recognize what was in them. Over initial protests from my honey, I  was allowed to bring a large bowl of mashed potatoes. Next to all the fancy dishes at the party, it may have seemed a bit plain. The truth was revealed at the end of the dinner party bya simple comparison of a bowl that is completely empty next to some that have barely been touched. It was easy to see that this was the most popular dish of all. That Mashed potato bowl scraped clean, and I mean really clean.

Now I love to use this measuring method when I make a new dish Such is the case with this Simple Tomato Salad. The bowl returns empty, and the guests are oh so pleased. I think  you will be too. Enjoy!

Tomato Salad by Charley Carlin

Simple and Popular Tomato Salad

Ingredients

A Pile of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
A couple clove garlic, finely minced
A splash of olive oil
A splash of seasoned rice vinegar
A small pile of minced cilantro
A dash of salt
Possibly a pinch of pepper
Oh Yes, I liked to add a couple minced scallions too!

Mix it all and chill and serve!
Make it in the Morning and you have one dish for dinner completed!
Way to easy.

Charley Carlin - Blogger!

Charley Carlin

About The Chef

Charley Carlin loves to scan recipes on the internet and put them in the blender of his mind to create combinations that come from the ingredients he typically has in his kitchen. Flavor and colorful presentation are paro pf the joy of cooling.

Brocolli Salad

Broccoli Salad by Charley Carlin
Broccoli Salad – Yummie!

This dish is a constant favorite at our house.  Again and again the platter returns empty. So lets get to It! This one you can make in the morning and chill for dinner. It’s quick (after you get the water boiling) and fun!
Get a couple pounds of broccoli with stems is good. trim the small leaves from the stems and a bit of the end of the stem. Cut the Broccoli so the individual flowerettes have a long piece of stem with them. I just rotate the broccoli and trim off the piece that gives me a full little head of broccoli with a chunk of stem.
Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 5 minutes – Drain the broccoli and put cold water on the broccoli to stop the cooking process.

Charley Carlin Cooks Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad Setup
  • 1.5 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 table spoon sesame seed oil
  • mince 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of soy
  • mince 3-4 scallions

Mix it all together and add a couple tablespoons of sesame seeds into the mix. Stir gently then pour this mixture on the broccoli and roll the whole mess around until the broccoli is coated with the sauce.arrange the pieces on a platter and put it in the refrigerator for an least an hour or more. Enjoy Thanks go to Ken Hom and his book Chinese Cookery – He is a starting point for many of my Chinese / California-ized Recipes or use this link to get to Ken on You Tube for a bunch or recipes!!


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Hoisin Salad

This very simple recipe has turned into one of Anet’s favorites. She raves about this one Hoision Salad Ready for The Tableand it is so easy to crank out! Lets go! So… Matchstick 3 medium carrots, and an equal size pile of Daichon (a Chinese radish) in small cubes 3/16 or matchstick, and ditto for a pile of celery cubed and / or zuchini – Just make the ratios equal in quantity and size. Then sometimes I will add a half a minced red bell pepper and a small pile of minced purple onion for color and a bit more flavor. Now gently mix all the vegetables and the add the sauce to the top and gently but completely mix in the sauce. Now the sauce / dressing

2 Tablespoons rice wine vinegarHoisin Salad Parts
2 heaping Tablespoons of hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
1 teaspoon of hot chili oil.
Mix the sauce and the vegetables gently and completely then chill.
Make this up early in the day and the vegetables soak up the flavor! Gently Stir Again before serving
It really is that simple.
As Always, Charley


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Irish Soda Bread by Judith Hathaway

IRISH SODA BREAD by Judith Hathaway

Anet’s sister has her version and comments. There is also Ant’s Version. You choose and have fun – or try both!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease two 9” round cake pans.

  •  4-41/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp soda
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 Cup sugar
  • 3/4 Cup butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 3/4 Cup buttermilk
  • 2 Cups raisins or currants

 In a large bowl mix together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, and sugar until thoroughly blended

 Cut in cold butter.  I gliterally take my hands and just break it into the dry ingredients by crumbling it through my fingers until fully mixed into the flour mix. (Do not melt the butter)

 Add raisins and toss until coated with flour/butter mix.

Beat the eggs slightly and add them to buttermilk

Stir the buttermilk/egg mixture into the dry mixture until blended.

Turn the mixture out onto floured board

Knead until smooth (2-3 minutes)

Divide the dough into 2.  Shape each half into a smooth round loaf.

Place in the greased cake pans.  Press down until dough fills the pan.

My sister makes this recipe and uses a glass lasagna pan.  She greases it and places both loaves in one pan.

Use a sharp knife to mark tops of each with an X

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes

Summer Bean Salad

The Summer Bean Salad is very simple, easy to create, and tastes so nice. It has been a favorite for many of our guests and for me it is a good lunch now and then.
Just Chop, gently mix and chill! The number and types of beans can be varied to suit your tastes or what is in the pantry. I love to mix for color and presentation, although I do have my favorites types. The recipe really is this easy.

Ingredients

1 – can – 15 1/2 ozs black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 – can – 16 ozs butter beans beans (rinsed and drained)
1 – can – 16 ozs pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
(red kidney beans would also work well and they add color)
2 jalapenos seeded and minced
1/2 red bell pepper (minced)
1/2 red onion (minced)
2 stalk celery (finely chopped)
1/2 a bunch of cilantro leaves (finely chopped)
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Cinnamon Rice or Plain Rice Too!

Oddly it comes up that people eat rice at my house and then ask for the recipe.

I wondered about this one, however, I want to be of service with my cooking and recipes so I am sharing them all. Of course many things are off the cuff, so be patient, make your requests and I will be blogging the best I can. As always thank you for your interest.

Charley Carlin Cooks and People Love It - Cinnamon Rice

World’s Longest Grain Rice

Now for the Rice

I use a long grain and when I say long grain the stuff I get from a restaurant in Lake Elsinore is the longest grain I have ever seen. It almost looks like noodles it is so long. Any way, saute a brown onion in either butter or olive oil.

After Onion is Sauteed, add 2 cups of rice, and a tablespoon or so of Cinnamon then saute the mixture a bit, then add 3 cups of water and let boil.

When the boiling starts, turn flame to low and cook for 20 minutes or whatever your rices needs as different species of rice have different cooking times.

You will need to make a few batches to calibrate with your stove, pan, altitude, and attitude. When you are calibrated, then repeat as necessary.


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Irish Soda Bread – So Tasty!

[print_link] This recipe was given to us by the master baker of Irish Soda Bread, Diedra Wynn, We are grateful for her help and training. She has surely perfected the art of this recipe. This recipe has been approved by Irishmen, who have claimed that they have not had such good Irish Soda Bread since they were in Ireland. So Lets get to it!
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease two 8” pie or cake pans

Ingredients:

4 – 4 ¼  Cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Soda
3 tsp baking powder
¼ Cup sugar
¼ Cup butter
1 egg
1 ¾ Buttermilk
2 Cups raisins or currants

In a large bowl mix together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, and sugar until thoroughly blended.
Cut in cold butter.  I literally take my hands and just break it into the dry ingredients by crumbling it through my fingers until fully into the flour mix. (do not melt the butter!)
Add Raisins if you like! I do!

Beat the egg slightly and add to buttermilk
Stir the buttermilk/egg into the dry mixture until blended.

Turn out the soft dough onto a floured board
Knead until smooth (2 -3 minutes)

Divide dough in two.  Shape each half into a smooth round loaf.
Place in 2 greased 8” pie or cake pans.  Press down until dough fills the pan.

Cut a cross in the top of the loaves.  Sprinkle with some sugar (or not)
Bake 375 degrees for 35-40 min for some of the finest Irish Soda Bread you have ever tasted..

A cube of room temperature butter is recommended as you will want to eat this as soon as possible, maybe even before it is possible. We have seen the loaves be totally consumed before they cool.

Enough and no waste is as good as a feast – Irish Saying –

There will be no waste on these loaves. guaranteed!
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Charley’s Kitchen – Six Bean Salad

6 Bean Salad by Charley Carlin

The has been a real hit at our table.

Here in Charley’s Kitchen I took my Summer Bean Recipe and modified it for a larger batch and added a few twists. This recipe can be modified at will. For instance Anet does not care for the butter beans, so I simply do not put them in that batch. Each batch is a bit different abd they all are simple, easy, and taste so nice.

A real raving favorite for some of our guests! Just Chop, mix and chill! It really is that easy.

Charley’s Kitchen – Ingredients

Charley's Kitchen - Creating is easy - By Charley Carlin

Simple and Straightforward


Charley's Kitchen - Good Food Starts Here!- By Charley Carlin

Fresh Red Bell Peppers are so sweet!


Charley's Kitchen - Good food and Great Fun By Charley Carlin

Seeded and Minced the jalapeno is a mild addition to the salad (optional)

1 can – 15 oz black beans (rinsed thoroughly and drained)
1 can – 15 oz butter beans beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz pinto beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz red kidney beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz pinquito beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz white kidney beans (cannellini beans) (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz diced tomatoes (juice and all) Continue reading

Cherry Rice

Charley Carlin Cooks - Cherry Rice

Cherry Rice Ingredients

Charley’s Cherry Rice
Well as luck would have it, I wandered into a Mediterranean restaurant in Lake Elsinore, CA, King Kabob. So I tried the saffron rice and lamb and loved it! Came back and tried the Chicken Kabob and Saffron rice and loved it even more. Came back again and tried the Cherry Rice and Loved it even more! They use a family recipe so I had to research and make up my own, so here it is! I include the link to restaurant for those who may be near or driving by from or to San Diego. (Railroad Canyon Ramp from Highway 15) Click to read Anet or my review on Yelp.
Half cube butter and one chopped onion saute then add half teaspoon for allspice, half teaspoon of cinnamon quarter teaspoon of ground cloves saute more add half teaspoon kosher salt some ground pepper saute and set aside next – Half cube butter and minced onions saute (one brown and one purple) add a teaspoon of salt add two cups Long Grain Basmati Rice – saute more and stir stir stir next – add three and a half cups of water – bring to boil then low heat for 20 minutes (till rice is done) next – a jar of Trader Joe’s Cherries (include about half the juice) add the sauteed spiced onions from step one mix in gently and put lid on rice and let is rest for 10 minutes next – get our clay pot with lid and fill with hot water wait 10 minutes to warm the container so it does not cool the rice! dump water – dry container and fill with rice and serve! Note the salt really wakes up the flavors – salt to taste Yippee – A double big Hit – First served on 4/18/2012.


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Green Bean Blanch

[print_link] The Green Bean Blanch is another modification of a recipe that I got from Ken Hom (search You Tube for more of his recipes).
Anet Raves about this one, as it is now done with blanched beans instead of deep fried beans.
So get a couple pounds of fresh blue lake green beans. trim the ends and leave them long. Blanch them in boiling water for 4 and a half minutes.
use cold water to stop the cooking process. Now the sauce – 3 cloves garlic minced – equal size pile of ginger minced 4 minced scallions, 2 Tablespoons of sherry, 2 Tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of sugar.
mis it up and roll the beans in it. then I like to dress in up with black sesame seeds sprinkled all over the disk. regular sesame seeds will do fine as well.
Serve and Enjoy!

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