Tortuga's Kitchen

No turtles were harmed in the making of these dishes

[tortugaskitchen]

2 LB. of fresh green beans ( washed and tips cut off)        

 1-2 TBS. Olive oil                                    1 1/2 TSP. salt    

 1 TSP. Black Pepper                        2-3 Cloves of minced garlic

                                                           Directions:

1.)Preheat oven to 400 F

2.)Pat green beans dry with paper towels and spread out on lined baking tray 

3.) Pour oil, garlic, salt and pepper onto beans. Toss thoroughly 

4) Bake 20 to 25 minutes

Click here for original recipe 

[tortugaskitchen]

Carb Friendly, Dairy Free Baked Salmon

1 LB. Salmon                                           2 TBS. Lactose-free butter

2 cloves minced garlic              1/4 C. lactose-free grated Parmesan 

1/4 C. light mayonnaise              2 TBS. dried parsley or 1/4 C. fresh     

                                               Directions: 

Preheat your oven to 400 F

Place salmon on lined baking tray and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Set aside while preparing the topping.

In a  skillet  over medium heat, melt butter and lightly saute garlic.

Once the garlic has softened, reduce the heat to low and add in the remaining ingredients. Stirring until combined and melted.

Spread mixture over salmon filet and bake for 20 minutes

I got this recipe from another blog, but I tweaked it to my tastes and dietary needs.

Click here for the original 

[tortugaskitchen]

Vegetarian Texas Chili*

1 PKG. of any ground beef substitute     1 Medium onion (minced)

1 Diced green bell pepper                          2 Minced Jalapenos    

 14 OZ. Can of crushed tomatoes            14 OZ. of tomato sauce

2 TBS. Cumin                                                1 TBS. Chili powder

1/2 TBS. Smoked paprika        14 OZ. Canned kidney beans 

14 OZ. Canned black beans                      1 1/2 TBS. Olive oil      

1 C. Veggie broth                                         2 Cloves of  Minced garlic

                                                      Directions:

1.) Cook onions & peppers in olive oil until softened, in a large pot**

2.) Add garlic & cook for 2-3 minutes

3.) Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, herbs & broth. Bring to a boil

4.)Add beans & meat substitute. Cover and simmer for 2 hrs

5.) Serve with sour cream, cheese & minced green onions

* I know that real chili doesn’t have beans in it, but vegetarians need protein wherever they can get it

** A dutch oven is probably best

[tortugaskitchen]

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 C. Sugar substitute                   3/4 C. Light brown sugar

1 C. Softened Butter                             1 TSP. Vanilla extract

1 Egg                                                   2 C. Whole wheat flour

1 TSP. Baking soda                                  1/2 TSP. Salt

1 PKG. Dark chocolate chips*              1 TBS. Sea salt

                                                    Directions:

1.) Pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

2.) Beat butter, vanilla, egg and both sugars in bowl

3.) Combine the dry ingredients together & add 1/2 C. at a time to the wet mixture

4.) Stir in chocolate chips

5.) Drop 1 TBS. of dough onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet** 2 IN. apart

6.) Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt onto each cookie

7.) Bake 10-13 minutes

8.) Let cool on cookie rack or parchment paper on a flat surface

* You can use semi-sweet chips instead of dark chocolate. This is just what I prefer

** I have tried both tin foil and parchment paper, and I find that parchment paper works best

[tortugaskitchen]

French Toast

2 TSP. Ground Cinnamon                     1/4 TSP. Ground nutmeg

1 C. Sugar*                                            4-6 TBS. Butter

4 Eggs                                                     1/4 C. Milk**

1/2 TSP. Vanilla extract                          8 Slices of any bread you like

                                                       Directions:

1.) Combine cinnamon, nutmeg & sugar. Set aside

2.) In a medium skillet, melt 2 TBS. of butter

3.) Whisk the dry mixture with the wet ingredients

4.) Dip both sides of the sliced bread into the mixture

5.) Cook on both sides until golden brown and crispy

6.) Heat maple syrup or and add any toppings you like

* I use the store brand of  Splenda because I’m poor

** I use lactose-free milk because I’m lactose intolerant 

[tortugaskitchen]

Gingerbread Cookies

Ok, so this is a recipe I got from a magazine. I don’t really remember which one, but this is my absolute favorite cookie recipe for the holidays. 

6 TBS. Softened unsalted butter                       2 TSP. Vanilla extract

3/4 C. Packed light brown sugar                      1 TSP. Lemon juice   

3 TSP. Ground ginger                           3 C. Flour (you decide which one)

1/2 C. Molasses                                           1 1/2 TSP. Baking powder

1 Egg                                                            1 1/4 TSP. Ground cinnamon 

3/4 TSP. Baking soda                                        1/4 TSP. Salt

1/4 TSP. Ground cloves*

                                         Directions:

1.) Cream butter & sugar in LG. bowl until light & fluffy.

2.) Beat  molasses, egg, vanilla & lemon juice into the creamed mixture.

3.) In an another bowl, combine the dry ingredients. 

4.) Gradually add dry mixture into the wet, 1/2 C. at a time.

5.) Divide dough in half, sprinkle plastic wrap with powdered sugar and wrap dough. 

6.) Refrigerate for up to 1 HR.

7.) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

8.) Sprinkle powdered sugar onto flat, clean surface**

9.)  Roll out dough to 1/4 IN. thick & cut with cookie cutters of your choice.

10.) Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet 2 IN. apart.***

11.) Bake for 9-12 minutes

12.) Cool on a cookie rack or flat surface lined with parchment paper.

* I usually half the ground clove because it is very strong, and might overpower your cookie

** Also dust your rolling pin with powdered sugar

*** I’ve tried both tin foil and parchment paper, and I find that parchment paper works the best

[alittlebitvegan]

Skinny Pumpkin Frappuccino. (via Sallys Baking Addiction Skinny Pumpkin Frappuccino. » Sallys Baking Addiction)

[tortugaskitchen]

Coconut Fried Chicken:

These tenders are a sweet and savory dish, that pair well with sweet chili plum sauce or just by itself, and pineapple rice. 

6-8 chicken tenders

2 C unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 C- 2/3 C garlic bread crumbs

1 C panko bread crumbs 

2 med-lg eggs

Vegetable Oil

Fill a cast iron skillet (or a lg. fry pan) a little less then half way full with the oil. Set to a med-high heat.

While the oil heats, in a shallow dish, whip together the eggs and set aside.

In another shallow dish, mix together the coconut, garlic and panko bread crumbs.

Drop a single coconut flake into the oil. If it starts to fry, it's ready to go. If not, wait a few minutes and try again.

Dip the chicken into the egg , let the excess run back into the dish, and then coat with the breadcrumb mixture.

Lay gently into the hot oil (to prevent splashing) and let cook on each side for 6-8 minutes.

Put cooked chicken onto plate with paper towels, to absorb the excess oil and grease. 

Sprinkle with the bare minimum of salt when it's hot out of the oil.

Enjoy!

[tortugaskitchen]

Over Medium Eggs (30 second Eggs):

Seems simple enough, right? Wrong, every time I go out to breakfast with other people who like these particular eggs, they send them back, because they were given under or overcooked cooked eggs. These are very simple to make, and I shall tell you how!

2 Med-Lg Eggs

Non-stick Cooking Spray

Pinch of salt

Put a small fry pan on a medium heat. 

Let the pan heat up completely before spraying with cooking spray.

Crack the two eggs side by side in the pan, leave whole.

Sprinkle salt over the eggs.

Wait until only a small ring of uncooked egg white surrounds the yolk. (It will look liquidy and transparent compared to the cooked egg white.)

Spray your spatula with cooking spray, tip the pan to the side, wiggle your spatula underneath the egg, and flip it over.

Do so for the other egg.

Count 30 seconds, and slide the eggs out of the pan and onto a plate. (flipping them back over like in the pic above, is optional)

Enjoy!

[tortugaskitchen]

Spiced Potatoes:

2-3 Lg. red potatoes

1 pot boiling water

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp white pepper

2 tbs garlic powder

2 tbs onion powder

1/4 tsp smoked paprika

1/8 tsp mild curry powder

1/4 tsp ground coriander seed

1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

 Boil pot of water with 1 tsp of salt & 1-2 tsp olive oil

Chop the potatoes into small-medium chunks.

Boil potatoes for 5-10 minutes, or just until soft (think al dente pasta)

Drain potatoes, place on un-greased baking sheet.

sprinkle all the spices (including pepper and salt) onto the potatoes, drizzle with the oil.

Mix with spoon, and spread out evenly on baking sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Enjoy! :)

[tortugaskitchen]

Traditional Southern Sweet Iced Tea

Hello! :) So, I don't have a picture of this, but you know what a glass of tea looks like, right? 

Well, everyone makes their tea different, there is not one tea to rule them all. This is how I like to make my tea, and how it's been made in my family for as long as I can remember. 

4 Lg. Lipton tea bags (any black / orange pekoe tea will do)

1 gal of cold tap water

2 C granulated pure cane sugar (I use Splenda, but that's because my mother is pre-diabetic)

Fill lg. pot with water and tea bags.

Set on a low heat, and let it steep for 40-60 minutes (depends on how strong you like your tea)

Take tea bags out, pour into pitcher, stir in sugar.

Now, you can drink the tea immediately , or let it chill completely. I like to add frozen peaches to the bottom of a glass and pour in the hot tea. It cools the tea, and flavors it a bit, plus you get delicious peach bits to nom on. Some people will add lemon juice or fruit right to the pitcher, but I personally don't like to do this. This recipe is the base, you can always jazz it up later. :) Enjoy!

[tortugaskitchen]

Blueberry Pie

   I usually use a pre-made crust, just because it is easier. But, you can make it at home, no problem.

2 C all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

2/3 C plus 2 tbs cold butter 

4 to 6 tbs cold water

In medium bowl, mix 2 C flour and the salt.

Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until crumbly.

Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost cleans side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).

Gather pastry into a ball.

Divide in half; shape into 2 flattened rounds on lightly floured surface.

Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold.  If refrigerated longer, let the dough soften slightly before rolling.

1 C Splenda (or any sugar substitute) 

1/2 C whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

6 C blueberries (fresh or frozen, just make sure the frozen are thawed first)

1 tbs lemon juice

6-7 tbs butter or margarine

In large bowl mix sugar,flour and the cinnamon.

Stir in blueberries. Spoon into pastry-lined pie plate.

Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over blueberry mixture.

Sprinkle with lemon juice. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle the chunks over blueberries.

Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; seal and flute. (or cut top dough and make into lattice top like my picture)

Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excessive browning

Brush top of pie with a little bit of milk and egg mixture

Bake at 425°F for 35-45 min (but check on it after 35 min)

Let cool for at least two hours before serving.