culinary exploration

Follow me through the adventures that take place in my kitchen, in restaurants or in other kitchens. Cooking and food are my passions and I want to share my experiences of cooking, baking and eating with you.
I'm a Greek self-taught cook who lives in Chicago. I learned a lot about cooking from both of my grandmothers, my mom and dad, family and friends. Passing on timeless traditions through food is one thing I strive to do in life.

These are my journeys through culinary exploration...

clraptis (at) gmail (dot) com
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Posts tagged guacamole

May 22
Trader Joe’s gets me every time with their sample station. I was totally sold on the carnitas and guacamole so I got some! So delicious. Also - this slow roasted pork makes me want to use it to whip up a mean Mexican-style mac & cheese with the pork, roasted jalapeños, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese. Sounds super tasty. Stay tuned… I’ll eventually turn that idea into reality and post a recipe!

Trader Joe’s gets me every time with their sample station. I was totally sold on the carnitas and guacamole so I got some! So delicious.

Also - this slow roasted pork makes me want to use it to whip up a mean Mexican-style mac & cheese with the pork, roasted jalapeños, caramelized onions, pepper jack cheese. Sounds super tasty. Stay tuned… I’ll eventually turn that idea into reality and post a recipe!
Posted at 8:14 PM 2 notes Tagged: porktacoscarnitasguacamole

Oct 13
Table-side made guacamole from Salsa 17 in Arlington Heights.

Table-side made guacamole from Salsa 17 in Arlington Heights.
Posted at 12:05 PM 18 notes Tagged: guacamolerestaurantsMexican food

Aug 6
emphasisadded: Yup, this is Top Chef, Rick Bayless laughing with us about avocados and such! Chef Bayless came to new job yesterday for a cooking demo, question time & book signing.  He was totally and completely delightful as he talked to us about roof top gardens and the challenges facing boutique farmers. It was a really neat experience watching one of my culinary heroes talk candidly while whipping up guacamole, shrimp cocktail and ceviche for us to taste. Very cool day.  Very cool man. And as a treat for all my readers, I share with you one of the recipes he made from his new book, Fiesta at Rick’s: Bacon and Tomato Guacamole 5 strips medium-thick bacon 3 medium-large ripe avocados 1/2 medium white onion, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces (WHITE onion…not yellow.  Chef was very specific about this!) 2 or 3 canned chipotle chiles en adobo to taste, removed from the canning sauce, stemmed slit open, seeds scraped out and finely chopped 1 medium-large round, ripe tomato cored and chopped into 1/4 inch piece 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro (thick bottom stems cut off), plus a little extra for garnish Salt 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice Cook and crumble bacon.  Mash the avocados in a bowl.  Rinse and strain onions, transfer to to the bowl along with the chipotle chiles, tomato, cilantro and about 2/3 of the bacon.  Gently Stir to combine all ingredients.  Season to taste and add just enough lime juice to “add a little sparkle.” Que Bueno! So much win in one post.  Bayless + guac + bacon = WIN! 

emphasisadded:

Yup, this is Top Chef, Rick Bayless laughing with us about avocados and such!

Chef Bayless came to new job yesterday for a cooking demo, question time & book signing.  He was totally and completely delightful as he talked to us about roof top gardens and the challenges facing boutique farmers.

It was a really neat experience watching one of my culinary heroes talk candidly while whipping up guacamole, shrimp cocktail and ceviche for us to taste.

Very cool day.  Very cool man.

And as a treat for all my readers, I share with you one of the recipes he made from his new book, Fiesta at Rick’s:

Bacon and Tomato Guacamole

  • 5 strips medium-thick bacon
  • 3 medium-large ripe avocados
  • 1/2 medium white onion, chopped into 1/4 inch pieces (WHITE onion…not yellow.  Chef was very specific about this!)
  • 2 or 3 canned chipotle chiles en adobo to taste, removed from the canning sauce, stemmed slit open, seeds scraped out and finely chopped
  • 1 medium-large round, ripe tomato cored and chopped into 1/4 inch piece
  • 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro (thick bottom stems cut off), plus a little extra for garnish
  • Salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Cook and crumble bacon.  Mash the avocados in a bowl.  Rinse and strain onions, transfer to to the bowl along with the chipotle chiles, tomato, cilantro and about 2/3 of the bacon.  Gently Stir to combine all ingredients.  Season to taste and add just enough lime juice to “add a little sparkle.”

Que Bueno!

So much win in one post.  Bayless + guac + bacon = WIN! 
Posted at 4:40 PM 32 notes Tagged: Rick Baylessrecipe reblogbaconguacamole
Source: emphasisadded