Summer Recipes

Strawberry Rhubarb Smash Cocktail

August 9, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

I normally don’t post about cocktails but this one is such a perfect summer drink I had to share it. When farm stand strawberries are in their peak, this is a great way to take advantage of the bounty. You only need a few ingredients to whip this thing up but you do need a shaker to incorporate it all together. While I’m not a “mixologist” I do know that a good rule of thumb for cocktails is if it has a citrus component it should be shaken, not stirred! The mashing of the strawberries is a bit of a chore but it winds up being totally worth it. I’m not sure if this is standard for fruit based cocktails but I actually like to shake the ingredients twice during two different stages. The first stage is to get the strawberry and water well mixed together to create a juice just before straining out the pulp. The final shake comes at the end to get everything good and mixed together. The results are divine and make for a perfectly delicious, refreshing drink on hot summer days!

Strawberry Rhubarb Smash Cocktail

Prep Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 Drink

Calories 275 kcal

Ingredients

2 oz. vodka
1 oz. simple syrup
4 strawberries
3 dashes rhubarb bitters I used Fee Brothers
1 lime juice
1 oz water or more depending on desired consistency
ice

Instructions

In a metal shaker, add the strawberries and mash until the strawberries are smooth.
Add a little water to the strawberries and add several ice cubes. Give the mixture a few good shakes.
Strain into a cocktail glass, adding as much or little pulp as you like.
Add the vodka, lime juice, simple syrup and rhubarb bitters to the glass.
Add 5-6 new ice cubes to the shaker and pour in the mixture. Give it several good shakes. Strain out the ice or serve it on the rocks with fresh ice cubes.

Spiced Beef Fajita Tacos with Avocado Cream and Restaurant Style Salsa

May 3, 2017 by The Partial Ingredients

For Cinco de Mayo I wanted to showcase one of my favorite “food truck” style taco recipes. As you can probably tell by my post history I am a big fan of tacos. I wanted to incorporate my favorite part about fajitas–the seasoned peppers and onions–into a taco recipe. The beef is seasoned with a medley of spices that complements the bell peppers and caramelized onions. The salsa is a simple “restaurant style” recipe made with oven roasted tomatoes and blended with chilies, garlic and jalapenos. It also happens to be excellent with chips so have some of those handy for an appetizer! One of my latest favorite taco toppings has been avocado cream which sounds fancier than it is. While avocados are always perfect on their own, I sometimes like to mix them up a bit. All you need is a ripe, well mashed avocado, sour cream and lime juice. Mix together and there you have it–super easy! Top this one with plenty of the salsa and lime juice. I used a finely shredded sharp cheddar to garnish but a crumbly queso fresco or white cheddar would be excellent as well.

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Southwest Green Chile and Sweet Corn Black Bean Burger

July 25, 2015 by The Partial Ingredients

It’s high summer and what could be more summery than black bean burgers? Don’t give the ‘bean’ part the side eye yet, carnivores. I promise this recipe is delicious and full of flavor. I’ve made similar black bean burgers in the past and this one also did not disappoint. While I’m a big fan of regular beef burgers, bean burgers are a great change of pace. You can do all kinds of things with these burgers; the possibilities are pretty much endless. Since fresh corn on the cob is in season I used that as part of the bean filling and it provided fresh bursts of sweetness in the burger. I used pepper jack for the cheese but you can use any that suits your fancy. This recipe makes about 8 large patties but they can be stored for 2 days in the refrigerator before cooking. I served mine with a batch of baked chipotle fries and it made a fantastic side!
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Pimento Grilled Cheese Sandwich

May 11, 2015 by The Partial Ingredients

Messy, gooey, hot grilled cheeses are one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Who can say ‘no’ to one of these babies? This sandwich comes from the South so you know it’s going to be healthy. Each sandwich is loaded with Pimento cream cheese (also known as the “Caviar of the South”) and smoked Gouda. Obviously, the sandwich is very rich and filled with delicious flavors. The red pimentos are the same pickled peppers found in green olives. You can find these sold in separate jars by the olives and condiments section in your grocery store. The pimento cream cheese can be served as a condiment as well, with crackers, chips or celery. This recipe pairs perfectly with a simple tomato soup and salad.
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Classic Beef Tacos with Chipotle Tomato Salsa

November 9, 2014 by The Partial Ingredients

Even though it isn’t summer anymore it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a good taco! If you’re craving food truck style tacos this is the recipe you need to make it at home. Seasoned ground beef comes together with smoky chipotle salsa, sharp cheddar and slices of avocado. The beef is seasoned in a simple combination of garlic, jalapenos, paprika and cumin. Finish it off with fresh lime juice and cilantro and you have one flavorful taco (or 10)!
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Homemade Potato Salad

May 14, 2014 by The Partial Ingredients

Potato salad is a classic American summer side dish that reminds me of hot summer days, afternoon picnics and grilling sessions. I used to purchase potato salad from a local deli but the ingredients on the label were a bit off-putting. I didn’t recognize most of them listed and I finally decided to just make it from scratch. This recipe is a perfect antidote to the store-bought problem. While it is more time consuming than just running to the store, this recipe is healthier and you know exactly what’s going in it. It’s a delicious alternative to the processed stuff!

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Roasted Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Salsa and Oaxaca Cheese

April 20, 2014 by The Partial Ingredients

Tacos are one of my favorite foods and I’m always looking for different combinations to try out! This recipe combines tender, shredded chicken with a smokey Chipotle salsa and melty Oaxaca cheese. I roasted the chicken in the oven with fragrant spices, garlic and honey. The nice thing about roasting the chicken is that it produces plenty of juice in the pan to incorporate back into the meat once it has been shredded. This results in the juiciest, most tender meat for the tacos. The Oaxaca cheese melted easily over the tacos and had a mild flavor that complimented the other ingredients. The salsa can be made up to two days beforehand to save time on preparation.

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Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos

January 2, 2014 by The Partial Ingredients

Once I had a batch of Pickled Corn Salsa ready I took a nice pork shoulder and slow cooked it for some tasty tacos! The pork is marinated in tomatoes, onions and spices and slow cooked for about 4 hours in a crock pot. The pork ended up being succulent and fall apart tender. I was really happy with how soft and flavorful it turned out. The acids from the pickled salsa complimented the richness of the shredded pork. For garnish, I added a touch of lime and queso fresco.

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Black Bean Burger with Caramelized Onions and Chipotle Mayo

September 2, 2013 by The Partial Ingredients

Summer is almost over but I am resisting that fact by making a bunch of summery food. These black bean burgers are totally loaded with lots of add-ons: mashed avocado, chipotle mayo, tomato, melted cheddar, and crispy caramelized onions. The actual burger is mixed with sweet corn, rolled oats and spices. It’s super filling and loaded with protein. The burgers are a little bit delicate and they do best cooked over a hot saute pan. Everything came together really well and it turned out super tasty! You can always add whatever fixins you want. Some other options would be sprouts, feta cheese, sauteed mushrooms, pickles and lettuce.
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BBQ Grilled Cheese Chicken Sandwich with Chipotle Fries

June 10, 2013 by The Partial Ingredients

The messiest foods are the best foods, especially when we’re talking about sandwiches. If the sandwich can’t be contained inside two pieces of bread it’s gotta be good! This sandwich has a lot of good things going for it: shredded chicken smothered in spicy BBQ sauce, caramelized onions, and sharp cheddar cheese. Since barbeque sauce is a staple in my kitchen, I just make my own since it’s so easy. This sandwich packs a ton of flavor! The combination of the melted sharp cheddar with the flavors of the BBQ sauce and caramelized onions was so tasty. I served the sandwich alongside some smoky chipotle fries. I will definitely be making this again!

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