The Essentials

Chili Oil

▢3/4 cup sesame oil

▢1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

▢2 cloves garlic, grated

▢1 tablespoon chile sauce

▢1-3 tablespoons chili flakes, to taste

▢1 teaspoon paprika

▢3 tablespoons sesame seeds

▢1 teaspoon honey

▢3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce

Combine the ginger, garlic, chile sauce, chili flakes, paprika, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, and honey in a heat proof bowl. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat until it sizzles, 5 minutes. Pour the oil over the spices, stir to combine, then add 2 tablespoons tamari/soy sauce.

Check out this recipe:
Quick Wontons in Chili Oil with Asparagus.

▢ 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

▢ 2 tablespoons buttermilk

▢ 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives

▢ 1 finely chopped jalapeño (seeded, if desired)

▢ 1 finely chopped chipotle in adobo (optional)

▢ 1 teaspoon dried parsley

▢ 1 teaspoon dried dill

▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

▢ 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

▢ a pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper

Mix yogurt or sour cream, buttermilk, fresh chopped chives, finely chopped jalapeño, chipotle in adobo, dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and a pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper in a glass jar or measuring cup. Squeeze in some lime juice.

▢3 tablespoons lemon juice

▢1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

▢1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

▢2 teaspoons spicy or regular honey

▢1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

▢1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

▢2 tablespoons chives, chopped

▢1 small shallot, chopped

▢1 clove garlic, grated

▢kosher salt and black pepper

▢chili flakes

Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Check out this recipe:
Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad.

▢1 small avocado, pitted and peeled

▢1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

▢1/4 cup pickled jalapeños

▢2 teaspoons lemon juice

▢3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

▢2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

▢1 teaspoon onion powder

▢1 teaspoon garlic powder

▢kosher salt and black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender with 1/3 cup water. Blend until creamy, adding more water as needed to thin. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.

Check out this recipe:
Fajita Chicken and Avocado Ranch Salad Wraps.

▢1 1/4 cups ketchup preferably organic

▢1 cup dark brown sugar

▢1/4 cup molasses

▢1/4 cup pineapple juice or you can sub apple cider vinegar

▢1/4 cup water

▢1 tablespoon worchestire sauce

▢2 1/2 teaspoons ground mustard

▢2 teaspoons smoked paprika

▢1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

▢1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper use less if you don’t like the heat

▢1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

▢1 teaspoon pepper

Combine all the ingredients size sauce pot. Bring to a boil and reduce and simmer for five minutes or until all the sugar has dissolved. Serve immediately or cover and store in fridge.

Check out this recipe:
Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Pizza.

▢1 avocado

▢1/3 cup salsa verde

▢1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

▢3 tablespoons lime juice

▢2 teaspoons honey

▢1/3 cup fresh cilantro

Combine all ingredients in a blender, blend until creamy. Season with salt.

Check out this recipe:
Crispy Cheese Chicken Tacos

▢ 1 pound ground chicken

▢ 1 tablespoon fennel seed

▢ 1 tablespoon dried thyme

▢ 1 tablespoon dried basil

▢ 1 tablespoon dried oregano

▢ 1 tablespoon salt

▢ 1 tablespoon pepper

▢ 2 teaspoons cayenne (or less for less spicy)

▢ 2 teaspoons paprika

▢ 2 teaspoons garlic powder

▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

▢ 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1. Mix all the seasonings with the ground chicken

▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder

▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder

▢ 1 teaspoon cumin

▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder

▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

▢ 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

In a small bowl, mix onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, kosher salt, and grated parmesan cheese. Add cayenne pepper for even more kick. 

Check out this recipe:
Homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch Tacos.

Candied Jalapeños

▢1/3 cup honey

▢1/4 cup jalapeños

▢2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Bring honey to a gentle boil. Simmer over low for 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange sliced jalapeños in a glass jar. Pour the honey over the jalapeños. Add apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. Let cool. Keep stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

See a recipe using Candied Jalapeños:
White Corn Pizza.

▢ corn tortillas

▢ olive oil

Place tortillas in between a damp paper towel and place in microwave. Warm 8-12 corn tortillas for 30 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave, until pliable. Then place them on top of a sheet pan and rub them with olive oil. Use some tin foil to make a “mold” for the shell to sit on. Simply mold the foil into a cylinder shape and drape the tortillas over the foil. Bake until crispy, 425° for 12-15 minutes.

Check out this recipe:
Crispy BBQ Salmon Tacos with Avocado Mango Salsa and Jalapeño Cream.

▢ 1 loaf French bread

▢ 1 stick of butter

▢ 1-2 cloves chopped garlic or 2 teaspoons garlic powder

▢ 1 tbs dried oregano

▢ 1 teaspoon dried thyme

▢ 1/2 cup grated parmesan

Cut the loaf length wise. Spread butter mixture over bread, bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes.

▢1/2 cup warm water

▢1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

▢21/2 cup bread flour

▢1/2 cup white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour

▢1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

▢extra virgin olive oil

In a large bowl, combine the water and yeast, stirring to dissolve. Let sit 5 minutes. Add in the bread flour, whole wheat flour, and salt, stirring with a spoon until the dough comes together but is still sticky. On a floured surface, form the dough into a ball. Knead the dough for 5 minutes or until smooth. Alternately, all of the mixing and kneading can also be done in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Rub the same bowl with olive oil, then place the dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 2-4 hours, until doubled in size. Makes 1lb of pizza dough.

Check out this recipe:
Detroit Style Tomato Herb Pepperoni Pizza.

▢ 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) softened salted butter

▢ 1/4 cup molasses

▢ 1/4 cup honey

▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

▢ 2 1/4 cups flour

▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda

▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon

▢ 1 teaspoon ginger

▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Check out the recipe to make lavender graham cracker cookies: Blackberry Lavender Ice Cream Sandwiches

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, cream together 1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) softened salted butter, 1/4 cup molasses, 1/4 cup honey, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until combined, 3-5 minutes. Add 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Beat until combined. Add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball.

Divide the dough in half. Roll out one disk of dough between two floured pieces of wax paper to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut 24 squares (roughly 2×2 inches). Transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining disk of dough.

Sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon sugar over the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool.

Strawberry Vanilla Jam

▢3 cups sliced strawberries

▢1/4 cup honey

▢2 teaspoons lemon juice

▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla

Add to a medium-size pot set over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling use a potato masher or fork to break down and mash the berries. Continue to cook for 5 minutes or until the jam has reduced and thickened by 1/3. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let cool.

Check out this recipe:
Iced Strawberry Milk Matcha Latte.

▢4 pounds Honeycrisp apples, cored and diced

▢1 1/4 cups apple cider

▢1/2 cup real maple syrup

▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract

▢2 teaspoons cinnamon or 1-2 cinnamon sticks

▢1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

▢1 pinch ground cloves (about 1/4 teaspoon)

▢1 pinch sea salt or kosher salt

Slow Cooker Instructions:

1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, stirring halfway through cooking.
2. Remove the cinnamon stick and then transfer the apples to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the crockpot and cook, uncovered on high for 1-2 hours or until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust sweetness level to your liking by adding more maple. Cool and store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 1 month. 

Instant Pot & Stove Top Instructions:
Homemade Maple Apple Butter.

▢ 1 cup granulated sugar

▢ 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean seeds

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine 1 cup granulated sugar with 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean seeds.

2. Gently run rosemary sprigs under a little water to dampen and place on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the rosemary with vanilla sugar on all sides, making sure the rosemary is thoroughly coated in sugar. Allow to dry on the baking sheet for 1 hour. The rosemary can be made 1 day in advance and stored at room temperature.

Check out this recipe:
Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour.