COOKING DRY BEANS

IT IS SO MUCH CHEAPER TO PURCHASE DRIED BEANS AND COOK THEM YOURSELF. PLUS YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN THEM. "JUST BEANS" ! I LIKE TO BUY BLACK BEANS, GARBANZO BEANS, WHITE NAVY AND PINTO BEANS DRIED. 

SOAK BEANS OVER NIGHT IN COLD WATER RIGHT IN THE PAN YOU WILL COOK THEM IN. DO NOT ADD SALT OR SEASONING. ADDING SALT CAN CAUSE THE BEANS TO NEVER GET TENDER..MY HUSBAND HATES UNDER COOKED BEANS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOU CAN ADD WHOLE GARLIC CLOVES.

IN THE MORNING DRAIN BEANS AND PUT FRESH WATER ON THEM AGAIN AND BEGIN COOKING THEM ON HIGH HEAT. WHEN THEY BEGIN TO BOIL, TURN THEM DOWN TO A MED-LOW SIMMER. COOK FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HRS UNTIL THEY ARE TENDER. DO NOT SEASON OR SALT THE BEANS !!! YOU CAN DO THAT WHEN YOU USE THEM IN YOUR RECIPES.
COOL AND FREEZE THE BEANS IN CONTAINERS OR FREEZER BAGS UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO USE THEM.

VEGETARIAN CHILI

 YOU KNOW THAT CORN BREAD I MADE THE OTHER DAY? WELL ...WE STILL HAVE SOME AND WE NEED TO EAT IT UP. THERE IS NOTHING MORE SATISFYING THAN CHILI ON CORN BREAD ON A CHILI DAY.

GET THAT FOOD PROCESSOR OUT

THE COLORS ARE SO PRETTY

 FIRST CHOP IN A FOOD PROCESSOR

1/2 ONION
6 MILD PEPPERS OF YOUR CHOOSING (I USED 4 BANANA PEPPERS, 4 CHERRY PEPPERS, 3 BELL PEPPERS.
REMOVE THE STEM AND SEEDS.
(MAYBE THROW IN A HOT PEPPER OR TWO) I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SO I ADDED THE CRUSHED RED PEPPER.
2 GARLIC CLOVES
4 ROMA TOMATOES OR ANY TOMATOES

BLEND UNTIL FINELY CHOPPED 

 SAUTE ON STOVE, IN OLIVE OIL FOR ABOUT 10 MIN.
ADD SPICES

1 TSP CUMIN
1 TSP ONION POWDER
1 TSP CHILI POWDER
1 TSP SEA SALT
1/2 TSP GROUND BLACK PEPPER
1/2 TSP RED CHILI FLAKES FOR HEAT IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY USED HOT PEPPERS
1 CAN DICED TOMATOES

 ADD HALF 2 LITER BOTTLE OF TOMATO JUICE, V8, OR VEGETABLE JUICE....ABOUT 4 CUPS AND 1 LITER OF WATER. ABOUT 4 CUPS

ADD COOKED PINTO, BLACK, OR NAVY BEANS LAST. (I USED THE FRESH BEANS I JUST COOKED THIS MORNING) APPROX 2-4 CUPS.

LET CHILI SIMMER ON LOW FOR ABOUT 1/2 HOUR

ADD SOUR CREAM, QUE SO CHEESE OR CHEDDAR CHEESE ON TOP.

SERVE OVER CORN BREAD.

USE FRESH TOMATOES IF POSSIBLE

TOP WITH JALAPENOS AND ENJOY

EATING IN CHICAGO AT QUARTINO

POLENTA FRIES WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

EGGPLANT PARM

ONE OF OUR VERY FAVORITE SPOTS TO EAT IN CHICAGO IS AT QUARTINO. THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT THAT IS OLD FASHIONED AND VERY QUAINT. IT HAS OUTDOOR BISTRO TABLES AND A NEW YORK ITALIAN STYLE DECOR INSIDE. THEY OFFER SMALL PLATES AND EVERYONE SHARES.
WE ALWAYS START WITH AN OLIVE AND CHEESE SAMPLER OR SOME POLENTA FRIES.

THEN HOMEMADE PASTA, PIZZA, SALAD, CAPRESE, AND OF COURSE EGGPLANT PARMESAN.

COFFEE, ESPRESSO, AND ITALIAN SORBET CHOCOLATE, LEMON OR RASPBERRY.

CHECK IT OUT NEXT TIME YOUR IN THE WINDY CITY. ON NORTH STATE ST. WE NEVER GO TO CHICAGO WITHOUT STOPPING BY FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
www.quartinochicago.com

CORN BREAD WITH DATES

USE THIS RECIPE AND TAKE NOTE OF THE CHANGES I MADE BELOW.

DOUBLE THE RECIPE FOR A 9"X13" PAN (I USED 2 EGGS, SUBSTITUTED SHORTENING WITH 1/2 STICK SOFTENED BUTTER AND  ADDED 1/2 CUP OF PLAIN YOGURT TOO !) THE BAKING TIME IS DOUBLED SINCE YOU DOUBLE THE RECIPE TO 40 MIN. OR UNTIL A KNIFE COMES OUT CLEAN.

YES DATES, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD IN THERE. I GOT THIS IDEA FROM MY MOMMY.

VERY MOIST AND DELISH.

VERY MOIST AND BEST WHEN WARM WITH BUTTER.

SQUASH TACOS

USING MY DAD'S PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH CROOKNECK SQUASH:

TASTE JUST LIKE BUTTERNUT 

BUTTERNUT CAN BE USED TOO.
PEEL SQUASH AND SLICE IN STRIPS FOR EASY EATING INSIDE A TACO.

PURPLE CARROTS ARE ORANGE INSIDE

SAUTE SQUASH WITH SLICED CARROTS (I USED MY PURPLE CARROTS), ONION, & SWISS CHARD IN OLIVE OIL.
(YOU CAN USE ANY VEGETABLES THAT YOU HAVE BUT PLEASE INCLUDE THE FALL SQUASH, THIS IS WHAT MAKES IT SO YUMMY)

WE WARM OUR SOFT FLOUR TACO SHELLS OR USE CORN TORTILLS.
MY HUSBAND LIKE TO PUT CHEESE IN BETWEEN TWO CORN TORTILLAS AND HEAT ON A SKILLET.

EXTRA HOT SAUCE FOR SOME

PLACE YOUR COOKED VEGGIE FILLING INSIDE YOUR CHOICE OF TORTILLAA AND THEN GO CRAZY!

TOP WITH FRESH ROMAIN LETTUCE, OLIVES, BANANA PEPPERS, RANCH, TOMATILLO SAUCE (MY HOMEMADE GREEN TOMATILLO SAUCE*)
*BLEND 2-3 FRESH TOMATILLOS WITH A CLOVE OF GARLIC, 1 SEEDED JALAPENO, 2 TBSP LEMON JUICE AND SEA SALT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE TOMATILLOS JUST USE RED TOMATOES, I DID BOTH.

TOMATO SALSA OR TOMATILLO SALSA

JUST SIMPLE FALL SQUASH

Peel butternut squash
Cut into cubes or quarters
Saute with olive oil
add sliced apples and onions
saute until tender and squash caramelizes.

Simple and so good.