http://www.andshecooks2.com/index.php/site/index/ en sandy@andshecooks2.com Copyright 2026 2026-09-22T20:23:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/steak-quesadillas https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/steak-quesadillas#When:01:52:00Z (adapted by Christian Reynoso) Ingredients: ½ medium white onion, finely diced ¼ cup cilantro, roughly chopped 1 large avocado 1 lime, cut in half 8 ounces skirt steak salt and pepper 2 teaspoons vegetable oil 4 (6- to 8-inch) flour tortillas, preferably “ready to cook” from the refrigerated grocery aisle 4 (1-ounce) slices mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese Fresh salsa, such as pico de gallo or tomatillo salsa, for serving   Directions: In a small bowl, mix the onion and cilantro together and season lightly with salt. Cut the avocado in half, discard the pit, then scoop into a separate bowl and with a fork, mash into a chunky mixture. Season with salt and the juice of half of the lime and mix well. Season the steak all over with salt and pepper. Heat a medium skillet over high heat. Add the two teaspoons of vegetable oil.Once it’s shimmery place the steak in the pan and cook until well-browned on the bottom but rare on top, about 4 minutes. Flip the steak, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking until medium-rare to medium, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to rest. Then cut the steak into ½-inch pieces. Wipe the skillet clean and heat on medium-high. Working one at a time, place a slice of mozzarella directly in the middle of the skillet, then lay a tortilla on top. Let cook until the cheese has melted and is just starting to turn crisp and golden, about 30 to 60 seconds, then quickly and firmly slide a thin metal spatula (such as a fish spatula) under the cheese to lift the cheese-coated tortilla and transfer it to a serving plate, cheese-side up. Repeat with remaining tortillas and mozzarella. Divide the cut steak among the cheesy tortillas. Top with the avocado mash and onion-cilantro mixture. Fold in half and serve immediately, with fresh salsa on the side. Serves 2 Note: Leftover flank steak or carne asada is an excellent substitution for the skirt steak Meat, 2026-09-23T01:52:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/little-green-lanterns https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/little-green-lanterns#When:20:23:00Z Maybe it's all my time in a western saddle, but lately I've been leaning hard into Mexican flavors. If you're not yet acquainted, let me introduce you to the tomatillo, the tomato's little green cousin. Each one comes wrapped in a thin, papery husk that makes it look like a tiny lantern. Inside, it's bright, tart, and citrusy, closer to a Granny Smith apple than to the red summer staple in your garden. At the top of my list is Rick Bayless's roasted tomatillo salsa verde. It's a cornerstone of Mexican cooking and deserves a permanent spot in your fridge. Look for firm fruit that fills out its husk snugly. A shriveled or loose husk usually means it's past its prime. Don't skip the rinse. Once husked, tomatillos have a naturally sticky coating. Then put them under high heat, where charring brings out their hallmark smoky sweetness. Here's my adaptation of his recipe for roasted tomatillo salsa. Husk and rinse six to eight tomatillos. Preheat the broiler with a rack set four inches below the flame. A toaster oven works beautifully here. Spread the tomatillos on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet with one jalapeño, halved and stemmed, and four unpeeled garlic cloves. Broil until charred in spots, about six minutes. Flip everything and broil the other side. The garlic is done when it feels soft. Let everything cool on the tray, then slip the skins off the garlic. Leave the charred skins on the tomatillos and jalapeño, because that's where the flavor lives. Scrape everything, juices and all, into a blender or food processor. Pulse, leaving a little texture. You want salsa, not soup. Chop half a white onion and rinse it in a strainer under cold water to tame its raw bite. Shake off the excess water. Stir the onion into the salsa along with the leaves from six to eight cilantro sprigs. Taste and season with a pinch of kosher salt. This salsa is incredible spooned over chicken cream cheese enchiladas, alongside carne asada quesadillas, or piled onto garlicky shrimp tacos. Might just bring out your own inner cowboy. Appetizers, Sauces and Such, Dinner for Two, Supper, Dinner Party, Lunch, Breakfast/Brunch, 2026-09-22T20:23:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/roasted-tomatillo-salsa https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/roasted-tomatillo-salsa#When:19:54:00Z (adapted by Rick Bayles) Ingredients: 12 ounces medium tomatillos, husked and rinsed (6-8) 4 garlic cloves, unpeeled 1 small jalapeño, halved, stemmed and seeded 6-8 cilantro sprigs, chopped ½ medium white onion, chopped Pinch kosher salt   Directions: Preheat the broiler: Preheat the broiler with a rack set 4 inches below the flame. A toaster oven works well for this. Place the tomatillos, husked and rinsed, jalapeño, halved, stemmed and seeded, and garlic cloves, unpeeled on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil until charred in spots on one side, about 6 minutes. Then turn everything over and broil the other side. The garlic should feel soft when done. Let everything cool on the tray, then slip the peels off the garlic cloves. Leave the charred skins on the tomatillos and jalapeño. Scrape the tomatillos, jalapeño, garlic, and any accumulated juices into a blender or food processor. Pulse to your desired consistency — it's best with some texture left, not fully smooth. Rinse the chopped white onion in a strainer under cold water to soften its raw bite, then shake off the excess water. Stir the rinsed onion and cilantro sprigs into the salsa. Taste and season with a pinch kosher salt, adjusting to taste. Makes about 1½ cups. Sauces and Such, 2026-09-22T19:54:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/tuesdays-catch https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/tuesdays-catch#When:20:06:00Z It's Tuesday, which around here means it's taco Tuesday. I've become mildly obsessed with these fresh garlicky shrimp tacos, piled onto flame-charred corn tortillas. Their bright, clean flavor needs little adornment. The secret is a fragrant garlic and smoky paprika-infused olive oil that gets spooned over the shrimp right at the end. One whiff and you'll swear you've been transported to a Spanish tapas bar. A drizzle of lime crema adds zip, while crisp radishes, creamy avocado, spicy pico de gallo, and grassy cilantro pile on texture and freshness. A final squeeze of lime brightens everything before that first bite. The best part? These come together in minutes — which makes them the perfect antidote to a busy weeknight. For garlicky shrimp tacos start by combining one quarter cup sour cream and one tablespoon lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and mix well. Set aside. Over a gas flame, blister the corn tortillas until pliable and blackened in spots. Wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm. In a twelve-inch skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high. Season the shrimp with salt and add to the skillet; sear for one minute on each side. Transfer to a plate. Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil, one and a half tablespoons minced garlic and half a teaspoon of smoked paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, thirty seconds. For more heat add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce. Add the seared shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about two minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl. To build the tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic paprika oil. Top with sliced avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges. So go ahead and catch this one on your next Tuesday, margaritas optional! Fish and Seafood, Dinner for Two, Supper, Dinner Party, 2026-07-07T20:06:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/garlicky-shrimp-tacos https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/garlicky-shrimp-tacos#When:22:39:00Z (adapted by Kay Chun) Ingredients: ¼ cup sour cream 1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving Salt 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 12 ounces peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 2 dozen) 1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic ½ teaspoon smoked paprika 4-6 warm corn tortillas Sliced avocado, sliced radishes, pico de gallo and cilantro leaves, for serving   Directions: Combine the sour cream and lime juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and mix well. Set aside. In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Season the shrimp with salt and add to the skillet; sear for 1 minute on each side and transfer to a plate. Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the garlic and paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the seared shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl. To build the tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic oil. Top with sliced avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges. Serves 2 generously Note: For more heat add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the garlic oil step before adding the seared shrimp. Fish and Seafood, 2026-06-18T22:39:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/dan-dan-noodle-salad https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/dan-dan-noodle-salad#When:23:08:00Z (adapted by Hetty Lui McKinnon) Ingredients: For the salad- 6 ounces baby bok choy, about three 4-6 ounces dried ramen noodles 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed 1 tablespoon toasted white sesame seeds 2 scallions, thinly sliced   For the pork and mushrooms- ¼ pound shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced ½ pound ground pork 3 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided ½ - 1 teaspoon soy sauce   For the dressing- 2 tablespoons tahini, well stirred 1 tablespoon chili crisp (or to taste), plus more for serving 1 tablespoon soy sauce 2 teaspoons rice vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1 garlic clove, grated 2 to 3 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk (such as soy or oat) or water   Directions: For the dressing- In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, chili crisp, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and garlic until a chunky paste forms. Add 2 tablespoons of the milk and whisk, adding another tablespoon if needed, until the dressing is smooth and pourable, like the consistency of cream. The dressing can be prepared up to 2 days ahead and stored in a sealed jar or airtight container in the fridge. Before using add a splash or two of milk or water to loosen it up before adding to the noodles. For the pork and mushrooms- In a small sauté pan heat two teaspoons vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook stirring occasionally until they are well browned. Place on a plate. To the same pan add one teaspoon vegetable oil. Add the pork breaking apart with a spoon. Cook stirring occasionally and further breaking up the pork until the pork is well browned. Add the soy sauce. Stir well. Toss in the mushrooms. Set aside. For the salad- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Separate the white and green parts of the baby bok choy. Slice the white parts into 3/4-inch pieces. Place in a colander and rinse well to remove any dirt or sediments. Drain well. Add the ramen to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to package’s directions. About 1½ minutes before the noodles are ready, add the white parts of the baby bok choy and the corn. Just before everything is ready, throw in the green bok choy leaves and blanch until they are wilted, about 20 seconds. Drain immediately and refresh under cold running water, then leave to drain. Let cool in the colander. Place the drained ramen noodles, greens and corn in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Toss in the ground pork. Taste and season with salt if needed. Divide among shallow bowls. Top with the sesame seeds, scallions and a few drops of chili crisp. Serve at room temperature. Serves 2 (Note- to make this vegetarian omit the pork and double the mushrooms) Salads and Dressings, Grains and Pasta, 2026-06-12T23:08:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/furry-whirlwind https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/furry-whirlwind#When:21:07:00Z Well, it's been a while since I posted. Trust me, I have a really good excuse. A year ago we lost our beloved Willie, and it left such a hole in our hearts. But with babies arriving and busy schedules, the timing was never quite right to fill that void. Around last Thanksgiving I started looking. Turns out, trying to adopt a dog is worse than online dating. I came close a couple of times, but the sweet pups always slipped through my fingers. Then mid-January I was having lunch with a dear friend who had a friend who volunteered at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, who mentioned that a fabulous dog named Pickles had just come in. After lunch I searched for her on their website but didn't see her listed. I did, however, run across an adorable 8-week-old white fluff ball called Polar Bear — and her sister Marshmallow — who were going up for adoption the following day. Tuesday morning I called and said I would love to meet the two pups. Marshmallow was adopted the moment they opened, but I could have a meet-and-greet with Polar Bear. I hopped in the car and drove to Palm Springs. When I arrived, they informed me he'd already had a meet-and-greet, so I couldn't see him just yet. The prospective family had gone home to coax a husband off the golf course, and if they weren't back within two hours, the puppy would be back up for adoption. And so I waited. In my car. Stealthily scanning every person entering the facility for a golf couple from La Quinta. One hour and fifty-eight minutes later, I got the call. Now — what person walks in to greet a tiny pup and leaves empty-handed? Minutes later I signed on the dotted line, placed the teeniest furball into my dog carrier, and drove home while he wailed the entire way. I was in shock over what I had just done. I called my husband, who was (of course) on the golf course, to let him know I had a small surprise. I think he thought it was something special for dinner. The next days, weeks, and months were a blissful whirlwind. I hadn't had a puppy-puppy in over thirty years — I'd always adopted older dogs. Needless to say, some adjustments were in order. I named him Gunnar. Old Norse for noble warrior. His mom had delivered eight puppies under an abandoned van in the desert. Days later, someone heard puppies crying, scooped up the mother and all her pups, and brought them to the Palm Springs Animal Shelter — a truly special facility in the Coachella Valley. I figured that wee babe deserved a name that reflected his bold start in the world. The mom and puppies got to stay together until they were weaned, and then each one was adopted the very day they went live on the site. All the while, dinner still needed to be served. Below are some of the favorites that graced our table during those months. But as you can imagine, every time I sat down to write a post — someone had run off with a sock. Went for a walk. Swallowed a squeaker. Tinkled on the carpet. Needed a nap. Woke up after twelve minutes. Practiced his commands. Made new friends. Needed a snuggle. I needed a snuggle. You get the idea. Time flies when you're chasing a little ball of fur. Here's what kept us fed through the whirlwind: Miso Salmon Bowl Mediterranean Falafel Salad Shrimp Scampi Mushroom Stroganoff Creamy Tortellini Soup Now this wee bear is growing into a dog worthy of his name — smart as a whip, a heart as big as Scandinavia, and a personality to match. Welcome to our world, Gunnar. We're so glad you found us. 2026-06-09T21:07:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/sticky-miso-salmon-bowl https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/sticky-miso-salmon-bowl#When:01:26:00Z (adapted by Andy Baraghani) Ingredients: 1 cup sushi rice 1 ½ tablespoons white miso 1 tablespoon honey 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil 1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated ginger 1 teaspoon fresh grapefruit zest 1 ½ teaspoons fresh grapefruit juice 2 skinless salmon fillets (6–8 oz each), patted dry 2 scallions, thinly sliced 1 ½ teaspoons unsalted butter, cubed Garnish: toasted nori sheets sliced cucumber sliced avocado sliced radish   Directions: In a fine mesh colander rinse the rice until the water runs clear. Drain the rice and transfer to a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Pour in 1 ½ cups cool water and bring to a boil over medium-high. Give the rice a stir, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook without lifting the lid for 18 minutes. While the rice cooks, place a rack about 5 inches from the broiler and set to high. Whisk 1 ½ tablespoons white miso, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 ½ teaspoons vegetable oil, 1 ½ teaspoons freshly grated ginger, 1 teaspoon fresh grapefruit zest, and 1 ½ teaspoons fresh grapefruit juice in a bowl. Season the salmon lightly with salt and add to the bowl. Toss to coat and marinate at room temperature until the rice timer goes off. Remove the pot of rice from the heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes while you cook the salmon. Using tongs, arrange the salmon on a foil-lined rimmed sheet tray. Spread any excess marinade on top of the fillets. Broil until glossy and charred in most spots — about 6 minutes for medium-rare or 7 minutes for medium. Uncover the rice and add 2 scallions, thinly sliced and 1 ½ teaspoons unsalted butter, cubed. Season with salt and several grinds of pepper. Fluff with a rubber spatula until each grain is coated. Serve the salmon over the rice with toasted nori sheets, sliced cucumber, sliced avocado  and sliced radish. Serves 2 Fish and Seafood, Grains and Pasta, 2026-04-02T01:26:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/chickpea-soup https://www.andshecooks2.com/recipes/article/chickpea-soup#When:23:15:00Z (adapted by David Tanis) Ingredients: For the soup: 1-pound dried chickpeas, soaked overnight, rinsed, and drained 2 whole cloves 1 bay leaf ½ onion, peeled, plus 1 whole onion, peeled and diced small ½ head of garlic, cloves unpeeled 2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin Salt and black pepper For the pesto: 4-6 ounces jarred roasted red peppers ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne (or to taste) ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil Pinch of salt   Directions: Put the soaked, drained chickpeas in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven. Cover with 12 cups of fresh water. Use the cloves to pin the bay leaf to the onion half, and add it to the pot, along with unpeeled garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Stirring occasionally cook until the chickpeas are very tender, skimming off any excess foam as it cooks, about 1 hour. Drain the chickpeas, reserving all the cooking liquid. Discard aromatics. Heat ¼ cup olive oil in the now empty pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and carrots, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened but without browning, about 10 minutes. Add one teaspoon ground cumin and continue cooking for about 5 minutes more. Add the cooked chickpeas and their liquid to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning. Blend the beans and broth in a blender or with a hand blender until smooth. The soup can be made to this point two days ahead of time. Cool to room temperature and cover and refrigerate. Meanwhile make the red pepper pesto. Put roasted pepper in the blender. Add cayenne, ¼ cup olive oil and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth. The pesto can be made several days ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate. To serve, ladle the warm soup into individual soup bowls. Swirl about 2 tablespoons red pepper pesto into each bowl. Serves 8-10 Soups, 2026-03-09T23:15:00+00:00 https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/a-chill-is-in-the-air https://www.andshecooks2.com/blog/article/a-chill-is-in-the-air#When:03:44:00Z I feel slightly guilty writing a post from the southern California desert when much of the country is battling frigid temps, debilitating ice and feet of snow. If it makes you feel any better, we did have 5.1 magnitude earthquake a couple miles from our house with days of aftershocks well into the fours. Crazy times for sure! But you want to know what’s really crazy- I’ve never been much of a roaster. I love to sauté and grill but low and slow in my oven has never really been my thing. For one of my resolutions, I decided to change that, along with daily laps in the pool and Spanish lessons. I spent a lot of time reading about roasting. Let me tell you there are as many opinions on it as there are for grilling. One quiet morning while at the meat counter I polled the butchers. They all concurred a few minutes on a higher heat then lower to 325 until the meat reaches the correct internal temp. And because no one was still in that section of the grocery I asked them about brining. They all agreed not to any kind of wet brine and the best was a simple dry brine in the fridge overnight. I took their sage advice and referenced it to what I was reading from my cookbook library and online. My roast chicken was divine. But what really impressed was the dry-brine roasted pork loin. It was the juiciest, most flavorful and tender cut I had ever served. Start with a two-pound pork loin, have your butcher wrap it with kitchen twine, or you can do it at home. It helps it keep its uniform shape. For the dry-brine rub combine 1 tablespoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme. The night before, pat the pork loin completely dry with paper towels. Rub all over with one tablespoon Worcestershire sauce. Let sit a few minutes to soak in then apply the rub. Coat the pork loin completely with the spice mixture, pressing it into the meat. Place on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered overnight (or at least 8 hours). When ready to roast, remove the pork from refrigerator 30 to 45 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place pork loin (still on rack and pan) in the preheated oven. Roast at 425°F for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 325°F and continue roasting for 20-45 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 140°F. Make sure you have a good meat thermometer because if the initial temp of the pork loin is cooler it can take up to an hour to roast to 140 degrees. Remove the pork roast from oven and tent loosely with foil. Let rest 10-15 minutes (temperature will rise to 145°F). Slice into 1/2-inch-thick slices. I served it up with some of my holiday favorites I had in the freezer. Sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry chutney. And just to keep the chill going - any leftover pork can be sliced and frozen to be used in Cubano sandwiches or pork fried rice. If you decide to try the dry brine roasting resolution, you might find it earth shaking as well! Meat, Supper, Dinner Party, 2026-01-27T03:44:00+00:00