Amarena shake at Gelato Spot

My Dad was visiting this weekend and approved

of our experience at Gelato Spot.

I found out today that Amarena is a type of cherry. At Gelato Spot you can get Amarena gelato. It is delicious and tastes like cherries, but is not too sweet.

If you're like the kitchen wench, you get it in shake form or you can enjoy other flavors like mango (my Dad had that today).

Rumor has it that their pizzeria in downtown Scottsdale is coming along nicely and that tile flooring was just installed. It won't be long now that we can go down there for a slice!

http://www.gelatospot.com/

Los Dos Molinos on South Central Ave.

The facade of S. Central Los Dos Molinos.

(this picture borrowed from their website)

The kitchen wench had a proper date this week. Shocking, yes...I know.

It's someone I've known for a few years now so we're kind of friends already. That helped.

JP took me to Los Dos Molinos on S. Central Avenue. Sorry I don't have pictures. I was nervous enough already without whipping out my cell phone and taking pictures of the huge (and delicious) margaritas, my crispy chicken taco and side of yummy whole pintos. JP had the ribs which he said were great. The chips at Los Dos Molinos are fresh, huge and unsalted, which I like. The salsas are quite spicy (one red, one green).

I had forgotten that I visited their Springerville location back in October of 09 with my Dad when he was visiting from California. We hiked Mt. Balde and it was a very rainy day (and windy and snowy). On that visit I had a chicken tostada (you will notice a chicken trend with the kitchen wench) and Spanish rice.

I tried to do a property search of their S. Central location but since it isn't residential I couldn't find out when the building was purchased and how much it cost. JP told me that it was a house originally and they turned it into what it is now - a great restaurant.

Get yourself to Los Dos Molinos. Ahora. Ahora mismo.

http://losdosmolinosaz.com/phoenixmenu1.html

Blueberry muffins and stuffed peppers

Stuffed peppers a la kitchen wench.

Blueberry muffins required a trip to

Food City this morning (out of butter)!

I went to make a batch of blueberry muffins this morning and realized I was out of butter.

Drats!

I went across the street to Circle K, but alas, they do not have butter. Whaa?

So a tripping it was to Food City, where they had bell peppers on sale 5/$1.00. This is a steal. I bought 3 and I should have bought all 5 (since I made extra stuffing). So I'll have to go back.

Since peppers were on sale, I decided to make stuffed peppers this morning along with the muffins. I mean, the oven is turned on anyways, right?

For the stuffing I put 1 1/2 bolillo rolls in a food processor and made them into breadcrumbs. Then I added 1 big handful of golden raisins (you can also use regular raisins, the black kind) and a half handful of whole black olives. I would have added a few more, but that's what I had. Then you toss the whole mess with a bit of salt, olive oil and red wine vinegar. After this is incorporated, you stuff your peppers and bake them in a pan with tall enough sides (a brownie pan would work well) since the peppers are tall and they need to be covered so they will steam. In the bottom of your pan, when you have the peppers in there already, add 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar and 1/4 cup water. Bake at 375 for one hour until your peppers start to collapse.

My family has been making these for many years around Easter time. The smell of them baking in my kitchen brings back great family meal memories. They are a good substitute for a salad. When you cut them in half, they are very pretty (you sort of see a cross section of the stuffing). They have sweet and savory flavors. I like them at room temperature. You can eat them as a meal or as a snack. They go well with just about any meat - I would serve them with Italian sausage, baked chicken or steak. Or even fish would work.

The blueberry muffins turned out great, I used the recipe my Mom gave me from the Fanny Farmer Cookbook. http://chamoyada.blogspot.com/2010/01/blueberry-muffins.html

I added the zest of one lemon and put some zulka moreno sugar on top for added browning and yummy factors.

If you're going to turn on the oven anyways (and do it now since it's going to be hot hot hot in Phx soon), make two things at once.

Brought to you by the frugal and green kitchen wench.

AZ Hispanic Chamber Black & White Ball

A neat ice sculpture at the afterparty at B&W Ball.

Lizzy, who has a manufacturing business, also

volunteered at the event.

Volunteering with Mona, a fellow member.

As a volunteer at the Black and White Ball last night, I was able to attend and dance at the afterparty, where Jaleo played Columbian music (and now my calves are killing me). Cigars, Bacardi and Doritos were served, not necessarily in that order.

;)

133K was raised in scholarship money for Latino college students. ¡Arre! Now we just need to get the DREAM Act passed.

The AZ Grand is quite a grand resort - no pun intended. The kitchen wench was especially impressed at the Mexican saltillo brown tile throughout, something which I have always loved and wish for my own pad.

There isn't a picture of the meal, which I was told was very tasty. Volunteers were served sandwiches, cookies, chips and water, and that was very much appreciated. It is a good thing since we needed to keep our energy up. We did a lot of moving around last night (collecting money from generous folks which goes towards programs at the AZHCC).

Thanks go out to a fellow chamber member (you know who you are!) who took me out on the dance floor, and spun me around until I was dizzy. Or maybe I was dizzy from all of the Taco de ojo at the afterparty (present company included).

http://www.azhcc.com/

Pork chops in tomato sauce

Pork chops in tomato sauce is a yummy dish.

You can enjoy with spaghetti or a demi baguette

(for sopping up sauce).

This is my favorite way to make pork chops. If you make two, you have leftovers for lunch or dinner (that's how the kitchen wench rolls).

You will need:

2 meaty pork chops (bone in)

a pinch of sugar

1 16 oz can diced tomatoes

small can tomato sauce

1 tablespoon Italian dry seasoning

3 cloves garlic

3 tbsp olive oil

I like to brown the pork chops in a hot pan. First dust them with a pinch of sugar (this helps with browning) and then after they are brown on both sides I add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning. In a separate pan I toast 3 cloves of diced garlic in olive oil until it is a bit browned (more flavor) and then it goes into the pan with your pork chops. Cook them covered on low for one hour.

This makes a great pork chop and also an amazing spaghetti sauce. Or you could eat a chop with extra sauce and sop it up with a demi baguette from La Brea bakery (At AJ's or Costco) - I am crazy about them and they also make amazing french toast.

Happy cooking.

Spanish Flan - via Germany

Flan, courtesy of Yecla, made at Christmastime.

My friend in Germany sends recipes to us from time to time and the kitchen wench is very grateful for this. I enjoy learning about others' cultures through food.

Yecla said this recipe comes courtesy of http://www.pasarlascanutas.com/flanhuevo/flanhuevo.htm. She notes that she makes her own caramel (as opposed to buying it) and she cooks the flan in "una olla express" on top of a double boiler. She prefers condensed milk, she says this way she can make it with less eggs and the batter is smooth.

From now on, I'm on the flan diet.

Did any of you see Real Women Have Curves? There's a scene when the mother and daughter are in a bodega, the mother has just been told she's not pregnant but instead she's going through menopause. She is getting ready to eat a piece of flan when America Ferrara's character says, "Mama, the doctor just told you that you're blood sugar is too high and now you're eating flan?" The mother says, "but I'm having a craving." The daughter says, "But mama, you're not pregnant!"

Sour cream coffee cake with blueberries

The finished cake. It looks prettier dusted

with powdered sugar.

The kitchen wench tried a slice last night -

for good measure. It's a tasty cake.

This is one of my favorite cakes, since it is moist and not too sweet. It works for dessert, as well as breakfast or a snack. It travels great since it is not frosted - just a dusting of powdered sugar will do.

Sour cream coffee cake:

1 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Cream your butter and sugar. Add eggs, sour cream, vanilla and beat until mixed. Add dry ingredients and mix. Place half of batter into greased 9" tube (bundt) pan and sprinkle with 3/4 cup blueberries. Place remainder of dough into pan. This bakes at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

I found frozen wild blueberries at Food City yesterday for $3.19 a bag. Didn't seem like too bad of a deal. They are tiny, and perfect for this cake.

Last night a tasted a sample for good measure. It is a tasty cake. The blueberries make it sing. Make one today for your special event.