Cherchies Blog

Cooking Tip: How to Chop, Slice, and Mince an Onion

cooking tipsSheri SpalloneComment
Cooking Tip:  How To Chop, Slice, and Mince an Onion

Cooking Tip:  How To Chop, Slice, and Mince an Onion

When I first started cooking years ago, I never knew there was a right way to cut an onion...I just cut it.

Recently, as I was watching one of my favorite cooking shows, I learned I was doing it all wrong.

My hubby came into the kitchen recently while I was preparing dinner and said "that's a new way to cut an onion...did you learn it from your cooking shows?"  I looked at him and proudly said, "yes I did".   He said, "that would make a good cooking tip..." (he's so smart;)

I'm an experienced home chef and I'm terrified of knives, or at least I was (perhaps because I didn't know I was doing it wrong).  So, I thought I'd pass on some tips on how to chop, slice, and mince an onion, safely.

Chopping or Mincing- 

1.  Begin by cutting an onion in half, making sure to keep the base in tact.  Peel away the first or second layers depending on the onion.

2.  Cut off the top end of the onion, keeping the base in tact.  Cut vertical slits into the onion as close to the base (or root) as possible, but being careful not to cut through the onion completely.

3.  Turn the onion.  I can't stress this enough, MAKE SURE YOU CURL YOUR FINGERS when you are cutting.  Your knuckles should be the guide for the knife.  Our fingers are important;) Cut the desired size of onion you want.  For mincing, cut smaller pieces, using the same technique.

4.  As you near the end of the onion, turn the onion again to get the sides of the base (root) and turn over to chop more.  You should be left with only the base (root) with very little waste.

Slicing- For slicing half-circles, Follow step 1.  Curling your fingers (don't forget), make thin slices up to the base (root).  If slicing rings, cut off the top as mentioned in Step 1, but do not cut in half.  Slice whole onion into rings.

Slice away safely:)


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Black and White Bean Chili Recipe

entrees, lunchSheri SpalloneComment

Black and White Bean Chili Recipe

Cook Time:  40 minutes  

Difficulty:  Easy

Originally posted in 2016.

After an unseasonably warm December here in Pennsylvania (70 degrees on Christmas Eve), it is finally Winter (it's downright freezing!!). That means comfort food and chili (made with one of our favorite seasoning blends, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend) is top on our family's list.

Everyone has their favorite chili recipe, but this easy, tasty recipe steals the show because it features our all-purpose seasoning blend, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend, and items commonly found in your pantry. If you have never tried our grilling rub, you are missing out. Not only is it perfect for grilling, as the label indicates, but it is also versatile enough for roasting meats and flavoring dips, casseroles, Mexican dishes, ribs, pulled pork, and of course, chili!) It is a fabulous multi-purpose seasoning.

This recipe feeds a crowd, but you can always half it (unless you have hungry teens like us, who always want second and third helpings. It is amazing how much young adults can eat). If you are short on time and need extra help in the kitchen, you can also make this recipe in your slow cooker by adding all the ingredients to your slow cooker, turning it on, and walking away for a few hours. You would need to stir occasionally.

Whether it's cold weather comfort, game day celebrations, casual get-togethers, or whenever the mood strikes, this chili recipe will not disappoint. So, grab some Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend, a few ingredients from your pantry, and make the best chili tonight.

Ingredients

  • *1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) bacon fat or olive oil (*If have leftover bacon grease)

  • 3 lbs. ground meat (turkey, chicken, or beef is fine)

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 1 cup beef broth (we use 1 cup of water with 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Minor's Beef base)

  • 3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning Blend (more to taste- ground poultry may need more)

  • 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) ground pepper

  • 1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste

  • 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

  • 2 cans (15 oz.) black beans, drained

  • 2 cans (15 oz.) white beans, drained

  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke

  • Shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional garnish)

  • Sour cream (or non-fat greek yogurt as an optional garnish)

  • Sliced green onions (optional garnish)

  • Hot sauce (optional garnish)

Preparation

Chop onions and saute in a large dutch oven in olive oil or bacon fat until onions are soft and translucent.(you could cook onions with one strip of a strip of bacon.  I happened to have reserved bacon drippings in the refrigerator and used that)   Add Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning and Pepper. 

Add meat, Cherchies® Select Grilling Rub and Seasoning, liquid smoke, tomato paste, beef broth and cook until meat is cooked and no longer pink.

Add the beans and the entire can of tomatoes to the pot.  Stir and simmer until beans are soft.

Serve with your favorite chili toppings...cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, green onions, etc., you decide! Enjoy!

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10 Kitchen Hacks That Will Make Your Life Easier

Sheri SpalloneComment

10 Kitchen Hacks That Will Make Your Life Easier

It's time to take your kitchen tools to the next level and ultimately save you time and money in the kitchen.

There are so many gadgets these days designed to make your life easier, but did you know those same gadgets have a multitude of uses? (I love those "aha" moments). These are known as "hacks".

"A kitchen hack is an unusual, easier, and/or better way of performing a task that often saves money and time or improves the quality of the outcome" (Cook's Illustrated Magazine).

Who doesn't love to save time and money?

I found this book in my stocking this year (how ever did it get there?) from Cook's Illustrated Magazine, Kitchen Hacks:  How Clever Cooks Get Things Done,  Here are a few of my favorite hacks I thought you'd enjoy and perhaps have your own "aha" moment:)

1.  Apple Slicer- In addition to apples, use your apple slicer on potatoes to make quick steak fries or to chop nuts.

2.  Egg Slicer- Use an egg slicer to slice mushrooms, strawberries, olives, etc.

3.  Salad Spinner- Use a salad spinner to dry fresh herbs

4.  Pencil Sharpener-  Short on skewers? Turn take-out chopsticks into skewers by using a pencil sharpener.

5.  Wire Wisk - Use a sturdy wire whisk in place of a pastry cutter.

6.  Coffee Filters- No parchment paper for a cake pan?  Use an 8 inch coffee filter (8-10 cup filter), flattened to line an 8 inch cake pan.

7.  Muffin Tins- Use a muffin tin with liners to store ingredients while you cook (Aka "Mise en Place"  (Having all your ingredients prepared and ready to use).  No more small bowls to clean (there are so many uses for muffin tins...that will have to be another blog).

8.  Vegetable Peeler- Use a vegetable peeler to finely peel an onion

9.  Parchment Paper- Run out of muffin liners?  Use parchment paper.  Cut squares of parchment paper and mold over a glass.

10.  Grater- Cookies get a little brown?  Use a grater to gently grate off browned or burnt edges.

You ready to save time and money?  

 

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Cherry Apple Tart Recipe

desserts, breakfast, snacksSheri Spallone2 Comments
Cherry Apple Tart Recipe

Cherry Apple Tart Recipe

Cook Time:  30 minutes  

Difficulty:  Easy

We have updated this post from a few years ago with fresh pictures and content.

We all need to unplug now and then and spend quality family time. Aside from game night, movie night, and puzzle night, cooking and baking together is another perfect family-enriching activity for all ages. Cooking and baking are easy, as it allows kids and parents to unplug and connect and it is a fantastic learning tool (it builds math and reading skills, it teaches scientific concepts, enriches oral vocabulary, and so much more). We used these cooking moments to keep our children away from videos and television when they were younger.  

These rustic, tasty mini apple tarts are a fun way to get kids cooking in the kitchen and a great way to spend quality family time together. This recipe is forgiving and lends itself to any fruit on hand, including frozen fruit. (We have not tried this recipe with frozen fruit, but by all means, go for it and let us know how it worked out). We had apples that we needed to use, which was the fruit of choice, but instead of one pie, we made several mini tarts so everyone could be proud of their creations. 

I usually make this apple pie recipe with our Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread instead of sugar. Considering we had half-full jars of our butter spreads (Apple, Cherry, and Strawberry), we decided to use the ones we had on hand, and we created several different tarts with the chopped apples. The icing and the lemon zest at the end finished off this dessert nicely.  

So, if you are looking for a creative family activity, unplug the electronics, and consider making these delectable Cherry Apple Pie Tarts with your loved ones and create some beautiful memories together. They are perfect as a tasty dessert, a delicious breakfast treat, or an after-school snack. 

Comment below on your creations. We'd love to hear your ideas:). As always, thank you for visiting. Come back again for more yummy recipes and cooking tips.

  * Note- I forgot to add the lemon zest when photographing these little tarts.  

Ingredients

Preparation

Chop apples into small chunks.  Place chopped apples into a large bowl and add half of the lemon juice. Mix apples to coat with lemon juice.  Add Cherchies® Cherry Butter Spread (I divided the chopped apples into three bowls and added a different butter spread to each bowl) and mix together.  Set aside.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove pie dough from package and "smoosh" (ha!) the dough together until you have one ball of dough.  Separate dough into 6 equal portions (I was going to trace dough with a small bowl and cut out circles, but figured I'd have to reroll the scraps anyway).

Roll out individual dough balls into circles approximately 6 inch circles (it does not have to be perfect...this adds to the rustic factor).  Place rolled dough onto baking sheet.

Leaving about 1 inch around the edge of the dough, spoon apple mixture into center of dough.  Crimp edges around tart. Sprinkle tarts with cinnamon.  Bake tarts in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until crust is golden and apples are soft.

As tarts are cooking, prepare the glaze and the icing.   In one bowl, combine the Apricot Preserves and the remaining lemon juice.  In another bowl, combine the powdered sugar and water.  

Remove the cooked tarts from the oven and while the tarts are warm, brush them with the Apricot Preserves and the lemon juice mixture.  The final step is the icing and completely optional, as the tarts are delicious on their own, but I wanted to make them extras pretty for their "glamour shots".  Drizzle the icing when tarts are mostly cooled.

For other uses for apple butter, check out our blog, blog.cherchies.com.  Enjoy!

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