Cuban Beans & Rice

Article first published as Cuban Beans and Rice on Blogcritics.

Now the weather is starting to warm up and on some days, it's been humid. It's days like these that I'm reminded of my visits in Tampa, FL. While there, I got a chance to try some authentic Cuban cuisine unlike what I've had here in Chicago. Thinking about my visits to Tampa and Cuban fare, I was inspired to try my hand at Cuban Beans & Rice. I don't think this is quite authentic but it certainly tasted very much like the versions I had while in Tampa. The seasoned rice worked so beautifully with the black beans and I loved how it was light, fluffy and so packed with flavor!

This recipe is similar to one I've made for Mexican Rice. The vegetables are sautéed until softened before adding rice to toast up. Beans and broth are added, brought to a simmer and then covered and baked until done. The result is a fluffy rice and bean dish that fully absorbed the flavors of the vegetables and seasonings. If you wanted to make this a one pot dish, you can toss in cooked chicken, roasted and shredded pork or even seasoned ground beef just before baking.

Cuban Beans & Rice
recipe adapted from Twist of Taste

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 large red bell pepper, halved, seeded & finely diced
1 large yellow bell pepper, halved, seeded & finely diced
2 bay leaves
1 14.5 can black beans, unrinsed and undrained
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano leaves
4 teaspoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 medium scallions , sliced thin
1 lime, cut into 8 wedges


In large Dutch oven with tight-fitting lid, sauté onions, garlic and bell peppers in oil over medium high heat until softened and translucent. Add the oregano, cumin and bay leaves and rice, stirring occasionally to coat.

Once the rice has toasted a bit, add the bacon, entire can of black beans (undrained), chicken broth, and vinegar.  Increase heat to medium-high and bring to simmer. Cover and transfer to oven.

Bake until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 30 minutes. Fluff with fork and let rest, uncovered, 5 minutes. Serve, passing scallion and lime wedges separately.

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15 Ice Cream Recipes to Cool Down With...

We're experiencing a slight heat wave here in Chicago and that means it's time to crank the ice cream machine! With so many flavors to choose from, I'm having a hard time deciding what to make this time around. If you're craving ice cream as well but don't know what flavor to churn up during these hot summer days, here are 15 Ice Cream Recipes to Cool Down With...

Root Beer Float Ice Cream

Cake Batter & Sprinkles Ice Cream

Vanilla Ice Cream

Chunky Monkey Ice Cream

Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream

Balsamic Strawberry Ice Cream

Chocolate Mint Oreo Ice Cream

Coffee Ice Cream

'Whopper-licious' Malted Milk Ice Cream

Mocha Almond Caramel Crunch Ice Cream

Chocolate Peanut Butter 'Pieces Ice Cream

Pear & Caramel Toffee Ice Cream

Blackberry Swirled White Chocolate Ice Cream

Strawberry Banana Vanilla Soy Ice Cream

Maple Gingersnap Ice Cream

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Adult Autism Residential Care: Close the Institutions But First Provide An Alternative

My younger son Conor  is 15.  He is not a very high functioning, celebrity "autie" or "aspie".  My son actually has an Autistic Disorder with "profound developmental delays".   He is living a great life now, at home, with a Mom and Dad, who take incredible joy in his company and at school where he has been treated very well by school and district officials. His adult care prospects in New Brunswick though are grim and they are not getting any better as successive governments, Conservative and Liberal, have failed to face the realities of adult autism care. His prospects will remain grim until government and the powerful New Brunswick Association for Community Living face reality and fill the gap that exists for severely autistic adults in residential care ... the gap between inadequate group homes and life in a psychiatric hospital. 

New Brunswick has done very well in developing a leading model of early autism intervention service delivery.  My son's autism challenges have been well accommodated in school  although there is much improvement that could be made across the system as a whole especially in rural schools.  Not all New Brunswick autistic school children have received appropriate accommodation for their autism challenges. On the adult level New Brunswick has stood still, has twiddled its thumbs and done nothing to improve the adult autism residential care "system".

Conor is a great joy in our life but Conor's Autistic Disorder and  Intellectual Disability impose serious functional limitations on his ability to live and enjoy life to the fullest.   He is now 6 feet tall and growing.  Like his Dad at a much younger age he has a very powerful muscular physique.  With his serious challenges he will require, when his parents can not provide care because of old age or death, and for the rest of his life, full time, 24/7, adult residential care.  Currently in New Brunswick that usually means either a psychiatric hospital placement or placement in a home with staff who are not properly trained and without the security and expert supervision  his condition requires.  In some cases ad hoc arrangements such as placement in a hotel room or on the grounds of a correctional facility or export to another province or American state facility have been made.  The CBC in Autism services needed for N.B. adults spoke with New Brunswick autism expert Paul McDonnell:

"What is needed is a range of residential and non-residential services and these services need to be staffed with behaviourally trained supervisors and therapists." ... In the past we have had the sad spectacle of individuals with autism being sent off to institutional settings such as the Campbellton psychiatric hospital, hospital wards, prisons, and even out of the country at enormous expense and without any gains to the individual, the family or the community," he said.

Among the reforms that the UNB professor is calling for is an enhanced group home system where homes would be connected to a major centre that would develop ongoing training and leadership. The larger centre could also offer services for people who have mild conditions. But, he said, it could also be used to offer permanent residential care for individuals with more severe diagnoses.

"Such a secure centre would not be based on a traditional 'hospital' model but should, itself, be integrated into the community in a dynamic manner, possibly as part of a private residential development," he writes. "The focus must be on education, positive living experiences and individualized curricula. The key to success is properly trained professionals and staff."

Canadian governments, including successive Conservative and Liberal governments here in New Brunswick, have failed to provide adequate, decent residential care for adults with autism disorders.  A couple of years ago I attended a meeting at the Campbellton psychiatric hospital in Northern New Brunswick.  A major question to be answered was whether the facility should remain open or be closed.  The answer was put to a vote and the answer was unanimous: the psychiatric hospital must remain open until real alternatives are developed and in place.  I was part of that unanimous decision. I do not want my son to live in a hospital but I know he is unlikely to receive adequate residential care in a New Brunswick group home. 

 In 'What happens if I'm not around?' mother of autistic teenager asks"   journalist Michael Tutton, as part of an excellent series reporting the inadequacies of adult care facing many adults with disabilities  in Canada,  reports his discussion with a spokeswoman for the British Columbia Association for Community Living, an advocacy group for people with disabilities:

"Faith Bodnar, the executive director of the association, says it's ironic that the issue is unfolding in B.C. because it was a pioneer in promoting the shutdown of larger facilities for people with intellectual disabilities in the mid-1990s.

It also created a network of new living arrangements in the community, such as home-sharing where people with intellectual disabilities share homes with caregivers who receive monthly funding.

However, Bodnar says the association receives emails daily from parents who say the supports they need for their grown-up children aren't there.

"We are running a serious risk of people not having the supports to be safe in the services they have," says Bodnar.

"Our members are telling us that they're concerned that safety issues are developing."

The situation in British Columbia is only ironic to those who have believed that the solution to helping seriously challenged adults with mental health and developmental disorders, including autism disorders, is to simply close institutions and place everyone in community settings without accommodating their disability based challenges.  There is in fact a need for some residential facilities for severely autistic adults  to bridge the gap between community group homes and psychiatric hospitals as noted by autism expert Paul McDonnell.  For those most severely affected a center, integrated in the community but providing the expert care, educational programs, recreational services and security that those most severely affected by autism require is badly needed. Such a center will probably be needed for Conor. Such a center is not on the immediate horizon in New Brunswick though where a  highly influential and extremist community inclusion philosophy prevents any discussion, analysis or developmental of alternatives to our current group home/psychiatric hospital system of adult autism residential care. 

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Jucy Lucy Burgers & World's Easiest French Fries

Article first published as Juicy Lucy Burgers and the World's Easiest French Fries on Blogcritics.

I'm a burger girl. I'd pick a burger any day over any sausage, hot dog or bratwurst. However, my husband is just the opposite since he doesn't eat beef very often due to health reasons. So when I do make burgers at home, I have to make sure they meet my expectations. Nothing's worse than a bland, dry, burger with no flavor. Thankfully these Jucy Lucy Burgers met my expectation and then some. These burgers had a delicious cheesy surprise in the middle that will have any cheeseburger fan raving. Even better was pairing them with the World's Easiest French Fries! It was a wonderful meal that we washed down with Black Cherry Milkshakes.

I can't really enjoy a burger unless there's cheese involved so when I had these burgers, I was pleasantly surprised. From first glance, there's no cheese in sight... but once you bite into it, you'll soon realize these burgers are filled with a gooey, cheesy middle. Each burger has a piece of cheese packed right in and as the burger cooks, that cheese melts ever so slowly. By the time you take your first bite, that cheese oozes out and takes this burger over the top! If you don't care for American cheese, feel free to use whatever cheese you do like. The burger is pretty adaptable so you can use the same technique with your choice of ground meat and cheeses.

As for the fries, making them couldn't be easier. These are made with a cold oil method, meaning both the potatoes and oil start out cold and are cooked together slowly. Why is it so easy? Well, you simply put the potatoes in a pot of cold oil, turn on the burner and let it come to a boil. The key is not touching the potatoes at all. Let it do all the work for you! After 15 minutes, give the potatoes a little stir in the oil and let it continue to cook for another 5-10 minutes before straining them and sprinkling with salt. Easy peasy, right?! When you taste these fries, you'll be surprised how easy it was to make. They reminded me of fries I get at some restaurants. Who knew it was so simple to make at home?!

Jucy Lucy Burgers & World's Easiest French Fries
recipe adapted from A Country Girls Livin'

Burger:
1 pound 80/20 ground beef
1 large egg
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs (you may need a little more)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 inch thick slice of deli sharp cheddar cheese
Hamburger buns
preferred burger toppings


In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, Worcestershire, pepper, salt, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well using your hands to really combine all the ingredients. Shape the burger meat into 4 even patties and set aside. 

Cut the thick slice of cheese into quarters.

Taking one formed burger patty, flatten slightly and place one quarter square of cheese in the center. Work the patty around the cheese to enclose. Make sure there are no gaps or the cheese will leak out while cooking. Shape it back into a patty and set aside; repeat with other burger patties.

Grill the burgers to your preference, trying not to handle the meat too often. No worries if the burgers start to leak with cheese... it happens! Continue grilling until the burger is cooked to your desired doneness.

Place burgers in buns and top with your preferred toppings.

World's Easiest French Fries
recipe from Food

2 1/2 lbs (about 6 medium)  yukon gold potatoes
6 cups peanut oil, for frying
kosher salt

Prep your potatoes by scrubbing and drying them off. Cut off the sides to square the potato off and then cut length-wise into 1/4 inch strips.

Combine potatoes and oil in large Dutch oven. Cook over high heat until oil has reached a rolling boil, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, without stirring, until potatoes are limp but exteriors are beginning to firm, about 12-15 minutes.

Using tongs, stir potatoes, gently scraping up any that stick, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, 5-10 minutes longer.

Using skimmer or slotted spoon, transfer fries to thick paper bag or paper towels. Season with salt and serve immediately.

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Kung Fu Panda 2, Trail Walking and Conor's Autism Progress

Conor Enjoyed Watching Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D  ... and so did Mom and Dad

In the early evening Conor and Dad got some fresh air and

 enjoyed the  view on a trail walk along the St. John River

Yesterday was a great outdoors day for Conor with long trail walks in the morning with Mom and early evening with Dad.  He was able to enjoy lots of fresh air and .... always a good thing ... was able to burn off lots of energy.  In the afternoon though Conor, Mom and Dad all headed to the movies to see Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D.  Conor watched the entire movie quietly with no sign of discomfort.  KFP2 was the latest in a series of theater trips which began about a year ago with Toy Story 3 and Shrek 4.   Conor's movie attendance has been a sign of progress in that he was unable for several years to sit in a movie theater without leaving very early overstimulated and overwhelmed.  He just had to see the Toy Story 3 and Shrek 4 movies though and he started going to the movies, and enjoying them,  again.  

School has made a  big difference as well.  Conor had been increasingly, but selectively, exposed to stimulating common environments by his excellent education assistant throughout his middle school years. In his first year of high school part of each day is now spent in a Resource Center and other common environments, the library, cafeteria and a district swimming pool,  where Conor interacts with other students and staff. He recently attended a school outing at the Kingswood bowling facility.  His educational assistant brought headphones but they were not needed and Conor bowled with the other students and had lots of fun. 

Conor is 15 and his progress in being able to function in environments with lots of noise and activity has been substantial.  Yesterday it included Jack Black and a cast of prominent actors providing voices for a movie which Conor enjoyed ... almost as much as I did. 

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S'Mores Cookie Bars

Article first published as S'Mores Cookie Bars on Blogcritics.

Chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers. If you haven't already paired these ingredients together, you should! Growing up, s'mores were a favorite summertime treat we'd enjoy. It wasn't exactly the easiest or neatest thing to eat but it didn't matter. The combination of melted chocolate, warm and gooey marshmallows and a sweet crispy cracker was just so good in any which way you could eat it! Now with summer just around the corner, you can combine these three ingredients with the same great flavor and without the mess. These S'Mores Cookie Bars takes all the things you love about s'mores and makes it portable and easy to enjoy...

I've noticed a lot of s'mores cookies in the blogsphere lately and it got to the point where I couldn't ignore them anymore. I wanted to have my s'more fix in a cookie form but the recipes I kept seeing didn't do it for me. It wasn't until I picked up a magazine and came across a similar recipe that did appeal to me. I did adapt it a bit by using mini marshmallows instead of marshmallow fluff called for in the original recipe. Also, I layered the recipe a bit differently so that it came out just as I wanted. Regardless, these are awesome... *Awesome!*. I got my fix and it couldn't have been better! I loved how the flavors came together and best enjoyed when warm out of the oven. That way, you get all that gooey marshmallow and melted chocolate going on at once. These are just as good cooled and they don't get rock hard either (which I experienced in similar recipes I tried.) If you're looking for a dessert for this Memorial Day weekend, I would highly recommend these!

S'Mores Cookie Bars

recipe adapted from AllYou Magazine (May 2011)

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallow
2 cups bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Thoroughly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly beat flour mixture into butter mixture.

Reserve 1/4 of the dough and set aside. Press the remaining dough into greased pan until dough is uniform and flat. Top with chocolate chips and sprinkle with marshmallows.  Scatter the reserved dough over in clumps. Don't worry about covering the top; marshmallow and chocolate chips should peek through.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Place pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into bars and remove from pan.

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Sunday Fun Day Giveaway: 125 Best Blender Recipes Bookazine!

Happy Sunday! Hope you are enjoying the Memorial Day Holiday weekend and are looking forward to a good week ahead! First off, I have to apologize for the delay in announcing winners for the recent giveaways. Apparently my posts were eaten up somehow, therefore it didn't post as scheduled. Going forward, I'll announce the winners each Sunday within the next giveaway post. Now, here's a big Congratulations! to the winners for the recent giveaways! Please shoot me an email at itsjoelen@gmail.com to claim your prize...

Dealavue $25 Gift Certificate Winner: Comment #4!

Saucy Mama Condiment Kit Winner: Comment #37

We're on the cusp of June... which means summer will officially be here soon. (Or maybe, not soon enough...) With summer in mind, one of the best things I enjoy on a hot summer day is a cool, icy drink. I'll take it on the rocks or better yet, blended and sipped through a straw... which is why I tend to use my blender quite a bit during the summer months!

A blender is one small appliance that I need in my kitchen. In fact, it's probably one of the most under-estimated tools in the kitchen. With it, I love making drinks, smoothies, sauces, dips, dressings, etc. The list could go on and on! So if you need some inspiration or encouragement to use your blender, then this week's Sunday Fun Day Giveaway is just for you...

This week, I'm giving away this 'bookazine' (like a thick magazine that reads like a cookbook) dedicated to blender recipes... just in time for summer entertaining!..

The 125 Best Blender Recipes, a special 116-page bookazine is filled with quick and easy ideas for hot weather staples, from fresh smoothies and shakes to cool and creamy desserts to blended cocktails, all from the editors of Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and Country Living.  The 125 Best Blender Recipes also includes recipes for speedy hors d’oeuvres, light entrées and no-stress party menus, complete with entertaining tips, plus a blender buying guide. A detailed recipe index divides dishes by category, with appetizers like Speedy Hummus (pg. 39) and Arugula Pizza (pg. 36), salads such as the Mediterranean Shrimp Caesar Salad (pg. 55), soups like the Chilled Cucumber-Melon (pg. 57) and entrées including Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Sauce (pg. 78) and Whole Wheat Rotini with Walnut Pesto (pg. 77), making it easy to plan new meal ideas and party menus.

The folks of Hearst Magazine were so kind to send me a copy and one to a lucky reader. From this bookazine, I've made a few  recipes which I'll be featuring soon. Ones I've tried include the Frozen Peach Bellini, Frozen Strawberry Pina Colada and a couple of smoothies. The bookazine is full of so many recipes that span across drinks, dressings, soups, entrees, and even a few desserts! Surely, you'll find something you'll like in this bookazine... and if you don't win, no worries! You can find this on newsstands nationwide!

Some guidelines:

- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my non-United States readers!

- You must have a valid email address (within your comment or blog link) so that you can be contacted if you win.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering: 

What's the last thing you made using your blender?

Deadline: Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 12 midnight CST.

One winner will be randomly chosen by Random.Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Sunday, June 5, 2011, within next week's Sunday Fun Day Giveaway. Good luck!

Full Disclosure: The giveaways are sponsored by the same company that provided me with the food related product to review. Products I review and offer as a giveaway are ones I personally recommend and would use/enjoy myself.

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Dear USA: This Canadian Father With a Severely Autistic Son Says Thank You for Combating Autism

"in order to continue meeting the needs of people with autism, the Combating Autism Act

must be fully reauthorized. We still have a long way to go. Working collaboratively with
important partners, the Affordable Care Act and the Combating Autism Act will allow   
 us to research and develop and refine vital treatments

Kathleen Sebelius,  US Secretary of Health and Human Services, April 25, 2011

Autism is a severe and limiting medical disorder for which treatments and cures must be found through solid, focused research.  Autism is a disorder which should be combated so that those who suffer from it can live fuller, more independent, lives. Here in Canada we do not have a serious, focused national autism strategy or recognition of the need for a national effort to combat autism disorders.  We are lucky that our  neighbors in the US have had the good sense and determination  to try and address and combat autism disorders through research  efforts under the Combating Autism Act.

This Canadian  thinks of many things when I think of the USA.  Some of these things are negative. Most are positive, very positive. I think of our neighbors as confident, freedom loving people who constantly seek to better themselves. I think of Americans as people with strong commitments to family.  I think of Americans as people who are afraid of no challenge as amply demonstrated by the audacious and successful commitment by former President John F. Kennedy to put men on the moon by the end of the 1960's.  Autism is a serious disorder which impairs and restricts the lives of those who suffer from it.  The continued efforts in the US, under the provisions of the Combating Autism Act, have helped direct research toward understanding and finding treatments and cures for autism.  It is of great  importance for everyone affected by the serious challenges of autism, including Canadians, that those efforts, and the Combating Autism Act, continue.

This Canadian father with a severely autistic son says thank you to our American friends for the efforts made under the Combating Autism Act.  I  hope you decide to continue this important undertaking. It may not be as glamorous as putting men on the moon but, for many affected by autism and their families, it is of fundamental importance.

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Foodbuzz 24x24: Grilled Cheese, Please! Party

A grilled cheese sandwich is such a simple thing... or is it?! At first thought, it may be simple enough. With two slices of bread and some cheese, how much simpler could it get? Well, I think there's much more to a grilled cheese sandwich so I hosted a special Grilled Cheese, Please! Party with family and friends. This party was all about taking the very simple grilled cheese sandwich and elevating it to something even more special. With an assortment of both sweet and savory fillings, we all gave the traditional grilled cheese sandwich a tasty makeover.

To make our event even more special, FoodBuzz is featuring our Grilled Cheese, Please! Party for their May 24x24 Food Event. The FoodBuzz's 24x24 Food Event showcases food blog posts from 24 Foodbuzz Featured Publisher bloggers of 24 unique meals occurring around the globe during a 24-hour period. I was thrilled to be featured this month!

 

Our party was all about the comforting grilled cheese sandwich, with a twist! We all know and love the traditional grilled cheese sandwich made with buttered white bread and American cheese slices. However, at our party, guests got their creative culinary juices flowing while making tasty sweet and savory variations of grilled cheese sandwiches with our Sweet & Savory Grilled Cheese Sandwich Bar. For our savory grilled cheese sandwich bar, we had...

Many might think grilled cheese sandwiches are more of a savory dish but there's also a sweet side to this simple sandwich! For our sweet grilled cheese sandwich bar, we had...

 

We set up two grilled cheese stations - one for savory sandwiches and the other for sweet sandwiches....

Before we got to work in the kitchen, each of our guests were given their very own apron which we made especially for the party. It was our little party favor to also encourage them to make interesting grilled cheese sandwiches at home! 

Even my son was pretty excited about watching the big kids make their sandwiches while he noshed on an ungrilled sandwich of his own...

We had the kids kick things off since they were pretty excited about making their own creation with the various ingredients available. And because we had so many fillings to offer, we encouraged our guests to make more than one sandwich. In order for our guests to take advantage of this, we had them make 1/2 sandwiches instead of whole ones. (But of course, they were more than welcome to make whole sandwiches if they wanted!)

As each person made their sandwich, adults were on hand to man the oven and help the kids put together their sandwiches. Because of the number of sandwiches being made, we baked our sandwiches in the oven. Doing so allowed each sandwich to toast up perfectly and slowly melt all the fillings together.

As our savory sandwiches were baking, we started making our sweet dessert sandwiches. It was great seeing the reaction on the kids' faces when I told them grilled cheese sandwiches could be sweet depending on what ingredients they used. They had a blast making up their sweet sandwiches as seen in these pics...

By the time the savory sandwiches were done baking, the sweet sandwiches were ready for the oven... and we could finally try our first batch of tasty creations! Perfect timing, I'd say! As we plated our savory sandwiches, we got to help ourselves to the buffet of meal accompaniments I prepared. Besides, having these amazing sandwiches wouldn't be complete with accompaniments!

Here's our complete menu in addition to the sandwiches we made:

 

After finishing up our savory sandwiches, we were pretty full. However, we still managed to make room for dessert! Our sweet grilled cheese sandwiches were fresh out of the oven and as they cooled, I got out some homemade ice creams I made (chocolate & vanilla). The ice cream went so well with our sweet grilled cheese sandwiches... and the kids especially loved the contrast in textures and temperatures. (Although my little guy wasn't so sure how to dig in...)

Overall, it was a deliciously successful party! Everyone had a wonderful time making their sandwiches, trying out new ingredients and flavor combinations. The best part was that everyone has a better appreciation of grilled cheese sandwiches and we've been able to open their mind and palates to other tastier ways to make them! Stay tuned to recipes for some of the menu items I prepared for our Grilled Cheese, Please! Party this coming week...

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