Chef Rachel last summer...

Chef Rachel has some spring recipes!

It is nearly summer so here are a few recipes for the gourmets among us. These are so easy to make and you should have most of the ingredients available, especially the tequila………..NO!!!! The tequila is all gone, Well aren’t you learning fast Ole

Tequila Lime Shrimp Cocktail
· 1 pound medium raw shrimp, de veined
· 8 ounces Mexican chorizo, chopped
· 1/2 cup dark tequila
· 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
· Pinch of salt
· Pinch of pepper
1. In bowl combine shrimp, tequila, lime juice, chorizo, salt and pepper. set aside and let marinate, no longer than one hour.
2. Preheat grill. Drizzle with oil. Place shrimp on hot grill and let cook until done, about 3-5 minutes each side. Remove from heat and hook on individual martini glasses, about 6 shrimp each.

Southern honey-lime fruit salad
· 2 limes
· 1/4 cup ( 50 mL) liquid honey
· 1/4 cup ( 50 mL) tequila
· 1/2 tsp ( 2 mL) dry mustard
· 1/4 tsp ( 1 mL) salt
· 4 cups ( 1 L) fruit pieces or berries
1. Squeeze 1/4 cup (50 mL) juice from limes. In a small bowl, whisk juice with honey, tequila, mustard and salt. Place fruit in a large bowl. Pour in dressing and stir until coated. To develop flavours, let sit at room temperature, stirring occasionally, for at least an hour or up to 3 hours. Or cover and refrigerate for up to half a day.
2. Fruit tip: Sturdy fruit such as pineapple chunks, mango or peach slices and firm strawberries hold very well for hours and are a good choice for the base of this salad. If using soft fruit such as melons, bananas, raspberries or blueberries, add them just before serving.

Chef Rachel's BEST CHICKEN EVER!!!!!!!!!!

There was never left overs when Rachel made this at camp!

My CHICKEN recipe
(for 6 people, if they are gluttons you will have to double up on this)

12 Boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 lemon
2 tsp Italian spice
2 tsp lemon pepper
2 tsp parsley
Sea salt (to taste)
1 clove garlic
1 ziploc baggie
2 or more bottles of good white wine, I suggest Oyster Bay Sauvignon blanc

Open 1 bottle of wine
Put chicken in bag, then herbs and spices, salt and garlic, in a large glass pour wine, have a wee bit of a rest and sample the wine, Roll the lemon and then ½ the lemon, squish out the juice then throw the whole lot into the bag, peel and all. Refresh yourself with more wine as the next part takes a bit more energy. Mix it all thoroughly, shake, squish, jig around but make sure you have closed the bag properly otherwise it gets a bit messy. You then refrigerate the concoction and let it marinate for at least 12 hours. Your work today is done except for finishing the wine, marinate yourself you deserve it after all you are about to go a cooking a gourmet meal
12 hours later, could be more. First of all open wine and test
When it comes to cooking the marinated chicken I toss all, including lemon halves, into a lightly oiled non stick pan with a lid and sauté 15 mins, put the lid on and simmer until cooked thoroughly, pour approx 1 cup of wine, not for the chicken it is for you

Serving suggestion; Wild rice mix, or orzo I usually reserve some of the juice from the chicken and add to the rice or orzo while it is cooking. Yumm… Oh and by the way use fresh herbs and spices. You should have thrown out all those that have been loitering in your cupboards for eons!

Chef Rachel has a cocktail for -40!

ALASKAN POLAR BEAR HEATER

Ingredients
1 shot
Brandy
1 shot
Gin
1 shot
Rum
1 shot
Dry Vermouth
2 shots
Vodka
Directions:
Blender w/ice and a Dash of bitters also a Smidgen Red Wine Vinegar, Lemon Peel, Orange Peel oh! and a Cherry. Blend all and strain into a tall glass! Rachel is home sick and yesterday it was -40 up north where she was...so she sent me this recipe to blog as she thought with the cold and her cold this might cure her! smile...but now spring is almost here! Hope you feel better Chef Rachel!

Chef Rachel rock surfing...

We rode to the top of a mountain and the rocks on top are like slate. Well Rachel thought she should surf as the wind was very strong, wish I would of gotten her feet more! We all had to try it...

Chef Rachel having fun!

Rachel in her halo!?!?!?!? smile

Chef Rachel goes team penning!

Rachel had fun on her new mare Elle and her hubbie Mel rode the mare I trained Kes. Good for you two, looks like your having fun!

Chef Rachel & the squirrel war's!!!

Chef Rachel and the squirrel's last season were having fun. Well the squirrel's were anywho....they all loved hanging around Rachel's camper. They would be very loud, run over her camper and she was not amuzed. They never did go near our campers, I guess Rachel was choosen by the squirrels...

Chef Rachel having fun!

As you can see all of our folks at Wild Deuce like adventure....here is Rachel whitewater rafting in Jasper! She just sent me a recipe for pancakes. Here it is....

I hope that everyone enjoyed my chili tips. It is now well afternoon and time to head out for more ingredients. You will also need to stop by the local establishment of "fine mind fuddling, attitude adjusting beverages". Of course they will have no tequila left so you will have to buy for my next recipe!

PERFECT PANCAKES! I suggest beer of any kind, lots of it and don't be a wuss and buy light! IT'S ALL IN THE MIX: be it your own or store bought. Open two cans of beer, have the rest on hand, not to far away as you are going to need to test them. Than combine the dry ingredients thoroughly. Break up any lumps by either sifting them or whisking them out, this is back breaking work so DO NOT become dehydrated, refresh with beer. Next combine all the wet ingredients in a seperate bowl. Don't skip this step! Yeah I know it makes more dishes but it's worth it. Use beer instead of milk or water. This will foam up like Mt. St Helens, so I suggest you whisk quick. DO NOT be tempted to suck off the suds, taste awful. Never tried it but have been told!

HOW TO COOK THE PANCAKE! Pre-heat your griddle, heavy bottomed (no not me ya idiot..)

not stick pan or very seasoned cast iron skillet to 375 degree's or 185 C. Or until a drop of water skitters across the pan (thats for all of you that cook over the fire...smile). And because you have just slaved away at cutting, stacking and making the fire another wee tip...use Diesal. Terri is not allowed to use it anymore. another story. You must be very thirsty by now, so go ahead chug another beer. Lightly coat the pan with vegetable oil, spray or butter (but butter will burn quicker.) Do a test with sacrificial pancake and adjust the temp up or down. If your pancake is scorched on the outside and raw in the middle, turn down the heat. smile. NOTE: as the head chef you might have to eat the test subject. Or not, I suggest opening another beer and than finding someone else to try it or a border collie, but don't get caught throwing it out to the dogs.

DON'T PRESS YOUR PANCAKES! While your waiting impatiently for the 2nd one to cook , resist the impulse to grab yer spatula and press it. Take a break, refresh your self, you should have plenty of beer around. Pressing will un-do all the efforts you have made to make light fluffy pancakes. SO DON'T!

FUN WITH PANCAKES! To add a bit of whimsy to the breaksfast table, use a turkey baster to squeeze designs, intials or other fun shapes. Ah and you thought I was going to talk about sex again..tut tut! Butter and syrup are the classic toppings but you could set up a condiment buffet of fruits and cream or jam. And let everyone play with their own pancake....don't let you mind off course here. Try one of my personal toppings, hard sauce (1/2 lb of real butter, 4 tbsp of brown sugar whip until fluffy, keep beating and add 1/2 cup of whiskey (drink the other half) chill and serve. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmm!

Meet Chef Rachel... she has Chili cooking tips!

Our chef Rachel is one amazing women! We are lucky to have her as a friend... She is a real live chef who has worked on millionaires yachts, travelled the world and is from New Zealand!
Rachel like Scott are people I want you all to meet. Rachel will have some tips on life, food, liquor and more!
Today she has the "10 Top Cooking Tips for the Best Pot of Chili (Hhic) In this recipe you will notice her favorite drink! smile
Most Chili's are highly personalized creations. People work very hard for many years to perfect their chili recipes. Whether your a beginner or just looking to tweak a favorite recipe. These tips can help you create your best pot of chili ever and if ever in doubt add tequila...
1)If you chili is to thick, use broth to dilute, although I use tequila. A nice Agave.
2)If you chili is to thin, try adding tomato paste to thicken it. Do not use corn starch, don't add tequila at this time. Drink it instead, calm down all is not lost...
3)Use a combination of chili's to bring out the flavor chili. This one will take some work, and you can't always find them here in Alberta so drink some more tequila and try it anyway.
4)Cook meats first. Brown ground meats or chunks of beef, before adding any liquids like Tequila. Try adding BBQ meats.
5)Use quality meats. Chili was orginally created to diquise cheaper cuts of meat and tenderize really tough meats. I found that dog and rodent are particularly tough (smile), but road kill is excellent as its already tenderized!
6)Use fresh vegetables. Don't use vegetables that have been in your fridge for years, or canned. Use fresh you will taste the difference, if you can't have some more tequila.
7)Cook the chili the day before you plan to eat it, its better and that give you time to sample all the tequila's you bought while you were suppose to be grocery shopping.
8)Use your own mix of spices, herbs and chili's rather than pre-packaged. Marijuana is a herb in case you didn't know, use it with tequila and lime. smile
9)Don't use old spices, yeah I know you all have them & they have been on your shelf for years. But they lose their flavor and taste. Not like tequla which nevers loses its flavor...yee haw!
10)Experiment cooking and have fun! Cooking...not sex. Hey why not invite some friends over to share your chili creation with, no not the sex. Better yet, have them make some and bring it over to you...smile. If you still looking for more creative ideas ask your friends while they are their. Nah...they might have had too much tequila like myself. See you next time...
Chef Rachel...Prost!