raisins | Kitchen Konfidence

Smoked Curried Chicken Salad

March 29, 2017 by Brandon Matzek

If you’re a fan of curried chicken salad, then you are absolutely going to love this recipe.

For the past 4 years, Jorge and I have smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving using a regular charcoal grill. Results are stellar, but the process is far from hands-off. Well, the good people over at Char-Broil recently sent me this Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker, and I’ll have to say, it makes smoking so easy. Simply place meat (or fish, or fruit or whatever) on the racks, add wood chips, set a temp/time, and walk away! The unit will regulate the heat source to maintain an even temperature, and one box of wood chips will last up to 10 to 12 hours! You can cook by setting a time or by internal temperature (measured with an attached probe). And the smoker even comes with a remote, so you can monitor temperature and time from inside the house. I’m not an expert at smoking, but the chicken I smoked for this recipe came out tender and juicy with a mouthwatering smoky flavor. So simple! Continue reading for some shots of the smoker plus a flavor-packed recipe from one of my new favorite San Diego restaurants.

Roasted Pineapple Tamales with Riesling Poached Raisins

December 23, 2011 by Brandon Matzek

Around this time four years ago, my roommate brought home a plastic bag brimming with husk-wrapped tamales prepared earlier that day by his family. I remember being overly excited because I had never had tamales before. I eagerly unwrapped my first tamal unaware of what I was going to find inside. Nestled inside the corn husk was the most amazing shredded pork encased in tender corn masa. After one bite, I was addicted. The next tamal was a sweet variation filled with strawberry preserves. So. Yum. Since that evening, I have been wanting to make tamales of my own. I’m not sure why I waited so long. I guess I was thinking I would have to intern with a Mexican grandmother for several months before I could even tackle the process. I found out this past weekend that no internship was needed.

These sweet tamales are stuffed with chunks of vanilla roasted pineapple and golden raisins poached in riesling and honey. The batter is made with corn masa, butter (lots of butter) and vanilla infused pineapple juice. The resulting sweet tamal is nothing short of pure heaven.

The tamal-making process outlined below is quite lengthy; however, it can easily be broken up. You can make the filling and batter a day in advance. Also, this is a fun group recipe. Invite friends or family over and give everyone a different task. A fun and delicious time is almost guaranteed. Continue reading for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Mole with Grilled Chicken

February 11, 2011 by Brandon Matzek

Slow Cooker Mole with Grilled Chicken, Rice and Chips Yesterday, I showed you how to make homemade Drunken Salsa. Today, I am going to continue the Mexican theme with this Slow Cooker Mole with Grilled Chicken. A Mole is a dark Mexican sauce that typically has chile peppers, tomatoes, dried fruit, sesame seeds, chocolate and a wide variety of fragrant spices. Start to finish, this recipe takes about 9 hours (mainly inactive slow cooking time), so plan accordingly. This may seem very involved; however, compared to a traditional Mole (which can have 20+ ingredients, take several days to make and require a small army of Mexican grandmothers), this recipe is both quick and easy. I’ll have to say that the flavors and aromas of this dish are just unreal. Rich and bold, this sauce has a mouth-watering depth of flavor that is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. Well worth the effort. Continue reading for the recipe.

Coconut Red Lentil Soup

August 24, 2010 by Brandon Matzek

Coconut Lentil Soup If you have never smelled or tasted toasted curry powder before, you must give this recipe a try. Heating curry powder in a dry skillet over low flame releases such a wonderfully complex aroma (that my friend mentioned he could smell all the way from the street!). This Coconut Red Lentil Soup combines toasted curry powder with tender lentils, fresh ginger, rich coconut milk and plumped up golden raisins. A combination that is exotic, healthy and mouth-watering delicious! Continue reading for the recipe.

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