Small Kitchen, Big Taste

Recipes from Chef Leander

Chef Leander

Classic Bruschetta–Fresh and Easy!

by Chef Leander

If you’ve made bruschetta before, you know how easy and delicious it is. If you haven’t, here is your chance. It is a classic, fresh from the garden. It’s less than 10 minutes prep, and the rich flavors can’t be beat! 

 

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Classic Bruschetta--Fresh and Easy!

from Chef Leander. To your health!
Quick! Raid the garden! A quick chop of garlic, basil, and tomatoes with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and fresh mozzarella make for a classic summer flavor. Slices of baguette and a hearty red wine. All you need now is the sunset!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 10 leaves basil, chiffonade
  • 1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
  • 2 ripe roma tomatoes, diced
  • 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • ½ french baguette, your favorite

Instructions
 

In a small bowl:

  • Pour in the olive oil. Add the garlic, basil leaves and vinegar. Stir to combine.
  • Dice the tomatoes and add to the bowl.
  • Dice the fresh mozzerella cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Serve on slices of crusty French baguette.
Support us at PatreonPatreon.com/chefleander

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Classic Bruschetta--Fresh and Easy!
Amount per Serving
Calories
212.3
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11.01
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
 
4.49
g
28
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1.05
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4.68
g
Cholesterol
 
22.39
mg
7
%
Sodium
 
381.85
mg
17
%
Potassium
 
143.61
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
18.66
g
6
%
Fiber
 
1.27
g
5
%
Sugar
 
1.99
g
2
%
Protein
 
9.46
g
19
%
Vitamin A
 
515.95
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
4.94
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
176.69
mg
18
%
Iron
 
1.24
mg
7
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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NOTICE: Small Kitchen BIG TASTE is an Amazon Associate and, as such, we earn from your qualifying purchases. Any item you purchase once you click on an image on our “Store” page supports Small Kitchen BIG TASTE.  We appreciate it when you shop in our store and help us continue to put out delicious content.

 

New This Week!

by Chef Leander

Sept 15, 2021

Classic Bruschetta

 If you’ve made Bruschetta before, you know how easy and delicious it is.  If you haven’t, here is your chance.  It is a classic, fresh from the garden. It’s less than 10 minutes prep, and the rich flavors can’t be beat!

Click for the full recipe

 

New This Week!

by Chef Leander

May 24, 2001

Fresh Salsa With Black Beans and Corn

 

Salsa as a condiment, a tortilla dip, or a main course. Your choice! I first found this as a condiment alongside a tex-mex entré at an expensive restaurant. I developed a recipe, and found it to be one of the most versatile and most popular recipes in my repertoire.

Click for the full recipe

Classic Lemon Thyme Compound Butter

Photographers have spent decades making butter melting on food a mouth-watering icon. This herb and butter mixture not only looks great, but it provides multiple layers of flavor to finish off your culinary creation!

Click for the full recipe

Classic Lemon Thyme Compound Butter (Vegan)

by Chef Leander

Photographers have spent decades making butter melting on food a mouth-watering icon. This herb and butter mixture not only looks great, but it provides multiple layers of flavor to finish off your culinary creation!

 

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Classic Lemon Thyme Compound Butter (Vegan)

from Chef Leander. To your health!
Compound butter (any butter with added herbs and spices) is a great way to save the flavors of summer for use later in the year. Watch the video for my unique storage idea--freezer to table anytime you want a meal to have an extra flair.
Print Recipe Add to Favorites
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 16 1 TBSP servings

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 bunch fresh thyme
  • 1 lemon, zested
  • ½ lb vegan butter ((such as Earth Balance))

Instructions
 

  • In a food processor, mixer, or spatula and medium bowl: strip the leaves off the thyme stalks, add the lemon zest, and mix the butter in until the mixture is evenly distributed.
  • Invert a ziplock bag over a 4 oz (120 ml) ramekin. Press the center of the bag down so the bag forms a liner for the ramekin. Fill the ramekin with the butter mixture.
  • Close the ziplock bag, squeezing out as much of the air as possible.
  • Leaving the butter in the ramekin, place it in the freezer for 12 hours, until the butter is frozen. Remove the ramekin. Store the now frozen butter in the freezer.
  • To use, remove the butter from the freezer. Unwrap the butter and replace it in the original ramekin to thaw. When thawed you may want to smooth the top or garnish with a small thyme sprig.
Support us at PatreonPatreon.com/chefleander

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Classic Lemon Thyme Compound Butter (Vegan)
Amount per Serving
Calories
84.85
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
9.19
g
14
%
Saturated Fat
 
2.37
g
15
%
Trans Fat
 
0.06
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2.53
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3.72
g
Sodium
 
91.73
mg
4
%
Potassium
 
14.81
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.71
g
0
%
Fiber
 
0.22
g
1
%
Sugar
 
0.17
g
0
%
Protein
 
0.11
g
0
%
Vitamin A
 
554.7
IU
11
%
Vitamin C
 
3.98
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
2.77
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0.08
mg
0
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Don't miss a single recipe ! ! !Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

NOTICE: Small Kitchen BIG TASTE is an Amazon Associate and, as such, we earn from your qualifying purchases. Any item you purchase once you click on an image on our “Store” page supports Small Kitchen BIG TASTE.  We appreciate it when you shop in our store and help us continue to put out delicious content.

 

Fresh Salsa with Black Beans and Corn

by Chef Leander

Salsa as a condiment, a tortilla dip, or a main course. Your choice! I first found this as a condiment alongside a Tex-Mex entrée at an expensive restaurant. I developed a recipe, and found it to be one of the most versatile and most popular recipes in my repertoire.

 

Rate This Recipe!

Fresh Salsa With Black Beans and Corn

from Chef Leander. To your health!
Whether at the center of a party table or by the spoonful as a condiment for a Tex-Mex meal, this salsa is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It tastes like you were in the kitchen for hours, but your secret is safe with us!
Print Recipe Add to Favorites
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 10 1 cup servings

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

Aromatics

  • 2 limes, juiced
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 TBSP 'cado oil (avocado oil)
  • 2 TBSP minced garlic
  • 3 jalepeño peppers, diced
  • 1 bunch green onion, large bunch, sliced thinly
  • 1 red onion, diced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp chili powder
  • 25 grinds black pepper
  • 1 TBSP chipotle in adobo sauce, optional for smokey heat

Salsa

  • 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 4 roma tomatoes, diced
  • ½ bunch cilantro, chopped fine, divided

Serving

  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 1 large bag tortilla chips

Instructions
 

In a large bowl:

  • Put all the aromatics in a large bowl and mix to the the flavors meld.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, black beans and corn. Add half the chopped cilantro. Adjust to taste, keeping in mind that the cilantro will "bloom" as the salsa sits.
  • It is best to serve the avocado in real time as a garnish.
  • In the unlikely event you have leftovers, and you have mixed the avocado into the salsa, it is best eaten within 24ish hours.

Notes

This is a very versatile dish. It works well as a garnish for a TexMex main course. Wrap it in a tortilla for a delicious taco. It can served as a side dish. And, of course, set it out with chips and it will be gone in a flash! All that, and it's so good for you as well.  
Support us at PatreonPatreon.com/chefleander

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Fresh Salsa With Black Beans and Corn
Serving Size
 
1 cup
Amount per Serving
Calories
289.67
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
12.7
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
1.74
g
11
%
Trans Fat
 
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4.29
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5.82
g
Sodium
 
525.02
mg
23
%
Potassium
 
492.51
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
41.16
g
14
%
Fiber
 
8.33
g
35
%
Sugar
 
3.05
g
3
%
Protein
 
6.67
g
13
%
Vitamin A
 
448.52
IU
9
%
Vitamin C
 
18.51
mg
22
%
Calcium
 
80.71
mg
8
%
Iron
 
2.22
mg
12
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Don't miss a single recipe ! ! !Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

NOTICE: Small Kitchen BIG TASTE is an Amazon Associate and, as such, we earn from your qualifying purchases. Any item you purchase once you click on an image on our “Store” page supports Small Kitchen BIG TASTE.  We appreciate it when you shop in our store and help us continue to put out delicious content.

 

This Week: Beyond Zucchini Bread

by Chef Leander

Are the neighborhood gardeners burying you in zucchini?  Seems to happen every fall! I don’t think I can make it stop, but there is a recipe here that can lower your count by one!  (Don’t throw away the zucchini bread recipe yet!)

And continuing our theme of storing fresh herbs to use them in your winter and holiday cooking, this week we focus on basil.  We will be making both an infused oil and a “compound” butter.

Greek Zucchini and Squash Stir Fry

We hosted a potluck at our home several years back. A middle eastern friend brought this dish and it was a real hit. It’s so simple to make and it adds a terrific taste of summer to any buffet table.

Click for the full recipe

Quick Strawberry Shortcake

Begin with a base of Amazing Almond Flour Biscuits, and top with some macerated (french for “cut and let them sit a bit!”) fresh strawberries. Then find your favorite outdoor spot, sit back, and savor the taste of summer!

Click for the full recipe

Classic Garlic Basil Compound Butter

by Chef Leander

Overflowing with fall herbs? You can only make so much pesto! Here are some other ways to preserve your herbs for winter and spring goodness at your table.

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Classic Garlic Basil Compound Butter

from Chef Leander. To your health!
Compound butter is such an easy way to stretch your fall harvest all the way to next spring. Here’s a recipe to start you off. In this video, Chef Leander demonstrates using a sushi rolling mat to create “coins” of butter for your buffet table.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 16 servings (1 TBSP)

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • ½ lb vegan butter, chilled
  • 8 basil leaves, minced
  • 1 TBSP minced garlic

Instructions
 

  • Compound butter is easy to make with whatever equipment you have. A food processor, stand mixer or just a good old fashioned bowl and spoon all work well. Because we use vegan butter, it is not necessary to soften the butter first.
  • Put the butter, basil, and garlic in your work bowl. Stir vigorously until the ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed.
  • Lay out your sushi mat and cover it will plastic food wrap. Put half the butter on the mat just a little closer to you than in the center. Roll the plastic wrap over the butter and form a crease to enclose the butter. Then roll the sushi mat over until it meets the table. If you gently pull the mat back to yourself, the butter will "flow" in the plastic wrap and you can make a "log" of butter about the size of a nickel.
  • Repeat for the remaining butter. Cover the butter logs with parchment paper and put in the freezer. When you want to use it, simply remove the logs from the refrigerator and cut into "coins." If sealed well, compound butters will stay in the freezer for several months. Once thawed, do not refreeze.

Notes

For another compound butter serving suggestion, check out next week’s Lemon Thyme Compound Butter.
Support us at PatreonPatreon.com/chefleander

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Classic Garlic Basil Compound Butter
Amount per Serving
Calories
102.42
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11.44
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
 
2.15
g
13
%
Trans Fat
 
2.11
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3.45
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
5.51
g
Sodium
 
92.8
mg
4
%
Potassium
 
5.15
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.27
g
0
%
Fiber
 
0.01
g
0
%
Sugar
 
0.01
g
0
%
Protein
 
0.06
g
0
%
Vitamin A
 
10.6
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
0.19
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
1.68
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0.03
mg
0
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Don't miss a single recipe ! ! !Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

NOTICE: Small Kitchen BIG TASTE is an Amazon Associate and, as such, we earn from your qualifying purchases. Any item you purchase once you click on an image on our “Store” page supports Small Kitchen BIG TASTE.  We appreciate it when you shop in our store and help us continue to put out delicious content.

 

Basil Garlic Infused ‘cado Oil

by Chef Leander

Herb infused oils are a great way to add extra flavor to your cooking. Here is a classic. Try this with your next baguette!

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Basil Garlic Infused ‘cado Oil

from Chef Leander. To your health!
This recipe is a no-brainer. Chop basil and garlic. Cover with oil. Let stand for 48 hours to infuse the oil. Use your oil as a complement to most anything Mediterranean. A great way to add extra flavor without extra work.
Print Recipe Add to Favorites
Prep Time 5 minutes
Resting 2 days
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 16 servings (2 TBSP)

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

  • 20 leaves basil, chiffonade
  • 2 each garlic cloves, minced finely
  • 2 cups 'cado oil (Avocado Oil)

Instructions
 

  • Chiffonade the basil. Mince the garlic. Put both in a 16 oz (1/2 litre) oil or wine bottle.
  • Add the 'cado oil to the bottle.
  • Let the oil infuse for 24-48 hours.

Notes

Serving suggestions: 
  • Pour oil into a small shallow dish and add a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Use as a dip for slices of baguette.
  • Use to sauté vegetables for an extra boost of flavor
  • Use a dollop as a garnish for tomato entrees or sides
  • Use in place of unflavored oil in savory dishes
Support us at PatreonPatreon.com/chefleander

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Basil Garlic Infused ‘cado Oil
Amount per Serving
Calories
241.22
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
27.25
g
42
%
Saturated Fat
 
3.15
g
20
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
3.68
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
19.23
g
Sodium
 
0.05
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
2.34
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
0.06
g
0
%
Fiber
 
0.01
g
0
%
Sugar
 
0.01
g
0
%
Protein
 
0.03
g
0
%
Vitamin A
 
32.98
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
0.15
mg
0
%
Calcium
 
1.33
mg
0
%
Iron
 
0.02
mg
0
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Don't miss a single recipe ! ! !Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

NOTICE: Small Kitchen BIG TASTE is an Amazon Associate and, as such, we earn from your qualifying purchases. Any item you purchase once you click on an image on our “Store” page supports Small Kitchen BIG TASTE.  We appreciate it when you shop in our store and help us continue to put out delicious content.

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