Rican Cuisine: Puerto Rican Spaghetti

This is a recipe that I simply could not live without. It combines by love for Italian cuisine with my Puerto Rican roots. The star of this dish is the 'Picadillo' (ground meat), in this recipe I used ground turkey instead of the traditional beef used in Italian Meat Sauce recipes. I promise you'll forget it's turkey when you taste it, and your family (kids especially) will never be the wiser. I hope you enjoy this Italian/Puerto Rican fusion dish as much as my family does.

Similar recipe can be found at Rican Recipes

Ingredients

1 lb. ground turkey
1 (24) jar of your favorite pasta sauce (I used Bertolli Five Cheese)
1 large yellow onion diced
1 Green Cubanelle Pepper diced (may be substituted with Anaheim Pepper if needed)
1 Roasted Red Pepper (jarred) diced
1/2 cup of Complete Seasoning
3 tbsp. garlic powder
3 tbsp. onion powder
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
2 tbsp. green Spanish olives
1 (16 oz.) box of fettuccine pasta
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 packet of Sazon
4 tbsp. of Sofrito

Steps

Seasoning the meat:

In large bowl combine ground turkey with onion,cubanelle and roasted red pepper

Fold in Complete Seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese until mixed.

Set aside and prepare oil in pan

Flavoring the oil:

In a large pan heat vegetable oil on medium heat

When oil becomes hot reduce to low heat adding Sofrito and Sazon and cook for about 1 minute

This process flavors the oil giving the seasonings in the meat more depth.

Do not skip this step!

Cooking the Picadillo (ground meat)

Add meat mixture into pan and cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally; for about 10 mins or until meat has browned; set aside

Preparing the Pasta

Cook the fettuccine according to packaging, drain and add in pasta sauce; cook for about 5 mins on low heat of until warm

Fold in Picadillo and cook for an additional 5 mins on low heat; or until warm; serve.

Garnish with grated Parmesan Cheese (optional) and enjoy!

I really hope that you enjoy this dish as much as I do. The flavors in this dish are unmistakably Puerto Rican and absolutely Delicious. It's a fun and unique twist on an Italian classic and sure to become a household favorite.

Until next time, I wish you Speedy Cooking and Happy Eating!

- Erikalisa

Southern Comfort:Baked Potato Soup

Welcome to The Cookbook Diaries!

I created this blog to document my love for food, my attempt in executing recipes and my culinary journey in general. When I thought about the recipe I wanted to feature in my first blog post I wanted it to be something timeless that I love.

What better than a southern classic and my personal favorite, Baked Potato Soup!? Baked Potato Soup is the epitome of southern comfort and a breeze to make. The recipe for this particular Baked Potato Soup comes from the Queen of Southern Comfort herself Paula Deen. I cut the recipe in about half since I have a small family, and was pretty satisfied with the results. I did however substitute and add a couple ingridients to better suit my taste and what I had on hand.

Here is the recipe adapted by Paula Deen's Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

8 slices of hickory smoked bacon

1 small yellow onion, diced

2 sticks of celery diced

1 garlic clove minced

4 tablespoons of all purpose flour

2 cups of chicken broth (I used Wolfgang Puck Organic Free Range Chicken Broth)

2 baked potatoes, baked, peeled and diced (I microwaved mine)

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

Chopped green onion (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

In a medium saucepan cook the bacon covered until crisp; remove bacon; crumble;reserve drippings

Cook onion, celery and garlic in the drippings until tender

Stir in flour and cook for about one minute stirring constantly

Gradually add the chicken broth, 1/2 cup at a time to avoid clumping, cook for about 5 minutes stirring constantly until think and bubbling

Add in diced potatoes and heavy cream; continue to cook for about 10 mins

Stir in sour cream and cheese

Garnish with sour cream, cheese, bacon and chopped green onion (optional)

I hope this soup brings you as much warmth and comfort as it does for me.

Until next time... I wish you, Speedy Cooking and Happy Eating!

- Erikalisa