The DiFalco Den

• White Rice: Grab long-grain white rice. Don’t swap in brown rice in this recipe as brown rice takes longer to cook.
• Yellow or White Onion: You can use either a standard yellow onion or a sweet white onion.
• Jalapeno: A small jalapeno that’s diced up gives that kick of that unmistakable spicy flavor.
• Red Bell Pepper: Dice up half of a red bell pepper to boost the red color and add flecks throughout the rice.
• Tomato Sauce and Broth: The rice simmers gently in a mix of tomato sauce and broth. You can use either vegetable broth or chicken broth.
• Spices and Aromatics: Some minced garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper add to the flavor.
• Chopped Cilantro: I always love to add a little chopped cilantro on top for a pop of green, which also contrasts beautifully with the red rice.

1. Thoroughly wash and drain the rice with a fine mesh sieve.
2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, bell pepper and jalapeno and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the onions become translucent.
3. Toss in the rice and saute it until it’s lightly toasted and golden brown, about 2 minutes.
4. Add in the cumin, salt, tomato sauce and chicken broth, then stir everything together.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer until the rice is cooked all the way through – about 15 minutes.
6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately.

Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Parmesan Cream Sauce

 

Ingredients:

 

1 lb (450g) sirloin steak, diced into bite-sized pieces

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 tbsp (28g) butter

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup (120ml) beef broth

1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream

1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese

Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

 

Instructions:

 

Season the steak bites generously with salt and pepper.

In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat until sizzling.

Add the seasoned steak pieces and sear until browned, approximately 3-4 minutes.

Once browned, remove the steak from the skillet and keep it warm.

In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté until it becomes aromatic.

Pour in the beef broth, using a spatula to scrape any browned bits from the skillet.

Stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, allowing the sauce to simmer and thicken.

Return the cooked steak to the skillet, ensuring it is well coated in the creamy sauce.

Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Total Time: 25 mins | Servings: 4

Garlic Butter Baked Scallops 🍋

Ingredients:

1 lb large scallops, patted dry

4 tbsp butter, melted

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

1 tbsp lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

Lemon wedges (for serving)

Instructions:

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Prepare the Garlic Butter:

In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Assemble the Scallops:

Place the scallops in a single layer in a baking dish.

Pour the garlic butter mixture over the scallops, ensuring they are well-coated.

Add the Topping:

In another small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and parsley.

Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the scallops.

Bake:

Bake the scallops in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the scallops are opaque and the breadcrumb topping is golden brown.

Serve:

Serve the baked scallops hot with lemon wedges on the side.

Prep Time: 10 mins | Total Time: 22 mins | Servings: 4

According to Egg Farmers:

The key to great hard-boiled eggs is to use eggs that are a little bit on the older side.

Consider the following pro tips for hard-boiling eggs: