What Do You Do In Your Spare Time?

People often ask me what I do in my spare time. Well, lately it's been involving EVERYTHING related to food. Typically it's recipe development stuff. It's usually always cooking food because I SUCK at baking.

Well, guess what folks?!?!

I baked a batch of red velvet cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting. I made a phone call or two and two of my friends showed up with doggie bag in tow.

They nodded and gave their approval - so this one is a keeper.

But, that's so fat of me. I sit and home and think of recipes. Isn't that just the fattest thing ever? Really - I could use my time on earth more wisely - but here I am thinking of recipes. Hilarious!

So, what do you do in your spare time?

Enjoy the pics and the recipe will be coming sooner or later!

-DTW

Mid-Week Comfort Meal

Need a middle of the week "pick me up?" Don't worry, sometimes we all do. This meal hits the nail on the head! It's simple, easy, and delicious - and it's a mid week comfort meal that you'll be cooking all the time!

-DTW


Mid Week Comfort Meals from Darius Williams on Vimeo.

Cooking My Way To Skinny

What happens when you start with this?

You get this, AND...

You end up with THIS!

What is it you ask? Well, it's a quick corn salsa. But I figured why stop there. It's soooo freaking good that I just knew it'd be perfect as a salad dressing - and I was right. I love a little kick - so I took out some frozen shrimp, tossed them with red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, Cajun Seasoning, and olive oil. I roasted them for about 8 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Yup - it looks good because it is good.

AND what? I'm thinking like 300 calories per serving - maybe even less. This salad does NOT compromise on flavor AT ALL. And there's hardly any fat. 

Oh - So, the corn salsa recipe?

I don't have one.

But here's what I did. I took frozen corn, chopped red onion, crushed garlic, a few cherry tomatoes, salt, pepper, a dash of sugar, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. That's it!

How simple is that?

You can TOTALLY do this.

And you'll be skinny in no time - too bad it's not working for me just yet.

-DTW

PS - have you subscribed to my youtube channel? www.youtube.com/everydaycookin - what are you waiting for? All the cool kids have already done it!

Easy Chinesey

It’s really simple…it is. No more calling for Chinese take-out. Instead, following these simple recipes can allow you to cook up fresh Chinese, in no time, and it’s going to be just as tasty. It’s shrimp fried rice, turkey egg rolls, and beef and basil soup.

Part 1 - 

Easy Chinesey from Darius Williams on Vimeo.

Part 2

Easy Chinesey 2 from Darius Williams on Vimeo.

Garlic Basil Cream w/Pancetta

So, of course it's on to testing more recipes, right? I mean, how else can I be good at this whole recipe development thing. 

I have tons of recipe ideas to share. The only problem is this - I don't have the ACTUAL recipe because well, I'm developing them. So, you add a little bit of this and a little bit of that and voila - it's good.

This one was too good to pass up - soooo, I wanted to share with you guys what I did. 

The idea was to combine flavors that are a match made in heaven - garlic and basil. What better way to make them live in harmony and peace than to add cream and pancetta? I know - I know - classic! And - it totally works!

So, I'll tell you how this went - it's easy. Too bad I can't give you an exact recipe though. 

So, I diced chicken breast and cooked those in olive oil.

Then I added pancetta to the mix.

I tossed in shallots and fresh garlic.

I I seasoned this with fresh ground black pepper and red pepper flakes.

I added in frozen peas.

I tossed in basil.

Some butter.

And then the cream.

I checked for salt/pepper balance and adjusted.

I tossed in flavored linguini. This one was flavored with roasted garlic.

I added in aged Parm and topped the finished dish with more parm and basil.

Hell - how simple was that? I'll create a real recipe and share it with you guys because this definitely needs to be incorporated into an episode of Everyday Cookin.

(great transition)

Have you seen the videos? If not, they're on the post prior to this. And be a doll and subscribe to my Youtube channel too - www.youtube.com/everydaycookin.

Oh yea - and check out the website too - www.everydaycookin.com!

Enjoy the pics!

-Darius

www.everydaycookin.com - it's launched

Be sure to check out the website www.everydaycookin.com. 

Here are the two videos - A Trip to the Caribbean!

What's cooking? Jerk chicken, sweet potato risotto, AND  coconut spinach!

Lemme know what you think?

-DTW

Part 1  

A Visit To The Caribbean (Part 1) from Darius Williams on Vimeo. Part 2 A Visit to the Caribbean (Part 2) from Darius Williams on Vimeo.

Chinese Fake Out - Still Skinny Cooking!

How about this for a try - it's Chinese Fake Out - Chicken Fried Rice and Hoisin Glazed Chicken!

Go ahead...ask me why!

I'll tell you.

It's fake out because you can fool all your friends into thinking you ordered take out instead of cooking it. And guess what? It's super healthy - know why? 

Because I used brown rice and olive oil to prepare it.

I don't have a recipe but I can walk you through what I did.

Chicken breasts were seared on both sides and liberally seasoned with salt and pepper. They went into a 400 degree oven to cook through and were glazed every 2 minutes until they were done. Simple, right? Stick a knife into the chicken breasts, if the juices run clear - it's done.

For the fried rice - sooooo simple. I diced up bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, and green) and sauteed those with shoestring carrots, garlic, and scallions - just for a moment. I removed that from the pan and added diced chicken to cook. I seasoned it with salt and pepper and took it out when it was done. I scrambled an egg in the same pan and then tossed everything back in with soy sauce, red pepper flakes, a touch of sesame oil and hoisin. And voila...that's it!

Check out the pictures!

Don't forget I launch the site www.everydaycookin.com this coming Sunday - 1/11/2009. The first video is ready to roll. It's a "Visit to the Caribbean." Remember the cruise I went on? Well, I was inspired - so on the video I'm making jerk chicken, sweet potato risotto, and coconut spinach - yummers! You'll like the video!

Are you on my mailing list? If not, e-mail me - darius@everydaycookin.com!

What Have I Been Doing?

This is so unlike me - is it not? I mean, you haven't seen a real blog post from me in ages! No laughter - no seriousness - oh my word - what's happening with me. Let's just say that a brotha has been busy over here.

I'm trying to keep up with blog posts - but there are sooo many and you know, there are so little hours in the day. I'm doing the best I can.

So, next week - 7 days from today to be exact - I'm supposed to be launching a website called everydaycookin.com. It's going to be "the everyday site for the everyday cook."

Let me ask you a question...do you think I'm ready? Ha! Hecks no! This is a lotta work - why didn't someone tell me. I've been cooking my arse off - taking food pictures - writing restaurant reviews - and everything else you can think of related to food. So, forgive me if I seem a little out of wack - I'll return to the normal Darius soon...I suppose. In the mean time and in between time - here's a look at what I've been doing.

If I don't have your e-mail address - e-mail me so I can add you to my everydaycookin.com mailing list - darius@everydaycookin.com....okay?!?!?!

-Darius