Spicy Beef Stir Fry and Shakshuka

I'm so very obsessed with food.  I should seriously weigh about 400 lbs.  I eat when I'm bored.  I think about food when I'm bored.  I go grocery shopping when I'm bored.  This can't be a good habit right?  I guess thats where my running habit also comes into play.  These two recipes are delicious! Jeremy is not a fan of either, because he does not like peppers/onions, nor does he like eggs.  He's crazy.  First up is the stir fry.  

I have not made stir fry in a very long time.  I forgot how good and easy it is.  This recipe, which came from a friend's stir fry book, consists of sirloin steaks marinated in worchesterchire sauce, sugar, garlic, jalapeno and chipotle peppers.  

Saute it all up with some bell peppers, onions and tomatoes, then top with basil and serve over rice...and you have got a very fast, delicious meal. 

Next is Shakshuka.  LOVE the name.  Shakshuka, shakshuka, shakshuka!  Shakshuka is a middle-eastern dish that is eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce that is seasoned with spices such as cumin, cardamom, paprika, and turmeric.  So good!

First though, let me introduce you to Chipotle's.  I don't believe that I had ever used chipotle peppers before this (and the previous stir fry) dish.  They are so good! And pretty spicy as well.  Normally I just stick with serranos, jalapenos and thai chilis.  These are climbing up to be a favorite of mine.  They have a smokier taste.  

I used 2 chipotles, and 1 jalapeno in the shakshuka, a fair amount of spice.  those spices, onions, peppers, and tomatoes all mixed and heated together to make a thick sauce.  Then, you poach eggs in it!  After the eggs are cooked just top with parsley and feta. mmm...

There are many ways to eat shakshuka.  Traditionally, it is eaten with white bread.  I ate it with mini pita bread rounds.  I also ate it over pasta.  And I bet its delicious on toast.  Breakfast tomorrow?  yup.  On another note...

our crazy cat wedged himself under the couch, thinking that he was small enough to fit.  He was wrong, and he got stuck! Haha! 


Here is the shakshuka recipe:  (I can't remember the recipe for the stir fry because I forgot to copy it down before giving back the book, but it doesn'tt need exact measurements, and I believe that I mentioned all of the ingredients above)


SHAKSHUKA!

1/4 cup olive oil
2 Chipotle peppers, and 1 jalapeno, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped 
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, crushed then sliced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 14.5-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained (you can also use fresh tomatoes)
salt, to taste
3 eggs
feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley



Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chiles and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and paprika, and cook, stirring frequently, until garlic is soft, about 2 more minutes.
Put tomatoes and their liquid into a medium bowl and crush with your hands. Add crushed tomatoes and their liquid to skillet along with 1/2 cup water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 15 minutes. Season sauce with salt.
Crack eggs over sauce so that eggs are evenly distributed across sauce’s surface. Cover skillet and cook until yolks are just set, about 5 minutes. Using a spoon, baste the whites of the eggs with tomato mixture, being careful not to disturb the yolk. Sprinkle shakshuka with feta and parsley.  


Enjoy with pita, pasta, bread or toast!  (or anything else you think might be good!)