Baked Pears

Baked Pears by Amia Barrio

Videography and Production by Sydney Jara Barrio

Amia Barrio, making some Baked Pears with her canine costar Koda!

Preparing food for your family is not always the easiest task, but Amia walks us through a simple recipe to gather loved ones at the dinner table for a sweet treat. Baked pears, it’s what’s for dinner… or rather, it is for dessert.

Ingredients

Measurements for this recipe are subjective and can be tailored to preference. I am only guessing the amount used in the video.

  • 3 large ripe pears
  • 1/3 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 3 tsp honey
  • 1/3 cup crushed walnuts
    • optional: ice cream, yogurt, frozen yogurt, or Cool Whip!

Directions

Begin by preheating your oven to 350F. Then cut pears in half and place on a baking sheet; a good tip is to cut off a small sliver of the other end, so they sit upright and do not wobble. Using the knife, a spoon, or melon baller, scoop out the core as best you can. Afterward, sprinkle cinnamon, top with crushed walnuts, and drizzle with honey over each one. Once you have prepared the pears and your oven is at 350F, place them on a baking sheet to bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Then remove, let cool, and enjoy! Top with Cool Whip, vanilla ice cream, or yogurt to make it even sweeter!

Flan De Queso

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Flan de Queso
Story and photos by Holly Basaldu

Johanna Magee, a child of both Mexico and New York, shares with us her favorite dishes, some imprinted cooking experiences and an insight into why cooking is a part of her identity. A sophomore international relations and political science double-major at St. Mary’s University, Magee embraces cooking as a way to feel at home.

Studying far from home, Magee explains her aunt’s friend, an alumnus of St. Mary’s, recommended her to the university’s English program to assist her in bridging the gap between English and Spanish.

She also loves the home environment that St. Mary’s provides. Geography plays into another big part being close to Mexico—she’s never too far from her Mother.

“My mom’s food led me into the kitchen…I wouldn’t like the way she cooked something so I would end up going into the kitchen to see if I could redo it my own way,” she says.

My mother “is my inspiration. She is why I started into the kitchen in the first place,” Magee explains.

Influenced by the Italian family environment, Magee’s favorite type of dishes are pasta-dependent, which include lasagna and Penne de Vodka—a penne pasta with a tomato vodka sauce that has a creamy, rich taste.

Cooking helps her distress and results in having a delicious treat in the end. Enjoying time in the kitchen, she shows how to make Flan.

“This is the dish my mom taught me when I was young, and this is my favorite dessert,” she says.

 

Tools

Aluminum Foil

Baking Pan 9″x9″

Blender

Can Opener

Knife

Measuring Cups (½ cup)

Oven Mitten

Wisk

Ingredients

Condensed Milk- 1 Can (14oz)

Cream Cheese- 1 Bar (4oz)

Eggs- 4 (large)

Evaporated Milk- 1 Can (12oz)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil- 2tsp or Non-stick cooking spray

Milk- ½ Cup

Sugar- ½ Cup

Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350°F .Drizzle EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) or spray with non-stick cooking spray and Sugar on the bottom of the Baking Pan. Heat the pan over the stove top on medium (this makes a sugary glaze on top) or put into oven for 3-5 minutes (till golden brown). Combine the rest of the ingredients into the blender and blend on high till you get a thick consistency. Pour the mixture into the pan over the sugary glaze. Cover the pan with Aluminum Foil. Bake at 350°F for 35m-45m, till golden brown (it will puff up and rise during the baking). Let cool at room temperature for 35m. Carefully in a knife along the edges, then flip the Pan onto a serving plate.

Rosemary Chicken

Rosemary Chicken by Vanessa Benavides
Videography and Production by Analissa Cantu

 

St. Mary’s University alumna Vanessa Benavides, Spring 2013, shows us how to cook a simple, yet elegant dinner of Rosemary Chicken. She also tells us why Rosemary Chicken is a convenient dish that can impress anyone, and why she loves to cook so much.

 

Rosemary Chicken – Serves 2 – 3 

  • 1 lb. of Chicken Breast
  • 5 Small Red Potatoes
  • 1 tsp. of Salt
  • 1 tsp. of Minced Garlic
  • 1 tsp. of Rubbed Sage
  • 1/4 tsp. of Coarse Ground Black Pepper
  • 2 tbsp. of Olive Oil

Directions:

First, defrost the chicken breast in a sink and wash all red potatoes. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix all of the powders together in a large bowl, then mix in the olive oil in the bowl. Then, slice the red potatoes in either chunks or slices, whichever you prefer.

Set the potatoes aside, and dip the defrosted chicken breasts in the bowl of spices and olive oil, make sure they are covered with all of the spices, then place them in a lined pan. After all of the chicken breasts are placed in pan, dip the potatoes in the bowl of spices and olive oil and place them around the chicken in the lined pan. With the oven preheated at 425 degrees, let the chicken and potatoes cook for 20 – 25 minutes.

While they are cooking, occasionally turn the potatoes around so that they do not burn. Then, voila! Take the chicken and potatoes out, let them cool, and serve. Make sure to check the chicken to see if it is cooked fully. If it looks like there is some red when you cut the chicken, make sure it’s not the spices bleeding into the chicken.