Category Archives: ASIAN INSPIRED DISHES

EGG DROP SOUP – 2

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Tis the season when the upper most thing on most of our minds when it comes time to cook dinner is, what in the heck can I fix for dinner that’s quick, easy, and delicious? Because if you are anything like me, you’ve been at it all day and by 4:00, your only concern is to get something, make that anything on the table so that you can finally put your feet up and take a well-deserved rest.

OK, many of you aren’t as old as I am, or go quite as crazy as I do at Christmas, but everyone needs a good basic recipe for those times when cooking is synonymous with an afternoon spent at your dentist’s office having a root canal! We all have those days, and for me Christmas time especially brings out the “I don’t want to cook, and I don’t want to go out to eat either” conundrum that’s inherent with being tired, over-extended, and just plain beat. In fact, there are days at this time of year when a root canal sounds almost OK because at least I’d be sitting down!

So, if any of you have similar thoughts about the joy of fixing dinner after a day of baking cookies, making fudge, wrapping presents, getting packages ready to mail, and for many of you, all of this after spending a full day at work, then this recipe should be perfect for you.

Now, we happen to love egg drop soup. So much so, that we often order it in restaurants. And usually, we are disappointed. There just doesn’t seem to be any flavor in the broth. And let’s face it, this simple soup is all about the broth. So, the broth in this soup has a lot of flavor.

And in case you were concerned, this soup is heartier than it appears in print. But if you would prefer a bit more protein in your soup, by-all-means add some diced chicken to the mix. Or add sliced mushrooms, cooked udon noodles, tofu, or baby spinach leaves. Any or all would be a lovely addition. So, give this soup a try. It really is delicious. (And yes, I know this recipe is very similar to my original recipe for Egg Drop Soup. I just like to change things up a bit just for the shear joy of doing so!)

And as for Christmas preparations, I still think I’m 33 when it comes to decorating for the holidays, or getting goodies sent to family and friends. But really, all of this is unnecessary to keeping Christmas in my heart. And that’s just where Christmas belongs. Remembering to be extra special kind, or extra special charitable or thinking of others instead of myself. I still have plenty of room for improvement in all these areas. So, my Christmas wish for myself is to keep working towards being a better person.

My Christmas wish for you is peace, love, and an abundance of hope.

4 c. chicken broth

3 fat or 4-5 skinny green onions, chopped (white and dark green parts separated)

½ tsp. grated fresh ginger

1 T. soy sauce

4 tsp. cornstarch

freshly ground black pepper (just a bit)

¼ tsp. fine sea salt (or more to taste)

¼ tsp. granulated garlic

2 T. water

3 lg. eggs   

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil 

Combine the chicken broth, the white part of the green onions, grated ginger, and soy sauce in a soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Bring broth to a low simmer and let burble for a good 10 minutes.

Whisk the cornstarch, pepper, sea salt, granulated garlic, and water together in a small bowl. (Make sure the cornstarch is completely dissolved.) Then pour into the soup and mix well.

Beat the eggs in a small bowl. To add eggs, hold a fork vertically across the rim of the bowl. Then slowly drizzle the beaten eggs through the tines of the fork into the soup. Move the bowl around as you pour the eggs, so that all the egg doesn’t land in one spot. Let the egg set for a few seconds, then stir gently to break up the egg into desired sized pieces.

Just before serving, drizzle the sesame oil into the soup. Then sprinkle with the remaining green onion. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.

SHRIMP OR PORK EGG FU YUNG WITH GRAVY OR SAUCE

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Pork Egg Fu Yung

If you are new to my blog, there is something more you should know about me than just what I have confessed to in my introduction – “It’s really just all about me!” I love Chinese food. And not the kind you find in China because I have never been there. Nope, I love the kind of Chinese food you find in good old American Chinese restaurants, especially the ones that can be found in any large-city International District. And I especially love the dishes that have only a superficial resemblance to any dish you might actually find in China. Except for one. Because even though egg fu yung is considered an American Chinese dish, its culinary roots reach back to Shanghai, and the name of this dish is Cantonese, with several accepted spellings including egg foo young, egg fooyung, egg foo yong, egg fu yung, and egg furong. I have chosen to spell this dish egg fu yung, because, well I don’t know why, I just have!  For the sake of simplicity, you may think of this dish as basically a fried omelet, with not very much meat, lots of veggies, and topped with a yummy sauce or gravy.  

You will notice that I have included 2 recipes for the gravy/sauce. I made them both but couldn’t choose which one I preferred. And neither could Mr. C. or our dear friends Mark and Vicki. So, your choice.

Now after a rudimentary glance at these recipes, you might think they would be anything but easy to prepare. But I’m here to tell you, they are not difficult at all. Just preparing a simple gravy or sauce, then a bit of hacking and slashing of veggies, a bit of playing with the meat, then combining all the egg fu yung ingredients together. (Except the gravy/sauce that is!) And once you’ve ladled the egg mixture into the pan, you are about 3-5 minutes away from sitting down to dine.

So, if you too are a Chinese food fan, then I think you are in for a treat. And even though you may be a true Chinese food aficionado, I’m willing to bet you haven’t ordered egg fu yung in quite some time. Because if you are like me, you consider yourself to be a “foodie”. And how can a true food connoisseur consider a humble and often thought of “secondary” dish now be relighted to the highly sought over position of “entrée”? Well, until recently, I wouldn’t have considered egg fu yung to be the star of the show either. In fact, I hadn’t ordered it in years. OK, decades. But during a recent visit to a Chinese restaurant, I was advised to order it, and I simply flipped over how delicious it was. It was my favorite dish on the table. What had I been waiting for? So, be reminded. Egg Fu Yung is delicious, and when you make it yourself, you can include any old meat or veggies you choose. And regulate the amount of salt, etc. etc. So, take my advise and make this dish at your earliest convenience. It is truly delicious, not too expensive to prepare, and a lot less caloric than many other Chinese dishes that you might enjoy.

As always, have fun in your kitchen. Try new recipes, especially the dishes you enjoy the most when you go out to eat. They may be easier to prepare than you would imagine. And don’t get me started on how much money you will save by fixing your favorite dishes at home. I neither have the time nor the energy to prepare a 60-page dissertation on nutrition, unpronounceable ingredients, marketing, and economics.  

Peace and love to all.

Egg Fu Yung “Gravy”

Egg Fu Yung Gravy:

¼ c. vegetable oil

¼ c. finely diced onion

6 med. button mushrooms, chopped well (or the equivalent in chopped shiitake mushrooms)

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

¼ c. flour

1 tsp. granulated sugar

pinch white pepper

2 c. water

3 tsp. chicken or vegetable base (I use Better Than Bouillon bases)

2 T. dark soy sauce

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. Add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic and cook until the garlic starts to brown. Whisk in the flour and cook for at least one minute. As it cooks whisk in the sugar and white pepper.

Slowly whisk in the water and chicken base. Cook until nice large bubbles appear. Then stir in the soy sauce and cook for another minute. Taste and adjust seasoning. Just before serving, whisk in the sesame oil.

Simple Egg Fu Yung “Sauce

Simple Egg Fu Yung Sauce:

4 tsp. cornstarch

1 c. beef broth or 1 cup water and 1 teaspoon beef

2 T. soy sauce

Combine all sauce ingredients in a small pan and heat to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute; serve hot.

SHRIMP Egg Fu Yung:

2 T. vegetable oil, divided

3-4 button mushrooms, chopped

⅓ c. thinly sliced celery

1 sm. garlic clove, finely minced

6 eggs

½ c. bean sprouts

3 green onions, thinly sliced, divided

4 oz. chopped raw shrimp    

¼ tsp. kosher salt

pinch white pepper

1 tsp. sesame oil

sesame seeds, opt. garnish

steamed rice

Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a very large, non-stick pan. Cook the mushrooms and celery until just starting to get soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk eggs in a bowl. Add the beansprouts, ¾ of the green onions, raw shrimp, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked mushrooms, celery, and garlic.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sesame oil in the same very large pan and set over medium heat. (Use additional oil if you feel there isn’t enough in the pan. Especially if your pan is quite large.) Ladle in ¼ of the batter for each egg fu yung. Use a spatula to push edges in to form 4 round(ish) shapes. As mixture sets at the edges, with spatula, gently keep the egg mixture together as if you were corralling sheep. 

Cook until the undersides are medium golden brown then flip and cook the other sides again until nicely browned. (The raw shrimp will cook during this time.)  

Slide omelets onto plates. Dribble on some of the gravy. Then sprinkle with sesame seeds and remaining green onion slices. Serve with a side of rice and the remaining gravy or sauce.

Note: You can use any combination of meat/seafood and veggies. Use a total of 2 to 2½ cups of protein/veggies for 6 eggs.

PORK Egg Fu Yung:

4 oz. ground pork  

½ tsp. soy sauce
½ tsp. oyster sauce

¼ tsp. sugar

dash sesame oil

2 T. vegetable oil, divided

3-4 button mushrooms, thinly sliced

⅓ c. thinly sliced celery

1 sm. garlic clove, finely minced

6 eggs

½ c. bean sprouts

3 green onions, thinly sliced, divided

¼ tsp. kosher salt

pinch white pepper

1 tsp. sesame oil

sesame seeds, opt. garnish

steamed rice

Place pork in a bowl. Mix in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, and sesame oil. Set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a very large, non-stick pan. Cook the mushrooms and celery until just starting to get soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat and set aside.

Whisk eggs in a bowl. Add the beansprouts, ¾ of the green onions, salt, and pepper. Add the pork mixture crumbled into the egg mixture with your fingers. Add the cooked mushrooms, celery, and garlic.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and sesame oil in the pan and set over medium heat. Ladle in ¼ of the batter for each egg fu yung. Use a spatula to push edges in to form 4 round(ish) shapes. As mixture sets at the edges, with spatula, gently keep the egg mixture together as if you were corralling sheep. 

Cook until the undersides are medium golden brown then flip and cook the other sides again until nicely browned. (The raw pork will cook nicely during this time.)  

Slide omelets onto plates. Dribble with gravy then sprinkle with sesame seeds and remaining green onion slices. Serve with a side of rice and prepared gravy or sauce.

Note: You can use any combination of meat/seafood and veggies. Use a total of 2 to 2½ cups of protein/veggies for 6 eggs.

BAKED SHRIMP WONTON CUPS WITH SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

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I have this tendency (a holdover from earlier years spent carefully watching my bank account balance), to see a leftover ingredient in my refrigerator and build a new dish around that ingredient. So, after making Baked Crab Rangoon with Sweet and Sour Sauce (recipe on site) a couple days before and having both leftover wonton wrappers and Sweet and Sour Sauce, I decided to try my hand at shrimp wonton cups. And boy am I glad I did!

I started with a recipe for wonton cups I found on the anerdcooks.com site. Then of course, I played with the recipe because I simply can’t help myself. But the result was terrific, so as in many cases, asking for forgiveness is so much easier than asking for permission. But Lauren, I do apologize for the changes I made to your perfectly fine recipe without your permission.

Anyway, the result was much better than expected. And even though there are still unused wonton wrappers in my refrigerator, I have reduced their number by 24. Of course, I have also used a half pound of large shrimp, 4 ounces of cream cheese, a bit of sour cream, and some grated mozzarella in the process. But I already had them in stock, so no visit to the grocery store was required to prepare this treat. (I still have left over Sweet and Sour Sauce too. But I have decided to let it go. There is a line over which even I refuse to cross!)

So, if you too love shrimp wonton cups with a truly delicious sauce, then I recommend these easy to prepare recipes. Perfect as an appetizer or accompaniment to other Chinese dishes.

As always, keep smiling. And keep your family and friends smiling too by preparing great food and serving it in beautiful serving dishes and on lovely dinnerware.

I don’t know about you, but food served on nice plates always seems more appealing. So, don’t save your good dishes for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Use them whenever you get the urge. Sure, a piece could get broken. It happens. But while the pieces are still around, they should be made to earn their keep, not tucked away for your inheritors to dispose of. Because realistically, your kids tastes and yours, when it comes to fine china that is, are probably quite different. So, enjoy them while you can. (That goes for the kids too!)

Peace and love to all.

2 tsp. unsalted butter

½ lb. lg. raw shrimp, shelled, deveined, and tails removed

freshly ground black pepper (just a bit)

24 square wonton wrappers

4 oz. (½ lg. pkg.) cream cheese, room temp.

2 T. sour cream

1 garlic clove, finely minced

½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 green onions, finely chopped

½ c. grated mozzarella cheese  

Heat the butter in a small frying pan. Cut the large shrimp into very small pieces. Add the shrimp, lightly sprinkled with black pepper to the frying pan and cook just until done. Remove from heat and set aside. Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

Lightly spray mini-muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray. Carefully press wonton wrappers into wells of pan. Lightly spray the wonton wrappers in the pan. Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges start to turn golden brown. Remove pan from oven.

Meanwhile, stir the cream cheese, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce together in a mixing bowl until well blended. Stir in the cooked shrimp, green onions, and mozzarella cheese; mix well. Using a #100 (2 teaspoons) ice cream scoop, plop the shrimp mixture into each wonton cup.

Bake for about 10 minutes or until wontons are golden brown and the filling is starting to bubble. 

Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Great dunked in Sweet and Sour Sauce.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

¼ c. lightly packed brown sugar

¼ tsp. kosher salt

2 T. ketchup

1 T. soy sauce

3 T. plain rice vinegar (not seasoned rice vinegar)

½ c. water

2 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

Combine the sugar, salt, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a near boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Give the cornstarch a stir and then add it to the pan. Continue cooking, stirring, for about 15 seconds, or until the sauce comes to full boil and thickens.

Remove from the heat. Serve warm or at room temperature. Can be made ahead.

      

BAKED CRAB RANGOON WITH SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

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The last time I ordered crab Rangoon in a restaurant I was terribly disappointed. (And yes Rangoon should be capitalized because it is from the city Yangon, also called Rangoon, the former capital of Burma, which is now Myanmar.) Anyway, the crab used in the making of the Rangoon at this otherwise fine Chinese cuisine dining establishment, was very sparingly used, to say the least. In fact, if there was any crab in the mix, I would be very surprised. If anything, there might have been a bit of surimi (fake crab) in the filling. And that not only scares me; it makes me madder than a wet hen! I hate fake crab! And everything about it! For interesting facts about imitation crab, skip to the bottom of this post. But back to this recipe.

The other day when I got a hankering for Chinese food, I decided to pull out my old recipe and build me some crab Rangoon with what I consider to contain the requisite amount of crab. And since I abhor deep fat frying anything, even something as delightful as crab Rangoon, my old standby recipe for baking the Rangoon seemed perfect for the occasion.

And there was much rejoicing at table that evening. Not only was the Rangoon terrific; the sauce was over the top delicious. And nary a spattering of hot fat to be seen on either me or the immediate vicinity around the stove!

So, the next time you are looking for just the perfect appetizer, please give this baked Rangoon recipe a try. And don’t even think about serving the Rangoon without the Sweet and Sour Sauce. Not only is this sauce perfect with Rangoon, it’s equally great with the next recipe I am going to post – Shrimp Wonton Cups with Sweet and Sour Sauce. Plus, this sauce is terrific with my recipes for Char Siu (Chinese BBQ Pork), Easy Chinese Dumplings/Potstickers, baked eggrolls (still working on the recipe), or as a glaze for grilled chicken or seafood. Plus both the recipe for the Rangoon and the sauce are very easy to prepare.

So, as always, have fun in your kitchen. We all must eat to stay alive. And eating can be such a pleasure. As cooks we can make this happen.

And believe me, I know there are times when even the thought of cooking one more meal is overwhelming. But cooking is a lot like exercising. Once you get started, the effort initiates a biological cascade of events that results in the release of endorphins — those chemicals that make you happy! So, stay happy. Keep cooking!

Peace and love to all.

8 oz. cream cheese, room temp.

1 clove garlic, very finely minced

1 green onion, finely diced

¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp. sugar

pinch white pepper

8 oz. crabmeat (canned real crab is fine for this recipe)

¼ tsp. kosher salt, if needed

square wonton wrappers

Mix the cream cheese, garlic, green onion, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and pepper together. Taste the crab meat. If it isn’t terribly salty, add the ¼ teaspoon salt to the cream cheese mixture. Then gently stir in the crab.

Grease 12-16 muffin cups with cooking spray. Gently place 1 won ton wrapper in each cup. Fill evenly with crabmeat mixture.

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges of wonton wrappers are golden brown and the filling is heated through.

Serve warm with Sweet and Sour Sauce.

SWEET AND SOUR SAUCE

¼ c. lightly packed brown sugar

¼ tsp. kosher salt

2 T. ketchup

1 T. soy sauce

3 T. plain rice vinegar (not seasoned rice vinegar)

½ c. water

2 tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

Combine the sugar, salt, ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a near boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Give the cornstarch a stir and then add it to the pan. Continue cooking, stirring, for about 15 seconds, or until the sauce comes to full boil and thickens.

Remove from the heat. Serve warm or at room temperature. Can be made ahead.

Imitation Crab (From webmd.com)

“Imitation crab is made with surimi, a paste made out of finely shredded or pulverized fish. After the fish is minced, it is heated and pressed into shapes that resemble meat from a crab leg. The resulting imitation crab looks similar to the original crab in its coloring and texture.

Binding agents, like egg white, starch, vegetable oil, or sugar, are added to the surimi paste to make the meat stick together. Occasionally, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is added to the surimi. Orange or red coloring is the key ingredient added to make the mixture resemble shellfish meat. For the preservation of the product, the makers vacuum seal and pasteurize the imitation crab meat.  

Real crab has significantly higher nutrient levels than imitation crab. For example, imitation crab derives most of its calories from added carbs. The calories in an Alaskan king crab are derived from proteins, not from carbs. If you’re on a keto or low-carb diet and are trying to cut your carb intake, real crab would be the better choice.

Real crab provides a higher amount of vitamins and minerals. It’s a good source of vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc. When making surimi, these nutrients are lost during washing and processing when the fish meat is exposed to heat. Real crab also has a higher amount of omega-3 fatty acids than its mock substitute. Some packages of imitation crab may have added omega-3, but this isn’t always the case.

Imitation crab contains several processed ingredients. The largest component of the imitation crab product is surimi. It contributes 35% to 50% of the product’s weight. The other 50% to 65% that makes up imitation crab contains:

– Starches like wheat, potato, or tapioca starch make the surimi firm and freezable. 

– Salt (sodium chloride) adds flavor and helps turn the minced meat into a sturdy gel. Sometimes, potassium chloride is used.

– Vegetable oil enhances texture, shelf life, and white coloring.

– Sugar and sorbitol add some sweetness and help imitation crab to freeze and thaw with ease.

– Egg whites or soy are often added for a boost of protein and to improve texture, color, and glossiness.

– Water takes up the biggest percentage of all the extra ingredients. It helps create the right texture.” 

   

SHRIMP AND ZOODLES STIR FRY

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I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I love my new spiralizer. And yes, I am kind of a gadget girl. Melon ballers and the like have a tendency to follow me out of kitchen shops regardless of whether or not I might actually have a need for said product. It’s the old “isn’t that cute” syndrome that afflicts many of us. And for which there seems to be no known cure. And now with Amazon, it’s even easier to locate those special little items you had no idea you needed so badly. But in all fairness, they are often inexpensive, and even if they serve only one purpose, they are worth the dollars just for the convenience. See, I can justify almost anything. After all, I’ve been at it for a long time. But enough about my rather light case of kitchen tool neurosis. And on to why you too should purchase a spiralizer. (If of course you don’t own one already!)

Then with your spiralizer firmly attached to a counter, you can spiralize your zucchini and carrot and prepare this fabulous recipe courtesy of Holly at the spendwithpennies.com web site. Of course, you could just chop up the zucchini and carrot, but what fun would that be? Getting out the spiralizer, and then making a slight mess on your countertop seems so much more chef-like than merely hacking and slashing the vegetables on a cutting board. Not to mention – classier. And don’t we all want to be thought of as classy cooks? Of course, we do! And speaking of classy, to really up your game, you can refer to spiralized zucchini as “courgetti” which is how spiralized zucchini is referred to in France. English – zucchini, French – courgette.

But whatever you choose to call these thin, spaghetti like strands of fresh zucchini, you are in for a treat. So much healthier than using pasta, and so very tasty. And on that happy note, I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do. It’s easy to prepare, contains simple, healthy, and everyday ingredients, and most importantly, tastes wonderful.  

So, as always, be content. It’s not always easy. Sometimes I forget that I’m not alone feeling insecure or a bit scared about the future. Most of us who have been productive individuals all our lives, find it difficult to accept that our usefulness has become limited by age and/or health issues. And it’s no fun accepting the new reality. I often find myself worried about how the aging process has limited my abilities. And then I realize there isn’t a darn thing I can do about it. And how much even my closest and most loving family and friends might hate me if I didn’t age right along with them. Which of course I am. No one escapes the aging process. Not even if we thought it would never happen to us! (That would include me.)

Then, I laugh at myself for being such a doofus. And remember how lucky I am in the grand scheme of things. And I figure, as long as I can still laugh at myself, I’m OK. After all, it’s a well-known fact that laughter is the best medicine. And the type of “medicine” that has no adverse side effects. Only beneficial properties.  

Peace, love, and contentment to all.

¼ c. water

1 tsp. chicken base (I use Better Than Bouillon Chicken base)

1 T. cornstarch

2 T. brown sugar

3 T. soy sauce

½ tsp. sesame oil

½ tsp. Sriracha, or to taste

1 (6-8 inch) zucchini, spiralized (zoodles)  

¼ tsp. kosher salt

2 T. extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, divided

½ lb. large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails removed, then cut in thirds

1 carrot, spiralized

1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips

2 tsp. minced fresh ginger

3 garlic cloves, minced

sesame seeds, topping, opt.

thinly sliced green onions, topping, opt.

In a small bowl, whisk the water, chicken base, cornstarch, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha together. Set the stir fry sauce aside.

Spiralize the zucchini. (I leave the skin on.) Using scissors, cut the long strands into shorter pieces. Place in a colander in your sink, and sprinkle with the kosher salt. Give the zucchini a toss with the salt, then let it sit until you are ready to add it to the stir fry. (Salt and all.)   

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add shrimp and cook just until done (about 2-3 minutes). Transfer to a separate bowl and set aside.

Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and add the spiralized carrot and red pepper strips. Cook until softened (about 4 minutes).

Add minced ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

Add the zoodles and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add cooked shrimp and stir fry sauce to the pan. Stir well and increase heat to medium-high. Cook until sauce is thickened. Remove from heat.

Serve immediately topped with sesame seeds and green onions.

     

ASIAN SPIRALIZED VEGGIE SALAD

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When we were camping in May with Andy’s sister Katie and her husband Rick, each couple took turn cooking dinner. One night it would be Mr. C. and me slaving away in our trailer preparing dinner for four, and the next evening it would be Rick and Katie’s turn to do the honor. This is what is called, in the vernacular, a win/win situation. Each couple got a night off from cooking (and doing dishes) with the sure knowledge that dinner would be delicious. And in Katie’s case particularly – healthy and inventive. She even went so far as to bring her spiralizer along for the ride. How cool is that! And of course, after seeing how much fun it was to operate the gizmo and how nice the veggies were cut, I made myself a mental note to purchase one when I returned home.

Well, apparently my mental notes aren’t as reliable as they used to be. So, when the mental note finally found its way out of the abyss formerly known as my memory 6 weeks later, I got right on it. I ordered a Brieftons 5-blade spiralizer from Amazon. And frankly, I was amazed at how inexpensive it was. $24 (well really only $23.99) but we all know that’s $24 to anyone with half a brain! But I digress……. And the other evening, for the first time, I took the plastic wonder out of its box, gave it a quick wash, and set it up on my counter. Then with the help of the directions (and yes, I read directions because I’m not mechanically inclined enough to intuit how something works), I spiralized the zucchini, cabbage, carrot, and orange bell pepper for this salad. It was so much fun! And the machine was so easy to clean after I was all done playing with the veggies.

And the salad was delicious. I especially loved the “zoodles”. (That’s zucchini noodles to the unenlightened.) And now I can hardly wait to serve zoodles instead of spaghetti next time I get a hankering for Old Fashioned Meatballs and Spaghetti. Of course, I’ll have to rename the dish. Meatballs and Zoodles. Or Oodles of Zoodles and Meatballs, or a name equally as catchy.  

So, in the final analysis, I think I made a wise choice purchasing this new kitchen tool. The price was right, and now the only problem is where to store the darn thing. My pantry is already filled to the brim. But I will make it work. Somehow.

As always, have fun making delicious and healthy food for your family. And thanks again Katie for turning me on to this new way to get more veggies into our diet. Yet again, I am in your debt. Hugs to you and Rick.

And peace and love to all.

Oh, and just so you know, I included 3 salad dressing recipes that can be used with the veggies in this recipe. All 3 are Asian inspired.   

Dressing #1 has a bolder flavor than Salad dressings #2 & #3

Dressing #2 would be a better choice if you want the flavor focus to be on the veggies. Dressing #1 takes the focus off the veggies and places it more on the flavor of the dressing.

Dressing #3 is the same dressing you would find on a standard Chinese chicken salad or my version – Asian Slaw.  

Salad Dressing #1

2 T. vegetable oil

1 tsp. toasted sesame oil

⅓ c. rice vinegar

3 T.  hoisin sauce, or more to taste

5 tsp. soy sauce, or more to taste

1-2 T. peanut butter (creamy or crunchy), or more to taste

1 clove garlic, finely minced

2 tsp. finely minced fresh ginger

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Whisk the veggie oil, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, peanut butter, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes together. Let sit at room temperature at least 30 minutes before dressing your salad. Store unused dressing in the refrigerator.

Salad Dressing #2

3 T. rice vinegar

1 T. peanut butter

1 tsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. toasted sesame oil

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 tsp. granulated sugar

freshly ground black pepper

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

Whisk the rice vinegar, peanut butter, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, garlic, sugar, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes together. Store in refrigerator.

Salad Dressing #3

¼ c. vegetable oil

2 T. sesame oil

4 tsp. white vinegar (the regular old fashioned distilled kind)

1 tsp. lemon juice (the kind that comes from a real lemon)

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Whisk all ingredients together. Store in refrigerator.

Put it all together:

2 zucchini (about ¾ lb.) spiralized (zoodles)

¼ tsp. kosher salt

1 c. spiralized green or red cabbage   

1 lg. carrot, spiralized

1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, spiralized

2 green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

2 T. toasted sesame seeds

salted peanuts, for garnish, opt. (or slivered almonds would be perfect if you chose to use dressing #3)

Place the spiralized zucchini in a colander either in a bowl or in the sink. Toss with the salt. Let the zoodles drain a bit of their excess moisture while you prep the other vegetables. Before building the salad, cut the spiralized zucchini with a pair of scissors to make them easier to toss (and eat). (You might want to do the same with the other veggies too.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the zucchini noodles (unwashed) with the cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, and green onions.

Pour enough dressing (your choice) over the vegetables to coat them, but not drown them. Toss, taste, and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate the salad if made ahead.

Just before serving, toss in the toasted sesame seeds. Garnish with salted peanuts (or almonds).  Serve immediately.

And in case you were wondering, of course you can use any old veggie you want in this salad. Actually, the more and different the veggies, the better!  

  

EASY FRIED RICE

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And yes, I know. White rice is not the best choice for a nutritious and low carb side dish. But frankly, there are just those culinary occasions when white rice is the best choice. Taste wise. And one of those times happened a few nights ago. (I won’t bother you with what I had prepared to go on the rice because it was one of those times I hate to admit that I had any hand in preparing, much less creating said dish.) But back to how this recipe came about.

I thought we would be enjoying leftovers of the failure (grrrr) I admitted to above, so I made sure to steam plenty of rice for the next evening. (I believe the saying you are attributing to me at this point is “hoisted on my own petard”.) Anyway, I had lots of cold steamed rice and now what to do with it? Simple really. Make fried rice. So, that’s exactly what I did!

Now I already have a great recipe for fried rice on this site. But truly, can you ever have too many recipes for a good thing? I didn’t think so either. Plus, I wanted a fast and easy recipe. So, with a few very minor changes to the recipe for Fried Rice I found on gimmesomeoven.com, I had redeemed myself. At least in my own eyes. (Mr. C. actually thought my self-proclaimed failure was just fine. But then he loves me.) And of course, I am always my own worst critic. Regardless, the Salisbury steak I produced the other evening was not worthy of your high standards! But I would offer up this recipe to anyone, because it is easy to prepare, contains ingredients that are easily obtained, and it tastes better than any fried rice you can order in a restaurant. At least, better than any I have ever eaten in a restaurant.

So, next time you have leftover rice, use this basic recipe to create your own special fried rice. Have other veggies on hand, use them. Want to throw in meat or seafood, go for it. This is a very versatile and adaptable recipe. And ever so delicious.

As always, have fun playing in your kitchen. Since our kitchens are the heart of our homes, make sure every member of your household feels welcome to help with meals in some way. Even if you are met with resistance for chores such as setting the table, clearing the table or emptying the dishwasher, members of your family will still feel appreciated if you remember to thank them. Thank you is such an easy way to show love. And especially with children, it is a good life lesson. If you learn to say thank you at an early age, it becomes a habit. And a habit that leads to respect. And if you want your children to receive respect as an adult, they must first learn to give it freely.    

Peace and love to all.

2 T. unsalted butter, divided

1 beaten egg

1 small carrot, finely diced

⅓ c. diced celery

⅓ c. finely diced onion  

¼ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 lg. clove garlic, finely minced

2 c. cooked and chilled white rice  

2 T. soy sauce, plus more to taste

1 tsp. oyster sauce  

2 thin or 1 fat green onion, thinly sliced

¼ c. frozen peas

¼ – ½ tsp. toasted sesame oil

Heat 2 teaspoons of the butter in a medium-large fry pan.  Cook the egg until set, stirring occasionally. Remove the cooked egg from the pan and set aside.

Add another 2 teaspoons of the butter to the pan and heat until melted. Add the diced carrot, celery, onion, salt, and pepper. Sauté gently for about 10 minutes or until the onion and carrot are soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add in the remaining butter and stir until melted. Add the rice, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir until combined and the rice kernels are separated. Continue sautéing for a few minutes more, stirring occasionally.  (Let the rice rest for a bit between stirs so that it can crisp up on the bottom.)  Then add in the cooked egg, green onion, and green peas; stir to combine.

Remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil until combined.  Taste and season with extra soy sauce, if needed. Serve hot.

SPICY MONGOLIAN CHICKEN

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And yes, another easy chicken recipe that I firmly believe everyone in your family will enjoy. Of course, if you have young children you might want to forego the crushed red pepper flakes. But all the other ingredients should be fine. I say this as if I had perfect knowledge and insight into feeding a family. Which of course, I do not. So, as I began writing this post, it brought to mind Mr. C’s comment this morning regarding knots. That’s right. The kind of knots made with rope or twine or shoelaces, or whatever.

Anyway, it all started this morning with the Daily Quiz in the Seattle Times. Monday through Saturday we attempt to answer the quiz questions while we eat our breakfast. And this morning’s topic was hobbies. And question 11 read as follows: Practitioners of this hobby make loops, hitches, splices, and coils. And we guessed the answer correctly. Knot tying. Then we took it a step further and tried to name all of the different knots we knew about. And it was actually quite a few. But the one thing that stopped us right in our tracks was that, yes, we knew the name of several kinds of knots, even knew how to actually tie a few knots, but couldn’t feel with any certainty that we knew the correct name for any of the knots we could produce, some of which we use every day! (And we think we’re so smart! Wrong!)   

Anyway, as Mr. C. was walking away from the breakfast table, he turned to me and uttered this humble truism, “the depths of my ignorance have yet to be fully plumbed”. And I thought to myself, don’t we all fall into that category. Especially me when I try to impart cooking tips when I’ve never received any professional culinary training.  

Most of my knowledge comes from spending a great deal of time in my kitchen. And listening to or reading what great culinary experts have to say on many different subjects. So, after this morning’s lesson in humility, I thought maybe it was time for a general apology. And I have a request. When I make a bold statement that you know to be absolutely incorrect, first of all, please forgive my ignorance. Then please let me know the error in my statement. I can then edit the post or at least offer an alternate possibility. Thank you. Now back to this recipe.

I made this easy to prepare dish the other evening and served it over steamed brown rice. And you know, the thing is, I didn’t begin to like brown rice until recently. Before I just thought it was like eating kernels of cardboard. But I have learned to prepare the rice in such a way, that both of us can really enjoy both its flavor and texture. I use 1 cup of brown rice, 1¾ cup water, some seasoned salt, a bit of freshly ground black pepper, and a couple of teaspoons of either veggie or olive oil, depending on what I’m serving with or on the rice. Then I walk away from the rice cooker for about an hour. Perfect brown rice, every time.

I hope you enjoy this lovely recipe from Sara at dinneratthezoo.com. If you haven’t visited Sara’s site, then I highly recommend you do so at your earliest convenience. She is great!

And as always, keep having fun in your kitchen. Keep finding the joy in life. And don’t be afraid of not knowing everything. No one knows all there is to know, even about any one subject, be it great or small. So, just for the fun of it, I am delighted to share with you the technical description of a function most of us perform on almost a daily basis. It’s called the shoelace knot.

(From Wikipedia) “The shoelace knot, or bow knot, is commonly used for tying shoelaces and bow ties. The shoelace knot is a doubly slipped reef knot formed by joining the ends of whatever is being tied with a half hitch, folding each of the exposed ends into a loop (bight) and joining the loops with a second half hitch.”  

Peace and love to all. (And good luck tying your shoes next time!)

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

½ c. low sodium soy sauce

⅓ c. water

⅓ c. dark brown sugar

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste

2 tsp. + ¼ c. cornstarch, divided  

3 T. vegetable oil

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 tsp. minced fresh ginger

5-6 green onions, cut into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal

Whisk the sesame oil, soy sauce, water, brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Place the chicken and remaining quarter cup cornstarch in a resealable plastic bag, shake to coat evenly. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.

Add the chicken to the pan in a single layer and season lightly with salt and pepper.  

Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove the chicken to a paper towel lined plate. 

Add the garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 30 seconds. Add the sesame oil mixture to the pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 30-60 seconds or until just thickened.

Add the cooked chicken and green onions to the pan and toss to coat with the sauce. Great served over steamed rice.   

NAPA (CHINESE CABBAGE) SALAD

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This was one of my kid’s favorite salads when they were growing up. Us big kids too. The original recipe, including the ingredients listed below, called for iceberg lettuce, shredded chicken, and fried Chinese rice (cellophane) noodles. But Mr. C. and I have now come to terms with the fact that we are approaching incipient old age. (When, pray tell, did that happen?) So, although we would love to hold fast to our culinary guilty pleasures, the reality is that we need to watch our cholesterol, sugar, and fat consumption. And serving this salad using napa cabbage (more nutrients than iceberg lettuce) and foregoing the fried noodles is in our own best interest. (And yes, I dearly miss the fried noodles!)

And as for the chicken, we sometimes include it. Especially in the summer when it’s hot outside and a cold salad makes a perfect meal. But mainly anymore, we enjoy this salad as an accompaniment. And what a delicious and different salad this makes. It’s crunchy, and refreshingly Chinese without the almost requisite inclusion of soy sauce.

So, if you too love a salad with bold flavor, a delightful crunch, that is way different from the usual green offering, give this recipe a try. You will love it.

As always, live on the wild side. Pick up a head of napa cabbage instead of romaine, arugula, or even spinach. Because napa cabbage has a lovely mild flavor with kind of a peppery kick to it.

And while you’re at it, you might even pick up a container of distilled white vinegar. And yes, that’s plain white vinegar. (You’ll need it anyway for this recipe.) Because some of you who are on the young side, may not believe what I am about to tell you, but it’s the truth. Scouts honor.

Some of us started cooking before white wine, red wine, balsamic, raspberry, Champagne, rice, apple cider, sherry, etc. vinegars were widely available. (And yes, I own them all. Now!) But as a brand new cook, plain white vinegar was all I used. (It’s all I knew about.) And there are still some dishes that I make routinely that simply would not be as delicious without this unassuming inexpensive ingredient. For example, my dressing for potato salad, Sunomono (look it up), some barbecue sauces I make, some salads containing cucumber I adore, just to name a few. So, if you don’t already own this amazing ingredient because you have been embarrassed to be seen with it in your grocery cart, get over it! Buy a bottle with the full knowledge that you are the savvy one. You are the cook that really “gets it”! And the bigger the container the better. (It never goes bad.)

So dear friends, I wish you a wonderful weekend filled with good food, good comradery, and good health. Peace and love to all.  

4 tsp. distilled white vinegar

1 tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. granulated sugar

¼ c. vegetable oil

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

½ head napa cabbage, finely chopped (you can use iceberg lettuce in a pinch)

3 green onions, sliced diagonally

3 thin slices fresh ginger, minced

2 T. slivered almonds

2 T. sesame seeds

1 c. shredded cooked chicken, opt.

Whisk the vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, vegetable oil, sesame oil, and lemon juice together.

Just before serving, place the cabbage, green onions, ginger, almonds, and sesame seeds in a salad bowl. Pour on most of the dressing. Toss to coat. Add additional dressing as needed. (You want the cabbage nicely coated but not swimming in the dressing.) Serve immediately.

     

SWEET AND SOUR SESAME PORK (OR CHICKEN)

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I’ve never been a great lover of sweet and sour pork because I basically hate pineapple. And invariably when sweet and sour pork is offered at a Chinese restaurant, there are big honkin’ pieces of pineapple cluttering up the dish. Now for most people, like my dear husband, that’s just fine. But I just have to say, “no thank you”. But I was hungry for Chinese food the other day. So, while searching for a Chinese pork recipe, I found this recipe on the dinneratthezoo.com site.  The recipe didn’t actually label itself as sweet and sour, but that’s exactly what it tastes like to me. So, that’s how I’m going to title it.

But regardless of what this lovely dish is called, it is an absolutely marvelous way to make 2 boneless pork chops expand to feed at least 5 people. And in such a delicious and easy to prepare manner. Steam up some rice, add a veggie dish like my recipe for Asian Green Beans, and a glorious Chinese dinner is on your table in no time.

This being Valentines Day, and me feeling a bit lazy, I’m going to make this preface short. Plus, it’s still snowing and sure as shootin’, tonight’s forecast for rain will wipe away all vestiges of this white, fluffy ground covering by tomorrow afternoon. So, I’m going to kick back and spend some quality time just looking out the window.

As always, enjoy life to the fullest. Relax when you have the chance. And given the opportunity, spend a couple of hours just watching nature take its course. We live in such a beautiful world. Take advantage of that as much as possible. Peace and love to all. And Happy Valentine’s Day! Oh, and I hope you enjoy this fabulous dish!  

For the sauce:

¼ c. honey

⅓ c. soy sauce (reduced sodium if possible)

½ c. ketchup

3 T. brown sugar, packed

2 T. rice vinegar

1 T. toasted sesame oil

2 tsp. cornstarch

2 tsp. vegetable oil

2 lg. garlic cloves, finely minced

Combine the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a bowl.

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the honey mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3-4 minutes or just until thickened. Set aside.

For the pork:

1 lb. thick boneless pork chops, cut into ½-inch pieces or 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces

1 egg 

¼ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

¼ c. all-purpose flour

¼ c. cornstarch

vegetable oil for frying

2 T. sesame seeds

3-4 green onions, thinly sliced

Beat the eggs, salt, and pepper together in a bowl. Stir in the pork pieces. Place the flour and cornstarch in a gallon sized zip-lock bag. Pinch the bag for a few seconds until the flour and cornstarch are well blended. Just before ready to fry the pork, drain off any excess egg and pour the coated pork cubes into the flour mixture. Carefully zip the bag shut and toss the pork cubes until evenly coated.    

In a frying pan large enough to accommodate all of the pork pieces in a single layer, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.

Add the coated pork. Over medium heat, fry the first side until crispy and golden brown. Carefully flip the pieces and again, fry until golden brown.

Pour the sauce over the cooked pork and gently toss. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and green onions. Serve immediately. Great over steamed rice.