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Friday, April 10, 2020

Sake, Butter, Soy: Part 1

Who's been to a Japanese steak house? Who loves how they cook their fried rice, or vegetables, or their steak? Its one of the easiest "sauces" to make. But it's more of a way of preparation and cooking in the right order. So today we will focus on the steak cubes.
誰有去過日本店,吃過他們的鐵板燒牛排或者是雞排什麼都有。 其實這個做法來炒菜是很簡單。 在家裡有野個好的鍋子就好了。 最重要的是什麼時候放哪一個材料。今天我們就做牛排。

Hibachi Style Steak: 鐵板燒牛排
What will you need for this? 你需要的材料:

Your choice of steak: You are going to cook this to how you like it so the timing will change ever so slightly. But you want to cut this into 1" cubes ideally for all si
1 Tbsp  Canola Oil (Any kind of neutral oil*)
2 Tbsp  Butter
2 Tbsp  Sake
1 Tbsp  Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp  Mirin
MSG is optional but I like a pinch.
Salt
Pepper

你喜歡的牛排: 看你用哪一種牛排時間會差一點點。但是你切塊記得每一個要一樣大。
1大匙 沙拉油 (*什麼無味油就可以了)
2大匙 奶油
2大匙 日本米酒
1大匙 醬油
1大匙 味醂/料酒
½ 小匙 味精 (你如果不吃就不要放)
鹽
胡椒

你喜歡的牛排 (幾分熟)
1. Place a large skillet on high. If you're using a stainless steel pan, make sure you heat the pan fully first before you add the oil. If you're using a nonstick skillet you can add the canola oil at the beginning.
先用大火熱一個平底鍋。如果你用的鍋子會黏的話記得先等鍋子熱才油放下去。

2. Once the pan is hot, bring the heat back down to medium and place in your steak cubes and butter in the pan,  making sure you brown them evenly on 4 sides.
鍋子熱了,把火關到中火。 再放切好的牛肉還有奶油放下去。把每一邊煮到金黃色。

3. One browned on 4 sides, pour in the sake and allow the alcohol to cook out. Or... if you're like me and like fire, you can flambe the alcohol away.
如果你喜歡多點酒香,可以趁加入清酒的時候,讓它燃燒一下,香氣會更豐富。

4. When the flames are gone, and your eyebrows hopefully intact, you can add in the soy sauce and mirin and msg at this point.
沒火就可以加醬油還有味醂和味精。

5. Continue cooking until the remaining two sides are browned, and the steak cubes are cooked to your preference.
接著煮到你喜歡的熟度就可以起鍋了。

6. Serve with some rice and you're good to go!
搭配著飯大吃一頓吧!

*Neutral Oil is any type of oil that is flavorless like Avocado, Canola, Grapeseed, or Refined Coconut oil.

*不管你用哪一種油,沒有什麼味道的就可以了。想蘿莉油,沙拉油,葡萄籽油~都可以用。



Friday, March 27, 2020

For Right Now. 現在

I'm going to be doing something a little more different than usual. This will be in at least two languages and simulposted for anyone who needs it. But what do you guys want to read/ hear about? Cooking problems or questions you guys might want help in?
我最近會開始用至少兩個語言跟大家溝通。但是我要問,朋友們,你們想看什麼? 你們想學什麼?我這麼能幫你們?先跟你們說喔, 我國語不是什麼非常好我不是李白。但算起來還可以。
________
Right now everyone is wondering, what do I do? What do I cook? I hear a lot of, "I don't know how to cook" and "I don't like to cook" So I'm devising a plan to help everyone with these issues.
現在很多人在想說 ”我這麼辦?“ 我不會燒飯。” ”我不喜歡做菜。” “做菜好難哦”。 所以我想個辦法能幫比較多人。從小我們都有機會吃家人做的東西。不管是爸爸媽媽還是阿公阿嬤~現在是我們的機會給我們的下被吃我們用愛做的食物。
________
So I will start this conversation with you all~ and keep in mind that this is all subject to change and morph. Life has never been only one way, not now nor will it ever be. There are just too many variables in everyone's' lives.
所以讓我先開始跟你們聊天。還有這個我們開始安排簡單好吃的食物。這個安排表會變來變去的~應為大家的生活也在變。每天都不一樣。







Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Mustard

MUSTARD~!

OK so, it has been several years since I've done a blog post. So update... 

The world is on fire with COVID-19. That's all I'm going to say about that. 

I am resuming posting food posts and continuing on with pursuing my cookbook. So I'm going to attempt to pick up where I left off on this blog. After a little less than a decade (7 Years). I'm just going to go in. 

Spring 2020.3.24 

Mustard: such a versatile condiment. Mustard is super flavorful and can be used in a multitude of ways. You can make a rub, a vinaigrette, or as a condiment. Sure it was originally made to go on a hotdog, and don't get me wrong. It's delicious on a hotdog. But today, I want to talk about its use differently. I want to give you guys a great use for it as a marinade or a base for your rub... and I have a few to talk about.

Mustard is punchy and savory and spicy all in one and it doesn't take a lot to make its presence known. So for my first recipe, it is a wet marinade/ rub. All you have to do is mix it together, and rub it on, let it sit, and then bake it with some on/ over it.


Chianti Mustard Rub:


¼ Cup    Chianti
4 Tbsp.   Dijon Mustard
1 Tsp.     Paprika
1 Tsp.     Parsley
1 Tsp.     Dill
1 Tsp.     Salt and Pepper (less salt thank you think is needed)

For glass and aluminum baking pans, rub the bottom down with some butter... it adds great flavor and keeps the dish from sticking to your choice of protein or vegetable. This "rub" created a wonderful crust and a nice salty bite to whatever you're cooking. I adore putting this on fish, chicken and especially duck/ beef. 

This is a highly versatile rub and it goes great on fish, duck, chicken, beef, pork, asparagus, broccoli, it works and marries so well I want everyone in the world to try this.

The Second rub is:

Coriander Mustard Rub:
Simple and easy and also quick. Again, everything into a bowl, mix, slather and cook.

½ Cup.   Maille Mustard
1. Tbsp. Ground Coriander
1 Tsp.     Dill
1 Tsp.     Black Pepper
Salt to taste, but err on the side of less salt since mustard is salty already.

Again, this rub is so simple and packs a great flavor and punch. I love this one on fish in particular and chicken.

And the Last Rub is:

Dry Mustard BBQ Rub:


¾ Cup.  Mustard Powder (I use Coleman's)

½ Cup.  Paprika
¼ Cup.  Smoked Chili Powder
¼ Cup.  Garlic Powder
¼ Cup.  Onion Powder
⅓ Cup. Black Pepper
¾ Cup. Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp. Ground Coriander
2 Tbsp. Cumin
1 Tbsp. Turmeric
1 Tbsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Dried Thyme
2 Tbsp. MSG

1 Whole chicken or Rack of Ribs 
½ Cup Mustard BBQ Rub 
½ Cup Dijon

Rub the inside and outside or top and sides really well with the dijon mustard. Then sprinkle on the rub evenly all over it.

The MSG is optional, but I love that extra zing it gives to food and since has disproved the old racist sayings of the past. So get over your fear of MSG.

Along with the above rub mixed really well and then stored in an airtight container... I use Maille Dijon or good ole Grey Poupon to adhere the rub mix to whatever protein of my choice. I adore this sweet and punchy rub on chicken but especially pork. This rub works so well with so many things... although I have yet to put it on fish... *see above recipe for the fish, I promise you, you will love it* but I'm sure if you want a mustardy and smokey,  sweet yet mellow, fish, that this would be right for you. I adore using this rub on pork or dark meat chicken thighs, or duck~


Until next post~ I hope everyone tries out one of these recipes and lets me know how it is. 








Sunday, September 22, 2013

MUSHROOMS!

Ahhh mushrooms. Some people hate them others, allergic.


Me…. I love them. So here are a couple of mushroom recipes that I wanted to share.


The first one is a dish I had in Taiwan cooked by my aunt and I really liked the simplicity of it.

King Oyster Mushrooms with Cucumber Stir-Fry

3-4 Oyster Mushrooms (Good sized) Cut into rolling wedges
3-4 Baby Cucumbers cut into rolling wedges
2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
2 Tbsp Mirin
1 Hot pepper (optional)
1 Tsp finely chopped Ginger

To start off, place a good amount of oil in a hot pan and brown all sides of the oyster mushroom wedges.  Then throw in the cucumbers and the oyster sauce and hot pepper and ginger occasionally stirring.

This is such a great dish and it's really easy to cook. Obviously, it's vegetarian and also, you can throw in anything else you like with it. I hope you enjoy this recipe!

_______________________________



Bamboo Shoots with Shimeji, Shiitake, and Enoki Mushrooms

I first had this when I was really hungry and I didn't feel like defrosting any meat… nor did I feel like scrambled eggs. It ended up being one of my favorite comfort foods I make on a semi-regular basis. I normally use dried Shiitake mushrooms because of the wonderful flavors that it has but this recipe calls for all fresh mushrooms. 

Shimeji
 Enoki
 Shiitake

You can buy fresh, canned or even dried bamboo shoots. Any will work great for this recipe however I will not be going over how to prepare them. 

10-15 Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms -stems removed, cut into strips
1 Bundle of Shimeji Mushrooms- bottom roots removed, just break them up into a few pieces
1 Bundle of Enoki Mushrooms- bottom roots removed, break them up into a few pieces
1 Can/ Handful Bamboo Shoots- cut into strips
¼ C of Sake 
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Oyster Sauce
1 Pinch White Pepper Powder
1 Tsp Sugar
1 Tumb sized chunk of Ginger cut into matchsticks 





Monday, June 4, 2012

Summer Cooking #2 THUNDER STORMING!

Ah, summer thunderstorms…. or a flash storm if you are in my area…

So you're stuck inside without the grill again because of another flash thunderstorm, thats ok. I've got something up my sleeves for this. :)

This menu set is super light and also rather healthy. It gives you Omega-3's and is packed with flavor. I stumbled upon this when I was looking at my grandmother's old recipe book (it was in Japanese) and was sooooo simple, I over looked it for the longest time but it since I have tired the recipe, it has easily become one of my quickest and tastiest throw togethers.

Sesame Salmon

4 Salmon Fillets (3-4 oz each)
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
1 Tsp 5 Spice Powder
1 Tbsp Mirin (Japanese Cooking Wine)
¼ Cup Sake
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
1 Tbsp Cornstarch
1 Tbsp Cornstarch with ½ Cup of water (this is called a Slurry)
4 Pinches of Sesame Seeds

In a bowl place the salmon, salt, pepper, mirin, cornstarch, 5 spice powder, sugar, soy sauce, and a splash of sake and let it sit in a bowl for about 20 mins to marinate. Then in a heated skillet, wok, pan, whatever you have (just make sure it is properly oiled up) and place the salmon into it and let it sizzle away for about 4 mins on one side, then flip it over. Let it cook for about 4 more minutes before adding in the sake. Let the alcohol cook out and then cook the salmon covered for about 2 more minutes and test to see if it is done. If it is add in the slurry mixture AFTER you have taken out the salmon fillets. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds and eat up!


Summer Vegetables in Sake Demi-Glaze 

2 Zucchinis (Sliced into ½" disks)
1 Yellow Squash (Sliced into ½" disks)
1 Cucumber (Sliced into ½" disks)
1 Medium Onion (Sliced into ½ inch ribbons)
(Feel free to add any other vegetables to this)
½ lb FRESH FRESH FRESH Shiitake Mushrooms
1 Tsp Mushroom or Chicken stock powder
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
3 Tbsp Sake
1 Tsp Sugar

In a VERY hot pan (wok works best) with enough oil to cover the bottom and sides, throw in all of the vegetables and let them sautee for about 3-4 minutes. Then add about ½ cup of water and throw in the rest of the ingredients and cook until done. THATS IT! Just serve it up with the salmon ontop for a wonderful presentation.

The slightly sweet flavors from the salmon compliment the more savory vegetables perfectly AND it will leave you feeling full but not bursting at the seams.

Enjoy!

-Sorian

Monday, May 28, 2012

Summer Cooking #1

I know I know, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!? Well, I've been taking care of my grandmother for the most part lately and also working about 100+ odd hours a week for the past um… 2 or so years, SO I AM BACK!

Quick-ish up dates on random things…. I have 2 dogs now Yuki (2 year old Chiba Inu) and Max (10 year old Corgi Beagle mix). The herb garden I started growing the year before last, has turned into a gigantic jungle of a hellion garden! The chives, rosemary and lavender are up to my hips! ITS AMAZING!

SOOOOOOO ON TO SOME COOKING NEEDS!

DRINKS!

Raspberry Tea (Adult Style) 

4 Cups of Chambord Dark Raspberry Liqueur
1 Pitcher of FRESHLY BREWED Iced Tea (Black tea is fine)
1 Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of Freshly washed Raspberries

Mix and serve with some ice and lime or lemon (personally, I pick the lime) slices in and drink up!

Chambord and Coke:
Ok first of all, if you know me, you know I rarely ever drink soda. HOWEVER In a cocktail, I sometimes will.

Simple:
2oz         Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
2-3oz      Coca-Cola (I think pepsi makes it too sweet) or You can use Sprite either or really.

APPETIZER!

So to go along with the Adult Raspberry Tea: Raspberry and Apricot Glazed Chicken Skewers 

This is perfect to grill or just fire up in an oven, especially on hot summer days when you really do not feel like cooking.

½         Cup Fresh Raspberries
½         Cup Dried Apricots (Soaked over night so they plump up, not required, then minced)
2-3       Boneless skinless chicken thighs (They hold up better, but you can use breasts as well)
1 Tsp   Salt
½ Tsp  Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Chives
½ Tsp Rosemary
¼ Cup Finely diced White Onion
4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

First off cut up the chicken into nice sized 1-1½" chunks. And rub them all over with salt and pepper, lemon juice and herbs and toss with the raspberries (its better if some of them break!) and dried/ rehydrated apricots. Coat them evenly with the Extra Virgin Olive oil for at least 2 hours.

When you are ready to cook them, skewer those babies up and fire up the grill~! OR line a baking pan and cook them up in the oven/ broiler. 20 mins at 350ºF should do the job well. Let them rest about 5 minutes covered with aluminum foil then serve. (They are delicious hot or cold, honestly, I tend to just eat the leftovers from the fridge…. hahaha)

MAIN ENTREE!

This started off as a meditation…. yeah…. right… THIS actually started off as a scramble of me trying to get some kind of light (and lightning fast) dinner out because of some un expected guests… now, if your herb garden or stock of herbs is like mine…. (MASSIVE) here is a really quick way to use some of it up…. especially if your herb garden is spreading like wild fire. 

Herb Infused Curry Chicken with Pineapple Demi-Glaze : you will need

1-2 1' Long Sprig(s) of Tarragon
1    1' Long Sprig of Rosemary
4    1' Long Sprigs of flowering Lavender
1 Cup of Parsley (Flat leaf, chopped or not) 
1 Tsp chopped Parsley (Flat or curly, up to you) 
3 Cups of Pineapple (cubed) 
½ Cup of dried Cranberries
½ Cup of dried apricots
1 Tsp of Curry 
½ Cup Pineapple Juice
1 Tsp Salt and Pepper
½ Cup of Olive oil or Canola Oil
1 Cup of white wine or rum, (go with pineapple rum) 
8 BONE IN Chicken Thighs (Again you an use breasts) 

Before any of you start complaining, you will be roasting this, if you roast it well and correctly, those bones will slide out so fast you will be looking for it as your dogs fight over it. So don't worry, the bone is for flavor and also, to give you some body to hold on to while roasting.

ANYWAY, Rub the chicken with salt, pepper, curry powder and soak in the pineapple juice with the olive oil for about 1 hour. The pineapple juice will penetrate and tenderize the chicken and infuse the chicken with all of the other flavors. When you are ready to cook, in a large and deep roasting pan lay down your  bed of herbs. and then lay the chicken on op of them. ADD IN THE REST OF THE MARINADE! and also a cup of pineapple rum. If you are feeling adventurous add in a ½ a cup of Chambord to that pineapple rum. Roast away (basting at least twice throughout the cooking process to make sure that a demi-glaze is set on the skin of the chicken) 40 minutes at 325ºF will make this an excellent meal.  

This is great with a nice summer salad or just some heirloom tomatoes coated in balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil with slices of mozzarella cheese. 

Either way, I'm sure you will enjoy this delicious dinner… especially with this summer heat going on (at least… its here in Virginia.) 

More summer recipes to come. And back to once a week posts! EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!






Thursday, March 29, 2012

Mango Mousse Tart~

3 Ripe Mango's (Alphonso Mango's work the best for this recipe) diced/ cubed
½ C. Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbsp. Vanilla Sugar

You can use a pie crust/ or pie dough doesn't really matter for this recipe.

Whip up the heavy cream with the vanilla sugar until it forms stiff peaks and FOLD in ⅔ of the diced mangos.

Once that is done, place the mango mousse mix onto your precooked pie crust/ tart crust (even a graham cracker crust would work for this). And place it into a freezer for 30-40 mins until its set, or until you are ready to serve. Either way, before you serve just place the remaining ⅓ of the diced mango's on top of the mousse. Cut it up and serve away!


Tuesday, January 4, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to everyone. So a quick update because I am typing this on my phone.... My computer has died and I am waiting on it to be fixed. So i can't really do much work while i am in the waiting process. But what can we do right, so a slight delay with the video and food but no rush.
 
Cook book number 2 is on standstill because the computer is dead as well.
 
Any digital work is also at a standstill due to... you guessed it, dead computer.
 
(At this point i am considering buying an Apple Desktop for most of my work)
 
And i was also sick with a plague of some form for the past week and i am just feeling better now. Anyway, thats all for now. I will be back as soon as my computer is FIXED.
 
Happy New Year and Happy Eating!
 
- Sorian/Hansheng Lee- Menickelly

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

HELLO UPDATE AND PIE!



Wow, a month off and it feels good to be back. School is back in session and the married life is going pretty well. If life wasn't so hectic I would have been on here more often but with helping
people move and getting married and preparing for classes, who has the time anymore?


So  ON TO THE  PIE!


Here is a pie that held me through a lot of the summer. BLUE BERRY! Originally I had made this because my father brought home a huge container of blue berries and no one wanted to eat them cause
there was just this ungodly amount of them and I didn't want to throw them out of they spoiled.


2 lb. of Blueberries, washed and drained.

2 Tbsp. Flour

¾ cup sugar (this is really up to you)

1 egg yolk

Juice of one lemon

Zest of one Lemon

1 pinch of cinnamon or cloves or both,its up to you.


And one or two pie crust, either home made or store bought. I rarely have time to make pie crusts so I just get the standard pie crusts in the refrigerated section of your local grocery
store.


Basically just unroll your pie crust and line the bottom of your pie pan and in a separate bowl mix all your ingredients together to form a blueberry mixture, then put it all into your pie crust
and lay the other piece of pie crust on top. Don't worry if it looks like it is mounding over, the blueberries will melt down and break down into a thick yummy syruppy jam of yummy
goodness.


Glad to be back guys!


-Happy Eating.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Grilling Goods #1

So here is a quick and simple Vietnamese style BBQ sauce that you can use to marinade pretty much anything in, whether its shrimp, beef, pork or chicken.

(Make sure whatever meat you use is sliced thin, except for fish)

¼ C Oyster Sauce
1 ½ Tbsp Sugar
½ Tsp Pepper
¼ Tsp Salt
½ Tbsp Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp Lemon Grass

Just place your meat of choice whatever it is in this mixture and marinade over night. When you are ready to cook whether it be a pan or a grill make sure its on high and cook away. The meat should be about ¼ of an inch thick to ½ inch thick at max. This is excellent with rice or cold rice noodles and some vegetables! Give it a  Try ^_^.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Homemade Popsicles to Beat the Summer Heat

With the heat index at 110ºF its no wonder why people are staying inside this summer.. AND ITS STILL HOT! So what can you do? Make some popsicles. I'm sure everyone out there has had at least one popsicle in their life. So why not try making your own? Here are some recipes to help you make it though this horrid heat and help you spend some more time with people you care about. (or a date, its quite fun and delicious!)

Strawberry Mango Banana Popsicles: (Makes about 6 - 8 depending on the mold you use)

½ Cup Strawberries (if you use frozen thaw them out!)
1 Banana (Peeled of course)
½ Cup Mango (Again, if you use frozen, then thaw them out)
6 Tbsp Sugar (I know it sounds like a lot but trust me)
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Pinch Salt
¼ cup water
⅓ cup Heavy Cream (optional)

Place all the ingredients together and BLEND IT INTO A YUMMY LIQUID. Fill your mold up and chill for about a 2-4 hours. (If you decide to use the heavy cream you can always mix one fruit with water and another with heavy cream and then swirl them together! It looks really pretty too just divide the sugar and honey evenly)

Blueberry Pomegranate Popsicles: (Makes 6-8 Depending on your choice of molds)
¾ Cup Blue Berries
1 Cup Pomegranate Juice (not sweetened!)
4 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Honey

Again place, mix, chill, serve! If you want to use cream in this one, you will have to put the blue berries into the heavy cream and mix them together with ½ the sugar and honey. Then mix it with the pomegranate mix and freeze.

Lemon Lime Crush: (Makes 6-8 Depending on your mold)
½ C Lemon Juice(FRESHLY SQUEEZED NOT BOTTLED!)
½ C Lime Juice (FRESHLY SQUEEZED NOT BOTTLED!)
½ C Water
1 Lime or Lemon cut thinly into semi-circles
6 Tbsp Sugar

Blend the ingredients together leaving out the cut fruit, and freeze with a piece of fruit on the side for decoration. DO NOT USE CREAM IN THIS! IT WILL SEPARATE AND GO SOUR ON YOU!

Now for those of you who want a more adult popsicles try these recipes out...

Chocolate Babbling Popsicle: Makes 7-8

1 C Cream
6 Tbsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
2 Tbsp Bailey's Irish Cream or Kalua

Mix the cream, cocoa powder and sugar together and set aside. then add in the Irish cream or kalua and put them into the molds first so that it creates a small layer and then add in the chocolate mixture.

Lavender Honey Popsicles: Makes 7-8

Just a forewarning, this one takes a bit more work because this is more of an ice cream base than just a popsicle base.

2 C Cream
½ C Sugar
2 Egg Yolks
¼ Tbsp Lavender
4 Tbsp Honey

Heat the cream and honey together until simmering, DO NOT BOIL! Mean while, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar to make it lighter. Then slowly temper the egg yolks with the now hot cream and make sure you do not curdle the egg yolks! Allow it to cool and you can either put this into a mold or put it in an ice cream machine.

_____________________________________________________________
Side note: The wedding went of without too big a hitch. And this week has been hectic! Haha well, thats life for you. And a reminder that my art exhibition is still up at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center in Virginia, so stop on by and take a look if you have a chance. 

Saturday, July 17, 2010

This week and next...

Hello Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of posts these past few weeks and for next week as well. I am getting married on Tuesday July 20th! So please give me a little more time. But I do have some posts ready to be posted after these hectic weeks calm down. ^_^ Until then.

Happy Eating!

-Sorian

Monday, July 5, 2010

Summer Frisé Salad

It's hot, you don't want to cook too much, and someone gave you a head of some funky looking lettuce. What to do???

Well, if its ahead of Frisé Lettuce then MAKE A SALAD! All you will need. (serves 4)

4 Strips of Bacon
1 Head of Frisé Lettuce (Cleaned and separated)
¼ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tsp Sugar
1 Tsp Salt
½ Tsp Pepper
½ Carrot Shaved (a vegetable peeler works perfectly for this)
3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tsp Mustard

So to begin, render out the fat from the Bacon and drain it leaving about 1 Tsp to 1 Tablespoon of bacon dripping in the pan. Then, add in the olive oil, salt, pepper, mustard, sugar, and balsamic vinegar. Be careful because balsamic vinegar has a problem of bubbling up violently when added to a hot pan!

Have the lettuce and carrots ready in a bowl and pour the mixture while hot or warm on the Frisé, don't worry, Frisé is a very strong and hearty lettuce so this warm vinaigrette won't do anything but wilt it slightly. Toss so that the bacon, vinaigrette, and the lettuce is mixed evenly and serve it up to EAT!

-Enjoy!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Lavender Lime Chicken

Oh the summer breeze, perfect timing for my lavender to start popping out blossoms of fragrant bliss. Seriously, I've had so much time to work on new recipes and I just threw this one together last summer and never bothered to actually put it on here (mainly because I lost the piece of paper I had written the original recipe on) until today.

Ingredients for Lavender Lime Chicken:

4 Chicken Breasts (halved into butterflies)
8-10 Sprigs of Lavender
¼ Cup Lime Juice
1 Tblspn Lime Zest (about 2 Limes)
½ Cup Sugar
⅔ Cup Water
2 Cups Flour
3 Tsp Salt (divided)
1 Tsp Pepper (devided)
2 Large Eggs
½ Cup Milk/Cream/ Butter Milk
4 Tbs Butter (unsalted!)

Lets begin shall we. First off, pound out the chicken breasts slightly to make them more tender, and then place them into the egg and milk mixture then into the flour/salt/pepper mixture. What you are creating a dredge almost like making a chicken fried steak or a piccata. Once you have finished dredging the chicken let them rest in the fridge so that the flour ect. can stick better to the chicken when you pan fry it.

Ok so while the chicken is resting in the fridge start making your lavender lime sauce. Take the water, lime juice and sugar and bring it to a boil along with 1 tsp of salt and ½ tsp of pepper. Once it is boiling add in the flowering tops of the Lavender. Taste it and adjust accordingly. Once the sauce is near completion turn it off and add in 4 tbs of butter and mix it off the heat until dissolved and set it aside.

Now in a good sized pan on high heat add in 1 or 2 tablespoons of really good olive oil and place in the chicken 1-2 breasts at a time until everyone is golden brown and well done.

Tip: You can turn the oven on to 325ºF to keep the other pieces of chicken warm while you are cooking the next piece making sure you use a wire rack to make sure one side doesn't get soggy.

After all the chicken has been cooked, plate it up and top it with the Lavender Lime sauce and sprinkle on some Lime zest just to give it a bit of a kick at the end.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Perfectly Roasted Shrimp

Ok there are two things about shrimp you need to know. The "jumbo" "large" "extra large" mean nothing... what you need to learn are the numbers for them. Here is the shrimp
chart... I copied this down from the inventory list at Peking in Mechanicsville, Virginia (Dad's place) The Second thing you need to know about shrimp is... C= Cooked and O= means OVER cooked...
when you cook shrimp... unless they are 51/60 or 61/70... see below.

Name                Shrimp/lbs.                   Average#

Extra Colossal     U/10                                 5
Colossal              U/12                                  9
Colossal              U/15                                 14

Extra Jumbo       16/20                                 18

Jumbo                 21/25                                 23

Extra Large         26/30                                 28

Large                  31/35                                 33

Medium Large    36/40                                 38

Medium              41/50                                 45

Small                  51/60                                 55

Extra Small         61/70                                 65


I only know this because I've worked at several restaurants and my father's Chinese Restaurant for 7 years and counting... but technically I've spent a good number of my childhood years there
too. We used 51/60's for shrimp fried rice, and 21/25 or 16/20 for Orange Shrimp ect.


Learn that # or U/# because that will get you a better average for your shrimp buying/ spending excursions.


Now.... ON TO THE ROASTING OF THE SHRIMP!


Roasted Shrimp (Great for Cocktails or use in a stir-fry/ fried rice)

1-2lbs 21/25 size shrimp

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

pinch of paprika

4 tablespoons Olive Oil


Make sure your oven is set at a nice and fiery 400ºF. Place the nicely prepared shrimp onto a sheet pan (its easier if they are facing the same way and spaced out evenly to ensure even cooking.)
Then put them in for 9-13 minutes depending on how even your oven is you might want to make sure you turn the sheet pan half way through cooking. But keep an eye on them, the second they turn
into pink C's they are done... I'm often accused of standing by the oven door when roasting shrimp with tongs and a bowl to pull the ones that are done cooking out so that they don't over cook.

Perfectly Roasted Chicken


My perfect Roasted Chicken Breast


This is just a plain roasted chicken breast you can add herbs and spices to your liking later but this goes along with my chicken salad recipe and it makes for a great topping on a nice leafy
green salad as well. ^_^


2 Chicken Breasts and thighs WITH SKIN ON(you can remove it later, after the chicken is cooked, if you don't want to eat it but for the love of the Kitchen Gods KEEP IT ON!)


Salt and pepper the chicken both front and back.


Then flip it over and use seasoning salt or poultry seasoning onto the skin side to
make it crispy and so to flavors will really soak into the meat.


Refrigerate and rub them down with a quick splash of EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil just enough to coat it.


If you are ready to cook add EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil onto the breasts, and rub them down well and send them into a 350ºF oven for 25-30
minutes.


Keep an eye on it!!!!!!


To test for doneness stick a chopstick or something like that into the thickest part of the meat and if the juices run clear then its done. Let it rest for 5-8 minutes before serving. And yes
stick every piece of meat because your oven may be off/ unevenly heated or its thicker than the other pieces... remove as according.


The reason you should leave the skin ON while cooking is to keep the juices and flavor in the meat so it doesn't dry out in the hot oven. If you take that skin off before hand you WILL be sorry and left with a dry dry dry piece of hard meat.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Summer Produce!


Summer is in full swing and the vegetables are ripe for the picking and even better for the eating! So here are some links to my favorite recipes that include summer produce!


Zucchini Pancakes - Ina Garten: This is such an easy and simple recipe, and the zucchini is just delicious! (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/zucchini-pancakes-recipe/index.html)


Meringues with Cassis and Raspberries - Ina Garten: Very quick, very simple, and even more delightful! (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/meringues-with-cassis-and-raspberries-recipe3/index.html)


Beef and Broccoli Salad- Rachel Ray: I know, I'm not a huge fan of her, but give credit where credit is due and this recipe was great! (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/beef-and-broccoli-salad-recipe/index.html)


These links should be working but if not just comment and let me know ^_^ sorry for the inconvenience.

Swiss Chard- The Neelys: Delicious and simple!


Seared Scallops with Pineapple-Cucumber
Salsa
- Paula Deen: Really light and refreshing especially in the heat wave we've been having in Virginia.


And a few recipes from me: This is an old post of mine and it goes great with the summer produce!

 Here's the Link. 


Happy Eating! And stay hydrated! 

Monday, June 28, 2010

Raspberry Balsamic Chicken

I've been trying weird flavor combinations since I was really young and I've stumbled on several things that I really love. Fruit, Balsamic Vinegar, and Chicken have been on the top of that list since I've started playing around with flavors heres my recipe for something that isn't a new concept its just one of my favorites to make.


Raspberry Balsamic Chicken:

4 Chicken or Duck Breasts (you can go skinless this time…. or take the skin off after you have cooked them)
1 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tsp Pepper
1½ Cups Raspberries (divided)
¾ Cup Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Poultry Seasoning (Its just easier to use this instead of going over everything to make what is essentially the same thing)
1 Lime (Cut into wedges)

First off, wash off the chicken breasts because i've found that a lot of them contain crap from packaging that is slimy so if you don't all ready do so start doing this! Then, place the balsamic vinegar, 1 cup of raspberries (crushed), sugar, salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, and olive oil into a bowl big enough to hold all 4 pieces of meat and some room for the marinade. Whisk the marinade until it becomes slightly emulsified and then add the breasts in taking care to coat them evenly. Let them marinade overnight (i've just found that this works out the best.

When you are ready to cook them set your oven for 325ºF and arrange the breasts evenly spaced apart on a baking sheet. Let it sit in there for 35 minutes and then start checking on them. Use a knife or a meat thermometer (internal temp should be 165ºF) if the juice that comes out is clear, then you are all good to go, if not, then let it sit in there a bit longer…. DO NOT WANDER OFF AT THIS POINT!

Once your chicken breasts are done let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Then just before serving squeeze some lime juice on them as well as place some raspberries with them. Your guests or family will love this recipe, I know mine have, so enjoy and Happy Eating!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Lion's Head (Napa Cabbage with Pork Balls)

紅燒獅子頭: Another dish my mom made, and still makes for me whenever I'm missing Taiwan. Its Stewed Napa Cabbage and Pork Balls. this dish varies by name in China but there are two specific types Northern and Southern. In the north specifically the Beijing area, they are 四喜丸子 (Sixi Wangzi) or "4 Happy Meatballs." They call it Lion's Head because the Pork balls are the head and the napa cabbage is the mane of the lion.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Pork (If you are using Chicken or Turkey see note at the bottom)
1 Egg
2 Tbs Soy Sauce (Real Soy Sauce)
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Ground White Pepper
2 Tbs Cornstarch
1 Tsp Soy Paste (if you cant find this, add in another teaspoon of soy sauce)
1-2 Tsp Sesame Oil
1 Tsp Fresh Ground Ginger or Finely Chopped Ginger
1/2 Tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1/2 Napa Cabbage (Cut into 1-2" pieces, discarding the root but keeping the white parts)
1 1/2 Cups Chicken Stock
1 Tbs Soy Sauce
1 Tsp Mushroom or Chicken Bouillon

Mix the ingredients together in a size appropriate bowl until the meat is slightly sticky. Let it rest in the fridge for about 20 minutes then place enough oil into a pan to cover a 2" meat ball or you can bake it at 350ºF for 15 minutes. I prefer frying because the Napa Cabbage will take the oily-ness of the dish out and it also makes the pork balls stronger in the stewing process. So once your 2" Pork Balls are golden brown on the outside pull them out and let them drain. Its ok if they are not well done because you will be stewing them later on, just make sure anyone who likes to peck at food doesn't peck at the meat balls while you are preparing the stewing part.

In a soup pot or a deep pan on high heat, add in 2 table spoons of oil (usually i just take it from the frying oil because its all ready hot and ready to go) and add in the white stalky parts of the napa cabbage first so that they cook all the way through. Add a pinch of salt and stir it around lightly and cover for about 5 minutes, this should give it enough time to wilt down so you can add the leafy parts. (You will also notice water at the bottom of the pan at this point, DO NOT THROW IT OUT, all the vitamins are in that water and it delicious!) Next, add in the leafy parts of the napa cabbage and cook it down with the pork balls. Then Add in the chicken stock, soy sauce, mushroom or chicken bouillon and mix well. Simmer on low to medium low for 20 minutes and eat!

Its great buy itself or with a bowl of rice and its actually really light!

Happy Eating!

(For Turkey or Chicken you need to add in more oil so that it doesn't dry out along with another Tsp. of Cornstarch to keep it together in the frying/ baking process)

Monday, June 21, 2010

Taiwanese Style Dumplings (餃子/鍋貼) and Japanese Gyoza (ぎょざ)

Called hundreds of different things all over the world these are delicious pouches of delicious morsels! This is a recipe that I have made (about 200 and still do EVERY MONTH) for my family and friends and they just keep on wanting more. Also this is a recipe derived from my family recipe, as to my mom would kill me if i ever posted that recipe on here HAHA! I also have a Japanese Style Gyoza. So here we go...

Taiwanese Style Dumplings/ Pot Stickers
Double the recipe if you want to make more, this isnt baking its just practicality. This will yield about 25-30 decent sized dumplings.

1 lb ground pork or duck
4 Sprigs of Spring Onions Chopped Fine
2 cups chopped Cabbage
1 Tsp 5 spice Powder
1 Tsp Sesame Oil
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp WHITE Pepper (ground of course)
1/2 Tsp Black Pepper (ground as well)
1 Tbs Ginger Ground or Chopped VERY VERY FINE

1 Tbs of Corn starch ONLY if you like the meat inside more smooth... otherwise leave it out... i usually just leave it out cause 1. my hands are covered in raw pork but the time i remember it, 2. It tastes just the same to me, 3. If you add the starch you will need to add an egg.

1 Package of Dumpling Skin (I can't tell you how we make our skins due to the fact that i like i having a head on my shoulders... love you mom! <3)

Start off by adding the pork into a decently sized bowl (glass, metal, ceramic... none of it really matters it just needs to hold everything and be strong). Then add in the ginger, spring onion, 5 spice powder, salt and peppers and mix well until the meat is a bit sticky. Then add in the cabbage and mix it up again with the sesame oil.

A great dumpling sauce for these are:

2 Tbs Soy Sauce
1 Tbs Sesame Oil
1 Tsp Sa Cha Sauce
1/2 Tsp Black Vinegar
1 Tsp Sugar

Gyoza Time! What you will need:

1 lb. Ground Pork (No substitutes, sorry)
1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce (Japanese, preferably but the taste wont differ too much if you use something else)
1 Tbs ground Ginger
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp White Ground Pepper
1 Tsp Tonkatsu Sauce (if you dont have this skip it)
2 Tbs Soy Sauce (again... REAL soy sauce.... look at the friggin lable)
1/2 Onion Finely Chopped
1 Carrot Grated
2 Tbs Vegetable Oil/ Sesame Oil

Basically just like the Taiwanese Dumplings, mix it all together, wrap, freeze or cook and eat!

Note: I tend to make Gyoza thinner and longer so you will need about 1/2 the filling of a typical dumpling.


Make sure you have your dumpling skins ready and take about... a heaping teaspoon or two of meat into the middle of the dumpling skins, (Make sure you have put water on half of the edge of the dumpling skin or else it will not seal and they will break when they boil/ pan fry.) and fold over the dry edge to the wet edge. You can make a ton of these and freeze them up on a tray then separate them into baggies and take them out when you need to or feel the urge to have dumplings.

Gyoza taste GREAT with Bulldog Company's Tonkatsu Sauce (seriously the best brand i've tasted so far)

Enjoy!

PS------ I will be making a video of this from start to finish on my youtube account in the next few weeks so be on the look out for it. My youtube is in the contacts page. :)

HAPPY EATING!