Sapporo

The perfect sushi accompaniment!

The Tiffin Roll

Another new discovery at The Asian Grill. This is a fatty! Eel, salmon, yellow tail, crab, red snapper, egg omelet, avocado, cucumber and topped with eel sauce. It is so, so good!!

Shumai - Steamed Shrimp Dumplings

I decided to try something new at my favorite local sushi restaurant, The Asian Grill! These were light, juicy, full of shrimp flavor dumplings! I will get them again for sure!

Chili

It's gloomy, cold and dreary out today. I hate days like this, but I love comfort food! I have a crock pot full of chili going. I can't wait for a big bowl full with cheese melted all over the top and raw onion! Mmmmmmm! My classmates are going to stay far away from me tonight in class! Hee hee!

Greek Nachos

I wish my stomach was bigger sometimes. This is one of those times. This was such an easy, delicious, healthy dinner!

Chop up a pork tenderloin into small chunks and seasoned it with olive oil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Sauté in a little olive oil just until cooked through.

Layer hummus, pork and tabouli on top of crispy baked pita wedges. Feta would be great on top as well!

Pho...

I had another authentic pho experience in Columbus this weekend. I'm inspired once again to try to make the perfect broth. I have a bag full of beef bones in my freezer. I am going to attempt to make it in a crock pot this time. Should be interesting!

Blackened Salmon w/ Kamut Pilaf and Spaghetti Squash

There is a meat market in town that now sells fresh seafood.  I couldn't resist any longer. 

I got this gorgeous piece of salmon.  Blackened salmon is one of my favorite meals, so I of course had to prepare it that way.  I used my homemade blackened seasoning. 

As I was preparing the side dishes I let the salmon sit out to get to room temperature.  I generously sprinkled it with the seasoning and let it soak into the meat. 

To get the crispy blackened crust I seared it on high in just a little bit of olive oil on each side.

I served this with Kamut pilaf and spaghetti squash.

Spaghetti Squash - New Ingredient

This was such an easy side dish. 

Cut the squash in half, spoon out the seeds.

 Brush with olive oil, season with S&P.

Bake on a cookie sheet for 40 mins @ 375

Shred with a fork.

Saute in a little butter.

Season with S&P

Serve! 

Now that is a salad!

Carrabbas

Ensalada Italian Cobb with Beef Tenderloin

SOOOOOO Good!!!

Kamut - New Ingredient

What is it?!?

Kamut is an ancient relative to wheat that originated in Egypt. It is a good substitute for wheat, and has a pleasant sweet and buttery flavor. It has up to 20-40% more protein than wheat, up to 65 percent more amino acids, contains more healthy fatty acids, and is rich in magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E.

The whole kernels, sometimes called kamut berries, are two to three times the size of wheat kernels. They are a little chewy when cooked, so are often better mixed with other grains, or in soups and casseroles. To cook, use 3 parts water to 1 part kernel (e.g. 3 cups water and 1 cup kamut kernel), bring to boil with a few pinches of sea salt, then reduce heat to low and let simmer covered for 1 1/2 hours or more until tender. Alternatively, soak the kernels overnight, and then cook for 30-40 minutes until tender.

Kamut flakes are available and are much like oatmeal. They are made by heating the whole kernels and then pressing them flat. To cook kamut flakes, combine 1 part with 2 parts water, bring to a boil, then let simmer 15-18 minutes. Remove from heat, stir through, and add non-dairy milk if desired.

Kamut flour is another option. It can be used in breads, muffins, snack loaves and cookies. It has a nutty flavor, but is also more coarse than wheat flour (similar texture to cornmeal flour). While this texture does not work in all baked goods, it is lovely in many, and the flour can be combined with others (spelt, oat, barley, wheat) for great results.

How to cook it!

1. Boil water, remove from heat and pour in 1 C of Kamut berries

2. Let soak for 1 hour, return to burner and boil for 20 min. Remove and drain. 

3. In the same pan, add 1 Tbls Olive Oil, 1/2 onion chopped, 5 or so chopped mushrooms, 1/2 chopped red pepper, 3 cloves of garlic. Saute for 5 mins.

4. Add back in kamut berries, saute 5 mins.

5. Add one can  small can of chicken broth, 1/2 tsp. caraway seeds, S&P. Simmer until most of of the liquid is evaporated.

Cupcakes with a kick!

My aunt made these for a girls night party. The icing is pudding shots, the gummy life savers are soaked in vodka and that cup cakes are also full of flavored vodka! So clever and so good!

Crispy Baked Dumplings

I tried something new with frozen Chinese dumplings. I baked them on a cookie sheet that was sprayed with cooking spray. 350 for about 20 mins, flip halfway through!

They came out nice and crispy!

Kraft Shredded Cheese w/ a little Philly

This melted so nice on our homemade pizza tonight! I can't wait to try the other kinds!

Chipins

These are so good! They are like tortilla chips made from popcorn! Yum!

Olive Tongs

These are the cutest little olive grabbers to use for a party! I love them!

I lOve French Onion Soup...

and it loves me too!

Can you see the heart the stringy cheese made?!?!

It doesn't take much to amuse me! :)

Balsamic Glazed Spare Ribs with Goat Cheese Polenta and Roasted Carrots

This really satisfied my craving for beef!

1. Season spare ribs with S & P
2. Sear in a little olive oil on all sides
3. Add chopped onions, mushrooms and carrots to the same pan
4. Deglaze the pan with about 1/4 C of good balsamic vinegar
5. Cover the pan and put in a 350 oven for 1 hour
6. While that is baking boil 3 C of salted water, then add 1 C polenta. Cook for about 5-10 mins, until thick.
7. Remove from heat. Add in 3-4 Tbls of goat cheese, S & P to taste. Mix well to melt the cheese!
8. Cover and keep warm until ribs are done.
9. Serve ribs and veggies on top of polenta.

Be sure to make lots! I at 4 ribs myself!

Eggs Over Easy w/ Crispy Goat Cheese Polenta

I could eat this for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday!

Left over polenta with goat cheese cut into sticks and fried in butter served with eggs fried in butter.

No more explanation necessary!

This needs to happen....

Bacon and egg sandwich with pancakes instead of bread!

Yum!

Lemon Basil Vodka Drink

We went to Buca Di Beppo's tonight for dinner.  Yum.  I love their food.  Allison had told me of a drink with lemon and basil in it that she saw somewhere.  I don't remember where she saw it first, but I knew I had to have this tonight as soon as I spied it on their menu.  They did not overdo the simple syrup.  This was well balanced and delicious.  I could have drank a million of them.  Although the lasagna left room for only one.  I don't have an actual recipe yet.  But I thought this still post worthy

Asian BBQ Pork over Vegetable Fried Rice

Monday night dinner with the Grandmas! 

My mom is disappointing me with her meat selections.  We had decided on seafood and she keeps buying meat.  I'm putting my foot down from now on.  I want to cook seafood, but this was a good substitute, I guess! 

Tonight I went the Asian route!

Step One: Slice boneless pork chops thin, across the grain.  Marinate in 1 part hoisin sauce, 1 part honey and 1/2 part rice wine vinegar.

Step Two: Cook brown rice either in a rice cooker or on the stove top. 

Step Three: Chop up lots of veggies, small.  Onions, Garlic, Mushrooms, Baby Bok Choy, Carrots, Green Onion, Edamame.  Cut broccoli in bigger pieces.

Step Four: Add a drizzle of both olive oil and sesame oil to a non-stick pan.  Saute chopped veggies until tender.  Add cooked brown rice, make a well in the middle, add two eggs, scramble and then incorporate into the veggies and rice.  Season with low sodium soy sauce.

Step Five:  In another non-stick pan drizzle a little olive and sesame oil.  Add broccoli, saute for a couple minutes, then add all of the marinated pork and sauce.  Saute until just done. 

Step Six:  Serve the pork and broccoli on top of the rice. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!





The part I love the most!!!

Banana Margarita

1 can of frozen lime concentrate

3/4 cup tequila

1/4 cup Grand Mariner

1/2 banana

Put it all in a blender with some ice and blend until smooth.

So you can't really taste the banana.  But it cuts some of the tartness down.
Make for a very smooth light tasting Margo.

Pineapple Wine Punch

Thanks for the recipe Cory! 

 I'm addicted to this. 

1 Pint Pineapple Sherbet

2 Bottles of Chardonnay

DELICIOUS!!!

I can't wait to try different kinds of sherbet!



Antipasto Stix

-Hard Salami-Fresh Mozzerela-Grape Tomato-Flat Leaf Parsley-

Stick it, Eat it!

Banh Mi Bites

1. Slice a French Baguette into thin slices.
2. In a bowl mix: Mayo, Chopped Jalapeno and Lime Juice
3. Pickle carrots, daikon and onion in a simple water, vinegar, sugar brine
4. Layer:


1. Baguette
2. Jalapeno Mayo
3. Sliced Cucumber
4. Pickled Veg
5. Cilantro
6. Asian BBQ'd Pork

Eat and Repeat!

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms

These were made with left over Crabby Cheese Ball.

1. Clean mushroom caps

2. Brush with Olive oil and season with salt

3. Fill each cap with cheese ball

3. Bake 20 mins @ 400

Crabby Cheese Ball

This is a nice light cheese ball!

Combine:

•  1 Package of Cream Cheese
•  1 Package of Imitation Crab meat - chopped
•  2 Tbls Sour Cream
•  1/2 C Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
•  1 Tbls Old Bay Seasoning
•  2 Green Onions - chopped

This was delicious served on water crackers! 

Stuffed Mushrooms

This was a perfect use for the left over Manly Cheese Spread. 

1. Clean mushroom caps

2. Brush with Olive oil and season with salt

3. Fill each cap with cheese spread

3. Bake 20 mins @ 400



A Manly Cheese Spread

Meat, meat and more meat mixed with cheese!  It doesn't get more manly than that.

Mix together:

1 package Cream Cheese

2 Chopped Green Onions

1 Tbls Horseradish

1 Tbls Homemade Blackened Seasoning

Chopped pepperoni, salami and beef

Serve on crackers!

MMMMMmmmmmm......



Vodka- N-Cranberry Delux

- Vodka - Cranberry Juice - Ginger Ale - Fresh Lime - Maraschino Cherry -

Thai Take-Out

McDonalds or this?!?

That is not a hard decision for me!

Tom Yum Soup and Spring Rolls! Yum!

Beets w/ Blue Cheese

I could eat this for a meal anyday!

- Canned beets - drained

- Place in baking dish

- Season with S&P

- Sprinkle with blue cheese

- Bake @ 350 for 25 mins.

So simple and delicious!

Asian BBQ'd Pork

1.  Pick your pork.  I used boneless centercut pork chops.
2.  Dust with Chinese 5 Spice
3.  To the bottom of a crock pot add: equal amounts of hoisin sauce and agave syrup, add a squirt of Sriracha and a squirt of dark soy sauce. 
4.  Add pork chops, a little water and turn the crock pot on low for the day. 
5. Remove meat, shred, salt and add to sauce pan
6. Simmer in about half of the juice from the crock pot
7. In a separate bowl mix equal amounts of hoisin sauce and agave syrup, add a squirt of Sriracha and a squirt of dark soy sauce. 
8. Add to pan and simmer until meat is tender and well seasoned.