It's a Classic

It's Beef and Broccoli, the classic Chinese American dish!! I went a little gung-ho on the sesame seeds. But that's how I like it!! So you haters can suck it. The broccoli was perfect (not the over cooked yellow turds that some restaurants dare serve). The beef was a little too salty and I will not have to sear so much the next time. But it was still good!

Keeping it Simple

My mommy and daddy came to visit me this weekend, and they brought with them some backyard fresh tomatoes!!! They had to leave me before lunch time, so they couldn't help me eat this yummy and simple pasta dish. Garden tomatoes, apartment deck grown basil a little bit of this and that.... topped it all off with a little good olive oil. Ooooh so fragrant and fresh! I'm feeling healthy today. Maybe I will get a couple slices of cheesecake at the cheesecake sale at the cheesecake factory this cheeseday....Wednesday.

Eating Leftovers

My weekend trip to A-tx left me with a 1/4 link of Rudy's famous jalapeno sausage. It's been calling me since Sunday. So have potatoes and eggs. As you all know, I cook and eat alone most of the time. It's a lot easier on the dishwasher (also me) if I can combine ALL food groups into one convenient and delicious package. Whatever moved me to try it, but I thought a prototype souffle would do just the trick to house the sausage, egg, and potato (plus corn, peas, onions, and chives). Wham bam...30 minutes later. Wow...this is my first attempt at souffle? It's so pretty...and GOOD?! All right enough tooting my own horn.

Here's the plated version with a little spicy tomato chili sauce...more commonly known as SARACHI. It's an amazing combination. Don't believe me? Well NO SOUFFLE FOR YOU!

Saucy~

*gasp* I'm actually including a recipe for a quick noodle sauce. I don't think I've read anything else, although I'm sure it exists seeing as how I can't possibly be that innovative.

I always keep a jar of miso in my fridge. It's healthy and can be made into soup or a healthy flavor boost. This sauce came to be after a craving for cold sesame noodles. Now... there was a time back in college when I worshipped food groups falling under the category of nuke and eat within 5 minutes. And the particular flavor and texture of the sauce I was craving came in plastic package of specialty ramen. It was thick, sweet, and sour. I figured it would be in the family of peanut sauces. Since I had no peanuts or peanut butter, I grabbed the closest thing that vaguely resembled the texture of peanut butter, and that was my jar of miso. Added some soy, sesame oil, and balsamic vinegar to the miso. Stirred and...something with a similar consistency to my packaged sauce of memory appeared before me. Luckily, it tasted just as good if not better.

I usually just pour the sauce over some chilled noodles (ramen, somen, soba - doesn't matter. It'll taste just as good with spaghetti) But i could easily see this sauce in a stirfry. But that's as easy as it gets folks. It took me longer to type this post than to make the sauce, cook my noodles, and eat.

Sweet and Tart Sesame Sauce

1 tablespoon of miso (doesn't matter what kind, I use red)
1 teaspoon of vinegar (doesn't matter what kind, I use balsamic)
2 teaspoon of dark toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon of mustard (doesn't matter what kind, I use honey dijon)
dash of soy
pinch of pepper
1/4 teaspoon of sarachi (optional)

combine all ingredients in no particular order, stir until everything is combined and sauce like. On a side note, the miso could probably be substituted with peanut butter and still taste just as good.


My final product looks like this. I add green onions, toasted black sesame seeds, and pickled garlic (pickled garlic is totally an acquired taste. Took my mother YEARS to even get me near the jar. Add with extreme-eme-eme cation)

PEAS SOUPE

I never actually liked pea soup until one very cold vacation day in Alaska. There I was on the deck, high freezing wind blowing in my face looking around at the beautiful icebergs refusing to surrendur to the warm envoirnmental controlled cruise boat interior. And there it was... a station passing out ham and pea soup. It looked to warm...albiet a little bit like baby food throwup. I figured it would be more like my own survivalman adventure, but it would keep me warm for another 30 mintues, and I was staying outside dammit! So I took the plunge: spoon into green goop, green goop into mouth! The experience was a little like falling in love actually. I've never tried to make it before, but I think this first go at pea soup was more than successful. I added a little carrot and onion to the peas just to mix it up. I don't think I will add carrot next time. It added a delightful sweetness, but the texture was all wrong. I made a vegan version, even though I know it would have tasted oodles better with some bacon and heavy cream mixed in. I guess I substituted the cream for soymilk and the bacon for carrots? This vegan version was still delicious, but definitely not the same thing as the full on bad for you fats version. Oh well...the sacrifices we make to live healthier lives.

My FAVORITE dessert!

Last week I made creme brulee for the boy, but mainly for me. It was so good!!! It's amazing to me that something made out of cream, sugar, vanilla, and egg yolks could be so heavenly. I thought I would have to spend a fortune on things like ramekins and torches, but the ramekins ended up costing $8 and I used a wind resistant candle lighter to make the sugar crust. Thrifty and economical I am.

Bachelorette Dinner

So, I must confess that something like this is usually what I eat for dinner since it's quick to prepare, complete nutrition, and I love all the foods. You really can't beat kimchee, perfect over medium eggs, and bowl of rice! The flies still aren't leaving me alone. I've started pouring bleach down the drain (as suggested by my mother) and ended up ruining one of my favorite gray beaters. Well...at least it looks intentional now, but I can never wear it to work again! DAMN YOU FLIES!