Korean Chap Chee Noodles, aka Chee Chee Noodles

Does anyone even read this anymore? Whatever. I'm still posting.

Go had a What About Bob moment at the kitchen table when I made this.

(I doubled this recipe for our family and we had around 2 servings of leftovers afterwards which were just as delicious.)

Chap Chee Noodles (Korean)

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 
  
• 1/3 pound beef top sirloin, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced bamboo shoots, drained
• 1/4 pound napa cabbage, sliced
• 2 cups chopped fresh spinach
• 3 ounces cellophane noodles, soaked in warm water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, garlic, sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in sliced beef, and marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Heat wok or large skillet over medium-high heat, then drizzle with oil. Cook beef until evenly brown. Stir in carrots, bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, and spinach. Add cellophane noodles, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Reduce heat to medium, and cook until heated through.

Chicken Artichoke Crepes

ASPARAGUS CHICKEN CREPES

2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon sugar

3/4 cup condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 dash ground nutmeg
1 cup chopped cooked chicken
1 cup chopped canned artichoke hearts
1/3 cup chopped fully cooked ham

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
1/3 cup mayonnaise

DIRECTIONS
For crepe batter, beat eggs and milk in a small mixing bowl. Combine flour and sugar; add to egg mixture and mix well.

Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 3 tablespoons batter into the center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper between. (you'll make around 8 total)

In a small bowl, combine the soup, Worcestershire sauce and nutmeg. Set aside 1/4 cup. Add the chicken, artichokes and ham to remaining soup mixture. Spoon 2 tablespoonfuls over each crepe; roll up tightly. Place seam side down in a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Spoon reserved soup mixture over crepes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Cover and bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.

Gradually fold cream into mayonnaise. Spread over crepes. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Broil 6 in. from the heat for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.

Marinated Mushrooms with Blue Cheese

12 servings

1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled
1 cup vegetable oil (I always use canola oil)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 coup white wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
1 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
hot sauce to taste (I use Frank's)
2 cups fresh mushrooms, stems removed

In a medium bowl, mix together the blue cheese, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, seasoning salt, sugar, dry mustard and hot sauce. Stir in the mushrooms. Cover and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours before serving.

Canteloupe Salad with Lime, Mint & Ginger

Cantaloupe Salad with Lime, Mint and Ginger

4-6 servings

1 cantaloupe, halved, seeded, peeled

3 T. fresh lime juice

3 T. chopped fresh mint

2 t. grated lime peel

2 T. sugar

2 1/2 t. grated peeled fresh ginger

2 t. honey

Cut cantaloupe into 3/4 - 1 inch cubes (or ball them) and place in a large bowl. Add lime juice, mint, lime peel; toss to blend. Mix in sugar, ginger, and honey. Refrigerate until ready to serve, stirring occasionally, up to 3 hours.

Grandma's Pork Spare Ribs

Not my grandma's but my friend's. I made these for Go yesterday for V-day and he fell in love with me all over again.

Grandma's Spareribs
Serves 6-8
Super Easy

4 lb. country style pork spareribs
Garlic salt
1/2 c. vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
4 tsp celery salt (I used only about 1 1/2 tsp (because it was all I had) and still won a standing ovation)
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 c. ketchup
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 c. water

Cut ribs into serving pieces. Sprinkle generously with garlic salt. Combine all remaining ingredients and pour over ribs. Bake at 325 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Skim off fat and serve.

This recipe is my creation from a cranberry pie gone wrong. I think they're delicious. Please, please try them, change them, comment. I'd love to know your thoughts and improvements.

Crancakes:
2 cups white flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tps. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
8 cups cranberries
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla

Sauce:
1 cup full fat sour cream (low fat is sour)
1/4 cup OJ concentrate
sugar or light corn syrup (optional)

Combine in large bowl flour, salt, baking soda and powder. In a blender, puree half the cranberries and half the sugar. The sugar will draw out juices from the berries to make a very thick, bright red puree. Add 1/4 cup of the OJ concentrate, eggs, vanilla, and blend till just combined. Dump on flour mixture, do not stir. Blend remaining cranberries and remaining sugar. Add to flour, stirring just till combined. Cook on griddle in batches. Batter will be very thick, so flatten a little in the pan. Because of the super-high fruit content cakes will take longer to cook than regular pancakes. I use two pans, to speed up the whole process. While the cakes are cooking, mix together the sour cream and 1/4 cup OJ concentrate. Taste, add sugar or light corn syrup if you prefer it sweeter. (If you've never had sour cream sweet, try it, you'll love it. You can thank me later.)
Serves 4 hungry adults.

Nutritionary note: Cranberries have more antioxidants per gram than any other common fruit. Even more than wild blueberries. WARNING: These cakes are not for Go. Cranberries have a lot of fiber, these crancakes will clean you out!

Poppy Seed Chicken

1 can cream of mushroom soup
6-8 chicken breasts, cooked and quartered
2 c. sour cream
2 c. Ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 c. butter
2 tsp. poppy seeds
Cooked rice

Cook chicken and cut into bite size pieces. In a bowl, mix sour cream and soup. Add chicken pieces. Transfer to a greased 9X13 pan. Mix crackers, butter and poppy seeds. Sprinkle evenly over the chicken mixture. Cook at 325 for 20 minutes. Serve over rice.

Healthier Version:

-Replace most of the sour cream with plain non-fat yogurt( a little sour cream helps to keep the sauce from becoming too runny)
-Use only 1/4 c. butter

Grandma Betty's Spagetti

a la Ron Reynolds

A) 2 bay leaves, 1 teaspoon crushed parsley, 1/4-1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon rosemary, 1/6 teaspoon cayenne pepper
B) Add above to big chopped onion, 3 cloves chopped garlic, and 3 tablespoon olive oil, 1 can tomato sauce and freshly sliced mushrooms
C) Add one big can of tomatoes (any kind)
D) Brown 1-1 1/2 pounds hamburger with salt and pepper and add a little beef buillion (2 cubes) and drain
E) Mix all in spagetti. Simmer 1 1/2 hour to 2 hours in iron skillet and stir occasionally
F) Mix in mild grated cheddar and all the rest in oven safe glass or other container (8x15 or so)
G) Bake in oven 350 until top dry but not crunchy.
(Caution: Cayenne pepper should be used sparingly. Do not go over maximum suggestion.)

Grandma Rosa's Salad

a la Ron Reynolds

A) Chop one large boiled potato and 1/4-1/2 onion
B) Chop up one or two hard boiled eggs
C) Add one can white tuna
D) Chop and add head of lettuce
E) Add mayo, salt and pepper to desired taste and consistency

Simple Pasta

a la Ron Reynolds
(Sarah didn't like this)

A) Cook up in olive oil: 1 chopped onion, 1 can chicken broth, 1/2 lemon juiced, white wine, 1 jar of artichoke hearts--chopped, and finally capers
B) Add pre-cooked chicken strips
C) Reduce and add a little basil
D) Cook up angel hair pasta and add chicken and sauce

Eight Brothers Pasta

a la Ron Reynolds

A) Finely chop 3-4 plum tomatoes and marinate in red wine vinegar.

B) Finely chop 1 jar of drained artichoke hearts (Cara Mia (?) brand recommended)

C) Fry up and reduce: olive oil, chopped onions, freshly chopped garlic, finely chopped carrots and favorite chopped non-breakfast sausage and 1 jar of Four Brothers Brand Alfredo sauce (red or white)

D) Cook 1 bag of bow-tie pasta

E) Add all together and serve up. (Do not cook A & B)

Blue Cheese Dip

So I made buffalo wings the other night for Conference. They were good but there's probably better recipes out there if you really want to know the truth. Though I did not make this dip/dressing to go with it but bought the Kraft bottled instead because we're thrifty (my new word for "dirt poor") like that, I did make it the last time I made chicken wings and just thinking about it makes me want to do a dance. I'm kind of afraid of what this dance would look like since it would be called "The Blue Cheese Dance," but it wouldn't take away from the utter deliciousness of this dip. Well, not much anyway.

Blue Cheese Dip

1 1/2 cups crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
1 cup mayo
3/4 sour cream
2 Tb milk
3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

Put everything in a food processor and process until almost smooth.

Devour.

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan

1/2 c Parmesan cheese

1/4 c butter, softened

3 T    Cream cheese

2T  fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp dried basil

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1/8 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp celery salt

2 lbs tilapia fillets

(I also season the fish with Old Bay seasoning, both sides and salt.)

1. Preheat your oven's broiler. Grease a broiling pan or line pan with aluminum foil.

2. In a small box, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, cream cheese and lemon juice.  Season with dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Mix well and set aside.

3. Arrange fillets in a single layer on prepared pan.  Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes.  Flip the fillets from the oven and cover them with  the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side.  Broil for 2 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork.  Be careful not to over cook the fish.  

Strawberry Yogurt Cake

1 pkg. Betty Crocker Super moist white cake mix

3 egg whites

3/4 c. vegetable oil (I use 3/4 c. applesauce to make it fat-free!)

2 (6oz) containers yoplait strawberry yogurt (you can use any kind and again I choose the fat-free)

1 (4oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed (again, I use the fat free)

Red food coloring, if desired.

Heat oven to 35o degrees   Grease and flour rectangular 9x13x2 pan.  Beat dry cake mix, water, oil, egg whites and 1 container yogurt on low speed 30 seconds.  Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.  Pour into greased pan.  Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center; cool completely.

Fold 1 container yogurt and 1 or 2 drops red food color into whipped topping.  Spread over top of cake.  Garnish with strawberries, if desired.  Refrigerate any remaining cake. 

Chicken Piccata (Barefoot Contessa)

Difficulty: Medium
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: about 20 minutes
Servings: 4

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I get the thin sliced so I don't have to pound them flat later like the recipe calls for)
kosher salt and ground black pepper
1 c. flour
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. seasoned dried bread crumbs
extra virgin olive oil
3 Tb unsalted butter, at room temp
1/3 freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons), lemon halves reserved
1/2 dry white wine
sliced lemon, for serving cause we're fancy like that
chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish. Again, fanciful.

Preheat the oven to 400 degree. Line a sheet with parchment paper.

If you went ahead and got normal chicken breasts, opposed to the already flat breasts (AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE), you can skip this part: Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound it out to 1/4 inch thick.

Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix the flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper on a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the eggs and 1 Tb water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread-crumb mixtures.

Heat 2 Tb olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add 2 chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan while you cook the rest of the chicken. Heat more olive oil in the sauté pan and cook the second 2 chicken breasts. (I never do this, I just do them all together and it works fine.) Place them on the same sheet and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

For the sauce, wipe out the sauté pan with a dry paper towel. On medium heat, melt 1 Tb of butter and then add the lemon juice, wine, the reserved lemon halves, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Boil over high heat until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Off the heat, add the remaining 2 Tb of butter and swirl to combine. Discard the lemon halves. Serve one chicken breast on each place, spoon the sauce, and serve with sliced lemon and the sprinkling of fresh parsley.

Ham and Feta Rigatoni Bake

Difficulty: Super easy
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6-8

12 oz. Rigatoni pasta
1 1/2 c. diced ham
4 large Roma tomatoes
1 c. crumbled Feta cheese
1 c. Mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 tsp. thyme (double if fresh, of course)
1 c. heavy whipping cream

Cook pasta according to package. Mix all other ingredients into an oven safe dish. Cover and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Take out and stir. Cover back up and bake another 45 minutes.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

For the Chocolate Lover. Tons of calories, worth every one. Make this for guests or plan on giving 1/2 away. It's too much for one family. Whenever I have served this, people close their eyes after the first bite and chew very slowly, as if their tastebuds demand full attention. It's so good. But it should be, there's no flour in this cake.

Cake:
1/2 lbs. unsalted butter
8 oz. semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 oz. pieces
8 large egg yolks
3/4 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg whites

Melt 2 Tbls. of the butter. Brush 3 round 9 inch cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter again.

Preheat oven to 325.

Melt remaining butter and chocolate on low heat, stirring constantly.

In large bowl, whip egg yolks and sugar on high until slightly thick and lemon colored, about 4 minutes. Scrape down sides, beat 2 minutes more.

Whisk 4 egg whites until stiff, but not dry.

Fold melted chocolate into egg yolk mixture. Then fold in egg whites. Divide batter evenly between the 3 pans. Cook at 325 for 25-30 mintues until toothpick near center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pans 15 minutes. (Durring baking, the surface of the cakes will form a crust; this crust will normally collapse when the cakes are removed from the oven. Then invert, remove parchment paper and cool on cooling racks in fridge for 30 min.

Filling:
8 oz. semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 oz. pieces
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 Tbls. granulated sugar

Melt chocolate on low in heavy bottomed saucepan, stirring constantly. Combine cream and sugar. Whip on high until soft peaks form. Use hand whisk to combine 1/4 of the whipped cream into the melted chocolate until smooth and completely incorporated. Add chocolate mixture back to the whipped cream and fold until smooth.

Ganache:

1 cup heavy cream
1 Tbls. unsalted butter
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, cut into 1/2 oz. pieces

Heat the cream and butter in pan to boiling. Place the chocolate in a bowl. Once cream boils pour over the chocolate and let stand 5 minutes. Stir untill smooth. Let stand at room temperature until ready to assemble cake.

Assemble:
Spread half filling on one cake circle. Top with 2nd cake. Spread other half on. Top with 3rd cake. Chill 2 hours. Coat sides and top wtih room temperature ganache. If desired, coat sides of cake with grated chocolate, cookie crumbs or chopped nuts.

Frozen Strawberry Lemon-Basil Mousse

This is so delicious and the basil makes it a sophisticated dessert that will wow guests. (Am I too cheesy?) Don't go easy on the basil, I often put a little more in.

2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup sugar plus 1/3 cup
3 cups quartered strawberries
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 (1/4-ounce) envelope unflavored gelatin, or 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup sliced strawberries, for garnish
1 tablespoon chiffonade of fresh basil, for garnish

Process the basil and the 1/2 cup sugar in a blender, until basil is small, no need to obliterate. Place quartered strawberries in a medium bowl and sprinkle with the basil sugar. Allow the mixture to stand for 20 minutes.

Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form and refrigerate until ready to use.

Combine the lemon juice with 3 tablespoons of water and the gelatin in a small bowl. Allow gelatin to soften, about 5 minutes. Puree sugar-basil-berry mix. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and press to release the juices, discard the pulp and seeds.

Cook 1/4 cup of the strawberry puree and the 1/3 cup sugar over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Just before the mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and stir in the gelatin mixture.

Combine the gelatin mixture with the remaining strawberry puree in a medium bowl. Chill in the fridge, Stirring every 10 minutes until cooled and syrupy.

Fold the reserved whipped cream into the syrup mixture, gently but thoroughly. Fill individual glasses with the strawberry mousse, cover, and freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.

Allow mousse to stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. May garnish with fresh sliced strawberries and basil.

Grilled Plums with Spiced Walnut Yogurt Sauce

Bobby Flay

6 plums, halved and pitted 2 teaspoons canola oil 1 tablespoon honey Pinch ground cinnamon Pinch finely grated orange zest Spiced Walnut Yogurt Sauce, recipe follows Preheat oven on broil. Brush cut side of plums with oil, drizzle with 1 tablespoon honey, and sprinkle with a pinch each of cinnamon and orange zest. Place plums on cookie sheet, cut side down, and broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown and slightly caramelized. Turn over and broil until just heated through, approximately 1 minute longer. Place 3 plum halves in each of 4 bowls and top with a few tablespoons of the Spiced Walnut Yogurt Sauce. Spiced Walnut Yogurt Sauce: 1 cup Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate if not using right away.

Pear-Walnut Ice Cream

Made this last night. It is Di-vine.
Williams-Sonoma Desserts

1 lbs. very ripe Barlett or Comice pears, peeled, cored, chopped
1/2 cup canned pear nectar
6 Tbls. sugar
1 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
2 Tbls. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cup walnut halves, toasted

Cook pears, nectar and 3 Tbls. of the sugar over medium high heat until boiling. Once boiling cook 1 minute. Puree in blender.
Combine egg yolks, corn syrup, and remaining 3 Tbls. sugar. In saucepan heat cream to boiling. Then slowly add to egg mixture, whisking continually. Pour back into saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring until slightly thick. Do not boil.
In a bowl mix the custard, pear puree, and vanilla. Refrigerate until cold.
Freeze in an ice cream maker. Add nuts the last minute. Transfer ice cream to container. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours, up to three days.
Makes 3 1/4 cups