Thursday, October 15, 2009

Sweet and Sour Pork by:Hannah





Ingredients:
1/2 lb. pork tenderloin (cut into bite size pieces)
1/2 green bell pepper (cut into slices)
1/2 white onion 9cut into slices)
1 8 oz can pineapple chunks w/ juice
1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
*1/3 cup sweet and sour sauce
Oil for frying
*If you'd like to bread your pork read personal comments, also if you'd like to make homemade sweet and sour sauce read personal comments.
Directions:
1-Pour oil in skillet and heat.
2-Cook pork about 1/2 way through.
Add green peppers, onions, garlic, and pineapple w/ the juice.

Add your sweet and sour sauce and finish cooking your pork.
When serving add more sweet and sour sauce over top the pork.


Personal comments:

I did not want to deep fry my pork so i left the bread off, also i cooked a big meal and did not feel like making my own sweet and sour sauce so i bought it from the store- yes i cheated.

to bread your pork you'll need:
1/2 cup water
2 oz. all-purpose flour
1 oz. corn starch
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 egg1 teaspoon cooking oil
1 small pinch of salt

Directions:
-Strain the dry ingredients of the frying batter and then add in the egg, water, and cooking oil to form a thick batter. Add the pork pieces into the batter and make sure they are well coated. In a deep skillet, add in the cooking oil enough for deep-frying. Once the oil is hot, deep fry the pork pieces until they turn golden brown. Dish out and drain on paper towel.
-Heat up a wok and add in some cooking oil. Add in the bell peppers, onions, garlic, and pineapple pieces. Stir fry until you smell the peppery aroma from the peppers and then add in the sweet and sour sauce. As soon as the sauce thickens, transfer the pork into the wok and stir well with the sauce.


To make the homemade sweet and sour sauce you need:
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato ketchup
1 teaspoon plum sauce
1/8 teaspoon Chinese rice vinegar (transparent in color)
1/2 teaspoon Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon corn starch
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons water

Directions:
Mix the sweet and sour sauce ingredients well and set aside.


I'm not a big fan of pork so i give this a 4 out of 5 stars.


Cashew Chicken by:Hannah





Ingredients:
1 boneless & skinless chicken breast, about 10 oz. (cut into small cubes)
1/2 cup cashew nuts
1-2 cups sugar snap peas
5 slices ginger
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 onion (cut into small square pieces)
2 stocks celery (cut diagonally)



Sauce:
1/2 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
3 tablespoons water
3 dashes white pepper powder or black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Salt to taste

directions:

-Mix the sauce together and set aside.
-Heat up a wok with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and stir-fry the chicken meat until the color turns white or half-cooked. Dish out and set aside.
-Add another 1 tablespoon of cooking oil into the wok and add in the ginger slices, garlic, snow peas, and onions.
-Stir-fry until you smell the onion and add the chicken meat back in.
-Add in the cashew nuts and do a few quick stirs.
-Add in the sauce and stir continuously until the chicken meat is cooked and well coated with the sauce.
-Add salt to taste, dish out and serve the Cashew Chicken hot with steamed white rice.

Personal comments:

I love this. it's just as good as a chines restaurant but after I'm full i don't have to sit in a car for an hour to get home. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars!





Friday, October 9, 2009

Halloween Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats by: Hannah




You will need:
1/4 cup margarine
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cup chocolate rice crispy cereal



Directions:


Melt margarine in sauce pan over low heat. Add marshmallows; stir until melted and well blended. Remove from heat. Stir in cereal until well coated. Place wax paper on a cookie sheet pan. Evenly spread out the cereal to your liking. Using Pumpkin and ghost cookie cutters; cut the shapes out while the cereal is still soft. You may need to pack it down and add a little to the shape to mold it perfectly. Then if you'd like frost the faces on the treats and place in fridge to harden.

Happy Halloween!!!

Personal Comments:
This is a really sweet treat if you are using the chocolate cereal so don't cover with frosting unless you like pure sugar. All in all I gave this a 4 out of 5 stars- I'm not that into sweets so don't trust my rating.


Friday, October 2, 2009

Italian Spaghettie and Meatballs by: Hannah



Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1/3 cup minced flat-leaf parsley leaves

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup dried onion flakes

3 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese

2 large cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme

1 large egg, beaten

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper


1 cup extra-virgin olive oil



Directions


-Mix the ground meat, ricotta, parsley, bread crumbs, onion, parmesan, garlic, milk, thyme, egg, salt, Worcestershire, and black pepper, to taste, in a large bowl. Mix until just combined; don't over mix. The mixture will be pretty soft.


-Using your hands, gently form mixture into 1 tablespoon small meatballs (about the size of ping pong balls). Put them on a large plate or pan; cover and refrigerate at least an hour or up to 24 hours.


-Heat the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add about 1/3 the meatballs and cook, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer the meatballs to a plate and repeat with the remaining meatballs.


-Drain off the oil and wipe out the skillet. Return the meatballs to the skillet and pour in the marinara sauce. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer until the meatballs are cooked through, about 15 minutes.


Personal Comments:

i'm not a meatball kind of gal but i liked these. I would do nothing different no extra spices anymore and it would have killed them. I give these a 5 out of 5 stars.

Rosemary Olive Oil Bread by Hannah







INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoondry yeast

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoons rosemary -more to sprinkle over bread

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 tablespoon olive oil (enough just to coat the bowl)

1 egg, beaten (optional)






DIRECTIONS


-Dissolve the sugar in warm water in a medium bowl, and mix in the yeast. When yeast is bubbly aprox 5-10 min, mix in salt, butter, 1 tablespoon rosemary, and Italian seasoning. Mix in 2 cups flour. Gradually add remaining flour (you may not need a whole cup) to form a workable dough, and knead 10 to 12 minutes.


-Coat the inside of a large bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl, cover, and allow to rise 1 hour in a warm location.


-Punch down dough, and divide in half. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly grease paper. Shape dough into 2 round loaves, and place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with rosemary, just a little on top. Cover, and allow to rise 1 hour, or until doubled in size.


-Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).


-Brush loaves with egg. Bake 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.


Personal Comments:

MMMMMM- I really can't say more then that. 5 big stars out of 5 stars

Crunchy Cabbage and Peanut Slaw by:Hannah



you will need:
1/2 head of cabbage - thinly slided
2 stems green onion - chop with white part
*1/2 cucumber - cut into small small cubes
*6-8 stems celery sticks - thinly chopped
1 cup salted peanuts
4 oz sour cream
2 Tbs mayonnaise
1 pinch salt - or to taste



*you can do either one or both if you like




Directions:


Place cabbage in a large mixing bowl, along with the copped green onions, cucumber, celery, peanuts, sour cream, mayo, and salt. Mix all together well, best when cold so if you need to place in fridge. That also helps everything season well before serving.


Personal Comments:

I like this one it's different and goes will with tons of food i give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.