Vietnamese Peanut Sauce

This is another easy sauce, it's not just for spring roll dipping. I also use it for cold noodles with some shredded cucumbers. Believe or not, it's quite delicious. Here is the Nước Tương Chấm recipe.

Peanut sauce made fresh from my kitchen

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 5 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 4 tbsp smooth peanut butter
• 1/2 cup water

Directions: 

1. Heat pan on medium heat, then add oil and garlic. 
2. Sauté until lightly browned.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients one by one and mix well.
4. Turn the heat up to medium high and bring to a boil.
5. Once it hits a boil immediately turn off the heat
6. Use a whisk to blend till smooth.
7. Remove from heat and chill, or serve right away.
8. You can add some crushed peanuts on top before serving
9. If you use sugar-free peanut butter, a tbsp of sugar would help sweeten it

Vietnamese Pickled Carrots & Daikon

Whenever I eat a Vietnamese sandwich (Bánh Mì), I always pig out on the Pickled Carrots and Daikon (Đồ Chua) from the sandwich. This is probably the easiest side dish to make. It can go in many dishes other than sandwich, you can find them on spring rolls (Goi Cuon), savory crepes (Bánh Xèo), grilled pork and noodles (BúnThịt Nướng), egg rolls (Chả Gìo), rice plates, vermicelli bowls or just eating by itself.

After rinsed from the salt bath

Here is the Đồ Chua recipe I learned from eating at Vietnamese restaurants.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb daikon radish
• 1/2 lb carrots
• 1 tbsp salt
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 5 tbsp sugar
• Water at room temperature
• 6 tbsp distilled vinegar

Cut carrots & daikon into matchsticks

Instructions:

1. Peel daikon and carrots, julienne them to small matchsticks. 
2. Place them in a large bowl, sprinkle with salt evenly and toss to coat. 
3. Soak for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse thoroughly with room-temperature water to remove salt. Squeeze in small handfuls to remove liquid as much as you can.
5. Add the vegetables to jar to near the top.
6. Boil water then mix sugar to dissolve, then add vinegar in a cup.
7. Pour the liquid into the jar. 
8. Put the lid on. Do not refrigerate but check every 12 hours. 
9. Ready to serve in 2 days, if thickness of the cut is close to matchsticks.

Mix salt into the carrots & daikon

Vegan Fish Sauce Recipe

Often times, my vegan friends ask me about vegan option of Goi Cuon (Vietnamese Spring Rolls). I said, it's easy to make them but the dipping sauce is not vegan. Traditionally, Nước Chấm is made with fish sauce that has been fermenting for 2 years. Because the source of fish is unknown, there might be trace of shrimps in the sauce. So, to be on the safe side, let's make a vegan fish sauce.

First of all, you have to buy Pineapple Fish Flavored Sauce. I bought mine at San San Tofu in Houston Asiatown (west of Beltway). If you don't have vegan fish sauce, just use the regular fish sauce on the market. Don't drink the fish sauce from the bottle. It's very salty.

Fresh Fish Sauce Made Fresh from My Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Fish Sauce of your choice
• 3 tbsp Sugar
• 7 tbsp Water
• 1 tsp Minced Garlic

Directions

1. Heat water in microwave for 1 minute. Combine warm water with sugar in a bowl. Stir until sugar dissolved.
2. Set the liquid aside to let it cool.
3. Add fish sauce and minced garlic to the mixture.
4. Stir well.
5. If you want it spicy, slice a fresh chili pepper and put them in the liquid mixture including the seeds. Or, you can add a tsp of chili sauce in the mixture.
6. You can garnish it with strings of shredded carrots.

Different ways to add spiciness to this dipping sauce 

"This Vietnamese sauce is usually served with spring rolls (both fresh and fried), Vietnamese grilled meats like Vietnamese sausages (nem nướng) and grilled lemongrass pork chops (thit heo nuong xa), and vermicelli noodle bowls." (Source)

Sweet N Sour Textured Soy Protein

This Sweet N Sour Textured Soy Protein was featured during a live cooking presentation last month.

Colorful and Flavorful Vegan Dish

INGREDIENTS

• 12 pc Textured Soy Protein
• 3 Bell Peppers (preferably different colors)
• 2 tbsp Corn Starch
• 1/4 cup Water
• 1 tbsp Ketchup
• 1/2 tbsp Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
• 2 tbsp Cooking Oil
• 1 tbsp Soy Sauce

DIRECTION:

1. Soak Textured Soy Protein pieces in boiling hot water until soft, about 1 hour.
2. Rinse them with cold water. Repeat the soaking process twice.
3. Cut up bell peppers and set aside.
4. Cut up soaked Textured Soy Protein in halves and set aside.
5. In a wok, pour cooking oil until heated at high heat.
6. Pour cut up bell peppers into the wok and stir frying constantly.
7. Cook until bell peppers have fragrance (browning) but not burned. Sprinkle garlic powder and onion powder while stirring.
8. Put Textured Soy Protein into the wok.
9. Pour soy sauce into the wok and keep stirring.
10. Put sugar and ketchup into the wok.
11. Stir in corn starch water until liquid thickens.
12. Ready to plate.

Option:

You can add cut up onions with the bell peppers

Video https://youtu.be/lhm8y9mZHaE

Shrimp ‘n Pork Dumplings

This recipe is a modified from Eton Chan, Beef and Pork Dumplings at half portion

Inside filling is what matters the most

Ingredients:

A:

• 1/2 pound Ground Pork
• 12 Raw Large Shrimps, peeled & deveined

B:

• 1/2 teaspoon Ginger, Minced
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 tablespoon Scallions, Minced

C:

• 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
• 1/8 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 2 tablespoon Sugar
• 2 tablespoon Cold Water

D:

• 1/2 pound Cabbage

E:

• 1 pack of Dumpling Wrappers

F:

• 2 cups Mung Bean Sprouts

Instructions:

Blanch Cabbage (D)

1. Peel outer layers of cabbage and cut into quarters. Boil in lightly salted water until tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and cool down. Chop finely and set aside.
2. Mince B Ingredients
3. While cabbage is boiling, peel ginger and mince; trim garlic clove and mince; mince scallion white and yellow parts. Set aside.

Combine

1. Combine all ingredients from A, B, C and D in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until liquids are absorbed into the meat. Cover and let marinate for 2 hours in fridge.
2. Chop Mung Bean Sprouts and mash well. Mix into marinaded meat mix right before assembly.

Assembly

1. Place about pecan-size meat mix in the middle of a dumpling wrapper. Dap edge of half wrapper with a little water and seal, removing all excess air if possible. To seal, fold dumpling in half to resemble a half moon. Lay single layer on tray and cover with a damp cheesecloth.

Cook

1. Fill water to 2/3 of large pot. Boil on high heat. Place dumplings into boiling water one at a time. Until filled on layer surface of the pot. Use a wooden spoon to separate dumplings from the bottom of pot. Lower heat to medium high. Wait until dumplings float to the top and cook 2 more minutes.
2. Remove dumpling from water with a Skimmer. Place them on a plate. Ready to enjoy.

Pork and Beef Dumplings

This recipe was adapted from Eton Chan, Pork and Beef Dumplings at half portion

Dumplings can be pan fried as Pot Stickers

Ingredients:

A:

• 1 pound Ground Beef
  
• 1 pound Ground Pork

B:

• 1 teaspoon Ginger Root
• 1 teaspoon Garlic
• 1 tablespoon Scallions

C:

• 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
• ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup sugar
• ¼ cup cold water

D:

1 pound cabbage

E:

2 packs of Dumpling Wrappers

Instructions:

1) Peel outer layers of cabbage and cut into quarters and boil in lightly salted water until tender. Remove from pot and cool down. Chop finely and set aside. 

2) While cabbage is boiling, peel ginger and mince; trim garlic clove stem and mince; mince scallion white and yellow parts. Set aside. 

3) Combine all ingredients from A, B, C, and D in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until liquids are absorbed into the meat. Cover and let marinate a couple hours in fridge. 

4) Assemble dumplings by filling a dumpling wrapper with 1 teaspoon of meat mix. Dap edge of wrapper with a little water and seal, removing all excess air if possible. To seal, fold dumpling in half to resemble a half moon. Lay single layer on tray and freeze.

5) To cook, you can boil them in lightly salted water or pan fry them. 

Okinawan Sweet Potato Pie

HAPPY PIE DAY 3.14! 

Secret Revealed! This is one of our popular desserts in the holiday season.

Ingredients:
5 cups mashed potatoes;
4 eggs;
2 cups sugar;
2 tsp vanilla extract;
Pinch of salt;
1 cup flavored Crisco (or butter);
2 cans evaporated milk;
3 unbaked pie crust.

Directions:

1. Boil sweet potatoes until soft, peel and mash until no lumps.
2. Add remainder of ingredients, beat with beater until creamy. Remove string if necessary.
3. Pour into the pie shell.
4. Cover the edge of the crust with foil strips and not touch the filling.
5. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes; then, bake at 250° for 40-50 minutes. Test the doneness by sticking in a toothpick.

You can substitute evaporated milk for coconut milk

Vegan Dumpling Recipe

During my recent Virtual Dumpling Party, a guest asked about vegetarian or meatless version of Chinese dumpling. There so many recipes out on the internet. I said I would create one and share it with her.

Whenever I feel like cooking some meatless dish, I look for what I can find in the refrigerator. I don't necessarily buying specific ingredients during my weekly grocery run.

• Question: Can you replace meat with tofu?
• Answer: Yes. But I normally use defrosted frozen tofu to create meat texture. Fresh soft tofu is mushy and fresh hard tofu is hard to mix with other vegetables. (recipe coming soon)

 

Vegan Dumplings made for Pot Stickers

Ingredients:

1 cup Black Fungus 黑木耳, finely chopped
1 cup Napa Cabbage 大白菜, finely chopped
1 cup Mushrooms, chopped (shitake mushroom is ideal, but any mushroom works)
1/2 tablespoon cooking oil to sauté mushroom
1/2 teaspoon Ginger, Minced
1/2 teaspoon Garlic, Minced
1/2 tablespoon Scallions, Minced
1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1/8 teaspoon Black Pepper

Basic Savory for Dumplings

Steps:

1. Sauté chopped mushrooms in oil over medium heat until soften
2. Remove from heat. Let cool and mix with all other ingredients.
3. Assemble with defrosted dumpling wrappers. Follow instruction on package.
4. You can pan fry like pot stickers or boil as dumplings, depends on quality of dumpling wrapper. If hard to fold and seal, cook them as pot stickers instead.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Post your comments below. Thank you. 

Beef Liver Grill Onion

If you like beef liver, this fast dinner could be on your table in about 10 minutes. Make sure you buy fresh beef liver already sliced thin.

Slap Ya Mama Cajun spice was the best seasoning on liver

Ingredients:
2 tbsp sliced onion
10 oz sliced beef liver
2 tbsp oil
Dash of Cajun seasoning

Directions:

1. Rinse beef liver until cold water.
2. Place it on a plate and drain out excess water.
3. Heat pan with medium heat.
4. Add oil to pan and wait 2 minutes.
5. Slowly place liver in the pan and cook for 2 minutes. 
6. Place onions around liver.
7. Carefully flip the liver.
8. Stir onion until cooked to desired tenderness.
9. Remove both from pan. 
10. Sprinkle seasoning while still hot. 
11. Ready to serve.

If you don't like the smell of liver, soak it in milk for an hour.

Veggie soup with quinoa

Trying to duplicate my love with the soup at Season's Harvest Cafe in Cypress.

The only difference was the price.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup zucchini, sliced
1 cup broccoli
1/4 cup red bell pepper, cubed

Direction:

1. Cook your broth with my Chicken Broth recipe or open a can of beef broth. 
2. Boil the ingredients until zucchini and broccoli are tender.
3. Remove from heat and season with sea salt.
4. Ready to serve.

My version is good as their version.

Butter Price War

Butter. Butter. Butter everywhere for the Holidays. Butter for the pastries. Butter for roux. Butter for cakes, pies and cookies. Butter for roasted turkey. Butter on your toasts at breakfast. Go Butter!

Generic Store Brand at Kroger during Thanksgiving sale.

Did you know Americans use more butter during the holidays in a typical kitchen? November and December time is the best time to stock up this commodity.

Land of Lakes butter at Kroger during 1st 2 weeks in November.

Just watch. After Christmas, these prices will go back to normal at about $4-5 a pound. Best way to shop is buy enough for next few months and keep them in the freezer. Beware of expiration date, tho.

Brewing a Perfect Herbal Medicine

This is about how to brew Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with 啞巴媳婦 Medicine Brewing Pot. It's sold at any Chinese grocery stores. The pot has standard shape and simple instructions. Mine happened to be an used one. I don't have any instructional manual.

Here is my instruction for what I learned by trials and errors.

1. Empty the herbs into the pot
2. Add enough water to cover the herbs. At least 3 cups, it depends on the amount of ingredient. I normally add half cup extra to the soaking process in the first brew.
3. Soak for 30 minutes. 
4. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet. 
5. I place it on my patio because it can get a little stinky during brewing. 
6. It depends on the herbs, it may take up to 2 hours to finish brewing.
7. When it's done, ready light should be lit (green). Don't let it sit on warm cycle too long.
8. Unplug the power cord and let the pot cool down before pouring the liquid into a bowl.
9. Each package must be brewed twice, unless your herbalist says otherwise.
10. There should be a 30-minute cooling time between brewing. Otherwise, the pot may crack.

Tips: I mix both brews and separate it into 2 doses for even flavor.

Some medicines can be bitter than others. I'd cool it in refrigerator to reduce bitterness. But herbalist would suggest taking them with candy or add sugar to improve the taste.

From measuring to brewing, it has been the tradition for centuries.

Originally from Wu Ja web page.
啞吧媳婦煎藥壺建議使用方法

1. 先放入藥材於葯壺內
2. 再放水於葯壺內
3. 水量約3碗半至4碗(但須看藥材多與少)
4. 水量需超過中間發熱體與藥材
5. 建議可以的話，浸泡20分鐘

煎煮完成時間大約值：
例：3碗半煎成1碗，約75分至90分，每增加1碗約15至20分。因為與煎葯壺功率，藥材本身的吸水量、比重、甚至氣溫都有關連，所以會產生時間差。

煎葯壺；煎煮注正常大帖葯，會超過中間發熱體，若是無法超過中間的發熱體，表示是小帖葯，煎煮出來 有可能葯液量會比較多解決方法

1. 若1.2碗時：可以放置磁製湯匙1至2支來增加藥材容量
2. 若1.5碗至2碗時，可以葯頭與葯尾一起煎煮，(放6碗水，煎出來時分兩次喝)

啞吧媳婦煎藥壺使用應注意事項

1. 中間內膽一定要每次刷洗因為水有水垢，加上有粘性的藥材會產生藥垢，附著在內膽，會影響煎煮的準確度
2. 煎煮藥頭不能馬上煎煮藥尾中間一定要間格15分鐘以上，否則有可能不穩定亂跳的情況
3. 煎煮出來的藥液量，會因為藥材的多寡或吸水性，而產生不同的藥液量基本上以7分至1.2碗(175cc至300cc)均屬正常範圍

Twist'n Shout Rolls

Dinner rolls are the essential item at a Thanksgiving dinner. I hate to buy the ones in the grocery store that have been prepared weeks ago. One day, out of nowhere, I thought to make our own rolls by hand. It was a lot of fun. But so much work. The benefit of baking my own bread is that I can control what goes on top and how it shows.

Ingredients:

Proofing:
1 envelope Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1 tbsp sugar

Dough:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp butter, softened

Topping:

Egg White, Sesame Seeds, Coarse Sea Salt

Directions:

Proofing & Mixing:

1. Dissolve Active Dry yeast in warm water with sugar in a small bowl. Let stand until the foam doubles the size
2. In a large mixing bowl, add 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, milk and butter. 
3. Beat 2 min at medium speed of electric mixer. 
4. Add proofed yeast liquid and 1 more cup flour gradually; beat on high speed of mixer for 2 min. 
5. Add in additional flour to make a soft dough. 
6. Knead the dough in the bowl to form the correct consistence.

Rising:

1. Place dough in the greased pans, turning once to coat. 
2. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place for 30 minutes or until doubled.
3. Punch dough down and divide dough into 12 equal pieces. 
4. Shape into balls. Place in greased 8-inch round pan. Cover with moist warm towels.
5. Leave the dough on a cooking stove near a heated source. (not touching the dough).
6. Let rise 30 minutes or until doubled for the last time.

French Curl:

1. Prepare 2 equal amount of dough and form the dough into string shape of 8 inch length.
2. On a lightly floured surface, pinch 1 end of both strings together and twist them into a zigzag. Pinch the other end.
3. Brush egg white and sprinkle raw sesame seeds and salt crystals.

Baking:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. 
2. Bake rolls for 20 to 25 minutes, or until done. 
3. Remove from pan. Serve warm.

Adopted from Fleischmann's Recipe #662

Originally posted December 26, 2013.

Aromatic Tea Eggs

Egg prices went down recently in Houston. It's time for some delicious, low-cost tea eggs. When I was growing up in Taiwan, my mom made a pot of tea eggs and I could eat 7 of them in a single setting. Why not 8? No one wants to be 王八蛋 - a foul language in Chinese .

I don't add soy sauce to my tea egg recipe. It kills the aromas from tea and spices. Don't add salt until soaking cycle. (step 6)

Mmm... yummy to marble pattern.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 doz of eggs
1/2 cup of green tea leaves
6 star anise (Chinese Five Spices)
2 cinnamon sticks, 3 inch size
8 cups water, depends on the size of your pot (see step 4)

Directions:

1. Boil eggs until hard, about 5 minutes. Don't over boil.
2. Remove from heat. Soak in cool water.
3. Lightly tap the shells with a metal spoon, but not to crack open.
4. Fill water to slightly cover the eggs, put all ingredients in liquid.
5. Heat to boil, then reduce to simmer. Constantly pouring liquid to top the eggs.
6. Cook until egg shells turn brown. 
7. Turn off heat, top the lid and let soak overnight.

Originally posted on Pbase.

Colorful Bean Soup

This is a time-saving recipe in total time spent, not fast cooking. For the proper flavor, Trinity is required. This recipe eliminated over-night soaking of dry beans and constantly watching over cooking of beans. 

Colorful combination in Midea Pressure Cooker.

Ingredients:
1 cup mixed beans from Whole Foods Bulk Bin #6721
1/2 cup pinto beans
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/3 stalk celery, finely chopped
1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 medium ham hock
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 medium bay leaves, crushed
6 cups water

Directions:

1. Make the Trinity in a pan - sauté all vegetables in 1 tbsp of Olive Oil over medium heat until onion turns translucent. Not in the Midea pot, because it would make it bottom really sticky and hard to clean.
2. Rinse dried beans, no soaking required. 
3. Place Trinity in Midea Pressure Cooker with ham hock, rinsed beans, spices and 6 cups of water. Watch the level on the pot, make sure it is below Max line. 
4. Follow the instruction and set to cook 40 minutes on Bean/Chili setting.
5. When ready, remove contents from pot. 
6. Season with sea salt. I put 1 tsp because ham hock is already salted.

This is one delicious and healthy high-fiber soup, great for people with diabetes.

Pot of Greens

I love collard greens. But constantly checking on the pot over long period of 2 hour became annoying. My recent discovery with Midea Pressure Cooker saved me time and energy.

Easy greens as 1-2-3.

Ingredients:
1 bunch of collard greens, cleaned
1/2 can of chicken broth, low sodium
1 ham hock
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 poblano or green bell pepper,  chopped
3 cloves garlic
1 okra, chopped

Directions:

1. Break the collard leaves from the stems and tear leaves by hand, not knife.
2. Put all ingredients into the Midea pot and follow the safety instructions. 
3. Set to steam for 30 minutes. 
4. When ready, release the pressure and open the lid.
5. Season with salt and dashes of Tabasco  hot sauce.

Chinese Summer Tonic Soup

All dried ingredients lined up neatly

This is a lazy way to cook a pot of 桂圓紅棗枸杞白木耳甜湯 red dates longan goji snow fungus soup with Midea Pressure Cooker. Why summer? Because of its ingredients are suitable for hot summer days. But it can be consumed any time of the year. There are several locations sell these ingredients in Chinatown: Hong Kong Seafood City, Yin Wall City, Viet Hoa Market.

Ingredients:

1 cup lotus seeds 蓮子
1 cup split jujubes, dried 紅棗
2 tbs goji berries, dried 枸杞
3 tbs longan meat, dried 桂圓
1 head snow fungus 銀耳

2 oz rock sugar or brown sugar

Directions:

1. Soak white fungus in warm water until expanded. Trim off yellow part on the base. This may be bitter or sour.
2. Rinse all ingredients well. 
3. Place in the pot. 
4. Add water to level 6.
5. Set to SOUP in Midea Pressure Cooker for 30 minutes. 
6. When done, add desired sweetness to the soup. I prefer plain because longan is naturally sweet.
7. Remove from pot and store in a gallon container.
8. Try to consume the soup in a week at any temperature. 

Brown sugar will turn the soup dark.

The effects of rock sugar is purity.

References:

|  Recipe from Pixnet | Another Recipe & Nutrition in Chinese  | English Jujube Tea |

Nutritional Values:

蓮子 Lotus Seeds |
紅棗 Jujubes |
枸杞 Goji Berries |
桂圓 Longan |
銀耳 Snow Fungus 

Hot Wings on the Fly

It's Super Bowl Sunday. OMG, I haven't started my potluck dish yet. No worry. Hot Wings on the Fly to the rescue. Here is my simple recipe I created by accident.

Can't find my photo for this recipe

Ingredients:
16 wing pieces (uncooked)
1/2 cup your favorite hot sauce
1/3 cup butter (nothing imitation)

Direction:
Rinse and pat dry the wing pieces.
Bake the wings until cooked (about 25 min) at 450 degrees. They should be crispy, so the sauce will stick.
Melt butter and mix in hot sauce in a large mixing bowl.
Toss the baked wings in the wet mix. Make sure they are evenly coated.
Serve with your favorite veggie sticks with Ranch dressing

Simple Chicken Broth

Chicken was on sale at 59¢ a pound. I bought several. After removing the meat from the bones, I decided to cook these bones for clear chicken broth.

1 set of chicken back and breast cage
2 stalks of celery
3 skinny carrots
half onion
4 cups water

Set to SLOW COOKER mode. It will automatically cook for 8 hours.

This is a base for a lot of soups. You can modify the vegetables as you see fit. Discard the vegetables and season the broth with salt and pepper if necessary.

Just Rice

Nothing fancy. Just trying on steamed rice with half white, half brown in this Midea Electric Pressure Cooker.

Follow the usual rice cooker instructions:
1 cup Jasmine brown rice
1 cup Jasmine rice
3 cups water

Set to BROWN RICE and wait til it's done.

Steamed rice close up.

Comparing to the conventional rice cooker, the texture was perfect on the day of cooking. However, the quality degrade faster to hard to chew on 6th day. I don't like to haul around a large pot just to cook rice. So, my conclusion is to continue using my mini rice cooker.