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.

Beef Stew from Midea Cooker

I thought to give this piece of chuck roast a try after I found a recipe online. I modified to my Midea cooker's requirement. It's easy to follow and delicious.

One-pot cooking. Enjoy it with steamed rice.

Stuff you need:

2 - 3 lb boneless chuck roast. (the marble ones are tender)

1 cup flour

1/2 cup olive oil or cooking oil

1 cup onion, chopped 

1/2 cup celery, chopped 

1/2 cup carrots, diced

2 cups potatoes, cubed

2 tbsp garlic, sliced

5 cups water (just enough to cover the meat)

1 package Beef Stew Seasoning Mix

Do you have these ingredients in your refrigerator?

Direction:

1. Cut the meat into 1 inch cube. It's easier to cut when halfway defrosted.
2. Place flour and cubed meat in a zip lock back and vigorously shake the bag to coat all pieces.
3. Prepare a separate pan or pot to sear the meat 
4. Add oil to medium heated pan. Add meat pieces and turn frequently until all sides are seared.
5. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic into the pan. Toss until onion is translucent. 
6. Transfer everything from pan to the pressure cooker's inner pot.
7. Fill with potatoes and water. Don't overfill and watch the maximum line. 
8. Cover and set to SOUP for 25 minutes.
9. Follow the standard procedure during and after cooking. 
10. Let stand for a least 30 minutes while release pressure.
11. Uncover and stir thoroughly. Season to taste with hot sauce or pepper.

Note:

Some recipes want you to sautée in the inner pot. But that would ruin the pot's luster. I prefer to use a separate pan, because I used so much oil and trying to cook in a small pot on my first try.

Low-Sodium Coleslaw

This is my instant slaw recipe - skipping the marinate.

Got to love it when it's fast. Faster than driving to KFC.

6 cup shredded cabbage
1 tbsp shredded carrot
1 cup mayo
2 tbsp vinegar (prefer apple cider vinegar)
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp Splenda
1/2 tsp celery salt
Dash of ground pepper

1. Sprinkle celery salt on vegetables and rub until soft.
2. Stand for 10 min
3. Squeeze out excess liquid. (If too salty, rinse with drinking water and squeeze out the liquid.)
4. Mix in other ingredients.
5. Toss well.
6. Refrigerate for an hour or marinate overnight.

Salmon Au Miso

This was a self-taught recipe after eating at popular restaurant in Hawaii. Miso was on everything. But when it was roasted, the sweetness brings out from the naturally fermented soy beans. I shared this recipe with my mom. That was why there is a Chinese version.

Ingredients:
2 lb. Fresh Salmon
 2/1 cup Miso, any color or type
 1/4 cup Sake rice wine
 Soy Sauce, Sugar, Salt and pepper to taste

Baked miso has aroma that will blend well with salmon

Direction:

1. Cut salmon into portion sizes 
2. Salt fish with salt, lightly, on both sides. 
3. Let sit for 30 minutes to draw out excess water. 
4. Combine all ingredients and marinate fish overnight. 
5. Bake fish on a sheet pan at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes, until edges begin to brown. 

食譜: 味增鮭魚 - Chinese Version

2 lb. 新鮮鮭魚
半杯味增醬
1/4 杯日本米酒或米醋
少許胡椒
少許糖和醬油

1- 把魚切成食用大小。抹一些鹽﹐過半小時後﹐去水。
2- 把魚加入所有的調味料﹐放入塑膠袋密封。
3- 醃泡一夜。第二天晚上﹐連同滷汁一起去烤箱烤。
4- 設定350度﹐烤10-15分鐘。烤到邊緣開始成褐色。


Originally posted on Not-so-Secret Potluck Recipes

Orange Dream Cake

Got this recipe from a coworker who love to bake this cake. She got the recipe from a cookbook. So, here is my version with photos.

Ingredients:
1 Box White Cake Mix and everything you need as required
1 Box Orange Flavored Jello
1 Cup Water, boiling
1/2 cup water, cold

From bottom left: 
Bake the cake as directed on the box.
Spread the frosting on the prepared cake

Orange Frosting: 
1/2 bag of orange flavored Kool-aid
2 tsp water
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tub Cool Whip

Directions:

1. Bake the cake in 1/4 sheet pan as directed on the box. 
2. Leave the cake in the pan. 
3. Cool on the rack. 
4. Pour boiling water into Jello powder, stir until dissolved. Then, add cold water to cool. 
5. Poke holes with thick end of chopstick on the cake. 
6. Spoon Jello liquid over the cake and into the holes. 
7. When cooled completely, ice with orange frosting. 

Courtesy of a cooking pal in Hawaii, originally posted on Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:27 pm 

Cauliflower in Sundrenched Days

This is one simplest recipe and great for potluck. It doesn't cost much and everyone loves finger food and delicious vegetables with lots flavors and endless conversation.  Although Kraft stopped producing Sun Dried Tomato Dressing, you can use any oil-based salad dressings. The blanching technique is to keep cauliflower crunchy and retain the vitamins without over-boiling it.

Most of salad dressings can be used as marinate

Ingredients:
1 head Fresh Cauliflower
8 oz Oil-based Dressing (half bottle)
3 qt boiling water 
4 qt iced cold water

Directions:

1. Cut cauliflower into bite sizes.
2. Rinse well.
3. Bring a pot of water to boil, enough water to cover the entire head of cauliflower.
4. Dunk the vegetable and cover.
5. Remove from heat and soak for 10 minutes.
6. Drain and remove the vegetable immediately. 
7. Dunk them into the iced cold water.
8. Once the vegetable is cooled to room temperature, remove from cold water and drain well.
9. Pour salad dressing into the bowl. Toss cauliflower pieces until they are evenly coated. 
10. Ready to serve.