Monday, December 3, 2018

Not Yakisoba, J Version

A sugar and grain free dinner I can have while other family members have the Yakisoba.

Here's the Yakisoba recipe:
https://www.budgetbytes.com/chicken-yakisoba/

Here's my version:


  • 2 3 oz. packages ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded

  • 1 tsp seasoned sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp ketchup 
  • 1 Tbsp sugar 

  • 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
  • 3/4 teaspoon chili garlic paste

  • 1/6 wedge head red cabbage 
  • 1 medium yellow onion 
  • 2 medium carrots
  • 2 stalk celery
  • 2 cups brussel sprouts trimmed
  • 8.5 ounces of cooked chicken

  • Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 teas ginger paste
  • half pound bella mushrooms, sliced.

Bring water to boil, cook noodles and drain.

Make Yakisoba sauce: sesame oil, soy sauce, worcestershire, ketchup and sugar.
Set aside.

Pull out food processor.
With shred wheel, grate the carrots.
With slice wheel, slice up onion, celery, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and chicken.  This makes about 9 cups, filling food processor.

In largest saute pan or wok,
heat oil
cook ginger paste and mushrooms until the mushrooms are cooked.
Add the vegetables and meat from the food processor
Stir fry.

When it is about done, remove half.

The Yakisoba half gets the yakisoba sauce and noodles.  Mix over heat to combine.
The J Version half gets 1/4 cup rice vinegar and the chili garlic paste.  MIx over heat to combine.

Sit down to dinner with others!

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Yam, Arugula, and Pomegranate Salad for one

8 ounces of cooked spiced yam cubes (1.5 cups)
2 ounces of arugula (a lot)
2/3 cups of pomegranate seeds, Woodstock brand frozen recommended.
Red wine vinegar by dashes.

If using frozen pomegranate seeds, spread them out on dinner plate to begin thawing.

Warm up yams in microwave.

On regular sized dinner plate: pile up argula, dashes of red wine vinegar top with yams, top with pomegranate, more vinegar.  Eat. 


Baked Yam bites

5 yams
1 or 2 TB cooking oil for higher heat, although some people use olive oil anyway.
teaspoon good chili powder
teaspoon paprika
or such spices you are in the mood for.

Preheat oven to 425F

Spray oil and glass baking dish or baking sheet with silpat or parchment.

Peel and chop into 1 inch pieces five yams (organic yams tend to be small)  into work bowl.

Mix in oil.  Add spices, mix with spatula.

Spread out on baking sheet or in baking dish.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Makes 9 cups of yams

Baked Apple slices, version J

Preheat oven to 350 F

Cut up 5 or more apples, dropping your finished pieces into a glass baking dish.  Leave the peel on. 

Add 2 teaspoons of Bragg's Apple Cider per 5 apples.

Toss with cinnamon.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the apples are as firm-soft as you prefer.

Vermont Shakshuka for one, version J

Make ahead the tomato stew*

* if you're going to prepare one serving immediately, start preheating oven to 350 F.

1 TB olive oil
1 large onion sliced thin or diced
3 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1/2 teaspoon quality chili powder
6 cups kale cut chiffonade
1 jar roasted red pepper, drained and chopped
1 28-ounce can diced tomato

Heat oil and cook onions medium-low for 15 minutes, until very soft.  If using fresh bell pepper, add it here.

Add garlic and spices, bring up heat.  Saute for one or two minutes.

Pour in tomatoes and drained chopped roasted bell pepper. 

Simmer until thickened, about ten minutes.

Store in glass container, put in refrigerator when cooled off somewhat.

To make One Serving:

Preheat oven to 350 F

Set out 2 eggs so they become less cold.  You can break them into two prep bowls if you like.

Heat smaller pan and spray with oil.

Add 1/3 of the stew (about 2 1/2 cups)

Bring to a bubble while oven is pre-heating, then keep heat low to prevent burn.

As oven passes 315 F, make hole in stew with spatula, and break egg into it.  Repeat for second egg.

Put pan in hot oven for 7 minutes.  10 minutes is overcooked, but also delicious.


Friday, May 18, 2018

And everyone's home

crockpot stew of cauliflower and chickpeas, tomato and yam, curry powder
serve with feta cheese and yogurt.

Saturday Morning, college graduation
ham fried rice for breakfast
lunch at Leunig's
leftover cauliflower stew for dinner

Sunday Morning, Mother's Day
kid makes pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon, yum beautiful
other kid makes sandwiches for hike
leftover cauliflower stew for dinner?

Lunches
Monday's sloppy joe dinner became meat lunch for three
bread, make your own sandwich or avocado toast.

Monday
Pan sheet roasted broccoli with cheese and panko
meatballs or burrito

Tuesday
Fish tacos with guest
haddock
white sauce of sour cream with cilantro and lime
shredded lettuce
sliced cabbage
sliced radish
3 salsas
avocado
beans
cheese
carrot sticks
small corn and flour tortillas
chocolate cake for dessert

Wednesday
pork chop or enchilada burrito bean with kale
sauteed kale
applesauce

Thursday
Taco Salad/Taco bar
leftover lettuce shred
homemade viniagrette
Doritos
Plain Chips
Beans
cooked ground meat
salsa
avocado
cheese
cucumber spears
leftover cabbage


Lunches are a thing again.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Another New Year


Vacation no-schedule continues, which Mom the Cook finds exhausting.  Breakfasts often happen around noon, lunch at 3, dinner at 7, and great annoyance all the way around.

black eyes peas with cubed ham and rice.

Family Burrito Night

  • black beans pureed in food processor, added to cooked turkey burger for Benson Burrito
  • plain beans made into burrito with salsa, cheese and kale, topped with homemade enchilada sauce.


First Tuesday, return to high school dinner

  • tacos.  Kid requires hard yellow shells.


Sloppy Joe Night

  • Once Upon a Chef sloppy joe using black beans for hamburger.  Tasted kinda like chili
  • turkey hamburger with canned manwich sauce
  • potato hamburger buns


vegetable thai soup as anchor

  • butternut squash thai soup with red curry paste, coconut milk, and peanut butter and baby kales.
  • chicken
  • black beans  

tried Costco fresh pork potstickers.  Ling Lings are better.

2nd Wednesday--mashed potato cauliflower as anchor

  • 2lb braised chuck steak in apple cider and vegetarian broth, half an onion.
  • main course black beans in sauteed onion, garlic, baby kale, and 2teas enchilada sauce
  • mashed cauliflower and potato
  • shredded cheese
  • green salad: greens, carrot curls, pepperocini, bottled greek olives, sm. tomato wedges, homemade viniagrette