Beef Stroganoff

This is another one of those easy, hearty comfort foods, just how I like it.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb beef, cut into thin strips

1 large onion, thick slices

1 pkg sliced baby mushrooms (or canned)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup beef broth/beef bouillon dissolved

1 tsp parsley flakes

salt, black pepper to taste

few tbsp sour cream (optional)

cooked egg noodles

Sautee the onions and mushrooms in about 3 tbsp butter and tiny bit of oil for just a minute or two. Throw in the garlic and then the beef and sautee until the beef is no longer pink. Add the cream of mushroom soup and the beef broth and stir in the spices. Let simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the end, stir in the sour cream. Okay so beef stroganoff is traditionally made with sour cream but I didn't add it yet and I really like the taste anyway. But as per the original recipe, I shall add it just before serving and see how it goes. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

Easy Thai Basil Chicken

I wanted something different and easy to make involving chicken today for dinner. I also wanted to try and use some fresh basil leaves I had left over from my bagels. * Tube light!* Thai Basil Chicken! It was really easy and fast too! Extra points.

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken, cut into small pieces

1 onions, diced

1 bell pepper, diced (I didn't use this)

1 cup of broccoli florets (the original recipe called for bok choy but I didn't have any)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tsp sugar

chili sauce/paste/flakes to your preference

1/2 tsp corn starch

Sautee onions in a wok over medium heat until just a little tender and add the garlic. After a minute, throw in the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Meanwhile, mix all the sauces, sugar and chili paste/flakes together in a bowl and when the chicken is done cooking throw the sauce in and stir well. Adjust flavors to your liking. Add corn starch mixed with a little cold water to thicken the sauce. Turn off stove and add the basil. Serve over steamed rice.

Chicken Parmesan

I've been making this since I was like 10. Literally. It's easy but a bit time consuming but makes an impressive little dish. =)

Ingredients:

Chicken Breasts (1 for each person. Unless you have some chickens that have been on some major steroids. Then you can probably cut them in half)

Block cheese (I usually use pepper jack, but you can use fresh mozzarella, colby jack, swiss, whatever makes you happy)

3-4 egg whites, lightly whisked

about 1/2 cup or so of all purpose flour

about 1 or 2 cups of bread crumbs (plain or italian)

paprika powder, garlic powder, parsley flakes, italian seasonings, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper...and whatever other seasonings you have in your pantry that you'd like to throw in here. =P

Carefully make a pocket in each chicken breast with your knife as close to the edges as possible without tearing open the pocket. Season the eggs with salt and pepper. Season the bread crumbs with all the seasonings named above.

Insert the chicken pockets with a couple slices of the cheese. I used to "sew" the openings shut with soaked toothpicks to prevent cheese-ooze while baking, but you don't have to. Carefully dip the chicken breasts into the flour, shake off access, dip into egg, dip into bread crumbs to coat thoroughly. You can repeat the flour, egg, bread crumb process if you want a better breading.

Bake on a greased baking sheet at 375 for about 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Serve over pasta with marinara sauce.

Home-Made Bagels!!

Dude this is so easy I can't even believe it. The bagels turn out perfectly - crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup warm water

1 1/2 tbsp yeast

1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tbsp vegetable oil

3/4 tsp salt

EXTRA STUFFS:

I threw in a palm-full of chopped fresh basil and chopped sun-dried tomatoes

you can also do cinnamon powder and raisins

walnuts and dried cranberries

dried blueberries

chocolate chips

jalapeno and cheddar or asiago cheese

chopped toasted onions, garlic

various herbs

Add the sugar and yeast to the warm water and let sit for about 3-5 minutes.

In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, salt and vegetable oil and when the yeast mixture starts to foam add that in too. Mix together with your hands or a stand mixer to form a tough elasticky dough. You'll probably need more water so just a tiny bit at a time.

NOTE: Throw in the extra flavoring stuffs while your mixing the dough together.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size. I put mine in the oven after turning it on for a few minutes and turning it off. It took about 30 minutes. Turn it out onto a floured surface and knead well. Cut into 6 portions and form each one into a long thin snake-like rope. Wet each end of the rope and either form into a ring or into a twist (I did the twist like at Dunkin Donuts) Make sure the rope is long because it'll rise more. Place the formed bagels onto a floured surface and allow to rise for another 30 minutes or so.

Mean while, heat a pot of water to boiling. Add a bit of salt and sugar to the water. Carefully place 2 bagels a time into the water and cook on both sides for a minute each side. Place them onto a paper towel to soak the excess water. Place the boiled bagels on a lightly greased baking tray and bake for 18 minutes at 425 turning over after 10 minutes. If you want to sprinkle on top cheese or poppy seeds or garlic or onions or whatever, add it here. Done!

The 100th Post! WooHOO! Also, a Cajun Jambalaya recipe. :)

I made the 100th post on our blog!!! WOOT! lol That's actually kinda sad that I know that...and am excited about it. Whatever.

Anyway, here's a recipe for jambalaya I made for dinner today. It was so much easier than I imagined and turned out great! An awesome one dish dinner. Another WOOT.

Oh, this made about enough for two or three people.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast, cut into small cubes

about 1 cup of shrimp

1-2 hot turkey sausages, diced (or hot dogs. or not.)

1 onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1-2 stalks of celery, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tomato, chopped (I ran out of tomatoes (I know, what desi runs out of tomatoes?!) so I just used tomato paste)

2 bay leaves

cajun/creole seasoning

paprika, oregano or Italian seasoning, dried parsley (all optional. the cajun/creole seasoning probably has these but I added extra anyway.)

1 cup uncooked rice

1 3/4 cups chicken broth or chicken bouillon cube dissolved in 2 cups water

Sautee the onions, celery and bell pepper in a bit of oil over medium heat. After about 3 minutes (the veggies don't have to be tender or anything) throw in the garlic and stir. Add the chicken and shrimp, bay leaves, cajun/creole seasoning and the rest of the seasonings and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add the tomatoes or tomato paste and the chicken broth. Taste test and adjust for saltiness or spiciness. Add the rice, reduce heat and cook until the rice is tender. Voila.

I also fried up some homemade potato chips to go with this per Hubz's request.