spring rolls

I'm not going to give a real intro to this recipe but if you want to learn more about it watch the video above!! But just know that this recipe is the bomb dot com!! enjoy

Sriracha glazed tofu

INGREDIENTS

1 cup soy sauce

1 cup rice wine vinegar

7 tbsp sriracha or other asian chili sauce

½ cup brown sugar

juice of 1 lime

1 large block of extra firm tofu cut into thick slices

oil

salt and pepper to taste

1. Marinate tofu in a mixture of the soy sauce and vinegar for at least 30 minutes.

2. In a shallow pan whisk together the sriracha, lime juice, and brown sugar.

3. Coat each piece of tofu in the sriracha glaze then place in a pan with oil and fry.

Spring Rolls

INGREDIENTS

10 8" Rice Paper Spring Rolls

20 fresh mint leaves

20 fresh mint cilantro

1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into matchsticks

2 carrots shredded

½ cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into matchsticks

2 scallions (green onions) cut into thin 2" strips

10-20 pieces of Sriracha glazed tofu

1. Wet a wrapper under the tap or in a bowl of lukewarm water and shake gently to remove excess liquid.

2. Lay wrapper on a clean, dry surface.

3. Arrange a few pieces of mint and cilantro in the center of the wrapper.

4. Lay 2-3 pieces of bell pepper, a generous pinch of shredded carrots, a few pieces of cucumber  1-2 slices scallions on top of the mint, and 1 piece of Sriracha glazed tofu making sure that all ingredients are facing in the same direction.

5. Once the wrapper is pliable enough to work with, tuck in the ends and roll up tightly (don't worry if you mess a few up, this takes practice).

6. Repeat until all ingredients are used up.

7. Serve with your preferred dipping sauce.

Peanut sauce

INGREDIENTS

¼  cup peanut butter

6 oz. coconut milk (canned)

1 small bunch cilantro, cleaned, stems intact

2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

1 small piece ginger, peeled and chopped roughly

2 tbsp soy sauce

juice of one lime

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1-2 tsp(s) Asian chili sauce

1 ½ tbsp honey or brown sugar

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender.

2. Adjust spiciness to taste by adding more or less chili sauce.

Teriyaki steak tacos with mango salsa

This recipe is a favorite of mine. It came from a night when I was making dinner and I wanted teriyaki steak and my little brother wanted tacos. I thought that since I was making dinner, I got to choose what we had but NO. My mom said one word to me COMPROMISE. SAY WHAT NOW?!?! Any way I talked with my brother about it and he wasn’t budging but neither was I. I played the cooks choice card but to no avail. We were basically having an old-western style stand off in the kitchen. Because I am the most stubborn person, I just started to cook. This made my mom and brother mad ( to put it nicely). I made the steak then (because I am perfect *cough cough* NOT) I felt kinda bad so I made mango salsa and wrapped the steak in tortillas. VIOLA TACOS! Everyone was happy! Anyway this recipe is the result of a small fight but dang it is delish!

Teriyaki steak tacos with mango salsa

Makes 8 tacos

Ingredients

2 pounds flank steak

Marinade

1 cup soy sauce

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 cloves of garlic minced

1 tbsp sesame oil

2 tbsp lime juice

¼ cup rice wine vinegar (you can also use white vinegar)

1 tbsp mirin cooking wine

Mango salsa

1 large mango cubed

¾ cup onion chopped

½ tsp vinegar  

1 ½ tsp brown sugar

¼ tsp ginger

1 ½ tbsp cilantro minced

1 avocado cubed

1 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp lime juice

salt and pepper to taste

8 corn tortillas

FOR THE STEAK

1. In a large bowl whisk together, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, lime juice, vinegar, and mirin

2. Place the steak into a large plastic bag. Then pour marinade into the bag.

3. Let the meat marinade overnight in the refrigerator.

4. Preheat the grill to high. Grill on high for five minutes (on each side).

FOR THE SALSA

1. In a large bowl place the mango and onion.

2. In a separate bowl whisk together the lime juice, oil, and vinegar.

3. Pour this mixture over the mango and onion.

4. Then sprinkle the ginger, brown sugar, cilantro, salt, and pepper over the mango, onions, and liquid.

5. Gently mix all ingredients together and add avocado.

SERVE STEAK WITH SALSA AND TORTILLAS

Ginger

Brown sugar

All the ingredients for the marinade

Mango

The salsa

Limes

Perfect avocado

Salsa with avocado

Grilling

Summery fruit crisp

Over the weekend one of my best friends invited me and one of her best friends to her house in Occidental, California. We had a great weekend swimming, hot-tubbing, watching chick flicks, and eating. One night we decided that we wanted to make dessert. We didn't want something too easy but we wanted it to be delicious. After much debate we agreed on summery fruit crisp with plums and nectarines (both were in season and local). We found a based recipe at food.com. The crisp was awesome. It was the perfect mix of fresh, buttery, tart and sweet. Add a bit of vanilla ice cream on top and this is perfect for a hot weekend. ENJOY! 

Ingredients:

6 sliced plums

3 sliced nectarines

1 ⅓ tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 ⅔ tablespoons sugar

1 ⅓ teaspoons vanilla

⅔  teaspoon cinnamon

Topping

⅔ cup all-purpose flour

⅔ cup oats

⅔ cup brown sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

⅓ cup butter or 1/3 cup margarine, melted

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.In a medium bowl toss plums, flour, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon together.

3.Pour into ungreased 1 1/2-quart baking dish.

4.In a small bowl combine all topping ingredients.

5.Mix with a fork until crumbly.

6.Distribute topping mixture evenly over plums (I use my hands for this).

7.Bake in 350 degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until topping is crispy and golden brown.

Nectarines! 

Topping ingredients 

Making the topping

Mixing the crisp topping 

Cutting up the fruit

Mixing the fruit

Filling 

Pouring on the topping 

Ready to bake 

Yummmm! 

It was a great long weekend! 

ALL THE PHOTOS FOR THIS POST WERE TAKEN WITH MY IPHONE.

Note: the base recipe is from food.com

SUPER burger to the rescue

I love this burger! The flavors are strong and super delicious. I love bacon and cheese and this burger has both. The urban dictionary defines a burger as a: Minced and reformed beef in a vaguely disc-shaped slab, cooked, and placed inside a bread roll, possibly along with various vegetables and sauces. anyway this description makes it sound totally unappealing. However this how I would describe this burger: A bacony, cheesey, juicy and an altogether delightful taste bud experience. It’s pretty good, don’t believe me, try it!

Ingredients

2lb ground beef

6 pieces bacon roughly chopped (cooked)

⅔ cup of blue cheese (crumbled)

3 tablespoons dijon mustard  

1 tsp black pepper

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 large egg

8 hamburger buns

8 slices of cheese (about ¼ inch thick)

Recommended condiments/toppings:

Fresh tomatos

Arugula

Balsamic caramelized onions

Ketchup

Mustard

1. Preheat your grill for high heat

2. In a large bowl combine ground beef, bacon, blue cheese, mustard, olive oil, and pepper using your hands.

3. Divide mixture into eight sections (about 4 oz each). Place one piece of cheese on each section. Press the cheese into the meat and form each patty around it.  

4. Crack egg into meat and mix thoroughly.
5. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done. Place each patty in a bun and top with condiments.

Ground beef, bacon, blue cheese, mustard, olive oil, and pepper

Eggs

Add egg

Hand mixing

Putting in the cheese (step 1)

Putting in the cheese (step 2)

Putting in the cheese (step 3)

I'm da grill monster

Hanna and Daddy grilling

All done and topped with mustard, Arugula, and

Balsamic caramelized onions

Balsamic caramelized onions

These onions are great! They do take a while be they are so worth it! I put them on burgers, paninis, and even pizza. A few weeks ago I as in Puerto Rico on a class trip (it was AWESOME) and we were asked to help with dinner. Of course I was excited but, what I found out that we were having frozen burger I was less excited. The adult in charge was also a great cook and when began to scheme about how to make the burgers better. Then we thought duh, caramelized onions would be delicious! We made this recipe and I love it!  

Ingredients:

5 large onions sliced

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves of garlic minced

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

½ tbsp white wine

1 tsp sugar

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a wide, thick-bottomed sauté pan heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to low and add vinegar, wine, and sugar. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 30-40 minutes or until onions are brown and mushy.

I know it looks like a lot of onions but it reduces down a lot!

Garlic

About to start cooking 

Now we're cookin'

White wine and balsamic vinegar

SUGAR

The onions after ten minutes 

DONE!

On a hamburger!