catching up

[bonjovial]

BRIGHT HAPPY VERMICELLI SALAD
(tweaked from this recipe)

Ingredients:
・40g? dried vermicelli noodles
・2 carrots, peeled and julienned
・3 pieces of ham, cut into thin strips
・1/2 cucumber, julienned
・some pieces of pickled radish (takuan), if desired
・some sliced wood ear mushrooms if you have them

Mix with sauce:
・2T soy sauce
・2T vinegar
・1/2T sugar
・some sesame oil
・some pepper

Bring the noodles back to life as per instructions on package (usually just soaking?). If not enough time, microwave or boil in water for a while.

Mix sauce in a big bowl, then add everything to a big bowl and combine. Refrigerate before serving.

Serves 4.




TURKEY SOBORO
(basically this recipe)

Ingredients:
・1/2 lb lean ground turkey
・1 clove garlic, minced
・1 piece of ginger, minced
・some minced scallion (just white part)
・1/2T sugar
・2T oyster sauce
・2T soy sauce
・1T sesame oil
・1T mirin
・salt and pepper to taste

Prepare the vegetables and mix the sauce-ish condiments together separately. Heat the ginger, scallions, and garlic in a heated pan. Once fragrant, add the meat and brown. Stir often/break up clumps of meat. Add in liquids/condiments and mix well, heating until the liquid is mostly gone - this shouldn't require overcooking the meat.

Match with iritamago (scramble eggs with extra salt/chicken stock powder, but stir like the wind so the pieces end up small) and serve on rice.

Makes 4 servings.




TURKEY MEATBALLS IN SAUCE
(tweaked from this recipe)

Ingredients:
・1/2 pound ground turkey
・1/2 onion, minced
・3 cloves garlic, minced
・1/2 bell pepper, chopped
・1 egg
・1/4 cup milk
・1 piece of bread, cubed and softened in milk
・1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
・4T pesto rosso
・dash of nutmeg, basil, oregano, thyme (or whatever you have)
・some salt and pepper
・some garlic powder
・some flour
・3 cups marinara sauce (2 cans?)

In a big bowl, combine meat, vegetables, and egg. Keep everything cold! Add milk, bread, cheese, and condiments gradually. Form into 1-1/2 inch balls (put water on your hands or freeze the meat for a bit if you need to) and roll them in flour.

Bring marinara sauce to a boil and add meatballs, covering in sauce if possible. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Lower heat so the sauce is simmering, cover, and cook for another 35 minutes.

Serve with pasta and grilled zucchini. Makes 8 servings.

Today I made these cookies, too, but substituted an avocado for half of the butter. They turned out moist but kind of cakey, so I'm on the fence.