MORE COOK-STUFFS
So today I rocked my PRT (non Navy = PT test that we have twice a year) and proceeded to celebrate by gorging myself on those dangerous dark chocolate mint cup thingies that you can buy at supermarkets (mine were Kroger brand) - went a bit overboard and got a stomach ache so I then proceeded to take a 4 hour nap on my couch...oops...
Recent fun recipes:
Tofu-bean stir-fry:
Mix stir fry sauce from 2tbsp lime juice, dash of sherry, about a quarter cup of soy sauce, 1 tsp corn starch, dilute w. water to about 1/2 cup total for mix
Chop: about 1 tsp ginger root (chopped or ground), 4 scallions, 4 small mushrooms (Crimini are my new faves)
Heat frying pan w. 2 tbsp olive oil and add chopped ingredients - saute for about 1 minute and add 1-2tbsp chopped garlic, salt, pepper (to taste). Add sauce mix - if it thickens too much then add more soy sauce to dilute (but don't go overboard, the beans will shed water when cooked). Next add tofu, about 1.5 cups total (I bought the pre-cut and fried variety which has a lot more character because it gets nice and golden and chewy on the outside, more flavorful too) - stir fry for another 2-5 minutes. Finally add 2 or more cups green beans - either fresh or frozen (note frozen will shed more water when cooked) - stir fry until beans are hot but still bright green and crisp in texture.
Grilled chicken (high protein) salad:
-Mix: a marinade from a dash of soy sauce, olive oil, sherry, about .5 cup orange juice, 1 tbsp honey, ground pepper, and garlic salt. Put in a flat dish w. enough surface area for all of chicken to soak in.
-Boil: about 1.5 cups of edamame (shelled soy beans, you can buy frozen at Trader Joe's and they rock)rinse w. cold water and set aside to drain.
-Wash 1.5-2 cups of grapes and set aside to drain.
-Chicken: slice .75lb chicken breast into .5 inch thick slices or strips to save cooking time. Poke holes all over w. knife to increase absorbtion of marinade. Soak in dish for 5 minutes on one side, then turn all pieces and soak on other side for another 5 minutes. Meanwhile pre-heat george foreman or other grill.
-Chop: 1+ cups celery, 4 scallions.
-Measure: .25 cups roasted salted peanuts
Grill: Spray grill w. non-stick spray, grill chicken until fully cooked (core temp should reach at least 145 degrees) - char to taste. Dice grilled chicken into about .5 inch cubes.
Combine all ingredients in large bowl or tupperware. Add: more pepper, garlic salt (to taste), mayo (or something fancy like gourmet wasabi horseradish mayo like I used), and dijon (or other) mustard to taste. Stir till well-mixed. Serve chilled on top of lettuce. Good wine to serve with is a cabernet-shiraz...I love mixed varieties they have much more character:-)
I probably spend too much time cooking but MAN is it worth it...
Recent fun recipes:
Tofu-bean stir-fry:
Mix stir fry sauce from 2tbsp lime juice, dash of sherry, about a quarter cup of soy sauce, 1 tsp corn starch, dilute w. water to about 1/2 cup total for mix
Chop: about 1 tsp ginger root (chopped or ground), 4 scallions, 4 small mushrooms (Crimini are my new faves)
Heat frying pan w. 2 tbsp olive oil and add chopped ingredients - saute for about 1 minute and add 1-2tbsp chopped garlic, salt, pepper (to taste). Add sauce mix - if it thickens too much then add more soy sauce to dilute (but don't go overboard, the beans will shed water when cooked). Next add tofu, about 1.5 cups total (I bought the pre-cut and fried variety which has a lot more character because it gets nice and golden and chewy on the outside, more flavorful too) - stir fry for another 2-5 minutes. Finally add 2 or more cups green beans - either fresh or frozen (note frozen will shed more water when cooked) - stir fry until beans are hot but still bright green and crisp in texture.
Grilled chicken (high protein) salad:
-Mix: a marinade from a dash of soy sauce, olive oil, sherry, about .5 cup orange juice, 1 tbsp honey, ground pepper, and garlic salt. Put in a flat dish w. enough surface area for all of chicken to soak in.
-Boil: about 1.5 cups of edamame (shelled soy beans, you can buy frozen at Trader Joe's and they rock)rinse w. cold water and set aside to drain.
-Wash 1.5-2 cups of grapes and set aside to drain.
-Chicken: slice .75lb chicken breast into .5 inch thick slices or strips to save cooking time. Poke holes all over w. knife to increase absorbtion of marinade. Soak in dish for 5 minutes on one side, then turn all pieces and soak on other side for another 5 minutes. Meanwhile pre-heat george foreman or other grill.
-Chop: 1+ cups celery, 4 scallions.
-Measure: .25 cups roasted salted peanuts
Grill: Spray grill w. non-stick spray, grill chicken until fully cooked (core temp should reach at least 145 degrees) - char to taste. Dice grilled chicken into about .5 inch cubes.
Combine all ingredients in large bowl or tupperware. Add: more pepper, garlic salt (to taste), mayo (or something fancy like gourmet wasabi horseradish mayo like I used), and dijon (or other) mustard to taste. Stir till well-mixed. Serve chilled on top of lettuce. Good wine to serve with is a cabernet-shiraz...I love mixed varieties they have much more character:-)
I probably spend too much time cooking but MAN is it worth it...