Sunday, November 1, 2009
Book!
This blog was a test bed for what I fully intended to make into a book. I have now switched plans to start writing the book first and steal some choice bits to post here as previews. So stayed tune! I intend to turn up the heat on my writing!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Sweet Stir Fry Heaven!
As anyone who has cooked a stir fry before can tell you... it is not just a tasty treat but an easy one as well!
I have my own "sweet" stir fry recipe for you to try!
Marinade some chicken in this mix:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon chilli powder
2 teaspoon brownsugar
1 tablespoon sherry wine
The brownsugar/chilli powder created a very unique and tasty, tangy sweet&sour mix on the chicken!
For seasoning I like to add Thyme and salt to the onions while sauteeing them.
While the chicken cooks, I add a pinch of cinnamon and let it cook in olive oil.
Then for everything before its done I add cilantro, basil, parsley.
Spice makes everything nice.
Then just add your choice of stir fry goodies to the pan... from water chessnuts, bamboo shoots, brussel sprouts, celery, carrots, mushrooms (portabella?), snow peas (or sugar snap peas), onions (green, red, yellow or white!), peanuts, pinneapple, mango, almonds or you name it.
I have my own "sweet" stir fry recipe for you to try!
Marinade some chicken in this mix:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon chilli powder
2 teaspoon brownsugar
1 tablespoon sherry wine
The brownsugar/chilli powder created a very unique and tasty, tangy sweet&sour mix on the chicken!
For seasoning I like to add Thyme and salt to the onions while sauteeing them.
While the chicken cooks, I add a pinch of cinnamon and let it cook in olive oil.
Then for everything before its done I add cilantro, basil, parsley.
Spice makes everything nice.
Then just add your choice of stir fry goodies to the pan... from water chessnuts, bamboo shoots, brussel sprouts, celery, carrots, mushrooms (portabella?), snow peas (or sugar snap peas), onions (green, red, yellow or white!), peanuts, pinneapple, mango, almonds or you name it.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Healthy Crepes!
Crepes can be healthy? I thought those came served with Nutella and Lingonberries...!
Well... the recipe I tried tonight came to me as epiphany while I shopped with the question: how to make crepes healthy!
Crepes are a very easy thing to make from scratch or buy ready made mixes from the store. However, they are not very filling without their sugary filling.
My filling was Gouda cheese, sautéed onions, and a bruschetta mix!
I bought the bruschetta mix from the store pre-made. In the future will make this on my own one night for an Italian meal then save some for my crepe creations!
Here is the healthy crepe route!
Step1 retrieve a cutting board to dice some onions on.
Step 2&3 (to be done simultaneously) in a separate pan while you mix your crepe batter... have some butter substitute sautéing some onions. Make your crepe batter, have some healthy butter substitute in the pan to make it non stick.
Step4 while the onions and the crepe pan heats. Take a block of Gouda cheese to the cheese grater so it will melt easier and more even on the crepe.
Step5 cook your crepe; once you flip it add some of the grated Gouda cheese.
Step6 take crepe off, add the sautéed onions then add some of your bruschetta mix (you either made this before for your own Italian feast (see my strategy post) or store bought).
Wallah... a healthy, filling quick and easy dinner! Preparation should take 10 minutes, cooking time depends on how many crepes you make but cleanup is easy with only 2pans, a knife, a cutting board and a spatula!
The best part... you can sneak over into dessert recipes easy too! My personal favorite is lingonberries and blackberries....
As a new master chef... you can try all sorts of delicious dessert concoctions from cinnamon, sugar, apples, raspberries, nutella, blueberries, blackberries, lingonberries, bananas or even a liquor flambé!
Enjoy!
Well... the recipe I tried tonight came to me as epiphany while I shopped with the question: how to make crepes healthy!
Crepes are a very easy thing to make from scratch or buy ready made mixes from the store. However, they are not very filling without their sugary filling.
My filling was Gouda cheese, sautéed onions, and a bruschetta mix!
I bought the bruschetta mix from the store pre-made. In the future will make this on my own one night for an Italian meal then save some for my crepe creations!
Here is the healthy crepe route!
Step1 retrieve a cutting board to dice some onions on.
Step 2&3 (to be done simultaneously) in a separate pan while you mix your crepe batter... have some butter substitute sautéing some onions. Make your crepe batter, have some healthy butter substitute in the pan to make it non stick.
Step4 while the onions and the crepe pan heats. Take a block of Gouda cheese to the cheese grater so it will melt easier and more even on the crepe.
Step5 cook your crepe; once you flip it add some of the grated Gouda cheese.
Step6 take crepe off, add the sautéed onions then add some of your bruschetta mix (you either made this before for your own Italian feast (see my strategy post) or store bought).
Wallah... a healthy, filling quick and easy dinner! Preparation should take 10 minutes, cooking time depends on how many crepes you make but cleanup is easy with only 2pans, a knife, a cutting board and a spatula!
The best part... you can sneak over into dessert recipes easy too! My personal favorite is lingonberries and blackberries....
As a new master chef... you can try all sorts of delicious dessert concoctions from cinnamon, sugar, apples, raspberries, nutella, blueberries, blackberries, lingonberries, bananas or even a liquor flambé!
Enjoy!
Cooking for the week strategies
First, I would like to discuss cooking strategies for the busy person.
The ultimate bachelor will probably appreciate the first strategy most. Leftovers. You cook to eat the same meal. Take one night aside and cook double-triple the helpings you need. You can eat it all week... and take it one step further: freezer. Try to pick meals that are freezer friendly. You will always have a ready made meal at your finger tips provided you don't get sick of eating the same thing. As a kid, I could not stand the same meal two days in a row (thanksgiving anyone?). Now I relish at it for the ease and convenience. Still, this strategy is not for everyone.
Second, quick & easy! Stick to stuff you can make instantly without any forethought required (examples... salads, pasta, soups, sandwiches) but try to intersperse these or you will undoubtedly get sick of the simple cooking. I will try to provide recipes for all the above examples as well as some other ideas for 'quick and easy.'
Third, for the truly experimental, busy cook... buy prepackaged main courses! This leaves you only with the chore of side dishes! You can make sautéed vegetables, fruit medleys etc to accompany your prepackaged chicken. This solution is not glamorous but it is effective and efficient.
Finally, the fourth strategy is my personal favorite. Most working, busy people do not have time to spend 3 hours every night slaving over the stove 7 days a week. My main strategy is to spend one night doing 5 hours and every other night is less than 30 minutes! Do the math just to trust my efficiency... (7x3=21 or 5+ (.5x6) =8 yes I can save you 13hours!). How? Magic? Hire your own personal chef (yea right!)? No, it is simple. Do all your prep work on one night for the whole week's cooking! This strategy requires some fore thought to know what you intend to cook the rest of the week. The second problem to address is to find common ingredients for all the recipes that KEEP well over the week so you can have 7 meals prepared in one night. You will see this strategy in action often with me as I showcase some recipe ideas... I will try to give ideas how to employ this strategy with the recipe.
These four strategies should send you on your way I hope to faster, healthier cooking! Everyone can cook... give it a try!
The ultimate bachelor will probably appreciate the first strategy most. Leftovers. You cook to eat the same meal. Take one night aside and cook double-triple the helpings you need. You can eat it all week... and take it one step further: freezer. Try to pick meals that are freezer friendly. You will always have a ready made meal at your finger tips provided you don't get sick of eating the same thing. As a kid, I could not stand the same meal two days in a row (thanksgiving anyone?). Now I relish at it for the ease and convenience. Still, this strategy is not for everyone.
Second, quick & easy! Stick to stuff you can make instantly without any forethought required (examples... salads, pasta, soups, sandwiches) but try to intersperse these or you will undoubtedly get sick of the simple cooking. I will try to provide recipes for all the above examples as well as some other ideas for 'quick and easy.'
Third, for the truly experimental, busy cook... buy prepackaged main courses! This leaves you only with the chore of side dishes! You can make sautéed vegetables, fruit medleys etc to accompany your prepackaged chicken. This solution is not glamorous but it is effective and efficient.
Finally, the fourth strategy is my personal favorite. Most working, busy people do not have time to spend 3 hours every night slaving over the stove 7 days a week. My main strategy is to spend one night doing 5 hours and every other night is less than 30 minutes! Do the math just to trust my efficiency... (7x3=21 or 5+ (.5x6) =8 yes I can save you 13hours!). How? Magic? Hire your own personal chef (yea right!)? No, it is simple. Do all your prep work on one night for the whole week's cooking! This strategy requires some fore thought to know what you intend to cook the rest of the week. The second problem to address is to find common ingredients for all the recipes that KEEP well over the week so you can have 7 meals prepared in one night. You will see this strategy in action often with me as I showcase some recipe ideas... I will try to give ideas how to employ this strategy with the recipe.
These four strategies should send you on your way I hope to faster, healthier cooking! Everyone can cook... give it a try!
Welcome!
Greetings!
I was not aware of any good blogs out there for the cooks though google is our permanent friend for recipes. I thought I would create a blog to showcase my successful experiments in the kitchen (and maybe even a few unsuccessful ones). I hope you will try some of these recipes. Everything posted here will be designed with the following criteria (20 minutes or less preparation... or a strategy to get it that low) and another max 20 minutes cooking time with a max 20 minutes clean up chore so that all dinner prep, cooking and cleaning can be done in one hour max. This is for the busy person but it is also for the healthy person so you will find few recommended dessert recipes (sorry!).
My goal is QUICK, HEALTHY, EASY, TASTY and when possible inexpensive cooking.
Welcome to my blog!
I was not aware of any good blogs out there for the cooks though google is our permanent friend for recipes. I thought I would create a blog to showcase my successful experiments in the kitchen (and maybe even a few unsuccessful ones). I hope you will try some of these recipes. Everything posted here will be designed with the following criteria (20 minutes or less preparation... or a strategy to get it that low) and another max 20 minutes cooking time with a max 20 minutes clean up chore so that all dinner prep, cooking and cleaning can be done in one hour max. This is for the busy person but it is also for the healthy person so you will find few recommended dessert recipes (sorry!).
My goal is QUICK, HEALTHY, EASY, TASTY and when possible inexpensive cooking.
Welcome to my blog!
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