Pamela’s Kitchen

   

Vegetable oil
1 T minced green onion, white part of stalk only
1 t minced garlic
4-5 ripe medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 tsp to 1 Tbsp Chinese chili garlic sauce
1 block deep friend tofu (atsuage), cut into bite-sized strips
2 T ketchup
1 T oyster sauce
Dash of sesame oil
2 pkg cooked udon noodles
2 C bean sprouts
1 C green onion, chopped in 1-inch lengths

Heat about 2 T of oil in large frying pan over medium high. Add minced green onion and garlic and sauté about 30 seconds (do not let burn). Add tomatoes and cook stiring frequently about 3-4 minutes or until tomatoes are cooked through and have released their juices. Stir in chili garlic sauce to taste. Add tofu and toss to coat. Continue to cook until tofu is heated through. Stir in ketchup, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Put aside.

Heat over high heat another 2-3 T oil in a frying pan or wok, add noodles and braise until noodles separate and brown slightly, about 7-8 min. Stir in bean sprouts, toss, and cook another minute. Add tomato/tofu mixture and toss to coat. Turn off heat. Add green onion and toss again to mix. Season with pepper to taste. You may adjust seasonings to your personal taste (ketchup, sesame oil, chili garlic sauce, oyster sauce). You may also substitute vinegar for ketchup.

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When I first entertained the idea of reentering the world of eating brussels sprouts, I just wasn’t sure. I had too many memories (bad memories) of bitter unedibles, frozen brussels sprouts doctored up with butter and salt which left no joy in my mouth. I ate them because my mother made me.

And then a vegetable-loving friend, a former carnivore, told me that when he stopped eating meat, his tastebuds changed. He began loving vegetables that he had formerly passed up: bell peppers, dark leafy greens like kale and chard – and fresh brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts. He had to mention brussels sprouts. And that’s what got me thinking. If someone could go from a non- brussels sprouts eater to a brussels sprouts lover, those must be some sprouts!

So I got up the nerve when a package of brussels sprouts appeared before my eyes at Costco the week before Thanksgiving. They looked fresh. Maybe it would work. I’ll try it, I thought.

And I did. And I loved them. And it’s wonderfully easy. Here, you can try them too:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic
Yield 4 servings
Time About 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 pint brussels sprouts (about a pound)
4 to 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, to coat bottom of pan
5 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkling of balsamic vinegar (optional)

Method
1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Trim bottom of brussels sprouts, and slice each in half top to bottom. Heat oil in a heavy frying pan (cast iron preferred) over medium heat until it shimmers; put sprouts cut side down in one layer in pan. Add garlic, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Cook, undisturbed, until sprouts begin to brown on bottom (10-15 min).
3. Transfer to the oven and continue cooking on the middle rack of the oven for approx 15 min more, until sprouts are browned and cooked through. Do not overcook.
4. Taste, and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Stir in optional balsamic vinegar. Serve hot or warm.

*To cook a large quantity, brown in batches and transfer to a roasting pan before putting in the oven.

Recipe adapted from Mark Bittman and The New York Times.
http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/recipe-of-the-day-roasted-brussels-sprouts-with-garlic/

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12 oz fresh cranberries
3/4 c water
1-1/2 c sugar
4-1/2 T orange marmalade
Juice of 1-1/2 lemons

Rinse and drain cranberries, picking through for bad ones. Boil water
and sugar for 5 min. Add cranberries and cook 8 min or until all
cranberries have popped open and are transparent. Remove from heat.
Stir in marmalade. Stir in lemon juice. Pour into serving bowl and
refrigerate. Cranberries will thicken as they chill. Mmmmmm!

Thank you, Sue Peterson!

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ingredients
1 large sweet onion, finely chopped
2 T minced garlic
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
2 bell peppers (color of your choice: green, red, orange or yellow), cut in 1/4-inch dice
3 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes with liquid
1 T balsamic vinegar
Shot of vodka or vermouth, or 1/4 C good red wine
2 T sugar
1 T salt
1 T pepper
2 T chili powder
1 T dried basil
1 T dried oregano
1 T dried cumin
1 T fennel seeds
2 C vegetable broth (can substitute chicken broth)
1 14.5-oz can pinto beans, partially drained
1 14.5-oz can black beans, partially drained
1 14.5-oz can soy beans, partially drained
1 C kale, roughly chopped (optional)
3/4 C bulgar wheat

preparation
Heat a large stock pot over medium heat with enough olive oil to cover bottom (approx 3 T), then sauté onions, garlic, celery and carrots until translucent but not browned, approx 10 min. (In Italian cooking, this is technically called a soffritto and serves as the base for classic bolognese sauce.) Add bell peppers and sauté another 5-10 min until cooked through. Stir in tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Add the balsamic vinegar, vodka/wine, and seasonings, adjusting salt pepper, chili, balsamic vinegar and wine to taste. Stir in the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook for 30-40 min. Stir in beans and bring to simmer again. Add optional chopped kale. Stir in bulgar wheat, and cook for another 10 min or until bulgar is soft.

*You can make your own personal adjustments and modifications, such as adding chopped zucchini or butternut squash, mushrooms, or corn to the vegetable sauté; and substituting with the beans of your choice, such as kidney or white beans.

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The Monastery of the Angels' Pumpkin Bread

Makes 3 1-3/4 lb. loaves or 1 bundt cake

3 1/2 cups sifted flour
3 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp. salt
4 eggs beaten
1 cup oil
2/3 cup water
2 cups canned pumpkin
Walnut halves

Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Combine eggs, oil, water and pumpkin and mix well. Stir into dry ingredients. Turn into three greased loaf pans or bundt pan and top with a few walnut halves. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before slicing. Tastes best slightly warm, spread with butter or cream cheese!

Recipe compliments of NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103061215

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INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cup dried lentils
4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups baby carrots
3 small white or yellow potatoes
1 head cauliflower cut into florets
1 can coconut milk (13.5 oz)
2-3 tablespoon curry powder or to taste (You may also use 1 tablespoon curry paste)
1 tablespoon sugar
salt to taste

DIRECTIONS
Rinse lentils and place in a saucepan with the vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, add carrots and potatoes. Cover, and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Stir in the curry. Add cauliflower, coconut milk, sugar and season with salt to taste. Return to a simmer, and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until tender.

Serve over hot rice accompanied by chutney.

Serves 6-8

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups quinoa
• 5 pickling cucumbers, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 small red onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 1 bunch Italian parsley, leaves only, chopped
• 2 bunches mint, leaves only, chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 romaine lettuce leaves
• 1 avocado, peeled, seeded and sliced, for garnish
• Cracked Black Pepper Garnish, (optional)
• 
  

Directions
Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the quinoa, stir once and return to a boil. Cook, uncovered, over moderate heat 10 minutes. Strain and rinse well with cold water. Shake the sieve well to remove all moisture.

When dry, transfer the quinoa to a large bowl. Add the remaining salad ingredients and toss well. Serve on lettuce-lined plates, topped with avocado slices and optional cracked pepper garnish.

Recipe courtesy of Food Network
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aztecan-quinoa-salad-recipe/index.html

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Yang Chow Eggplant In Hot Spicy Garlic Sauce Recipe

ingredients
Vegetable or peanut oil
1 pound Japanese eggplant cut into 3x1-inch pieces
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic (more to taste)
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1/3 pound ground pork or chicken
1/2 cup shredded bamboo shoots (optional)
2 tablespoons cooking wine or Chinese rice wine
1/3 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon vinegar
chile oil
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
mixed with
3 teaspoons water to make a paste
2 minced green onions
5 drops sesame oil

preparation
Heat about 1/2 cup of oil in large skillet or wok over high heat (high heat is best, but work quickly; it helps to have everything ready prior to starting) . When very hot, add eggplant and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Wipe out wok with paper towels.

Place wok back on the heat and add 1 hen hot, add garlic and ginger and stir-fry for about 20 seconds, not allowing it to get too brown. Add pork or chicken, bamboo shoots, wine, chicken broth, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and chile oil (or chile pods, if using), cooking and stirring until sauce boils.

Add eggplant and toss to coat well. Bring to a boil and cook for about 30 seconds more. Add cornstarch/water mixture and stir until thick, about 30 seconds. Turn off heat. Add green onions and sesame oil. Serve with rice.

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This favorite recipe comes out of The New Basics Cookbook by Silver Palate authors Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins (Workman Publishing, New York, 1989). It’s not like the traditional Southwest or Texax barbecue birds slopped with thick red sauce requiring a packet of napkins. This one’s civilized. Eat it with a knife and fork. A little sweet , light white wine would go well, too.  I like to marinate it the day before. In fact, I have one going in the refrigerator right now.

MARY EMMERLING'S CHICKEN BARBECUE     
1/2 cup apricot jam
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. dry white wine or dry sherry
2 tbsp. minced scallions (green onions)
2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. minced fresh ginger
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 chicken (2 2/3 to 3 lb.), well rinsed, patted dry, and quartered

Combine all the ingredients except the chicken in a large bowl, and mix well. Rinse the chicken pieces well and pat them dry. Place them in the bowl and toss to coat with the marinade. Cover, refrigerate and marinate at least 4 hours, turning occasionally.

Conventional oven cooking method:
Put chicken on grill pan skin side down in center of oven under broiler. Broil 10-12 minutes until browned. Turn chicken skin side up.  Turn oven temperature to 450°F and roast an additional 15-20 minutes until done.

Charcoal grilling method:
Prepare hot coals for grilling. Grill the chicken over medium-hot coals, basting frequently with the marinade, until the juices run clear when the meat is pricked with a fork, 15 minutes on each side. Serve immediately.

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