Kung Pao Chicken

Ingredients:

1lb boneless-skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1” pieces)
2 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons sesame oil (you can use any kind of oil, sesame has a strong flavor so you may want to use something else, I used mostly coconut oil with a little sesame)
1 green onion (chopped, plus another for topping to make it pretty)
3 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon fresh ginger (minced)
2 tablespoons rice wine (or alcohol-free wine or white grape juice maybe or leave it out)
2 tablespoons soy sauce (I might try a tad more of this next time)
2 teaspoons sugar
1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted, but I used lightly-salted since I couldn't find unsalted)
(optional) 5 dried red chili peppers (I pull these out before we eat)

Direction:

combine the chicken and cornstarch in a small bowl (or zip-lock bag) and toss to coat. Heat sesame oil (or vegetable oil) in a wok (or a large pan) over medium heat, add chicken and stir fry 5-7 minutes or until it is cooked thoroughly. Remove chicken from wok.

Add green onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, ginger, and dried red chili peppers to the wok (or pan) and stir fry for 15 seconds.

Combine wine, soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl. Mix well and add the sauce to the wok (or pan).

Return chicken to the wok and coat with sauce. Stir in roasted peanuts. Heat thoroughly. Top with additional green onions if desired and serve over rice.

 

Serves about 2-3 people.  I've made this twice and LOVE it.

Pulled Pork

I'm posting this so you don't think that all I think about is chocolate (according the my last 4 posts). Not as easy as Kristin's "Easy Southern BBQ" but since I have yet to find a soy free bbq sauce, I make this one. This is awesome, and Hy wants me to just make the sauce so he can put it on other stuff. Not hard, but when you are boiling it down, make sure to NOT FORGET ABOUT IT. Hyrum did, and it all boiled out, and burned, and the acid in the air permeated our entire house making it difficult to breathe because of the burning in our throats (poor Claire was taking a nap upstairs and started coughing).


Pulled Pork

2 cans plain seltzer

1 ½ c. black cherry juice (Knudsen’s)

1 ½ c. red wine or apple cider vinegar

2 c. palm or brown sugar

1 Tbs. dry mustard

2 tsp. crushed red pepper

2 bay leaves

3 tsp. sea salt

½ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

1 3-4 lb. pork roast

You can cook this in a 300°F oven for 4-5 hours or a crockpot for 8-10 hours on low.

Bring everything but the pork roast to a boil in a heavy saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Place pork in crockpot or heavy Dutch oven and pour half the liquid over the roast. Cook in the oven or in crockpot for above times. Boil remaining liquid on med. heat until thickened (about 45 minutes to an hour). Discard bay leaves. When pork is done, pull apart using two forks. Put the meat in with the syrup sauce, and add about 1 c. of the liquid from the Dutch oven or crockpot. Great with baked beans and/or over rice.

It also freezes well.

From here

Dark Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 bars (8 ounces) bittersweet chocolate baking bars, broken in ¼ inch pieces, recommended: Ghirardelli

6 TBS unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

1/3 cup Ghirardelli unsweetened cocoa

Directions

In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a simmer. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate and butter. In a medium sized skillet, bring 1/2 inch of water to a slow simmer. Set the saucepan in the skillet over low heat. Stir mixture just until chocolate has completely melted. Remove from heat. Pour the chocolate mixture into a shallow bowl. Cool, cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

Pour the cocoa into a pie plate. Line an airtight container with waxed paper. Dip a melon baller or small spoon into a glass of warm water and quickly scrape across the surface of the chilled truffle mixture to form a rough 1-inch ball. Drop the ball into the cocoa. Repeat with the remaining truffle mixture. Gently shake the pie plate to coat truffles evenly. Transfer truffles to the prepared container, separating layers with additional waxed paper. Cover tightly and refrigerate up to 2 weeks, or freeze up to 3 months.

Layered Peppermint Bark

Ingredients

• 17 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), finely chopped

• 30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)

• 7 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

• 6 tablespoons whipping cream

• ¾ teaspoon peppermint extract

Directions

Turn large baking sheet bottom side up. Cover securely with foil. Mark 12 x 9-inch rectangle on foil. Stir white chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water) until chocolate is melted and smooth and candy thermometer registers 110°F. (chocolate will feel warm to touch). Remove from over water. Pour 2/3 cup melted white chocolate onto rectangle on foil. Using icing spatula, spread chocolate to fill rectangle. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crushed peppermints. Chill until set, about 15 minutes.

Stir bittersweet chocolate, cream and peppermint extract in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until just melted and smooth. Cool to barely lukewarm, about 5 minutes. Pour bittersweet chocolate mixture in long lines over white chocolate rectangle. Using icing spatula, spread bittersweet chocolate in even layer. Refrigerate until very cold and firm, about 25 minutes.

Rewarm remaining white chocolate in bowl set over barely simmering water to 110°F. Working quickly, pour white chocolate over firm bittersweet chocolate layer; spread to cover. Immediately sprinkle with remaining crushed peppermints. Chill just until firm, about 20 minutes.

Lift foil with bark onto work surface; trim edges. Cut bark crosswise into 2-inch-wide strips. Using metal spatula, slide bark off foil and onto work surface. Cut each strip crosswise into 3 sections and each section diagonally into 2 triangles. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Chill in airtight container.) Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature before serving.

**I didn't cut the bark, just broke it into pieces

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Layered-Peppermint-Crunch-Bark-5739

Old fashioned fudge

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup milk*
4 TBS butter**
1 tsp vanilla

Grease an 8x8 square pan
Combine sugar, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Stir to blend and bring to a boil while stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer. DO NOT stir again.
Candy should reach 238 degrees F or the soft ball stage. Soft ball stage means you put a small drop of the candy in cold water and instead is dissipating, you are able to form a squishy little ball in between your fingers, kind of like a melty tootsie roll.
Remove from heat and let cool to 110-115 degrees (or just wait a few minutes if you don't have a thermometer).
Add butter and vanilla and beat with a wooden spoon until it loses it's sheen. This may take a long time. Do not under beat.
Pour into prepared pan and let cool.
Makes approximately 60 pieces.

Adapted from here

To be dairy free:
*full fat coconut milk
**earth balance

Hot Chocolate

If you have a craving and run out, or if you are like me and can't drink commercial hot chocolate

1 TBS cocoa
2 TBS sugar
2 TBS water
1 cup milk*
vanilla (optional)

Mix cocoa, sugar and water in a saucepan on low heat for a few minutes and then add milk and a dash of vanilla. May also add a drop or 2 of peppermint extract. Heat to desired temperature.

Originally from here

*I use rice milk

Whole Wheat Butterhorns

2 packages dry yeast
1 3/4 cups warm water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons. oil
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2-2 1/2 cups flour
6 tablespoons soft butter
 (hs note: I also ended up using one egg, lightly beaten to give the rolls a quick brush before popping them in the oven.)

1. Dissolve yeast in water.
2. Add brown sugar, oil, honey, salt, and 1 1/2 cups whole what flour. Mix well.
3. Stir in remaining whole wheat flour and enough flour to make a stiff dough.
4. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise about 1 1/2 hours.
5. Divide into 3 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
6. Roll each ball into a 10-inch circle. Spread with 1/3 butter (hs note: I used melted butter). Cut each circle into 8 wedges (hs note: like pizza slices). To shape rolls, begin at wide end of wedge and roll toward point. Place on greased baking sheet.

7. Cover and let rise 20-30 minutes. (hs note: this is when I brush the dough with the egg wash to get a nice golden crust). Bake in 375F oven for 12-15 minutes. Brush with milk or butter while still warm.

Pecan Pie sans corn syrup

Ingredients

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
3. Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes at 350 degrees, then reduce temperature to 300 degrees and bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until done.

Onion Mashed Potatoes

This is a recipe I got from Ellen Palsson (Craig's mom, for those who know them)

Sweet Onion Mashed Potatoes

6 tablespoon butter
2 cups chopped sweet onions (such as Walla Walla or Vidalia)
2½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 cup milk
¼ teaspoon salt


In a small saucepan, melt butter and gently sauté chopped onions over medium-low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the onions have softened and turned a rich golden brown; set aside.
While onions are cooking, boil potatoes in a large pot of salted water until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, drain well and mash thoroughly with a potato masher.

To the onion mixture, add milk and salt and warm gently, then whisk into potatoes; adjust seasonings and serve.

Scallops with garlic butter

Ingredients:
I lb fresh sea scallops
1 tablespoons melted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons Italian bread crumbs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425. In a small heat safe bowl or measuring cup combine butter, shallot and garlic. Microwave about one minute or until butter is melted. Place scallops in a shallow baking dish. Pour the garlic/shallot butter over the scallops evenly. Combine oil and bread crumbs and sprinkle over scallops. Add salt and pepper. Bake until opaque, about 10-12 minutes.

Original recipe here.

Here's what I did differently: I didn't have any green onions so I chopped up half of a regular onion and sauteed it in the butter and some olive oil, then added the garlic (will definitely do the regular onion again). This last time I also added 3 pieces of bacon...soooo good.  I poured that over the scallops and added the rest of the olive oil (I probably put in 3 Tbs altogether) with the bread crumbs as well as some lemon juice and the salt and pepper. I took them out after 10 minutes and considered pan searing them for a minute, but didn't (though I bet it would be good). I don't usually like scallops, but these were really good! I served them over whole wheat spaghetti.

Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

Ingredients

• 1 8-inch (6 oz.) prepared chocolate crumb crust (or graham cracker, my fav I think)
  
• 1 3/4 cups (11.5-oz. pkg.) chocolate chips
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whipped
• Sweetened whipped cream (optional)
• 2 oz. semi-sweet baking bar, made into curls *

Directions

MICROWAVE morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on MEDIUM-HIGH power for 1 minute; STIR (or otherwise heat on the stove stirring constantly). The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted. Cool to room temperature.

BEAT melted chocolate, cream cheese and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until light in color. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm. Top with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate curls.

*CHOCOLATE CURLS:
Carefully draw a vegetable peeler across edge of a bar of Semi-Sweet Chocolate.

(this is the pie that Brie and I discovered last year and it's AMAZING. Brooke made it too at Thanksgiving and we all loved it!)

Originally from here.

Tropical Paradise Smoothie

Frozen strawerries, mangos, pineapples, and peaches (I buy a blend of these fruits by Dole at Walmart)
Knudsen's Coconut Pineapple juice (main ingredients: pineapple, apple, and white grape juice, coconut milk, creamed coconut)

Blend ingredients
Devour the deliciousness

Orange Julius

1/2 can frozen orange juice concentrate (6 oz)

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup sugar

lots of ice

Blend it all together, adding ice cubes a few at a time until you reach the consistency you want

*variations- add 1 cup water, add 1/2 cup sugar, add half regular sugar and half powdered sugar

German Pancakes

6 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
butter

Beat the eggs with the sugar. Stir in flour and beat until smooth. Pour in the milk and beat again. Heat a non-stick skillet (I bought a small crepe skillet that I love) and melt a small amount of butter with it.

Pour enough of the pancake batter onto the skillet to cover the whole pan in a thin layer. Once the edges have tiny bubbles, it's time to flip.

Use a large spatula for this. It doesn't take much time on the second side. Continue baking the rest of the pancakes like this.

The pancakes do not fluff up like typical American-style pancakes.

Top with your choice of applesauce, cinnamon sugar or syrup. After adding topping, fold pancakes in half with the topping on the inside and lightly sprinkle cinnamon sugar over top.

I used cinnamon and agave as well as making whipped cream. They were sooooo good. Halfing the recipe made about 7 with my little skillet, which was enough for me and Cory for breakfast.

Found here.

Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles

Yes, this dish will kill some of our family members, but maybe you could try it with sunbutter?? Anyway, I thought everyone else should enjoy this as much as I do.

Originates here.

1 lb whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
½ Cup smooth peanut butter
¼ Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ Cup finely chopped white onion
½ Cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper (I used 1/2 of a green pepper and 1/2 of a red pepper, and next time I would use more, but I didn't finely chop them either)
1 Cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
¼ Cup finely chopped cilantro leaves (Cory and I don't like cilantro, so I only added 1/8 cup, and it was great)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
¼ Cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional) (I love these)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)

1. Cook noodles according to package. Drain, rinse with cold water, place in large pasta bowl and toss with sesame oil. Set aside.

2. Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water. Set aside.

3. Place olive oil in hot skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in chicken breast, cilantro and salt. Stir until heated through. (I cut up 3 raw chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and cooked them with the peppers and onions after they were almost done, THEN I added the cilantro).

4. Add sauce and chicken mixture to noodles. Toss to coat and garnish with peanuts and sesame seeds if desired.

6 servings

For leftovers you may need a little extra sauce, so do this - mix 1 Tbsp water, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon peanut butter in a small dish. Drizzle over hot noodles. The peanut butter melts when you mix it in the noodles.