random: rosie the riveter

Smile. Rosie the Riveter just got prettier...

and more pregnant...

egg rolls fit for an emperor

Last Saturday I got a craving for egg rolls. They turned out particularly yummy. but like usual, I just threw stuff together without measuring. Here's my guess at what made these egg rolls extra delicious.

Ingredients

1 lb. ground chicken
1 med. head cabbage, chopped finely or grated
4-6 oz. bean sprouts
2 T. peanut oil
3 green onions, chopped finely
2 T. oyster sauce
3-4 T. soy sauce
1 T. brown sugar
1 T. minced fresh ginger
2 t. black pepper
egg roll wrappers (1-2 pkgs.)
peanut oil, for frying

Directions

Brown the ground chicken. Set aside. In a large pan or wok, stir fry the ginger, cabbage, bean sprouts, and onions in peanut oil for 4-5 minutes, or until slightly cooked but still partially crispy. Add the chicken back to the veggie mix. Combine the remaining seasonings and stir into the egg roll filling. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Place 3-4 T. of filling in wrapper and roll per package directions. Repeat for all wrappers. Heat oil to deep frying temperature. Fry egg rolls for a minute or two each side until golden brown. Eat with gusto.

bean beans

Around our place, green beans tend to be the veggie side we eat the most, so I'm always looking for new ways to prepare them. Here's a great variation that tastes delicious:

Green Beans w/ Bread Crumbs

INGREDIENTS

* 1 pound fresh green beans, washed and trimmed
* 1/2 cup water
* 1/4 cup Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine green beans and 1/2 cup water in a medium pot. Cover, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium, and let beans cook for 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain well.
2. Place beans in a medium serving bowl, and mix in bread crumbs, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano and basil. Toss mixture until the beans are coated. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve.

Request: Almond Extract and Almond Paste Recipes

Possibly my two favorite things to bake with ... but I don't have enough recipes!

The first three recipes I get in response to this I'll make, and post about the experience. Deal?

Soft and Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

When it comes to oatmeal cookies, I want them first of all to be healthy. If I'm going to eat a salad I want to feel good about myself for doing so, and not ruin it with all kinds of dressing and bacon, right? If I'm going to choose an oatmeal cookie for dessert, I want to think of it like an energy bar.

Next, I want my oatmeal cookies to be soft, dense, and spicy; and I want to taste oats and not raisins. Here is the perfect Oatmeal Cookie recipe. But beware ... they do TASTE like they're healthy (well ... relatively healthy). You can add more sugar and substitute all white flour in place of 1 c. whole wheat flour if you prefer.

1 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves
3 c. quick-cooking oats

In medium bowl cream together butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves; stir into creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie slightly with fork dipped in sugar.

Bake 8-10 minutes; cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to wire rack.

P.S. I don't like to bite into nuts or dried fruit in my cookies (it's a texture thing), but I like the flavor. I like to add FINELY chopped craisins and walnuts, or whatever you like.

pinching pennies vol. 2

Okay, I haven't posted here forever, but this $5 off $25 coupon is great for those of you with a Whole Foods Market in your town.

It expires October 22nd, so hurry and use it!