Chicken Fried Rice

Another one from The Family Dinner.  I think I used too much of the rice wine vinegar, and so we didn't really enjoy this one too much.  But, it's good to know that making chicken fried rice (or really, fried rice of any kind) is really easy, and is a great way to get in some leftover vegetables.

Pea-nutty Pasta

Meatless Monday!!

Another from The Family Dinner, this one is billed as something the kids can make by themselves.  Maybe kids older than mine can do it, but preschoolers not so much.

This was pretty good, though I think I added a little too much of something, which then made it so neither of us could eat it toward the bottom of the bowl.

This is great, however, because it's largely a pantry meal.  The sauce is all ingredients I had in my pantry, and the author offers substitutions for things like "rice wine vinegar."  Love that.  I bought a few things to add in (peanuts, cucumbers), but you can use whatever you like and/or have on hand.  Good deal!

Pea Nutty Noodles
From The Family Dinner by Laurie David and Kirsten Uhrenholdt

Ingredients:
1lb pasta
1c peanut butter
1/2c soy sauce
2/3c warm water
3T minced ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1T toasted sesame oil
1T honey
3T white (rice or wine) vinegar

Cook your pasta.  When done, rinse in cold water.  Mix sauce ingredients (except the pasta) in a big bowl.  Toss with the pasta, and garnishes.

For the garnishes, I used diced cucumber, diced apples, chopped peanuts, and carrots.  The book offers even more suggestions.  I served with these in small bowls, so everyone could make his/her bowl in his/her own way.  Big hit with the hubs AND The Boy!

Carmelized Sweet Potatoes with Kale and Quinoa

 

Meatless Sunday!

Trying to get my family eating more healthfully, I chose to make this one from The Family Dinner.  I did this knowing that my husband doesn't like sweet potatoes, but also knowing that it can take trying something 20 times to like it.

That said, he is a trooper and agreed to try, just like we ask our son to do.

The Boy and I really liked the sweet potatoes, but the rest?  Gagfest.  I don't know if I made it wrong, or if I need to try this 19 more times, but I think I'm going to have to pass on that.

My first panini

I got The Family Dinner from the library, and began reading it the other day.  I found a recipe for panini, and decided to go ahead and make my very first one.  I don't have a panini press, so went for the crazy contraption of frying pan on top of the sandwich with a teakettle full of water on top of that.  BAJ said Alton Brown suggests doing the same to make grilled cheese, except he suggested to heat the frying pan that goes on top so you don't have to flip.  Brilliant!

I took a loaf of ciabatta bread,  and cut it in half for our use... it wasn't enough without a salad or something on the side.  I then sliced it, and spread mayo on one half and Dijon on the other.  I put some cheddar on each half... oven roasted turkey (expensive, but the Boar's Head was delicious) on one side, and topped with some very thin apple slices.  I put some olive oil in the big frying pan and heated it up, cooked for about 3 minutes on each side.

I wish I had cooked it a little longer on each side, and at a lower temperature.  The cheese wasn't quite melty enough and the top as starting to burn.  Otherwise, this was awesomely delicious, the best part being when I got a bite of apple in with the other stuff.  I can't believe how much I liked the Dijon mixed with apple!!

The book also suggested Nutella with banana, which I made for my still hungry husband.  It was ok, but there needed to be a lot more of it than I used to stand up to the thickness of the ciabatta.

So, if you fear making a panini without a special tool for it, fear not!!  This came out great, and while it didn't have the fancy grill marks, it was still delicious and pretty enough!