wasabi noodles

As I was cleaning out my fridge, I noticed that I had a large bottle of wasabi so I went and searched for some recipes.  I was hesitant to make this recipe since wasabi is very spicy and hot, but we absolutely loved it in this dish.  I used more than I ever would have guessed (3 tablespoons!), but add a little at a time if you are apprehensive.  I don't like my food too spicy, but this was prefect.

{wasabi noodles}

wasabi noodles
from www.shewearsmanyhats.com

makes 4 servings

8 ounce, weight dry noodles (soba, udon or rice)

2 tablespoons sesame seed oil

1 pound beef, cubed

1 pound sugar snap peas (local)

3 tablespoons wasabi
1/4 cup honey (local)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime or lemon juice
1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

Fresh cucumber, cilantro and green onions, chopped (optional)

1. Cook noodles according to package instructions. 
2. Drain noodles. 
3. Heat sesame seed oil in a pan until hot; add beef and sear on one side.
4. Cook beef until done.  Turn off heat.
5. Add sugar snap peas, wasabi, honey, soy sauce, and citrus juice to meat.  Taste and add more wasabi if desired.
6. While still warm, gently toss with noodles. 
7. Garnish with sesame seeds, cucumber, green onions, and/or cilantro, if desired.
8. Serve.

This dish was originally vegetarian, but The Hubby needs meat.  I would eat this without meat.  Just whisk together the dressing ingredients and add to hot noodles.

Do you like to eat wasabi?
 

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pork larb with coconut rice

I know what you are thinking--what is larb?  It's a dish from Thailand characterized by minced meat (pork is a rather fatty meat when ground so I stuck the pork chops), coconut rice, fresh mint and basil, and lettuce.  The Hubby said that he loved it after eating about 3 bites!  I adored this recipe too especially since it can be a quick weeknight meal (making the rice ahead of time is a BIG help!)

{pork larb with coconut rice}

pork larb with coconut rice
from www.blueapron.com

makes 4 servings

1 cup brown rice
14 oz coconut milk
2 tablespoons sesame seed oil
1 pound pork chops, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced (local)
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon lemongrass, minced
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup carrots matchsticks
1 cucumber, seeded and diced (local)
1 red or white onion, thinly sliced (local)
2 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine but can substitute sugar)
2 tablespoons ponzu or soy sauce
3 sprigs mint stems, leaves removed and chopped (local)
3 sprigs basil stems, leaves removed and chopped (local)
1 lime, cut into wedges
1 head Boston or bibb lettuce, washed (local)
sesame seeds (optional for garnish)

1. Cook rice with coconut milk until done.  You might need to add more water as is cooks, and it's best to do this step ahead of time or soak the rice for faster cooking time.
2. Heat sesame oil in pan unti lhot.
3. Add pork and sear on one side; continue to cook pork until done about 10 minutes.
4. Add garlic, ginger, lemongrass, chili flakes, and lime juice.  Cook about 3 minutes.
5. Turn off heat and add carrots, cucumber, onions, mirin, ponzu, and half of mint and basil leaves.
6. To serve, place lettuce leaves on a plate and then top with rice.  Top with pork mixture and serve with lime wedge.
7. Enjoy!

Technically larb can be made with any meat.  I have not tried it yet, but we will since we both loved this so much.

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sweet tea brined chicken

I've always wanted to try sweet tea brined chicken, and when I decided to do a week with iced tea, I thought it was a perfect time to try this recipe.  I am kicking myself for not trying it sooner because it was AWESOME!  Plus it was so easy!  This is perfect for your next BBQ!

 {sweet tea brined chicken}

{brining the chicken}

sweet tea brined chicken
from myrecipes.com

makes 4 servings

2 family-size tea bags
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup kosher salt
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, halved
2 (6-inch) fresh rosemary sprigs (1 tablespoon dried rosemary or 1 tablespoon dried thyme works as well)
1 tablespoon freshly cracked pepper
2 cups ice cubes
2 pounds chicken thighs, boneless and skinless

green onions, chopped and optional for garnish

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil; add tea bags. Remove from heat; cover and steep 10 minutes.
2. Discard tea bags. Stir in sugar and next 6 ingredients, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cool completely (about 45 minutes); stir in ice. (Mixture should be cold before adding chicken.)
3. Place tea mixture and chicken in a large container appropriate for marinating. 
4. Place in fridge and chill 24 hours. 
5. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade; pat chicken dry with paper towels.
6. Grill chicken until done, about 15-20 minutes.
7. Serve.

Have you ever tried sweet tea brined chicken?  

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mint iced tea

I first had mint tea at my favorite Mediterranean restaurant a few years ago, and I am obsessed with mint tea now.  I would have to say it's my favorite!  I love the mint because it is so refreshing and cooling, and on a hot summer day, that is just what you want.

{mint iced tea}

mint iced tea

makes 2 quarts

3 family-sized tea bags
7 cups water
10-20 mint leaves, local
1/2 to 1 cup sugar or local honey
additional mint leaves for serving

1. Make tea by bringing 3 cups of water to a boil and adding tea bags.
2. Steep for 3 minutes.
3. Add mint and steep for 2-3 minutes; remove mint leaves
4. Add remaining 4 cups of water.
5. Serve immediately over ice or for best results let set overnight.

I definitely make more flavored teas than this because I get bored easily.  I even had a thought as I was making my last pitcher of tea as to how good using brown sugar instead of regular sugar would be.  I'll experiment and get back with you!

 

Do you have any favorite additions that I should try?  

 

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ginger honey iced tea

It's officially summer, and it's HOT!  I really, really dislike the heat/humidity of summer because trying to keep cool is a monumental tasks sometimes (usually involving sitting around in front of a fan in the AC with cold drink in hand).  I love drinking tea, and in the summer it becomes iced tea.  As I made a few of my favorites, I thought that I would share them with you so you can make fancy ones for your next soiree!

{ginger and honey iced tea}

ginger and honey iced tea

makes 2 quarts

3 family-sized tea bags
7 cups water
1/2 to 1 cup honey, local
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
lemon (optional for garnish)

1. Make tea by bringing 3 cups of water to a boil and adding tea bags.
2. Steep for 3 minutes.
3. Add honey to taste.
4. Add ginger.
5. Add remaining 4 cups of water.
6. Serve immediately over ice or for best results let set overnight.

When I took this photo I completely forgot to add the lemon, but it still tasted great anyway.  I love this because the ginger adds some depth to the tea while the honey keeps it from being syrupy sweet (I characteristic I strongly dislike in my teas).

Do you like iced tea?  Do you add any flavorings or are you a traditional iced tea drinker?

PS--I use so much ginger in my life that I get it pre-minced, and I LOVE it.  Buying it like this also is less hassle and time-consuming.  I got this little jar at Good Foods co-op.

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hoisin chicken udon noodles

As I hinted at yesterday, I was cleaning out the freezer.  I also did the fridge and pantry and found a bottle of hoisin sauce (a sauce native to southern Chinese cuisine).  I went online to find some recipes, and I stumbled upon this gem.  It was quick, easy, healthy, and completely addicting.  Both The Hubby and I literally fought over who would take the leftovers.  We ended up compromising and splitting the last bit.  I have made it twice since with the same result.

{hoisin chicken udon noodles}

hoisin chicken udon noodles
from jo cooks

makes 4 servings

8 oz of dry udon noodles
1 pound chicken thighs, boneless and skinless, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 pound vegetables
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 green onions, chopped

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.  Drain well and immediately rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil and sesame seed oil in a large skillet or a pot and add chicken pieces and cook until chicken is no longer pink and starts to brown slightly. 
3. Add ginger, garlic and vegetables and cook for a couple more minutes until vegetables begin to get tender.
4. Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili flakes and chicken broth, stir and bring to a boil. 
5. Add noodles to the pot and cook until noodles are heated through. 
6. Garnish with green onions and serve hot.
7. Enjoy! 

I love it when a recipe comes together this easily (with little to no modifications), and I am even more excited to blog and share it with you lovely readers!  Have you encountered recipes like this?

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lemon cranberry muffins

I was cleaning out the freezer, and I noticed that I had some cranberries left over from Thanksgiving.  I hopped online and searched for cranberry muffins since it has been a while since I have made muffins.  I found this recipe for lemon cranberry muffins so I made them.  They were delicious so I am sharing them with you.  See the pattern?  LOL

 {lemon cranberry muffins}

 {those cranberries!}

lemon cranberry muffins
from food.com

makes 24 muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
3⁄4 cup sugar
1 lemon, zest and juice
1 cup fresh cranberries, halved
1 cup milk
1 egg
1⁄4 cup oil

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Stir flour, baking powder and salt together.
3. In a separate bowl, stir the sugar and the lemon zest together, and stir into the flour mixture.
4. In a measuring cup, mix the lemon juice with the milk and let sit for a few minutes before whisking in the egg and oil.
5. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. 
6. Stir until ingredients are moistened, then fold in the cranberries.
7. Scoop into lined muffin cups, about 2/3 full, and bake 18-20 minutes, making sure that finished muffins pass the toothpick test.
8. Enjoy!

I have to warn you that these are tart; everyone at work loved them, but they did mention that they were tart (don't expect anything too sweet from me ;o) )

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French onion soup

So what do you do when you accidentally buy two bags of 5 pound onions in one week?  You find recipes that are onion based so you don't waste those onions.  This recipe was the first that came to mind, and it was so delicious that I ate it for several days AND had enough to freeze two servings for another day.

 {French onion soup}

 {the plain soup on the left and covered with cheese on the right}

French onion soup
from smitten kitchen

makes 8 servings

1 1/2 pounds yellow onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
3 tablespoons flour
2 quarts beef broth (use a mushroom broth for a vegetarian dish)
1/2 cup dry white wine or dry white vermouth
Freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons cognac or brandy

Topping
1 tablespoon grated raw onion
1 to 2 cups a mixture of Swiss and Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter, melted
12 to 16 1-inch thick rounds French bread, toasted until hard

1. Melt the butter and oil together in the bottom of a 4- to 5-quart saucepan or Dutch oven over moderately low heat. Add the onions, toss to coat them in oil and cover the pot. Reduce the heat to real low and let them slowly steep for 15 minutes
2. After 15 minutes, uncover the pot, raise the heat slightly and stir in the salt and sugar. Cook onions, stirring frequently, for 30 to 40 minutes until they have turned an even, deep golden brown. Don’t skimp on this step, as it will build the complex and intense flavor base that will carry the rest of the soup.
3. After the onions are fully caramelized, sprinkle them with flour and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the wine in full, then stock, a little at a time, stirring between additions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
4. Bring to a simmer and simmer partially covered for 30 to 40 more minutes, skimming if needed. Correct seasonings if needed but go easy on the salt as the cheese will add a bit more saltiness. 
5. Stir in the cognac. 
6. Preheat oven to 325. Arrange six ovenproof soup bowls or crocks on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. Divide the soup among six bowls. 
7. To each bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon grated raw onion and a tablespoon of grated cheese. Stir to combine. 
8. Dab your croutons with a tiny bit of butter and float a few on top of your soup bowls, attempting to cover it. 
9. Mound grated cheese on top of it; how much you use will be up to you (I recommend 1/4 cup for each bowl).
10. Bake soups on tray for 20 minutes, then preheat broiler. 
11. Finish for a minute or two under the broiler to brown the top lightly. 
12. Grab pot holders, and serve immediately.

Although it does take some work, this would be an excellent recipe for a dinner party since the soup can be made ahead of time then easily reheated/cheesed (yes-that's a verb) with little fuss on your part.  Have you ever had French onion soup?

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spicy Thai chicken noodle soup

I've been hearing about this craze about Blue Apron.  If you haven't heard of them, they are a company who provides all the raw ingredients for meals delivered right to your door (aka taking away grocery shopping and meal planning for 3 meals per week).   I did not try their services, but I was interested in the recipes that they have on their website.  So I went through the recipes and downloaded what I wanted to make.  This is the first recipe that I have made, and it was fantastic!  Even The Hubby loved it!

 {spicy Thai chicken noodle soup}

{add green onions, cilantro, and more lime juice if you want!}

spicy Thai chicken noodle soup
from blue apron

makes 4 servings

8 oz chicken thighs, boneless, skinless, and cubed
3 1/2 oz udon noodles
1 pint white mushrooms, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
1 pepper, thinly sliced
1 lime, zested and juiced
3 cups chicken broth
1-2 teaspoons red chili flakes
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 green onion, white cut into slices and green cut at an angle into rings
1 lime, cut into wedges
2-3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

1. Add 2 teaspoons of sesame seed oil and heat on medium-high until hot.
2. Add chicken and cook until browned on all sides.
3. Add mushrooms, pepper, white part of green onions, garlic, ginger, and lime zest; cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add chili flakes, chicken broth, and Worcestershire.
5. Heat until boiling, and simmer for 5-7 minutes
6. Add udon noodles and cook until tender (about 8 minutes).
7. Stir in lime juice.
8. To serve, garnish with green part of onions, lime wedge and cilantro.
9. Enjoy!

Have you tried Blue Apron or a service like it?  Although convenient, I would miss doing the meal planning and grocery shopping myself since I love it (it would be tempting some weeks though!).

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strawberry summer cake

What to do when you have a 1/2 gallon bucket of fresh-from-the-farm strawberries?  Besides prolifically thanking the in-laws, you gorge yourself and make cake.  I saw this cake recipe from my favorite food blogger and promptly made it because I knew it would be delicious.  Shocker--it was!

 {my only regret with this cake--it could have used more strawberries!}

{served with powdered sugar and some whipped cream}

strawberry summer cake
from smitten kitchen

makes 8-16 servings (depending on how you slice it)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
7/8 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg (local)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pound strawberries (local), hulled and halved

1. Preheat oven to 350. 
2. Butter a 9- or 10-inch spring-form or cake pan.
3. Whisk flour or flours, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl. 
4. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 7/8 cup sugar until pale and fluffy with an electric mixer, about 3 minutes. 
5. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until just combined. Add dry mixture gradually, mixing until just smooth. 
6. Pour into prepared pie plate. 
7. Arrange strawberries, cut side down, on top of batter, as closely as possible in a single layer (though I had to overlap a few to get them all in). 
8. Sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over berries. 
9. Bake cake for 10 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 325 and bake cake until golden brown and a tester comes out free of wet batter, about 50 minutes to 60 minutes.
10. Let cool in pan on a rack. 
11. Cut into wedges. Serve with powdered sugar and/or lightly whipped cream.

Next time I make this (and I know that I will), I will definitely put an impossible amount of strawberries on it.  I spaced mine prettily, but next time I will show no hesitancy.

What are you doing with this year's strawberries?

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what's in season | June

The farmer's market really starts beginning to pick up in June, and I couldn't really be more excited! 

{not the best quality since it was taken on my phone (strawberries from the in-laws, onions, beeswax, and greens}

The market is getting more and more crowded the later you come so to get the best produce, go before 9:30 AM.  Here's what to look for in Kentucky this month:

Asparagus (I didn't see much last week, and it is winding down according to some of the farmers I spoke with)

Beans (type varies)

Beets

Blackberries (late June)

Blueberries

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Cucumbers

Eggplant (late June)

Greens (type varies)

Kohlrabi

Lettuce

Okra (late June)

Green onions

Peaches (late June)

Peas

Radishes

Raspberries

Summer squash

Strawberries (early June)

Turnips

What are you most looking forward to eating?  I can't decide, but I do LOVE peaches!

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monthly munchies | June

Can you believe that we are already halfway through 2015?  It seems like just yesterday, we were celebrating the new year and all the possibilities that it holds.  Now it's summer which means summer getaways, picnics, family time, local produce and all kinds of other exciting things!

 {cherries are one of my favorite snacks especially when they are on sale!}

What's happening in June here at a girl eats world?  Nothing too exciting actually, or at least nothing too exciting planned.  I will be doing a week dedicated to iced tea because I haven't done anything with it yet!  I even have a recipe for sweet-tea brined chicken--WHOA!  Then I'm getting ready to make some recipes for July 4th and ice cream recipes for next month!

Do you have any fun plans for June?

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