Momofuku's Ginger Scallion Noodles

If it's got Momofuku's name on it, I want it.  I've only been to Milk Bar, but I know that David Chang has the Midas touch with food so when I stumbled upon this recipe I knew I needed to try it.  Also, it is very simple and you probably have most the ingredients on hand already.

Ginger Scallion Noodles
Adapted from David Chang

Ingredients
2 bunches of scallions, chopped
1/2 cup minced ginger
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
3/4 tsp rice vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
2 packages of ramen noodles

David's recommended additions:
pan roasted cauliflower
quick pickled cucumbers
bamboo shoots

1. Mix all ingredients together and let sit while you boil the water and cook the noodles.
2. Boil water for ramen noodles and cook according to package directions. Drain and toss with sauce and any toppings you decide on.

Oh sweet deliciousness! These were really perfection and I could have eaten the entire pot by myself Hey, I'm 9 months pregnant I can do stuff like that, ok?  I pan roasted some cauliflower florets in sesame oil with a bit of salt and pepper to add some nutrients. So easy, so fast, so good. Make it.

Banh Mi Pizza

I am not a fan of salad pizza.  I wish I was one of those people who loved salad so much that it would be my choice of pizza topping, but alas then this blog probably wouldn't exist.  This banh mi pizza however, gives traditional salad pizza a run for its money.

It's a totally refreshing dinner for the summer and if you are bold enough to cook it on the grill, you don't have to heat the house up!

Banh Mi Pizza
Adapted From Cooking Light

Ingredients
1 cup rice wine vinegar
1 cup water

1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup matchstick carrots
1/2 English cucumber, sliced
1 jalapeno, sliced and seeded
1 pizza dough
1/2 tsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbps sesame oil, divided
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 tbsp sour cream
1/2 tsp Sriracha
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 500. In a small sauce pan bring vinegar, water, sugar, and salt to a simmer.  Stir until salt and sugar dissolve.  Remove from heat and add carrots, cucumber, and jalapeno. Set aside.
2. Stretch out your pizza dough and pierce with a fork all over to prevent bubbles. Brush with soy sauce and 1 tbsp sesame oil. Cook 5 minutes.
3. Sprinkle dough with grated cheese and cook 5 minutes more.
4. Remove pizza from oven an top with drained pickled vegetables. Mix sour cream and sriracha together, drizzle on pizza. Top with cilantro. Slice and serve.

Don't be alarmed by the fact that it's from Cooking Light.  If it makes you feel any better, they said it serves 4 and the 2 of us at the whole darn thing.

Shrimp Burgers

If you don't mind busting out the food processor, these shrimp burgers are super simple, come together in a flash, and require little in regards to your shopping list.

Shrimp Burgers

Adapted from Cooks Country Magazine

Ingredients

3/4 cup sour cream (or mayo)

1/2 tsp Old Bay

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

a few dashes of lemon or lime juice

1 1/4 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tbsp sour cream (or mayo if it doesn't repulse you)

1/4 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp Old Bay

1 stalk of celery, chopped

1 cup bread crumbs

vegetable oil for cooking, about 3 tbsp

4 burger buns

lettuce

1. Mix first set of ingredients in a small bowl for saucing up the burgers after they are cooked.
2. Place 1/3 of shrimp, sour cream, pepper, salt, cayenne, Old Bay, and celery in the food processor.  Pulse until shrimp are finely chopped. Add remaining shrimp and pulse until coarsely chopped.
3. Divide mixture into 4 patties.  Place bread crumbs in a shallow dish.  Working with 1 patty at a time coat with bread crumbs.  When all patties are coated heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Cook 3-5 minutes on each side.
4.  Serve on toasted buns with lettuce and prepared sauce.



How did I only take 1 picture!? Sorry readers, I have failed you.

Chicken Pot Pie Pizza

Two comfort foods come together to make one delicious dinner. The magical creamy filling of a pot pie on top of a pizza crust, covered in cheese.  Since winter doesn't seem to want to quit anytime soon, this will surely warm up your kitchen and your belly.

Chicken Pot Pie Pizza
From i am a food blog

Ingredients
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar
1/3 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/4 of a small onion, diced
1 smallish potato, diced and cooked
1 carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 pizza dough

1. Preheat oven to 500. In a small pan melt butter, then whisk in flour. Slowly whisk in chicken stock. Stir until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Stretch out your pizza dough. Spread on the sauce, then top with onion, potato, carrot, celery, chicken, and cheese.
3. Cook about 15 minutes until crust has browned and cheese has melted.

Yes. Yes. Yes. This is absolutely as good as it sounds. Make it to celebrate Pi Day!

Banh Mi Bowls

All the goodness of a banh mi sandwich, captured in some easy to make rice bowls.

Banh Mi Bowls

From Pinch of Yum

Ingredients

1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp salt
6-8 carrots, peeled into ribbons or cut into matchsticks

1 lb ground pork
1 tbsp lemongrass paste (it's with the herbs in the produce section)
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp sriracha
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp corn starch
1 tsp salt

cooked rice
scallions
sesame seeds
tzatziki sauce, or a spicy mayo, or nothing...

1. Preheat oven to 475. Combine the first set of ingredients in a bowl and set aside for the carrots to pickle.
2. Mix second set of ingredients in a bowl.  Roll into small balls and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake about 15-20 minutes.
3. Build your bowls with some rice, meatballs, scallions, sesame seeds, and sauce of your choosing.

These are so damn good I cannot wait to make them again!

Yes! I really love dinner in a bowl.  It is quite glorious.

Loaded Mediterranean Fries

It's french fries. It's a salad. It's dinner and it's delicious!

Loaded Mediterranean Fries
Adapted from Pinch of Yum

Ingredients
1 bag sweet potato fries
tzatziki sauce
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced cucumbers
1/2 cup sliced olives
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
fresh or ground parsley, to taste
a dash of salt
a splash of lemon juice
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
pita chips, make your own or purchase a bag

1. Bake your sweet potato fries according to package directions.
2. Mix tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives with oil, garlic, parsley, salt, and lemon juice.
3. When fries are done assemble your bowl: fries down first tops with vegetable mixture, lettuce, pita chips, and tzatziki.

*I had a chicken cutlet sitting in the fridge that I diced up.  It can be seen in the pictures, but it not an essential ingredient to this dish.

I'd say this is a pretty acceptable way to eat fries for dinner.

I am going to need to come up with more french fry/salad combinations for the future.

Wonton Soup

This is not too hard and too complicated for you.  Really, believe me, it isn't.  Plus, when it comes time to eat, you will be so incredibly impressed with yourself.

Wonton Soup
From Smitten Kitchen

Ingredients
3/4 lb ground chicken
1 tsp soy sauce
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 tbsp chopped scallions
pepper, to taste
50 wonton wrappers
cornstarch, to prevent sticking

8 cups chicken stock or broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
soy sauce or salt to taste
another dash of ginger
3 oz baby spinach, a few handfuls

1. To make the wontons: Mix chicken, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, ginger, scallions, and pepper. Place 6 wonton wrappers on a cutting board and fill a small bowl with water. Drop teaspoons of chicken filling into the middle of each wonton wrapper. Use your fingers to dampen the edges of the wrapper. Seal edges in a triangle, pushing out all the air. Then pull the 2 corners on the wide side together. Place on a plate dusted with cornstarch. Do this 50 times!
2. Let your broth come to a boil with the garlic, soy sauce/salt, and ginger. Gently drop in your completed wontons and cook for about 3 minutes. Add the spinach and cool until the leaves soften. All done!

The whole time I was preparing this meal I just kept thinking I needed a backup food plan.  What was I going to make when this was a total failure? What if all the wontons opened up in the soup?

But guess what!? It just worked. This soup is perfection.

I could really use a bowl of wonton soup on this blizzard day.

Greek Pan Pizza

You have to make this! Skip straight to the ingredients list and get right to it.  As soon as I took a bite I was already dreaming of the next time I would make this and what topping combinations I could mess around with.

Greek Pan Pizza
Adapted from My Baking Addiction

Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
2 envelopes rapid rise yeast
3/4 cup milk, 120-130 degrees
1/4 cup olive oil

4 oz feta cheese
2 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, or a dash of each: oregano, parsley, basil

1. Grease an 8x8 pan. Mix first set of ingredients (flour-olive oil) in the greased pan. Yes! In the pan! Press dough evenly in pan.
2. Top dough with feta, spinach, and tomatoes. Then top with mozzarella and herbs.
3. Bake by placing in a cold oven set to 350.  Cook 30-35 minutes until cheese is melty and begins to brown at the edges.

Hello sweet delicious one pan pizza. I love you and can't wait to see you again.

Chipotle Sweet Potato Noodles

Hi, confession: the first time I set out to make this it was a complete failure.  I busted out 2 different spiralizers to noodle a sweet potato.  One just cut the potato to slivers and the other just mushed up the potato and then cut my finger.  In a fit of rage, I regrettably tossed them both 😬😠 .

Then, I remembered that Stop and Shop sells pre-noodled vegetables in the produce aisle. So here I am today, sharing with you part 2 of this recipe.  Was it worth it? Yes.

Chipotle Sweet Potato Noodles
Adapted from Pinch of Yum

Ingredients
12 oz sweet potato noodles
olive oil
1 cup corn kernels
a tablespoon or 2 of fresh or ground cilantro
1 cup or so of fresh spinach

1/3 cup olive oil
3 tbsp water
a tablespoon or so of chipotle juice from the can, or you can dice up a pepper you decide how much spice you can handle
1 clove minced garlic
1 tsp honey
a couple tbsp of orange juice
the juice of a lime
a solid pinch of salt

1. Mix 1/3 cup olive oil through pinch of salt from ingredients list in a large measuring cup.  If you love cleaning stuff, you can use a food processor or immersion blender.
2.. Heat oil in large skillet.  Add corn, and cook until slightly browned.  Add sweet potato noodles and cook 5 minutes or so, until you see them soften. Toss in the spinach and wilt slightly.
3. Mix in the dressing and enjoy!



This is definitely a strange sell, I understand that, but it really was delicious.  I served this as a side to some turkey cutlets and it was really exquisite.

Foodie Dice

Sorry I seem to have taken a bit of a leave of absence from the blog so far this year, but I promise new recipes are in the works as you read this very post!

FYI: This is not a sponsored post.  It's just me showing off a fun gift I got for Christmas.  I present to you, foodie dice!  The idea is you roll the dice to decide what ingredients get included in a recipe.  This version has a different vegetable die for each season.

Above you can see what I rolled, below you can see what the end result looked like. I roasted a rosemary and garlic covered pork loin along with potatoes and carrots.  I tossed in some shredded purple cabbage for the last few minutes of cooking.

This was just the inspiration I needed to come up with something different to cook for dinner. Can't wait to see what the dice have in store for me next time!

Kimchi Pork Fried Rice

I was recently gifted some homemade kimchi! Yes, I know, not many of you would be that excited to get a Tupperware of stinky fermenting cabbage. That is why I'm the food blogger, and you are here for the food porn.

Note that the kimchi is not going to make or break this recipe so if your Korean friend's mother didn't whip you up a batch, don't worry.

Kimchi Pork Fried Rice

Adapted from Half Baked Harvest

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tbsp sriracha

1 tbsp honey

1/4 tsp ground ginger, or 1 tbsp fresh grated

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tbsp oil, sesame if you have it

3 eggs, beaten

4 slices bacon

1/2 lb pork loin sliced into bit sized pieces* 

4 cups cooked rice

1 cup cubed pineapple

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

1 cup kimchi

salt and pepper to taste

sesame seeds, optional

1. Mix up the first 5 ingredients in a bowl or measuring cup. Set aside

2. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet or wok. Cook eggs until soft and set. Remove from skillet and set aside.

3. Cook bacon in same skillet until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Crumble when cooled.

4. Cook your meat in bacon fat with about 2-3 tbsp of the sauce you made.

5. Add pineapple chunks, kimchi, and vegetables and cook until heated through.

6. Add rice, eggs, bacon, and remaining sauce. Stir to combine. Serve topped with sesame seeds.

*You can use any meat you like here. I had the pork in the fridge from a previous meal.

FYI: This is a ton of food which is totally fantastic because you are going to love eating it for lunch all week long.

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese Calzones

YES! You read that title right! Buffalo chicken! Mac and cheese! Calzones!!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat! YES! All the things!

I am going to let you guys in on a MAJOR secret here.  You can make pizza dough in about 10 minutes with no resting and waiting for it to rise! And it tastes exactly like it should. This dough recipe is a serious game changer. Make it with whatever toppings you like or mix up some buffalo chicken mac and cheese  calzones like I did.

Quick No-Rise Pizza Dough
From The New York Times

Ingredients
1 package fast rising yeast
1 cup hot water (120-130 degrees)
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt

1. Mix yeast and 1 cup flour in a large bowl. Stir in hot water. Stir in second cup of flour and salt until a dough ball forms.
2. Using some of the last cup of flour, dust your kneading surface. Knead dough for 5 minutes, slowly adding in the remaining flour as needed.
3. THAT'S IT! Can you believe it!?

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Ingredients
1 box mac and cheese
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter
2 cups shredded chicken
2 tbsp hot sauce of your liking (like it hotter? add more as you see fit)
3 scallions, chopped
1 cup blue cheese

1. Boil mac and cheese according to package directions, drain, stir in milk and butter and cheese packet.
2. Mix in chicken, scallions, and blue cheese.

The dough recipe makes enough for 4 calzones.  The mac and cheese recipe gives you plenty of extra for lunch the next day.

Bake the calzones in a 500 degree oven for about 15 minutes.  Serve with extra hot sauce and blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Ok, I need to be done with this post because it is making me want to cook these up again...

Chicken Tetrazzini

From the looks of it outside, you could use a nice creamy cheesy baked pasta dish today.

It's also great because you can chuckle about the clip from Maury.

Chicken Tetrazzini
Adapted from Simply Recipes

Ingredients
12 ounces of mushrooms
8 tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
12 oz noodles, I used spaghetti and broke it in half
1 3/4 cups half and half
2 cups chicken broth
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (hey don't forget about my shredded chicken)
1 cup green beans
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup lemon juice
salt and pepper
grated nutmeg
1/3 cup bread crumbs
chopped parsley

1. Preheat oven to 375. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according on package directions.
2. In a large pan saute mushrooms in 3 tbsp of butter 5-7 minutes. Remove from the pan, set aside.
3. Melt 4 tbsp of butter in the same pan. Stir in flour, cook for about 3 minutes.
4. Add half and half and broth.  Cook, stirring constantly, 5-8 minutes over medium-low heat.
5. Add drained pasta to the sauce along with mushrooms, chicken, and green beans. Stir in 1/3 cup Parmesan and 1/3 cup Swiss cheese and lemon juice.  Season with salt and pepper and a pinch of grated nutmeg.
6. Pour pasta mixture into a buttered 13x9 casserole dish. Top pasta with remaining Parmesan and breadcrumbs.  Dot with cubes of remaining butter. Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

This recipe is comfort food at it's best.  I have wanted to have chicken tetrazzini ever since that Maury clip. It did not disappoint.

National Taco Day!

Hey guys word around the street is that it's National Taco Day and taco Tuesday all in one magical 24 hours.

I have collected all of my favorite recipes to ensure you have the tastiest taco day ever. 

You're welcome.

Center: Slow Cooker Carnitas

Top down on the left: Creamy Chicken Tacos, Chipotle Salsa Chicken, Chicken Salsa Verde, Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Top down on the right: Sweet and Spicy Pork Tacos, Taco Burgers, Roasted Heirloom Tomato Salsa, Homemade Corn Tortillas

Wishing you all the most delicious taco day ever!

San-J Sauces

When this packaged arrived from San-J I couldn't contain my excitement. 3 delicious gluten free sauces and a tote bag! and a basting brush! and a cutting board! and the best, a mini USB in the shape of a tamari sauce bottle!  How cool is this company!?

Needless to say I couldn't wait to dive in.  All three of the sauces I cooked with are gluten free certified and non-gmo verified.  They all come with suggestions on the bottle as to what pairs best with each sauce.

I used the Mongolian sauce to make a quick chicken stir-fry with broccoli and green beans over rice. It was so nice to have a sauce waiting for me in the pantry.  It meant I didn't need to get out all the measuring cups and spoons and assemble ingredients which is a total life saver on a weeknight.

The Thai peanut sauce went great with shrimp; the sauce has a little kick to it.  I made shrimp avocado burritos with mixed greens and cilantro lime rice.  I also used this as a dipping sauce later in the week for chicken spring rolls.

I used the orange sauce for a steak and mixed vegetable ramen noodle bowl.  I stir fried the steak and veggies in the orange sauce then tossed in the cooked noodles and topped it all with a hearty shake of sesame seeds.

I am so excited to have these sauces in my condiment stash right now.  I can't wait to continue to use them to add great flavor to more meals.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.

Zucchini Parmesan Sliders

These zucchini parmesan sliders will revolutionize your game day snacking this football season.  Since it involves a vegetable you can pretend this is a healthy alternative.  Sure it's breaded, fried, covered with cheese, and on a bun, but it's zucchini! So yea....totally healthy.

Zucchini Parmesan Sliders

Ingredients
1 zucchini, cut into 12 1/2 in rounds
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup flour
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
12 dinner rolls
1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (I just cut slices off a block)
1 cup marinara sauce
12 basil leaves
salt and pepper

1. Get all set up with flour in one bowl, then a bowl for bread crumbs and Parmesan, then one more for the egg, beaten.  Coat the zucchini in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs.
2. Heat some oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook zucchini 2-3 minutes on each side.
3. Preheat broiler.  Take the bottom half of your rolls and the top half of the rolls and place them on 2 separate baking sheets.  Top each half with some cheese and sauce.  Put zucchini rounds on the bottom bun.  Place a basil leaf on the top halves.  Place baking sheets under the broiler until cheese is melted.

 These. Were. So. Damn. Good.

Eggplant Wrapped Ricotta Gnocchi

It's vacation time! That means Ottolenghi get's pulled of the shelf.  This is one of those recipes that you make when you have the day off.

Eggplant Wrapped Ricotta Gnocchi
Adapted from Ottolenghi

Ingredients
1 cup ricotta
2 egg yolks
4 1/2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 oz grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped basil
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
pepper

1 small/medium eggplant
1/2 cup olive oil

1 stick butter
20 sage leaves, chopped

1. Mix first set of ingredients in a bowl and let set in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Trim the top and bottom off the eggplant. Thinly slice eggplant lengthwise, about 1/4 inch slices. You will need about 8-12 slices to wrap your gnocchi.
3. Lay eggplant on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Brush eggplant with olive oil and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
4. Now we make the gnocchi!  Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Wet your hands and make gnocchi about 3 tablespoons large and sort of a barrel shape.  Carefully drop dumplings into water and cook until they float to the top.  Use a slotted spoon to remove gnocchi from the pot.  Place on paper towel lined plate to drain excess water. Brush with remaining olive oil.
5. Once eggplant and gnocchi are cooled, wrap each gnocchi with a strip of eggplant.  Place in a small greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes.
6. In a small saucepan melt butter with sage leaves and salt (if using unsalted butter).  Pour butter over cooked eggplant wrapped gnocchi.

This is a lovely and delicate meal.  It's definitely not going to feed a crowd like my usual recipes so just keep that in mind.  This is a great romantic meal for 2.

I love making fancy lil meals on my vacation! Victory!

Lasagna Burger

It is still technically summer for another couple of days so I thought I could throw one more burger recipe your way.  I was pretty psyched about sharing this lasagna burger recipe with you guys because...well...obviously lasagna + burger = heaven.

Lasagna Burgers

Ingredients
burger patties
mozzarella
ricotta
fresh basil
marinara sauce
butter
garlic powder
Italian seasonings
burger buns

1. Butter your buns and season with garlic powder and Italian seasonings.
2. Grill burgers to your liking, melt mozzarella on top for the last few minutes. Toast buns on grill.
3. To assemble: spread ricotta on bottom bun, top with burger and torn basil leaves, spread sauce on top bun and devour!

Seriously there is no way you aren't drooling.  Just go make this for dinner. Now!

Yes, it is every bit as delicious as it sounds and looks.  Why are you still sitting here reading this when you could be eating a lasagna burger!?

Vegetable Baked Ziti

I know, again with the zucchini!  But let me tell you I had 2 zucchini that were so massive they made multiple dishes.  I still have 1/3 of a zucchini in the fridge that I haven't decided what I'm doing with yet.  Any suggestions?

Remember when I said I couldn't stop buying corn?  Yep, here it is again.

Vegetable Baked Ziti

Ingredients

1 lb pasta, ziti perhaps?

1 cup ricotta

2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

4 cups tomato sauce 

2 ears of corn, for the kernals

2 cups zucchini

2 cups kale

2 tbsp oil

salt and pepper

1. Bring a pot of water to boil, cook pasta according to package directions.

2. Preheat oven to 350. Heat oil in a large saute pan, add vegetables and cook until vegetables are tender.

3. Mix ricotta, 1 cup of mozzarella, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add in pasta, vegetables, and tomato sauce. Dump it all into a 13x9 in pan.  Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.

If you put enough vegetables in your cheese-carb pan, you can feel a little better about yourself.  Enjoy!