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Holy Cow...I Can Cook?

I started this food blog New Years 2010 to force myself to get in the kitchen and teach myself how to cook. Well it has been a year, and it turns out, cooking isn't so hard after all. I kept the promise I made to myself and cooked healthy yummy meals for my family all year. Once I just got in there, read the recipes, and experimented I found cooking is yet another form of artistic expression. Just like with my art, I let go of the fear of failure and found a new passion.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Shrimp Pad Thai



8 oz uncooked flat rice noodles
(my local market was out so I had to use regular rice noodles)
2 tbsp dark brown sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
1 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp Sriracha or chili garlic sauce
3 tbsp grape seed oil
1 cup green onions (cut in 2 inch pieces)
8 oz peeled and deveined shrimp
5 garlic cloves (minced)
1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
3 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil

1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. While water comes to a boil, combine sugar, soy sauce, lime juice, and Sriracha in a small bowl.
3. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion pieces, shrimp and garlic; stir-fry 2 minutes or until shrimp is almost done. Add cooked and drained noodles; toss to combine. Stir in sauce; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly to combine. Top each serving with peanuts and basil.

Serves 4

Friday, March 11, 2011

Beef and Broccoli


2 tbsp sherry
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 lb boneless sirloin steak (cut diagonally across grain into thin slices)
1/2 cup beef broth
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tsp Sriracha (hot chile sauce)
2 tbsp grape seed oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated)
2 tsp garlic (minced)
4 cups broccoli florets
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1 cup uncooked brown rice

1. Cook rice according to directions.
2. While rice finishes cooking, combine 1 tbsp sherry, 1 tbsp soy sauce, sugar, and beef in bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, stir together 1 tbsp sherry, 1 tbsp soy sauce, broth, cornstarch, hoisin, and Sriracha with a whisk.
3. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large skillet over med-high heat. Add beef mixture; saute 3 min or until browned. Remove beef from pan. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to pan. Add ginger and garlic; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add broccoli and water; cook 1 min. Add onions; cook 1 min, stirring constantly. Add broth mixture and beef mixture; cook 2 min or until beef is thoroughly heated and sauce is slightly thick. Serve over rice.

Serves 4

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Butternut Squash Lasagna

I have worked and re-worked this recipe for quite a while. I feel now that it is perfect, possibly the best thing I know how to make. Oh and believe it or not, there isn't any meat in this dish, and it is still good!
This lasagna takes time, and care, but oh is it worth it in the end.
*Sorry I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was eaten to quickly!

12oz whole wheat lasagna noodles
1 butternut squash
3 cups tomato sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
4 shallots (chopped)
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 lbs fresh baby spinach
32 oz Ricotta Cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
3 eggs (beaten)
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb mozzarella cheese (grated)
Dash of oregano and fresh basil to taste

1. Peel and slice butternut squash. Toss squash in a large bowl with oil and salt. Spread squash in one layer on baking sheet. Roast in 400 degree oven until golden brown on both sides.
2. Cook lasagna. In the meantime, heat olive oil in skillet. Saute shallots and garlic 5 min. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Add tomato sauce, stir and remove from heat. Add ricotta, 3/4 cup parmesan, eggs, salt, basil, and oregano.
3. Oil baking pan. Pour in small amount of sauce and put down a single layer of noodles. Spread layer of spinach mixture over noodles, a layer of mozzarella cheese, and a layer of squash, top with more mozzarella.
4. Continue to layer. Top the lasagna with a layer of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with remaining parmesan.
5. Bake at 350 for 50 min.

*I like an extra browned top so I hit the lasagna with the broiler for a few minutes after it is finished baking.