Chicken Chow Mein

     Quick, minimal work, and full of flavor, this chow mein recipe will more than likely become one of your go-to dinners when craving that certain something. The term "Chow Mein" simple translates into stir fried noodle. Much better than any takeout you can get, this dish is inspired by one of my favorite Chinese chefs and from her cookbook; Ching-He Huang. Here is my Chicken Chow Mein.

 

Ingredients:

• 4oz yellow wheat noodles (I used udon)
• 1 large boneless skinless chicken breast
• Soy sauce
• 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
• 1 tsp sriracha or chili sauce
• 1 tbs corn starch
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 red bell pepper thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup green onion diced
• 1/2 cup snow peas
• Sesame oil
• 1 tsp fresh diced ginger

 

1. Cook noodles in boiling water as directed. Drain and set aside.

 

2. Slice chicken into thin strips

 

3. Toss chicken in a bowl with five-spice powder, sriracha, and cornstarch. Let sit.

 

4. In a large wok over high heat pour in the vegetable oil and toss in the chicken. Continue to stir until almost cooked through.

 

5. Toss in the bell pepper, snow peas, and ginger. Stir and saute for roughly 1 minute

 

6. Pour in some soy sauce and a dash or two of sesame oil.

 

7. Stir in the noodles and let them saute and get slightly crisp on a few edges.

 

8. Toss in green onion and serve.

 

     This dish was so delicious. The interesting combination of flavors from the five-spice powder with the chicken and fresh vegetables all came together well with the noodles that were perfectly tender with a little bite.

 

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: under 5 minutes
Serves: 1-2

Spinach Artichoke "Dip" Ravioli



 

So I came up with this recipe the other weekend. I was trying to think of an interesting way to turn one dish into another. Something I like to do and have been successful at in the past. I decided to take a delicious typical party appetizer and turn it into a ravioli dish. Who doesn't like a good hearty spinach artichoke dip? So here goes! The outcome was extremely delicious and full of flavor. I must warn you though, this small recipe actually makes quite a bit of filling and ravioli so you could half the recipe and still have plenty. Spinach Artichoke Ravioli. 



 

Dough recipe:http://recipesiliveby.blogspot.com/2013/04/Fresh-Pasta.html

 

Filing Ingredients:

• 1/2 10oz jar artichoke hearts diced
• 1 1/2 cups ricotta
• 4 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup green onion
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 clove garlic diced
• Salt/pepper

 

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 clove garlic
• 3 oz fresh spinach
• 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt/pepper 

 

1. In a large saute pan, drizzle some olive oil and saute the artichoke hearts, garlic, and green onion just until tender and fragrant. 
2. Combine in a bowl with the ricotta and softened cream cheese.
3. Mix in the Italian seasoning and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, roll out the dough using a pasta maker.
5. Cut into about 2-3 inch squares across.
6. Place a small spoonful of filling in the center of each square. Fold over and seal with a fork.

7. Place in freezer until ready to cook to harden up.
8. Meanwhile, take the spinach, cream, and garlic and blend in a food processor or blender until creamy. Salt and pepper to taste.
9. Pour into a sauce pan and bring to a low simmer.
10. When ready to cook the ravioli, toss into a pot of boiling water and let come to a roll for roughly 5-7 minutes.
11. Serve with the warm spinach sauce over top and some fresh parmesan cheese.

 

Prep Time: 20 minutes with homemade dough.
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves: Makes roughly 30+ ravioli based on filling.

 

 

 

Sticky Asian Short Ribs

 

     I have always wanted to make beef short ribs. I've ordered them in restaurants and was always under the impression that they are hard to fix. I've been told they can be tough, hard to work with, not much flavor, etc., however the ones I order in my favorite restaurants are always so tender, juicy, and flavorful. So I decided to give it a try. I thought a great combination of Asian flavors would be perfect for these ribs. Sticky Asian Short Ribs.

 



Ingredients:

• 5-6 small beef short ribs
• 1/3 cup soy
• 1/2 cup beef stock
• 1 tbs sriracha
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 up apple sauce
• 1 tsp five spice powder
• 1 tsp sesame oil

 

1. In a crockpot place the beef short ribs.

2. Mix together in a bowl the soy, stock, sriracha, brown sugar, apple sauce, five spice, and sesame oil.

3. Pour over ribs, cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours. Serve over potatoes or rice.

 

     These were fall off the bone, juicy, sticky, tender, that I could not have asked for a better meal. Simple and cooked out of the way that made them perfect for a weeknight meal.

 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 6-7 hours

Serves: 2.