Not Feeling Well? Have Some Miso Soup! :D

I wasn't feeling too well yesterday and my mom knew just what to get me in order to make me feel better! Shiro miso paste, firm tofu, and a cookie! If you didn't know already, I LOVE PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! That's why she got me the cookie! xD 

I already had the dashi and wakame so it took me around 7 minutes to make this nutritious and delicious soup! I always add a little shichimi on top for added flavor! ^-^

So if you are feeling under the weather, try giving this soup a try! It's easy to make and is well worth it!!! 

I Made Tori Zosui (Chicken Porridge) For The First Time!

I noticed that I have been doing a lot of impromptu cooking lately. I had friends coming over for dinner last week and they were bringing pasta over for dinner for me to make. Lately, I have been staying away from a lot of foods that I used to love like spaghetti and some meats so I wanted to make something different for myself. Therefore, I didn't really want to have spaghetti and sauce for dinner so I got a little creative! 

I decided to make chicken porridge or tori zosui in Japanese. It's a delicious, hearty, and healthy dish that I decided to make! 

When I decide to make this again (hopefully soon), I can post the recipe! ^-^

All it consists of is chicken stock, dashi, mirin, steamed rice, chicken, freshly grated ginger, and some salt and pepper for seasoning!

No Sauce...No Problem!

A few days ago, my boyfriend wanted spaghetti after a long day's work. I immedietly told him that I would make it without a problem, but then I realized something...we didn't have any sauce!!! Instead of panic or send his tired butt to the store, I decided to make do with what I had in the fridge.

This is what I ended up with: A Mushroom Garlic Butter Sauce.

I finely diced fresh garlic cloves and roughly chopped some leftover mushrooms into small pieces. I put a non-stick pan on the stove and heated it on medium heat. First I added in the garlic and stirred it until fragrant followed by the mushrooms. I then added in butter and asiago cheese until I got the consistency that I wanted and...voila! ^-^

My boyfriend was so impressed by this sauce that was made on the fly that he wanted me to make it for him again!!! It was so yummy! :D

Poached Egg on Toast = My New Favorite Breakfast!!!

This is such a healthy recipe...and it's easy to make too! The first time I made this a few weeks ago, I was planning on going to the gym and wanted a good breakfast that will energize me and give me all of the necessary proteins that I needed. 

I looked it up somewhere online and found out how to make this and I was so glad that I did! It takes about 7-10 minutes to make! 

It's also best served on wheat bread!!! xD

My Homemade Mac & Cheese with Recipe!!!

This is a very special recipe that my grandmother has handed down to me! It's easy and so delicious! Especially if you're a cheese lover like me ;)

Here is what you will need:

-1 package of elbow noodles

-1 can of diced tomatoes

-Sharp cheddar cheese (I like to use Cabot's Seriously Sharp)

-Milk

-Salt & Pepper

-Spray oil 

Okay! First, boil the noodles until they are al dente, rinse, drain, and set aside. Also set the oven to pre-heat at 350º or set to broil.

Next, spray the pan with some cooking spray and wipe it all around the sides and bottom of an oven safe casserole dish. Add in all of the pasta.

Start slicing the cheese into the dish over the noodles. You can add as much cheese as desired. After that, mix the cheese around so everything is mixed well!

Because my uncle and boyfriend do not like tomatoes, I usually leave 1/4 of the dish without the tomatoes. Carefully mix the tomatoes in with the cheese and noodles.

Add in a little milk and generously sprinkle on some salt and pepper!

Next place the mac & cheese into the pre-heated oven and allow the cheese to melt and brown for about 10 minutes or until it's the way you want it. ALMOST THERE...

AND....DRUMROLL PLEASE..

...

....

.....

......

IT'S DONE!!! :D

See how easy that was? I make this quite often at my house and everyone loves it! It's also a great lunch to bring to work :)

Enjoy! ^-^

Yaki Soba with Recipe!!!

Yaki soba is Japanese fried noodles and it's so easy to make! I used RunnyRunny999's recipe to make this delicious meal! Please visit his cooking channel on YouTube; it's one of my favorites!!! :D

I also need to apologize in advance because I didn't expect to post this on my blog so I did not take enough pictures! >.<

Here's what you will need: 

-Cabbage (I like to use Nappa)

-Carrots

-An Onion

-Chinese Noodles (or soba)

-Pork belly (or chicken)

-Sesame oil for the noodles

-1 Tbsp. oyster sauce

-1 tsp. soy sauce

-1 tsp. ketchup

-1 tsp. honey

1 tsp. sugar

-Salt & pepper

-Aonori (optional)

-Benishouga (optional)

*For this recipe, the only things that I measure are the ingredients for the sauce*

Okay, first prepare and measure everything ahead of time so you don't have to spend too much time at the stove! Cut the meat and vegetables into bite-sized pieces.

Next, bring a pit of water to a boil and parboil the veggies until soft. This will make them sweeter and make them as crispy as you want them! Dry them off and set them aside. 

Now, it's time to make the tasty seasoning sauce! In a bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, ketchup, honey, sugar, salt, and pepper. Be sure to mix everything well! Set it aside.

Now, in a non-stick wok or pan, add in the chopped garlic on medium high heat and stir until fragrant. Next, add in the pork and continuously stir until completely cooked. 

After the pork is cooked, add in the vegetables and continue stirring until everything is mixed well. Set it all aside on a nearby plate. 

There is no need to wipe the pan! Parboil the noodles, drain, and add some sesame oil to them and mix it using kitchen chopsticks. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and stir fry for about a minute. Add in the meat and veggies and stir until everything is well blended. Now add in the seasoning sauce and stir until completely combined! IT'S DONE!!! :D

It's perfect just the way it is...

It goes well with tea...

Below is the version with the chicken! I also put some aonori and benishouga on top! ^-^

This recipe is so simple and it tastes fantastic!!!! You should give it a try! You can also add in or sub other veggies to make your own unique yaki soba! :D

Pasta Alla Carbonara with Recipe!

Pasta Alla Carbonara is one of my all time favorite dishes and I just had to share the recipe that I used. I got it from the YouTube channel stevescooking! Be sure to check his channel out for some amazing recipes that are simple, but make you feel like a michelin chef! :)

What you will need:

-2 eggs (1 egg per person)

-Pancetta (or bacon)

-Finely grated pecorino remano cheese

-Fresh chopped parsley

-Spaghetti

-Sea salt

-Ground black pepper

-Olive oil

With this type of recipe, there really isn't a set amount of ingredients. You just have to add as mush as you think is needed or to taste. I think that's what really makes this Italian dish so authentic <3

Okay! I also wanted to mention that this is my first time ever using pancetta! I bought it at a deli at a nearby Wegmans. It smells like a beautifully seasoned salami and I just knew it would taste fantastic! 

First, you cube the pancetta like in the above picture.

Next, bring a pot of water to a boil, add the salt, and then add in the pasta. Cook the pasta for as long as it says on the package or until it is al dente (firm, but not hard).

Now, add a little olive oil into a non-stick pan and make sure the pan is on medium heat, because you don't want the pancetta to burn! You want it to be nice and crispy so keep stirring it until it is done! 

After the pancetta becomes nice and crispy, sprinkle in the ground black pepper and stir! Turn heat to low.

Once the pasta is done, using tongs, place it into the pan with the pancetta. Ladle in a little of the pasta water and stir well until it gets a bit creamy. SAVE THE PASTA WATER! Adding in the pasta water makes it creamy without having to add in any cream! :)

Next, generously add in parsley and stir some more! 

Now mix the eggs with a good amount of pecorino romano cheese, a little pepper and lightly whisk it until thoroughly mixed. 

Be sure to turn the heat off at this point. Now add in the egg mixture and be sure to continuously stir because you don't want the eggs to scramble! Add pasta water until you get the desired creamy consistency! Next, turn the heat on low just to cook the eggs through and keep stirring until they are cooked! IT'S DONE! :D

Add on some more grated cheese and if you're feeling fancy, place some parsley on top! Honestly, I couldn't wait to eat this so I didn't bother! xD

This is such a delicious pasta dish and it is one of my favorites to make...and to eat! ^-^

Pineapple Chicken with Recipe!

When I made the pineapple upside-down cake, I had some leftover pineapple rings and juice and was on a mission for a good pineapple chicken recipe! I ended up finding a great recipe on the YouTube channel Asian Cooking Made Easy! I absolutely love Lila's recipes, they are always so fun to make and taste delicious! ^-^

You are going to need:

-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-6 Tbsp. soy sauce
-2 8 oz. cans of pineapple tidbits
-1 tsp. rice vinegar
-2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
-3 Tbsp. water
-1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
-1 Tbsp. peanut oil
-Sriracha sauce (optional)

First, cut the chicken into 1 inch pieces and place them into a tight-fitting glass container and add 3 Tbsp. of soy sauce and mix them with your hands, making sure that you are they are completely coated. Leave them in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, open and drain the pineapple tidbits and drain and put the juice aside. Add in the remaining 3 Tbsp. of soy sauce and rice wine vinegar. Mix it all together, add the sugar, and stir until it dissolves. Add in the water and then set it aside.

In a small container, mix cornstarch with a little water and set it aside. 

As soon as the chicken is done marinating, add peanut oil to the wok or non-stick pan and heat it on high. 

Then put the chicken into the pan and stir-fry it until it browns; about 10 minutes. When the chicken browns, set it aside on a nearby plate.

Now, without wiping the pan, add in the pineapple tidbits and allow them to cook for about 1 minute. Then add in the sauce and bring it to a boil on high heat.

When it comes to a boil, add in the cornstarch mixture and stir it until it becomes thick.

Now add in the chicken that was set aside and stir it until it is completely coated with the sauce! IT'S DONE! :D

Now that it's done, place it on a dish by itself, or place it on top of freshly steamed rice! I also pour sriracha sauce for spiciness! It's amazingly delicious! 

It was so good! I just HAD to have seconds! :P