Mango Ginger Crispy Chicken

 

I came home on Thursday after work and had no clue what I was going to make for dinner.  I opened the cupboard and probably stared for a good 5 mins.  Then I did the same with the refrigerator …..then the freezer.  

So I stood in the kitchen like this for awhile thinking what I am going to make.   Ok so I am “posing”.  Either way I decided I should start with some chicken.

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Coconut Shrimp Soup, Some Like It Hot…..

It has been a little crazy these past few days.  Yesterday, I was at my church playing Bunkopalooza, which was a ton of fun. However, I got home late and I was starving.  I didn’t really want to take the time to cook because: first, I was starving and second, Hubby had worked late and was on his way home.  So, I ran out to the grocery store.

I have to be honest and tell you that I did not go to the grocery store to buy missing ingredients for this soup.  I didn’t make this soup yesterday.  I made it on Monday.  I am taking this time to confess that I ran out to the grocery store and bought……well, I got…..I GOT A FROZEN BAG OF BERTOLLI PASTA DINNER AND GARLIC TEXAS TOAST…….okay, I feel better now.   Yes, it is true! I bought something pre-made and frozen and it wasn’t  pastry dough.  Dude!  What can I say? I was tired and hungry. Any food blogger out there that says they have never bought a frozen bag of something or other for dinner is probably a fibber.  

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Spicy Crispy Beef

I needed a few things, like rice wine and chile paste, so I ran over to the Asian market.  This place is huge and has every single Asian item you can think of, it is interesting shopping there, especially since I can barely make out the labels.    

Well the Spicy Crispy Beef was a hit, I loved it, hubby loved it and our friends that we invited over loved it.  This gets a super delicious! 

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Peanut Butter and Turkey Burger?

Yeah you read it right a Peanut Butter Turkey Burger.  I found the recipe on A Good Appetite and like she said don’t let the PB scare you, this is a gooooood burger.  If you like Asian cuisine you will like this burger, just think of an Asian dish with peanuts & ginger in it, it’s a very similar taste to that.

Mango Upside-Down Cake

Pho Soup

This was some tasty soup.  When we arrived in Tulsa Hubby kept saying he wished we could find someone who made Pho Soup. Then we discovered this HUGH Asian market here in Tulsa and I decided that I could find a Pho Soup recipe and attempt it myself.  I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com and made some adjustments which are in blue.

Pho Bo (Hanoi Beef Chicken Noodle Soup)

• 6 cups beef chicken broth
• 1 (1/4-inch thick) slice ginger
• 2 whole star anise*
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1/2 1/4 pound piece boneless beef sirloin, trimmed of any fat
• 1 skinless boneless chicken breast
• 12 medium divined peeled raw shrimp
• 3 ounces dried flat rice noodles*
• 1/4 cup Asian fish sauce*
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts, rinsed and drained
• 1/8 cup minced scallions
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro sprigs, washed and finely chopped
• 1 small thin fresh red or green Asian chilie, sliced very thin
• 1/2 cup fresh thai basil leaves
• Lime wedges for garnish
  *Available at Asian Markets

Directions
In a 2 quart saucepan bring broth, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

With a very sharp knife cut sirloin across the grain into very thin slices.

In a large bowl soak noodles in hot water to cover 15 minutes, or until softened and pliable.

While noodles are soaking, bring a kettle of salted water to a boil for noodles. Drain noodles in a colander and cook in boiling water, stirring 45 seconds, or until tender. Drain noodles in a colander. Set aside.

Strain broth into saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in fish sauce, salt and pepper. Add sirloin and sprouts and cook 30 to 45 seconds, or until sirloin changes color. Skim any froth from soup.

To serve, divide noodles into 4 bowls. Ladle soup over noodles. Sprinkle scallion greens, cilantro, chilies and basil over soup and serve with lime wedges

I made this soup for the first time for some friends that we had over.  It went over very well and it was very filling.  Just an FYI when I went to the Asian Market there where like 100 different fish sauces and I took a lucky guess when I picked mine.  I worked out perfectly I got Huong Vi Que Nha / Mam Sac Xay……I don’t know what it means but it is gray in color and the fish is pureed.  Warning the sauce , which is more like a paste, does not have a pleasant smell to it, but it is a must have.   Believe me give this a try it is a great soup to curl up with on a cold day.