Edible Delights: 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012

Braised Bok Choi

Bok choi, much like ginger, is one of my favorite foods except I find myself often forgetting that because for some odd reason this incredibly easy to make ingredient I perceive as such a hassle. I wonder what's broken in my mind to think such a thing about such a simple recipe. I also find myself googling the instructions EVERY TIME I make it! What's up with that? Well I follow the recipe from Stemay Kitchen. I seem unable to copy the copy link. I found it by googling how to cook bok choi and clicked on the steamkitchen.com link. You can do the same if you'd like to view the original recipe, which I recommend because there are pictures. It'll make following those instructions far more appealing than mine.

Bok choi (I used a bagful already packaged from the farmer's market - the smaller ones are sweeter)

Garlic

Ginger

Extra-virgin olive oil

3 tbsp water

Sesame oil

1) Wash the bok choi as dirt can be imbedded in the root. Remove any damaged outer leaves and cut off the ends. That'll make cleaning the bok choi much easier, too.

2) Over medium high heat, add extra-virgin olive oil to lightly coat the pan. Then add minced garlic and ginger. I used a microplane and threw in the amount I desired. You basically want it to slightly cover the pan. Then again I flavor heavily with garlic and ginger. So adjust it to your preference.

3) I cook the garlic and ginger until it becomes aromatic, and the garlic becomes slightly translucent. I don't wait until the garlic lightly browns because by then I feel like I move too quickly and everything burns. If you feel that way, don't wait until it gets to that point. When you add the water and put a lid over the pan, it'll cook adequately.

4) Coat the bok choi in the garlic ginger sauce. I did this for about two minutes, but apparently you're just supposed to immediately add 3 tbsp water or chicken stock. Cover right away for a few minutes until water evaporates. The original recipe calls for covering it only a minute before you can enjoy this dish. Drizzle with sesame oil and salt to taste. (Sometimes I don't add the sesame oil if I want the ginger flavor to dominate).

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Food Facts About Me!

1) I'm always open and willing to try new foods that I don't think people realize that I can be picky. I definitely have a standard for quality food and dislike poor quality. But as an adult, I surround myself with other foodies, so few have seen me unhappy with my meals since we all enjoy quality food. With that said, I'm not a fan of onions and bell peppers. I'm now able to "omit" the flavor in my mind and appreciate the dish. But I used to be unable to enjoy the dish when I could taste the onion, which is virtually in everything. I was so picky that I used to make own chicken stock without onions. I ate the food, however because I thought it'd be disrespectful to refuse and waste the food that people don't realize how much I despise it!

2) I really have tried to give onions a chance. I've had them raw, grated, sliced, pickled, broiled, glazed, roasted, in soups, sauteed, blended, in sauces and dressings, dried, poached, steamed, etc. I just don't like them!!!

3) I love farmer's markets! I've been described as the farmer's market diva and interestingly enough I attract vendors from markets in my personal life whether it be that I develop a friendship with them or meet them at parties. It's such a trip! Not every vendor is honest and there's certainly shadiness that goes on in there. It's astounding how many consumers are oblivious to the deceit around them. They consider the farmer's markets to be a haven of such dishonesty, unlike corporations, but the truth is lies exist everywhere. I'm fortunate to have more insights. I've even picked the produce at some of the vendor's farms!

4) My friend describes me as the Traveling Cook because I live in a bachelor. That's basically a studio without a kitchen, so I travel to my friends' houses and cook there.

5) I make a TON of food for someone without a kitchen. I sort of created a "kitchen" within a small space. I'm not much of a gurly gurl so I made the built in vanity area to serve as my kitchen space. I have an induction stove to the left and I have the microwave to the right and the toaster oven sits above the microwave. I have two sized cutting boards, one small and one large that slides to the right of the microwave. I added an extra shelf for storage. I slice everything in advance. And I make all sorts of foods. People seem astonished by my living condition as though I'm handicapped but I've made fried fish, baked fish, stir-fries, sautes, tabbouleh, roast chicken, roast veggies, all sorts of salads, hummus, steamed mussels, coleslaw, chicken curry, fried rice, eggs in virtually every way, etc. Many of the things you make in a regular kitchen. Although soups are more challenging because my induction stove doesn't boil properly...

6) I've never milked a cow and I really want to. I'd love to ry fresh milk.

7) I've made all sorts of foods, but there are some I've yet to try and would really love to do. Croissants, ravioli, chicken and dumplings, steamed crabs, bread, pie, homemade pasta, greens with ham hocks, New England style clam chowder...

8) My favorite comfort foods are creamy mac and cheese (the cheap version - I love the fancy stuff with white cheddar but not for comfort food) and creamy tomato soup.

9) I started a container garden collection. I have tomatoes, shiso leaves, parsley, oregano, peppermint, Italian and Thai basil, and wild arugula.

10) I love bok choy, ginger, and avocado. Yet they're foods I rarely indulge in for some reason, even though preparation for them is so easy! Weird...

Recipes I've Made

Appetizers 1) Guacamole 2) Prosciutto and Carrot Bundles 3) Smoked Salmon Spreads 4) Asparagus Wrapped Bacon Beans 1) Fried Chickpeas 2) Lemon Garlic Chickpea Dip 3) Lentil Beans 4) Pinto Beans 5) Refried Beans Beverages 1) Appletini 2) Avocado Smoothie 3) Black Russian 4) Cosmopolitan 5) Garlic, Honey, & Lemon Tea 6) Japanese OJ 7) Lemon Drops 8) Lemonade 9) Malibu Rum and Coke 10) Mango Energizer Drink 11) Mint Julep 12) Peanut Butter Smoothie 13) White Russian Breakfast 1) French Toast 2) Pancakes Casseroles 1) Tuna Noodle Casserole Desserts/Snacks 1) Almond Macaroons 2) Asian version of Jell-O 3) Baked Apples 4) Brownies 5) Cranberry Roll-Up Freezer Cookies 6) Crystallized Ginger 7) Jam Cookies 8) Pan Fried Apples 9) Peanut Butter Cookies 10) Potato Chips 11) Spiced Nuts 12) Tapioca Pudding 13) Asian Cookies 14) Stuffed Roasted Strawberries 15) Deathening Cake 16) Ritz Mints 17) Lime Meltaways Eggs 1) Baked Eggs 2) Deviled Eggs 3) Egg Casserole 4) Ham and Cheese Mini Frittatas 5) Hardboiled Eggs 6) Overeasy Eggs 7) Poached Eggs 8) Sunny Side Up 9) Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce 10) Soft-boiled Eggs 11) Fried Eggs Grains 1) Lemon-Infused Quinoa 2) Tabbouleh 3) Garlic Fried Rice 4) Quinoa Potato Croquettes with Carrots and Curry Flavor Japanese 1) Onigiri Meat 1) Balsamic Vinegar Infused Burger 2) Beef Stroganoff 3) Braised Lamb Chops 4) Herb-Roasted Lamb with Baby Potatoes 5) London Broil 6) Marinated Lamb Chops 7) Meatballs 8) Meatloaf 9) Pineapple-Glazed Baked Half Ham 10) Pork Chops 11) Pork-Rib Dinner 12) Yogurt Marinated Lamb Kabobs 13) Sloppy Joe's 14) Broiled Lamb Chops 15) Korean-style Marinated Pork Pasta & Noodles 1) Baked Macaroni and Cheese 2) Farro Spaghetti with Three Kinds of Garlic 3) Lasagna 4) Mushroom Risotto with Peas 5) Primavera Orzo 6) Pasta Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing 7) Tortellini Salad 8) Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli 9) Your Basic Pasta with Pasta Meat Sauce (tomato based) 10) Beef and Broccoli Top Ramen 11) Korean marinated beef, mizuna, and poached eggs in top ramen 12) Spaghetti Carbonara Pickles 1) Cucumber Kim Chi 2) Kim Chi 3) Pickled Cucumbers 4) Pickled Eggplants 5. Nippy Carrots 6) Raw Cultured Vegetables (green cabbage, broccoli, carrots, garlic, onions, green apple, string beans, white and black peppercorn) Poultry 1) 40 Garlic Cloves with Chicken 2) Buttermilk Fried Chicken 3) Chicken Pot Pie without the Pie 4) Chicken Rice Bake 5) Chicken Salad 6) Chicken with Roasted Lemon and Rosemary Sauce 7) Cornish Hens with 40 Garlic Cloves with Lemon and White Wine 8) Curry Marinated Baked Chicken 9) Garlic Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon 10) Greek Garlic Chicken 11) Lemony-Buttery Marinade Turkey 12) Mughlai Chicken 13) Nutty Chicken 14) One-Pan Chicken and Vegetables 15) Roasted Chicken 16) Saucy Broccoli Turkey Bake 17) Sesame Coated Chicken Strips 18) Thai Basil Chicken 19) The Angry Bird 20) Grilled Chicken 21) Roasted Chicken with Lemons, Asparagus, and Potatoes 22) Creamy Stuffed Pastry Bites 23) Chicken with Bacon, Tomato, and Thyme 24) Lemony Chicken Scallopini 25) Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken 26) Braised Chicken Wings 27) Daven's Sweet Chicken Drumsticks 28) Roasted Chicken with baby tomatoes, black olives, fresh basil with lemon juice 29) Turkey Meatloaf with Carrots, Corn, and Potatoes 30) Baked Chicken Salads 1) Asparagus, Green Beans, and Hearts of Palm Salad 2) Mesculin Salad with Super Citrus-y Dressing 3) Cucumber in Lemon Juice and Salt 4) Fruity Salad: spinach and grapefruit 5) Greek Salad 6) Italian Chopped Salad 7) Mango Salad 8) Papaya Salad 9) Tomato Salad 10) Tossed Salad with Lemony-Mustard Dressing 11) Zesty Cabbage Salad with Garlic and Lemon 12) A Lazy Girl's Salami Salad 13) Greens with Kombu seaweed and Oyster Mushrooms 14) Kale and Pear Tomatoes 15) Farmer's Market Fresh Purslane, Pear tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, and Cucumber Salad Sandwiches 1) Grilled Cheese Sandwich 2) Ham Sandwich 3) Salami Sandwich Sauces 1) Cranberry Sauce 2) Pesto Sauce 3) Pico de Gallo Seafood 1) 4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp 2) Poached Salmon 3) Salmon Cakes 4) Shrimp Boil 5) Scalloped Salmon and Sweet Potatoes 6) Swordfish Baked in Foil with Mediterranean Flavors 7) Japanese-style Sashimi Salmon with Shiso Leaves 8) Baked Swai (seasoned with lemon juice, ginger, marjoram, and other miscellaneous seasoning & spices) 9) Baked Swai (seasoned with lime juice and pico de gallo) 10) Braised Mussels in a Garlic White Wine Sauce 11) Braised Mussels in a Cream Sauce 12) Baked Fish (tilapia or swai) seasoned with Green Garlic, Sliced Garlic, Spicy Red Peppers, and Various Herbs Slow Cooker 1) Slow Cooker Beef with Root Vegetables Soups/Stews 1) Albondigas 2) Artichoke & White Bean Soup 3) Cauliflower Soup and Garlic 4) Chicken Soup for the Sick 5) Chinese Herbal Soup 6) Clam Chowder 7) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 8) Crab Soup 9) Cream of Bok Choy Soup 10) Cream of Mushroom Soup 11) Creamy Tomato Soup 12) Escarole & Meatball Soup 13) Italian Wedding Soup 14) Lester's Veggie Soup 15) Minestrone Soup 16) Mini Meatball Soup 17) Mondongo 18) Morrocan Stew 19) Old-Fashioned Beef Stew 20) Portuguese Chourico and Kale Soup 21) Sinigang 22) Tom Yum Goong 23) Creamy Vegetable Chowder 24) Ten Mothers Garlic and Spinach Soup 25) Red Lentil and Bulghur Wheat Soup 26) Spicy Cream Chowder Soup Vegetables 1) Baby Potatoes with Cumin 2) Baked Creamed Spinach 3) Baked Potatoes 4) Balsamic Glazed Vegetables 5) Braised Kale 6) Braised Root Vegetables 7) Broccoli with Garlic and Soy Sauce 8) Broiled Zucchini & Potatoes with Parmesan Cheese 9) Colcannon 10) Coleslaw 11) Cooked Carrots & Peas 12) Creamed Corn 13) Garlic Fries 14) Greek Lemon Roasted Potatoes 15) Greek Beans and Bacons 16) Lemon Pepper Green Beans 17) Mashed Potatoes 18) Mashed Potatoes with Wasabi 19) Oven-Dried Tomato Chips 20) Oven-Roasted Wild Mushrooms with Garlic and Thyme 21) Pesto Mashed Potatoes 22) Potato Pancakes 23) Potato Wedges 24) Ratatouille 25) Roasted Asparagus 26) Roasted Garlic 27) Roasted Butternut Squash 28) Roasted Carrots, Zucchinis, and Potatoes 29) Sauteed Baby Artichokes 30) Sauteed Mushrooms with Garlic 31) Shish Kabobs 32) Slow Cooked Brussels Sprouts 33) Spinach Dip 34) Steamed Whole Artichokes 35) Stirfried Zucchinis 36) Tomato Stuffed Italian Dried Bread Crumbs with Parmesan Cheese 37) Tomato Vegetable Casserole 38) Zucchini Spaghetti 39) Zucchini Sticks 40) Roasted Purple Peruvian Potatoes 41) Roast Fingerling Potatoes 42) White Asparagus with Orange Butter 43) Garlic and Herb Tomatoes 44) Steamed Asparagus 45) Mediterranean Roast Vegetables (zucchinis, tomatoes, carrots, and garlic skin on) 46) Spicy Green Beans with Garlic 47) Carrots Glazed with Balsamic Vinegar and Butter 48) Moroccan Beet Salad 49) Braised Bok Choi 50) "Amy's" Okra and Tomatoes 51) Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries 52) Unblended Tzatziki 53) Raw Beet Salad 54) Braised Baby Artichokes 55) Breakfast Potatoes 56) Strawberry Fennel Salad 57) Sauteed Mizuna 58) Lettuce Blend with Beets 59) Farmer's Market Fresh Strawberry and Fennel Salad sweetened with a White Wine Vinaigrette 60) Roasted Cauliflower 61) Farmer's Market Fresh Roast Vegetables (asparagus, baby zucchini, beets, new potatoes, and paty pan squash) 62) Sauteed Brussels Sprouts 63) Ratatouille 64) Roasted Okra and Pear Tomatoes 65) Raw Grated Beets and Carrots with Thai Basil and White Wine Vinaigrette 66) PURPLE Cabbage Roasted and Flavored with Balsamic Vinegar 67) Genovese-style Artichokes 68) Mashed Potatoes flavored in Lavender, Mint, and Half & Half 69) Spicy String Beans Total Recipes Made: 248 recipes

Edible Delights

Friday, February 17, 2012

Braised Bok Choi

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Food Facts About Me!

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