Pad Thai After A Long Day

I had a busy day on Tuesday with a few ups and downs, but the grounding moment was taking a breather at one of my favorite overlooks in the area. It’s Crissy Field right next to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was nice to relax for a minute and remember all of the reasons we came to this area. When I got home I was exhausted but craving something homemade. So I whipped up some shrimp pad thai. Then Jason and I watched Bad Grandpa and laughed our buns off.
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Shrimp Pad Thai
(Recipe inspiration from myrecipes.com)
8 oz uncooled flat rice noodles
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup green onion pieces
8 oz peeled and deveined large shrimp
4 garlic cloves, minced
10 oz bag of mixed asian vegetables (bean sprouts, carrots, broccoli, cabbage)
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts

Seasonings:
2 tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons tamari (or soy sauce)
1 1/2 tablespoon chili and garlic sauce
1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce

1. Cook noodles as stated on the package as well as combine all seasonings in a small bowl and set each aside.
2. Heat oil in a large wok over medium high heat. Add green onions and mixed vegetables. Par-cook vegetables and add garlic, being careful not to burn. Add shrimp and cook until it’s pink, and almost done cooking. Toss with seasonings and cook for one minute. Add noodles and cook again until heated through. Top with peanuts and serve.
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Beef, Beer, and Root Vegetables

I’m going to be busy this week with interviews and informational meetings. I made a stew for Jason to eat over the next few nights and it should make for scrumptious leftovers.

Beef and Root Vegetable Stew
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 lbs beef stew meat
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1 bottle dark beer
4 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 carrots, sliced
4 parsnips, sliced
4 turnips, diced
1 celery root, diced
2 tablespoons flour
Minced fresh parsley

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1. Heat oil and butter in pan and brown the beef. Remove the beef and liquid from pan.
DSC_0129 2. Put garlic and onions in pan until softened. Pour in the beer, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, sugar, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Return the beef to the pan and simmer on low heat until very tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
DSC_0142 4. Add the carrots, parsnips, turnips, and celery root and simmer until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is reduced, about 30 minutes.DSC_0083

DSC_00965. If the stew is too liquidy, remove a cup of liquid and stir in the flour. Add the flour mixture back into the pan and stir. Simmer for 10 more minutes.
6. To finish, add parsley and stir through stew.
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Super Bowl Appetizers

We went to Jason’s coworker’s house yesterday to watch the game. I brought Caramelized Onion Dip and Cayenne Stuffed Mushrooms. These appetizers are a huge hit with all of my friends and family and both are very easy to make (especially if you have a food processor to chop up the mushroom stems and garlic)!

Caramelized Onion Dip
(Recipe credit to Food & Wine)
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups sour cream, room temperature
1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt and ground pepper

1. In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the onions and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden. It may take about 30 minutes.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of water and cook, stirring, until the water evaporates, about 5 minutes. Let the onions cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
3. Transfer the onions to a cutting board and coarsely chop.
4. In a large bowl, mix onions with salt and pepper, as desired.
5. Mix in the sour cream, cream cheese, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Season more as needed and serve at room temperature.

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Cayenne Stuffed Mushrooms
24 whole fresh mushrooms
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 8oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (gluten free, if desired)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a casserole dish with cooking spray. Clean mushrooms with a damp paper towel and carefully break off stems. Chop stems extremely fine with food processor, if available.
 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chopped mushroom stems to the skillet. Fry until any moisture has disappeared, taking care not to burn garlic.
3. Pour stem and garlic mixture into a bowl lined with paper towel. This will help get rid of excess moisture and oil. After a minute or so, remove stems from the towel and place inside bowl to cool.
4. In a large bowl stir stems and garlic into cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, onion powder and cayenne pepper. Mixture should be very thick.
5. Using a little spoon, fill each mushroom cap with a generous amount of stuffing. Dip each cap into the breadcrumbs and arrange in prepared casserole dish.
6. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the mushrooms are piping hot and liquid starts to form under caps.

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Open-Faced Pot Pie

When I put this dish in front of Jason yesterday, he asked, “what do we have tonight?” I wasn’t certain how to answer so I said, “open-faced pot pie.”

*shrug* Why not?

This is a seemingly flexible recipe, and can be altered to be more or less hands on. You can slow this down to cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours. You could add more chicken thighs if you wanted to (just don’t forget to add more of the other ingredients to adjust with the chicken). You can also bake your own biscuits, but as I haven’t been feeling well the past two days, I opted for the easier way out.

Open-Faced Pot Pie Crock Pot
(Recipe inspiration from Real Simple)
3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch lengths
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 skinless chicken thighs
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon dried sage
1/8 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/8 teaspoon dried rosemary
kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup choice broth
1 cup frozen peas
1 14 oz bag of frozen, chopped kale
1/2 cup heavy cream
Store bought biscuits, or home made

1. In slow cooker, mix carrots, celery, onion, flour. Place the chicken on top and season with dried herbs, dash of salt and pepper. Cover with wine and broth.
2. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours. Add kale to crock pot. Cover and cook another 1/2 hour.
3. 15 minutes before serving, cook biscuits as described on container. Add peas and heavy cream to the crock pot.
5. To serve, spoon stew into a shallow bowl, place chicken on top and serve with biscuits and baked potato, should you choose!

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Celebratory BBQ Dinner

Jason had a great day at work today. He received some excellent news that is a reward for all of the hard work he puts in year round. I decided to make a nice dinner for him to come home to. It consisted of Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket, Sautéed Kale, Cole Slaw, and Baked Beans.

Slow Cooker BBQ Brisket
(Recipe inspiration from chow.com)
Brisket Sauce:
1 ½ cups ketchup
½ cup dark brown sugar
½ cup water
½  medium yellow onion, finely chopped
½ cup bbq sauce
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
 
Brisket Rub:
1 tablespoon thyme
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
3 lb beef brisket, trimmed of fat

  1. Pour all sauce ingredients into slow cooker.
  2. Combine brisket rub ingredients in a bowl. Rub mixture all over brisket.
  3. Place beef on top of sauce in slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 7 hours, or until tender.

DSC_0025(Brisket in slow cooker after approximately five hours)

Sautéed Kale
(Recipe inspiration from Bobby Flay)
1 ½ lbs kale, stems removed, leaves coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
red pepper flakes
½ cup (choice) stock
salt and pepper

  1. Heat oil in large wok over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until soft but not browned.
  2. Add kale and stock, raise head to high heat. Toss the kale to spread oil and stock throughout. Cover and cook for approximately 5 minutes.
  3. Remove cover and cook until all liquid is gone.
  4. Season with salt and pepper.

DSC_0015 (Kale in wok right after cover was removed.)

Cole Slaw
(Recipe credit to food.com)
1 (16 oz) bag of coleslaw mix
⅔ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sugar
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

  1. Combine all ingredients except coleslaw mix in a bowl.
  2. Add the mix and toss. Cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving cold.

DSC_0968(Slaw ready to marinate in the fridge.)

Baked Beans
(Recipe inspiration from Paula Deen)
2 16-oz cans, navy beans, drained
1 large onion, finely diced
3 tablespoons yellow mustard
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons molasses
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
*OPTIONAL: ½ lb. bacon strips, cut into ½ inch strips* 

  1. In an oven safe casserole dish, mix beans, mustard, ketchup, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.
  2. *OPTIONAL: Cover with bacon strips.*
  3. Cover and cook in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
  4. Uncover, stir, and cook for another 15 minutes.

*For our dishes, I split the recipe in two and put ¼ lb. of bacon on Jason’s dish. Use the full ½ lb. if everyone eats it!*

DSC_0943(Ingredients lined up for beans.)

DSC_0009(After the beans were uncovered, about to go back into the oven)

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