Taiwanese beef noodle soup

This is a late post but better late than never, they say. During the snowmageddon 2010, I noticed that everyone somehow turned into culinary experts and were displaying their creations on Facebook. Among the most popular dishes was the Taiwanese beef noodle soup. I often indulge in this hearty soup at Joe's Noodle house. However, since I had no way of getting there and was completely snowed in, I decided to take on the challenge. Out of all the recipes out there, this one seemed to be the one that I could make out (mainly because I had most of the ingredients on hand with a few substitutes).

4 hours later....

exploring prints

So lately I've been noticing a lot of prints for dresses and tops on one of my favorite blogger's pages. I am currently adoring Yumi Kim's collection. But since I can't afford even the items on sale due to our upcoming life changing event*, I am forced to find the "Looks for Less" options. It is somewhat rewarding finding a steal but those prints are totally calling my name! So I found one of these options below that I'm completely torn on...Some look cute on the model and then questionable on their own, what about the quality, how short is it?! all these questions and more...help!

1. This first option is from Forever 21. I like the print eventhough it's defined as "Cheetah" (I'm not a huge fan of animal print. I don't like the matching belt but that can be easily switched.

2. This second option is from American Eagle. It is a pretty standard flower pattern but I'm digging the pleating and the pockets!

3. I just love this unconventional shirt dress and the fact that it's not plaid! I live in my plaid shirt, but lately I've been seeing it everywhere!

FLIP FLOPPIN'

Old Navy is having their flip flop sale..but they're not telling you about it, so stalk up on them now! You know they're only good for one season but for $1.99 (or 2 for $5) who cares?! Plus, they're not as deadly as JCrew flip flops. I haven't met anyone who hasn't fallen flat on their face (butt, cheek, arm, or nose - ouch!) while wearing Jcrew flip flops. Sorry Jcrew, love you but you need to change your flip flop manufacturer. Happy floppin'!

Meal Planning: Week of January 25-29

Monday: Linguine tossed with peas, prosciutto, mushrooms and onions (source: me)

Ingredients to buy: none

Recipe: linguine, peas, thick slices of prosciutto cut in ½ inch pieces, cut mushrooms, chopped onions, olive oil, and unsalted butter.

Cook linguine separately, toss in frozen peas at the end and boil for 5 minutes, drain pasta and peas and run under hot water – drain again. In same pan, sauté onions, prosciutto, and mushrooms in olive oil and 1 tbsp of unsalted butter until lightly browned. Toss in the linguine and peas and mix well. Serve immediately.

Tuesday: Dinner at Dave Parent’s house – pizza

Wednesday: Turkey Burgers with Cranberry Sauce (source: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/turkey-burgers-cranberry-pomegranate-sauce/)

Ingredients to buy: red wine, parsley, rosemary, English muffins

Recipe:

For the Sauce:

1 bag fresh cranberries

1/2 cup red wine or port

1 cup pomegranate juice

1 cup sugar

For the Burgers:

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

2 tablespoons each parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 large clove garlic, finely chopped

1 rounded tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper

1 tablespoon EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil

8 slices extra sharp white cheddar cheese

4 large sandwich-size English muffins, toasted

Butter, for toasted muffins

8 pieces Bibb or leaf lettuce

Combine cranberries, wine, juice and sugar in a pot, bring to a boil and cook cranberries until they pop. Reduce to thicken sauce, about 15 minutes or so. Allow sauce to cool.

Combine turkey with herbs, shallot, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Form 4 large patties and cook 5-6 minutes on each side in EVOO in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cover burgers with cheese and tent the pan with foil to melt cheese during the last minute of cook time.

Serve on buttered, toasted sandwich size English muffins. Set burgers on a couple of slices of lettuce and set tops in place with lots of cranberry sauce.

Thursday: Gordon Ramsay's Sticky Baked Chicken Drumsticks (source: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/gordon-ramsays-sticky-baked-chicken-drumsticks/)

Ingredients to buy: none

Recipe:

Olive oil, to drizzle

10 chicken drumsticks – I will be using a whole cut up chicken instead

Sea salt and black pepper

For the glaze:

6 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons fish sauce

4 teaspoons light soy sauce

Juice of 1 1/2 lemons

3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

4 teaspoons sesame oil

Yields: 5 servings

Heat the oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a large baking dish. Season the drumsticks with salt and pepper and arrange in the dish in a single layer. Drizzle over a little olive oil and bake in the hot oven for 20 minutes.

Prepare the glaze in the meantime. Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl until evenly combined.

Take the chicken out of the oven and pour over the glaze, to coat each drumstick. Return to the oven and bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, turning several times, until the chicken is tender and nicely glazed.

Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. For a balanced meal, serve with steamed rice and purple sprouting broccoli or green beans.

Friday: Potato Kielbasa Bake (source: http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/potato-kielbasa-bake/)

Ingredients to buy: 1 lb diced hash brown potatoes, sauerkraut

Preparation

2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided

1 pound kielbasa (Polish sausage), cut on an angle into 1-inch pieces

1 pound frozen, diced hash brown potatoes, defrosted

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups homemade chicken stock

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

2 cups refrigerated sauerkraut

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 cup of broccoli florets chopped (my ingredient)

Yields: 6 to 8 servings

Preheat oven to 400ºF.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan of EVOO. Cook kielbasa until brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the hash brown potatoes into the same pan with the sausage drippings and cook until brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes.

While the hash browns are crisping, place a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat with one turn of the pan of EVOO. Add the onions, garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper and cook until tender, 5-6 minutes.

Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pan and cook for about 30 seconds. Whisk in the chicken stock, milk and mustard. Bring the gravy up to a bubble, then reduce the heat and add the sauerkraut. Cook until the gravy has thickened and the sauerkraut is heated through, 3-4 minutes.

Stir the reserved kielbasa into the gravy and sauerkraut, and transfer the mixture to a 9x13” casserole dish. Top with the hash brown potatoes and a sprinkling of shredded cheese. Dot the top of the casserole with the butter then transfer to oven and cook until the cheese has melted.

My version of Thai Basil Beef

Despite the 3rd day of rain and 41 degree weather, we had a very productive day. This morning I had a Starfield advertising meeting (if you haven't done so, purchase your ticket today!) and then had a cupcake decorating party with Mosaic. Went to my in-laws afterwards to pick Ethan up and had an early dinner. Went back to our house and made Thai Basil Beef. I've been wanting to make it for the past 3 days and had everything ready so I was determined to make it. Luckily, we were still able to eat a little bit and Ethan loved it! It has some red chili peppers but he didn't seem to mind. It's the Korean blood in him :)

My boss swore by this recipe that she found in Everyday Food and it seemed easy enough to make. I actually had all the ingredients except for Jasmine rice. I have a 50lb bag of Korean rice in my house, do you really think I would buy Jasmine rice just for this recipe? It turned out the same, probably even better because Jasmine rice has this smell to it that I can't imagine mixed in with coconut milk.

My version:











I will definitely make this one again. Thanks Jessie!

my version of a busy weekend

Friday night

• 6:00- come home
• 6:30-feed Ethan dinner
• 7:00-play with Ethan and start making dinner for Dave
• 7:45 - bathe Ethan
• 8:00 - read bedtime story and give milk
• 8:15 - 8:45 - put Ethan to bed (it took extra long tonight)
• 8:45 - make ramen for myself
• 9:00 - start cutting up veggies for kalbi jhim
• 9:30 - clean house
• 11:00 - feed Dave
• 11:30 - get ready for bed
• 12:00 - goodnight

Saturday

• 6:45 - wake up
• 8:00 - feed Ethan breakfast
• 9:00 - grocery shopping
• 11:00 - start cooking lunch and dinner
• 12:30 - feed Ethan
• 1:30 - crockpot!
• 2:30 - hair appointment (short nap in the salon)
• 4:30 - setting up for dinner
• 6:20 - dinner with in-laws and Dave's grandma and aunt
• 8:00 - clean up and bathe Ethan
• 8:30 - Ethan to bed
• 8:30 - clean up
• 10:00 - good night (crash)

Sunday

• 7:00 - wake up
• 8:20 - feed Ethan breakfast
• 9:20 - nap with Ethan
• 10:30 - get ready for church
• 11:30 - church
• 2:00 - lunch
• 3:00 - put Ethan to bed
• 3:30 - catch up on some E!
• 4:30 - feed Ethan snack
• 5:00 - watch daddy play football
• 6:30 - make dinner
  
• 7:20 - family dinner
• 8:00 - wash and put Ethan to bed
• 8:20 - load dishwasher
• 8:30 - blog!
  

hello Monday!

my version of organization 101...

After being inspired by the latest issue of Real Simple, I decided to de-clutter my house. We started this process in August and had an unsuccessful yard sale in early September. We sold some stuff but ended up making our basement seem even more cluttered because we took everything out and now had it stacked in one room. After a few attempts of trying to squeeze things in the coat closet and throwing things away that I'll probably regret doing, I still find myself with a cluttered house.

So I made a goal to start with one space at a time so that this time I'll remember where I put that lint remover that I've kept and never used because I couldn't find D batteries.

I focused on our coat closet. It is so small and inconveniently located on the second floor of our house. So we're always trying to open it as quietly as possible so we don't wake up our son. My husband immediately started to panic because last time I tried to de-clutter, I was pregnant and was going through my "nesting" stage and made him rearrange our furniture every other week.

I assured him that this time I would just need his assistance in figuring out what coats to keep and to throw away. The man has a million jackets!!! Ok, definitely more than me so that's just abnormal.

After 1 and 1/2 hr of balancing boxes and rediscovering some treasures (my black Mexx blazer that I haven't seen in 2 years), I was pretty pleased with my first attempt.

Before:

After!