Leftover Lightning! Chinese BBQ Chili Chicken & Lump Snow Crab Egg Rolls!

Posted by Erin L. in Leftover Lightning!, To Taste ~ Recipe and tagged with cabbage, carrot, chicken, chili-garlic sauce, chilies, Chinese, crab, deep fried, dinner, egg roll, garlic, ginger, hoisin, peanut oil, recipe, scallions, sesame oil, shallots, side dish, snack, snow crab, soy sauce, sweet and sour, wrapper January 27, 2010

Dre got me an awesome deep fryer for Christmas and it took some debate on what to christen it with. Making Egg Rolls is new to me but seemed easy enough. Dre & I popped over to our local Asian market and picked up some ingredients to make the basic cabbage filler. Thank god for my Frankenberry so I could pull up some pics to discern Chinese Cabbage from the wall of greens in front of me. I love how it looks crimped when you slice it thin.

Chinese Cabbage

I added some shredded Carrot, Bean Sprouts, minced Ginger, Garlic & Shallots, Sesame Oil, Soy Sauce, and S&P. After a quick toss, it was a perfect fresh slaw to begin my egg rolls. I had some leftover Pan-seared Chicken Breast from Thursday’s dinner and leftover Snow Crab from Friday’s dinner. Both seemed like perfect proteins to add to my Egg Rolls. I chopped the Chicken and tossed it with Chili-Garlic Sauce, Chinese BBQ Sauce, & Clementine Zest. Half of the Cabbage mixture was mixed with the Chicken and we piled the fresh lump Crab Meat on top of the rest.

Chili BBQ Chicken & Cabbage Egg Roll Filler

So far, so good! Rolling was easy enough as Dre took over with the crab and I rolled the chicken mixture.

Soon to be... Chinese Chili BBQ Chicken Egg Rolls

Once we got in a rhythm, we banged out almost two dozen perfect egg rolls sealed with an egg wash and love.

Egg Rolls

I heated some (very expensive!) peanut oil in my Presto Cool Daddy and dropped in batches of 2-3 egg rolls at a time. Dre whipped up a Ginger-Hoisin-Soy Sauce from scratch and poured some Sweet & Sour Chili Sauce for us to dip them in. I’m proud to see him turn into such a great kitchen helper. Once the Egg Rolls crisped, drained, & cooled, we were ready to snack!

Fried Chinese Egg Rolls

Chinese Egg Rolls ~ makes about 18-22 egg rolls

Chinese Cabbage – (2) bunches, shredded or sliced thin
Fresh Bean Sprouts – (1.5) dry cups
Carrot – (2) large, shredded – about 1.5 dry cups
Garlic – (2) T, minced – about (3-4) cloves
Ginger – (2) tsp, minced
Shallots – (1) large, minced
Soy Sauce – (2) T, preferably low sodium
Toasted Sesame Oil – (1) T
S&P
Egg – (1) whisked in a dish for an egg wash
Egg Roll Wrappers – (18-22) – usually in the frozen section, not be mistaken for spring roll wrappers, lumpia wrappers, etc.

Toss all ingredients (except egg & egg roll wrappers) until mixed thoroughly.
Add chopped protein if desired – semi-cooked shrimp, crab meat, chicken breast
Lay an individual wrapper on a hard surface so it’s shaped like a diamond. Paint the edges with the egg wash using a pastry brush or back of a spoon.
Spoon cabbage mixture towards the bottom point of the wrapper, I’d say what looks like about 2-3 hot dogs put together. Make sure to squeeze any moisture from the mixture before spooning on wrapper to avoid sogginess!
Fold bottom point on top of mixture and roll once, tightly. Fold in each side and continue to roll and seal.
Deep fry 2-3 at a time at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until crispy.
Shake out oil and then drain on paper towels.
Enjoy with Soy Sauce, Sweet Chili Sauce, or the Asian Dipping Sauce below.

Asian Dipping Sauce

From the Best Answer on Yahoo! Answers for an “egg roll” dipping sauce

Soy Sauce – (1/4) cup, preferably low sodium
Toasted Sesame Oil – (1/2) tsp
Garlic – (1) tsp, minced – about (1) clove
Green Onion/Scallions – (1) tsp, minced – about (1) stalk
Hoisin – (2) T
Ginger – (1/4) tsp, minced
White Sugar – (1/2) tsp

Combine ingredients in a small bowl, cover, & chill for 1-2 hours so flavors can marinate.
Serve warmed or at room temperature with egg rolls, spring rolls, wontons, dumplings, potstickers…

To Taste: Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

Posted by Erin L. in To Taste ~ Recipe and tagged with bacon, brussels sprouts, chicken stock, cooking, garlic, recipe, shallots, side dish, sriracha, vegetable, Worcestershire December 10, 2009

A tiny cabbage bloom on top of my Brussels sprout stalk.

I was pretty stoked when I came across full stalks of Brussels Sprouts! They were about 2.5 feet long with about 40 fresh tiny little cabbage heads. I appreciated their natural state and minimal packaging, plus, they’re in season! I think Brussels Sprouts are delicious and am on a quest to erase the stigma they have. If you’ve had them (or haven’t) and claim you don’t like them, it’s probably because they weren’t made with enough love. Many a friend can attest to me forcing my yummy Brussels Sprouts on them, and just as many will admit that they enjoyed them. I make sure to enhance my Brussels Sprouts with Worcestershire, Sauce Garlic, Shallots, Bacon, Sriracha, Fresh Ground Pepper, Chicken Stock & Love and sauté them to a tender caramelized finish.

Brussels Sprouts, sautéed & simmered

Sauteed Brussels Sprouts

Fresh Brussels Sprouts – about 20 or so
Minced Garlic – (2) T
Shallot – (1) bulb – peeled & minced
Bacon – (2-3) pieces, cooked & crumbled
Worcestershire Sauce – (1) tsp
Sriracha – (1) tsp or a quick swirl
Chicken Stock – (1) cup
Olive Oil
Fresh Ground Pepper – to taste

Rinse Brussels Sprouts, remove any browned out leaves, & cut in half lengthwise.
Heat pan on Med-Hi and coat with Olive Oil.
Add Garlic & Onion and cook about 4-5 min, until tender & aromatic
Add Brussels Sprouts to pan and sauté 10-15min, tossing regularly until caramelized
Add Bacon, Worcestershire, Sriracha, Pepper, & Chicken Stock. Sitr & bring to a boil.
Reduce to Med-Low. Simmer until liquid reduces to a minimal amount and sprouts are tender.
Tell me you don’t think they’re delicious!

To Taste: Smokey Bacon Mac & Cheese

Posted by Erin L. in To Taste ~ Recipe and tagged with bacon, baked, butter, casserole, cheddar, cheese, Cheez-Its, cooking, mac & cheese, macaroni, milk, mozzarella, mustard, onion, paprika, recipe, side dish, smoked gouda, Velveeta December 3, 2009

Dre’s main request for Friday’s dinner was Mac & Cheese WITH BACON to accompany my Roasted Tomato, Mushroom, & Smoked Mozz Stuffed Chicken Breasts. On a shopping trip last week, I picked up the most adorable red casserole dish and this was the perfect opportunity to christen it. I needed to refresh myself on Mac & Cheese basics and Alton Brown seemed like my go-to man. I forgot how easily you can turn a basic rue, some milk, onion, & cheese (and bacon, of course) into the most comforting of foods. Mmmm, Mac & Cheese!

Shredded Mozz, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, & Velveeta

I put Dre in charge of finishing up the Mac & Cheese. He crumbled bacon and tossed it into the macaroni & melty cheese mixture. The jumbo macaroni were perfectly filled up with the bacon & gooey cheesiness. He gets half the credit on this cooking venture for that move!

Smokey Bacon Mac & Cheese

No Baked Mac & Cheese is complete without a crunchy crust and why not have it add to the cheesiness! Dre crushed up some Cheez-Its, tossed with melted butter, and sprinkled on top. It added a crunchy texture to the creamiest, yummiest Mac & Cheese I’ve ever tasted, if I do say so myself! And how cute is that casserole dish?!

Smokey Bacon Mac & Cheese w/ a Cheez-It crust

Smokey Bacon Mac & Cheese

adapted from Alton Brown’s Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

Macaroni – (1) lb, cooked al dente
- Farfalle, Orchiette, Spirals & Shells all work well, too
Butter – (3) T + (2) T
Flour – (3) T
Milk – (3) cups
Whole Grain Mustard – (1) T
Paprika – (2) tsp
Bay Leaf – (1)
White Onion – (1/2) med onion, chopped
Shredded Cheeses – (4) cups or more
- I used (2) cups Mild Cheddar, (2) cups Mozzarella, & (1) cup of Smoked Gouda
Velveeta – (8) oz, cubed
Smoked Bacon – (4-5) slices, cooked & chopped (optional, I guess…)
Cheez-Its – (1.5) cups, crushed
- Next time, Goldfish!

Cook macaroni until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Melt (3) T of butter in a heavy pot on Med and add flour. Stir for about 5 min until it turns a light caramel brown, watching closely.
Add Milk, Mustard, Paprika, Bay Leaf, Onion, & S&P and stir. Bring to a simmer on Med for about 5 min. Remove Bay Leaf.
Immediately add the cheese mixture to the pasta in a large bowl or your stock pot and coat. The bacon crumbles can go in now, too.
Pour mixture into a large, greased baking dish or casserole.
Crush (1.5) cups of Cheez-Its in a sealed plastic baggie and then toss with (2) T melted Butter in a bowl. Sprinkle over Mac & Cheese.
Bake for about 30-40 min until bubbling. Remove and let it sit for (5) min before eating.

To Taste: Chicken under a Bri… Something Heavy

Posted by Erin L. in To Taste ~ Recipe and tagged with basil, butterflied chicken, butternut squash, chicken, cooking, dinner, entree, garlic, grill, grilled, herbs, lemon-thyme, olive oil, parsley, rosemary, side dish, spatchcock, squash, summer, to taste, vegetable September 8, 2009

My boyfriend has come to love food porn as much as I do, so when he sent me Pinch My Salt‘s step by step photo blog of Grilled Chicken Under a Brick, I couldn’t wait to get my spatchcock & grill on! Dre & I were both working late on a Friday night, and seeing that I already learned my lesson in grilling in the dark, I decided to at least get my meal prepped that night for a yummy pre-work lunch the next day.

When there’s chicken of any kind on sale, I impulsively pack my already stuffed freezer with as much as I can. I thawed one of the roasting chickens to make some space for my next grocery trip, watched this very helpful video on butterflying a whole chicken, & got to butchering! Call me sadistic (I’ll spare my veggie friends/readers from seeing the pics), but I really enjoyed the whole hands-on process of removing the spine & breast bone of my chicken so it could lay flat for its visit to the grill.

I picked some Fresh Herbs from my garden, chopped, & combined with Olive Oil & Minced Garlic for a simple chicken rub. I coated both sides of the chicken & marinated in the fridge overnight. I also peeled & cubed a butternut squash; to me, its serves as a starch & veggie side to any meal.

Spatchcocked Chicken w/ a Basil, Lemon-Thyme, Parsley, Rosemary, Garlic, & EVOO Marinade

Grilled Butternut Squash with Fresh Herbs, Spices, & Garlic

Grilled Butternut Squash w/ Fresh Herbs, Spices, & Garlic

Saturday morning, we got the grilled warmed to about 350 degrees per the Whole Foods recipe that Pinch My Salt referenced. I seasoned the Butternut Squash with Fresh & Dried Herbs, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes, S&P, Garlic, & Olive Oil and divided them among 4 foil pouches while the chilled chicken came up to temperature. When it came to grill time, I realized that, uh… umm… I didn’t have any bricks! So the only troubleshoot I could come up with was a heavy, foil-covered cast iron pan, which proved to be a perfect substitution. The original recipe called for a 3-4lb chicken, but I was working with a 7lb bird, so it took about 20-25 minutes per side. I tossed the squash pouches onto the grill, too, as they were tender after flipping a few times in about 40 minutes. Towards the end of grilling, the drums of the chicken fell off, but it fortunately gave them some extra time to cook when the breast & wings were perfect.

All future birds cooked in my household will surely be spatchcocked & grilled, as this was the juiciest & tastiest one I’ve ever made. Looking forward to a Turkey Under ALOT of Bricks this Thanksgiving!

Grilled Chicken Under a Cast Iron Pan

Grilled: Chicken Under a “Brick” & Herb Butternut Squash

Butterflied Whole 7lb Chicken – Rubbed & marinated w/ Basil, Lemon-Thyme, Parsley, Rosemary, Minced Garlic, & EVOO, grilled under a Cast Iron Pan

Grilled Butternut Squash – Cubed & tossed w/ Fresh & Dried Herbs, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes, S&P, Garlic, & Olive Oil, grilled in foil packets

To Taste: Grilled Snow Crab Legs

Posted by Erin L. in To Taste ~ Recipe and tagged with butter, cheddar, chicken stock, collard greens, collards, cornbread, crab, crab legs, dinner, entree, garlic, grill, grilled, jalapeno, mint, mojito, olive oil, recipe, rice, shallots, side dish, snow crab, Spanish rice, sriracha, sweet peppers, to taste, tomatoes, vegetable, Worcestershire September 1, 2009

Wasn’t too long ago that I was just sayin’ that you shouldn’t grill in the dark… especially crab legs. So I took another stab at grilled snow crab legs for a Sunday late-lunch/early-dinner with Dre. I decided to get all the sides started before I threw the crabbiness on the grill, so I could give it my undivided attention.

Earlier that week, I bought 2 large bunches of Collard Greens from the Italian Market. It was alot of greens for only $2! I rinsed & chopped them before sauteing in garlic, shallots, EVOO, & butter and simmering in chicken stock. I didn’t have any turkey bacon on hand as a usual ingredient in my greens, so just settled for some Sriracha & Worcestshire to jazz it up. I STILL had Grape Tomatoes from my Spicy Fish Tacos & Avocado-Salad and Sweet Peppers from my Mexi-Risotto, so I tossed them into a Rice-a-Roni Spanish Rice Mix.

Dre whipped up a batch of Cornbread using trusty ol’ Jiffy mix. We tossed in some sliced jalapenos & the leftover sweet peppers, and sprinkled with shredded sharp cheddar halfway thru the baking process. With the greens sauteing, rice simmering, & cornbread baking, it was time for crab!

After a few knife pokes, a brush of butter, & 5 minutes on each side, we had ourselves a summer afternoon feast. Oh, and MOJITOS! After some experimenting, Dre mixed up a perfectly refreshing batch using Apple Mint from my garden.