Chinese New Year

When we order take out at our local Chinese restaurant, I order chicken lo mein. It is a lot of  noodles with pieces of vegetables and chicken. I figured it couldn't be a lot of work. When I researched several recipes, they called for oyster sauce and other ingredients which wouldn't taste like the one I ordered. So, I figured I would attempt to make up a recipe. Does it taste like the one I order? No. Is it good? Yes. Does my son like it? Very much. It still gives me a nice excuse to order out once in  awhile. 

Chinese Chicken noodle dish
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1/2 lb. Chinese noodles, Soba Noodles, or spaghetti noodles
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup snow peas
1 cup shiitake mushrooms
1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp rice vinegar

Directions:

1. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, water, cornstarch, and vegetable oil.
2. Add the chicken and coat with the soy sauce mixture.
3. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. In a large pot, cook the noodles according to the directions on the package. 
5. In a large skillet or wok, heat the oil over medium high heat.
6. Add the chicken and saute for about 5 minutes.
7. Add the snow peas, mushrooms, carrots, and celery.
8. Drain the noodles and add the noodles to the wok.
9. In a small bowl, combine the broth, sugar,and rice vinegar.
10. Add the broth mixture to the noodles and heat for 5 minutes. 
11. Season to taste. Serve hot or eat cold.

Recipe by Jen of Sweet Morris.
One year ago..............I made Nutella Molten Lava Cake.

Did you already know.............
-The Chinese New Year is according to the lunisolar calendar.
-It is also known as the Spring Festival.
-2013 is the Year of the Snake.

I wish you a year of wisdom, wealth, and longevity.

Heath Bits Peanut Butter Cookies

I am normally not a klutz. However, yesterday was a big exception. Yesterday, I had to drive up north to meet with this lady. I felt a little tired but it was no big deal. Well, the lady invited me into her office to talk. I put my stuff down on the floor except for my jacket. The lady said something to me as I took a step backwards accidentally onto my jacket. I lost my balance and caught myself as I stepped back with my other foot meanwhile knocking her chair over. I then turned which made my jacket whip out and hit the lady's plant. The plant went flying to the floor. Impressively, I didn't harm the chair or the plant. I will truly say a comedian could not have done my timing any better. I did apologize and I was wide awake for the rest of the day. There is nothing better to wake a person up then make wreckage in an office. If you are feeling a little tired today, I recommend some caffeine or maybe one of these cookies. It is safer.

Heath Bits Peanut Butter Cookies
8 oz. butter, softened
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup Heath Milk Chocolate Toffee Bits plus some for topping
1 cup peanut butter chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter, and brown sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the milk and vanilla. Mix well.
5. Add the egg and beat until just blended. 
6. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
7. Gradually, add the flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture.
8. Fold in the toffee bits and the peanut butter cups.
9. Drop the dough by a heaping teaspoon onto the baking sheet.
10. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. 
11. Allow the cookie to cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from the back of the Heath English Toffee Bits package.
One year ago.....................I made Silken Chocolate Walnut Tart.

Did you already know.......
-Klutz can also be spelled clutz.
-Klutz means clumsy.
-According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the word originates from the Yiddish word klots (wooden beam), the German word kloz (lumpy mass).

Cookie Dough

Why did it take me so long to try these cupcakes? I love cookie dough ice cream. It could have been the lack of peanut butter. It could have been they seemed like a lot of work. I'm not sure of the reason but they are delicious. My children loved them. My oldest daughter said they are one of her all time favorite cupcakes. I brought them to work and my coworkers seemed to like them. I even have some left over cookie dough in the freezer so it wouldn't be hard to make them again. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Cookie Dough Filling:
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
6 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 cup flour plus 2 Tbsp flour
7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Cupcakes:
18 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Frosting:
16 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Cookie Dough Filling: 

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add the flour, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
3. Fold in the chocolate chips. 
4. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least one hour.

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg. 
5. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until well blended.
6. Slowly add the flour mixture alternating with the milk to the creamed butter mixture. Mix until just incorporated after each addition.
7. Add the vanilla and mix until just incorporated. 
8. Evenly divide the batter between the cupcake liners.
9. Bake the cupcakes for 10 minutes. While the cupcakes are cooking, remove the cookie dough from the freezer and roll into 1 tsp size balls.
10. Very carefully remove the cupcakes from the oven and place one cookie dough ball on top of the half baked cupcakes.
11. Return the cupcakes to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 more minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. 
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring the cupcakes to a wire rack. 
13. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

1. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
2. Slowly add the powdered sugar until smooth.
3. Add the flour and salt. Mix well.
4. Add a little milk and vanilla extract until well blended and the desired consistency.
5. Frost the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Annie's Eats. 

One year ago.......................I made Buttermilk Corn Bread.

Did you already know.........
-Ben and Jerry's has made cookie dough ice cream for over 20 years.
-It is still a very popular Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor. 
-The idea for the ice cream tip came for an anonymous tip from a customer.

Ground Hog Day

Tomorrow is Groundhog day. I wonder who thought to watch a rodent come out of a hole to predict spring. I will admit I will watch the news tomorrow to find out if he saw his shadow. Won't you? My sister saw a robin lately and maybe it is a sign of an early spring? I actually watch for the arrival of Mr. & Mrs. Mallard to return since there is a pond near us. In celebration of Groundhog Day, I thought it would be fun to make homemade bread in a porcupine/ground hog shape. It is also a great way to warm up the kitchen. It was record highs yesterday so maybe it is foreshadowing an early spring.

Homemade White Loaf
2 cups warm water (about 105 degrees F)
1 envelope active dry yeast
1 tsp sugar
4-5 cups white bread flour
1 Tbsp salt
1 egg, beaten with a little water
2 Tbsp rosemary

1. In a small bowl, add the water, yeast, and sugar. Set aside to proof.
2. In a large bowl,  combine 4 cups of bread flour and salt.
3. Add the yeast water and mix until a dough forms. If the dough is too sticky, add about 1 Tbsp of flour at a time.
4. On a clean surface dusted with flour, knead the bread for about 10 minutes. 
5. Form the dough into a smooth ball.
6. Grease a large bowl and add the dough to the middle.
7. Oil the top of the bread and cover with oiled plastic wrap. 
8. Allow to rise for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
9. When the dough has doubled in size, punch down the dough and divide in half.
10. Form two balls and allow to rise for another 1 hour on a greased cookie sheet.
11. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
12. Gently slice the top of the dough to make crisscross patterns.
13. Brush a little of the beaten egg onto the dough and sprinkle with rosemary.
14. Cook for 25 minutes or until cooked through. Tap the bottom of the loaves and it should sound hallow.

Recipes adapted from The Ultimate Bread & Baking Book.
One year ago........................I made Coleslaw.

Did you already know..........
-Another name for a groundhog is woodchuck.
-Groundhogs hibernate from late October to February. 
-There are many recipes online that include groundhogs (which I probably will never try unless tricked).

Hash Brown Potatoes

It has been unusually cold here. Yes, I know I live in Maine. Yes, I know it is cold here but not this cold. Well, we try to keep the house pretty warm. It helps to bake a lot in the winter too! I can't always tell if my children are warm enough since my oldest will wear shorts no matter the temperature outside. I just want to make sure the younger children are warm enough. This weekend when we were listening to the music countdown my son decided he should substitute his own words for the songs. He did pretty well but I had a feeling maybe the house was a little too warm for he was singing, "I'm so toasty" and "Cozy, I'm cozy warm". I really liked the dancing too. Another way to stay warm is to make these hash brown potatoes. My family really liked them but next time I'm going to use left over potatoes to save time so we will be eating breakfast and not a late brunch. Stay warm!

Hash Brown Potatoes
6 potatoes, peeled and washed
1 onion
1 tsp paprika 
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
vegetable oil for the skillet

1. In a medium pot, add the potatoes and fill with water until the potatoes are cover. 
2. Cover and boil the potatoes for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain.
3. Shred the potatoes and then rinse well under water.
4. Drain and pat the potatoes dry.
5. Shred the onion and pat dry. 
6. In a medium bowl, mix the potatoes, onion, paprika, salt, and pepper.
7. In a large skillet, heat over medium heat.
8. Add about 1 tsp of oil and allow to heat for a minute.
9. Scoop about one spoon full of potato mixture and pack into a tight disk.
10. Add the potato disk carefully into the heated oil.  (I cooked about 3 disks at a time before repeating.)
11. Cook the potato hash brown for about 2 minutes per a side or until golden brown.
12. Flip the hash brown and cook the other side until golden brown.
13. Remove and place on a paper towel lined plate for about a minute.
14. Serve warm. 

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker cookbook.
One year ago...................I made Mushroom Burgers.

Did you already know.....
-Hash Brown Potatoes are a variation of Swedish Roesti.
-Hash Browns are a great way to use left over cooked potatoes.
-Hash Browns are a popular breakfast food found in diners.