Crispy baked cubed tofu

We accidentally purchased pre-cut tofu (cubed extra firm tofu in 2" dice), so we tried making it crispy. We followed this recipe generally, except we increased the oven temp to 425: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/baked-tofu/ Because we planned to use this as a neutral topping for Japanese curry rice, we omitted seasonings and used only cornstarch and olive… Continue reading Crispy baked cubed tofu

Simple carrot and carrot salad

We tossed this together based on our pantry: Wash and pat dry two celery stalks, and cut into 1 inch diagonal pieces. Wash and peel 2 medium carrots, then cut into ½ inch diagonal slices. Add about 2 Tbsp coarsely chopped parsley. Drizzle with a fruity white balsamic vinegar (we used about 1 Tbsp pomegranate… Continue reading Simple carrot and carrot salad

Jamie Oliver’s baked eggplant parmesan

We tried this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1901-jamie-olivers-eggplant-parmesan?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Based on our pantry, we used 28 oz pureed tomatoes instead of crushed tomatoes. This led to a thicker sauce, which we might in the future dilute with some water or chicken broth before baking. We also omitted the fresh basil, as we did not have any on hand. (Mar.… Continue reading Jamie Oliver’s baked eggplant parmesan

Chinese chicken and shiitake mushroom soup

We tried this recipe: https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_soup_with_ginger_and_shiitake_mushrooms/ Our modifications: first, instead of chicken thighs, we used ½ chicken, which we carved into standard pieces (breast, thigh, drumstick) and did not cut into the bones. Our inspiration was this recipe: https://www.chinasichuanfood.com/chicken-mushroom-soup/ Second, I guestimated that 1 oz = 12 dried shiitakes, which we soaked in 3 cups boiling… Continue reading Chinese chicken and shiitake mushroom soup

Vietnamese grilled chicken skewers

We followed a bun recipe from Andrea Nguyen’s Vietnamese Food Any Day cookbook, but we served it with green leaf lettuce, cucumber, spearmint, red cabbage, and jasmine rice instead of thin rice noodles. First, start with 1 ¼ lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Using paper towel, pat until bone-dry, trim off fat, and then cut… Continue reading Vietnamese grilled chicken skewers

Filipino chicken tamarind soup (sinampalukang manok)

We followed this recipe from Liza Agbanlog’s Quintessential Filipino Cooking cookbook, with some modifications. First, we cut 3 lbs chicken quarters (2 chicken quarters and 1 chicken thigh), skin removed. We left the skinned drumsticks intact, and we skinned and deboned the thighs, cutting them into bite-sized pieces. We lightly seasoned with salt, and we… Continue reading Filipino chicken tamarind soup (sinampalukang manok)

Filipino sauteed cellophane noodles with chicken and vegetable (sotanghon guisado)

We followed this recipe from Liza Agbanlog’s Quintessential Filipino Cooking cookbook, with modifications: first, cut two boneless, skinless chicken breasts into thin strips, mix with 1 tsp soy sauce, cover, and place in fridge. Second, cook 8 oz sweet potato cellophane noodles as directed (until al dente), then drain, rinse with cold water, and set… Continue reading Filipino sauteed cellophane noodles with chicken and vegetable (sotanghon guisado)