Vietnamese Style Wings and Drummies!

My family and I love hot wings and drumsticks but was craving something with more of a zing so I have the ultimate recipe for Vietnamese Style Wings and Drummies. It turned out to be heaven in your mouth! The sweetness from the caramelization, the salty from the fish sauce, and a kick of spice from the siracha. A savory combination wrapped into one!

Vietnamese Style Wings and Drummies

Ingredients:
3 pounds of chicken wings and drumsticks (combined)
1/2 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup water
3 cloves of garlic (sliced and mashed)
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons Siracha (add more if you like more heat)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons chopped scallion

In a large bowl mix the fish sauce, water, mashed garlic, brown sugar, black pepper, siracha, and flour. Add your wings and drumsticks and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Make sure you toss the wings and drumsticks in the mixture after the first hour to ensure all the flavors are infusing.
Heat oven to 400'. You can fry or grill but I chose to bake. I covered a baking sheet with foil and lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Lightly tap each wing and drumstick on a paper towel then set on the baking sheet. Keep the marinate. Bake your chicken for approximately 45 to minutes or until done. Turn your wings and drumsticks over about half way through the baking process.
While your chicken is baking, put your left over marinade in a small sauce pan and cook on medium heat stirring occasionally. Your marinade will turn into a thick beautiful caramel sauce. In a large bowl, add your baked wings, drumsticks, cooked marinade and toss. Set on a platter or plate and garnish with chopped scallion. This is perfect with your favorite ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce but I love these just by themselves. ♡

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Roll

It's that time of year when I start making my pumpkin roll for the holiday dinners. It has become a staple for Thanksgiving and Christmas. My downfall is eating the edge before I serve it. Of course I have to make sure it taste good enough to serve for my family and friends. :-)
This recipe is very simple. Once you get the rolling technique down it is a breeze. Pumpkin Roll Ingredients:
1 cup sugar 3 eggs
2/3 cup pure pumpkin
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Preheat your oven to 350'. Lightly grease and flour a baking sheet pan. In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs one a time while slowly adding the sugar until well blended. Add your remaining ingredients and mix well. Pour your mixture onto the baking sheet pan. Spread the mixture evenly.
Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
Filling Ingredients:
1 cup confectioners sugar
8 ounce softened cream cheese
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Using a mixer, I first cream the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and vanilla and slowly mix in the confectioner sugar. Your mixture should be creamy, firm, and not runny. Spread your filling mixture evenly over the roll.
Now you can roll the pumpkin roll. I try to be very quick with it, at a steady pace, and keep the roll right. I tightly wrap the pumpkin roll in plastic wrap and set in the fridge for a few hours or even over night to let the shape set.
When you are ready to slice the pumpkin roll, I like to use a long sharp knife and a tall glass of hot water. I dip my knife into the hot water for a few seconds and then wipe off the water. Carefully slice the pumpkin roll. This technique prevents your knife from getting globs of pumpkin roll on it and will make a nice clean cut. I dip my knife in the hot water about every 2 slices or when needed.
Please enjoy! :-)

Woodford Bourbon Bread Pudding

This holiday season my work schedule has been rather hectic. I've been traveling a lot and not seeing my family and friends. This Thanksgiving I was able to make it home and I decided to have a huge Thanksgiving feast at my home the Saturday after. Although this is a Thanksgiving dinner, I couldn't help but be in the Christmas mood and get festive! In preparation I visited the area craft shop, antique shop, and grocery to get my beautiful decorative table scape. I must say I impressed myself on the table setting.
For my fabulous Thanksgiving dinner I wanted to make my Woodford Bourbon Bread Pudding. This is a recipe that I tend to make different each time I make it. I'm always adding different nuts, fruits, and creams. I remember the first time I made this, I had my girlfriends over for a get together. It was a hit! The second time I made it, it was just for me. Yes believe it or not I did finish the whole dish of bread pudding myself! Not in one day of course. Before I get to this delicious recipe, I'd like to discuss why I use Woodford Reserve Bourbon. It is a smooth bourbon with beautiful color. It is not only excellent to sip in relaxation but cooks excellent in desserts. I never really appreciated the taste of bourbon until I started using it in my desserts. Woodford Reserve Distillery is located in Versailles, Kentucky. Kentucky is well known for its bourbon and the beautiful and tasty Kentucky Bourbon Trail. If you aren't a bourbon fan you can substitute with your favorite booze. You can also eliminate the alcohol and just add the vanilla extract and cinnamon. That is delicious as well! 

WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON BREAD 

PUDDING Ingredients:

 1 large loaf of Italian or French bread 

3 large eggs 

2 cups milk 

1 1/2 cups half and half 

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 

2 cups sugar 

1/4 cup melted butter (1/2 stick) 

1/4 cup almonds or pecans 

1/2 cup chopped apple (your favorite apple) 

1/2 cup chopped pear  

1/4 cup raisins 

Ingredients for Bourbon Sauce: 

1 stick of butter 

1/2 cup sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 cup heavy whipping cream 

1/4 cup Woodford Reserve Bourbon (or to taste) 

Non-alcoholic: Add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 

Preheat your oven to 375'. 

Use butter or use oil spray to coat the inside of your casserole dish. Cube the bread and put into the casserole dish. Melt butter and set aside. 

For the bread mixture, whisk the eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar. Whisk the melted butter into your mixture. Add your nuts of choice, chopped apple, chopped pear, and raisins. Gently pour the mixture evenly over your bread cubes. I gently toss the bread and mixture around to make sure all the fruits and nuts get evenly distributed. Bake for 50-60 minutes. 

For your sauce, put the butter, sugar, vanilla extract, heavy whipping cream, and bourbon in a saucepan. Let it come to a light boil while whisking constantly. Reduce your heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. I like to just keep it to a very low simmer so it will remain nice and warm while eating dinner. 

You can either pour the sauce over the bread pudding or serve in a pretty dish and pour individually. I personally like to pour it individually. 

For my Thanksgiving dinner I made one sauce with bourbon and one without. To top it off there is no better way to serve this moist flavorful dessert than in a whiskey glass. Perfect portion and so adorable! 

Please enjoy! :-)

A taste of Pho at Paradise Cafe

Paris, Kentucky. Paris is a unique and quaint town with abundant views of beautiful horse farms and history. But inside this charming town you'll find Paradise Cafe, Asian Fusion Restaurant. I never knew this restaurant existed until my cousin mentioned it and I'm so happy she did! On a whim my daughter, her boyfriend, and I decided to take a road trip to Paris!
Paradise Cafe is located in the world's tallest three story building. Yes you heard right! The interior is small but it's full of life, energy, vibrant colors, and the aromas of delicious Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine.
I was so fortunate to meet the owner and chef, Mr. Nguyen.  He himself is Vietnamese. We briefly talked about our lives and he instantly felt like part of my family. He is a very sweet caring man and it was an honor to have met him.
Of course I ordered the beef Pho. It was superb! The broth was devine, the flavors of ginger and star anise were infused perfectly. The plating was one I've not seen before but I liked it. Mr. Nguyen made sure you had the right amounts of hoisin sauce, siracha, and lime. It is Pho at it's best and I'll definitely be back!

Mango and Fish Sauce!

One of my most favorite treats growing up was eating green mangos or sour apples with fish sauce and sugar. I remember my Mom, Aunt Ann, my cousins, and I would walk over to the neighbors yard and pick the greenest of apples from the tree. My cousins and I would get to climb the tree and grab the best apples and hand them to Mom and Aunt Ann. We would pick so many that we had to use our shirts as a basket. I miss those days and so thankful for the sweet memories. Now I search for the greenest mangos I can find in the markets. I don't always find the greenest mangos so when I do it is a treat. This recipe is super easy and definetly one you must try. Just clean, peel, and thinly slice a green mango. For the sauce combine 1/2 cup fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and half of a small red chili pepper. Depending on your tastebuds you can adjust the sugar and chili pepper amount. I like to put my fish sauce mixture in a bowl and dip the mangos. When I'm not in a hurry, I like to combine all the ingredients together and let marinate for about an hour. Who can not resist the tartness from the green mango infused with the salty fish sauce, sweetness from the sugar, and the bite of heat from the red chili pepper. Absolutely mouth watering! Enjoy!

Linh's Bistro / Vietnamese Cuisine

     Upon the passing of a loved one, I was able to visit my family in Dayton, Ohio earlier this summer. It has been about 25 years since I've seen them and I had such a pleasant time.
     During my stay we ate lunch at a Vietnamese bistro called Linh's Bristo which is known for it's authentic Vietnamese cuisine. The restaurant is owned by the Nguyen family and their daughter displays her beautiful art paintings right in the restaurant. Their website is www.linhsbistro.com and not only does it have an awesome menu but it has the story of how the Nguyen's left Vietnam and made a life for them and their children in the United States. I ended up ordering the Pho since it is my favorite Vietnamese soup. I had the Pho Bo Tai which means thin sliced beef. It was absolutely delicious! The beef was tender and the broth was so savory that my mouth waters just thinking about it. The addition of the perfectly cooked noodles, basil, hot peppers, onions, and bean sprouts took my taste buds to Vietnam.
    If you are ever in Dayton near the Fort Wright Air Force Base or the museum, you must stop by Linh's Bistro. Definitely worth the stop and I know your tummy will be happy when you leave. Linh's Bristo is located at 5532 Airway Road, Dayton Ohio 45431.

Curry Shrimp Stew is on the menu!

     Curry Shrimp Stew is by far an excellent dish for anyone in the mood for indian flavors. The sweet and zippy flavors of coconut and curry infused with crushed red peppers and cilantro. Yum! This is the first time I've made this dish. I did a little tweeking from the original recipe and it turned out fantastic! It is diabetic friendly, clean, and the perfect weekend meal at the kitchen table with family and friends.
     Curry Shrimp Stew recipe! For the stew you will need 1 1/2 pounds of jumbo shrimp, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 red bell pepper sliced, 1 small red onion sliced, 1/2 cup cilantro chopped, 3 garlic cloves minced, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper, 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes (low sugar if possible), and 14 ounce can of light organic coconut milk. In a large pan on medium heat add the oil. Add the red bell peppers and onions and saute until soft. Add cilantro, red pepper flakes, garlic, toss until combined, and simmer a couple minutes. Add the tomatoes, coconut milk, salt and combine. Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat for about 8-10 minutes so the flavors can infuse together. Add your shrimp and combine well. Cover the pan and let simmer for an additional 5-8 minutes. I like to serve this over brown rice and sauted edamame beans. Top the stew with a sprinkle of lime juice and scallions.Enjoy!

Comfort food made healthy

     On July 21, 2014 I was diagnosed with diabetes. I was stunned and never thought it would happen to me. Me, the food guru, baker, cake decorator, home inspired chef, food traveler, food blogger, and "I'll try any food" type of gal. So to make a long story short, my eating habits changed tremendously and as part of my journey I want to share my new and trialed recipes with those who are fighting the daily struggle of diabetes, have a loved one with diabetes, gluten allergies, and to those who just want to eat cleaner and healthier. My main goal is to still eat some of the foods I love but in a newly revised healthy way. So in the meantime please enjoy these delicious and beautiful dishes.
      TURKEY MEATLOAF MUFFINS! Ingredients for muffins are 1 pound ground turkey, 1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper, 1/2 cup oats, 2 egg whites, 1/3 cup finely chopped onion, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.  Ingredients for topping is 1/3 cup low sugar ketchup, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 teaspoon mustard. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all the turkey ingredients together. Lightly spray the muffin pan and divide the mixture to make 12 muffins.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, depending on your oven. While your muffins are baking, combine topping ingredients. Once the muffins are done, spread the topping over each muffin and bake for an additional 5 minutes.  
     GARLIC CAULIFLOWER MASH ! One head of cauliflower and bring to a light boil until tender then drain well. In a food processor combine 1/4 cup organic chicken broth, 1/2 cup nonfat cottage cheese, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Blend the mixture well then add in the cauliflower.  Blend until smooth or to your desired texture. Sprinkle with chives.
      ROASTED ASPARAGUS ! Heat oven to 350°. Clean and prep approximately 15-20 asparagus spears then towel dry. Lay your asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss well and spread asparagus evenly on sheet. Bake for 4 minutes then toss. Bake an additional 4 minutes.  If desired you can lightly sprinkle shredded parmesan over the asparagus for a little zing.
     And on a final note, the left over turkey meatloaf muffins make an exceptional meatloaf sandwich using whole wheat bread. Amazing and tasty! ♡

Noodles on a rainy day!

Vietnamese Noodle Salad!  A light dish full of fresh ingredients and savory flavors.
I switched it up this time and grilled my shrimp. The grilled shrimp added a hint of smokiness and it turned out perfect.
I serve this with cold rice noodles. I julienned carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, and added cilantro and mint. Serve with Nuac Mam sauce. I always drizzle the Nuac Mam sauce into the dish and toss.
The perfect meal for a rainy day. :-)

Food with a view!

     It's not often my daughter and I treat ourselves to elegant yet casual dressed dining.  But with this weekend being my daughter's birthday I thought it would be nice to visit Caproni's On The River located in Maysville Kentucky.  Caproni's sits right next to the Ohio river and within steps of the train track and depot.
     With the sweet ambiance Caproni's has to offer, enjoying a meal is a bonus.  I had a plate full of heaven! My heaven you ask? Delicious mussels that were seasoned to perfection over a bed of angel hair pasta and a zesty tomato marinara sauce. Deliciousoso!
     It was so relaxing to eat a scrumptious dish and enjoy the barges and boats travel the river.  Sharing this moment with my daughter makes it even more special. Plus you never know when George Clooney just may walk in. :-)
    

Wine's the word....

     Amongst all the corn fields and flat lands of Indiana is a place called Winzerwald Winery. Want to get your wine on? Then you must visit the Evansville Tasting Room right in the middle of Evansville, Indiana.
     I accidentally came across this establishment while walking around downtown. I am one who will never turn down a wine tasting. :-) 
     The manager of Evansville Tasting Room is Ray Vigurs and he was an awesome hostess. Before I knew it I had been there for an hour talking to Ray as if I've known him my whole life. I did get to taste a good amount of various wines and my favorite was Schweizer Spice.  A hint of fruity, nutty, and perfect blend of spices.  I ended up buying 4 bottles to take home. :-) 

Mamamia Papapia! It's The Lost Pizza!

    One of the great things about my job is the opportunity to travel around the USA. Last year I had the opportunity to work in Tupelo, Mississippi. It was my first time in Tupelo and I must say it is such a layed back, relaxed, quaint, hospitable, and none the less a city full of flavor! Also where Elvis Presley was born. :-)
    Every Sunday after work, my coworkers and I made it a must to eat at a local hot spot called Lost Pizza Co. Who could not turn down awesome pizza and cold beer after a long day at work? The novelty of Lost Pizza is a mixture of a being in tiki bar, nostalgic, blues, soulful, and relaxing.  
    I especially love the names of their pizzas. My favorite was The Happy Hippie which is a veggie pizza. The spinach, artichokes, and house cheese definitely put it over the top! Other names include The Otis for meat lovers,  The Kujo, The Hot Chick and many more. Definitely a place to eat if you are in Tupelo.  I guarantee you'll go back! :-)

Pho BC!

    Looking for vietnamese food in Lexinton KY? A place to check out is Pho BC vietnamese restaurant on Lowry Lane.  My coworkers and I always plan to go when our schedules allow us too. It is a very small restaurant but comfortable, clean, and delicious!
     Last night I had their rice noodle salad with chicken. It was so fresh and delicious.  The noodles were cooked perfectly.  The lettuce, green onion, white onion, cucumbers, carrots, bean sprouts, and cilantro was fresh and colorful.  The chicken cooked tender and seasoned well. Top off this delicious dish with two eggrolls and Nuoc Mam Cham sauce  and you have a delightful bowl of yumminess!

Banh Xeo! Aka...Vietnamese Tacos!

     Banh Xeo! I love this dish. Mom makes this when she is feeling good and has the time. It is a detailed dish to make and time consuming. Eversince I was a kid I've called this Vietnamese tacos. But in Vietnamese restaurants you may see it on the menu as pancakes or crepes.
     The taco is made from ingredients of rice flour, water, eggs, and chives. Usually coconut milk is an ingredient but we never add it. Mom always surprises us with the filling. This time she used chicken, shrimp, cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts.
     We like to wrap it up with fresh green lettuce leaves and add cucumber, mint, and cilantro. Dip in the delicious fish sauce dip.
     The flavors are beautiful, fresh, and out of this world! Thanks Mom! ♡

Vietnamese Curry Chicken Soup

     My daughter and I absolutely love Vietnamese Curry Chicken Soup! This was actually the first Vietnamese soup dish my Mom made for my daughter after she was born and old enough to eat this soup. Although there are several versions of this soup, I use the recipe my Mom always made. Of course all her recipes were never written down so I always had to pay extra attention to her cooking.
     I first fry the chicken until brown. I add the curry powder and the chicken becomes this beautiful golden color and the aroma is awesome. Then infuse the chicken with onion, ginger, bay leaves, and lemon grass. For the broth I add coconut milk, water, and fish sauce. I let the soup come to a boil then let simmer for about 20 minutes.
     In a bowl add your spaghetti and top with the soup. We make a simple lime juice, salt, and pepper mixture to dip the chicken in. The combination is delicious! French or italian bread is always the perfect bread to dip and soak up the soup juices. I personally think the bread and soup is the best part of this meal.
     Overall this soup is very simple to make. The Vietnamese curry powder and lemon grass can be found at your local asian grocery. The flavors of this soup are phenomenal and I always love the smell of curry in my kitchen.  ♡
    

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

     Fresh and delicious Vietnamese spring rolls! Even with all this Kentucky snow I still love making this. They are simple to make, filled with tons of aromatic herbs, and super refreshing.  A healthy dish as well.
     The main staple to this recipe is rice paper. I always have plenty of rice paper in stock in my kitchen. Once you figure out the technique on how to use rice paper the recipes and creativity are endless. This time I used green lettuce leaves, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, mint, cilantro, and jumbo shrimp.
     Depending on my taste buds, I make two different sauces to go with my spring rolls. I either make a peanut dipping sauce or fish sauce. I decided to go with the peanut sauce on this one. My peanut sauce is very simple. I combine hoisen sauce, fresh garlic, siracha chili sauce, crunchy peanut butter, lime juice, and water to thin it out.
     If you are interested in making Vietnamese cuisine but scared to try, I suggest starting with easy and delicious spring rolls. It's an excellent starter and definitely one you will enjoy. ♡

Vietnamese Mung Bean and Seaweed soup

     I love this dessert soup! My Mom makes this and she always makes extra for me to take home. She adds the sweetness of sugar and coconut milk to the mung beans and seaweed.
     Mung bean and seaweed are beneficial in this soup and it is also considered a super food. It is full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It's benefits are to help with heart health, colds, and cholesterol, and improve the immune system. 
     I love the mild taste and texture of the mung beans and the sweetness from coconut and sugar.  You can eat this warm or cold. Today I'm eating this warm. Thank you Mom!

The flavors of Thai

     Although I work in Georgetown, Kentucky, I really don't know alot about what Georgetown has to offer as far as local cuisine. Well of course my favorite thing to do is find a local restaurant that is known for awesome food but not your typical local restaurant chain. I hopped on www.urbanspoon.com to get an idea of what is out there. I came across a Thai restaurant and knew instantly I had to check it out.
     It is called New Thai Garden and located on North Broadway. As I pulled into the parking lot, I knew I had come to the right place for super delicious Thai cuisine.
     The Thai lady who greeted me and took my order was so sweet. She barely knew any English and of course I couldn't understand what she was saying but we made it through the menu. The smile on her face would make any customer feel special each and every time they came here to eat.
     I ordered the spicy Tom Yum Soup and the Pan Fried Dumplings as appetizer. Tom Yum Soup was filled with chicken, mushrooms, and onions. It was flavored with citrus leaves, lemongrass, lime juice, and cilantro. It had the perfect amount of hot spice and I even put some over my side of steamed rice. The dumplings were hand made and stuffed with pork, chicken, vegetable, and served with warm ginger sauce. They were delicious as well. I was outstandingly impressed with the food and felt right at home.
     I've ate at several different Thai restaurants and New Thai Garden is by far the best Thai restaurant I've ate at. It is not a fancy restaurant nor is it big and decorative but It is true authentic Thai cuisine full of love and flavors.
     If you ever get a chance to visit downtown Georgetown and craving Asian cuisine, please visit New Thai Garden. It is now one of my favorite restaurants and I will definitely be back.
    

A 'cake' down memory lane

A 'cake' down memory lane.

One thing in life I miss is decorating cakes.  Not only was it fun but the smile I seen on a child or even an adult when they seen their cake was priceless. Always brought tears to my eyes.

This beautiful wedding cake I made is one I always tend to love the most.  A 5-tier cake with white and chocolate flavors. The dazzle from the red and black satin made it so elegant and the bows added that special touch of gorgeous.

One other reason I love this cake is the couple, Katie and Dalton Prager.  When I first seen this couple on their wedding day, I seen two people who loved life to it's fullest and the happiness completely filled the entire room. Since their wedding day, events have happen but Katie and Dalton are one couple who will never give up.  Their strength, courage, and love for one another is bigger than one I've ever seen. 

Katie and Dalton, I wish you two the very best of health and happiness.  

 



Cold Temp = Fried Rice

Today as I walked from the plant to my car I felt as if every vein in my body was going to freeze up like frozen pipes. I just couldn't walk fast enough without possibly falling on ice and becoming the highlight of the show. HaHa!! But all I can say is that whoever invented heated car seats is an absolute genius!
I commute 1 hour and 15 minutes back and forth from work to home everyday. So on a daily basis I do have time to think about what I'm going to have for dinner. Considering the frigid temperatures, I was craving Vietnamese fried rice. I also knew it would be an easy, fast, and a one dish meal. Steamed rice is a staple in my home so it is no surprise to always have steamed rice available in my kitchen.
This Vietnamese fried rice is a recipe from my Mom and she makes the best fried rice in the world! Mom always uses pork in her fried rice. Pork does add more flavor and moisture. But for tonight I ended up using chicken breast since it was the only meat of choice left in my freezer.
I infused oil, garlic, and slightly sauteed onions to my steamed rice. I then added cooked chicken breast, scrambled egg, scallion, fish sauce, soy sauce, and black pepper. Not only is this dish delicious but the aroma is mouth watering.
Although the temperature outside is -2' with a wind shield of -25', the comfort of Vietnamese fried rice and watching Big Bang Theory was a great way to end my day.

Killian's Irish Red Beer Chili

Killian's Irish Red Beer Chili!  My meal before the eye of the storm....the snow storm that is! :-)

As we all know the snow storm is on it's way to the Bluegrass. Not really sure what to expect.  Snow, possibly ice, and for a fact there will be unbearable cold temps. I hope everyone is prepared, keeps an eye on their neighbors, and finds a warm place for your pets and animals.

With all that said I decided to go off the beaten path and make chili. Today I made a delicious comforting meal but I also wanted to switch up my chili recipe and add Killian's Irish Beer. Turned out to be a brilliant idea!

I used my basic turkey chili recipe which includes of course turkey, onions, garlic, crushed tomato, diced tomato, light kidney beans, black beans, and all the flavoring essentials (chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper).

I added the bottle of Killian's Irish Beer and it not only gave my chili a hint of sweetness but it threw in a bang of flavor!  Turned out to be more delicious than I imagined.  I topped it off with sour cream, cheese, and scallions. It's amazing what you can do with what you have laying around in the fridge :-)



Vietnamese Pork Spring Rolls (Cha Gio)

A classic Vietnamese staple!  Pork spring rolls (cha gio) and fish sauce dip (nuoc cham) for dipping. This is a recipe my Mom passed to me and by far the most popular in my home. When I was young, I remember my Mom fixing pork spring rolls when my family from Dayton Ohio were visiting.  Jeanette Bierley Martin, Patty Bierley, and Pam Throckmorton...do you ladies remember those days?  I remember Mom also making sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein, and fried rice to accompany the spring rolls. We always had a house full of family, huge Vietnamese meals, and a lot of good times! :-)

Pork spring rolls are a little time consuming to make but well worth it. Pork spring rolls consists of rice paper, pork, glass noodles, egg, carrot, onion, salt, black pepper, and fish sauce. After the rolling process, fry the spring rolls until crispy and lightly brown. 

The fish sauce dip is what makes the pork spring rolls pop!  The fish sauce dip of course has fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic, red chilies, lime juice, vinegar and water. I love to make this dip and keep in my fridge because I never know when I'm going to make spring rolls.  It is also good to sprinkle over a bed of rice for an extra kick of flavor.

 

Vietnamese Pho Bo

 

Yaaaay my first blog!!!!

   I'm so excited to share my Vietnamese Pho Bo beef noodle soup with everyone! Pho Bo is known as Vietnam's national dish and usually ate at breakfast.  I remember my Aunt Ann making Pho Bo a lot when I was a kid and she always had all the neighbors over when she made big Vietnamese meals.  Such wonderful memories. :-)

   I love making Pho Bo for dinner and of course it is always better the next day.  It is so savory, spicy, comforting, and super delicious. Pho Bo consist of a savory beef broth which includes onions, ginger, shallots, star anise, crushed peppers, and beef. After the Pho Bo broth is done, I add rice vermicelli, beef, onions, bean sprouts, chilies, mint, cilantro, sriracha, and hoisin sauce.

   If you have the chance to eat at a Vietnamese restaurant, you must try Pho Bo.  It is amazing!