Friday, July 18, 2014

Homemade Hoisin Sauce


This delicious sauce is one I use a lot in my Asian recipes. I use to buy it at the store but after reading the ingredients, I thought I'd make my own. I slightly adapted this recipe from CDKitchen

2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 Tbsp honey
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sesame oil (can use olive oil)
1/8 tsp black pepper
0 to 10 drops of Chinese hot sauce, habenero or jalepeno

Quick and simple. Throw it all in a bowl and stir until fully combine!


Monday, July 14, 2014

Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppyseed Dressing



This is a tasty salad that can be customized to your liking. It's all about the delicious poppy seed dressing. I got inspired from Lauren's Latest and made it a bit more healthy. It's light, it's great for summer and it's so delicious but you won't feel guilty!

Salad:
6-8 cups baby spinach
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1-2 cup grapes 
1/2 cup almonds (optional)
6 slices of bacon or turkey bacon (optional)

Dressing
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (for healthy Greek yogurt, read the label and make sure no sugar is added. Target brand, Simply Balanced, is what I use) OR condensed coconut milk for Paleo diet
1/4 cup white vinegar
4 Tbsp honey
1 to 1 1/2 tsp poppy seed

You won't need too many directions because it's simple. Put all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl and toss. Put all the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well.
If you're going to have leftovers, don't mix the salad and dressing. Put the salad in individual bowls. 

Pour the dressing over the salad and enjoy without guilt!




Thursday, July 10, 2014

Tomatoes Stuffed With Grilled Corn Salad


These can look pretty fancy, but they are simple to make. I love making them and the best thing, they taste delicious! I slightly adapted this recipe from Ms. Martha Stewart. And it's perfect for summer!

Serves 4

3 ears of corn OR 1 can of corn
4 beefsteak tomatoes
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup cheese (Original recipe called for goat cheese but I much prefer aged cheddar cheese or a Mexican cheese blend. You can use any cheese you want) 
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
3 slices cooked bacon or turkey bacon, crumbled (optional)

You can of course fire up your outside grill and roast the corn on the stalks. To do that, pull back husks (don't remove) and take out the silk and soak corn & husks in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain, put husks back over the corn. Place corn husks on high heat on the grill for about 15 to 20 minutes. When done, cut kernels off corn and set aside in a bowl.  

I like to cook it inside on a George Foreman grill. To do that, put on the flat panel grill plate. Pour 1 Tbsp olive oil on to the grill and turn to high heat.

I cut the corn off the stalks OR if using canned corn (which I have many times), drain the water and place the corn kernels directly on the grill plate in the oil. I sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and grill for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, wash your beefsteak tomatoes. And if using bacon, start cooking that now too.

Cut the tops off the tomatoes

Very gently, squeeze the seeds out of the tomato and discard (or eat them if you're like me).Take a small knife (paring knife works best) and cut around the inside of the tomato, remove the innards of the tomato. Give them a rough chop and throw them into a bowl.

Once the corn is done, throw it into the bowl with the tomato innards, and top with crumbled bacon, 1 Tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup cheese (reserving just a little to top each tomato if you wish), 1 Tbsp white wine vinegar and salt & pepper.


Give it a good stir, and spoon it into your tomatoes and Voila! 

Super yummy and great for summer!