I have my mother-in-law, Linda, to thank for this wonderful recipe.  Jon and I had been dating for about a year and she came to visit.  I guess I was 19? Maybe 20. At any rate, at the time, I had zero interest in the kitchen. Needless to say, Jon was looking forward to his Momma’s visit. Not only to see her, but also in hopes of getting a few home cooked meals.

She was here for a week or so, and made several delicious rib-sticking meals during her stay.  But the egg rolls. I know it sounds absurd, but these egg rolls changed my life. After learning how to make them, that I could make something like that from a dingy little bachelor pad kitchen…it’s like something clicked inside. I began trying new and different recipes. I looked forward to coming home and cooking dinners. I couldn’t get enough information about different ingredients and techniques.

That was 8 years ago, and I still have that hunger and love for cooking. I think it’s awesome that I can pinpoint the moment where it all started. I’m pretty sure it will never end!

Chicken Egg Rolls

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

3/4 head cabbage, shredded thin

3 carrots,  peeled and shredded

2 cups fresh bean sprouts (1 package)

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 tbsp soy sauce

4 scallions (green and white), sliced

4 tbsp vegetable oil

1 package egg roll wrappers

1 tbsp cornstach, mixed with 3 tbsp cold water

Combine 3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oil, 1 clove minced garlic, and half of the scallions into a resealable bag. Add chicken to marinade. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes up to 3 hours.

Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in wok or large pot over high heat for 2 minutes. We’re talking HOT here, kids. Add chicken to the wok. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until chicken is mostly done and starting to brown on the edges. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside to cool.

To the same pan, add the remaining tbsp of vegetable oil. Add shredded cabbage and carrots. Add remaining tbsp of soy sauce. Use tongs to “toss” the vegetables. Cook, over high heat, for about 2 minutes. Or, until cabbage begins to wilt. Toss in the bean sprouts, and cook for about 1 minute more. Off heat.

Once cool, dice the chicken breasts and add them to the vegetables, mixing in well. Place a colander in your sink, or over a large bowl. Add egg roll mixture to the colander. Using several layers of paper towels, press down firmly on the egg roll filling, pressing out as much moisture as possible. Repeat process several times. Let filling cool for 30 minutes before rolling into wrappers.

Heat 3 inches of vegetable oil in a dutch oven. I like to fry the rolls at about 375. While the oil is coming up to temperature, wrap the rolls. I’ve found that the different brands of wrappers differ greatly. My preference is Frieda’s.  I live in the Boonies, but my local grocery store has them. I like them because they are square, and I find that easier to roll. It seems like most of the other brands I’ve tried are slightly rectangular, and that’s bothersome to me. If you do end up with rectangles, all is not lost. I just cut off a little strip and make them into squares. At any rate, here’s how I “roll” :

Step 1: Place wrapper on a flat surface in front of you with a corner towards you.

2. Fold the bottom corner up and over the filling.

3. Fold the two side corners in over the bottom fold.

4. Pressing down on the tops of the “corner fold”, roll the egg roll over onto itself.  Dip your finger into the cornstarch/water mixture and wet the edges of the remaining top corner before finalizing the wrap.

Fry, 4 or 5 at a time, at 375 degrees until golden brown. Usually about 5 minutes. I usually add the rolls, wait one minute, then turn over with tongs. It seems like if you try to completely fry the first side, the gas released from the cabbage “blows out” the raw side, and then it doesn’t want to flip. I’ve found that a initial flip right from the get-go corrects that situation.

Remove from oil with tongs, and place VERTICALLY into a large pot or casserole dish that has been lined with paper towels. This vertical drain is key, as it really helps the rolls not to become soggy.

Serve with plenty of soy sauce, chinese hot mustard, and duck sauce.

If you’re feeling lazy, feel free to buy a couple of bags of coleslaw mix instead of shredding the cabbage and carrots yourself. It’s a great time saver!

Father’s Day weekend is usually a big weekend around here. My dad’s birthday usually falls on, or on the day before. And, of course, since the baby has come along we’ve been celebrating Father’s Day. It also kind of signals the beginning of summer. And, for me, nothing says “summer” more than blue crabs from the Chesapeake Bay.

I’ve been eating these for every summer as far back as I remember. My dad, mom, and I would go “trotlining” early in the morning. By 10 o’clock we’d have a bushel of crabs. Now-adays, we live 20 minutes from “The Crab Capital Of The World”. Also known as Crisfield, Maryland. We buy the crabs by the bushel, live, right off the boat.  I don’t know that I’ve ever had a pre-steamed crab, and I don’t know that I’d care to. You just need to make sure you have a large enough steaming vessel to cook them…a 7 gallon turkey fryer is ideal.

Steamed Blue Crabs

1/2 bushel live blue crabs (4 dozen)

2 cups apple cider vinegar

2 cups beer (any kind will do)

8 cups water

1/2 cup Old Bay (seafood seasoning)

1/4 cup kosher salt

Combine the Old Bay and kosher salt. Combine the water, vinegar and beer in the bottom of a large steamer pot . Add the crabs in, a few at a time, seasoning with a tablespoon of seasoning here and there as you go. Bring the vinegar/water to a boil, then add the steamer basket full of crabs.  Cover. Cook on medium-high heat for 40 minutes. Remove lid, and continue to steam for an additional 5 minutes with the lid off before removing.

Serve on layers of newspaper, with vinegar and melted butter for dipping.

Happy Father’s Day to all you dad’s out there!

This is one of my favorite dishes, so I think it’s only proper that it be my first post.  With as often as I make it, it seems we never tire of it. It’s quick enough to whip up on a weeknight, yet elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. You can use dry marsala wine, but if you do, omit the lemon.

Laura’s Chicken Marsala

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
kosher salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 slices of bacon, chopped
2 cups white or cremini mushrooms
2 large garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tbsp.)
1 tbsp. minced shallot
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1  cup Marsala wine (sweet)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 lemon, juiced
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley leaves

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position, place large heatproof dinner plate on oven rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees.  Meanwhile, pound the chicken breasts to a 1/2 inch thickness in between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Pat chicken breasts dry. Place flour in shallow baking dish or pie plate. Season both sides of chicken cutlets with salt and pepper. Working one piece at a time, coat both sides of chicken breasts with flour. Shake to remove excess flour, and set aside.

Heat oil in 12-inch heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until very hot (you can hold your hand 2 inches above pan surface for 3 to 4 seconds), about 3 minutes.  Place floured cutlets in single layer in skillet and cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, flip cutlets and cook on second side until golden brown and meat feels firm when pressed with finger, about 4 minutes longer.  Transfer chicken to heated plate and return plate to oven to keep warm.

Return skillet to low heat and add bacon; saute, stirring occasionally and scraping pan bottom to loosen browned bits until bacon is brown and crisp, about 4 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel–lined plate. Add mushrooms and increase heat to medium-high; saute, stirring occasionally and scraping pan bottom, until liquid released by mushrooms evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and shallot and saute for 1 minute. Add tomato paste, and cook until paste begins to brown, about 1 minute.  Add marsala and chicken stock, and increase heat to high.  Scrape browned bits from pan bottom, and bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is slightly syrupy and reduced to about 1 1/4 cups, about 5 minutes. Off heat, add lemon juice and any accumulated juices from chicken in the oven; whisk in butter 1 tablespoon at a time.  Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in parsley. Return chicken breasts to pan and simmer in sauce for a few minutes.

Great served with pasta and a green salad or veggie.