Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Growing up, Brussels sprouts were always one of those things that I thought I didn’t like – probably because they were usually frozen and then steamed. All in all, mushy and flavorless. A few years ago I took a recommendation I’d seen somewhere and tried roasting them. Mind blown. Wonderful rich flavor, tender yet with some bite left, not to mention they were absolutely beautiful when cooked.

At first I roasted them simply with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. But somewhere along the line I started adding a little balsamic vinegar into the mix before roasting, and I haven’t looked back since. It adds a depth of flavor and a slight tangy note that pairs so perfectly well with the veggie. Some people add it after the roasting process, but I like to add it before as the heat really mellows the flavor of the vinegar as well – mingling all those flavors together.

They’re great served with just about anything, and I’ve even been known to save leftovers to toss with a little bit of pasta with olive oil and garlic the next day. Makes a delicious and easy lunch!

So if you think you don’t like Brussels sprouts, definitely give this recipe a try. I promise it will be eye opening and life changing! People are always shocked when I tell them that they’re one of my little ones favorite vegetables, but when they’re this good – there is no excuse for anyone not to love them. Give them a try!

Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

1 lb Brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed (larger sprouts can be halved)
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Place Brussels sprouts on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Toss with clean hands to distribute oil and seasoning evenly.

Roast in oven for about 20-25 minutes, until sprouts are easily pierced with a knife and starting to brown on the edges. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Vegetable Fried Rice

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Veggie Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of the best “quick & easy” dishes out there. It’s filling, economical, and versatile. The perfect way to clean out the refrigerator at the end of the week! This time around I used carrots, peas, scallions, bean sprouts, and a scrambled egg. I’ll usually make this as a side dish whenever I make my mother-in-law’s famous egg rolls. I always had leftover bean sprouts, and I hated to let them go to waste. This was a great way to use them up, as well as being a way to fill tummies up that isn’t fried, or as labor-intensive.

You do have to think a bit ahead of time when it comes to the rice. Using rice that has been chilled is key to a good fried rice. If you use fresh, hot rice – you’ll end up with a sticky ball of mess. By using cooled rice, the grains of rice stay separated – creating the perfect fried rice. I also love the addition of egg to the mix. You don’t see egg in fried rice that often anymore, and it’s something I always loved, so I knew I wanted to add that as well.

It makes a pretty large batch, enough to eat for dinner one night and a couple of extra servings for lunch. You could certainly add a protein as well, if you wanted to make it a complete one-dish meal. Shrimp or chicken are my favorites. Just saute in the pan, and remove before cooking the veggies. A favorite that is guaranteed to be made again and again. Enjoy!

Vegetable Fried Rice

2 carrots, cleaned and diced
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup bean sprouts
2 green onions, chopped
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups cold cooked rice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tsp salt
black pepper, to taste

Heat 1 tablespoons of oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat . When the oil is hot, add the eggs. Cook, stirring, until they are lightly scrambled but not too dry. Remove the eggs and set aside. Wipe pan clean with a paper towel.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add the carrots and the frozen peas. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender – about 5 minutes. Add the rice, scallions, and bean sprouts. Stir-fry for a few minutes, using chopsticks or a wooden spoon to break it apart. Add the soy sauce, and toss to combine.

When the rice is heated through, add the scrambled egg back into the pan. Mix thoroughly before serving.

Singapore Mei Fun

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Singapore Mei Fun

I love making our favorite Chinese take-out dishes at home. They’re always tastier, healthier, and much easier on the old pocketbook. Jon’s favorite dish to order-out, hands down, would have to be Singapore Mei Fun. Now, I realize this probably isn’t anywhere close to the noodle dishes you’d actually find in Singpore – but let’s be honest, what comes out most Chinese restaurants in this country  actually is authentic? Am I right?

Soft rice noodles, sauteed with all kinds of crispy yet tender vegetables – and a protein if you like, all in a delicious spicy sauce chock full of curry. I’d never had it before her ordered it, he used to be a General Tso’s guy…but switched to this when he was trying to lose a little weight, and years later he’s still never gone back. I’ve almost grown to love it over my beloved lo mein noodles! Our local place always adds a scrambled egg to the stir-fry, which I feel is a great addition as it helps to soak up any extra sauce and flavor, so I added that to my at-home version too.

It turned out really great, and was a fairly quick and easy meal. I just softened the rice noodles while I was prepping the veggies (stuff I had laying around in the fridge and pantry), stirred together the spices with some soy sauce and sesame oil, and stir-fried for a delicious dinner. I sliced up half a pork tenderloin that I had from a meal earlier in the week and added it to the mix, to add a little protein – but shrimp, leftover chicken or beef would also be great. Ff you wanted to make it vegetarian try adding tofu, or even just bulking up the veggies. And by using your favorite soy sauce substitute, it’s easily gluten-free. You can also switch up the spices in a bit – adding more or less Sriracha or red chili flakes to adapt the heat to your liking. We like it pretty spicy, but I realize not all folks do.

This is one I’m definitely glad to be adding to my repertoire, as it’s a favorite of our whole family! 

Singapore Mei Fun

12 oz rice noodles
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
2 tsp grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 1/2 cup green cabbage, shredded
1 1/2 cup red cabbage, shredded
1 cup leftover pork, chicken or beef – sliced (optional)
1 1/2 cup bean sprouts
4 scallions, sliced

For the sauce:
1 Tbsp hot curry powder (or your favorite curry powder)
1 tsp ground tumeric
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp crushed red chili flakes
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Tbsp Sriracha
1 tsp grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced

Soak the noodles according to the package instructions (Usually soak in hot water for 15 minutes). Drain well and set aside in the colander.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl, stir to combine.

Heat 1 Tbsp oil in wok over medium-high heat. Add the eggs and cook, stirring constantly, until the eggs are cooked and scrambled. Remove to a small bowl and set aside.

Add remaining oil to the wok and increase heat to high. Add ginger garlic paste, and stir until fragrant – about 30 seconds. Add the carrot, bell pepper, and cabbages to the wok. Toss using a pair of tons until starting to soften – about 2 minutes.

Add in the rice noodles, sliced meat, bean sprouts, scallions, scrambled eggs, and finally the sauce. Toss well to combine everything and cook for an additional minute.

Serve hot with additional Sriracha and soy sauce, if desired. 

Source: adapted from Messy Kitchen Stories

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

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Homemade Ricotta Cheese

We have about five inches of snow on the ground this morning here in our little corner of the Eastern Shore. That may not seem like much to many of you, but to us  it might as well be 2 feet! It’s days like this where I’m so thankful I’ve gone down the path of DIY more and more often. To be able to make a kitchen staple from the comfort of your own kitchen, without having to venture out to the store, is really a blessing.

Take ricotta cheese for instance. All it takes is some milk, lemon juice, vinegar, and a few minutes of your time. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make, and how delicious it turned out. Creamy and flavorful, unlike that rubbery gunk that comes out of the container in one chunk that you buy from the supermarket. Now that I’ve made this at home, I don’t think that I’ll be able to go back to purchasing it.

I used it in a lasagna, but it really is delicious on it’s own – smeared on a piece of crusty bread. The recipe calls for whole milk, but I’m interested to try it with 2% to see if it turns out just as well –  as that’s usually what I have on hand. Will probably add a bit of heavy cream to up the creaminess factor, which I’ve noticed that other tutorials mentioned to do as well.

If you’re snowed in like I am, and stocked up on milk – make yourself feel productive and give this a try. You’ll be patting yourself on the back for days afterwards, I promise!

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

2 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar, plus more as needed
2 quarts (half gallon) pasteurized whole milk
1 tsp. kosher salt

Combine the milk and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Continue to heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk registers 185 F on an instant-read thermometer.

While the milk is heating, prepare a colander and line with a double layer of cheesecloth for straining the ricotta.

Once the milk has reached 185 F, remove from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice and vinegar. The mixture will begin to curdle quickly. Stir just enough to evenly distribute the acids. Let rest 10 minutes.

When the mixture is adequately curdled, it will have separated into white curds and translucent yellow whey. Gently stir to ensure that this has occurred. If there is still milky whey in the in the pot after 10 minutes, add in more vinegar 1 tablespoon at a time and let sit 2-3 minutes more until the curds separate.

Very carefully pour the mixture into the prepared colander. Let drain about 15 minutes. Transfer the strained curds to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate. Store up to 5 days. Makes about 2 cups ricotta. Recipe can be easily doubled, or halved to make an additional cup of ricotta.

Source: adapted from The America’s Test Kitchen DIY Cookbook via Annie’s Eats