Home & Food

Cucumber & Bean Sprout salad with Spicy Peanut sauce

Posted on by Jeanine / 1 Comment

zpfile001Back in the 80’s when I lived in San Francisco I would frequent Hunan Restaurant on Kearny St. and always ordered the cucumber and bean sprout salad…among other things. On subsequent girl’s trips up to SF I would sometimes swing by the restaurant on my way to the airport and grab a to go order of the salad and their garlic chicken to bring home for dinner. They have subsequently closed that large restaurant, but apparently there are some off-shoots of it, Henry’s Hunan, from family members and former cooks at the restaurant. I haven’t been to these newer ones but the menu has many similar dishes.

Anyway, before I left SF I purchased this recipe book at the restaurant…as you can see it’s been very loved and used over the years…

IMAG0556My favorite recipe by far is the Rich Hot and Sour Dressing (he calls it “rich hot and sour dressing” but I call it “spicy peanut sauce” because it reminds me of the sesame noodles at Empire Szechuan in NYC…although a bit thinner, like dressing) There’s a recipe in the book for bean sprout salad with cucumbers and carrots, but it calls for blanching the bean sprouts and that’s just not necessary…and I’m not a fan of carrots. I use this dressing on a simple bean sprout, cucumber and shredded chicken salad….and sometimes I add brown rice…or just toss the dressing into pasta….so many options. You can double the recipe and keep it in the fridge for probably up to a week…although it probably won’t last that long because you’ll finish it quickly! It’s that yummy!!

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assemble your ingredients…mise en place

Spicy (or not) Peanut Sauce

2 TBS crunchy peanut butter (you can also use sesame see paste)
2 TBS soy sauce
4 TBS vinegar (or to taste…I usually use less and add it at the end)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp sugar
1 TBS sesame oil
2 TBS veg oil
1 TBS finely minced ginger
1 TBS finely minced garlic
1 TB finely minced scallions (green onions)
1 TBS white wine
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 cups chicken broth
1 tsp cayenne….(optional if you’re not a fan of hot and spicy)
…you can also add a bit of hot red pepper oil which will make it even more spicy

mixed all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. It’s that easy! I usually make the main bowl of it without the cayenne because my daughter isn’t a fan of spicy….and then I just sprinkle the cayenne on my plate/bowl.

Cut 2 cucumbers into matchsticks
1 lb bean sprouts
shredded chicken (optional)

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Just toss the sauce with the cucumber, bean sprouts and chicken. So refreshing! Enjoy! My mouth is watering as I type this because I love this sauce!

รตยฉยฌรšร‘โ–’ (that loosely means “Bon Appetit” in Chinese!)

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Home & Food/Life

Oscar Party Time!

Posted on by Jeanine / 4 Comments

The Academy Awards are this weekend and with them comes the fabulous party at my younger sister’s home. It’s always a fun gathering with a great mix of friends & family, an official ballot to fill out, some swag and always amazing food.

It’s the Oscars!…how much more direction do you need for a theme? I had a little fun this past week experimenting with some recipes and ideas that I found online (pinterest is always a great source for creativity!) Keeping my focus on the best picture nominees….here’s the menu I cobbled together.

The Big Short….Big Short Braised Beef Ribs

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4-6 cut beef short ribs
kosher salt and black pepper
3 Tbs unsalted butter, divided
1 bottle full bodied red wine
4 cups vegetable stock (I didn’t use this much)
4 cloves garlic (I just used the frozen cubes from TJ’s)
1 Tbs dried rosemary, crushed

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Pat ribs dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on all sides.

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Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven (I don’t have one, so I just used my large cast-iron pan…I think I’ll put a Dutch oven on my list of things to buy!) over medium-high heat. Add the ribs and brown on all sides. Transfer the ribs to a plate, then add the garlic and stir until softened but not brown, about 1 minute. Carefully pour in the wine, bring to a boil and cook until reduced to about 1 cup. I just crush the dried rosemary in the palm of my hand and add it to the mix. Add the ribs and any juices back to the pot….and some of the vegetable stock (I could only add about 3 cups because my pan was going to overflow). Reduce the heat and bring to a simmer, then cover the pot ( I used foil) and transfer it to the oven, to braise, until the meat easily falls off the bone, about 3 hours.

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Transfer the ribs to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm. The recipe called for straining the liquid through mesh, etc… but who has the time! I just poured off a majority of the liquid into the sink, made a little slurry of flour & water and added it to the pan. Add the last TBS of butter and just simmer until it’s thickened and smells fabulous…about 10 minutes. Plate the ribs and drizzle with the unctuous sauce.

Bridge of Spies…Mini Reubens (some say originated in Germany)

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cocktail size rye bread
Russian dressing (…or dijon mustard, which I prefer)
sauerkraut…well drained and squeezed
corned beef
grated swiss/gruyere cheese from TJ’s

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Layer…rye, smear of dressing/mustard, sauerkraut, corned beef, swiss/gruyere cheese. Broil until cheese is bubbly.

Brooklyn…How about a Coney Island Hot Dog?! I didn’t make these but did have the first hot dog I’ve had in awhile after my niece’s exciting soccer game (they won in OT!) You could also argue that the Mini Reubens are very New York and therefore qualify as a representative for this movie too.

Mad Max…sorry, didn’t see it, don’t care!

The Martian and Revenant…This was a mix of Boozy Green Bears.

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You’ll need some gummy bears, the alcohol of your liking and some sort of mixer. I soaked green gummy bears in vodka for a couple of hours and then just added some cucumber juice, a little club soda/Perrier and garnished with a cucumber slice. There are myriad recipes online using gin, rum, etc…

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You might also want to buy some Dark Horse wine as a nod to The Revenent?

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Room…it’s all about the best actress nominee…too easy…Brie on crostini (or maybe a little box with some appetizers/desserts inside?)

Spotlight…New England Clam Chowder …Boston Strong! (disclaimer: didn’t make this…but I have!)

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voilโ”œรก!!

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Take a look at the $200,000 un-official swag that the nominees, etc… are getting this year!

Have fun this Sunday! Red Carpet starts at 4 pm
(even earlier on some channels!)here on the west coast.

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Books and Daily Affirmations/Home & Food

Downsizing, De-cluttering and Stuff

Posted on by Jeanine / 13 Comments

You’ve probably heard of the book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo….and her sequel “Spark Joy: An Ilustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up.” Both are guide books for de-cluttering your living space…and in doing so de-cluttering your life. Maybe you’ve even made it a New Year’s resolution to de-clutter your life?…how’s that resolution coming by the way! I actually haven’t read the book, but I’ve heard and researched the premise of her book and had to personally downsize and de-clutter quite a few times in the past few years. I can tell you that, although the reason may not be ideal, in the end it is cathartic to get rid of the stuff that bogs you down. Sure, there are some things I wouldn’t mind having back because I’ve needed to re-furnish this bigger house again, but for the most part I have the things that are important to me and bring me joy. Which brings me to Kondo’s philosophy about stuff “Does this spark joy?”

Here’s the gist of her process on de-cluttering. Love it or lose it! Most of us think that the best way to go about it is room by room. Kondo disagrees (Oh…and did I mention she has a waiting list of people who want her help?!) She says the way to go about it is by categories, starting with your clothes. Take all of your clothes (and socks and underwear) and throw them on your bed…or wherever….yes, all of them. You’ll have a discard, a donate and a keep pile/bag. Literally pick up each item and ask “Does this spark joy?” Okay, I know you’re rolling your eyes right now, but hold on. Don’t ask “will it fit me again” or “I remember wearing this when….”…NO, ask “Does this spark joy?” If not, put it in the discard or donate pile. Also, choose what to keep, not to get rid of….that’s an important distinction. Sure, if you’re a clothes horse it might take more than a day, but in the end the simplicity of minimalism, and the joy of donation, will be your reward….not to mention how tidy everything will look. Once you have all your like garments together (t-shirts, sweaters, jeans, etc) she says to fold them the Kon-Mari way and then to place them in your drawers in a way that you can see each item….like this…

Socks are simply rolled…

Clothes are hung from longest/heaviest/darkest to the lightest/shortest …

Next you’ll move onto books and she says that your bookshelf should be the highlights of all you’ve read. Then it’s on to miscellaneous, like bathroom stuff and finally mementos (pictures/objects). Mementos is the longest and hardest process…which is why it’s last…but possibly the one that sparks some unforgettable memories that will bring you joy. Kondo wants you to thank each item for it’s service and for what it taught you. Your rolling your eyes again, aren’t you??

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I used to think that my hutch was just a place to store stuff….and then my sister came over….

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Now it’s a display of items that have meaning and organization….I know, you wish you had my sister’s help..she’s awesome!!

Again, I didn’t read the book or use this method each time I moved, but when I really downsized four years ago I had to look seriously at some of the items and decide whether they were that important to me. I also couldn’t have done it without the help of the most amazing neighbors and friends who categorized things for me. I would say that almost everything I “needed” to keep was sentimental, truly brought me joy and/or was used on a daily basis (..by the way, I still have all the pictures from over 30 years ago and will get to that pile soon enough..ugh!) It can be, and was for me, an incredibly emotional thing to do, but in the end it really helped me move on in a way I didn’t know I could…but had to. When I moved back here I realized it was still a lot of stuff, but as I look around my home just about everything has a happy memory attached to it or a story that I enjoy re-living in my mind….without living in the past. Downsize and Upsize (is that a word?)…do both with thought and intention.

Which brings me to the reason I even thought of this subject! My daughter and son-in-law will be moving into their own adorable new home in a few weeks and there will be some re-arranging again to do here. They’ll be taking some things that have been here the last seven months, I’ll be moving my clothes from closet to closet and it’s time to tidy it all up. I’m really going to try to touch every piece of clothing and only move it if it sparks joy…some of those clothes are just too tight or too old! I really do hope that my drawers look like those above…so f-ing organized!

So, go for it! Take it slowly & methodically, and in doing so you will shake the cobwebs and simplify your life….another basic tenet of her philosophy is buy experiences, not things. It’s quite cathartic!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Adventure/Home & Food

Raclette Rendezvous

Posted on by Jeanine / 3 Comments

Have you heard of Raclette? Literally, raclette is a kind of semi-soft cheese, but I (and my neighbors) know it as a type of dinner event…similar to fondue. A group of neighborhood girls visited our friend, Joanne, last weekend and enjoyed a fun interactive dinner of raclette, wine and great conversation! Here are the basics…

You’ll need a Raclette grill…which looks like this…

…and then some traditional raclette ingredients in bowls

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we had two grills going..notice the one of the right has a stone top, whereas the one on the left has a non-stick teflon top….I liked hearing the sizzle on the stone top when we placed the meats for searing.
  • raclette cheese of course…we had French and Swiss varieties
  • boiled small potatoes (red new or fingerlings work)
  • Cornichons…little gherkin pickles
  • pickled onions
  • pickled cauliflower and any other pickled veggie (we had jalapenos, olives and capers)
  • very thinly sliced garlic
  • tomatoes
  • thinly sliced meats

These are the traditional ingredients…with a few extras thrown in…basically cheese, potatoes and pickled things.

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Everyone gets their own little pans, places a slice of cheese on it (with garlic optional) and puts it under the burner. The cheese bubbles and, when done, just slides onto your plate! I put mine on top of the potato to make a little stuffed potato…so YUMMY! The activity is bustling and the conversation & wine flow!

Joanne shared with us that you don’t have to limit yourself to traditional raclette. They’ve done little pizzas on the top grill, meats etc… be creative! It’s basically just a hot grill on your table. Check out these pics that I found online…

…or a personal raclette maker with candles

I just bought a Raclette/Fondue combo grill and look forward to that crazy dinner party!

raclette
Thanks Joanne for an amazing weekend!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!

Adventure/Travel

Winter Wonderland Weekend

Posted on by Jeanine / 1 Comment

A few of the neighborhood girls and I spent a wonderful weekend in Williams, AZ at our friend/neighbor’s home…escaping this ridiculously hot February weather. Here’s a little postcard of our trip…and the shenanigans that ensued.IMG_20160206_074748

View from the kitchen window

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There were seven of us traveling…three drove and we took the train. What a fun adventure. The train stations were so historic and cool…unfortunately the night-time pics don’t do them justice, so you’ll have to take my word for it (…and a blurryish camera phone pic)

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While some of the girls went cross country skiing, I spent the first day reading and relaxing in front of the wood burning fire with my feet up!

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The dogs joined us, as we relaxed in the warm afternoon sun surrounded by snow.

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Raclette was on the menu for our first evening! If you’ve never had it, I’d recommend. It’s similar to fondue in that it’s an interactive dinner that you assemble and everyone cooks their own. Our gracious hostess, Joanne, lived and worked in Switzerland for awhile, which is where raclette originates from. More info on ingredients, set-up etc… this Friday.

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Our first use of the selfie-stick..which is why I’m so close to the camera….such a fun dinner!

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Day two I ventured out with the girls for some cross country skiing. It was a bit icy in parts…and that’s when this happened….

cross country fall

It was super bowl Sunday, so the afternoon was spent in front of the TV with lots of football worthy snacks to enjoy. Dave joined us for the game and our second try at the selfie-stick group shot.

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Day three the girls in the car left early but our train didn’t leave until after 10pm…..soooo, a little snow-shoeing and a craft project idea courtesy of Carre!
Winter solstice paper and twig lanterns!!

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They were all so different…and so much fun and relaxing to make!

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As the sun went down Carre and Joanne did the lighting….and voila…..IMG_20160208_185545

They were so pretty against the white snow….but it was time to head to the train….IMAG0465

The shuttle to the train picks you up from the beautiful lobby of
The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel
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We went a little early to enjoy the historic bar, known as Spenser’s Pub

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A 32 ft wide oil painting depicting the The Grand Canyon Railway, called “The Trip”, hangs in the bar…it’s huge!

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Just before we (I’m obviously taking the pic) boarded the train and had to say goodbye to Joanne (on right)….A FABULOUS time was had by all!! Can’t wait for next year!

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…back to our 80+ degree February weather! ….I know, west coast problems!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!