For people still following this blog despite but prolonged absence, I've decided to move this to Tumblr and finally started cooking again. Follow me @ brentoboxes.tumblr.com

Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables

I actually made this long time ago but I didn't realize that I didn't post it until I was looking through some old pictures. This was around the time of our annual holiday potluck with my college friends and I always like to try something new for it. My boyfriend is vegetarian so I wanted to make sure that were was something he could eat at the party. This would be my first attempt at a truly vegetarian dish. 

Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 2 red peppers, cored and cut into 1-inch wide strips
• 2 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 summer squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 cremini mushrooms, halved
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into 1-inch strips
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herb mix or herbs de Provence
• 1 pound penne pasta
• 3 cups marinara sauce (store bought or homemade)
• 1 cup grated fontina cheese
• 1/2 cup grated smoked mozzarella
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/3 cup for topping
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a baking sheet, toss the peppers, zucchini, squash, mushrooms, and onions with olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and dried herbs. Roast until tender, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Since you will be cooking the pasta a second time in the oven, you want to make sure the inside is still hard. Drain in a colander.

In a large bowl, toss the drained pasta with the roasted vegetables, marinara sauce, cheeses, peas, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix, until all the pasta is coated with the sauce and the ingredients are combined.

Pour the pasta into a greased 9 by 13-inch pan. Top with the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and butter pieces. Bake until top is golden and cheese melts, about 25 minutes.

Review

First of all, the picture does not do it justice. That is just a terrible photograph and I wish I had a more well-presented picture of this dish. I should have plated it right away and taken a picture. Second of all, there was a slight complication because my boyfriend and I had to go to another holiday party before the one with my friends so the dish was sitting in the oven (turned off) with aluminum foil, which ended up hardening the top layer of the pasta dish and making it taste overcooked. Regardless of the fact, I actually still enjoyed the dish. I loved everything that went into it and I just know if I didn't overcook the top layer then it would have been perfection. But that's okay, first time around I am bound to make mistakes. I will definitely make this again and retake the damn picture to make it look more delicious. 

Basil Pesto Linguine

One day, I was asking my boyfriend what to eat for dinner. I was thinking about some fast food places but he told me that I should cook some basil pesto pasta. I was so damn lazy, but he kept giving me a hard time about how I don't cook anymore and I could save money if I just stopped eating out so often. He was right. I got up and and marched right down to Safeway and picked up some basil pesto ingredients.

Courtesy of foodnetwork.com

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese (see Cook's Note)

Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

Boil some linguine for about 9 minutes. Drain the water and stir in the a few spoonfuls of pesto into the pasta until the noodles are coated enough to your liking. Place on a plate and dice some fresh tomatoes to place on top. 

Review

This was the first time I had ever made pesto. And to be honest, I have had pesto maybe only once in my entire life so my technique in making this pasta dish could be a little off and I wouldn't really know the difference. Anyway, this dish is incredibly easy to make. Boil some pasta, throw some pesto ingredients into the food processor, and combine. Nothing at all too complicated. And the dish came out pretty well. My only issue with this was that I think I added too much cheese (I never thought I would ever make that statement). But I just followed the recipe pretty strictly, although looking back at it I think I should have slowly added the cheese until I thought I put enough. Regardless, it was still a tasty dish. Just some lesson learned for the next time I make it.

Thanks

When people tell me they keep up with my blog and that they thoroughly enjoy reading it, I just scream like a little girl on the inside. And on the outside I'm just like, "Oh, cool thanks," in my attempt to be nonchalant.

It has been about 3 years and I feel like I have gotten so far from where I used to be. But I still don't think I am that great. The pictures look amazing, but I argue that I'm just a pretty good photographer. I wish I could be good enough to audition for MasterChef with some conviction. That could happen in this lifetime, who knows. And I still want to take cooking classes but those are always so expensive. One thing I know for sure is that I have developed a love for cooking (washing dishes, on the other hand, not so much).

What matters most, though is that I've grown so much as a home cook and it helps that I have such supportive friends who keep pushing me forward. Sorry this blog entry doesn't have any food pictures or recipes, but I just wanted to thank everyone for reading my blog. All the small gestures of support and compliments keep me motivated and it challenges me to cook even better food.

Golden Tofu Stufffed with Ginger Spice Vegetables

I'm pretty sure I found this recipe on Tumblr but I am not quite sure. I just saw the picture and I thought it looked amazing. On top of that, it sounded wonderfully light and healthy. 

Courtesy of comocomecami.com

Ingredients

• 1 piece firm tofu - cut in half diagonally into 2 triangles
• 1 small cucumber - julienned
• 1 small carrot - julienned
• 1 handful of bean sprout
• 2 Tbs seasame seeds
• 4 Tbs raw honey
• 1/2 Tbs grated ginger

Directions

Cut the tofu and pat it really dry on paper towel. Brown each triangle in a heated pan until golden brown, and set it aside to cool down.

Mix the soy sauce, honey, grated ginger, and sesame seeds in a small bowl and add the julienned cucumber, carrots, and sprouts. Cut a slit on the tofu, and create a pocket with a small spoon. Stuff some of the vegetables into it and enjoy it with the remaining marinated vegetables.

Review

When I first saw this recipe, I thought it had so much potential. However, my execution was really off. The biggest problem with it was the tofu. I could not brown them to the crisp that I wanted them to be. And on top of that, I did not slit the tofu well enough. There was just too much tofu with each bite and it didn't taste right. The last thing was the vegetables, which came out just decent. They came out really soggy and something just wasn't right about the marinade. I didn't necessarily think it was disgusting, but I was not particularly impressed with the dish at all. I will have to make a second attempt to try to redeem this.

Sinigang (Filipino Tamarind Soup)

I suck at cooking Filipino food, mostly because I hardly try to cook these dishes. Even though I grew up eating so much Filipino food from my dad who is an amazing cook, I didn't pick up any of it from him. I did try cook Chicken Adobo a couple years ago but it was terrible. I know, how the hell do I screw up Adobo? I have no idea.

Courtesy of food.com

Ingredients

• 3 lbs beef ribs, cut one bone per slice
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 packet sinigang tamarind soup mix
• 14 cups water
• 1 bok choy, chopped in 1 to 2 inch slices
• 1 daikon radish, chopped in thin round slices
• 1 small tomato, chopped fine
• 2 small potatoes, chopped in large chunks
• Salt

Directions

Saute garlic, onions, and ribs in a pan. Cook until ribs are brown. In separate large pot add water, sinigang tamarind soup packet to taste. Add enough to get the level of sourness to your taste. Add the tomato and the ribs and cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes and then add the potatoes cook for another 10 minutes. Add the daikon and the bok choy and cook  for about 10 more minutes.

Serve with over or with rice or by itself.

Review

This reminds me of some good home-cooked sinigang, just like how my dad used to make it. One of my favorite recipes is actually one from Toppings Too in Union City because it tastes perfectly home-cooked, unlike the ones at Gerry's Grill or Tribu (which are also in Union City). I actually used brown rice because that's all I had, which wasn't as weird as I thought it would be. Everything was cooked almost as I wanted. The only thing was that it wasn't as sour as I wanted it to be and the potatoes were undercooked but it was still delicious. This marks my first attempt at Filipino food for this blog. Next on my list: Kare-Kare, which is a Filipino oxtail soup with vegetables and peanut butter sauce. One of my favorites!

Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

I saw a picture of these on prettyfood.tumblr.com. I've never really roasted potatoes like this before so I wanted to try it out.

Courtesy of megkat.com

Ingredients

• 3-4 medium red potatoes, cut into small wedges
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• Sea salt to taste

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Wash and dry the potatoes then cut each potato in half length wise, then cut each half into 4 or 5 wedges, then cut those wedges in half.

In a small bowl, combine the parmesan, garlic salt, and paprika and set aside. Next, toss the potatoes and oil together in a mixing bowl then add the bowl of cheese and seasonings and stir to coat. Dump onto a cookie sheet and arrange in a single layer.

Bake for about 25 minutes then remove from oven and turn over all the potatoes. It takes a few minutes but it is SO worth the time.

Put them back in the oven for another 10 or 15 minutes until they’re sufficiently crispy and divine. Season with sea salt if needed.

Review

MMMMM these were so crispy and cheesy delicious. Although they came out a little saltier than I hoped, I loved every crunch of these potatoes. I love eating potatoes with ketchup and tabasco so I dipped each bite into that. I think these potatoes are a great complement to any dish whether it is steak, hamburger, roasted chicken, and the list goes on. I don't think I would change anything about this dish. They are amazing the way they are.

Almond Danish Swirls

I'm such a failure. This is the third post that I forgot to post at the time when I cooked it. It's funny that my updates to this blog are so sporadic. You can tell I really try to make an effort to update and you get a whole bunch of recipes and then it dies out for a whole year. Anyway, here are some simple danish swirls that were made for the breakfast club at work again.

Courtesy of Paula Dean

Ingredients

Swirls

• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds, chopped fine
• 2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon water

Glaze

• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 4 teaspoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  

Directions

In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, almond extract, and sugar until fluffy. Fold half of the chopped almonds into the cream cheese mixture. Separate 1 can of dough and assemble into 4 rectangles. Firmly press the perforations to seal. Press or roll each piece of dough to form a 7 by 4-inch rectangle, and spread each with about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling to within 1/4-inch of the edges. Starting at the short end, roll each rectangle tightly into a cylinder. Repeat with the other can of dough and remaining filling.

Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap, and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.  Preheat the oven to 350  F while the rolls are chilling.

Remove from the refrigerator and cut each roll into 4 slices. Place 1/2-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. In a small bowl, combine the egg white with 1 teaspoon water. Brush over the swirls. Sprinkle with the remaining chopped almonds. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until light brown.

While the swirls are baking, combine the glaze ingredients in a small bowl. Cool the swirls for 3 minutes on wire racks placed over a sheet of waxed paper. Drizzle the icing over the warm swirls.

Review

So simple and sweet! And I just love almond flavored foods and drinks, like almond milk tea or almond ice cream. This was the cheapest dish I have made for my breakfast club. I've gone all out before with dishes like Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce and they have gotten pretty expensive to serve 20 people. But this was so easy to make and it fed the club pretty well. Sometimes great things don't have to be extravagant, right?

S'more Baked Oatmeal

Again, another post that I forgot put up when I first cooked the dish. But before I had made this, I was waiting for the perfect moment to make it. We have this breakfast club at work and I wanted to impress my coworkers with something different. So this is what I made.

Courtesy of une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups regular rolled oats
• 1/2 cup steel cut oats
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (or more to your taste)
• 2 cups milk
• 2/3 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup cooking oil
• Mini Marshmallows
• 1 large bar Hershey's chocolate bar, broken into pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking dish, set aside. In a large bowl combine the oats, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and sugar. In another bowl, combine the milk, applesauce and oil. Add the wet mixture to the dry and mix to combine. Place mixture into a baking dish and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and gently stir the mixture, then fold in the fruit, if desired. Bake for another 20 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

Spoon one serving, about 1/2 a cup, into a small bowl. Top with desired amount of mini marshmallows and chocolate pieces. Using a blow torch, toast the marshmallows until browned. If you don't have a torch, set your oven to broil and broil for 5 - 8 minutes or until marshmallows are nice and toasty.

Review

Wow, what a great way to spin oatmeal. I haven't eaten oatmeal since I was maybe 10 years old when my mom would make instant oatmeal for breakfast. I wasn't the biggest fan so that's why I don't eat it anymore. But this was a different story. S'more-inspired dishes seem to always turn out well. I saw a recipe for s'more french toast! What the hell, right? Sounds delicious! I loved this dish because of its creativity and it tasted really good. I ended up broiling the marshmallows a little longer than expected and that's why they are so brown-topped, but it turned out well regardless. 

Caribbean Chicken Wings

I actually made these for Fourth of July last week but I just realized I never posted it! I wanted to make wings and I wanted something more unique and I found a picture of these wings and I knew I had to make them.

Courtesy of Sunny Anderson

Ingredients

• 1 habanero, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons fennel seed
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons allspice
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 7 pounds chicken wings

Directions

In a food processor, blend together all the ingredients but the chicken until smooth. Reserve 1 cup of marinade. Place chicken wings into a large resealable plastic bag and pour remaining marinade over them. Seal and marinate in the refrigerator 4 to 6 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 sheet trays with parchment. Remove chicken from bag and place on the baking sheets. Bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan bring reserved marinade to a boil. Reduce by 1/3 until it thickens slightly, about 10 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove chicken from oven. Brush chicken with the glaze. Raise the heat to 400 degrees F and cook chicken until cooked through, another 20 minutes.

Review

The flavors were delicious on the skin but the meat was not bursting with flavor like I had expected, but I think that was my fault because I didn't have the time to marinate them for 4-6 hours. Instead, I had less than 2 hours because I forgot to wake up early to prepare the marinade. But regardless, it was still a hit with the party and the wings went fast. I loved them because they were sweet, tangy, and spicy all in one and I wouldn't want to have it any other way with these wings. I appreciate different takes on traditional foods and this is definitely one of them.

Chicken Carbonara

The first time I had Chicken Carbonara was at Sonoma Chicken Coop in San Jose, CA. That one is served over rice but that dish is honestly one of my favorites in the entire bay area. I looked online for a recipe and to little surprise, Ms. Giada De Laurentiis has one online.

Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta, chopped
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 2 1/2 cups whipping cream
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 8 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• Salt
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 4 cups coarsely shredded chicken (from 1 roasted chicken)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel

Directions

Heat the oil in a heavy large frying pan over medium heat. Add the pancetta and garlic and saute until it is brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool slightly.

In a large bowl, whisk together the cream, cheese, yolks, basil, and parsley to blend.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook until it is just tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Drain.

Add the chicken to the pan with the pancetta and stir to combine. Next, add the spaghetti and the cream mixture and toss over medium-low heat until the chicken is heated through and the sauce coats the spaghetti thickly, about 4 minutes (do not boil or you might end up scrambling the eggs). Season the pasta, to taste, with pepper and salt if needed (the pancetta will likely add all the salt you need). Transfer the pasta to a large wide serving bowl. Sprinkle the walnuts and lemon zest over, and serve..

Review

Seeing how simple the recipe is, I was not expecting too much. Despite that, all the flavors worked so well together. The subtle lemon zest, the freshness of the basil and italian parsley, the crunch of the walnuts, the savory flavors of the panchetta and the garlic, they all complemented each other very well and I was pleasantly surprised. Even though it doesn't compare exactly to the chicken carbonara I am used to from Sonoma Chicken Coop, this is still a delicious home cooking alternative and definitely up there with my favorite pasta recipes. I might consider adding some other ingredients like green beans or maybe incorporate another cheese. All in all, another great Giada recipe 

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

When I first heard these words, I was blown away. What a damn good idea. I need to try this NOW.

Courtesy of sugarderby.com

Ingredients

• About 20 strawberries
• 8 oz pkg softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 sleeve of graham crackers
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

To prepare the strawberries, wash them under cold water and cut the tops off. Core the middle using a peeler or a small knife. The easiest way to core the strawberries is to hold the entire berry in your hand (wrap your fingers around it) and literally just core out the center. Get as deep as you can without breaking through the bottom.

For the filling, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Put the filling into a piping bag (or to improvise, use a ziploc bag and snip off the corner) and fill in the strawberries allowing the filling to come out a bit of the strawberries.

Take another ziploc bag and put three graham crackers in there and pound with something hard and flat into crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs onto the tops of the filled strawberries.

If you want, you can also melt some chocolate and dip the strawberries to give them a chocolate coating. Or you can even put the melted chocolate into a piping bag and drizzle them. However you would like.

Review

I think this is such a creative idea. I never would have thought of the idea and I've never see anything like it outside of the kitchen. It's actually really simple to make, though I'd imagine it would get tedious making several of these for some party or event. These strawberries were just so tasty that I almost ate all of them and didn't leave some for my roommates. All in all, a unique dessert that is sure to impress many people.

Deep Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I saw this and I immediately want to cook it. I thought to myself, why haven't I thought about this before?!

Courtesy of taylortakesataste.com

Ingredients

Dough

• 4 tbsp softened butter
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup  flour
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1-2 tbsp water
• Corn starch

Batter

• 1 egg
• 1 cup ice cold water
• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 2 tbsp confectioners sugar

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, cream together light brown sugar, sugar and butter. While mixing, add vanilla and 1 tbsp of oil, followed by slowly adding the 1/2 cup flour. Add salt, followed by second tbsp of oil. The dough may be dry and crumbly. While mixing, slowly add enough water to give the dough a moist but not overly wet consistency. Mix in chocolate chips.

Remove from mixer and roll dough between your palms into ping pong size balls. Roll in corn starch, shake to remove excess flour.

With a fork, mix together egg and water. Add flour and sugar to egg and water mix. Dip cookie dough balls in batter, make sure that the dough is completely covered in batter so that they won’t leak out dough when frying. Using a slotted spoon or mesh spider quickly place 3-4 at a time in 375 F oil for 1 and a half to 2 minutes minutes until golden brown on the outside.  Serve in paper trays and top with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.

Review

Ummmm. This was heavenly. I waited until after dinner to dip this in the deep fryer and so I just had the cookie dough waiting in the mixer and I couldn't stop myself from eating the cookie dough. But after it was deep fried and accompanied with the ice cream, I was just blown away with how delicious it was. On top of that, it was very simple to make and there are so many variations you can do with this. For example instead of chocolate chip, I could put in white chocolate and macadamia nuts. This is definitely a dessert I am going to try over and over again.

Honey-Soy Broiled Salmon

Salmon Experiment #2. Honey? On salmon? Alright! Let's try this one! (Don't pay too much attention the horrible cutting job)

Courtesy of EatingWell.com

Ingredients

• 1 scallion, minced
• 2 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• 1 lb center-cut salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 4 portions
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seed

Directions

Whisk scallion, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and ginger in a medium bowl until the honey is dissolved. Place salmon in a sealable plastic bag, add 3 tablespoons of the sauce and refrigerate; let marinate for 15 minutes. Reserve the remaining sauce.

Preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Transfer the salmon to the pan, skinned-side down. (Discard the marinade.) Broil the salmon 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved sauce and garnish with sesame seeds.

How to skin a salmon fillet: Place salmon fillet on a clean cutting board, skin-side down. Starting at the tail end, slip the blade of a long knife between the fish flesh and the skin, holding down firmly with your other hand. Gently push the blade along at a 30° angle, separating the fillet from the skin without cutting through either.

To toast seeds: cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

Review

First of all, I hate the cutting job on this salmon. I messed up with the initial cut so it was either going to be extremely long and skinny or short and fat. Obviously, short and fat won. Anyway, this was MUCH better than the first experiment. I'm a big fan of the ginger-soy sauce combination, so this came out much like I expected. And with the added sweetness of the honey, it was quite savory. This recipe is incredibly simple and healthy. If I decide to make salmon in the oven again based of these two recipes, I will have to choose this one. 

Baked Salmon

Salmon is one of my favorite fishes to eat. My favorite way to eat it is raw, sometimes over some sushi rice, but I decided to buy a wholesale portion of salmon and experiment with different ways of baking/broiling fish. Here is the first experiment:

Courtesy of Giada Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 4 (5 oz) salmon fillets
• 2 tsp plus 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 shallots, chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Sprinkle salmon with 2 teaspoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir the tomatoes, shallots, 2 tablespoons of oil, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Place a salmon fillet, oiled side down, atop a sheet of foil. Wrap the ends of the foil to form a spiral shape. Spoon the tomato mixture over the salmon. Fold the sides of the foil over the fish and tomato mixture, covering completely; seal the packets closed. Place the foil packet on a heavy large baking sheet. Repeat until all of the salmon have been individually wrapped in foil and placed on the baking sheet. Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Using a large metal spatula, transfer the foil packets to plates and serve.

Review

Despite the simple recipe, I think I expected more. But I'm not going to go so far as to say that this was a bad recipe. Since I am not a big fan of cooked tomatoes, it is probably the biggest reason why I did not enjoy this dish as much as I had hoped to. The salmon itself was pretty good, but when combined with the salsa on top, it just didn't click with me. I did make a mistake, though, because I didn't mix the olive oil with the salsa before placing it on the fish for baking. Right before I put the fish in, I simply poured it over the salsa last minute. However, I don't think it would have made that large of a difference had I made the recipe correctly the first time. Nonetheless, this was an interesting experiment. Time to use the rest of the salmon for another recipe.

Spicy Cilantro Peanut Slaw

In coming up with what to complement the Smothered Pork Chops I was about to cook, I thought, "I want to make a peanut slaw!" My favorite peanut slaw comes from my favorite BBQ joint based in LA called Lucille's BBQ. I googled peanut slaw and found this awesome recipe.

Courtesy of Kalyn's Kitchen (kalynskitchen.blogspot.com)

Ingredients

• 1/2 head of green cabbage
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• Salt
• Black pepper
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey or sugar
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• 1/4 cup canola or peanut oil

Directions

Cut cabbage head in half and save half for another salad. Remove core from the half you're using, then cut cabbage into very thin slices (less than 1/4 inch) and turn cutting board the other direction and cut again to chop into very small pieces. Thinly slice green onions, chop cilantro, and chop peanuts.

In a bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together rice vinegar, sweetener of your choice, sesame oil, soy sauce, and Sriracha sauce if using. Use a whisk to mix in oil until dressing is well-combined.

In large plastic or glass bowl, gently combine chopped cabbage, sliced green onions, and chopped cilantro. Add dressing a little at a time, until salad seems as wet as you'd like it. (You may not need all the dressing.) Add chopped peanuts, and stir a few times until peanuts are mixed in. Taste salad for seasoning, and add salt and freshly ground black pepper as desired. Serve immediately.

Review

DELICIOUS! This felt like a combination of my favorite peanut slaw from Lucille's and my favorite Asian chicken salad from California Pizza Kitchen. It's light, healthy, and I love the crunch that the peanuts add to each bite. Very cheap and easy to make. Just to change it up, I want to try adding carrot shavings and wontons crisps.

Smothered Pork Chops

Last week I thought to myself, "What do I want to cook that I don't cook often? I've cooked pasta, chicken, steak, and stir-fry plenty of times." Then sometime at work I said out loud (in my head), "PORK CHOPS!" Growing up in a Filipino home, I did not get accustomed to eating this very often, although many of our dishes do have pork (sisig being my ultimate favorite). Time to give this a try!

Courtesy of Tyler Florence

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 pork chops, 3/4-inch thick, bone-in
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions

Put the flour in a shallow platter and add the onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper; mix with a fork to distribute evenly. Pat the pork chops dry with paper towels to remove any moisture and then dredge them in the seasoned flour; shaking off the excess.

Heat a large saute pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is nice and hot, lay the pork chops in the pan in a single layer and fry for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the pork chops from the pan and add a little sprinkle of seasoned flour to the pan drippings. Mix the flour into the fat to dissolve and then pour in the chicken broth in. Let the liquid cook down for 5 minutes to reduce and thicken slightly. Stir in the buttermilk to make a creamy gravy and return the pork chops to the pan, covering them with the sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes until the pork is cooked through. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

Review

The best pork chops I've ever had. But then again, I haven't had many pork chops so it's hard to judge. For my first time cooking pork chops, this was pretty damn good. I absolutely loved the gravy. It was the perfect complement to the juicy pork chops. It also went well with the mashed potatoes I ate the pork chops with. I actually cooked this twice. The first night I undercooked the pork. The heat was too high so it ended up burning the pork too quickly. Before I cooked it again the next night, I realized I didn't read the directions all the way through. I was supposed to return the pork chops to the pan with the gravy! I'm an idiot. I followed these directions and it turned out much better. Lesson learned: always read the cooking directions all the way through.

Pan-Fried Chicken and Oven Roasted Vegetables

I just felt like eating chicken and vegetables, and this is what I decided to do.

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 lemon

• Assorted vegetables (I used broccoli, cauliflower, and baby carrots)
• 4 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tbsp basil
• 1/2 tsp rosemary

Directions

For the chicken, cut the chicken breasts into 4 thin fillets. In the pan on medium to medium-high heat, warm extra virgin olive oil and melt the butter. Sprinkle one side of each fillet with garlic salt, black pepper, paprika. Lay down the seasoned side of each fillet into the pan. Season the other side the same way. Let the chicken cook until it reaches a golden brown. Flip the fillets and drizzle with lemon. Let the other side until it reaches a golden brown and remove from heat.

For the vegetables, cut the assorted vegetables. Crush the garlic with salt using the side of a large knife until pureed (or use a garlic press). Stir into oil. Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and toss to coat well. Sprinkle with pepper, oregano, basil and rosemary.

Roast in oven at 400°F; reduce heat if vegetables are browning too quickly before they are done. Vegetables may not cook at the same rate. As some of the vegetables cook, they may be removed while the others are left to finish cooking. Add more olive oil if the vegetables absorb the oil and become dry during the cooking (or use olive oil spray).

Review

This was just a simple chicken and vegetables dish. And as you can see in the picture, I added some rice to the dish. Nothing overly spectacular about this dish, but it was a light and healthy (aside from the butter) dinner to satiate my evening cravings. Some mistakes I made: I slightly overcooked the chicken and the vegetables came out harder than I expected even though they were already browned. For the vegetables next time (if I use broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots), I would probably lightly steam/boil on the stove and take them off right before they get soft then toss them into the stove for the oven roasting. This can really be used with any sort of vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, and potatoes, to list a few.

I definitely want to look into new and different ways of cooking chicken breast over the stove. I love eating chicken, but I always refrain from doing it because when I cook chicken, many times it ends up dry, overcooked, and poorly seasoned. But overall, for this dish, it was a big improvement upon what I have done.

Breakfast Pizza

In addition to the Nutella wontons, I made a breakfast pizza for the breakfast club at work. I just randomly picked a recipe from foodnetwork.com and found this to be the most appealing.

Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 1 storebought pizza dough
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4 tablespoons Cinnamon-Sugar, divided, recipe follows
• 2 cups mascarpone cheese
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
• 2 cups mixed berries

Cinnamon-Sugar

• 1 vanilla bean
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the pizza dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch. Transfer the pizza dough to the lined baking sheet and brush the dough with the melted butter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Cinnamon-Sugar and bake until golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cool the pizza crust on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together the cheese, cream, lemon juice, and zest.

For the cinnamon-sugar, cut the vanilla bean in half, lengthwise. Using the back of a knife, scrape along the inside of the vanilla bean to collect the seeds. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl. Add sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside in a small serving bowl.

Spread the cheese mixture over the cooled crust. Top with mixed berries and sprinkle with the remaining Cinnamon-Sugar. Slice like a pizza and serve.

Review

I didn't know what to expect from this. It just looks like an enlarged fruit tart on pizza crust. But don't let that fool you. What really sets this dish off is the mascarpone spread with the lemon and cream as well as the cinnamon-sugar topping that coats the pizza crust and is sprinkled all over the fruits. When I took my first bite, my eyes literally opened wide because it was much more than I expected. It made me wish I was I able to lick off all the spread from the mixing bowl. Honestly, what a genius idea for a breakfast dish. It's healthier than your typical sausage and eggs as a breakfast and it can even be used a dessert dish as well.

Nutella Wontons

I first saw this on Tumblr and I immediately wanted to make them. I kept making excuses and I finally found a reason to make them: for my breakfast club at work! (The breakfast club at work is basically a group of 18ish people and each Wednesday we rotate making breakfast for the group)

Courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

• 16 wonton wrappers
• 1 jar of Nutella (or other hazelnut spread)
• 1 egg
• Vegetable oil
• Powdered sugar  

Directions

Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Place 1 wonton wrapper on the work surface. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with egg. Spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate-hazelnut spread into the center of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally in half over the filling and press the edges of the wrapper to seal. Place the ravioli on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers, egg, and chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.

Working in batches, carefully add the ravioli to the hot oil and cook until they are golden brown, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then, transfer the cooked ravioli to another baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while frying the remaining ravioli. (The fried ravioli can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool them completely, then cover and refrigerate. Before serving, place them on a baking sheet and rewarm in a preheated 375 degrees F oven just until they are heated through, about 7 minutes.)

Review

They turned out exactly how I had imagined: heavenly. It's such a simple dessert to make and the savory reward comes out tenfold. I don't know what else to say about them other than that these are to damn delicious. It is easy to over cook them, so don't listen to the 45 seconds that the directions tell you and just cook until they are a beautiful golden brown.