SANDRA'S ALASKAN HALIBUT FRIED RICE

An incredible and  tasty one-pot-wonder that is quite versatile
in that you can change it up by substituting halibut with
shrimp, chicken, or pork, and so on...

Servings: ( 8 to 10)

Prep: 15 min

Cook: 10 min

INGREDIENTS

3 tablespoons canola oil, divided

3 eggs, lightly beaten

8 oz. fillet halibut, cut into 1" cubes

2 cups *pre-steamed carrots and sweet petite peas (See How To TIP below)

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

1 tablespoon dried minced onion

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

5 cups cooked white rice

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

1/4 teaspoon rice vinegar

METHOD

In a Dutch Oven, heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil over medium-high heat. Add the beaten eggs and stir fry, while breaking into large bits; remove to a plate. Wipe out pot clean, and add 1 tablespoon canola oil. Add the halibut, and stir fry until opaque. Remove halibut to same plate as eggs; set aside.

Wipe out the skillet, place it back on heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil. Add the mixed vegetables, ginger, garlic powder, and dried minced onion, pepper and rice, and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil and rice vinegar; stir to combine, and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Gently add back in the halibut and chopped egg and fold for another 2 minutes to combine and heat through. Serve immediately. ~ Enjoy!

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Tip:

*PRE-STEAM VEGGIE PREP:

Finely dice the carrots to equal 1 cup. Add the carrots and frozen petite sweet peas to a microwave-able bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Cover bowl with a plate, and microwave on High for 3 minutes to pre-steam. Drain.

SANDRA’S JAPANESE HOT and SOUR SOUP

I like to prepare this hot and sour soup

ahead of time to allow the vegetables and tofu 

to marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes,

then just reheat and serve...

Servings: (8 to 10)

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook: 30 Mins.

Stand: 30 Mins. to marinate, then reheat and serve

INGREDIENTS

2 qts. (8 cups) chicken stock

3 boneless pork chops, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons low-sodium ginger soy sauce (from Fred Meyer)

1 (15 oz. can) peeled straw mushrooms, drained, and cut in half (or sliced shiitake)

1 tablespoon red chile paste

1/2 teaspoon white pepper (or black)

4 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 (5 oz. can) sliced bamboo shoots, drained, and sliced into quarters

1 (15 oz. can) baby sweet corn cobs, drained and sliced

1 (5 oz. can) sliced water chestnuts, drained and cut into strips

1/2 cup fresh Alaska grown mung been sprouts (from Fred Meyer)

4 tablespoons cornstarch

4 tablespoons water

2 eggs, beaten

1/4 lb. firm tofu, sliced into 1”x1/4” strips

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Garnish:

1 green onion (green parts only), finely sliced

METHOD

Bring stock to a boil in a medium-large saucepan, add pork, garlic, soy sauce, mushrooms, and chili paste, then reduce to simmer for 10 minutes.

Add white pepper, rice vinegar, bamboo shoots, baby corn, water chestnuts, and fresh bean sprouts; simmer 10 minutes.

Mix cornstarch with water, and slowly drizzle slurry into soup while stirring.

Bring back up to a simmer, and drizzle eggs in a very thin stream over the surface of soup while stirring.

Let soup stand for 10 seconds before gently folding in tofu, and stirring in sesame oil.

Let soup marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes, then reheat and serve garnished with sliced green onions. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S IRRESISTIBLE CRISPY CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD

This irresistible salad is like a meal in itself,
and fairly quick to prepare
using leftover chicken or shrimp as well...

Servings: (8)

Prep: 10 Mins.

Cook: 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS/METHOD

Chicken:

4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs

½ teaspoon garlic granules

½ teaspoon onion granules

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Place the chicken in a saucepan large enough to hold the chicken pieces comfortably. Add enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover the saucepan and simmer until the chicken is no longer pink and fully cooked through (170 degrees), about 30 minutes.  

Remove chicken thighs from broth and set to cool on a plate, and then remove skin and bones from breasts, and cut chicken into strips. (*See Tip below to save chicken broth for later use.)

Crispy rice noodles:

1 (8.8 oz pkg.) Chinese rice noodles

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Meanwhile, pour boiling water over rice noodles, and let stand for 15 minutes.  

Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in wok or skillet to 350 degrees.  

Drain the rice noodles.

To crisp noodles, using tongs carefully place tender noodles in small batches in the hot oil in wok to fry for about 2 minutes, and then drain on paper towels.

Dressing:

5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 teaspoon hot garlic chili sauce, more if you like it spicier

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons ground ginger

In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, hot garlic chili sauce, sugar, sesame oil and ginger.

 Salad:

8 cups chopped romaine lettuce

1 (14 oz. can) bean sprouts, drained

¼ cup shredded carrots, about 1 carrot

--Prepared rice noodles, separate slightly

--Prepared chicken, cut into strips

1/3 cup finely chopped peanuts

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

4 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, or 2 tablespoons dried

In a large bowl, toss together the romaine, bean sprouts, carrots, noodles, chicken, peanuts, sesame seeds, green onions, and cilantro. Add the dressing, tossing to lightly coat. 

Serve immediately. ~ Enjoy!

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*Tip:  Save chicken broth by letting it cool, skim it (or use a broth/oil separator), and then store broth in an airtight container either in the refrigerator or freezer to make soups, stews, sauces, or gravies, and so on at a later time.

SANDRA’S ASIAN SWEET N’ SOUR DIPPING SAUCE

A great Sweet N’ Sour dipping sauce
for potstickers, egg rolls,
and many other Asian appetizers,
including seafood
such as scallops and shrimp...

Yields: (Appx. ½ cup)

Cook: 5 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup rice vinegar

4 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon ketchup

2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon crushed pineapple

2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 4 teaspoons water

METHOD

Whisk the rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, and pineapple together and bring to a boil in a small pot over medium heat. Whisk together the cornstarch and water, add to the other ingredients in pot, and stir to thicken. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S RADIANT KIELBASA and BROCCOLI FRIED RICE

A complete, radiant,
and delicious meal you can
quickly prepare with leftover rice...

Servings: (6)

Prep:  10 Mins.

Cook:  15 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs, beaten

½ lb. (1/2 ring) smoked kielbasa, cut into ½” cubes

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

½ cup chopped yellow onion

½ cup chopped celery

1 cup fresh broccoli florets, cut into smaller pieces

1 garlic clove, minced

Pinch of Chinese five spice seasoning

Pinch of ground ginger

4 cups prepared, steamed basmati rice

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

METHOD

Heat large nonstick skillet to medium-low heat.  Spray skillet with olive oil and add the beaten eggs; scramble, and remove to one side of a large plate.  Turn the heat to medium, and brown the kielbasa with freshly ground pepper, to taste.  Retain drippings in skillet, and remove the browned kielbasa with a slotted spoon to the other half of the plate (aside the scrambled eggs), and set aside.  Add to the skillet the onion, celery, broccoli florets, Chinese five spice, and ginger and saute until onions are translucent for about 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds.  Return the kielbasa to the skillet, along with the cooked rice, and soy sauce; mix to combine while sautéing for 5 minutes longer.  Add the scrambled eggs; folding to combine, then serve. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S EGG DROP SOUP - RESTAURANT STYLE

A very satisfying, quick, and easy
way to prepare egg drop soup...

Servings (4)

Posted by Sandra
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook:10 mins.

INGREDIENTS

· 5 cups chicken broth, divided
· 1/3 cup carrot, grated
· 1/3 cup frozen peas, thawed
· 1/3 cup cabbage, finely diced
· 2 green onions, finely sliced on the diagonal
· 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
· 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
· 1/4 teaspoon salt
· 1/8 teaspoon finely ground pepper
· 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
· 4 eggs, beaten

METHOD

Reserve 3/4 cup of chicken broth, and pour the rest into a large saucepan, along with the carrots, peas, cabbage, green onions, and garlic powder. Stir the ginger, salt and pepper into the saucepan, and bring to a boil for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the remaining broth and cornstarch until smooth, and slowly add to soup while whisking (you can add more/less cornstarch to achieve your desired thickness, just mix it with a bit of liquid first).

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs using a fork. Reduce heat just until soup is still simmering, and while whisking in a clockwise motion very slowly drizzle the eggs to form ribbons (eggs will cook immediately). - Enjoy!