tired of making the same blah meals all the time.

“	Originally Posted By: Jade_Dragon_03 It is good. It goes good with steamed fish topped with ginger/soy sauce mixture and green onions (scallions) on top of the fish.	”

Thats a traditional chinese way of cooking fish.

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Mark

man I wish I could have some right now...
all I have to eat is peanut butter and applesauce.
=P

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'Someday I'll be a ninja, once I stop tripping on roof's.'

Next time you grill hamburgers on the grill try spicing them up with either some chili powder (just a dash) or using a dash of cayenne pepper on them. I like to chop an onion up really small and mix into the hamburger patty. About a minute before taking hamburgers off the grill put the cheese on them so it melts a little bit.

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Mark

Hot n Sour soup

1 can chicken broth
1 can water
1 egg (beaten)
small handfull of bean sprout
small handfull julienned (sliced long and thin) carrots
small handfull of julienned onions
small handfull of black fungus (chinese mushroom)
Tofu (cubed) - optional
a couple dashes of soy sauce
1 teaspoon of hot chili oil

Add the can of chicken broth and can of water in a pot or wok and add all the veggies and tofu. Bring to a boil. Then add the soy sauce and hot chili oil and then stir in the beaten egg for about 15 seconds. Any longer than that and egg will scramble to much. If you want to thicken the soup add a mixture of cornstarch and water (2 to 1 ratio) when the broth comes to a boil. Usually 2 tablesponns of water 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

If you are veggitarian you can use veg stock instead of chicken broth.

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Mark

Mac n' Cheese

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 4 cups milk
• 2 or 3 sprigs thyme
• 4 cloves garlic, smashed and divided
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 1/2 cups shredded sharp white Cheddar
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• Leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh thyme

Directions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until al dente. Drain.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a small saucepan heat the milk with the thyme sprigs and 2 garlic cloves. Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to keep lumps from forming. Strain the solids out of the milk and whisk it into the butter and flour mixture. Continue to whisk vigorously, and cook until the mixture is nice and smooth. Stir in the 4 cups of the cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold that all in to coat the macaroni with the cheese mixture. Scrape into a 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
While that bakes, heat a saute pan. Add the bacon, render the fat and cook until crispy. Add onion, garlic and thyme leaves and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onion. Season with salt and pepper.
To serve, scatter the bacon mixture over the mac and cheese. Use a big spoon to scoop out servings, making sure you get some of the smoking bacon mixture on each spoonful

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Mark

Chicken & Rice Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 (14 1/2-ounce) can green beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1 medium onion diced and sauteed
• 1 (8-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• (6-ounce) box long-grain and wild rice, cooked according to package directions
• 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar
• Pinch salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.

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Mark

Mexican Lasagne

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• Salt
• 8 (8 inch) spinach flour tortillas, available on dairy aisle of market
• 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack
• 2 scallions, finely chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.
Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.

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Mark

I know it's been a while, but I tried this last night. I was going to make it earlier but the power went out and my fridge was off for 6 hours over night and I didn't realize so the beef went bad and I couldn't get more until last night. It was really easy especially because I've never made lasagna or even seen it made so I had no idea how to do it. It turned out very well and it was yummy. The only issue I had was when I got to the store and clued in that all the ingredients listed were giving in pounds and ounces, which is what my brain works in for the most part, but all the measurements in the store are in grams..and I don't know how to convert. Thank goodness for friendly shoppers who are good at math!

“	Originally Posted By: bobblehead Lasagna is a little labor intensive... The quick and easy ways to make it pale in comparison to the complicated (and $$$) ones. It would be a disservice to you to suggest anything besides a real one. But here goes anyway... Cheap and easy lasagna 1+ lb ground beef 1 small onion, diced small 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 jar (32 oz) thick spaghetti sauce 1 1/2 cups water 2 eggs 1 tub ricotta cheese, about 1 lb 1 lb mozzrella, set aside a little for the top, about 1 cup 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, set aside a little for the top, about 2 Tbs salt and pepper 8-12 oz uncooked lasagna noodle 9"x13"x2" minimum pan size Fry the beef with the onion, garlic and a dash of salt and pepper. Stir in sauce and 1 cup water and set aside. If it's really oily, drain most of it off before you add the sauce, but put a couple Tbs in the 9x13 pan first. Mix the eggs, cheese (except for a cup of mozzarella, and a good sprinkle of the Parmesan), 1/2 cup water in a bowl. Preheat oven to 350 F. Start layering the pan with sauce, then noodle (say three or four of them) then cheese mix, and repeat. Cover with foil, bake for about 50-60 min. Carefully remove foil and add remaining cheese. Bake about 10 min. more, and let it cool a little before cutting. I'll post a better one later, i'm getting hungry...	”

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~Me

Cool! I'll get around to the "complete" version later...
Glad you tried it!

JD: No vinegar in the hot/sour?

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

its even good as left overs!

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~Me

Leftovers=food of the gods

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"It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought the fool, than to open it and prove it so." KungFuTze
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." T. Geisel

mm i actually just finished some of it for lunch!

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~Me

Here's an easy one every one loves!
It is the best Leftover dish you can make.
My mom made it from left over corn, chicken. and made a gravy and pasta.
The potatoes are really easy add and can be replaced with let over mashed potatoes.
KFC Casserole (no it not the fast food)

cooked cubbed Chicken

cooked corn

cubbed baked Potatoes

cooked pasta

Gravy

Mix it all together stick in the oven in a big metal pot for 15min on 350degrees Fahrenheit.

Serve and enjoy.

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'Someday I'll be a ninja, once I stop tripping on roof's.'

My wife is an amazing cook and has come up with some awesome stuff lately - one of my favorites is her "Savory Garlic Coconut Shrimp Risotto"
approx 2 to 2 1/2 cups frozen shrimp (pre-cooked, de-veined, tail off- as easy as it comes)
6 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups water
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 cups pre-cooked brown rice
1 13 oz can coconut milk (you'll use 3/4 of it)
3/4 cup frozen corn
approx 1 tsp chili powder
salt

1. Defrost shrimp in warm water.
2.Place garlic cloves, water and 1/2 tsp salt in blender (I used my magic bullet) and pulse until garlic is in fairly small chunks.
3.Drain shrimp, place in bowl and cover with garlic water mixture. Marinate for 10 minutes.
4. Heat coconut oil in large skillet, add diced red pepper and saute for approx 1 minute.
5. Strain water from shrimp and garlic. Add lime juice and a little extra salt and toss to coat.
6. Add shrimp mixture to skillet and stir to coat with oil. Cook for approx 2 minutes
7. Add about 1/2 can coconut milk to skillet and bring to boil, then turn down to simmer. Add chili powder and a little salt. Mix well.
8. Add brown rice and mix in well. Let cook for 2 minutes or so and then add corn.
9. As the rice soaks up the milk, gradually add about 1/4 more can of coconut milk while stirring.
10. Let simmer on medium low until most of moisture is soaked up and it's at about a risotto consistency.
Serve with a colorful green salad and enjoy!

Very smooth and yummy. You can check out more of her recipes on her blog. Just so you know most of them are 80-90% vegetarian and she tries to use Organic/Natural as much as possible.

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"You remind me of a poem that I can't remember!" - Grandpa Simpson

It's all relative

Dang! sounds good...too bad hubby and I both hate to cook!

...Actually that's not quite accurate. If I didn't have a full time job, two finicky teens, and had a volunteer to do clean-up...I would LOVE to cook and explore new recipes!

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