~Chinese Salad~

~Chinese Salad~

This recipe tastes so good, its very healthy and takes less than 10 minutes to make. I love Chinese Chicken Salad from a restaurant in Los Angeles, called Feast from the East, so I tried to come up with a similar recipe. Instead of using wontons, I used dried ramen to add a little crunch to my salad. I did not add chicken to this recipe however, if you did I recommend adding shredded boneless skin less chicken breast. Whole Foods is a great place to get meat because it does not contain any hormones and their meat is organic. I used arugula lettuce for this recipe but I also recommend iceberg lettuce. You should try and get a lettuce that does not leave an after taste, when eating it. When buying ramen for this recipe, do not buy flavored ramen, try to only buy a plain flavor. If the ramen comes with a flavoring packet do not use it.

(Serving Size 3)
Here is what you will need:
Lettuce
Ramen noodles
2 tbsp. of Rice Vinegar
4 tbsp. of Soy sauce
2 tbsp of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
sesame seeds
vegetable oil

Stage 1: 
Rinse lettuce to wash off all natural dirt or bugs.
In a separate bowl combine 2 tbsp of olive oil, 4 tbsp. of soy sauce, 2 tbsp. of rice vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar.
Then stir until you get a consistent mixture.

Stage 2: 
To cook the ramen, at 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil to a pan and let it heat for 1 minute.
Next add 1/3 cup of dried ramen to the pan.
Stir continuously so that the ramen does not burn.
Cook until the noodles turn a crispy golden brown color.
This should take no longer than 4-5 minutes.
Once the noodles are done remove the pan from the stove.

Stage 3:
Next add the dressing to the lettuce.
Only add a little bit of dressing because a small amount goes a long way in terms of flavor.
Next add a generous amount of noodle crisps to your salad.
Then sprinkle sesame seeds over your salad to more texture.
Finally you are ready to enjoy!

General Tso Chicken

~General Tso Chicken~

Here is a great recipe that tastes great and honestly tastes better than Chinese food from a restaurant. I got the General Tso sauce from Trader Joe's. They sell the sauce in the canned goods isle. It tastes so good! I got the chicken from Whole Foods because they're meat is organic and contains no hormones. I used sushi rice instead of regular rice because it goes better when making this recipe.

(Makes 4 servings)
Here is what you need:
General Tso Sauce
2 boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets
broccoli
sushi rice
panko bread crumbs
flour
pepper flakes
egg
vegetable oil

Stage 1:
First cook rice by adding 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sushi rice.
Cook on a medium low temperature, and make sure to put a lid on the pot.
Cook rice for about 15 minutes or until it is done.
Remove the rice from the stove.
Then add 1/2 cup of broccoli to the pot and place the broccoli on top of the rice.
Place the lid back onto the top of the pot and let it sit.
The steam of the rice will cook the broccoli and make it soft.

Stage 2:
Next rinse off all chicken to remove bacteria.
Then cut chicken into small 2 inch bite size pieces.

Take three containers in the first container put flour in it, in the second container put egg in it, and in the third container put panko bread crumbs in it.
Once all chicken is cut, coat each piece of chicken in the flour.
Next coat the chicken in the egg, finally coat each piece of chicken in the panko bread crumbs.

Stage 3: 
Once all chicken is breaded, take a large skillet and add 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.
Heat oil on a medium high temperature for 2 minutes.
Once oil is hot, cook about 5 pieces of chicken at a time.
Cook on the first side for about 1 minute and on the second side for 1 minute.
Cook chicken until it turns a crispy golden brown color.

Stage 4: 
Once all chicken is cooked, take a small mixing bowl and pour 1/4 cup of the general tso sauce.
Then dip each piece of chicken in the sauce until the entire chicken is covered in the sauce.
Once all chicken is coated, place each piece to the side.
Then scoop out the broccoli and rice and put it on a plate, add the chicken on top of the rice, and it is now ready to serve!

~Tacos~

~Tacos~

I learned this taco recipe from my father, it is super tasty and easy to make. You can use any type of meat for this recipe. I chose to use ground turkey breast for my meat, but you can use shrimp, lobster,  chicken, or beef for this recipe. 

(Makes 3 servings)

Here is what you need:

6-10 corn tortillas 

1/2 lb. ground turkey meat

mix cheeses 

1/2 bell pepper

3 individual green onions

1/2 onion

lime

lettuce

tomato

vegetable oil

chile powder

garlic salt

salt 

pepper

cayenne pepper

Optional (Salsa and Guacamole)

Stage 1:

First chop up 1/2 an onion, 2 green onions, and 1/2 a bell pepper

Take a large skillet and add 1 tbsp of vegetable oil and heat on a medium temperature for 1 minute. 

Next add the vegetables to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, while continuously stirring. 

Then, add the ground turkey meat to the vegetable mixture. 

Cook for about 3 minutes, then take a mixing spoon and break up the meat into smaller pieces.

Continue to cook for another 10-12 minutes and continuously stir.

Then add a little cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and chile powder to flavor meat. 

Stir and mix seasonings through the meat and cook for another 2 minutes.

Make sure all the meat is cooked before removing it from the stove.

Stage 2:

Next take another skillet and add 1/4 cup of vegetable oil and heat on a medium high temperature for 1 1/2 minutes. 

Then sprinkle garlic salt into the oil.

Add one tortilla at a time and cook on the first side for 15 seconds.

Then take tongs and flip the tortilla to the other side and cook for 10 seconds. 

Then take the tongs and fold the tortilla in half, and cook on one side for 5 seconds, and then on the other side for 5 seconds, and remove tortilla promptly from the stove.

Once tortilla is cooked place it on a paper towel to absorb the oil. 

Repat stage 2 until all tortillas are cooked. 

Stage 3:

Next chop up the desired amount of tomatoes, and lime.

Rinse off the desired amount of lettuce. 

Now take one cooked tortilla and add your desired amount of meat.

Then add a generous amount of cheese on top of the meat.

Next put the taco in the microwave for 15 seconds on a power 6 level in order to melt the cheese.

Optional (add salsa and guacamole to the taco).

Then add desired amount of lettuce and tomato to the taco.

Finally squeeze a little bit of lime on top and your taco is ready to enjoy!

Bang Bang Shrimp

~Bang Bang Shrimp~

This recipe is so good and easy to make. It tastes like it could come form a gourmet chinese restaurant. It has a sweet spicy kick to it and take only 30 minutes to make. I use sushi rice because it is slightly sticky and works better for making fried rice or rice to go along with chinese food. This recipe goes great with a side of broccoli.

(Makes 1 serving)
Here is what you need:
~7-8 pieces of shrimp
~1 cup of sushi rice
~1 green onion
~1/4 cup of low fat mayonnaise
~5 teaspoons of Sriracha chili garlic sauce
~1 teaspoon of sugar
~1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
~1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs
~1 egg
~1/4 cup of flour
~dried or fresh parsley
~salt
~black pepper
~garlic powder
~vegetable oil
~1 small mixing bowl
~3 plastic bags
~tongs

Stage 1:
Boil 1 cup of water on a medium low temperature and add 1 cup of sushi rice, cook until rice is finished.

Make sure to put a lid on it.
Next clean, peel, and devein all shrimp.
Then in one plastic bag add 1/4 cup of flour, in another plastic bag add 1 scrambled egg, in the last plastic bag add 1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs.
In the plastic bag with the panko breadcrumbs, add a couple shakes of garlic power, black pepper, salt, and dried parsley.

Stage 2:
In a small mixing bowl, add 1 teaspoon of sugar, 5 teaspoons of Sriracha chili garlic sauce, 1/4 cup of low fat mayonnaise, and 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar.
Stir until it is an even consistency.

Then chop up 1 green onion.

Stage 3:
Then with the cleaned shrimp, individually put each shrimp first into the flour, then the egg, and finally the panko bread crumbs.
When putting each shrimp into the bags, make sure the flour, egg, and panko bread crumbs cover and coating the entire shrimp.
Continue until all shrimp are floured, egged, and breaded with the panko bread crumbs.
Then take a small pan, and add 1/4 cup of vegetable oil and heat for 2-3 minutes on a medium-high temperature.
Next add about 3 shrimp at a time and fry them for 2 minutes on each side.
Fry until it turns golden brown on each side.
Continue until all shrimp are fried.

Stage 4:
Once all shrimp are fried, dip each shrimp into the sauce mixture previously made.

Coat all shrimp in the sauce until it is all covered, and set aside.
Next get a bowl and add desired amount of sushi rice.
Sprinkle a bit of salt over the rice.
Then add the shrimp over the rice.
Finally sprinkle chopped green onions over the shrimp and rice.
Your Bang Bang Shrimp is finally ready to serve!

Salmon Burger

~Salmon Burger~

This salmon burger recipe is honestly the best burger I have ever had. I added wasabi mayonnaise to add a spicy kick to it which you can find in the canned goods isle at Trader Joe's. I got a pre made salmon burger from whole foods market, which was only $3.99 for one patty. It is important to get a good quality salmon patty to ensure quality taste.

(Makes 1 serving)
Here is what you need:
~wasabi mayonnaise
~1/4 cup of mushrooms
~1/4 cup raw onion
~1 slice of swiss cheese
~1 slice of provolone cheese
~arugula
~1/2 tomato
~salmon patty
~whole wheat burger bun
~foil
~vegetable oil

Stage 1:
Add 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil to a small skillet and let it heat on a low medium temperature for 1 minute.
Add the salmon patty to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes on one side and 5 minutes on the other side.

Stage 2: 
Next chop up 2-3 mushrooms, 1/4 cup of raw onions, and 1/2 a tomato into thin slices.
In a different skill add 1tbsp. of vegetable oil and let it heat on a low medium temperature for 1 minute.
Then add mushrooms and onions and cook for about 3 minutes while continuously stirring.

Stage 3:
Next take a one whole wheat hamburger bun and add one piece of provolone cheese and one piece of swiss cheese.
Toast in a toaster oven or in a regular oven until cheese is slightly melted. If cooking in the oven cook at 300 degrees.

Stage 4:
Next take the toasted bun and add the cook salmon patty.
Then spread an even layer of wasabi mayonnaise on top of the salmon patty.
Next add the cooked onions and mushrooms on top.

Finally add the desired amount of arugula and tomato on top, and add the top toast bun to the burger.
And enjoy!

Glazed Salmon

~Glazed Salmon~

This recipe is easy to make and is very healthy, it goes well with a nice side salad, or chopped up and put into a salad. Salmon is a great way to get protein and contains healthy Omega-3 oils. I prefer to get my seafood from Whole Foods, because their fish is organic, and they do not add any hormones or coloring to the fish. For this recipe you can use a salmon fillet or a salmon steak, I prefer a salmon fillet because salmon steaks tend to have bones. If you do choose to use a salmon steak be careful not to swallow the bones! You can find seafood mediterranean seasoning rub at many grocery stores, the brand I used is McCormick. The honey, lemon, butter glaze I use adds a good salty sweet flavor to the salmon.

(Makes 1 serving)
Here is what you need:

~1 medium size salmon fillet
~Seafood Mediterranean Seasoning Rub
~Butter
~1/4 cup of lemon juice
~Honey
~Salt
~Non-stick baking pan
~Small cup

Stage 1:
Preheat the oven to broil.
Rinse salmon fillet.
Place salmon on a non-stick baking pan.
Rub seafood mediterranean seasoning over the salmon.
Make sure the entire salmon is covered with the seasoning rub.
Place salmon in the oven and cook for 12 minutes or until the top is slightly golden brown and is slightly crispy.

Stage 2:
While salmon is cooking, take a small cup and add 1 1/2 tbsp. of butter.
Next add about 1 teaspoon of honey.
Add a couple shakes of salt and pepper.
Microwave the mixture for 10 seconds.
Stir the mixture and let cool.

Stage 3:
Take salmon out of the oven.
Pour lemon, honey, butter mixture over the salmon.
Once the mixture is covering the salmon, put back in the oven for 5 minutes.
Then take out and enjoy.

Macaroni and Cheese

~Macaroni and Cheese~

Here is a great recipe that I got from my mother. I love southern food, and this recipe is a classic.

Here is what you will need:
(Makes 4 servings)
1 cup of elbow macaroni noodles
1 1/2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup of milk
paprika
cayenne pepper
salt
pepper
butter
1/4 cup of flour
non stick baking pan
foil
vegetable oil

Stage 1: 
Heat water on a medium- high temperature to a boil, then add 1 cup of elbow macaroni noodles.
Then add 1 teaspoon of oil to the water to prevent the noodles from sticking.
Cook for about 12 minutes until the noodles are all soft.

Stage 2:
Once the pasta is cooked, strain the water out and set pasta to the side.
In a small container, pour 1/4 cup of flour and add a generous amount of salt and pepper to the mixture.
Stir the mixture until it is an even consistency.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Stage 3:
Pour 1/2 of the noodle mixture into the non stick baking pan.
Add enough so that the entire pan is covered at the bottom.

Then sprinkle a small layer of the flour mixture over the noodles.
Then cut and place small 1/2 inch pieces of butter evenly over the layer of flour.
Place about 6 small thin slices of butter in each layer.
Next sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper over the flour and butter.
Next pour a generous layer of cheese over the noodles.
Pour enough cheese so that the noodles are all covered.

Stage 4:
Repeat stage 3 and add another layer of noodles, seasonings, flour, butter, and cheese.
Then sprinkle cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and paprika over the top layer of cheese.
Next pour 1/4 cup of milk evenly over the entire mixture of macaroni and cheese.

Stage 5:
Once complete add a layer of foil over the non stick baking pan.
Place it in the oven for 20-25 minutes until all the cheese is melted and the top layer is slightly gold.
Finally take out, remove foil, and let it cool for 2 minutes, and enjoy.

Garlic Bread

~Garlic Bread~
This recipe is easy and simple to make. I learned it from experimenting with different recipes from my favorite Italian restaurants. This garlic bread recipe makes a great appetizer and takes less than 10 minutes to make. For this recipe you can either use a french baguette or a ciabatta loaf. I prefer a french baguette because the bread is softer but either is fine. You can also use fresh parsley and oregano but I prefer dried because it will never go bad.
Here is what you need:

1/4 loaf of french baguette bread or ciabatta bread
1/4 stick of butter
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
red pepper flakes
oregano flakes
salt
parsley flakes
1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese
foil
1 small cup
knife
baking pan
spoon

Stage 1:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Cut loaf in half into two even piece.

Stage 2:
Put 1/4 stick of butter into a small cup and put into the microwave to melt.

Add a little bit of red pepper, salt, oregano, and parsley flakes to the butter mixture.
Take spoon and spread the butter mixture evenly onto both loaves of bread.

Stage 3:
Place each loaf of bread on the baking pan.
Next sprinkle an evenly layer of mozzarella cheese on top of the bread.

Stage 4:
Sprinkle more red pepper flakes and parsley flakes on top of the cheese.
For spicy bread add extra red pepper flakes.
Next put the bread in the oven for 6 minutes.
Take out, and let it sit for 1 minute to cool before enjoying.

**A healthier alternative for this recipe is to use olive oil instead of butter** This will cut down on the fat and calorie content. To do this skip stage 2, and dip the bread into olive oil. Then sprinkle red pepper flakes, salt, and parsley flakes on to the bread. Then proceed to stage 3.

Chicken Parmesan & Penne alla Vodka

~Chicken Parmesan & Penne alla Vodka~

(Makes 2 servings) 
7 mushrooms
3-4 tbsp. of capers
shredded mozzarella cheese
panko bread crumbs 
1/4 stick of butter 
2 cups of penne pasta
2 boneless skinless chicken cutlets 
minced garlic
1/4 cup of white wine
bottle of vodka pasta sauce 
olive oil
non-stick pan
2 small mixing bowl 
salt
red pepper flakes 
pepper
dried parsley 
fresh shredded Parmesan cheese
knife
pot
large sauce pan
cutting board 


Stage 1:
Boil water in a large pot on a medium high temperature. 
Once water comes to a boil, add 2 cups of penne pasta. 

Stage 2: 
Rinse mushrooms and chop into medium thin slices. 
Preheat the oven and set to broil.
Clean each piece of chicken and set aside. 
Take a small mixing bowl and a 1/4 stick of butter.
Put the butter in the bowl and then in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Once butter is melted sprinkle a small amount of red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and dried parsley.

Place the raw chicken into the bowl with the melted butter and coat the chicken with the butter. 
In a separate mixing bowl pour 1 cup of panko bread crumbs.
Then place the chicken into the bowl and coat each piece with panko bread crumbs.
Then place the coated chicken onto a non stick pan.
Use the left over butter and pour it around the sides of the chicken for extra flavor. 
Place the pan in the oven on the bottom rack, cook for only 10 minutes. 

Stage 3:
After the chicken cooks for 10 minutes take it out and pour a small amount of vodka sauce on top of each piece of chicken. 
Change the oven from broil to 200 degrees. 

Then place the pan back in the oven for another 4 minutes.
Take the pan out of the oven and coat the chicken and sauce with a layer of mozzarella cheese. 

Then place the pan back in the oven for another 4 minutes to cook.
Take the pans out and let it sit for 1 minute to cool.


Stage 4:
Next take a large sauce pan and add 1 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of minced garlic and heat on a low medium temperature for 1 minute.
Then add the chopped mushrooms to the pan, cook and store for 4 minutes.
Sprinkle a small amount of red pepper, salt, pepper, and parsley to the mixture. 

Then pour the entire bottle of vodka pasta sauce to the mixture.
Let the sauce heat for 6 minutes while continuously stirring it. 
Add 3-4 tbsp. of capers to the sauce. 
Then pour a 1/4 cup of white wine to the mixture and stir.
Continue to stir and heat for another 3 minutes.

Stage 5: 
Once the sauce is done, pour the sauce over a bed of penne pasta. 
Then serve the chicken Parmesan on the side.