Baked Coconut Shrimp w/ Veggies on the side

-1 pound med-large uncooked shrimp (deveined and peeled)
 -2 egg whites beaten
-1/3 cup cornstarch
-1/2 tsp cumin
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp paprika
-pepper to taste
-2 cups flaked coconut (sweetened)

1. In a small bowl beat egg whites with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
2. Place cornstarch (and spices) and coconut on two separate plates. Hold shrimp by the tail and dip and coat the shrimp with cornstarch. Next, dip the shrimp in the egg whites and finally in the coconut coating well.
3. Place shrimp on the cookie sheet w/ parchment paper and bake for 15-17 minutes or until coconut is a golden brown. Make sure to turn it once halfway through (around 8 minutes into cooking time) to make sure both sides brown.

I served this with pineapple/mango salsa on the side, sooooo good!

Pork Steamed Bun w/ broccoli + green bean stir fry and almond stuffed bacon-wrapped dates

I need a real camera!

Brined Pork Chops with a Sweet & Sour Sauce

Quite possibly the best pork chop that I've had in my life, not to toot my horn or anything.  I was looking into brining lately and thought why not give it a try.  It certainly helped retain the moisture in the pork chop.  I strongly suggest trying it sometime.






 Sauce/Pork Chops:

-1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
-1/2 cup honey
-2green onions, sliced
-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
-2 Tbsp butter
-4 brined pork chops (recipe follows)
-2 Tbsp olive oil (or cooking spray)
-Salt
-Black pepper


Preheat oven to 425.

1) In a small sauce pan, stir together balsamic vinegar, honey, white and light green parts of the onions, and garlic over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and let cook for 10 minutes, reducing heat as necessary to prevent boil overs. Remove from heat, stir in butter until melted, and set aside to cool and thicken.
2) Heat olive oil or cooking spray over medium-high heat in an oven-safe pan. Liberally season both sides of the pork chops with salt, and black pepper. Sear for 3 minutes, flip pork chops, and finish in the oven to an internal temp of 150. Remove and let rest in the pan for 5 minutes.

Brine for Chops
-1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
-1/4 Cup Sugar
-1/2 Cup Salt
-4 Cups Water
-2 Cloves Garlic Smashed
-1/2 tsp Pepper
-1 tsp rosemary (or other herb of your choosing

1) Combine all ingredients in saucepan and heat over medium heat until mixture begins to boil.
2) Boil for 3 minutes and let mixture cool; combine chops and brine mixture in bag and seal; place in fridge for 8-12 hours
3) Discard brine and rinse pork chops and pat dry.

Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cooling down on rack

Ingredients:

-1¾ cups all-purpose flour
-½ teaspoon baking soda
-14 tablespoons (1¾ sticks) unsalted butter
-½ cup sugar
-¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
-1 teaspoon table salt
-3 teaspoons vanilla extract
-1 egg
- l egg yolk
-1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks



1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with foil/parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

3. Add both sugars, salt and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whish for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny.

4. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips, giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

5. Use an ice cream scoop to portion out dough, roll into spheres,

6. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10-14 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving. 

Scallion Pancakes-First Attempt Success

 
One of my favorite Chinese appetizers, and soooo easy to make!  All about the technique.

Ingredients: (makes 6)
-2 Cup Flour
-1 Cup Water (almost boiling)
-1 Bunch Scallion
-2 Tbsp Oil
-1 Tsp Sesame Oil



Directions:
1)Place the flour into a food processor fitted with the blade attachment.  With the machine running, add the water slowly, until the dough is formed.
2) Scrape dough out and onto a floured surface and need for 5 or so minutes until dough is somewhat elastic.
3) Place dough in dry bowl and cover with damp towel for 30 minutes.
4) Cut scallions and portion dough into 6.
5) Roll each portion into a bowl and flatten with a rolling pin; spread oil mixture, salt and some scallions on pancake.
6) Roll into a cigar and then roll lengthwise into snail like roll, flatten with hand and roll with pin.
7) Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, then coat the bottom with vegetable oil.  Fry the pancakes for  3-4 minutes, until golden brown.  Flip the pancake and cook the other side until it is golden brown. Repeat with the remaining pancakes.

Scrambled Egg Pasta w/ Bacon, Broccoli, and Cheese.

Ingredients: 2 servings
-2 C Wheat Rotini (pasta)
-2 Slices Bacon
-1 Tb Olive Oil
-1.5 C Broccoli
-2 Eggs
-1/2 C Parm. cheese
-1 Clove Garlic (minced)









Directions:
1. Boil the pasta according to package, with a large pinch of salt.

2. While pasta is boiling saute bacon in pan over medium heat.

3. Add garlic (cook for 30 seconds or until golden) 

4. Steam broccoli in microwave and add to pan with noodles 

5. Whisk eggs and cheese; add to pan and scramble over medium heat until eggs are set.

A simple recipe I'd never thought of making before, turned out to be great!

Breakfast for Dinner; Fried egg with roasted aspargus and bacon

Pan seared Tilapia w/ Shallots & Bacon

As of late I've been on a serious bacon kick!  I had forgotten just how much I love it, so for tonight I utilized it for the first time with fish.  It was awesome, the shallots and bacon really balanced one another out.

Ingredients (2 servings):

• 4 strips of bacon, chopped
• 1-2 shallots, half rings
• 2 tilapia fillets
• 1/4 cup water or stock
• 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (or more, to taste)
• 1 tsp honey (or more, to taste)
• kosher salt

Begin by heating a pan to medium heat; add bacon and cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Once bacon has rendered its fat add your shallots to pan, stir, and cook for 2-3 minutes (until shallots begin to carmelize). 

Scoop out bacon/shallot mixture once bacon has rendered most of its fat.

Place fillets in the same pan and cook 2 minutes per side, until fish flakes and has nice crust.  Remove fillets from pan.

Add water/stock to deglaze pan; while stirring, add honey and balsamic vinegar.  Reduce heat to low for 2-3 minutes allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.


Enjoy, I topped mine with a little grated parmasan cheese as well!

Best Hot Chocolate!

This could not have hit the spot more!  Days of snow call for hot chocolate in my mind, coming across this recipe could not have come at a better time.  It was simple to make, try it out.

Ingredients (Per serving)
-1 Cup Milk (I used skim)
-1/2 Tb- 1Tb Cocoa Powder
-2 Tb Nutella
-Pinch of Salt

1.  Combine using whisk; milk, nutella, cocoa powder and salt in medium saucepan
2.  Heat over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until heated through, you don't want to boil mixture.

Simple as that, pour into cup and add whatever toppings you like!!  Mine being marshmallows and chocolate syrup.

Sauteed Shrimp w/ Bacon, Shallot Brussel Sprouts

Brussel Sprouts:

1 lb brussels sprouts cut in half 

3 slices bacon cut into small pieces
2 Tb minced Shallots

1 Tb Soy Sauce
1/4 C Chicken broth

1. Heat pan on medium heat then add bacon. Fry until bacn has rendered a good amount of the fat, about 5-10 minutes. Add shallots and stir into the bacon, fry shallots till they become soft, but not burnt.

2. Add brussels sprouts to the pan then add soy sauce and broth. Stir evenly.

3. Cover, and turn heat to low and allow brussels spouts to slowly braise in the liquid for about 15-20 minutes, or until the brussels sprouts are tender.

Sauteed Shrimp:

2-3 Cloves Garlic, minced

1lb Shrimp, washed/deveined, peeled

2.5Tb Olive Oil

Salt + Pepper

1Tsp Cumin

2Tsp Paprika

1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add garlic and sauteed until golden.

2. Add shrimp, s/p, cumin and paprika and stir to combine

3. Saute 5 or so minutes, until shrimp turn pink and curl.

SUPER easy recipes that turned out great!