While it’s not as well-known as the iconic Chinese American sesame chicken—it has all the makings of a regular rotation recipe. Fried and Crispy Beef Chicken fried steak aside, you probably haven’t ever really thought about shallow-frying your beef. But sometimes, stir-frying beef sometimes isn’t quite the same as crispy beef. So what do I mean by crispy beef? Tender beef is marinated, coated in cornstarch, and wok-fried in neutral oil to crispy perfection....

Where You Might’ve Seen Sha Cha Sauce Sha Cha Sauce is most often used in hot pot dipping sauces. If you’ve ever been to a hot pot restaurant and stood overwhelmed by choice at the sauce bar, you know that Sha Cha is just one of many different condiments that can go into a good hot pot dipping sauce. Everyone has different preferences for what they’d like their sauce to be, and as a result, sha cha is rarely featured as a key ingredient....

My grandma used to make this dish with a big spoonful of the good stuff–lard. In those days, pork fat was saved and stored like liquid gold. Nowadays, lard isn’t much of a pantry staple, but if you want to make this dish the traditional way, I promise not to judge! But this Shanghai classic one-pot meal still stands on its own without the pork fat and is definitely a lot healthier with just a bit of vegetable oil....

Why This? Why Now? So hear me OUT. There are a few ways to veganize General Tso’s Chicken. You can make our much-loved General Tso’s Tofu—a great option. Or you can go through the pains of frying your own plant-based “chicken” at home, either with seitan or a veggie ingredient like in our General Tso’s Cauliflower. Well frankly, no hate against our original tofu recipe, but I’ve found that when I’m trying to veganize meat dishes that I still catch myself obsessing over, tofu just doesn’t cut it sometimes!...

About this version of shrimp with black bean sauce When you think of Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce, you might think of a drier stir-fry, like this Chicken with Black Bean Sauce. But it comes in different versions! I always think of what I used to cook working in upstate New York and in my parent’s restaurant in New Jersey. That version of Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce resembled Shrimp with Lobster Sauce, with swirled egg, ground pork, and a rich gravy....

But it is an inevitable truth that at some point, you are going to want to eat bai qie ji without having to poach a WHOLE chicken. When I’m stuck inside (arctic blast, anyone?) or just too lazy to put on real pants and go out to a restaurant, I’ve tried making the dish by poaching chicken breasts, and drizzling soy sauce and ginger-scallion oil over the top. It’s satisfying–not to mention healthy–but it’s not quiiiiite right....

A Mom’s Fridge Cleanout Recipe The name of this recipe is really Ma’s Spanish Chicken Stew, because my mom is the one who created this recipe one day from a jumble of old veggies, random jars of pickled things on the fridge door, a few trusty cans of beans and tomatoes, and a sneaky little packet of Sazon seasoning. It’s essentially her made-up version of pollo guisado. I don’t remember the first time she made it, but I do remember us all requesting it many, many times, gleefully digging into many a batch, and reheating leftovers more times than I can remember....

Chinese or Japanese purple eggplants are the best choice for this Hunan Steamed Eggplant. They cook up quickly, are tender and soft, and they really soak up that delicious Hunan-style spicy dressing! What’s more, this Hunan Steamed Eggplant is completely vegetarian/vegan! When testing this recipe, Judy and I enjoyed this steamed eggplant over lots of white rice, and it makes for a pretty satisfying one plate dinner. One of Our Favorites in China I remember the first time we had this Hunan Steamed Eggplant....

It’s easy to prepare, so if you have access to yellow chives, give this seasonal dish a try! What Are Yellow Chives? Before we talk about yellow chives, let’s start with what Chinese chives are. Chinese chives, also known as garlic chives (韭菜 – jiǔcài in Mandarin), are meatier than the standard chives you may be more familiar with. They have broader, flat leaves, and aren’t hollow like regular chives....

Posted Jul 25, 2018, Updated Sep 02, 2020 I can’t get enough fresh summer fruit right now. Cantaloupe, watermelon, cherries, and of course sooo many berries! I wish the summer produce season could last all year long! This strawberry whipped cream recipe is the perfect summertime treat. It’s made with 4 ingredients and is ready in under 5 minutes! Plus it’s gluten-free! Usually I’m a chocolatey dessert person, but lately I have been very into fruity treats, like this strawberry whipped cream!...

Serve these easy peppers with your favorite Mexican or Tex Mex style side dishes… fresh corn tortillas, homemade salsa and a big scoop of guacamole! Taco Stuffed Peppers My family loves making classic stuffed peppers or even unstuffed peppers for dinner! This recipe is one of those dishes that draws your family to the table! They are filling, absolutely delicious and they can be prepared ahead of time. This recipe puts a southwestern spin on a classic stuffed peppers recipe, creating a new family favorite!...

I personally love a good Chinese vegetable fried rice, especially when there’s a variety of vegetables. I like to add flavorful ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, as well as sweet and crunchy add-ins like snow peas and bean sprouts. Note: This recipe was originally published in November 2013. We have re-tested and updated it with clearer instructions, new photos, updated nutrition information, and metric measurements. Enjoy! Do you have to use cold rice to make fried rice?...

The Best Vacation Destination? I’m convinced that Maine may just be one of the best vacation destinations possibly EVER. There’s forest, coastline and beaches, bustling cities, and quiet towns, all a couple hours’ drive away from each other. As always—if you have other recommendations, please leave us a comment with your favorite spots! When is tourist season in Maine? The best time to see fall leaves One potential route from Kennebunkport up to Acadia Shopping guides: Live lobster Wild Maine blueberries and pick-your-own strawberries Antiques...

Crumbled goat cheese (or feta cheese if you prefer) and pecans add a touch of richness, texture, and nutty flavors. Toss it with a maple dijon vinaigrette for the perfect meal. What is Winter Salad? Winter salad is a wonderland of color and taste, combining full-flavored fall and winter veggies, fruits, and fresh greens. It’s a nutrition powerhouse too, which is another reason to make this often. Don’t feel limited by this recipe either – just like with a tossed salad, almost anything goes!...

Follow on Pinterest Jalapeño Popper Dip: My number one appetizer recipe for anyone that loves poppers! Always a hit, bring a copy of the recipe along, they’ll want it! Honey Garlic Wings: Sweet and sticky oven baked wings! Amazing Cocktail Meatballs: I’ve been making these for as long as I can remember! Never any leftovers! Mini Crescent Dogs: A favorite among kids and adults alike! Easy Cheesy Pizza Dip: All of your favorite pizza flavors in a dip....

A Shortcut to Flavor We all know how amazing Dan Dan Noodles are. They’re the perfect balance of spicy, savory flavors. But as any of you who’s seen—or actually managed to tackle—our Dan Dan Noodle recipe knows, it’s kind of an entire afternoon’s time commitment. There are lots of elements, and steps, and ingredients that come together into that glorious bowl of noodles. And it’s worth it. But what if you don’t have all that time?...

This is the best time to buy them, so you don’t want to miss out! (And my cookbook is also on sale today—you can add it to your cart here). If you don’t already have a Prime membership, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to access the sale! I’ll also be updating this post with more deals as I find them, so check back for more deals....

You may think that making dessert is not something that you have time for during the week and often that’s the case! This Apple Cheese Danish Bars recipe is so easy to put together and takes only minutes to bake, that it really can be made any day of the week! What is a Cheese Danish? Traditionally a Danish pastry is usually a yeast dough that is a variation of puff pastry....

This apple salad recipe will brighten up the table any time of year. Ingredients for Apple Salad This apple salad recipe is a fresh green salad with lots of flavor. It can be served as a side dish or topped with chicken or grilled shrimp. Apples – Use red or green apples in this recipe. Green apples are firm and tart, while red and yellow apples are a bit sweeter....

Posted Aug 26, 2018, Updated Oct 12, 2024 Is there any other food as perfect and versatile as an avocado? Use it to make Guacamole, creamy smoothies, and this avocado pasta sauce recipe. Avocado pasta sauce is made with 5, nutritious ingredients in under 5 minutes! It’s the perfect dish for an easy weeknight dinner because it’s so easy to make (also try this pumpkin pasta sauce)! This recipe is also packed with nutrients!...