Loaded with nutritious veggies, tender beef and plump barley, it’s a complete meal in a bowl! This homemade beef barley soup can be made ahead of time and freezes well making it the perfect family dinner! All of my favorite soups are fully loaded with goodies including veggies and grains, this Beef Barley Soup definitely fits the bill! It is a rich and hearty barley soup that leaves you completely satisfied and warms every inch of your body!...
If you’ve been cooking with us for a while, you likely have all the other ingredients already. Kitchen basics like baking soda, cornstarch, and ketchup (yup, ketchup!) combine with a few of our Essential Chinese Pantry ingredients to create an incredibly delicious dish. Inspired by a Chinatown Menu If you live in or near Chinatown, try finding this beef onion stir-fry at a restaurant! It’s savory, a little tangy, and so tasty over rice....
The Magic of Oyster Sauce Oyster sauce may sound like it tastes fishy, but nothing could be further from the truth. Oyster sauce is pure savory flavor, and it adds oomph to marinades, sauces, braises, and more. In this recipe, we’re using it in the marinade as well as the sauce. If you’ve never used oyster sauce, go to your local Chinese grocery store, grab a bottle, and taste how this simple ingredient (made with oyster extracts) can transform a dish....
Posted Aug 26, 2020, Updated Mar 25, 2024 Is there a more classic, cozy, fall meal than Chicken Pot Pie (or classic homemade meatloaf)? This homemade Chicken Pot Pie recipe is made from scratch and is the best chicken pot pie you’ll ever eat. I often find chicken pot pie recipes with lots of processed ingredients – but not this from scratch version! You’ll never used condensed soups or buy a frozen pot pie again after trying this homemade chicken pot pie....
Posted Mar 20, 2022, Updated Sep 13, 2024 One chilly morning I made my kids scones and hot chocolate for breakfast. They thought it was the best breakfast surprise, and ever since that day, my 2 year old asks for “scones and hot chocolate” often (pronouncing it “cones”)! I’m happy to oblige their request, because this truly is the best scone recipe ever. They are rich, buttery and moist, slightly crispy on the outside and soft in the center with rich notes of vanilla throughout....
Make this easy recipe and bring together the best of both worlds! Blueberries add a pop of freshness while ripe bananas make these a little sweet and extra moist. Easy Blueberry Banana Muffins This recipe is so simple to pull together that it can even be made for a quick breakfast! Blueberries Fresh or frozen will work in this recipe. If using frozen berries, they do not need to defrost first but the muffins may need a few minutes extra to cook....
Family Pancake Battles We have been making this fluffy Blueberry Pancake recipe for a long time, but, in this family, there’s always contention—and perhaps even a few face-offs—over food. Specifically, Sarah and Kaitlin have been embroiled in an ongoing pancake battle. Kaitlin says she makes the best, thickest pancakes, while Sarah says her pancakes are the fluffiest, and therefore the best by default. I’m no slouch, either—check out our Apple Cider Pancakes!...
When I go out to eat, I’m looking for something different. Even just a new ingredient would make my dining experience a lot more exciting. Because as we all know, every cuisine can offer a lot more than the standard restaurant menu, including the tasty dishes, like this braised duck, that one’s grandparents or parents made that can make us miss home. I first had this Braised Duck with Taro when Bill’s father made it many years ago....
When I was a kid, I loved veggies and now that I’m older, I love them even more. Right near the top of my list is cabbage! Not only does it taste great either raw or cooked, it’s so good for you! Typically we use it in cabbage rolls or cabbage roll soup but of course it’s great in a nice crunchy coleslaw too! Cabbage and Noodles (aka Haluskie) is an old Polish dish and it’s one of my favorites from my Grandmother!...
Chinatown Reminiscenses Chinese Salt and Pepper Pork Chops are the best! I remember this dish from when I was a chubby kid growing up in the small resort town of Liberty, NY. Every month, my family would make the two hour Saturday morning pilgrimage in our white Chevrolet station wagon to Manhattan’s Chinatown. Kind of reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie…heading into town on a wagon to buy coffee and a sack of flour from Mr....
This is the perfect meal sized salad and full of flavor. Serve with garlic toast. A Hearty Salad Make the dressing well ahead of time (up to 4 days) for a quick meal. Pre-washed lettuce is a time saver. Swap out seasoned chicken in the recipe below for either rotisserie or grilled chicken if desired. Tuck into a wrap for a handheld meal! Ingredients CHICKEN Fresh chicken breasts are pan-fried in this recipe....
This one-and-done tangy sauce is made with fresh parsley, oregano, garlic, oil, and vinegar, and will be a hit on any table! What is Chimichurri Sauce? Chimichurri sauce is a sauce from Argentina dating back to the 19th century. The combination of fresh herbs, oil, and vinegar tenderized and seasoned any variety of meats while the gauchos (AKA cowboys) were on the range for days at a time. Today, it’s a popular condiment as its bright and tangy flavor complements salads, vegetables, pork, beef, poultry, fish, and seafood....
This dish has three Chinese names. Its official name is 炖圆蹄 (dùn yuán tí), but Northerners simply call it 肘子 (zhǒuzi). We Southerners know it as 红烧蹄膀 (hóngshāo tí páng). Every region cooks it differently when it comes to spices, but the thing they all have in common is the long braising time. I think that’s why it’s reserved for Chinese New Year and other big holidays. What Is Ti Pang?...
Since Chinese New Year is on February 10, 2024, the Lantern Festival is coming up! It’s time to celebrate it on Sunday, February 24th in 2024. It marks the first full moon of the new year, and the end of the Spring Festival. Is The Lantern Festival an OFFICIAL Chinese Holiday? The Lantern Festival is not actually a Chinese public holiday, so the official public calendar does not allow for the day off....
We’ve gotten many requests for this recipe over the years. Crispy on the outside and coated with a sticky lemony sauce with fresh lemon juice, zest, and slices, all you lemon lovers will love it! Batter Fried Chicken vs. Crispy Coating When it comes to lemon chicken at Chinese takeout restaurants, some make a light batter, while others use a crispier dry coating. My personally preference is a wet batter (made with beer or seltzer) that fries up to a light and airy texture that’s delightful with the lemon sauce....
It took me a while to realize that both refer to this same delicious fluffy bun with sweet red bean filling. A Childhood Favorite As a child so many moons ago, steamed red bean buns were the apple of my eye—my absolute favorite. In the way that little children’s minds fixate on things, I wanted it, I wanted it, and I wanted it! At the time, my love for steamed red bean buns went way above people’s love for other popular Shanghai favorites like Youtiao (fried dough) or Pan-fried Pork Buns....
These aren’t any ordinary brownies! These have the taste of chocolate mint cookies, but a rich, hand-held bite, this is a recipe that will get repeat requests! These brownies are soft and chewy with a creamy mint layer and a rich chocolate topping. The layers need time to chill between so they’re great to make ahead. Ingredients BROWNIE BATTER: Bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder give the brownies a deep, rich flavor....
Posted Jun 15, 2021, Updated Oct 06, 2024 Brownies are my all-time favorite dessert, so naturally I had to create the best Zucchini Brownies as a delicious way to use up all the zucchini in our garden (also try this chocolate zucchini cake). These zucchini brownies are rich and fudgy with a crinkly top and are loaded with shredded zucchini! They’re the best chocolate zucchini brownies ever and a perfect summer treat for chocolate lovers....
Sweet corn and smoky bacon are simmered in a rich and creamy broth with tender potatoes, onions, and celery for a comforting and cozy chowder. Ingredients for Corn Chowder Corn: Fresh, canned, or frozen corn can be used and makes this chowder sweet and flavorful along with the celery. If using frozen, add a few minutes to the cooking time. Potatoes: Potatoes make this chowder thick, creamy, cozy, and filling....
An easy overnight breakfast bread pudding (French toast casserole) with cream cheese, fresh tart cranberry flavor, and an eggnog infused custard. Christmas breakfast traditions start here! Who wouldn’t want to wake up on Christmas morning to a fragrant and delicious hot breakfast casserole made with eggnog, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon? Easy Breakfast Casserole A breakfast bread pudding is similar to a breakfast strata or a French toast casserole. This breakfast bread pudding is the perfect make-ahead meal for cooks that like to sleep in too....
