Asian Meatballs with Carrot Rice

This is a recipe I found on marthastewart.com. I have tried over two dozen of Martha Stewart recipes and I've come to find that the recipes are usually very simplified. I think it's great because it gets you acquainted with basics of cooking and allows you to create your own taste by adding your own spices and such. This recipe is Asian Meatballs with Carrot Rice. It's very simple and contains less than 600 calories.

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground turkey (or pork)
3/4 cups of fresh bread crumbs
4 tsp. Fish sauce
4 tsp. Sriracha chili paste
3 scallions chopped (white and green parts separated)
1/3 cup fresh parsley
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
2 tsp. Brown sugar
2 garlic cloves
Long grain or Jasmine rice
1 shredded carrot
Vegetable oil
Limes for garnish

Directions
If using fresh bread crumbs, add 3 tablespoons of water to bread crumbs in a bowl and let sit for five minutes. Meanwhile preheat oven to 450 degrees. Add ground turkey, fish sauce, Sriracha, white parts of scallion, parsley, salt, brown sugar, and garlic to bowl with bread crumbs. Knead with hands and form about 12-14 meatballs. Heat 2 Tbsp. of vegetable oil in shallow pan. Brown meatballs on all sides. Slightly grease baking sheet and put meatballs into oven for 10-13 minutes (or until meatballs are cooked through). Meanwhile, follow package directions for cooking rice. Add shredded carrots to rice.

After meatballs are finished, serve with rice, Sriracha, lime wedges and green parts of scallions. Enjoy!

Birthday

I am the luckiest girl alive. I had a wonderful birthday. Flowers, gifts and fantastic food were just small tidbits of the fun I had with my family.

Gray is so kind and let me shop for clothes. He let me eat at my favorite restaurants. I am spoiled.

I am also looking forward to my Kindle which should be arriving soon. I have been reading a lot and I am excited to be able to read three books at once more efficiently. I ordered a Kindle cover on Etsy just yesterday.

And I still can't get over how much I love rainbow chip frosting. Put that on any cake and I am a happy girl.

Rock Band still isn't old. I have forgotten my passion for it.

February doesn't last for very long but I must say it has turned out to be one of my favorite months. Not because of my birthday but because Graydon and I were engaged two years ago on my birthday. We've come so far...we have a little dog named Lucy now!

It's been a stressful week or two but Gray made me feel especially important. I suppose that's how our birthdays should make us feel. Gray surprises me every day. I really hope I can catch up to him on his unselfishness.

Love you, Gray.

What I've Been Working On

Here are a couple songs I've been working on. They are both by Schuyler Fisk. The first one is called "Hello", the second "From Where I'm Standing". I chose to learn these two songs because they're easier to catch on to and I absolutely love the simplicity of her voice. My singing isn't super on par nor is the guitar but I've only been playing for about 3 months.

There's a lot of noise in the background. Some of it is Lucy with her squeaky toy. The other one is a metronome I forgot to turn off. And there is a weird harmony type thing in the middle of the bridge on the second song. I couldn't figure out how to delete that part out. I think I recorded it while playing the old track. Oops. I also realized that when I tweaked the guitar effects on "From Where I'm Standing" it made it really off tune. It didn't sound that bad until I actually listened to the song on full volume.

So here are my first recordings on Garage Band.

I don't even know if these files will work but we'll see.


Click to hear my take on Schuyler Fisk's "Hello"



Click to hear my take on Schuyler Fisk's "From Where I'm Standing"

Easy MSG-Free Asian Noodle Soup

Okay so I've come up with an easy noodle soup recipe. I took a couple recipes that I've seen and made my own. It ended up being pretty tasty. Don't be afraid to add more fish sauce or lime juice for extra flavor. Check it out!

Ingredients:
1 package of rice noodles
2 cans of chicken broth (14.5 oz each) I like to use MSG free
2 tbsp. of fresh minced ginger
1 piece of lemongrass or 1 tbsp of Gourmet Garden lemongrass (it's in a tube, much easier)
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast (thinly sliced)
2 tbsp. of fish sauce
handful of snow peas

Condiments:
mint leaves
Thai basil
bean sprouts
lime juice
Sriracha


Directions:

Combine chicken broth, 3 cups of water, fish sauce, ginger, lemongrass and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large pot boil water and cook rice noodles according to directions on package. Slightly undercook noodles.
Add thinly sliced chicken breast and snow peas to chicken broth mixture. Allow chicken to cook for at least 5 minutes. Add slightly undercooked noodles to broth. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Garnish dish with mint leaves, Thai basil, bean sprouts. Add fish sauce, lime juice and Sriracha according to taste.

Everyone Knows the Secretest Code of Mine

Okay so I think I am pretty much obsessed with murder mysteries because we've been watching so much Bones. I checked out a book by Kathy Reichs (producer/novelist/forensic anthropologist) and it is incredible! No seriously. I just stopped on a chapter where Temperance Brennan is about to be a humongous gator's lunch!

I'm reading Break No Bones. I don't know if these novels of Kathy Reichs go in any particular order but I am getting completely absorbed into the language. I took an anthropology class my freshman year at the U and I loved it. I like its application in novels nowadays. And also on tv. Even if it is a little mindless and absolutely alienating watching Bones, I love it.

I don't know why I brought up my recent obsession with Bones & murder mysteries. I think it's because Bones is always trying to create a dichotomy between psychology and anthropology (science). Sometimes it gets a bit trite. I get a little annoyed when Dr. Brennan says that she is all rational, doesn't rely on gut and uses her scientific knowledge to make logical decisions. Sometimes this "anthropological rationality" makes her absolutely infantile and frustrating to deal with. Agent Booth constantly has to lead her around by the hand, correct her misunderstandings of jargon and furthermore remind her when she is being spastic and mean.

I like the novels by Kathy Reichs (Bones is based on her novels) because Temperance Brennan is a normal human being. Her talents are extraordinary, but what makes her exceptional is her ability to comb through details of a person's life that are not necessarily scientific fact. Other than just examining bones, she can connect events and recall stories. She uses her emotional attachments to people to re-evaluate complex pieces of evidence.

I want to be like the novel version of Temperance because she is uniquely intelligent, bold, and able to make rational decisions while accepting her "gut reaction". She's a problem solver. She likes to be the one with the answers but accepts the responsibility of having to solve it if the evidence is insufficient.

I used to think that I wanted to be a scientist. I wanted to be a dermatologist in high school. That was until I took all humanities courses and realized that I actually enjoyed English. However, I'm starting to think that I'm still a scientist in my own way. The first day of my Renaissance Studies Seminar we were asked to give a reason for why we were English majors. Most said it was because they wanted to write. Many were already writing novels. My answer, of course, was vague and not specific. It wasn't until my professor said that the reason we were there was because we loved to solve problems: problems in language, plot, characters, everything.

So. I am a scientist! I kind of wish I was a little bit more knowledgeable about math and science. But that's why I have Graydon : ). I think that I enjoy reading these murder mystery novels because it reminds me of this quote from Northanger Abbey:

And what are you reading, Miss—?" "Oh! it is only a novel!" replies the young lady…in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor are conveyed to the world in the best chosen language.

So although novels (especially murder novels) might seem flippant, I enjoy the refreshing take on life, I truly agree that they display "the most thorough knowledge of human nature".

Yay murder mysteries!

rabble rabble rabble rabble

after a month of trying to play guitar, i can almost play the following songs.

painting by chagall by the weepies
try by nelly furtado
cherry tulips by headlights


and now i'm working on

sunnyroad by emiliana torrini
you were meant for me by jewel


i'm not very good and i'm getting really frustrated because i don't have a capo. that would be really useful right about now. peace.

Newlywed Cooking. For the newlywed. Yeah.

When Gray and I first got married I was nervous at the prospect of having to cook dinner every night.  Luckily I had the help of a Thai cooking background, advice from siblings, and wonderful recipes from in-laws. However there were still things I wasn't prepared for.  When I had previously been on my own I rarely cooked at home (the benefits of working in a restaurant I suppose).  When Gray and I started our home together i worried about how to do my grocery shopping: What do I buy? How should I stock my pantry and fridge without wasting food?  Is cheaper always better? I'm still learning about how to fill my pantry and fridge efficiently, but here are a few things I've discovered in my grocery shopping struggle. 

1. Staples for your Pantry

Have staple ingredients. This may depend on what type of foods you decide to cook but the following items are things I use frequently:

Thyme
Rosemary
Oregano
Herbs de Provence
Garlic powder ( I also keep a jar of minced garlic )
Salt/pepper
Cayenne pepper
Dill weed
Coriander
Basil
Mrs. Dash
Olive oil
Canola oil
Balsamic vinegar
White vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
Fish sauce
Low sodium soy sauce
Oyster sauce
Dijon mustard
Ketchup
Sugar (white and brown)
Flour
Rice (brown or white)
Bread crumbs
Eggs

This list of ingredients can be acquired over time. However your shopping list becomes a lot shorter after your basics are covered. 

2. Meal Planning with Proteins

Now that you have your basic seasonings, herbs and bases for sauces, you can put together a meal even if you don't have a recipe.  First, decide what proteins you want for the week. I usually aim for chicken breast, ground beef, and maybe turkey or pork loin. I like to reserve the rest of the week for meals not planned around a protein but use more grains and vegetables. This will help cut grocery costs and balance your diet. This also allows you to embrace some creativity in your cooking. You can switch it up and try a vegetarian stir-fry with yakisoba noodles or handmade meatballs with easy homemade spaghetti sauce.  

3. Choosing Vegetables 
 
Next, decide on your veggie list. Sometimes buying fresh vegetables is expensive. Mix it up by also buying frozen and canned vegetables. However, always try to include a fresh piece of veggie or fruit with your meals. Buy salads with dark lettuce. Spinach salads seem to last longer than iceberg. Toss spinach with different veggies every night. Try bell peppers and mushrooms on Monday. Romaine tomatoes and cucumbers on Tuesday.  Maybe try mandarin oranges and your favorite nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts) on Wednesday.  Use your pantry items to make a simple vinaigrette. Mix olive oil, Dijon mustard, and white vinegar with a little pinch of sugar. Pepper and salt to taste. 

3.  Strategic Grocery Shopping

Coupon clipping is a great way to save money, but sometimes it changes the way you plan your meals. If there is a buy 3 get 1 free deal for Hamburger Helper, you might find yourself eating boxed dinners every night, therefore depriving your diet of fresh vegetables and fruits. Try clipping coupons when they are pertinent to your cooking. Find coupons for spices and soups. Occasionally organic poultry products may have coupons so don't let new products scare you off: try them! You may end up loving it. 

Grocery shopping also begins with knowing what your menu will look like for the week. Consider food allergies, favorite foods (as well as not-so-favorite foods), and what seems to taste better when microwaved or reheated. I like to plan meals that use the same ingredients in different ways. For example, here is a menu I put together with these considerations.

Monday:
Balsamic steak & mushrooms with mashed red potatoes and green beans. Side salad. 

Tuesday:
Baked garlic and thyme red potatoes with green bean casserole. Side salad. 

Wednesday:
Leftovers or
Four cheese tortellini with homemade tomato sauce and garlic bread. 

Thursday: 
Steak with tomato, mushroom and onion sauce. Side salad. 

Friday:
Veggie fried rice with fried eggs. Optional side soup. 

Saturday: 
Leftovers (we usually don't have time to cook on Saturdays)

Sunday:
Pot roast with boiled Rosemary potatoes and onions. 

With this menu I tried to limit the meat intake but include tasty alternatives. Usually pasta or casseroles are good replacements and stir- fry will use smaller cuts of meat. This week, my grocery list would've looked like this:

2-4 Eye of round steaks
Bag of red potatoes (will last for a few weeks)
Green beans ( always freeze excess veggies for stews, broths or for steamed sides)
Mushrooms
4 fresh Roma tomatoes or 2 cans of diced Italian style tomatoes
Spinach salad 
Cheese tortellini
Eggs (if not already a staple)
Rice ( if not already a staple)
Large yellow or red onion
Pot roast