Fried Okra Take 2

I tried a new way of frying Okra the other night and I was so happy with it that I had to share.  Instead of cutting Okra into little chunks, you slice it lengthwise. What you get is thinner and therefore crispier pieces of Okra - what a revelation! I also used a combination of Corn Flour and Cornmeal so more of it stays on, thereby giving it more crunch. I served it with Tomato Chutney and I couldn't stop eating it. I'm going to make Okra this way from now on - it's wonderful!

Fried Okra Take 2

1 pound fresh Okra

1 Egg White (from a large egg)

1/3 cup Corn Flour

2/3 cup medium Corn Meal

1 teaspoon Seasoned Salt (I used Creole Seasoning)

Oil

Heat several cups of Oil in a pan with high sides.  Rinse the Okra and pat dry with paper towels.  Cut each piece of Okra lengthwise into 3 slices.

Put the Egg White into a mixing bowl. Add in the Okra slices and coat thoroughly. In another bowl, mix together the Corn Flour, Corn Meal and Seasoned Salt. Add to the Okra and toss thoroughly. 

Drop several pieces of Okra into the hot oil. Cook until light golden brown. Remove to a paper covered towel plate. When all the pieces of Okra are cooked, serve with the sauce of your choice.

Five Element Analysis

Okra is a fast growing green vegetable so it definitely belongs primarily to the Wood Element, but it's mucilaginous natures makes it a little Earthy too, which makes it very good for your digestion.  The Corn Meal and Corn Flour brings in the Earth Element and frying them crisp makes them Fiery too. A hint of Fire is also in the Creole Seasoning as it is a bit spicy. Luckily the Fire Element is also present in the Tomato Chutney. The Water and Wood Elements are missing so be sure to serve this as a starter to a meal that incorporates foods from those elements too. 

Simple Browned Butter Trumpet Mushrooms

I'm on a Mushroom kick and I've found a new favorite - Trumpet Mushrooms. They have a very thick stem and a relatively small cap so the stem is the most important part. Cut into rings, it has a texture much like Scallops when cooked, so my son calls them Mushroom Scallops. My favorite way to cook them is in Browned Butter. This involves simply getting the Butter hot enough to foam and subside. This starts the browning process. Then you reduce the temperature  to medium when you add the Mushrooms. After cooking them for about 3 minutes, the Butter will be nice and browned and the Trumpet Mushrooms are done. I season them very with Sea Salt and just a bit of Garlic at the end so it doesn't burn. Trumpet Mushrooms cooked this way are simply delicious!

Browned Butter Trumpet Mushrooms

4 large Trumpet Mushrooms, wiped off or rinsed and dried

3 Tablespoon Salted Butter

1 small Garlic Clove, minced very fine

pinch of Sea Salt

Cut the Trumpet Mushroom stems into rounds about 1/4 inch.  Then cut the cap of the Mushroom in half or if large, into quarters. 

Melt the Butter over high heat in a frying pan until the Butter foams and then subsides. Add in the Mushrooms and lower heat to medium. Cook for about 2 1/2 minutes, stirring often.  Then add in the Salt and Garlic and cook for about 30 seconds more, stirring frequently. Serve immediately.

Five Element Analysis

Mushrooms belong to the Earth Element, which makes this is a fundamentally Earthy dish. The Garlic and Butter contribute the Metal Element. This then is a dish that is best served with other dishes that bring in the missing Water, Wood and Fire Elements. 

Almond Chews

Every Christmas I try to add another cookie to the cookie tin and this year I resurrected an old favorite that I haven't made in years. It's a really simple recipe using Almond Paste, Sugar and Egg White, which makes it naturally gluten free. It's a lovely chewy cookie with a delightful almond flavor. I believe it is an Italian cookie. I'm sorry to say that i don't remember where I got the recipe and it was probably from the back of the box of Almond Paste. I tweaked the original recipe to reduce the amount of Sugar, as it is very sweet and I think the Powdered Sugar added at the end is necessary. This recipe only makes 12 cookies, but it can easily be doubled. My son says it tastes just like the inside of an Almond Croissant and that's a good thing!

Almond Chews

1  7 ounce package of Almond Paste (Gluten Free and not Marzipan)

1/3 cup of Sugar

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1 Egg White from a large Egg

1/3 cup Powdered Sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Break up the Almond Paste into pieces  as small as you can make them and put into the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor. Add in the Sugar and Salt and process until it is broken down the consistency of brown sugar. 

In another bowl, beat the Egg White with a wire whisk until it is smooth and fluffy (about 2 minutes).

Then add the Egg Whites to the Almond mixture and mix on a high speed until a dough is formed.

Pour the Powdered Sugar into a shallow bowl. From 12 balls of the Almond Cookie dough and roll each in the Powdered Sugar until coated.

Place onto a Silpat-lined or parchment=lined baking pan, press down lightly and cook for about 15 minutes or until the tops are  lightly browned. Remove from oven and leave on the baking for about 2 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Five Element Analysis

This is a very sweet cookie so you know that it's primarily the Earth Element and Almonds are from the Earth Element too so this is an especially Earthy Cookie. The Egg White adds a bit of the Water Element, but it's by no means a balanced treat. Serve it with Coffee or Tea to bring in some Fire and serve after a meal containing the other elements. 

Simple Split Pea Soup

I have jars of Grains, Beans and Pulses on my kitchen counter to inspire me to use them and last night I made Split Pea Soup as my son asked me for the recipe. It's so easy and actually so fast to make. You can add meat if you like -  Ham, Smoked Sausage or Bacon, or it can easily be made Vegetarian with no loss of flavor. It's creaminess comes from the mashed up cooked Peas and from the Potato. I serve it with Garlic Bread and sprinkle on Cavender's Greek Seasoning. t's healthy, satisfying and a perfect week night winter dinner! 

Simple Split Pea Soup

2 cups Green Split Peas, rinsed

2 Carrots, trimmed and peeled and diced

2 Celery Stalks, trimmed and  diced

1 medium Onion, trimmed, peeled and diced

1 large or 2 small Potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups of Chicken or Vegetable Broth

4 cups Water

1 1/2  teaspoons Salt

1/4 teaspoon Pepper

1 Bay Leaf

Optional:  1 cup of diced Ham, Sausage or Bacon pieces

In a large soup pot, add in the Split Peas, Carrots, Celery, Onion and Potatoes. Then add in the Broth, Water, Salt, Pepper and Bay Leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Skim foam that comes up. Cook, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. Test Peas to see if they are done and if they are still hard, cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Remove the Bay Leaf. Using a Potato Masher, lightly mash down on the soup several times. If you are adding in Meat, do so now and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Five Element Analysis

This is a soup, which automatically makes it a Water food, but it is so thick that it also incorporates some of the Earth Element.  Peas, being Pulses bring in more of the Earth Element although their green color brings in a bit of the Wood Element too. The Potatoes and Carrots also contribute more of the Earth Element. The Celery and Chicken or Vegetable Broth add more of the Wood Element and the Onions and Bay Leaf make sure the Metal Element is present too  Only the Fire Element is missing, so serve a lovely dessert incorporating some Fire Element fruits.

Japanese Braised Kabocha Squash

I always like to have an Asian side dish at Thanksgiving to honor my heritage. I'm half Chinese and  spent my early years in Japan so I usually add a vegetable that is Chinese or Japanese. The one that I will make this year is Japanese Braised Kabocha Squash. It's very easy to make and only takes about 20 minutes to cook and the prep can be done in advance. The Kabocha Squash is cooked in broth (usually Dash, but I used Chicken Broth  and sometimes use Vegetable Broth for my Vegan friends) seasoned with Tamari, Mirin and Green Onions. I like the savory flavor for Squash more than sweet and this braise gives it a wonderful exotic taste just perfect with Rice, which of course I do serve along with the Dressing!

Japanese Braised Kabocha Squash

1 Kabocha Squash

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

2 Green Onions, trimmed and cut into 2 inch lengths

1 1/2 Tablespoons Tamari

1 1/2 Tablespoons Mirin or Rice Wine

1/2 cup Chicken Broth, Vegetable Broth or Dashi

1/2 - 1 teaspoon Sugar

Cut the Kabocha Squash in half and remove seeds. Then cut into wedges (about 2 inches wide).  Peel each wedge with a vegetable peeler and then cut in half to make them about 3 inches long.  

Mix the Tamari, Mirin, Broth and Sugar together in a small bowl. Taste and add more Sugar if desired.  

Heat Oil in a frying pan with a lid. Add the Green Onions and cook until you can smell the fragrance. Add in the Kabocha Squash and then add in the Broth mixture. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 - 20 minutes or until fork tender.  

Five Element Analysis

Squashes are very sweet and orange so they belong to the Earth Element. The Chicken Broth contributes the Wood Element. The Tamari belongs to the Water Element. The Mirin or Rice Wine is from the Fire Element and the Green Onions bring in the Metal Element. All the Elements are present in this one dish!

Chard with Balsamic Glaze and Pine Nuts

I've been auditioning vegetable dishes to add to my Thanksgiving table next week. I like to change up the vegetables every year since the main dishes are always the same - Turkey, Dressing, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Cranberry Sauce. So the other night I decided to sauté a big bunch of Chard with Garlic and added some Balsamic Glaze and toasted Pine Nuts. Balsamic Glaze is reduced and thickened Balsamic Vinegar so that it becomes sweet and tangy. If you can't find it, you can make your own by boiling down Balsamic Vinegar until it becomes thick. This dish takes so little time to make and was so good that I ate the whole thing by myself in one sitting. So this dish is definitely showing up next week and I will have to double or triple the recipe so everyone !can have some!

Chard with Balsamic Glaze and Pine Nuts

1 large bunch Red Chard or Rainbow Chard

1 large Garlic Clove, minced

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon of Balsamic Glaze

1/4 cup Pine Nuts

Wash the Chard and pull off from the Stem and cut into bite size pieces or ribbons.  

In a frying pan, toast the Pine Nuts over medium heat until they are lightly toasted and reserve.

Heat the Olive Oil in the same Pan and add in the Garlic, cooking until you can smell the fragrance. Add in the Chard and stir quickly to sauté all of it.  Sprinkle on the Salt and add the Balsamic Glaze. Stir thoroughly and plate.  Sprinkle with Pine Nuts and serve.

Five Element Analysis

Chard is a leafy green vegetable so it belongs to the Wood Element but the red undertone gives it a bit of Fire too.  The Balsamic Glaze contributes the Wood Element because it is made from Vinegar although the sweetness also gives it a bit of the Earth Element. The Garlic brings in a little of the Metal Element. This dish is mostly from the Wood Element so it contributes well to any meal needing more of that Element.  

Chopped Larb Salad

I love Chopped Salads as you get so much more of everything in each forkful. I make them frequently. But yesterday, I was in the mood for some Thai Flavors and so I combined the traditional ingredients of Lamb with the accompanying vegetable pieces all together. Larb is ground Chicken or Pork sautéed with Shallots and then mixed with a Thai Vinaigrette of Lime Juice, Brown Sugar and Fish Sauce. It usually comes with a hunk of Green Cabbage, a few slices of Cucumber and some wedges of Tomato. So I put them all together in little bits! I used both Green and Red Cabbage since it is so much more colorful along with some Green Onion tops, chopped Tomatoes, chopped Cucumber, Mint and Cilantro.  I think this might work really well with cooked Quinoa too. I loved this Chopped Larb Salad so much that I will probably never make Larb again the traditional way!

Chopped Larb Salad 

3 1/2 cup Green Cabbage, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup Red Cabbage, cut into small pieces

1 small Cucumber or 1/2 large Cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 large Tomato, seeds removed, cut into a dice

2 slender Green Onions, green part only cut into small pieces

1/2 cup loosely packed Mint Leaves

1/2 cup loosely packed Cilantro Leaves

1 Shallot, peeled and cut into small pieces

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

1 pound of ground Chicken 

1/2 teaspoon Salt

For Dressing:

1/3 cup fresh squeezed Lime Juice (the juice of about 1 1/2 - 2 Limes)

2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce

2 - 2 1/2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

pinch of Chili Flakes

Mix tougher the Cabbages, Cucumber, Tomato, Green Onion pieces along with the Mint and Cilantro Leaves in a large salad bowl.

In a small bowl, mix tougher the Lime Juice Fish Sauce, Brown Sugar and Chili Flakes.  

Heat the Oil in a frying pan and add the Shallots. Cook until they just become translucent and then add in the Ground Chicken and sprinkle with the Salt. Cook until the Chicken is no longer pink.  Add in the Dressing and stir quickly.  Then pour her the Salad ingredients and toss. Serve immediately.

Five Element Analysis

This is a colorful salad so you can be sure that it covers most of the Elements. The Cabbage, Cucumber  and Brown Sugar all bring in the Earth Element, whereas the Chicken contributes the Wood Element along with the Lime Juice. The Fire Element is present in the Tomatoes and the Chili Pepper Flakes. The Green Onions, Shallot, Mint and Cilantro contribute the Metal Element and the Fish Sauce makes sure the Water Element is there too. This then is quite a balanced Five Element meal all by itself!