Bánh Mì

Inspiration:
My love for bánh mì and a marinade from Cooking Light, seen on Elizabeth's blog.


Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
  
• 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
  
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 1 pound flank steak, trimmed
• sliced fresh jalapeños, shredded carrots, and cilantro
• baguette

Instructions:

1. To prepare steak, combine first 6 ingredients in a large flat dish. Add steak; cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes, turning occasionally.

2. Prepare grill or broiler.

3. Remove steak from refrigerator; discard marinade. Place steak on grill rack or broiler pan lightly coated with oil; cook until desired doneness.
   
   
4. Slice steak against the grain; pile on baguette with veggies. Top with fish sauce or a combination of fish sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice, and sugar.

Notes: These were delicious, but I probably won't make them again. Why? Because we are lucky enough to be able to purchase bánh mì from many nearby Vietnamese-owned restaurants for about $2.50 each. If I didn't have that option, I would be making this often.


Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Sour Cream Halibut

Inspiration:
Penzeys magazine: One


Ingredients:

• 1 c. white wine
  
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 lb. halibut fillet, cut into 2-3 portions
  
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, divided
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion
  
• paprika

Instructions:

1. Mix wine and salt; marinate fish for one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
3. Dip fish pieces in 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Place in greased baking dish.
4. Mix together sour cream, mayonnaise, and onion. Spread over top of fish pieces and top with remaining breadcrumbs. Sprinkle with paprika.
5. Bake until fish is flaky and opaque in center, about 20 minutes.
   

Notes: You'll either think this sounds good, or you won't. I am not really into creamy fish dishes, but this was pretty good. Next time I will reduce the amount of mayonnaise.

Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: 8.5/10

Scallion-Chicken Noodles

Inspiration:
What Did You Eat?


Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• 3/4 pound fresh Chinese noodles (or dry linguine)
• 1/4 cup peanut oil
• 1 cup finely chopped scallions
• 1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
• Pinch of sugar
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves

Instructions:

1. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the chicken thighs and bring back to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes. Drain the chicken and cut it into 1-inch pieces.
   
   
2. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the noodles according to package directions until tender. Drain, shaking out the excess water.
   
   
3. Wipe out the pot. Add the peanut oil and heat until shimmering. Add the scallions and ginger and cook over moderately low heat until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the noodles and chicken along with the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Cook over moderately high heat, tossing, until the noodles are coated and heated through, about 1 minute. Toss in the cilantro, transfer to bowls and serve.

Notes: Fast and easy! I didn't get a great photo, but I highly recommend this for a weeknight meal. I am sure it would be as tasty if you subbed pressed firm tofu for the chicken.

Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

TWD: Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

This week's TWD recipe was chosen by Heather of Sherry Trifle, who should post the recipe sometime today. You can also find it on page 212 of Dorie's book.

I had never made gingerbread before--I am not a huge fan of molasses, and I think that's why I didn't love this recipe. I must say the icing is amazing! I used an 8x11-inch pan, and the batter fit perfectly.


Liz's Rating: 7.5/10 (9.5/10 for the icing)
Tim's Rating: 8/10


Next week on TWD: World Peace Cookies

The Lemonade Award!

Many thanks to Uncanny for the Lemonade Award!Here are the rules:

• Add the logo in your blog.
• Add a link to the person who gave you the award.
• Nominate 10 other (refreshing…like lemonade) blogs of your choice.
• Don’t forget to add links to those blogs in yours.
• Also leave a message for your nominees in their blogs, informing them about the award.
  

10 cooking blogs that are as refreshing as lemonade (in no particular order):

Two Peas and Their Pod: Maria has fabulous recipes!

Food alla Puttanesca: This couple seems to have the same taste in food as we do; I love her recipes.

Fresh from Cate's Kitchen: Watch this cook eat her way around Thailand as she lives there teaching English.

Cara's Cravings: Another great source for inventive recipes for the home cook!

It's Finally Happening: I love Erin's take on life in the Twin Cities, and she has great recipes too!

Eggs on Sunday: Tasty, healthy recipes that I love!

Good Things Catered: My favorite source for entertaining and menu ideas! I also enjoy her recipes with Lebanese influences.

Amber's Delectable Delights: The name says it all! She has a lot of great baking recipes.

Elizabeth's Edible Experience: I can't wait to try her champagne risotto recipe!

Taste and Tell: I have a ton of Deborah's recipes on my to-make list!

Squash with Mexican Flavors

Inspiration:
Adapted from Emily's blog, originally from the cooking school Chez Cherie.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups butternut squash cubes
  
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  
• salt and pepper
  
• chili powder
  
• drizzle of olive oil
  
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  
• 1/4 cup spicy green salsa
  
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed
  
• 1 1/2 cups grated Mexican-blend cheese

Instructions:

1. Place the squash cubes and onion on a baking sheet, and season with salt, pepper and chili powder to taste.

2. Drizzle with olive oil and roast until squash is tender, about 18-20 minutes.

3. Toss roasted squash with drained beans, salsa, corn and cheese. Heat in a covered skillet until warmed through. Remove from heat, adjust seasonings to taste, sprinkle with cheese, and cover until cheese melts.

Notes: We really enjoyed this new flavor combination. We used Mrs. Renfro's Green Salsa, which is really spicy. We added some sour cream to counteract the heat and because sour cream is good!

Tim's Rating: 8.5/10
Liz's Rating: 8.5/10

Portobello Mushroom Fries

Inspiration:
Big City Cooking


Ingredients:

• 4 portobello mushrooms
  
• 1 c. all purpose flour
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 c. panko bread crumbs
  
• salt and pepper
  
• Olive oil
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Make assembly line with flour, eggs, and bread crumbs. Slice mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Dredge mushrooms in flour, eggs, and bread crumbs. Place on oiled pan.
   
2. Drizzle with extra oil and put in oven and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Notes:
These are best fresh out of the oven.I served these with my Tomato Basil Soup and a salad with a basic balsamic vinaigrette. They would also be delicious as an appetizer, served with a tomato-based dipping sauce.


Tim's Rating: 8/10
Liz's Rating: 8.5/10