Monday’s Bread Bowl: Cold Kimchi Noodle Salad w/ Snap Beans

More Crisp Korean Fare

We revisit an old-favorite in this week’s noodle salad that’s seasoned with Kimchi sauce.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need: 

1 spatula 
1 large bowl 
10 cups water 

1 medium bowl 
1 colander 
1 stock pot 
1 package bean thread noodles 
At least 1/3 cup sugar or more to taste 
1 (8 oz.) jar kimchi base 
1/3 cup sesame oil 
1lb snap beans 
¼ cup palm white vinegar 

Cooking and Directions:

Heat 6 cups water in stock pot until boiling point then place dried bean thread noodles in large bowl.  Next, pour hot water into bowl with noodles until submerged. Let bean thread noodles soak and soften for 2 to 3 minutes then drain in colander. Return cooked noodles to large bowl.  Set aside.

Pour 4 cups water into stock pot then heat on stove until boiling point.  Add snap beans to pot and soak for 5 minutes then drain.  Split each snap bean length-wise at the center as shown.  Set aside.   

       

Combine kimchi base, sugar, vinegar, and sesame oil in medium bowl.  Add kimchi dressing to noodles and toss well. Finally, stir in snap beans then chill in fridge for at least 3 hours before serving.  

Wednesday’s Helping: Alternate Ingredients for Blackened Mango Chicken

Not only for birds

We suggest substituting the chicken in this week’s dish with a hearty type of fish, such as salmon or mahi-mahi.  Or what about grilling up prawns and scallops?  Again, the mango sauce creates a glaze and crust that prevents natural juices from seeping out of the fish or shellfish.  You can skewer the seafood to make shish kabobs.  Make sure to allocate a proportionate amount of time to marinade the alternate ingredients. 

Tuesday’s Cupful: Double Golden Fish Brand Mango Sauce

Sweet Tropical Dressing

The chicken appears charbroiled but we assure you that it’s yummy.  The seasoning sauces and hot grilling helped seal in the chicken’s juices and flavors.  The Mixed Stew crew used Double Golden Fish Brand Mango Sauce to “offset” the rich soy sauce flavor in the marinade.  A (12.7 oz.) bottle of mango sauce is fairly priced under $5.00 at H-Mart.  This particular sauce also contains hints chili pepper so it’s spicier, too.  Remember that real mangoes constitute a very sweet serving of fiber in every bite.   

Monday’s Bread Bowl: Blackened Mango Chicken

 Sticky and Tangy BBQ Chicken

This was on the menu over the July 4^th weekend.  The Mixed Stew familia had to lick our lips and fingers over this rendition of BBQ Chicken.   Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 large plastic container w/ lid

1 pair of tongs
1 large purple onion, sliced into rings

4 garlic toes, sliced small

6 – 8 chicken leg quarters

1 (12.7 oz.) bottle Double Golden Fish Brand mango sauce

1/3 cup soy sauce

½ tablespoon red pepper flakes

1 Outdoor BBQ Grill with open-flame, at 300 degrees F

1 platter for serving

Cooking & Directions:

Combine chicken parts, onion, and garlic in large container.  Add soy sauce, mango sauce, and pepper flakes.  Toss and coat chicken parts with tidbits and spices.  Cover with lid and place in refrigerator overnight to marinate.  Pull container out of refrigerator in the morning and turn chicken legs over in marinade to ensure a thorough seasoning.  Cover and place back in fridge.

Prepare grill and fire for cooking.  Take chicken out of the fridge at least 1 hour before fire is really ready for grilling.  THE GRILL MUST BE HOT.  Place poultry on grill.  Let chicken parts cook on each side for 8-10 minutes (depending on size).  Expect chicken skin to blacken as shown.  Place fully-cooked legs on platter.  Let chicken rest for 5 or 10 minutes then serve immediately.                    

Tuesday’s Cupful: Background on Shzam Jalapeno Poppers

Holy fried peppers

Bite into mouthfuls of capsaicin and you’ll feel the heat.  Our Shzam Jalapeno Poppers, however, also pack another spicy surprise: crushed wasabi peas.  Yup…the Mixed Stew crew combines a Latin-American mainstay with a traditionally Asian ingredient in this week’s recipe.  Meanwhile, the melted cheese cuts the heat with a rich and creamy filling.   Remember intake of capsaicin in most hot peppers also increases the human body’s metabolic rate so it’s healthy for everyone.           

Monday’s Bread Bowl: Shzam Jalapeno Poppers

Packed with cheese and heat

The Mexican tradition gets a two or more unexpected twists in this week’s yummy dish.  Here’s the recipe: 

What you will need:

1 fry-pan

1 serving dish

1 cup vegetable oil

3 medium-sized mixing bowls

6 or 8 Jalapeno peppers

1/3 cup cilantro, minced

1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled

1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons green onion, thinly sliced

2 whole eggs

½ cup milk

½ cup wasabi peas, crushed

½ cup panko breadcrumbs

Cooking and Directions:

Combine feta cheese, mozzarella cheese, green onion, cilantro, and one whole egg in a mixing bowl.  Mix well.  Set aside.  Make an incision, going lengthwise, into each Jalapeno then stuff with cheese mixture.  Repeat for each pepper.  Pour breadcrumbs into another mixing bowl.  Add crushed wasabi peas.  Mix well to form breading for poppers.  Set aside, too.  Now, beat 1 whole egg and 1/3 cup milk in a third bowl.   

Preheat fry-pan on medium-high heat for at least 3 minutes.  Allow the oil to get hot enough for frying.  Dip each stuffed pepper in egg mixture then roll in breadcrumbs.  Place each coated jalapeno in fry pan to brown and crisp up (3-5 minutes).  Turn peppers at least once while frying.  Remove fried poppers to serving dish.  Serve immediately.                         

Wednesday's Helping: Eggplant Breakfast

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from June 15th thru June 19th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of Guam faves. The Mixed Stew will be back on June 22nd with even more yummy posts. 

Post originally from August 7, 2009

Waking up to a yummy surprise

A reader (Thanks, Jenel of Arizona!) of The Mixed Stew asked for a recipe for egg-wash fried eggplant, which apparently more residents on Guam had for breakfast than we could have even imagined. Mom makes this healthy breakfast entree, which usually is gobbled up in a jiffy. The cooked vegetable absorbs and extends the egg flavors. It is fine served alone with that traditional Guam breakfast starch -- steamed white rice. Or serve the eggplant with breakfast meat.

Fried eggplant -- an "almost" omelet

What you will need:

1 sauce pan
1 medium-size bowl (filled with ice water)
1 frying pan
spatula
1 shallow casserole dish
3 cups water
6 Japanese eggplants *(see Helpful Hint below)
4 large eggs or 5 medium eggs
¼ cup milk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Pinch of salt and pepper

Cooking and Directions

Combine eggs, pepper, salt, and milk in the casserole dish. Beat egg mixture well and set aside. Start off sauce pan on high heat with water. Bring to a boil. Slice eggplants in half (lengthwise). Place eggplants into boiling water. Let the eggplants cook until just soft. Remove eggplants and immediately submerge them in bowl of ice water. Next, take them out of ice water bath. Let excess liquid drain off and pat dry with paper towel.

Now, heat up frying pan on medium high heat. Add oil to heated pan. Dip eggplants in egg mixture. Immediately place dipped eggplants in frying pan. Let them brown slightly, or more if you prefer, on one side. The timing will vary depending on the thickness of the eggplant. Turn over each piece once and let brown on other side.

*Helpful hint: You can also use the round Italian eggplants for a version of this. Simply cut the large eggplant into 1/8-inch slices or thinner, blanch each slice in boiling water to soften and then dip pieces into the egg wash so that each side is coated. Then fry in heated pan with oil like above.

Tuesday's Cupful: Pork Ribs Adobo w/ Spinach

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from June 15th thru June 19th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of Guam faves. The Mixed Stew will be back on June 22nd with even more yummy posts. 

Post originally from April 1, 2013

A healthier serving

There are many different versions of adobo.  This one includes spinach so expect more nutrition in every bite.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 large stock pot w/ lid

1 wooden spoon

2 and ½ lbs pork riblets, cut into pieces

1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

3 tbspns soy paste

2 tbspns canola oil

1 cup water

1 bunch spinach, chopped
1 zuchinni, chopped small

Pinch of salt and pepper

Cooking & Directions:

Heat pot at medium-high heat.  Add cooking oil, onion, and garlic.  Let ingredients sautee.  Stir well until onion turns translucent.  Pour in pork riblets and let them brown for 10 minutes.  Pour in water and reduce heat to medium-low.  Let pork braise for 25 minutes in covered pot.  Mix in soy paste and add veggies to braising ingredients.  Mix well.  Throw in pinch of salt and pepper.  Let ingredients braise for another 15 to 20 minutes.  Serve with steamed rice or brown rice.

Monday's Bread Bowl: Chamorro Sausage

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from June 15th thru June 19th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of Guam faves. The Mixed Stew will be back on June 22nd with even more yummy posts. 

Post originally from November 30, 2009

A homemade link to Guam

Many ethnic cuisines have their own variety of sausage. There is German bratwurst and Portuguese linguica. At nearby supermarkets we can find Mexican, Salvadoran, and Argentinian chorizos. And so, it comes as no surprise that a Pacific island where European seafarers landed has a sausage of its own. The explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, "discovered" Guam and its Chamorro people in 1521. The island was occupied by Spain until 1898. Chamorro sausage has a milder flavor than Spanish chorizo. Additionally, there are no minty or green herbs in Chamorro sausage. Less is more with garlic, paprika, and annatto (achiote) seasoning this yummy sausage. Katsons makes and sells packaged links. Look for Chamorro sausage in the freezer aisle at most of Guam’s grocery stores. Local restaurants may serve a loose meat Chamorro sausage. These restaurants usually serve Chamorro sausage with fried eggs and steamed rice. Here is our recipe for homemade Chamorro sausage:

What you will need:

1 medium-sized bowl
1 wooden spoon
2/3 cup datu puti (Filipino cane vinegar)*
3 lbs ground pork
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 small yellow onion, minced
3 teaspoons paprika
3 tablespoons annatto (achiote) seasoning
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons onion powder
3 teaspoons salt
Pinch of black pepper

Preparation:

Place all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Next, chill seasoned meat in fridge for at least 48 hours. To prepare, heat frying pan on medium heat and coat with a bit of cooking oil, add sausage mixture and brown well. Otherwise, freeze in Ziploc bags for later use.

*Helpful hint: We get datu puti at a nearby Asian supermarket. Palm vinegar also is good for this recipe. In a pinch, apple cider vinegar would be better to use than regular, clear distilled vinegar.

Tuesday's Cupful: Spicy Vietnamese Fried Chicken Drumsticks

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from May 4th thru May 8th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of hot and spicy repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on May 11th with even more yummy posts. 

Post from December 2nd, 2013

A lips’ smacking hot and crispy treat

The flavors of soy-sauce and sweetened chili sauce make this a worthwhile and succulent dish.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 fry-pan or cast-iron skillet

2 ½ cups canola oil

1 metal tablespoon

1 serving plate

1 pair metal thongs

1 large bowl w/ lid

1 small bowl, glass

8 – 12 chicken drumsticks, thawed

2 cups rice flour

1 large plastic bag, Ziploc

¼ cup soy sauce

1 large shallot, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

Juice of ½ lime

3 tablespoons hot chili paste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

Cooking & Directions:

Place chicken drumsticks in large bowl.  Add soy sauce and toss pieces.  Cover with lid and let marinade for at least 3 hours (turn at least once).  

Pour rice flour into plastic bag.  Add drumsticks to bag and toss well.  Therefore, dredging and coating the chicken pieces in rice flour.  Set aside.   

Heat pan on medium-high heat.  Add cooking oil.  Let pan reach adequate frying temperature.  Carefully place chicken in hot oil to fry until done.  Cooking should take roughly 10 – 12 minutes on each side (depending on the mass and size of the drumsticks).  The chicken should turn golden brown and crispy.  Set aside on serving plate to rest.

Once chicken is done frying, remove all except roughly ¼ cup frying oil from pan.  Return pan to heat.  Sautee shallot and garlic until translucent in pan drippings then add chili sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and fish sauce.  The sugar should dissolve forming a glaze sauce.

Monday's Bread Bowl: Spicy Hot Tuna Salad

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from May 4th thru May 8th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of hot and spicy repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on May 11th with even more yummy posts. 

Post from October 17,2011

The Mixed Stew crew loves spicy foods. We tweaked traditional tuna salad and added pepper, cilantro, and garlic to make a tuna salad that’s sizzling. Anyone eating a serving will forget that its served chilled. Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 wooden spoon
1 medium-sized bowl
Plastic wrap
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced (or 1/2 teaspoon dried cilantro)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/2 garlic clove, minced
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped small
2 (5 oz.) portions of canned tuna, drained
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 green jalapeno, diced small
Pinch of salt

Preparation and Directions:

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in fridge for 1 to 3 hours before serving.

Wednesday’s Helping: Alternative Ingredients for Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Steaks done better

We recommend using sirloin, minute, or chuck steak instead of flank.  Remember that leaner cuts should not be cooked until well-done if you desire more appetizing and tender servings.  Meanwhile, substitute the soy sauce with a solid rubbing of plain sea salt or coarse salt.  Wanna kick it up a notch in terms of pungent spices?  Use fish sauce instead of soy sauce for a more fragrant but tasty steak.     

Tuesday’s Cupful: Background on Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Island steak on-the-fly

The Mixed Stew crew enjoyed this menu item growing up in Guam.  Grilled flank steak, sliced butterfly-style, was always a yummy site to see and eat.  The Chamorro cooks also piled oodles and oodles of onion rings piled on top for good measure.  The reliable combination soy sauce and lemon juice forms a potent sauce that complements this mean cut’s natural juices and flavors.   

   

Monday’s Bread Bowl: Chamorro-Style Flank Steak

Island-style grilled steak

The tougher steak cut becomes more palatable with simple seasoning and searing.  Here’s the recipe: 

What you will need:

1 large serving plate

1 cast-iron skillet

3 tablespoons canola oil

2 ½ lbs flank steak

3 garlic toes, pilled

1 large yellow onion, sliced into rings

3 tablespoons soy sauce

Juice of 1 lemon

Salt and black pepper to taste

Cooking and Directions: 

Cut into the flank steak in a sideways motion in “butterfly-style” as shown.  Season and rub steak with black pepper and salt.  Heat skillet on medium-high heat.  Grease pan with canola oil.  Throw in garlic toes and repeatedly slide across bottom of pan.  Next, place steak in hot pan.  Let steak sear on both sides for 5 to 7 minutes.  Repeat for all steak pieces.  Place steaks on serving plate.  Keep pan on heat.  Add onion rings and let them sautee until softer.  Toss well.  Pour in lemon juice and soy sauce.  Toss onions again.  Pile onions and pour sauce over steaks.  Serve immediately.          

Wednesday’s Helping: Alternative Ingredients for Ham-N-Cheese Puto

Lil’ morsels that satisfy

We think that simple ingredients make the whole dish in this week’s recipe.  Remember that bacon, Canadian bacon, and luncheon meat can substitute for the ham in a pinch.  If you don’t have cilantro, plain Italian parsley or leafy basil will provide similar flavor interests.  Lastly, use chopped American cheese singles, Velveeta, or even shredded mozzarella instead of the shredded cheddar cheese for some variety.   

 

Tuesday’s Cupful: Background on Ham –N- Cheese Puto

Such a ham revisit

Ham has the flavor, and then some, needed to serve as the meaty ingredient in stuffing this ol’ Filipino staple.  Remember that puto literally means “rice cake.”  These rice cakes possess a semisweet taste that’s off-set by the smokey ham and melted cheese.  Meanwhile, the Mixed Stew crew added cilantro for a twist.  The herb provides a minty flavor component, which cuts through the sharpness of the cheese and ham.            

Monday’s Bread Bowl: Ham –N- Cheese Puto w/ Cilantro, Too

Yummy cheese buns

The Mixed Stew satisfies anyone’s cravings for East meets West in this week’s selection.  These puto buns are stuffed with bite-sized pieces of ham, shredded cheese and spicy cilantro.  Here’s the recipe:

What you need:

1 medium-sized bowl

1 metal steamer

5 cups water

2 packages from inside the box of White King brand puto mix (contains two packets inside)

1 cup sugar

10 tspns cooking oil

8 -12 puto molds, (substitute 8 -12 heatproof teacups)

2/3 cup ham, diced small

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

½ cup cilantro, minced

Cooking and Directions:

Fill 3 cups water into double boiler and place on stove at high heat.   Meanwhile, combine ingredients to mix and make puto batter in medium-sized bowl.  Fill molds half-way with batter then sprinkle in pieces of ham, cilantro, and a small portion of cheddar cheese.  Fill molds with more batter to cover ham and other tidbits.  Place molds in steamer to cook for 25 minutes.  Serve immediately or let cool and pack away for later.

Wednesday's Helping:Sweet Quesadillas

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from April 6th thru April 10th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of sweet repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on April 13th with even more yummy posts. Happy Easter!

Post originally from May 7, 2012

A dessert with Mexican flair

The savory version of this food item tends to be a favorite for lunch and dinner.  Here’s a luscious dessert rendition:

What you will need:

1 metal spoon

1 metal spatula

1 chef’s knife

1 medium-sized bowl

1 cutting board

1 fry-pan or skillet

1 serving plate

2 large flour tortillas

½ cup cream cheese

1 ripe banana, thinly sliced

½ cup dried cranberries

3 tblspn honey or maple butter

Butter

1 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon, ground

Optional: 

Whipped topping

Cooking and Directions:

Layout one flour tortilla on cutting board.  Smear and spread cream cheese on one-half and one side of tortilla.  Then add a layer of dried cranberries, sliced banana, sprinkled cinnamon, and honey (or maple butter).  Fold over clean tortilla flap to form quesadilla.  Press down firmly.  Heat up skillet at medium-high heat.  Add a pat of butter to skillet and grease bottom of pan.  Next, carefully position quesadilla into skillet.  Let quesadilla cook on each side for 1 to 3 minutes until nicely browned.  Repeat process for second tortilla.  Cut cooked quesadillas into wedges with chef’s knife and serve with whipped topping.  

Tuesday's Cupful: Healthier Coconut Cream Pie

The Mixed Stew is going on hiatus from April 6th thru April 10th.  We hope everyone enjoys a week of sweet repeats. The Mixed Stew will be back on April 13th with even more yummy posts. Happy Easter!

Post originally from August 4, 2014 

A chocolate edge, too

The Mixed Stew has been concocting this sweet sensation for some time.  Here’s the recipe:

What you will need:

1 flat cookie sheet

1 (8 or 9 inch) pie pan

1 medium-sized bowl

1 food processor

Non-stick Cooking Spray

½ cup powdered sugar

1 (12 oz.) pack soft tofu

1 (12 oz.) pack firm tofu

3 tablespoons vanilla extract

¾ cups coconut, shredded

2 ½ cups dark chocolate Cheerios, crushed into crumbs for crust

½ cup butter, softened

Pinch of salt

Cooking and Directions:

Combine crushed cereal with butter in bowl.  Work butter and crumbs into round ball of dough for pie crust. Place in fridge for 15 minutes.  Preheat oven at 325 degrees.  Grease pie pan with cooking spray.  Then take out chilled dough and press into pie pan to form crust. Place pan on cookie sheet and place in oven.  Let crust bake for 20 minutes.  Remove crust oven from oven.  Let crust cool to room temperature.

Place tofu in food processor.  Add powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla extract.  Process tofu for 3 to 4 minutes until smooth and creamy.  Pour tofu mixture into cooled pie pan and spread to form creamy layer of filling.  Sprinkle top of pie with shredded coconut and rest of cereal crumbs.  Place pie in fried for at least 3 hours to set for serving.  Serve cold.