Category Archives: Lunch/Dinner

5-Day Grub Plan

Posted in Health & Fitness, Lunch/Dinner by
Spicy Rice with Mixed Veggies

Spicy Rice with Mixed Veggies

“I don’t have time to cook everyday.”

This is a statement I hear all the time. And it’s true- most working people are so busy that they do not have time to cook everyday. So a typical lunch consists of something easy to get at a restaurant within a 2-block radius of work: pizza, a sandwich from Subway, Chinese lunch special, a couple of items from 7-eleven, a burrito or taco, a to-go carton filled with a variety of dishes from a 7.99/lb buffet, or a number 6 meal from Burger King. And if you have a little more money, you can be fancier, and actually go to a sit-down restaurant, but that takes time, and for many people, time during the work week is as precious as fine wine.

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Juicy, Tender, Pork Spare Ribs

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tender cuts on a soft roll

tender cuts on a soft roll

This is the tale of amazing pork spare ribs. This is also the tale of Small Business Saturday. How are the two related, you ask? Great question!

Thanks to Small Business Saturday, I made the most amazing pork spare ribs. If you’ve never heard of Small Business Saturday, you have Black Friday to blame. As I see it, Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) is an effort to bring attention to small businesses across the US, which are basically ignored in the mad rush to seize black Friday deals offered at big box, chain retail stores. Continue reading →

Bacon Mac & Cheese

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Bacon Mac & Cheese

Bacon Mac & Cheese

If anyone has not yet noticed, it’s pretty evident that we LOVE pork. Yes, we like the “other white meat.” We actually prefer pork over beef (we rarely buy beef and rarely eat it). A good number of people abstain from eating pork, but we are a fan and supporter of the domestic pig. 🙂 

This post is about one of our favorite meals: Bacon Mac & Cheese. The delicious taste of bacon incorporated with the cheesy, creamy taste of Mac & Cheese just calls for a celebratory post. We’ve made typical mac and cheese in the past, but decided to add bacon to it this time. We were speechless at the taste. But as the saying goes, everything taste better with bacon. Continue reading →

Primavera Pasta Salad

Posted in Appetizers, Lunch/Dinner by

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Have you ever had to decide on what to bring to a potluck? We were in this situation a few weeks ago. Even though we’re both avid cooks, we still went through what I’ll call a ‘Potluck Decision-Making Checklist‘: easy to make (because we were short on time), easy to carry (the NYC Subway system is not conducive for carrying delicate dishes, especially when dodging aggressive straphangers), easy to serve, does not have to be heated, won’t break the bank, and still tastes good?

In that decision-making moment, we had a ‘ah-ha’ moment: A Primavera Pasta Salad! How could you go wrong with pasta, flavorful pepperoni, fresh cheese, juicy tomatoes, and crisp veggies, all tossed in a herb infused oil based dressing? And it could not be easier to make, did not take long to prepare, could be carried through a crowded, rough, or jerky 45 minute subway ride, tastes best at room temperature, is wallet-friendly, and tastes delicious. We had a winner!

So, for your next potluck, don’t despair. We have a go-to recipe for you.

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Asian Inspired Fried Rice

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20140420_135458Have you ever tried Fried Rice? I’m sure everyone I know has eaten Fried Rice. It’s probably the most popular dish at any Chinese (or Asian) restaurant and one choice that can’t really go wrong.

So this week, I decided to make my own version of Fried Rice, inspired by the famous Chinese cuisine.  I wanted it to be flavorful, a bit spicy, and packed with protein. With cooked rice already in my fridge, this dish was very quick and easy.

Even without fresh onions and garlic (I ran out of these 2 essential items. Under normal circumstances, I would have included them in the ingredient list below.), the dish was amazing. The rice was not mushy (because it was cooked and chilled) and the chicken was well marinated. Here’s what I used:

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Zesty Turkey Chili

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DSCN1541Chili is typically a dish that I’ll think about during the cold, winter months. When it’s snowy, cold, and all you can think about is getting inside a toasty place and eating warm, comfort food, you think about Chili.

But last week was the beginning of summer- it was hot, humid, and uncomfortable. I was sweating profusely and could feel the dampness of my shirt from the sweat. Any cool room felt like a taste of paradise. Yet, I still wanted Chili. Despite the heat and dense humidity, I was in the mood for one of my favorite comfort foods.

The spicy and zesty stew, filled with red beans, tomatoes, and tender ground turkey, was a perfect choice for my healthy eating plan as well.  Continue reading →

Garlic & Herb Chicken and Broccoli with Gnocchi

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Aaaah, Sunday afternoons. Perfect for reading, napping, brunching with friends and family, and, of course, creating new recipes!

On this particular Sunday summery afternoon, I had chicken breast and broccoli on hand, as well as a package of gnocchi I picked up the day before while grocery shopping at my favorite supermarket, Aldi’s. Side note: if you’ve never been to Aldi’s, you need to find the closest one and make a trip over there! They have rock-bottom prices for excellent quality.

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Quick and Easy (Frozen!) Roti and Chickpeas

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Flaky Roti and Flavorful Chickpeas

Flaky Roti and Flavorful Chickpeas

I absolutely love roti, my favorite kind being the Southeast Asian variety (such as Malaysian roti canai). According to Wikipedia,”Many different variations of flat breads are found in many cultures across the globe, from South Asia to the Americas. The traditional flat bread originating from the South Asia is known as roti; pronounced “rho tee”. It is normally eaten with cooked vegetables or curries; it can be called a carrier for curries or cooked vegetables.”

One sunny afternoon, after finishing lunch at a Malaysian restaurant on 8th Ave in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn (also known as Brooklyn’s Chinatown), and of course having roti canai as an appetizer, I decided that I had to find an easy way to make roti myself at home! I had tried a package of frozen roti several years ago that was absolutely amazing, so I was on a hunt to find it again. And what better place to look for it than in Brooklyn’s Chinatown.

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Coconut Curry Fried Rice

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While I really enjoy finding new recipes, I have even more fun creating my own! Below is my recipe for coconut curry fried rice with chickpeas, a recipe I recently came up with. I plan on experimenting more with this recipe in the future by including chicken, pork, or cashews. Check out my past post about cooking with coconut rice, a favorite of mine!

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Rotini Pasta with Chorizo

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During our trip to Monterey, CA in April to visit our older sister, we ate plenty of home cooked meals. Our sister can certainly cook too! One particular dish she made was exceptionally delicious. It had to be one of the best pasta dishes I’ve tasted. The sauce was savory, meat was tender, and the pasta was cheesy.

I was inspired to replicate the dish. I didn’t use the exact same ingredients as she did (she used Rigatoni pasta, string cheese, and wine in the sauce), but my pasta turned out rather amazing too. Next time, I’ll add red wine for an added, rich flavor. Continue reading →