What's for Dinner, Thurs., May 3, 2018

[NJCher]

Last edited Thu May 3, 2018, 05:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Hotter 'n Hades here, so we're having a cool dinner. I took my inspiration from Galileo and Irisblue, who fixed dan dan noodles and shrimp curry noodles in the last few days. I asked the RG to make them and are they ever delicious. Can hardly wait until later!

In addition to the cold curry shrimp noodles, we'll be having a tossed green salad. I made this the other day and it was so simple and delicious: just tear up lettuce, add a few vegetables, and sprinkle mirin and sesame oil over. Toss, and there you are, fresh, delicious green salad.

[The Polack MSgt]

1. Excuse my ignorance

What (or who) is the RG?

[NJCher]

9. oh, no prob!

That question comes up from time to time. RG is the Resident Gourmand, who does much of the cooking around here. He works in the gourmet food field and at one time owned a Michelin star rated restaurant (can't remember the # of stars). The two of us love to experiment with food. I like to garden and grow fresh lettuce and vegetables for our cooking ventures!

[The Polack MSgt]

15. Thanks!

[Wawannabe]

17. Ha!

I thought it meant “regular guy”.
As in boyfriend-ish.

[Mike Rows His Boat]

2. Doing something similar here.

Making Vietnamese rice bowl/salad with my own umami (can be eaten warm and cold) w/curried chicken strips. Some pickled carrot strips and snow peas & red peppers tossed-in. Lots of scallions.
One of my favs. Easy. Fast. Cool in warm weather.

[irisblue]

6. Welcome to DU

So, tell me about your umani please.

[Mike Rows His Boat]

10. It depends on the dish and how hot it needs to be.

For this type of dish it's soy sauce (diluted to salinity I'm looking for), rice vinegar, rice wine, ginger, lemongrass (in this case I use Asian market bought paste), finely chopped red pepper, garlic, cilantro, black bean/garlic paste, chili pepper/garlic sauce, small amount sugar (usually, but not always, brown sugar), and sesame oil. A *smidge* of fish sauce is optional, depending on the audience acceptability.

You can add/subtract ingredients at-will. Umami is whatever you've got or want to create intense flavors. That 5th flavor that adds dimension to your dish.

I blend in a mini blender for a small batch, and then cook with some scallions (just long enough to extract some scallion oils into the mix and dissolve the sugar.

I vary the ratios depending on how dark or bright I want the flavors - for this cold noodle salad, it helps to go a tad more acidic.
I don't have a written recipe. I wing it because I've done it so many times.

I'm experimenting with infusing oils for making real ramen soups, so, sometimes I use some black garlic oil or chili oil, or a shrimp oil.


Thanks for the welcome.

[pamdb]

3. dinner

Chicken fajitas and guacamole.

[irisblue]

4. ::blush::

( holy moly! NJ Cher read my post & worked from it. )

[Galileo126]

11. That's why I'm here in C&B

Sometimes I get stuck in a rut, and ask myself "What the heck can I make tonight??".

I come here and see what others are having - and say "I'll try that!" or "Haven't made that in a long time!"

[irisblue]

5. Baked BlackBean &Garnet Sweet Potato Taquitos with Pico de Gallo

From SheLikesFood.com, 2015 recipe.
INGREDIENTS

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 5 cups diced)
1 teaspoon olive oil
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 cups black beans
4 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
12-14 corn tortillas
Olive oil for brushing

INSTRUCTIONS

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place diced sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet and add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat and roast for about 20 minutes, flipping once.
In a food processor add, roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, water, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Blend until everything is combined.

Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm corn tortillas in a pan over medium heat until they soften (this will prevent corn torillias from breaking when you roll them) Place about 1/4 cup of black bean and sweet potato mixture into each tortilla and roll up.

Brush a large baking sheet with olive oil and place taquitos on. Brush the top of each taquito with a small amount of olive oil. Bake taquitos until crispy and beginning to brown, 15-20 minutes, flipping once.

I froze a good amount of potato-bean mix for later on.

[iamateacher]

7. Thank you

Sounds wonderful.

[PennyK]

8. Shrimp tacos

Dauighter's last night here and she's cooking up a storm. They'll be accompanied by mango slaw.

[Galileo126]

12. Pork stir fry with ramen

Using leftover BBQ pork. With bok choy, celery, green onion, and mushrooms.

One more night after this, and I will have cleaned out the fridge of all veggie perishables. (Leaving for a week.)

Anything left after Friday goes to the backyard wild bunnies. I think I'll save the 1/2 head of iceberg and the celery hearts for them.

[elleng]

13. What a nice discussion this evening,

even more interesting and chatty than usual.

[pansypoo53219]

14. lazy. i fried a boneless pork chop. a thin one. in butter, in cast iron. i am getting better.

had some leftover tomato paste & bell pepper sauce. beef roast hash tomorrow.

[Texasgal]

16. Tonight I actually tried

zucchini lasagna. I used my mandolin and sliced thin strips long ways. Used ricotta cheese, garlic and shredded mozz. Stacked with red sauce and then baked at 350 for about 45 minutes.

I was impressed! I was going to make a small salad but the lasagna seemed very filling and it was!!! I made some garlic bread with some baguette rounds and butter.

I packed some up to take to lunch tomorrow too! I call this a WIN!

[Wawannabe]

18. Pork carnitas bowl

At my fav bar. It was ever delish and fresh. Pork was cooked in the Instapot. Avacado and fresh salsa. Black beans, rice, lots of cilantro and lettuce. Mmmm. I ate the whole thing and drank a Couple beers. Will sleep good.