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Snacks Inspired by 84th Oscar Nominees: Brad Pitta, Chicken Streeps, Oldman Fashioned

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Posted on Saturday, February 25, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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Having an Oscar party? Still deciding what goes on the menu? Here's a few fun and silly appetizers!

People often pay homage to Oscar-nominated movies with thematic food inspired by the hits, but I prefer to pay homage to this year's nominees that included two of my favorite stars, Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman, along with Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

Happy Partying with the Stars!

Meryl Chicken Streeps

Ingredients: 
  • 1 large boneless chicken breast, cut into strips.
  • 1 cup of Breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup of flour
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water
  •  Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation: See Breaded Pork Cutlet
Serve with Ketchup or Barbeque sauce.




Clooney Hawaii Toasties
Ingredients:
  • 1 can of pineapple chunks
  • 1 cup of ham, diced
  • 1/2 cup of Tomato sauce
  • 2 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 4 slices of white bread, toasted 
Preparation: Use Toast as pizza base, prepare toppings (see Homemade Pizza), broil in oven for 8 -10 minutes or until cheese melts and edges of the toasts turn brown. Cool for a few minutes and cut toast into bite size bits.


Brad Pitta Mini Dogs
 Ingredients:
  • Pita bread, squared
  • Lettuce, finely sliced
  • 1 can of mini hot dog sausages
  • Cheddar Cheese, thinnly sliced
Preparation: Wrap mini sausages, lettuce and cheese inside pita bread. Secure wraps with toothpicks.Broil in oven for about 5 minutes.






Gary OLDman Fashioned 
(Husband's recipe)
 Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup of Whiskey
  • 1/4 cup of Orange Juice
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • a few drops Lemon juice
  • Ices 
Preparation: Add whiskey over ice to taste, then add half as much OJ followed by one tsp of sugar then a quick squeeze of lemon. Stir. Viola!



    Husband Says: "The Oldman Fashion drink is my idea, so place all blame on me if it doesn't turn out well, but its the name that counts! It ain't bad, I"ll say that. Any typos in this edition of Husband Says are a direct result of that drink. The Meryl Chicken Streeps are great with BBQ sauce and seriously, how can you not laugh at Brad Pitta Mini Dogs? I mean seriously. These are all great for a sure fire chuckle. *Chuckles*"

    Mini Chicken Lasagna Cup Recipe : So Cute, So Very Very Cute

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    Posted on Thursday, February 23, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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    When I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight, I thought of the boxed ready-made mini lasagnas in the supermarket. I've always wanted to try them. Then I remembered I have a lot of frozen wonton wrappers leftover from the Wonton Soup in the freezer in need of attention.

    So I came up with the idea of these cute mini lasagnas cups made with wonton wrappers in a muffin tin!

    Not only did they turn out super cute, they were extremely appetitizing! Unlike thicker traditional lasagna noodle sheets, the super thin Wonton wrappers are very crispy and light.

    I will definitely make these again when I want to make an impression at  party or when I want my husband to eat all the food on his plate. :) 

    Serves: 10 pieces
    Estimated Cost: $8
    Cook Time: 40 minutes 
    Ingredients
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large chicken breast, shredded
    • 1 cup four cheese spaghetti sauce
    • 2 cup of shredded sharp cheese
    •  Salt and pepper to taste
    • 20 wonton wrappers
    Preparations:
    • Preheat oven to 370F
    • Cook chicken pieces in a medium pan over medium heat until golden brown
    • Add  four cheese spaghetti sauce, mix well
    • Grease a 10 cup muffin tin and put 2  wonton wrappers in each cup
    • Put a tablespoon of shredded cheese into each of the muffin cup.
    • Add a tablespoon of the chicken mixture onto the cheese filles cup
    • Sprinkle the top with another layer of cheese
    • Bake for 15 minutes until  the wonton wrappers have a crispy brown color to them
    • Cool for a couple of minutes and serve
    Husband Says: "Like the wifey says, they are cute. But cute don't count so much for me as IS IT GOOD? And yes, I can vouch that these AWE SO CUTE KAWAII CUTE CUTE! cupcake lasagna cup thingies are indeed delish. I ate all three on my plate much to the pleasure of my wife. I don't always eat everything, not because I don't like the food, but because, well...I'm just weird like that. Will definitely eat these again. Loved the wonton wrapping as well. Added a nice crispiness that I hadn't had with lasagna before. Score another cooking victory for Carmen in her Kitchen."

    Queens Food Swap: My first Food Swap Experience!

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    Posted on Monday, February 20, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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    Food swaps started getting popular in New York City last year. It's kind of an old fashioned concept like a potluck, yet it feels new in the time of social media. It's nice to bring passionate foodies together in real life.
    What is a Food Swap?  You bring your homemade goodies to trade with other people’s homemade goodies.

    On Sunday,  I attended my first Food Swap event with my husband and my friend. This event was hosted by the Queens Swap. I was very excited about this event so I woke up early and spent the whole day cooking, baking and stressing out! Without knowing what to expect I was a little unprepared! Glancing at other people's beautifully packed goodies, I realized I brought too much food! I made 15 bags of Jam Shortbread Cookies and 20 bags of Spring Rolls, while other people bought about 6 of everything. Oops.

    Then the bidding began, you write down what you are willing to trade for with a given item. The next step was to make the trades. At first I hung back a little as I was nervous. I mean, what if I was the girl who walked away with no swaps? But with my husband cheering on and a glass of wine, I started getting into it. In the end, people were wonderful and even this unprepared girl walked away with great stuff!

    I can say that I got to bring home a great mix of treats. I got some granola bars, some chocolate cookies, a bottle of blueberry water kefir soda pop, rosewater marshmallows, cognac truffles, and mojito cupcakes!

    Overall it was a wonderful experience with a warm atmosphere, nice people and great food! I think everybody that came had a great time. Thanks again to the three organizers of the event,  Meg, Judith and AJ for hosting (definitely check out their blogs!)

    I can't wait to go to the next Swap!
      .

    Crab And Corn Soup: Soup Perfect For Those 'Feeling Under The Weather Days'

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    Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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    When my husband came home early yesterday with some kind of flu featuring a runny nose and a throat so sore that he couldn't swallow anything, I changed dinner plans at the very last minute. I raided the kitchen and found 2 cans of creamed corn, and some frozen crab sticks. So I  decided to make him a Cream Corn and Crab soup. 

    Soup for the sick doesn't have to be boring and tasteless. This cream corn and crab soup has plenty of vitamins and protein from the corn and eggs,  and it’s not too heavy on the stomach. Its a nice, hot, comfy dish and it's really easy to make.  My poorly hubby seems to have enjoyed it very much, at least what he could taste.

    I enjoyed it very much too. It was rich, creamy and flavorful. I might have made this because my husband was sick, but  I can totally see myself making this any day. 

     

    Cook Time: 30 minutes

    Serves: 2 - 4

    Estimates Cost: $5

    Ingredients

    • 1 can of cream style corn
    • 1 cup.of cooked lump crab meat. (I used shredded crab sticks instead, I didn't have fresh one in the house)
    • 4 cups. of chicken broth
    • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 2 eggs, beaten
    • salt, to taste
    • Optional white pepper 
    Preparation
    1. Mix flour with 1 cup of chicken broth.
    2. Bring the rest of the broth and corn to boil over medium heat. Stir in the flour mixture, keep stirring for a minute to prevent lumps from forming. Season with salt. 
    3. Cover, lower the heat and cook for about 10 minutes
    4. Add the shredded crab sticks. Continue simmering for another minute.
    5. Pour in the beaten eggs in a thin stream in circular motion. Continue to stir gently until the egg white sets, this will create shreds of egg white
    6. Adjust seasoning if necessary. 
    Sick Husband Says: "Cough, hack, wheeze, sniffle sniffle. My wife said to me yesterday, 'Don't sneeze!' which means, 'Don't sneeze your germs on my side of the bed! I'll make you soup to feel better!' I do love her so. I took her up on the offer and only sneezed onto her side of the bed when she was out of the room. Shhh! I got soup out of it. Sneeze hack cough cough. It indeed was good and perfect for my degenerative state of ickiness that I'm currently suffering through. I'd happily eat it again in a healthy state. In the meantime, I shall try my best not to sneeze. :) "

    Homemade Fish Fingers Recipe: Crispy and light

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    Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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    Fish Fingers (or fish sticks as they're called in the US) is perfect finger food for the kids or husbands! They are easy to prepare, tasty and somewhat healthy. 

    Growing up, fish fingers were one of my favorite foods, I couldn't get enough of them. My mum didn't cook them often, so every time she made them it was a special treat for me. Then later in life when I was living away from home at university, a fish fingers sandwich was probably my only "home cooked" meal during my student years.

    Fast forward to present day! I have been craving them lately. Instead of running to the frozen aisle, I decided to make my own from scratch. It was surprisingly easy and they turned out crispy and light.

    Ingredients

    • 1 1/2 lbs fish fillets (cod, haddock,or red snapper )
    • 3/4 cup flour
    • 1 cup breadcrumbs
    • 2 egg whites, beaten
    • 1 teaspoon of water
    • Salt and pepper
    Preparation

    1. Clean the fish fillets in cold water. Remove all bones. Cut fish into 1/2in thick fillets.
    2. Prepare 3 separate dishes, one with flour with salt and pepper mixed in, one with beaten egg white and water, and the third with breadcrumbs.
    3. To batter fish slices: First dip the fish in flour, then in egg and water mixture, then breadcrumbs.
    4. Deep fry fish slices in medium hot oil (I use olive oil) for a few minutes until golden brown, be careful not to overcook.
    Husband Says: "Light and delicious indeed. Much better than the stuff from the frozen aisle. Spoiled I am. These would be good with tartar sauce as well as ketchup. Or even without, they really are nom-a-liscious."

      Strawberry Shortbread Heart Cookies: Sweet Valentine's Day Treat For Your Sweetie

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      Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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      I love Strawberry Shortbread cookies, the English call them Jammie Dodgers after the brand. Living in England taught me how to appreciate afternoon tea and biscuits (cookies) and these little Dodgers are definitely my favorite, followed by digestive biscuits, rich teas and Scottish shortbread.

      I have very fond memories of Jammie Dodgers. When I was a little girl, I used to love them so much, especially the ones from Bhs (British Home Store). I remember every time my mum took me to Bhs, I would go straight to the food section and grab a pack of Jammie Dodgers. And I wouldn't leave the store until I got my mum to buy it for me. 

      So there was no surprise that these biscuits were the first thing that came to my mind, when I was searching for a Valentine's day gift idea for my Hubby. These biscuits are special for me, they are close to my heart! They always reminds me of my mother,  and my happy childhood. I hope they will become special to my husband too from now on!

      Ingredients

      • 1 cup butter, softened
      • 1/2 cup sugar
      • 2 cups all-purpose flour
      • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
      • 1/3 cup strawberry jam

      Preparations

      1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Gradually add flour and cornstarch until dough forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  
      2. Roll out the dough to roughly 1/2' thick. Shape batter into heart-shape using heart-shaped cookie cutter ( I used my hands)
      3. Press gently in the middle to make an indentation. Fill with strawberry jam.
      4. Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven to cool. 
      Husband Says: "OK, first off, what the heck are 'digestive biscuits'? Seriously. Are they supposed to help you poop? I learn so much every day from my lovely wife, and today I learned about Brit biscuits. So the Jammie Dodgers (again, new terms learned today! Score one for the Yank!) were very good I say. Here! Here! Jolly good they are. I hope she makes them for all my mates and some of the other blokes down at the office."

        Sweet Glutinous Rice Balls Of Love Recipe: Valentine's Day Aisan Style

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        Posted on Monday, February 6, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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        Today is the Spring Lantern Festival in Asia, which takes place on the fifteenth day of the Lunar calender. This festival is also regarded as the Asian Valentine's day, a day celebrating love and affection between lovers. During the Lantern Festival, children would go out at night carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. The most famous event is the Taipei Lantern Festival, the biggest and most diversified celebration of lantern crafts.
        In addition to displaying and appreciating lanterns, it's the day to eat "tangyuan" which are little glutinous rice balls with a sweet center which symbolize family unity and love.
        Hope you enjoy these sweet balls of love. Happy Asian Valentine day!

        Serves: 2 -3 
        Estimated Cost: $5
        Cook Time: 15 minutes
        Ingredients:
        • 1 cups glutinous rice flour
        • 2 tablespoons of sugar
        • 1/2 cup of boiling water  (or more if needed)
        • 1 cup of room temperature water
        • 1 can of Red Beans Paste
        Preparation:
        1. Dissolve the sugar in 1 cup of warm water.
        2. Pour hot water into glutinous flour and using a wooden spoon, mix the dough. Slowly add sugar water mixture. Keep adding water untill you get a dough with right consistency.
        3. Roll dough into small balls. Flatten each ball in your palm, and place a pinch of red beans paste in the middle of each disc. Fold up the edges and press to seal. Once you have done this, lightly roll it into a ball.
        4. Bring some water to the boil in a large pot over high heat. When the water is boiling, drop the rice balls into the pot. Cook the rice balls for a few minutes. Once they float, they are cooked.

        Syrup Preparation:
        1. Cook 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cups of ginger slices and water to make a sweet syrup.
        2. Cool syrup before adding in the cooked rice balls. Serve at room temperature. 
        Husband says: "I never thought I'd say this in all my life but...but I enjoyed my wife's sweet balls of love very much. Not salty at all. Very sweet. Those balls o' love."

        Japanese Miso Katsu Burger : A Healthy Homemade 'Mos' Burger

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        Posted on Sunday, February 5, 2012 | By: Carmen Anderson

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        When we were living in Asia, Mos Burger had to be one of our favorite fast food treats. Mos Burger is a Japanese fast-food hamburger chain. It’s Japan’s second largest fast food restaurant, behind only (yup, you guessed it) McDonald's.

        The Miso Katsu burger is an original Japanese recipe. It is a burger made of pork cutlets with miso sauce. Most Americans know miso because of the popularity of miso soup.
        Making this super delicious burger is almost as easy as making a regular burger. So why not impress your family and friends at your next party?!

        Cook Time: 15 minutes
        Serves: 2
        Estimate Cost: $10
        Ingredients:

        For breaded pork cutlet  
        • 2 boneless pork cutlet, pounded thin
        • 2 egg whites
        • 2 tablespoons water
        • 1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
        • 1 tablespoon of white cooking wine
        • 1/2 tablespoon of Worchestershire source
        • 1 cup flour
        • 1 cup dry bread crumbs
        • Salt and Pepper to taste
        2 Burger Buns
        • 1/2 Letture
        • 1 tomato
        • For Burger
        For miso sauce (common mixture)
        • 2 tablespoons miso
        • 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar (added slightly more sugar than the usual mixture)
        • 2 tablespoons Mirin (Japanese sweet cooking sake) 

        Preparations:.

        To make bread pork cutlets
        To make miso sauce
        • Make the miso sauce. Mix  miso, sugar and mirin in a bowl. 
        • Warm it in a microwave. 
        To make burger
        • Toast buns on grill. Serve burgers on toasted buns topped with lettuce, onion slices and miso sauce. 
        Husband say: "Tastes like Mos Burger! But better. Mos Burger was one of my favorite lunch places to hit up in Hong Kong, so this is like a taste of home for me. Really good, and you can't find these in the US anywhere, so its a treat." 

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