Soy Milk Congee

New take on a favorite Chinese staple.

2 cups unsweetened Chinese soy milk (not the Western type)

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup cooked white rice

1 carrot, finely diced

1 stalk celery, finely sliced

Some dried “wood ear” or black “cloud ear”, soaked in water and julienned

Salt and white pepper to season

Bring everything to a boil (uncovered or slightly open cover, soy milk tends to boil over easily if pot is covered), then simmer for 20 minutes or till carrots are tender.

Thanksgiving 2011

What a deal - a 14 lb turkey for US$5! 

For something different, we had tri-color baked potatoes (recipe here) instead of mashed potatoes this year. Also made the pumkin pie with condensed milk instead of evaporated milk, but don't like it as much - find it too "thick".

Tri-Color Baked Potato Wedges

Peel and slice white potato, purple potato, and sweet potato. Toss with olive oil and salt.  Put single layer on baking sheet and bake at 400 deg about 20 min.

Spinach Quiche

For deep dish pie:
6 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
pepper
1 packed cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 rounded tablespoons finely diced red pepper
3/4 cups frozen chopped spinach, defrosted.  Measure 3/4 cups, then squeese out water
Mix everything together and bake 350 deg for 30 min or until edges are lightly browned and puffed and center is cooked.
I like mine crustless to save on calories, but you can bake in a pie crust pan.

Cranberry Sauce Meatballs

These taste delicious and give you a daily serving of two types of fruits - cranberries and tomatoes!  Yes, tomatoes are technically fruits.  The BBQ-like sauce is made by combining a bottle of American "chilli" sauce and a can of cranberry sauce.  The American type chilli sauce is more like a shrimp cocktail sauce and is not spicy at all.

Recipe:
One 12 oz bottle of American type Chilli Sauce found near ketchup section in stores.
One can of cranberry sauce or jelly
Optional -Asian type chilli sauce  - amount to taste (for those who want a kick in the sauce)
2-3 lbs of meatballs (I like turkey meatballs)
Bring ingredients to a simmer and cook for a few minutes till meatballs are heated through.

Apple Raisin Cake

Recipe:
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
1/8 tsp each allspice or cloves, nutmeg and ginger powder
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup vegetable oil
4 cups peeled, diced Cortland apples
1 cup raisins

Preheat oven at 350 deg.
Sift dry ingredients together,stir in raisins.
 Beat wet ingredients together. Stir in flour mixture, then stir in apples.
Baking in a greased and floured bundt pan (or 2 loaf pans) for 65 min.

Apple Picking

Apple picking in fall.

 Notice something funny about this photo? (Apple boobs!)

Apple Crisp

To make one 9 inch pie:

About 8 medium or 12 small Cortland apples, peeled, cored and sliced
2 tablespoons flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon water
Mix well and put in 9 inch pie dish

Streusel Toppng:
2/3 cups flour
2/3 cups regular oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 stick butter or marg, melted
Mix all and rub till crumbly, put over apples.

Bake 375 deg 55 min.

Spaghetti Bolognaise Sauce

This recipe is from one of my sistesr, who is a great cook. (All my sisters are great cooks!)

Spaghetti Bolognaise Sauce
1 lb lean ground beef
1 small can tomato paste (6oz)
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots, grated
3 cloves garlic
4 slices ginger
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
2-3 tablespoons sugar
1 cup water
grated sharp cheddar cheese for topping

Heat olive oil in saucepan, add onions, garlic and ginger.  Stir  20 sec, add beef and brown.
Add rest of ingredients and simmer for one hour.  Adjust seasonings to taste. 
Seve with spaghetti and top with cheddar cheese.
(Note: sauce is thicker and sweeter than normal spaghetti sauce, goes well with cheddar cheese.)

Baked Parmesan Tilapia Fish

 Tilapia is a lean flaky white fish that doesn't have a strong flavor like salmon.

The fillets are thin, so be careful not to overcook.

 Tilapia encrusted with garlic butter croutons.

This brand of croutons taste so good, you can eat it as a snack!



Recipe:

Tilapia fillets

Chatham Village Garlic & Butter croutons

mayonnaise

grated parmesan cheese

pepper

Line baking pan with aluminium and grease.  Place tilapia fillets on top.

Spread mayonnaise generously over top of fillets, sprinkle with pepper, then parmesan cheese.

Put croutons in a large zip-lock bag, close bag, and crush croutons with rolling pin or meat pounder.

Spread over parmesan cheese, pushing down to adhere to fish.

Bake in oven at 350 deg for 10-12 min, or till fish is cooked.

Chicago, IL

Click on photos to enlarge:

 Pretzel bread is so yummy!

 Hotel Sax in downtown Chicago, IL.

 Hotel is right on Riverfront. Two circular structures have parking a the bottom and condos above the parking. Traffic is bad in Chicago, so people try to live where they work - in downtown, hence condos abound and prices skyrocket.

 Famous Chicago icon, looks nice when lighted up at night.

Riverfront view outside hotel.

Harry Caray's Restaurant at Hotel Sax.

Chicago skyline in the evening.

NBC studios.

Many beautiful buildings.

Lots of sculptures everywhere.

Click on photo to enlarge and read.

Material Girl - teenager clothing store opened by Madonna's daughter.

Michael Jordan Steakhouse Restaurant.  Lots of excellent restaurants and eateries in Chicago. 

Corner building is where Oprah Winfrey has 5,000 SF penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan.

Statue at hospital below.

Park with zoo, orchid garden, greenhouse - all free! Adjacent is a "farm" to show young children what a farm si like.

Venus fly trap.

Huge koi fish.

Chinatown.

House where Muhammad Ali used to live.

Cluster of wealthy homes.

President Obama's house, covered by trees, side street blocked off and guarded by SS.

U of Chicago's library.

U of Chicago - beautiful and very large campus.

Too bad, my camera ran of battery!