Miso Healing Bowl Soup

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 red onion, sliced thin
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 - 32 oz. cartons of chicken stock
2 Tablespoons Miso paste (red)
1 bunch broccoli or broccolini rabe, cut into small pieces
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced thin
2 in. piece of fresh ginger, sliced thin
1 bunch sunflower sprouts
8 oz. shitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced thin
2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 large bunch purple kale

1 can water chestnuts, optional
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes


(I used all organic ingredients, but you don't have to.)

DIRECTIONS:

Saute' garlic and onions in hot oil until fragrant, but not thoroughly cooked. Set aside.
Place chicken stock in large pot and bring to a boil.
Add Miso paste and ginger. Stir to dissolve.
Add broccoli, carrots, onions and garlic. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients.
Stir well and cook for 5 - 10 minutes.

Serve hot as is, or over rice. You could even add rice noodles, if desired.

Posted by Debi

Stained Glass Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

3-1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. all spice
1/2 t. cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 t. water
9 cinnamon hard candies, crushed in food processor

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all dry ingredients; set aside.
Mix together butter and sugar until creamy.
Gradually add molasses and water alternately with flour mixture.
Divide into 6 equal portions wrapping in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate overnight.

Roll out dough to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface.
Cut out using an cookie cutter about 3"- 4". I like to use apple-shaped.
Place on foil-lined cookie sheet or use Silpat baking pads for ease in removing the cookies.
With a smaller cookie cutter about 2" - 3" cut out the center of each cut-out and place on a regular cookie sheet - no need to line the center cookies.

Fill the center of the apples with crushed cinnamon candies being careful not to spill outside the outer edge.

Bake in a pre-heated 375 oven for 5-6 minutes until candies melt in center.

Allow cookies to cool before removing to wax paper.

Makes 3 - 4 dozen.

Posted by Debi

Photo Credit: kitchensimplicity.com

Pumpkin Dip

INGREDIENTS:

2-8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1-30 oz. can pumpkin pie filling
1 t. ginger
2 t. cinnamon
4 cups powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients together and serve in a hollowed out pumpkin. Great with ginger snaps or these gingerbread cookies.

Makes a lot, so you can use it all during the holidays.

Posted by Debi

Photo by Calee on Food.com

Ginger Flank Steak with Sake-Glazed Vegetables

A soy-sake marinade is the base for a delicious reduction sauce. For convenience, begin this one day ahead and refrigerate the steak in its marinade overnight.

Rating: 5 stars
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup sake (Japanese white wine)
1/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
3 Tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger (asian markets sell this already minced and cheaper than grocery stores)
1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 - 2 lb. flank steak

1 lb. asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1.5 inch lengths

3 Tablespoons peanut oil
2 red bell peppers, but into 1" wide strips
1.5 lbs. crimini mushrooms, halved, each half cut crosswise into 1/4" thick slices (I used Shitake mushrooms)
4 green onions, cut into 1" lengths
2 teaspoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS:

Combine first 6 ingredients in 13x9x2 glass baking dish. Add meat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to one day ahead. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.

Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse under cold water to cool. Drain again.

Heat 2 tablespoons peanut oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red bell pepper strips and saute 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and saute until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Add green onions and asparagus and saute until vegetables are tender, about 2 minutes longer. Transfer vegetables to serving platter. Tent with foil to keep warm.

Heat remaining 1 tablespoon peanut oil in same skillet over high heat. Remove steak from marinade; reserve marinade. Add steak to skillet and cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to cutting board. Tent with foil and let stand 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, place reserved marinade in small saucepan. Whisk in cornstarch. Whisk over high heat until sauce thickens and boilds, about 3 minutes. Remove sauce from heat. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut steak across grain on diagonal into 1/2 inch thick slices. Arrange steak slices atop vegetables on platter. Spoon some of sauce over meat and vegetables. Serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

Source: Epicurious.com

Spicy beef wraps with peanut sauce

Well, I never really took measurements when making this recipe.  I'll attempt to guess the amount, but you might need to make some adjustments.  If I can get it right this is AMAZING :)

Serves 6 to 8.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Prep: 20 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Spicy Beef

1.5 lbs ground beef, ground turkey will give this a different flavor.

1/4 c. Soy sauce

1 t. Fish sauce

2 T. Worchestire sauce

1/2 t. Sesame oil

1/2 can Beef stock

To taste, we like 1 T. Sriracha HOT Chili Sauce, clear with green cap

3 good size cloves Minced garlic

Sprinkle Red pepper flakes

1/4 t. Chili powder

 1/4 t. Ground ginger

Brown beef in large pan.  Add all ingredients and simmer until thickened.  Like I said, I never took measurements so keep tasting until it reaches the flavor and spice you like.  I think this is pretty close to the measurements I used.

Peanut Sauce

2 T. olive oil

1 med. onion finely chopped

1/4 c. finely chopped red pepper

1/2 c. chunky peanut butter

1/4 c. (or less if you don't like spicy) Sriracha HOT chili sauce

1/2t. cayenne pepper

1 c. water

1 clove minced garlic

pinch cumin

squeeze lime

Heat olive oil in over medium heat in pan.  Add chopped onion and red pepper.  Cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Reduce heat and stir in peanut butter, cook until melted.  Gradually stir in water until it peanut butter thins, don't use all the water yet.  Add in the rest of the ingredients, stir to incorporate.  Keep adding water as the sauce thickens.  You might need more peanut butter depending on how spicy you want this to be.  Add more peanut butter and water as needed.

Serves in flour tortilla, with chopped cucumber (helps with the heat), lettuce, fresh basil & mint leaves.

Honey Ginger Teriyaki Sauce

This can be used to marinate meat, chicken or pork would be best.  I used it with chicken and then drizzled the leftovers onto rice.  It was great!  We gave it 4 stars, yup that's right, not a 5 star rating.  The reason being, it just simply wasn't lick-your-plate amazing, but it was good.  =) It is so easy I would make it again.  

Difficulty: Easy

Prep: less than 5 minutes

Cook: 5 minutes

Inactive Prep: 30 minutes

Serving: 6 or more, depends on how generous you are.

Honey Ginger Teriyaki Sauce:

1 c. chicken broth

1-inch ginger root, peeled and chopped

1/4 c. honey

1/2 c. teriyaki sauce

1 T. sesame oil

Bring chicken broth and ginger to a boil.  Stir in honey.  When honey has dissolved into broth, add teriyaki sauce and sesame oil.  Reduce heat and simmer until ready to use.  Marinate favorite meat for at least 30 minutes.

Recipe by: Giada De Laurentiis, Food Network