Explore Cook Eat - Explore Your World Through Food and Travel

Nara Deer Park

June 2, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the AMAZING Nara Deer Park!!

A visit to Nara Deer Park is a MUST if you visit Japan!

We recently completed a 3 week tour of Japan. I completely fell in love with this amazing country. There is beauty beyond compare, and such a fascinating array of things to eat and explore!

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Nara Deer Park. Nara is fairly close to Kyoto, so we were able to take a day trip to Nara from Kyoto, where we were staying.

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Pantry Mushroom Risotto

May 31, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Pantry Mushroom Risotto!

The Pantry Challenge

I had heard about The Pantry Challenge a few months ago from a friend on Instagram. The Pantry Challenge is a time where you focus on using up what you have before buying any more food. The benefits are you will save time by not having to go out shopping, save money by not overbuying food, and be a better steward of the resources that you have! Every one of those benefits are definitely worth it!

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Bellflower Root Side Dish

May 30, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a fantastic Korean side dish called Bellflower Root Side Dish!

Hands up if you are excited by BANCHAN! I have 2 hands up way up and I hope hands are going up everywhere! 😊

Banchan are the side dishes served at Korean meals. One of the most popular Korean banchan is the Bellflower Root Side Dish aka Doraji Muchim.

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Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime

May 24, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a fantastic Persian recipe by Louisa Shafia called Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime!

Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime and rice

I can’t remember where I first came across this recipe for Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime, but I can tell you it was a LIFE CHANGING DAY! I was delighted to be able to bring a taste of Persian cooking into my own kitchen.

The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia

The recipe for Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime is from the cookbook The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia. Ms. Shafia is a chef, recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is of Iranian heritage, and her book The New Persian Kitchen is full of Persian recipes developed with a contemporary take on this amazing cuisine.

You must visit Ms. Shafia’s shop, Feast by Louisa! Her shop features signed copies of her cookbooks “The New Persian Kitchen” and “Lucid Food,” as well as an amazing Persian Spice Kit, and Rice Bonnet, which will help you achieve the PERFECT Persian rice!

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Tilapia With Hot Yuzu Sauce

May 23, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Tilapia seasoned with delicious Hot Yuzu Sauce!

Tilapia with hot yuzu sauce and green onions

Are you ready for your taste buds to go zing?! Then try this absolutely delicious Tilapia with Hot Yuzu Sauce!

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Yuzu – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

May 19, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Yuzu, one of the foods in my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project!

We recently returned from a ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP TO JAPAN! The word “incredible” doesn’t even begin to describe it. I was supposed to run the Tokyo Marathon on March 1, 2020. However it was cancelled for all except the elite and wheelchair athletes. I am neither one of those, so I was unable to run. The cancellation was due to the coronavirus situation.

1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

I had booked flights and had planned an extensive 3 week trip across Japan, and my husband and I decided to move forward with our trip. I used this as an opportunity to try to knock off as many of the Japanese foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton.

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Indian Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani)

May 6, 2020 By Grace 2 Comments

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS Indian Butter Chicken!

I’m SUPER EXCITED to share one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE recipes with you!

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Korean Soft Tofu Broth With Shrimp

May 1, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Korean Soft Tofu Broth With Shrimp using a seasoning pack from JayOne Foods!

Korean Soft Tofu Broth With Shrimp in a bowl with chopsticks

JayOne Soft Tofu Broth Seasoning

The other day I went shopping at my local Asian Market here in San Antonio. My eye fell on this JayOne packet of Soft Tofu Broth Seasoning. The picture of the broth looked so enticing I just had to give this a try! I was definitely glad that I did it was delicious!

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Ram-Don From the Film Parasite

April 28, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Ram-Don from the film Parasite!

Parasite

Have you seen the Oscar Best Picture Winner of 2020, the Korean film Parasite?

I didn’t know what this film was about before watching…however I knew that we weren’t in for something “normal” because we have seen two films recently by the director Bong Joon-Ho which were NOT what we expected.

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Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

April 25, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole!

Are you stuck at home and not sure what to cook for dinner tonight? Then pantry cooking it is! Pantry cooking is cooking meals from items that are in your pantry. I have seen some very extremely creative dishes that others are coming up with. It’s a true joy to see people doing the best with what they have on hand.

The ULTIMATE Pantry Dish -- Tuna Noodle Casserole

Are you in need of a delicious dish that is super easy, quick, budget friendly, and uses items you most likely have in your pantry? Then please consider this Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole.

Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the ULTIMATE pantry dish. All you will need is egg noodles or other pasta, and these canned foods: tuna, cream of mushroom soup, and peas. You will also need some oil to grease your pan, and some seasonings. This is the most basic version, however, if you have some CHEESE (yum!) then by all means add that in as well!

Please note that I am including links to Amazon for some of the ingredients in this dish. The links may be a substitution for the ingredients you see pictured in my post, if I could not find the same ingredient on Amazon. The links are simply included for convenience if you choose to order on Amazon.

cream of mushroom soup, peas, cheddar cheese, tuna and Pam spray

How To Make Super Easy Tuna Casserole

tuna, cream of mushroom soup, peas, and cheese in a bowl with a stirrer

I call this Super Easy because all you need to do is grease a 9x13 oven safe dish, mix drained tuna, drained peas, the cream of mushroom soup, and cheese (if using) and place it in your dish! I used Pam cooking spray to grease my dish. You could also use a little vegetable or olive oil. Add cooked egg noodles, give it a stir and season with some salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Then place in an oven that has been preheated to 375F for 25 -- 30 minutes.

The Finishing Touch

If you happen to have some Panko in your pantry, I recommend you use it to put the finishing touch on this Super Easy Tuna Casserole!

All you need to do is add a little olive oil and some of your favorite seasoning to the Panko, and stir. I used Goya Sazonador Total. Then, after the casserole has been baking for 25 minutes, remove from the oven. Add the panko mixture spreading it evenly over the top, and bake for another 5 minutes.

After 25-30 minutes in the oven, remove and behold how beautifully browned the top is, and get ready to DIG IN!

This recipe is enough for around 4-6 people, and costs about $9.00 to make (with the brands that I used). So as mentioned it is budget friendly, super easy, and you’ll just have to trust me on this until you can verify for yourself…utterly creamy and delicious! It’s great to garnish with green onions if you have them!

Tuna Noodle Casserole, salad and Tabasco

I hope you will enjoy this Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole soon! Oh and by the way…it is the PERFECT COMFORT FOOD AS WELL.

Some Other Dishes You Many Enjoy!

Borracho Beans

Belizean Rice and Beans

Colorado Green Chili

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Take care and stay safe.

Grace

Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Grace

This Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the ULTIMATE Pantry Dish! Delicious and creamy your whole family will love it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

Pam spray, olive or vegetable oil for greasing your baking dish
12 oz egg noodles (or your pasta of choice) cooked according to package directions
26 oz cream of mushroom soup canned OR 3 x 10.5 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup
15 oz peas canned, drained
15 oz tuna 3 cans of 5 oz each , drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
salt to taste
pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
2 green onions optional for garnish

Crumb Topping -- Optional

1/2 cup panko Japanese breadcrumbs
2 tbsp olive oil
seasoning your seasoning of choice!

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375F. Grease a 9x13 oven save baking dish. I used Pam olive oil spray, you can also use vegetable or olive oil.
Mix in a large bowl the following ingredients: drained tuna, cream of mushroom soup, drained peas, and cheese if using. Place the mixture in your 9"x 13" baking dish.
Cook the egg noodles or your pasta of choice, according to package directions. Drain and add to the mixture in the baking dish. Stir well, and add some salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
Place in your 375F oven, and bake for 25 minutes if using crumb topping. If not using crumb topping, check if nicely browned and heated through after 25 minutes and remove, or cook for 30 minutes total.
IF ADDING THE CRUMB TOPPING, then mix together the panko, olive oil, and your choice of seasoning. Remove the dish from the oven after the 25 minutes, sprinkle the crumb topping evenly on top, then bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Add green onions for garnish (optional) and serve!

Notes

One lovely thing about this dish is its versatility! The recipe is for a basic and easy tuna casserole, but feel free to add some chopped onion and celery that has been lightly sautéed to the mixture if you like! You can also substitute other cream of soups such as cream of jalapeno. Enjoy!

Keyword casserole, pantry, tuna casserole, tuna noodle casserole

Borracho Beans

April 21, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about Borracho Beans!

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot more about pantry style cooking and Borracho Beans is the first thing that came to mind. My recipe does call for some fresh vegetables (onion and cilantro) and pork hock to be thrown in, but you could omit these for a true pantry meal!

What Are Borracho Beans?

Borracho Beans aka Frijoles Borrachos aka Drunken Beans. So called because these beans are made with beer! Borracho beans are a South Texas favorite. So, you can find these at many Mexican restaurants in South Texas. By the way, they differ from charro beans, in that charro beans are the version made without beer.

I usually make a huge batch to serve at Christmas and had really been craving these lately. Now we have a huge batch for mostly Steve, Toby, and myself…it will be fun around our household over the next few days. 🙂

What Ingredients Do You Need to Make Borracho Beans?

Pinto beans are used in this dish, and traditionally you will add a Mexican style beer. I used a 12 oz bottle of Lone Star beer which is what I had on hand (TX beer!), and added it to beans and pork hock that had been simmering for an hour. I then added diced tomatoes, and onion. Throw in a generous handful of cilantro toward the end of cooking, and you will have the most delicious beans ever! Strong and bold statement but really they are good!

Pork hock, pinto beans, onion, pinto bean seasoning, diced tomatoes, cilantro, lone star beer

Oh, and the seasoning! It’s got to be Fiesta Brand Pinto Bean Seasoning! Made here in San Antonio, it’s my go to seasoning for whenever I make the these delicious beans. This seasoning is just the best and I absolutely love it! Click here to purchase this most delicious pinto bean seasoning on Amazon.

Pinto bean seasoning, lone star beer, and pinto bean package — Pantry Ingredients Needed For Borracho Beans

Don’t they look absolutely scrumptious? I generally eat borracho beans accompanied by rice or sometimes with tortillas. You can also serve as a delicious side to any Mexican main dish, or any dish for that matter! I hope you might give this a try sometime!

Here Are Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

Belizean Stewed Beans

Chalupas Poblanas

If you’d like to come along with me on a fun food journey, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It’s an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers! Grace

Borracho Beans

Grace

Borracho Beans are beans made with beer! Super delicious and makes enough to feed an army, enjoy with rice or tortillas, or serve as a side to your favorite Mexican dish!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs 10 mins

Overnight soak of beans 8 hrs

Total Time 10 hrs 20 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican, South Texas

Servings 12 people

Ingredients

1 lb pinto beans dry
3 tbsp Pinto Bean Seasoning I used Fiesta Brand! add additional seasoning at end to taste if desired
12 oz beer dark Mexican beer is preferred but I used Lone Star
14.5 oz diced tomatoes canned
1 onion diced
1-2 pork hocks can substitute 4-5 strips of cut up bacon if preferred
1 bunch cilantro chopped
salt to taste (optional)
pepper to taste (optional)

Instructions

Rinse and sort the beans, and cover with water to soak overnight in a large pot.
Drain and rinse the beans, then add water to cover the beans about one inch above surface of the beans. Add pork hock.
Bring the beans to the boil, and skim off any scum that might rise to the top.
Lower the heat to where it will simmer (around med low or so), add 3 tbsp of Pinto Bean Seasoning, stir, cover and simmer for 1 hr.
Add your beer! Also add the diced onion, and tomatoes at this time. Stir, and bring back to the boil, then lower again to a simmer and simmer 1 additional hour.
Taste your beans to make sure they are tender. If not, continue cooking until tender. Add chopped cilantro at the end of the cooking. Add salt and pepper, or additional pinto bean seasoning to taste.

Video

Notes

These pinto beans are so delicious served with rice or tortillas! You can also serve these as a scrumptious side to accompany your favorite Mexican dish or any dish! Enjoy!!

Keyword beans, pinto beans

Okinawan Carrots

April 10, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

We recently returned from a trip to Japan. Our memories are full of this amazing country and its people, places, and of course food.

The very first meal we enjoyed was at an Okinawan restaurant in Narita, Japan. We had no idea when we walked in that it was an Okinawan restaurant. LOL The very first dish we tried was Okinawan Carrots, aka Ninjin Shirishiri.

We stumbled into the restaurant, realized they only took cash so had to go get money from an ATM. Once we returned, we were given a menu only in Japanese. Then when the waiter realized we had no clue what we were looking at, he presented us a menu in 4 languages (including English) with delicacies such as “3 Kinds of Fish Guts Pickled in Salt.” LOL

Dinner Menu in 4 languages — Page from the Okinawan Restaurant Menu 🙂

I have no idea how the Okinawan carrots ended up on our table. Maybe we ordered it? But I think the waiter just brought it over for us to enjoy while we were trying to figure out the menu! Whatever, it was delicious!!

My husband Steve ordered a delicious Pork stir fry with Vegetables after perusing the menu. I then tried to explain to the waiter what I wanted to order and we continued snacking on the delicious carrots. In the end, only the pork stir fry showed up, and unfortunately we couldn’t communicate with our waiter so my order never arrived! Never mind, I was just happy to be in Japan so all was good!

Dreaming of Okinawan Carrots

I was still dreaming about the Okinawan Carrots when I returned home. So I couldn’t wait to make this recipe and share it with others it’s THAT GOOD!

Just a very few simple ingredients are all you need for this most delicious of dishes! Carrots, egg, canned tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, pinch of salt and pepper, and water! Can you believe that’s it?!

Carrots, soy sauce, egg, sesame oil, tuna

The only fiddly part is peeling and julienning the carrots. Click here for a tutorial on how to julienne carrots. 🙂

The method to cook these is simply stir fry to soften the carrots, then add tuna, the seasonings, and finally stir in a whisked egg. Oh, and garnish with green onions on top!

Are you ready to try these? I promise you won’t be able to stop eating these they are so delicious! It’s also a very healthy and nutritious snack!

Some Other Japanese Recipes You May Enjoy!

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

Gyudon on rice topped with pickled ginger in a bowl

Delicious Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

If you’d like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It’s an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Okinawan Carrots

Grace

These carrots cooked Okinawan style are a flavor sensation! Just a handful of ingredients produces this yummy side which you won't be able to get enough of!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

3 carrots medium to large sized
1 egg whisked
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 5 oz tuna canned tuna in oil -- you will only use around 1/2 keep the rest to snack on!
salt pinch of
pepper pinch of
water for cooking the carrots
1 green onion sliced for garnish

Instructions

Peel and julienne your carrots. The finer your carrots are julienned, the quicker they will cook!
Whisk one egg in a small bowl and leave it to the side.
Heat up a skillet to med-high. Pour the oil from the tuna can into the skillet and heat up.
Once the oil is heated, add your carrots. Stir fry for approximately 10 minutes or until softened. Add a bit of water here and there to help the carrots cook. You don't want it watery though, so if you add water be sure to let the water burn off.
Once the carrots are soft and pliable, add the 1/2 can of tuna, breaking it up and stir. Then add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and pinch of salt and pepper. Lastly, add in your whisked egg, and continue stirring until the egg is cooked.
Remove and serve immediately, garnished with green onion!

Notes

Eat this as a healthy and nutritious snack, or as a savory side dish to accompany any meal! It’s so good you won’t want to stop eating it! Enjoy this delicious taste of Okinawa!

Keyword Carrots, Stir fry

Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken

April 6, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken!

Roast chicken is one of my favorite foods, and I’m sure many people will agree. It’s delicious, easy to make, versatile and super budget friendly to boot.

My husband picked up this 5 lb bird at Trader Joe’s the other day, and I tried out a new seasoning (Asian style) for the chicken which turned out absolutely fantastic.

Olive oil, basting sauce and chicken on a roasting pan

Only 3 Ingredients For The Seasoning!

The seasoning consists simply of soy sauce, Chinese 5 spice, and honey. You can click through to purchase these on Amazon. After slathering olive oil on the chicken I simply basted it with that seasoning mixture and got it started. It is a bit hands on because I turned it quite frequently and continued basting with the dripping as well as more of the soy/honey/5 spice mixture.

The result? Succulent, beautifully colored and delicious roast chicken. Garnished with green onions and some sriracha sauce and served with rice, it was a very comforting and awesome meal.

By the way, do you know what makes up Chinese 5 spice? If not, it’s star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, and black pepper. The intoxicating aroma is still around in my house today, as is leftover chicken, which won’t last long. Toby my St. Bernard will make sure of that. LOL

I hope you will give this recipe a try! Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken just may become your next favorite roast chicken. 🙂

Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Chicken Biryani

Belizean Stewed Chicken

Classic Filipino Chicken Adobo

Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken

This Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken is so easy to make! Only 3 ingredients and ongoing basting produces a most delicious succulent aromatic bird!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Resting Time 10 mins

Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 5 people

Ingredients

5 lb Whole Chicken
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 ts Chinese 5 Spice
1/4 cup soy sauce

Instructions

Prior to prepping your chicken, bring it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for around 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to between 350-375F. Pat your chicken dry, and rub it all over with the olive oil.
Combine the honey, 5 spice, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Whisk.
Baste your chicken with this honey, 5 spice, and soy sauce mix. Cover all areas of the outside, and also rub some into the cavity of the chicken.
Once the oven is heated to 350-375F, place your basted chicken in the oven. This is hands on BUT you want to check it every 15 minutes or so. Every 15 minutes during the approximately 2 hour cooking time, remove the chicken, baste, turn it over, and baste the other side. Repeat these steps throughout the entire cooking process.
You will cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches around 180F. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, not touching bone, until the thermometer reads 180F. At 375F this should take between 1.5-2 hrs for a 5 pound chicken.
Once the internal temperature reaches 180F, let the chicken rest for around 10 minutes. Carve and then enjoy!

Notes

Keyword asian chicken wrap, Roast chicken

Korean Spinach Side Dish

April 2, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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Sundays are movie nights at our home. Typically I cook a dinner inspired by the film we watch…very often the food is from the country in which the film is set. The star of the meal was this Korean Spinach Side Dish, or Sigeumchi Namul.

Movie Night -- Okja

This week I chose a film called Okja, which is a Netflix Original film. My little bit of research told me that it it was mostly set in South Korea (yay! I get to make Korean food for dinner!), and the summary of the film was: A young girl risks everything to prevent a powerful, multinational company from kidnapping her best friend -- a fascinating beast named Okja.

Little did I know that I was in for a roller coaster ride of emotions with this film. It addresses the special bond between humans and animals, corporate greed, animal cruelty, environmentalism, and animal activism. Touching and hard to watch at times, this film is amazing and thought provoking and although a tough watch at times I feel better for having seen it and have much to ponder this week. It is a powerful film, not for everyone. And may I say the young Korean actress, Ahn Seo-hyun was SUPERB in the lead role as a young farm girl who loved her Okja enough to do anything and everything she could to bring her best friend back home. The film competed for the Palme d’Or in the main competition section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Sigeumchi Namul Ingredients

On to the food. We had chicken bulgogi..easily cooked up with Bibigo Korean BBQ sauce. The star of the meal for me was the Sigeumchi Namul, or Korean Spinach side dish which I made. This side dish is so very easy and so very tasty. You add blanched spinach to a mixture of garlic, Korean red pepper flakes, green onion, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, and soy sauce to taste. Click on the highlighted text which will take you to Amazon where you can find some of the ingredients needed for this dish.

Green onions, korean red pepper powder, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and garlic — Ingredients for the Korean Spinach Side Dish

Blanched spinach — **Blanching baby spinach**

We were all gulping it down…even Toby loved it!

This Korean Spinach side dish is a very popular banchan in Korean cuisine. Banchan, or side dishes, are an essential part of Korean meals. They are brought out in small portions, meant to be shared, and served with rice.

Method to Make the Korean Spinach Side Dish

The method to make this couldn’t be easier! After blanching baby spinach in hot boiling water, squeeze out all the water. You will then combine all the ingredients (except for the spinach), and then gently mix in the spinach by hand.

I tend to favor spicy foods, so I’ve included quite a bit of Korean red pepper powder (gochugaru) in this recipe. If you prefer a non spicy version, simply leave out the gochugaru or reduce the amount to your taste.

Also please feel free to adjust the amount of soy sauce that you use in this recipe. I used around 1 tbsp of soy sauce, but by all means reduce this amount if too salty or add a bit more for more salty seasoning.

The Final Result Was Delicious!

I really enjoyed this Korean Spinach Side Dish! Please view the video below and remember to eat this with chopsticks! 🙂

Serve with rice, and as an accompaniment to your next fabulous Korean meal!

Other Korean Banchan You May Enjoy!

Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

Korean Bok Choy Kimchi

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Korean Spinach Side Dish

Grace

This Korean Spinach Side Dish is a very popular Korean banchan! So easy and delicious you will love it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 6 mins

Course Appetizer, banchan, Side Dish

Cuisine Korean

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

12 oz baby spinach washed
2 tbsp Korean red pepper powder (gochugaru) omit if you prefer non spicy or reduce the amount to your taste
3 green onions sliced thinly
1 ts roasted sesame seeds
2 ts sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
6 garlic cloves minced

Instructions

Heat up water to boiling in a large stock pot. Add the baby spinach once boiling and then blanch for 30 seconds. Drain, then run cold water over the spinach until the spinach is cooled.
Combine the gochugaru, green onions, roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic. in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Squeeze out as much water from the spinach as you can. Once the water is out, add to the other ingredients and gently mix by hand.

Notes

Voila! Such an easy and nutritious banchan! Enjoy served with rice and perhaps some Korean barbeque!

Keyword Banchan, koreansidedish, spinach

Chicken Biryani

March 31, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I LOVE rice. So it should not come as a surprise that Biryani, an Indian mixed rice dish made with basmati rice, is one of my absolute favorite foods!

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Japanese Kit Kats

March 29, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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A few years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband Steve and I ordered Japanese Kit Kats from Amazon. We celebrated Valentine’s Day by trying out a couple of different flavors of Kit Kats, and each subsequent day we continued to enjoy the different flavors until the Kit Kats were gone (way too soon!).

We were aware that Japan had an assortment of Kit Kat flavors, so one of the things we did while on a recent trip to Japan was spend time trying to hunt down Kit Kats! As you can see we brought quite a few back!

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Yurinchi Chicken

March 24, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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Japanese Fried Chicken — Tanoshiya’s Delicious Yurinchi Chicken!

We recently came back from 3 weeks in Japan. The trip was an experience of a lifetime. I was especially pleased because I had the opportunity to try so many different foods. One of my favorites was Yurinchi Chicken!

What is Yurinchi Chicken?

Yurinchi chicken is the Japanese version of Chinese style fried chicken. It is usually made with chicken thighs with the skin on, coated with potato starch, then deep fried to a crunchy and crispy golden brown. It is served on a bed of lettuce, with a superb tasting Yurinchi sauce poured over it, and then topped with loads of sliced scallions!

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Tabasco Scorpion Sauce

March 20, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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This post is purely for the love of Tabasco Scorpion Sauce.

I am a HUGE fan of Tabasco! Prior to visiting the Tabasco Museum on Avery Island, my favorite sauce was Tabasco Habanero Sauce. I LOVE the HOT stuff! So I thought that the Habanero flavor was the hottest in the Tabasco line until I visited Avery Island.

I then found my new favorite…Tabasco Scorpion Sauce! As I mentioned, I love HOT so this sauce delivers in a HUGE way!

Tabasco 1868 Restaurant

We were able to try it at the Tabasco 1868 Restaurant, so named because that is the year that Tabasco was founded by Edmund McIlhenny. At the restaurant they provide all the Tabasco flavors that are available for you to sample! We tried all of them, and of course I was drawn to the Scorpion Sauce!

While there, I enjoyed dining on their Crawfish Etouffee (to DIE for!), and I smothered it with the Scorpion Sauce. Sweat was pouring down my face, but I was happy. LOL

The sauce has a hint of sweetness to it, and if you like super hot sauces you MUST give Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a try!

Where to Buy Tabasco Scorpion Sauce?

After dining at 1868, we headed to the Tabasco Country Store, where you can get all things Tabasco. 🙂 There we found what I was looking for…Scorpion Sauce! We were advised that the only place it was sold was at the Tabasco Country Store on Avery Island or their online store, so we purchased a few bottles to take home with us.

Those bottles went FAST! I loved it so much that I wanted to send it as a gift to some foodie friends. So I ordered some from the Tabasco Country Store online store, and sent it to a friend of mine on Instagram, @foodie_emilly, famous Singapore foodie. She tried it, then advised me that she thought about buying some on Amazon because she and her friends liked it so much.

Amazon? I checked it out and sure enough, found it on Amazon! YES!!

Tabasco Scorpion Sauce -- in Japan??

I later found out from a friend of Emilly’s @leptonyscript (on Instagram), that he found it in a grocery store in Asia (I think he is in Singapore as well). WHAT? I couldn’t find it in our grocery stores here in San Antonio in the US and he found it in Singapore?

But wait! We recently took a trip to Japan and guess what…I found it in a small grocery store in Japan!

I bought a bottle to bring home with us and thank goodness it didn’t break! LOL So I’m ready to smother my meals with Scorpion Sauce again. 🙂

Are you Ready to Give Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a Try?

If you are ready to give the Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a try, here is where you can purchase:

Tabasco Country Online Store

Amazon.com (this link will take you directly to the Scorpion Sauce)

Japanese Grocery Store in Osaka (no online option, must travel there :-))

I hope you’ll give it a try it’s SOOO SOOO GOOD! AND SUPER HOT!

Please visit the Tabasco Museum at Avery Island, LA sometime. If you love Tabasco you will love the Museum and Avery Island!

And join us for more food fun by signing up for our email list here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

March 18, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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We just returned from a once in a lifetime trip to Japan. We spent 3 weeks there and it was absolutely amazing! In addition to seeing some incredible places, we also had the opportunity to experience many Japanese foods. Some of these meals were in restaurants, but some took place in the AirBnb’s in which we stayed. One of the meals in an AirBnb was particularly memorable – Easy and Delicious Gyudon!

I had wanted to cook a Japanese dish myself when in Japan, and my friend Makoto, of @kyushu.island.cooking on Instagram, came to the rescue!

Simple and Few Ingredients Needed!

This recipe for Gyudon, literally “beef bowl”, is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with ingredients including sake, soy sauce and mirin. The finishing touch is some pickled ginger on top.

Thin beef, onion, sugar, sake, soy sauce, mirin, ginger, pickled ginger, rice — Ingredients for Gyūdon

This is Makoto’s recipe, and she recommended that I make this dish. She took time to consider what meal may be easy for travelers to create and she steered me to Gyudon.

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I usually cook every night, and eating out is a luxury. We have been eating out quite a bit (love every moment) but I had been itching to get in the kitchen and got to do so last night, thanks to the availability of a kitchenette in our Airbnb and Makoto @kyushu.island.cooking. Making a new Japanese dish in Japan was a dream for me and Makoto came to the rescue when she shared her Gyudon recipe with me. Gyūdon, literally "beef bowl", is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with ingredients including sake, soy sauce and mirin. The finishing touch is some pickled ginger on top. Get Makoto’s recipe for gyudon here: https://japanese-food-cooking.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-to-make-gyudon.html This was DELICIOUS and oh so easy to make! Please follow @kyushu.island.cooking for Japanese food inspiration and take part in Japanese cooking experiences when in Japan! I can’t wait to make this again when we get home to share some with Toby! 😊 🐶 Cheers! Grace #gyudon #japanesebeefbowl #ricebowl #japanesecuisine #japanesefood #easyanddelicious #dinnertonight #inmybowl #yummyyummy #foodpost #foodposts #internationalfood #worldfood

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Mar 7, 2020 at 7:32pm PST

The ingredients for Easy and Delicious Gyudon are: thinly sliced beef, onion, ginger, sake, mirin, soy sauce, water, sugar, and some brightly colored pickled ginger as a garnish. 🙂 You can buy most of these ingredients in your local Asian grocery, or shop Amazon for pickled ginger, mirin, and soy sauce, as seen below.

Mirin

Soy Sauce

Ginger and pickled ginger — Ginger and Pickled Ginger

Easy and Delicious Japanese Recipe!

Prep takes around 5 minutes. Cook time takes around 10 minutes. I used ready made rice that just needed heating up to keep things simple and voila! In around 15 minutes you will have a delicious beef dish served on top of rice (beef rice bowl) that your whole family will adore!

Whether traveling or not, you will absolutely love this Gyudon! Deliciously simmered beef in gorgeous spices and served over rice topped with pickled ginger. Enjoy!!!

I didn’t have a Donburi bowl (Japanese rice bowl) to serve this in when I made it, but I think serving this dish in a Donburi bowl (such as the one below) would definitely enhance the experience. 🙂

You want to follow Makoto on Instagram at @kyushu.island.cooking! Please view this link for a trip to her blog! She shares incredible Japanese recipes and also hosts genuine cooking experiences in Kyushu Island!

Find her recipe and link to Makoto’s blog here: https://japanese-food-cooking.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-to-make-gyudon.html

And join us for more food fun by signing up for our email list here. 🙂

You may also enjoy these other incredible Japanese dishes!

Yurinchi Chicken

Delicious Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

Makoto

Incredible bowl of rice topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with ingredients including sake, soy sauce and mirin. The finishing touch is some pickled ginger on top. What more do you need?! 🙂

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

250 g sliced beef (thin) you should be able to find this at your local Asian market
1/2-3/4 onion sliced thinly
2 in ginger peeled and sliced into thin strips
200 ml water or beef broth
50 ml soy sauce
50 ml sake
50 ml mirin
2 tbsp sugar
pickled giner for garnish – as much as you want!!

Instructions

Slice onion and ginger thinly.
Put sliced onion, ginger, sake, water, mirin, sugar, and soy sauce in pan, and put it over middle heat and bring it to boil
Add sliced beef, lower the heat, and boil it down for about 10 min.
Serve rice in a “Donburi” bowl, put simmered beef over it, and decorate the dish with some pickled ginger

Keyword beef bowl

Cheers!


どうぞお召し上がりください

Dōzo omeshiagarikudasai (enjoy your meal in Japanese!)

Grace

Fun Gifts For Foodies!

January 3, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I LOVE to have fun in the kitchen and fun with food! I want to share a few of my favorite fun items, that make great gifts for your favorite foodies!

Light Saber Chopsticks!

Super fun! May the food be with you! You will get one in red and one in blue, and can wage war with your favorite foodie if you wish!

Barbuzzo Tacosaurus Rex Taco Holder – T-Rex Dinosaur Taco Stand

Taco night will never be the same! Kids and adults alike will LOVE these Tacosaurus taco stands! Holds 2 tacos, or other food items such as sandwiches, pizza roll-ups, and other snacks!

BeanBoozled Jelly Beans Spinner Gift Box

We gifted these at Christmas to families with small children and they loved it! But super fun for both kids and adults alike!

Our dog Toby doesn’t quite know what to do with the jelly beans, so we have a fun time just watching the look on his face whilst eating them…so funny!

Sushi Socks

These socks are the perfect socks for the sushi lover in your life! They almost look good enough to eat!

Why not pair these with some Lightsaber Chopsticks? 🙂

Taco Vs. Burrito

Have a food fight on game night!

So this is a card game invented by a 7 year old! But it’s not just for kids, adults really love this too! In this game, players complete to create the weirdest and wildest meal. Takes about 10-15 minutes to play!

I hope that you might consider gifting one of these to a foodie friend, or perhaps splurge on yourself a bit!

Cheers!

Grace

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

December 15, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

Honestly I don’t know many people who would state that Brussels Sprouts are their favorite vegetable, but I found someone recently on Instagram who told me that! And pan frying produces Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts!

What Are Brussels Sprouts?

Brussels sprouts are a member of the cabbage family. Don’t they look like little cabbages? 🙂 They have long been popular in Brussels, Belgium, and it may be this popularity that helped give these sprouts their name.

Please visit this Wikipedia link for more information on Brussels Sprouts.

I have to say maybe they are not my favorite veg, but I LOVE eating them every time I have them, so perhaps I should prepare them more often?

An AWESOME Way to Prepare Brussels Sprouts

My sister June normally hosts Thanksgiving meals at her home. I am so grateful for my sister. 🙂 She puts on the most delicious and beautiful Thanksgiving meals.

One of my contributions to the Thanksgiving feast is pan fried brussels sprouts.

I really have to say I am so very proud of these for two reasons.

Reason #1: a die hard carnivore told me that he was impressed by my brussels sprouts!

Reason #2: my sister’s mother-in-law Margie gave me the ultimate compliment this year by saying that she had enjoyed last year’s brussels sprouts and she hoped that I would bring them again. I did. 🙂

Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

I have roasted brussels sprouts before. They are FAB, don’t get me wrong. However, pan frying the sprouts is a quicker way to get absolutely delicious tasting sprouts in less time.

This method involves pan frying the sprouts in a combination of melted butter and olive oil. They are cut in half and then fried cut side down for a bit until golden toasty brown, and then turned over and pan fried again until the other side is golden toasty brown.

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Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. ❤️ Thanksgiving Day is the biggest cooking day of the year, but it's so much more than that. It really is the time to stop and be grateful for everything that we have. I hope that everyone has had the most amazing day with friends and family, with fantastic feasting. I want to say how grateful I am for the many friends that I have made here on Instagram. It is your friendship and amazing work that inspires and motivates me daily to try to be better. Most often I stand back in awe of the amazing talent and kind people that are here that I've had the incredible opportunity to connect with. I had a bit of a break today as my sister hosts Thanksgiving. 😊 I did bring a few side dishes, including these brussels sprouts. Not too exciting right? LOL I do have a bit of a boast though as my sister's mother-in-law enjoyed my sprouts from last year and told me she hoped that I would bring some along this year. That made me so happy. 😁 Brussels sprouts on the stalk is so fun to roast, but this time I pan fried them in a mixture of butter and olive oil until a bit blackened with simple seasoning of salt and pepper. Oh So Good. No more break for me as now it's my turn as I host Christmas. Brussels sprouts are perfect for Christmas too. 😊 Once again, please know how fantastic I think you are all and how thankful I am for you! May you all enjoy the beautiful season ahead of us. 🤗 Have the best weekend. Grace #sprouts #brusselsprouts #brusselssprouts #sidedishes #sidedish #vegetables #veggie #lovetoeat #lovetocook #thanksgivingsides #safoodie #sanantoniofoodie #sanantonioblogger #onmyplate #foodpic #foodpost #foodposts

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Nov 28, 2019 at 4:56pm PST

These are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side?

Try these pan fried brussels sprouts at Thanksgiving or Christmas, or ideally when in season which is from September to mid-February.

Ready to give these a shot? I hope so! Enjoy this most delicious and amazing vegetable!!!

You may also enjoy these other recipes for mouthwateringly delicious vegetables!

Okra Fries

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Grace

Pan fried brussels sprouts are absolutely incredible and you can make this in the fraction of the time it would take for roasting them!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 18 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

1 lb brussels sprouts
3 tbsp olive oil plus additional if needed
3 tbsp butter plus additional if needed
salt to taste
pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste

Instructions

Wash your brussels sprouts and then cut in half (from top to stalk).
Heat your frying pan (preferably cast iron!) to medium high heat. Add 3 tbsp each of olive oil and butter until butter is melted and mixture is hot.
Add the sliced brussels sprouts cut side down and cook for approximately 5-7 minutes until browned. You'll want to check on them (turn over) periodically to make sure that they are not browning too much or burning.
Once the cut side is browned, turn over and cook the other side for approximately 5-7 minutes. Again, turn over and check periodically to ensure that they are not over browning or burning.
Toss everything together a bit, and then add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Video

Notes

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side? These brussels sprouts are delicious and even the most die hard carnivore will appreciate!!

Keyword Brussels sprouts, vegetablesidedish

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

November 30, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

I was given 2 hams for Thanksgiving. These were not used at our feast at my sister’s house (she hosted yay!), so here I am with a huge amount of ham and what to do with it? Make Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder of course!

The chowder also includes onion and garlic, chicken broth, and heavy cream. I used cheddar in the soup, and parmesan shavings to top the soup. Cheese and more cheese is a fabulous thing. 🙂 This really was absolutely delicious and was accompanied by a light salad and a French demi baquette.

Cauliflower, ham, chicken broth, garlic, onion, heavy cream, and potato — **Some** **Ingredients for Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder**

The ham imparted such an amazing flavor to the soup and I’m happy that I have more ham so that I can whip up this soup again!

Benefits of Eating Cauliflower

So turns out this soup is pretty good for you! It includes cauliflower, which is on a list of Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables from the CDC. I just discovered this list of produce ranked by nutrient density. These are supposed to be some of the best foods you can eat to help prevent chronic disease. Cauliflower is #24!

Cauliflower is a great source of fiber and vitamins, including the B-vitamins, C, and K. It also contains cancer fighting antioxidants. I’m going to work on incorporating more cauliflower into my diet after learning this!

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder and Bread

You will absolutely love this soup! And you may also enjoy these soups as well!

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder

Cheers!

Grace

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

Grace

So creamy and delicious, this is perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving ham, or anytime you desire some serious comfort food!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 21 mins

Total Time 31 mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 3 people

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion diced
1 small potato peeled and cut into small pieces
1/4-1/2 lb diced ham
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 head cauliflower cut into small pieces
32 oz chicken broth you may have some left over
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
parmesan cheese shavings as soup garnish (optional)
cayenne pepper to sprinkle on top (optional)
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Instructions

Heat up your olive oil in a large sauce pan on med -- med high heat. Add your onion and garlic, and saute until softened, around 3-5 minutes.
Add the ham, and stir fry for around 3 minutes. Then add the cauliflower and potato and give it a stir.
Add enough chicken broth to cover the mixture and then bring to the boil. Cover, then lower to a simmer and simmer for around 15 minutes, or until the potato and cauliflower are tender.
Turn the heat down to low. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and heavy whipping cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Top this deliciously creamy soup with parmesan shavings and some cayenne pepper to give it a kick if you like! Serve with a side salad and some French bread for a completely satisfying meal!

Keyword chowder, creamy, ham, Soup

Spicy Eggplant Chutney

November 28, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Spicy eggplant chutney is one of my favorite foods. Chutney is a condiment originating in India. Chutneys are found all over the world now, and include fruits and/or vegetables, and various spices.

My husband and I LOVE Indian food. The other day he had a day off from work, and decided to make this SPICY eggplant chutney. We have a Japanese eggplant plant that has been producing some pretty good eggplants, so he made use of one of those along with an Italian eggplant and the result?

Delicious, spicy, savory, incredible eggplant (aubergine) chutney!

HOT HOT HOT SPICY SPICY SPICY

Ok, so the recipe for this chutney includes Bhut Jolokia, or Ghost Chilis. The picture above shows that we used dried Ghost Chilis from Melissa’s. It states on the package that it is the hottest chile in the world!

The ghost chile is rated at more than 1 MILLION SHU’s, or Scoville Heat Units. The Scoville Scale, which measures the pungency of chilies and peppers (based on the concentration of capsaicin), was invented by a pharmacologist named Wilbur Scoville. The higher on the Scoville scale a chile is, the HOTTER it is.

Looking at the Scoville Scale, I can see that there a couple of chilis that are higher on the scale, namely the Trinidad Scorpion and Carolina Reaper. But you know what? Doesn’t matter, my point is that the Bhut Jolokia is HOT HOT HOT SPICY SPICY SPICY!

If that’s not enough, we are also using a bit of a hot sauce called “The End,” which my husband purchased on a trip to San Francisco. A shop called The Pepper Palace, located at Fisherman’s Wharf, sells this product. I have linked to the item and to their site so you can check out their amazing hot sauces, if you are so inclined. 🙂

Spicy Eggplant Chutney The End Hot Sauce

This is part of their product description of The End: “You try a drop of The End. The searing pain felt across your tongue brings tears to your eyes. You cry out for water. The panic sets in.” LOL

Long story short, if you use the sauce and the chiles called for in this recipe you are in for it. 🙂

No Worries!! Customize The Heat Level to Your Taste 🙂

I hope I haven’t put anyone off by the hot hot hot spicy spicy spicy description. Please know that you can make this chutney as hot and spicy as you want or as mild as you like. 🙂 You can leave out the ghost chiles and The End sauce, vary the quantities of these items, or substitute other chiles and sauce that rank lower on the Scoville scale. Whatever you fancy, just know this chutney is delicious!

Some of the other flavorful ingredients include: mustard, cumin, and fenugreek seeds, oh so good for you turmeric, garlic, sugar, and apple cider vinegar.

Spicy Eggplant Chutney hot pepper paste and garlic

Doesn’t this just look drool worthy? I urge you to try this out when you have a chance. Best served with some freshly made puppodums. Enjoy!

If you like Indian food you may also enjoy these dishes:

Keema do Pyaza

Indian Spiced Green Lentils

Indian Spiced Lentils With Onion Salad and rice in a bowl

Cheers!

Grace

Spicy Eggplant Chutney

STEVE STEWART

This HOT chutney is the perfect accompaniment to poppadoms! This amazing condiment contains some pretty hot peppers, but you can tone it down by using other peppers lower on the Scoville Scale. It's absolutely delicious!!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Condiment

Cuisine Indian

Servings 15 people as a condiment

Ingredients

18 oz eggplant we used one Italian and one Japanese White
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 ts black pepper
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
2 each Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) dried seed pods – leave out or reduce for a milder chutney
1/2 ts "The End" hot sauce by Pepper Palace, or your hot sauce of choice
1 ts hot chili powder
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp turmeric
4 tbsp apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp brown sugar

Instructions

Slice and cube eggplant, place in a bowl and sprinkle salt over, mixing with hands to evenly cover. Leave for 5 mins. (Water droplets should appear on the surface of the eggplant). Wipe off salt and dry with a paper towel.
Dry fry over a high heat the cumin and mustard seeds for 30 seconds (seeds will pop and move around the pan as they release flavor)
Place the cumin, mustard & fenugreek seeds, black pepper, dried Bhut Jolokia and extra hot chili powder into a pestle and mortar (or I use a Jamie Oliver Flavor Shaker) and blend spices together
On a medium hot skillet add the vegetable oil and bring to heat, add the egg plant and simmer for 10 mins , mixing regularly to ensure it doesn’t stick to the skillet.
Add the garlic cloves and cook for another 5 mins mixing regularly then add the turmeric mixing all to ensure even coverage.
Mix the brown sugar, apple cider, hot sauce, and spice mix together in a bowl and pour into the skillet cooking for a another 3 minutes until most all of the liquid had dissolved.
Remove Skillet from heat and let cool before decanting to a mason jar and refrigerating or serve up immediately with poppadums.

Keyword Chutney, spicy condiment

Belizean Hot Pepper Onion Sauce

October 25, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

I just found my new FAVORITE condiment. Belizen Hot Pepper Onion Sauce!

Recently I relived our trip to Belize by cooking up some Belizean recipes. Eating the Belizean food took me back to Belize. I felt like I was visiting this amazing country just by sitting at my table and eating the food of Belize.

I made some Belizean Stewed Chicken, Rice and Beans and Stewed Beans. And the perfect condiment to go with them? Belizean Hot Pepper Onion Sauce. 🙂

…

Salted Egg Fish Skins!

October 25, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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My dog Toby is my taste tester. Let’s see which Salted Egg Fish Skin he likes the best…

Ok, so I first tried these DELISH snacks when I was sent them by @foodie_emilly (care of @asiansnackguy), my Instagram friend living in Singapore.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to receive these snacks! Until I came across them on Instagram, I had never heard of salted egg, much less salted egg fish skins.

Taking my first bite of Salted Egg Fish Skin changed my life. 🙂

…

Coconut Curry Shrimp

October 23, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Belizean cuisine has been influenced by so many diverse cultures. It truly is a melting pot. Some of these include Maya, Chinese, Lebanese, Mennonite, Carribean, British, East Indian, and Creole.

Located on the Caribbean Sea, it is obviously a place that is rich with delicious seafood…conch, spiny lobster, grouper, and shrimp to name but just a few.

The dish I would like to share with you is Coconut Curry Shrimp, and the recipe is from my Flavors of Belize cookbook, which I bought during a trip to Belize in 2013.

…

Belizean Rice and Beans

October 12, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Belizean Rice and Beans is a staple in Belize. When visitors ask a Belizean what the national dish is, usually the response will be “Belizean rice and beans, stewed chicken, and potato salad.” The other day I made some Stewed Beans. I used a pound of Camellia dried red kidney beans to make these Stewed Beans…and do you know what you have when you cook up a pound of dried beans? Enough food to feed an army!

I used some of my stewed beans to create a delicious rice and beans dish, a la Belizean style. In addition to the stewed beans, the ingredients include garlic, onion, cilantro, fresh thyme, coconut milk, chicken broth, rice, and seasonings. One seasoning I have used in this recipe is Goya Sazonador Total, which has become one of my favorite seasonings! Click here if you would like to purchase Goya Sazonador Total on Amazon.

…

Belizean Stewed Beans

October 11, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

A few years ago we visited Belize, and I am spending a little time revisiting that trip by sharing some photographs, food memories, and Belizean recipes. Consequently, my hope is that you might be inspired to visit this amazing place! I also hope that you will cook up some Belizean food in your kitchen so that you can explore Belize from your kitchen table.

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It is so much fun to see animals in their natural habitat. We saw this monkey on our boat ride to the Lamanai Mayan Ruins, one of the most impressive Mayan ruins, and located in Northern Belize. This post is just for fun I hope you enjoy it. 😊 I can watch monkeys all day they are hilarious! And this one is such a messy eater! 🤣 Have a great day! Grace #monkeys #sanantonioblogger #naturelovers #watermelon🍉 #lovetotravel🌍 #monkeyeating #monkeyeatingwatermelon #funnymonkey #lovetotravel🌍 #traveltheworld🌍

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Oct 7, 2019 at 7:04am PDT

Belizean Stewed Beans

Stewed beans are one of the staples of Belizean cuisine and the beans are incredibly easy to make. However you just need to have a little patience to wait the 1.5 hrs before you can enjoy your first delicious bite of beans. 🙂 It seems in Belize many people enjoy beans 3 times a day, at every meal…they LOVE their stewed beans!

And I love them too. 🙂 The ingredients are simple: dried red kidney beans (I used Camellia brand), onion, garlic, ham hock, bay leaves, olive oil, cilantro, and I added my new favorite seasoning, Goya Sazonador Total and salt to taste.

Please note, if you do not have access to the Sazonador Total no worries, you can just use salt and pepper to taste. 🙂 Or click here to buy Sazonador Total from Amazon.

We have 3 in our household…me, my husband Steve, and Toby (doggie). I think it will take us 1.5 weeks to finish these beans! Also, I look forward to pairing them with some other Belizean foods, and I hope you might be inspired to cook up a batch yourself.

Delicious Belizean Comfort Food!

This is delicious comfort food at its best!! And you will have enough to feed an army! Serve as a side dish with any meal. Even better, add to rice for a fantastic rice and beans meal! Belizeans love their rice and beans, and this dish will also be beloved in your home. 🙂

I hope you will try making this delicious recipe! In addition, you may also enjoy this recipe for incredible oh so good Belizean Stewed Chicken:

If you absolutely love beans, you MUST try this recipe for Borracho Beans! A favorite in South Texas, these beans are simmered with beer. 🙂

Cheers! I would be grateful if you could share any comments below or feedback if you make this dish!! Enjoy!!

Grace

PS. Dave Ramsey people…this is for us!!!

Belizean Stewed Beans

Grace

Stewed beans are a staple in Belizean households! Delicious and perfect comfort food, they can be enjoyed on their own or added to a most fantastic rice and beans dish!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 1 hr 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr 40 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Belizean, Latin American

Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

1 lb dried red kidney beans I used Camellia brand – no overnight soaking required
1 onion diced
10 cloves garlic minced
1 ham hock or 2 small ham hocks
1 bunch cilantro diced
2 qt chicken broth
1 tbsp olive oil
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp Sazonador Total by Goya, plus additional to taste
salt to taste

Instructions

Heat olive oil on med high in a stockpot. Add minced garlic and onion, and constantly stir for around 3 minutes.
Add beans, ham hock, Sazonador Total Seasoning, bay leaves, and chicken broth to the garlic and onion. Add only enough chicken broth to cover the beans by about 2 inches. If you don't have enough chicken broth, then add water.
Bring to the boil, then reduce to simmering for around 1.5 hrs. Check every so often to ensure that beans are not drying out…if drying out add a little more chicken broth or water so that the beans are always covered.
After 1.5 hrs, check for tenderness. If tender, then add the cilantro and stir, then add salt to taste. If desired, add a little more of the Sazonador Total for additional delicious flavor.

Notes

Enjoy delicious Belizean Stewed Beans as a side dish with any meal! Even better, add it to a rice and enjoy a taste of a dish that defines traditional Belizean food. 🙂

Keyword beans, stewedbeans

Belizean Stewed Chicken

October 9, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

I posted about Belizean Stewed Chicken on Instagram, and one comment I received, from @trinidadfoodtours, is “stewed chicken is life!”

100% agreed!!

A bowl of stewed chicken, served along with some rice and beans, is absolute comfort food at its best. I cannot imagine going through life without being able to enjoy this most humble of combination of foods. So delicious and the food that so many enjoy because of its affordability and also its simplicity.

Visit to Belize in 2013

One of my most memorable and favorite trips over the last few years was our vacation to Belize. I had never been to Belize before, and wasn’t really sure what to expect. Whatever I had in mind, Belize blew away all my expectations. It was absolutely amazing!

Please scroll through the Instagram post below to see some pictures of this trip.

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Linguine With Pink Shrimp Sauce

October 6, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. Therefore I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

I Found The BEST Shrimp Pasta Recipe!

Linguine with shrimp is seriously one of the most delicious seafood pasta dishes. Fortunately I found the BEST shrimp pasta recipe. Honestly I don’t have the words to adequately describe how delicious this dish is. I initially found this recipe in a newspaper clipping a few years ago and have held onto it.

For me, this dinner is a HUGE treat. It’s luxurious, it’s scrumptious, it’s incredible. Got the idea? 🙂

The recipe comes from chef Giuliano Hazan’s “Giuliano Hazan’s Thirty Minute Pasta: 100 Quick and Easy Recipes” cookbook, which tells you that you can create this pretty quickly. It is everything you could want in a shrimp pasta dish! Every mouthful is full of shrimpy, garlicky, and creamy delight!

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Spicy Edamame

October 2, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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1,000 Foods to Eat Project

The book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton lists edamame as one of the foods to eat. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about. I am working my way through these foods, and edamame is food #29 that I am posting about!

Edamame are young soy beans that are harvested before they are ripened or hardened. Spicy Edamame is my favorite way to eat edamame

The first time I discovered edamame was at the cinema. They were offering this on their menu, I ordered, and happily shelled and munched my way through the film! These were salted edamame, and oh so delicious.

But I like SPICE. So I found a recipe for Spicy Edamame, from a Japanese restaurant here in San Antonio, which I tweaked a bit and let me tell you…I was in HEAVEN! These Spicy Edamame are absolutely addictive. They are bathed in a hot chili oil and ginger based sauce…need I say more?

I can sit and snack on these all day…and did I happen to mention that edamame is really good for you? Nutritionally sound..you can feel good about enjoying this most delicious and healthy snack, or side!

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Edamame are young soy beans that are harvested before they are ripened or hardened. The first time I discovered edamame was at the cinema. They were offering this on their menu, I ordered, and happily shelled and munched my way through the film! These were salted edamame, and oh so delicious. But I like SPICE. So I found a recipe for Spicy Edamame, from a Japanese restaurant here in San Antonio, which I tweaked a bit and let me tell you…I was in HEAVEN! These Spicy Edamame are absolutely addictive. They are bathed in a hot chili oil and ginger based sauce…need I say more? I can sit and snack on these all day…and did I happen to mention that edamame is really good for you? Nutritionally sound..you can feel good about enjoying this most delicious and healthy snack, or side! DM for the recipe if you are interested. By the way…if you make the ginger based sauce, you'll make more than what is needed for this particular recipe. What do you do with the extra ginger based dipping sauce? Stay tuned!! Cheers!! Grace #edamame #spicyedamame #soybean #healthyanddelicious #healthyandnutritious #spicyfoods #ilovehealthyfood #safoodie #sanantoniofoodie #sanantonioblogger #sabestfoodpics #japanesefood #vegetarian #delishkitchen #frommykitchen #feed52 #foodposts #foodpic #healthyeat #healthyeats #spicyfoods

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Sep 30, 2019 at 8:57pm PDT

Hot Chili Oil and Ginger Sauce!

By the way you’ll make more of the ginger based sauce than what is needed for this particular recipe. So you can use the extra ginger based sauce as a dipping sauce for veggies, or even mixed into some rice!

The ingredients include soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, ginger, green onions, hot chili oil, and garlic. Before I made this I wasn’t very familiar with mirin, but I learned that it is similar to sake. It’s an essential ingredient in Japanese cooking with a lower alcohol content than sake but with a higher sugar content. I used Aji-Mirin by Kikkoman, which you can purchase here on Amazon.

You will also need some hot chili oil for this recipe. Amazon has a good selection of hot chili oils, including Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp (Chili Oil Sauce) and it even comes with a little spoon. 🙂

Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp (Chili Oil Sauce)

I hope you’ll give this absolutely delicious Spicy Edamame a try.

All credit for this recipe goes to former culinary arts student Anthony Santonastaso!

You may also be interested in these other Asian appetizers!

Japanese Pickled Cucumber

Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die

Please follow along with me on this quest to try the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, from the book by Mimi Sheraton! Join me in this journey and discover new foods, experiences, and cuisines which I hope will add inspiration, fun, and joy to your life! Visit the 1,000 Foods to Eat Project page to view a list of the foods tried so far.

Edamame is #29 on my list of foods to try. 29 down, 971 to go!

If you’d like to follow along and be a part of the 1,000 Foods Project, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It’s an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers! Grace

Spicy Edamame

Inspired by Sushihana’s Restaurant’s Spicy Edamame created by Anthony Santonastaso

This absolutely delicious and spicy edamame is perfect as a side or a snack! You can feel so good about eating this healthy and nutritionally sound food! Enjoy!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 12 mins

Cook Time 7 mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

2 cups edamame can use frozen
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp hot chili oil I used Dynasty brand (Chinese style hot chili oil)

Ginger Sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce I used Kikkoman
2 tbsp mirin I used Aji-Mirin from Kikkoman
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 ts sugar
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1.5" piece ginger peeled and minced
4 green onions sliced
3 cloves garlic minced

Instructions

Prepare edamame if frozen. Cook according to package directions and leave aside.
Prepare your Ginger Sauce by combining soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, sugar, oyster sauce, ginger, green onions, and garlic.
Heat up the butter in a large pan on med high heat. Add the edamame and continually stir around 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat, and stir in the hot chili oil and 3 tbsp of the Ginger Sauce.

Notes

Enjoy this deliciously sweet, salty, and spicy moreish snack!!! So good you’ll be craving it time and time again! Please note you will have more than enough of the ginger sauce so you can use the residual as a dipping sauce for veggies or perhaps mixed into rice.

Keyword Edamame

Lobio Satsivi – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

September 14, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I’m soooo excited. At the time I write this, Thanksgiving is a couple of months away. My thoughts are already turning to what dishes I might be able to bring to the gathering at my sister’s home. The staple green bean dish for Thanksgiving is the very well known green bean casserole. Now, I’ve nothing against green bean casserole. However I love to try new foods and I’m determined to bring lobio satsivi to Thanksgiving this year as a new side dish for friends and family to try.

Lobio satsivi??

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Near East Tabouleh and Middle Eastern Chicken Breast

September 4, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post sings the praises of Near East Tabouleh Grain Salad. 🙂

Near East Tabouleh Grain Salad Mix

I researched parsley for my 1,000 Foods To Eat Project. Tabouleh is a Middle Eastern salad and it is one of the foods I discovered during my research that utilizes parsley. I made tabouleh for the first time due to this post and used Near East Tabouleh Grain Salad Mix as the base for my tabouleh. I thought it was excellent! You can buy this item here on Amazon.

Tabouleh is usually made with bulgur wheat, parsley, mint, onion, tomatoes, and lemon juice. Parsley is an essential ingredient of the tabouleh.

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Parsley – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

September 4, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Here I discuss how versatile, delicious, and good for you parsley is!

Parsley is listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about. I am 26 foods in, and Parsley is food #27!

My research about parsley enabled me to see how versatile this delicious herb is. I also learned about how good it is for you! It most definitely deserves a place as one of the 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die!

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Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

September 1, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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One of my favorite spicy foods is Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts!

I honestly do not know when my taste buds turned toward spicy. My belief is that that some people just have a tendency toward highly spiced foods….and my husband and I are of this tendency.

This is a good thing for our marriage! So there is generally no fighting over whether to have spicy food or not. 🙂

Korean spicy bean sprouts can be considered banchan. I almost LOVE the banchan (Korean side dishes) more than I adore the main meal itself!

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I'm on a mission to learn how to make banchan. Banchan are the delicious side dishes that accompany rice served at Korean meals. Many people know about kimchi, but may not know about other types of banchan…of which there are so many! And please believe me when I say they are all so delicious! My most recent banchan recipe is for Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts, or kongnamul muchim. By the way, namul is a type of banchan that refers to "steamed, marinated, or stir-fried vegetables usually seasoned with sesame oil, salt, vinegar, minced garlic, chopped green onions, dried chili peppers, and soy sauce" (source Wikipedia). Bean sprouts are beloved in Korean cuisine, and they are so good for you! If you like spicy foods, I believe you'll love these and will be surprised at how easy this is to create at home! Get the recipe here: https://explorecookeat.com/korean-spicy-bean-sprouts You can also find links on that post to my other banchan recipes including: pa kimchi, Korean zucchini side dish, Korean perilla leaves, bok choy kimchi (this is soooo good!), and quick and easy cucumber kimchi (additional pictures included here on IG after pic 1). I'm thinking hard about my next banchan recipe….what'll it be next?!?! They are all so good and I hope you will try them sometime! Cheers! Grace #koreanfood #koreanfoodlover #koreancuisine #worldfood #safoodie #sanantonioblogger #banchan #koreanbanchan #koreansidedish #spicyfoods #spicyfood #koreanrecipes #vegetablesides #beansprouts #kimchi #sanantoniofoodie #sabestfoodpics

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Sep 2, 2019 at 2:32pm PDT

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Delicious Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

August 28, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

My sister is Japanese, and when I told her I made Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl she mentioned that was her favorite. I’m so happy because now I can make Katsudon for her!

I’m going to Tokyo in March 2020 to participate in the marathon. I say “participate” rather than “run” because I’m totally incapable of running the whole thing! I am yearning to learn more about Japanese cuisine to prepare for this trip short term. Long term, I want to be able to impress my sister. 🙂

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The BEST Tomato Basil Chicken

August 25, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

I have a folder that I keep printed off recipes and recipes from newspaper clippings. It’s a pretty thick folder, and I hope one day I will be able to work my way through each recipe. Some of these recipes I’ve had for years, and the recipe for The Best Tomato Basil Chicken is one of these that I come back to time and time again. Why?

Because it is a DIVINE combination.
I cannot remember where I got this recipe, but please know I assure you it is EASY. DELICIOUS. QUICK. 5 STAR.

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Za’atar Middle Eastern Spice – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

August 20, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Za’atar Middle Eastern Spice.

Za’atar is listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about. I am 25 foods in, and Za’atar is food #26!

1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die Front Jacket

What is Za’atar?

Za’atar is both an herb, as well as a spice mix. As an herb, it is native to the Middle East and the scientific name is Origanum syriacum. It is also the same as the biblical hyssop.

As a spice mix, the mix can vary depending upon what country it is from, according to flavor preference. However, it generally contains thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, salt, and sometimes sumac.

Take the time to smell this highly aromatic spice, and get a sense of the nutty and earthy aroma it has.

The Za’atar Spices I Have Tried

I’ve had the opportunity to sample 2 types of Za’atar so far. One is from a spice kit that my sister gave me, Chef’s Daughter World Traveler Gift Collection Travel Spice Kit – 12 Artisan Spice Blends. This one contained Lebanese Za’atar, and this particular mix included sumac. Sumac is commonly used in Middle Eastern cooking, and has a tart and citrusy flavor.

The second type I tried, was one I purchased from my local grocery store, by McCormick. This organic seasoning contained thyme and oregano, sesame seed, and lemon peel, and salt…no sumac.

Other Za’atar Options

Browsing around on Amazon, I can see there are quite a few varieties to choose from, and I have zeroed in on one called USimplySeason Za’atar Spice which I’d love to try! This one contains sumac, which I absolutely love.

Are you interested in making your own Za’atar spice blend? I found a recipe for Lebanese Za’atar Spice Blend from the blog Kevin is Cooking which looks amazing and I’ll have to give that a try sometime soon!

How To Use Za’atar Middle Eastern Spice

Za’atar is great for bread dipping and mixing into hummus. You can also add to flat breads and vegetables, and also great as a rub for meats or even to season seafood!

So far, I have added it to my hummus and eaten pita with it (scrumptious!). This is great as a snack and I will say PERFECT FOR BREAKFAST AS WELL!!

I have also tried it with tilapia, which was superb. The recipe for this is Lebanese Za’atar Spiced Tilapia.

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Za'atar. I love practicing pronouncing this word…I think it can sound beautiful pronounced correctly but I have a ways to go. Za'atar is a supremely aromatic spice, and is a mixture of salt, thyme, sesame seeds, and other spices. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking, and it is an amazing spice! This delicious spice pairs nicely with seafood, so I decided to try tilapia seasoned with Za'atar and I had a delicious taste of the Middle East on my table in about 10 minutes. Pair with some pearled couscous (I used Near East brand) or warmed pita bread for an easy, quick, and yummy meal! Get the recipe here: https://explorecookeat.com/lebanese-zaatar-spiced-tilapia/ Cheers! Grace #cleaneating #eatclean #tilapia #tilapiarecipe #zaatar #quickandeasymeals #quickandeasyfood #onmyplate #dinnertonight #lovetocook #lovetoeat #lovetocookandeat #frommykitchen #seafoodrecipes #cleansimpleeats #eatwellbewell #simpleeats #cleansimpleeats

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Jul 31, 2019 at 11:00am PDT

I have really enjoyed getting to play around with this Za’atar Middle Eastern spice! In the future I’ll use it as a rub for lamb, which is recommended by Mimi Sheraton in her book.

1,000 Foods to Eat Project

Za’atar is #26 on my list of foods to try. 26 down, 974 to go!

Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or suggestions I would be honored if you would share them below!

Classic Filipino Chicken Adobo

August 11, 2019 By Grace 4 Comments

I am proud of my international family. I am Korean- American, and my husband is English-Norwegian. One of my sisters is Japanese. And my brothers in law are English, Hispanic, and Filipino.

So Roland, my Filipino brother-in-law, treats us to some amazing Filipino food at some of our family gatherings. Roland is a great cook and I really need to pick his brains more about Filipino food. And I yearn to learn more about this amazing cuisine!

What is Adobo?

I wanted to start off my exploration of Filipino cuisine with the classic Filipino Chicken Adobo. First off, chicken adobo is easy and simple to make, and is one of the most famous Filipino foods.

The word “adobo” comes from the Spanish word adobar which means marinate. Chicken adobo is chicken marinated in a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar.

The BEST Filipino Chicken Adobo Recipe!

Certainly and thankfully I came across the BEST Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe on my first go! This recipe is from Marvin Gapultos, a Filipino American food blogger. Mr. Gapultos is bringing Filipino cuisine to a worldwide audience. I am grateful to Mr. Gapultos, who writes the blog Burnt Lumpia, for allowing me to publish his recipe in my post!

This chicken adobo recipe is from his book The Adobo Road Cookbook, which you can purchase on Amazon. And I really look forward to discovering more of his delicious Filipino recipes. Therefore I’ll consult The Adobo Road Cookbook, as well as Burnt Lumpia!

You will be amazed at the simplicity of this dish! For instance, there are very few ingredients in this recipe. And it comes together so beautifully. All you need is bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. That’s it!

**Filipino Vinegar and Soy Sauce – Datu Puti Brand**

I would like to recommend Filipino Vinegar and Soy Sauce for the most authentic adobo experience! You can find a combo Filipino brand Datu Puti Soy Sauce and Vinegar pack here on Amazon.

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I am so proud of my international family. I am Korean-American, and my husband is English-Norwegian. One of my sisters is Japanese, and my brothers in law are English, Hispanic, and Filipino. At some of our family gatherings, I was treated to Filipino food from my Filipino brother-in-law, Roland. Roland is a great cook! I really need to pick his brains more about Filipino food but I have had a bit of it and enough to know that I like it and want to explore more about it! I'm starting with the classic Filipino Chicken Adobo. Thankfully I came across the BEST Filipino Chicken Adobo recipe on my first go! This recipe is from Marvin Gapultos, the Filipino American food blogger who really brought Filipino cuisine to a worldwide audience. I am grateful to Mr. Gapultos, who writes the blog Burnt Lumpia, for allowing me to publish his recipe in my post! This recipe is from his book The Adobo Road Cookbook, and I’m so looking forward to discovering more of his delicious Filipino recipes both from The Adobo Road Cookbook, as well as Burnt Lumpia! Please follow Mr. Gapultos @burntlumpia! Get the recipe for this most tangy and delicious chicken adobo here: https://explorecookeat.com/classic-filipino-chicken-adobo Cheers! Grace #chickenadobo #filipinofood #eattheworld #internationalcuisine #onmyplate #dinnertonight #filipinocuisine #filipinofoodlove #foodpost #bonappetit #lovetocook #lovetoeat #safoodie #sanantonioblogger #delish #kitchendiary #cooksofinstagram #eeets #feed52 #yumyum #frommykitchen #homemadefood #pinoyfood

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Aug 12, 2019 at 1:36pm PDT

So you must try this amazing recipe soon! In summary, enjoy this taste of the Philippines right in your own home!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime

Spicy Thai Chicken With Basil

Please sign up to get the latest recipes and culinary inspiration! Also come along with my on the 1,000 Foods to Eat Journey by signing up here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Classic Chicken Adobo

Marvin Gapultos

This amazingly delicious Filipino Chicken Adobo is beautiful in its simplicity! Enjoy this served with plenty of white rice and garnished with green onions!

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Filipino

Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup white Filipino cane vinegar, or distilled white vinegar
6-8 cloves garlic, smashed with the side of a knife and peeled
1 ts whole black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
6 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in

Instructions

Place the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns, and bay leaves in a large, nonreactive sauté pan, and then nestle the chicken thighs, skin side down, into the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and then cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Turn the chicken over, and then cover and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Uncover the pan, and then increase the heat to high and return the sauce to a boil. While occasionally turning and basting the chicken, continue boiling the sauce, uncovered, until it is reduced by half and thickens slightly, 5–7 minutes. Serve with steamed white rice.
Variations: While the sauce is reducing, transfer the chicken thighs, skin side up, to a foil-lined sheet pan. Brown the chicken thighs underneath the broiler for 3–5 minutes.
Use freshly ground black pepper instead of whole peppercorns.
For a “drier” chicken adobo, you can reduce the sauce until it is almost completely evaporated. The chicken will then begin to fry in its own fat that is still left in the pan. This is how my grandmother finishes her adobo.
For a saucier adobo, double the amount of soy sauce and vinegar.
To make this adobo as an appetizer, use 2 lbs (1 kg) of chicken wings instead of thighs.

Notes

You will absolutely love this adobo! Garnish with green onions and serve with plenty of white rice for a taste of the Philippines!

Keyword Chicken, Chicken Adobo

Hoppin’ John – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

August 10, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

One of the most delicious of Southern dishes should not be eaten only on New Year’s Day. Hoppin’ John is for any day!

Hoppin’ John is listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about.

I am 24 foods in, and this is my #25 food. After 25 foods, I absolutely trust the judgment of Ms. Sheraton and am on a quest to try each and every one of these foods.

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Pasta!!!! 1,000 Foods to Eat Project Food #24

August 6, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

I am on a quest to experience and enjoy the 1,000 Foods to Eat in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about.

Some of the foods are easy, and some of the food are hard. So.. this one is particularly easy…who hasn’t tried pasta?!?!?! My second question is who doesn’t love pasta?!?!? Pasta is food #24 on my quest to try each and every one of the foods listed in this awesome book.

What is Pasta?

Dictionary.com defines pasta as: “any of various flour-and-egg food preparations of Italian origin, made of thin, unleavened dough and produced in a variety of forms, usually served with a sauce and sometimes stuffed.”

Pasta has two broad categories that it is divided into: fresh and dried. The shapes and varieties of pasta seem to be endless…but actually in my research I found there are approximately 350 different types of pasta, and many many more names for them! For example, what one person calls farfalle, another may call bowtie.

The history of pasta goes back centuries, and although I am not sure how true the legend of Marco Polo bringing the first pasta over from China is, I love the story.

Incredibly Versatile – There is a Pasta for Everyone!

With 350 types of pasta, and seemingly endless varieties of sauces and ingredients, there is definitely a pasta dish for everyone!

Although I do like tomato sauce based pasta dishes, my tasted tend to lean toward pasta dishes that are not tomato based.

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I'm on a journey to try the 1,000 foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die. Some of the foods are easy and familiar, and some of the foods are somewhat difficult. So my #24 food is particularly easy…pasta, which is one of my favorites! Luckily, I have four great pasta recipes which I'd love to share, and are some of my go to recipes when I want a quick, easy, and delicious 5 star pasta meal (which is almost every night). 🙂 Linguine Alle Vongole Linguine With Pancetta and Peas Linguine With Delicious Parsley Pesto Puglian Orecchiette With Broccoli I guess you can tell I love linguine. 🙂 If you love pasta, please try one of these recipes…I think you'll love them. 🙂 Find the recipes at the site in my bio…which is http://www.explorecookeat.com. Cheers everyone! Grace #pasta #ilovepasta #1000foodstoeatbeforeyoudie #onmyplate #dinnertonight #pastamania #sabestfoodpics #pastalovers #pastalove #pastaporn #carbdinner #instapasta #pastaaddict #budgetmeals #pastapasta

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Aug 2, 2019 at 11:43am PDT

I have a few go to pasta dish recipes that I’d love to share, and they are:

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Darjeeling Tea – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

July 27, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

I confess…I am not much of a tea drinker. Even after spending 7 years living in England I never developed a taste for tea. That may change after Darjeeling though.

So I tried Darjeeling tea because it is listed in the book 1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton. She says that the foods she lists in her book are the tastes that every food lover should experience or dream about.

I am 22 foods in, and this is my #23 food. After 22 foods, I absolutely trust the judgment of Ms. Sheraton and am on a quest to try each and every one of these foods.

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Endive au Jambon Sauce Mornay – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

July 20, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

I am working my way through the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. I’m on a quest to try each and every one of these foods.

Some of the foods (dishes) are very familiar, and some are new to me. This Belgian classic, Endives With Ham and Mornay Sauce, or Endive au Jambon Sauce Mornay, is both new to me, and a revelation to me!

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Quick and Easy Cucumber Kimchi

July 12, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

When life gives you cucumbers, make Quick and Easy Cucumber Kimchi!

A good friend of mine has an incredible green thumb! I am so fortunate to often be on the receiving end of that green thumb. The other day, she kindly brought me some amazing home grown cucumbers, chives, peppers, and perilla (sesame) leaves, which are all perfect for Korean banchan. So I’m so excited to be making some awesome Korean side dishes over the next few days!

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Spicy Thai Chicken With Basil

July 9, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Do you like Thai hot? Then you will LOOOOVE this recipe for Spicy Thai Chicken With Basil!

Thai cuisine is one of my absolute favorite cuisines in the world. The complex flavors and fresh ingredients captivate me. Fortunately, my husband loves Thai as well, but he likes his dishes “Thai hot.”

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Flaeskeaeggekage – Danish Bacon and Egg Pancake Recipe – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

July 6, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

Danish Bacon and Egg Pancake

Flaeskeaeggekage (aka Danish Bacon and Egg Pancake)…where have you been all my life? 🙂

Flaeskeaeggekage, is simply divine. This food is one of the foods listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. It is #21 in my quest to try each and every one of the foods in the book.

Learning how to pronounce “Flaeskeaeggekage” is probably more difficult than learning how to make this delicious dish.

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Russian Ground Chicken Cutlet – Kotlety Pozharskie – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

July 2, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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One regret I have is not having discovered Kotlety Pozharskie, or Russian Ground Chicken Cutlet prior to now. These Russian ground chicken cutlets are out of this world delicious! This couldn’t be simpler to prepare. You make the cutlets by mixing ground chicken, milk soaked bread, butter, and salt and pepper. Shape the mixture into cutlets, and then roll in breadcrumbs. Fry these delicacies in butter, and the results are incredibly moist and juicy cutlets!

Russian ground chicken cutlets pan frying

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Korean Zucchini Side Dish

May 3, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

You will always have a feast for your eyes when dining in a Korean restaurant. I am always filled with anticipation to see what banchan, or Korean side dishes, are brought out to accompany the meal I’ve just ordered.

I almost enjoy eating the banchan more than the main course. 🙂

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Russian Beef Stroganoff

February 3, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious Russian Beef Stroganoff!

Movie Night

This will age me a bit..but that’s ok. Some of my favorite memories of childhood involve going to the movies. I remember going to see movies like Star Wars, Gremlins, ET, and Jaws as a kid. Those movie going experiences were absolutely thrilling!

One of the most thrilling and exciting films ever is Raiders of the Lost Ark. I pretty much fell in love with Harrison Ford when I watched this film. It was an edge of the seat experience throughout this masterpiece of action and adventure film.

Several sequels followed Raiders of the Lost Ark, and I had the privilege of seeing them all. With one exception: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. My husband discovered that the Indiana Jones series is now on Netflix (yay!). Therefore last Sunday we chose Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull to watch on movie night.

On movie nights, I love to cook a meal for that evening that has something to do with the film we are watching. For example either the setting of the movie, or food actually eaten or highlighted in the film can inspire the meal.

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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

January 23, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

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Chicken in Lettuce with tomatoes and cucumbers on the side

The popularity of Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps just keeps growing, and it is easy to see and taste why! They are so delicious, and you’ll be pleased to know you can easily make restaurant style quality wraps at home!

This recipe is so tasty and very budget friendly as well. I hope you will enjoy it and make this your go to recipe for fast, easy, and awesome tasting Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

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Nara Deer Park

June 2, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the AMAZING Nara Deer Park!!

A visit to Nara Deer Park is a MUST if you visit Japan!

We recently completed a 3 week tour of Japan. I completely fell in love with this amazing country. There is beauty beyond compare, and such a fascinating array of things to eat and explore!

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Nara Deer Park. Nara is fairly close to Kyoto, so we were able to take a day trip to Nara from Kyoto, where we were staying.

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Pantry Mushroom Risotto

May 31, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Pantry Mushroom Risotto!

The Pantry Challenge

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Bellflower Root Side Dish

May 30, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

Hands up if you are excited by BANCHAN! I have 2 hands up way up and I hope hands are going up everywhere! 😊

Banchan are the side dishes served at Korean meals. One of the most popular Korean banchan is the Bellflower Root Side Dish aka Doraji Muchim.

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Turmeric Chicken With Sumac and Lime

May 24, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

The New Persian Kitchen by Louisa Shafia

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Tilapia With Hot Yuzu Sauce

May 23, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Tilapia seasoned with delicious Hot Yuzu Sauce!

Are you ready for your taste buds to go zing?! Then try this absolutely delicious Tilapia with Hot Yuzu Sauce!

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Yuzu – 1,000 Foods to Eat Project

May 19, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die

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Indian Butter Chicken (Chicken Makhani)

May 6, 2020 By Grace 2 Comments

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS Indian Butter Chicken!

I’m SUPER EXCITED to share one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE recipes with you!

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Korean Soft Tofu Broth With Shrimp

May 1, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

JayOne Soft Tofu Broth Seasoning

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Ram-Don From the Film Parasite

April 28, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Ram-Don from the film Parasite!

Parasite

Have you seen the Oscar Best Picture Winner of 2020, the Korean film Parasite?

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Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

April 25, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about how to make Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole!

The ULTIMATE Pantry Dish -- Tuna Noodle Casserole

Are you in need of a delicious dish that is super easy, quick, budget friendly, and uses items you most likely have in your pantry? Then please consider this Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole.

How To Make Super Easy Tuna Casserole

The Finishing Touch

If you happen to have some Panko in your pantry, I recommend you use it to put the finishing touch on this Super Easy Tuna Casserole!

After 25-30 minutes in the oven, remove and behold how beautifully browned the top is, and get ready to DIG IN!

I hope you will enjoy this Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole soon! Oh and by the way…it is the PERFECT COMFORT FOOD AS WELL.

Some Other Dishes You Many Enjoy!

Borracho Beans

Belizean Rice and Beans

Colorado Green Chili

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Take care and stay safe.

Grace

Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Grace

This Super Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole is the ULTIMATE Pantry Dish! Delicious and creamy your whole family will love it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

Pam spray, olive or vegetable oil for greasing your baking dish
12 oz egg noodles (or your pasta of choice) cooked according to package directions
26 oz cream of mushroom soup canned OR 3 x 10.5 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup
15 oz peas canned, drained
15 oz tuna 3 cans of 5 oz each , drained
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese optional
salt to taste
pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
2 green onions optional for garnish

Crumb Topping -- Optional

1/2 cup panko Japanese breadcrumbs
2 tbsp olive oil
seasoning your seasoning of choice!

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375F. Grease a 9x13 oven save baking dish. I used Pam olive oil spray, you can also use vegetable or olive oil.
Mix in a large bowl the following ingredients: drained tuna, cream of mushroom soup, drained peas, and cheese if using. Place the mixture in your 9"x 13" baking dish.
Cook the egg noodles or your pasta of choice, according to package directions. Drain and add to the mixture in the baking dish. Stir well, and add some salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
Place in your 375F oven, and bake for 25 minutes if using crumb topping. If not using crumb topping, check if nicely browned and heated through after 25 minutes and remove, or cook for 30 minutes total.
IF ADDING THE CRUMB TOPPING, then mix together the panko, olive oil, and your choice of seasoning. Remove the dish from the oven after the 25 minutes, sprinkle the crumb topping evenly on top, then bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Add green onions for garnish (optional) and serve!

Notes

Keyword casserole, pantry, tuna casserole, tuna noodle casserole

Borracho Beans

April 21, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about Borracho Beans!

What Are Borracho Beans?

What Ingredients Do You Need to Make Borracho Beans?

Here Are Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

Belizean Stewed Beans

Chalupas Poblanas

Cheers! Grace

Borracho Beans

Grace

Borracho Beans are beans made with beer! Super delicious and makes enough to feed an army, enjoy with rice or tortillas, or serve as a side to your favorite Mexican dish!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs 10 mins

Overnight soak of beans 8 hrs

Total Time 10 hrs 20 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican, South Texas

Servings 12 people

Ingredients

1 lb pinto beans dry
3 tbsp Pinto Bean Seasoning I used Fiesta Brand! add additional seasoning at end to taste if desired
12 oz beer dark Mexican beer is preferred but I used Lone Star
14.5 oz diced tomatoes canned
1 onion diced
1-2 pork hocks can substitute 4-5 strips of cut up bacon if preferred
1 bunch cilantro chopped
salt to taste (optional)
pepper to taste (optional)

Instructions

Rinse and sort the beans, and cover with water to soak overnight in a large pot.
Drain and rinse the beans, then add water to cover the beans about one inch above surface of the beans. Add pork hock.
Bring the beans to the boil, and skim off any scum that might rise to the top.
Lower the heat to where it will simmer (around med low or so), add 3 tbsp of Pinto Bean Seasoning, stir, cover and simmer for 1 hr.
Add your beer! Also add the diced onion, and tomatoes at this time. Stir, and bring back to the boil, then lower again to a simmer and simmer 1 additional hour.
Taste your beans to make sure they are tender. If not, continue cooking until tender. Add chopped cilantro at the end of the cooking. Add salt and pepper, or additional pinto bean seasoning to taste.

Video

Notes

These pinto beans are so delicious served with rice or tortillas! You can also serve these as a scrumptious side to accompany your favorite Mexican dish or any dish! Enjoy!!

Keyword beans, pinto beans

Okinawan Carrots

April 10, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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We recently returned from a trip to Japan. Our memories are full of this amazing country and its people, places, and of course food.

Dreaming of Okinawan Carrots

I was still dreaming about the Okinawan Carrots when I returned home. So I couldn’t wait to make this recipe and share it with others it’s THAT GOOD!

The only fiddly part is peeling and julienning the carrots. Click here for a tutorial on how to julienne carrots. 🙂

The method to cook these is simply stir fry to soften the carrots, then add tuna, the seasonings, and finally stir in a whisked egg. Oh, and garnish with green onions on top!

Are you ready to try these? I promise you won’t be able to stop eating these they are so delicious! It’s also a very healthy and nutritious snack!

Some Other Japanese Recipes You May Enjoy!

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

Delicious Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

Cheers!

Grace

Okinawan Carrots

Grace

These carrots cooked Okinawan style are a flavor sensation! Just a handful of ingredients produces this yummy side which you won't be able to get enough of!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

3 carrots medium to large sized
1 egg whisked
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 5 oz tuna canned tuna in oil -- you will only use around 1/2 keep the rest to snack on!
salt pinch of
pepper pinch of
water for cooking the carrots
1 green onion sliced for garnish

Instructions

Peel and julienne your carrots. The finer your carrots are julienned, the quicker they will cook!
Whisk one egg in a small bowl and leave it to the side.
Heat up a skillet to med-high. Pour the oil from the tuna can into the skillet and heat up.
Once the oil is heated, add your carrots. Stir fry for approximately 10 minutes or until softened. Add a bit of water here and there to help the carrots cook. You don't want it watery though, so if you add water be sure to let the water burn off.
Once the carrots are soft and pliable, add the 1/2 can of tuna, breaking it up and stir. Then add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and pinch of salt and pepper. Lastly, add in your whisked egg, and continue stirring until the egg is cooked.
Remove and serve immediately, garnished with green onion!

Notes

Eat this as a healthy and nutritious snack, or as a savory side dish to accompany any meal! It’s so good you won’t want to stop eating it! Enjoy this delicious taste of Okinawa!

Keyword Carrots, Stir fry

Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken

April 6, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken!

Roast chicken is one of my favorite foods, and I’m sure many people will agree. It’s delicious, easy to make, versatile and super budget friendly to boot.

My husband picked up this 5 lb bird at Trader Joe’s the other day, and I tried out a new seasoning (Asian style) for the chicken which turned out absolutely fantastic.

Only 3 Ingredients For The Seasoning!

The result? Succulent, beautifully colored and delicious roast chicken. Garnished with green onions and some sriracha sauce and served with rice, it was a very comforting and awesome meal.

I hope you will give this recipe a try! Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken just may become your next favorite roast chicken. 🙂

Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Chicken Biryani

Belizean Stewed Chicken

Classic Filipino Chicken Adobo

Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken

This Chinese 5 Spice Roast Chicken is so easy to make! Only 3 ingredients and ongoing basting produces a most delicious succulent aromatic bird!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 2 hrs

Resting Time 10 mins

Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 5 people

Ingredients

5 lb Whole Chicken
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp honey
2 ts Chinese 5 Spice
1/4 cup soy sauce

Instructions

Prior to prepping your chicken, bring it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for around 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to between 350-375F. Pat your chicken dry, and rub it all over with the olive oil.
Combine the honey, 5 spice, and soy sauce in a small bowl. Whisk.
Baste your chicken with this honey, 5 spice, and soy sauce mix. Cover all areas of the outside, and also rub some into the cavity of the chicken.
Once the oven is heated to 350-375F, place your basted chicken in the oven. This is hands on BUT you want to check it every 15 minutes or so. Every 15 minutes during the approximately 2 hour cooking time, remove the chicken, baste, turn it over, and baste the other side. Repeat these steps throughout the entire cooking process.
You will cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches around 180F. Insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, not touching bone, until the thermometer reads 180F. At 375F this should take between 1.5-2 hrs for a 5 pound chicken.
Once the internal temperature reaches 180F, let the chicken rest for around 10 minutes. Carve and then enjoy!

Notes

Keyword asian chicken wrap, Roast chicken

Korean Spinach Side Dish

April 2, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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Movie Night -- Okja

Sigeumchi Namul Ingredients

We were all gulping it down…even Toby loved it!

Method to Make the Korean Spinach Side Dish

The Final Result Was Delicious!

I really enjoyed this Korean Spinach Side Dish! Please view the video below and remember to eat this with chopsticks! 🙂

Serve with rice, and as an accompaniment to your next fabulous Korean meal!

Other Korean Banchan You May Enjoy!

Korean Spicy Bean Sprouts

Korean Bok Choy Kimchi

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Korean Spinach Side Dish

Grace

This Korean Spinach Side Dish is a very popular Korean banchan! So easy and delicious you will love it!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Total Time 6 mins

Course Appetizer, banchan, Side Dish

Cuisine Korean

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

12 oz baby spinach washed
2 tbsp Korean red pepper powder (gochugaru) omit if you prefer non spicy or reduce the amount to your taste
3 green onions sliced thinly
1 ts roasted sesame seeds
2 ts sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
6 garlic cloves minced

Instructions

Heat up water to boiling in a large stock pot. Add the baby spinach once boiling and then blanch for 30 seconds. Drain, then run cold water over the spinach until the spinach is cooled.
Combine the gochugaru, green onions, roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic. in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
Squeeze out as much water from the spinach as you can. Once the water is out, add to the other ingredients and gently mix by hand.

Notes

Voila! Such an easy and nutritious banchan! Enjoy served with rice and perhaps some Korean barbeque!

Keyword Banchan, koreansidedish, spinach

Chicken Biryani

March 31, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I LOVE rice. So it should not come as a surprise that Biryani, an Indian mixed rice dish made with basmati rice, is one of my absolute favorite foods!

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Japanese Kit Kats

March 29, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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Yurinchi Chicken

March 24, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

What is Yurinchi Chicken?

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Tabasco Scorpion Sauce

March 20, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.

This post is purely for the love of Tabasco Scorpion Sauce.

I then found my new favorite…Tabasco Scorpion Sauce! As I mentioned, I love HOT so this sauce delivers in a HUGE way!

Tabasco 1868 Restaurant

While there, I enjoyed dining on their Crawfish Etouffee (to DIE for!), and I smothered it with the Scorpion Sauce. Sweat was pouring down my face, but I was happy. LOL

The sauce has a hint of sweetness to it, and if you like super hot sauces you MUST give Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a try!

Where to Buy Tabasco Scorpion Sauce?

Amazon? I checked it out and sure enough, found it on Amazon! YES!!

Tabasco Scorpion Sauce -- in Japan??

But wait! We recently took a trip to Japan and guess what…I found it in a small grocery store in Japan!

I bought a bottle to bring home with us and thank goodness it didn’t break! LOL So I’m ready to smother my meals with Scorpion Sauce again. 🙂

Are you Ready to Give Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a Try?

If you are ready to give the Tabasco Scorpion Sauce a try, here is where you can purchase:

Tabasco Country Online Store

Amazon.com (this link will take you directly to the Scorpion Sauce)

Japanese Grocery Store in Osaka (no online option, must travel there :-))

I hope you’ll give it a try it’s SOOO SOOO GOOD! AND SUPER HOT!

Please visit the Tabasco Museum at Avery Island, LA sometime. If you love Tabasco you will love the Museum and Avery Island!

And join us for more food fun by signing up for our email list here. 🙂

Cheers!

Grace

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

March 18, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I had wanted to cook a Japanese dish myself when in Japan, and my friend Makoto, of @kyushu.island.cooking on Instagram, came to the rescue!

Simple and Few Ingredients Needed!

This is Makoto’s recipe, and she recommended that I make this dish. She took time to consider what meal may be easy for travelers to create and she steered me to Gyudon.

View this post on Instagram

I usually cook every night, and eating out is a luxury. We have been eating out quite a bit (love every moment) but I had been itching to get in the kitchen and got to do so last night, thanks to the availability of a kitchenette in our Airbnb and Makoto @kyushu.island.cooking. Making a new Japanese dish in Japan was a dream for me and Makoto came to the rescue when she shared her Gyudon recipe with me. Gyūdon, literally "beef bowl", is a Japanese dish consisting of a bowl of rice topped with beef and onion simmered in a mildly sweet sauce flavored with ingredients including sake, soy sauce and mirin. The finishing touch is some pickled ginger on top. Get Makoto’s recipe for gyudon here: https://japanese-food-cooking.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-to-make-gyudon.html This was DELICIOUS and oh so easy to make! Please follow @kyushu.island.cooking for Japanese food inspiration and take part in Japanese cooking experiences when in Japan! I can’t wait to make this again when we get home to share some with Toby! 😊 🐶 Cheers! Grace #gyudon #japanesebeefbowl #ricebowl #japanesecuisine #japanesefood #easyanddelicious #dinnertonight #inmybowl #yummyyummy #foodpost #foodposts #internationalfood #worldfood

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Mar 7, 2020 at 7:32pm PST

Mirin

Soy Sauce

Easy and Delicious Japanese Recipe!

Whether traveling or not, you will absolutely love this Gyudon! Deliciously simmered beef in gorgeous spices and served over rice topped with pickled ginger. Enjoy!!!

Find her recipe and link to Makoto’s blog here: https://japanese-food-cooking.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-to-make-gyudon.html

And join us for more food fun by signing up for our email list here. 🙂

You may also enjoy these other incredible Japanese dishes!

Yurinchi Chicken

Delicious Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

Easy and Delicious Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl

Makoto

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Japanese

Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

250 g sliced beef (thin) you should be able to find this at your local Asian market
1/2-3/4 onion sliced thinly
2 in ginger peeled and sliced into thin strips
200 ml water or beef broth
50 ml soy sauce
50 ml sake
50 ml mirin
2 tbsp sugar
pickled giner for garnish – as much as you want!!

Instructions

Slice onion and ginger thinly.
Put sliced onion, ginger, sake, water, mirin, sugar, and soy sauce in pan, and put it over middle heat and bring it to boil
Add sliced beef, lower the heat, and boil it down for about 10 min.
Serve rice in a “Donburi” bowl, put simmered beef over it, and decorate the dish with some pickled ginger

Keyword beef bowl

Cheers!


どうぞお召し上がりください

Dōzo omeshiagarikudasai (enjoy your meal in Japanese!)

Grace

Fun Gifts For Foodies!

January 3, 2020 By Grace Leave a Comment

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I LOVE to have fun in the kitchen and fun with food! I want to share a few of my favorite fun items, that make great gifts for your favorite foodies!

Light Saber Chopsticks!

Super fun! May the food be with you! You will get one in red and one in blue, and can wage war with your favorite foodie if you wish!

Barbuzzo Tacosaurus Rex Taco Holder – T-Rex Dinosaur Taco Stand

Taco night will never be the same! Kids and adults alike will LOVE these Tacosaurus taco stands! Holds 2 tacos, or other food items such as sandwiches, pizza roll-ups, and other snacks!

BeanBoozled Jelly Beans Spinner Gift Box

We gifted these at Christmas to families with small children and they loved it! But super fun for both kids and adults alike!

Our dog Toby doesn’t quite know what to do with the jelly beans, so we have a fun time just watching the look on his face whilst eating them…so funny!

Sushi Socks

These socks are the perfect socks for the sushi lover in your life! They almost look good enough to eat!

Why not pair these with some Lightsaber Chopsticks? 🙂

Taco Vs. Burrito

Have a food fight on game night!

I hope that you might consider gifting one of these to a foodie friend, or perhaps splurge on yourself a bit!

Cheers!

Grace

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

December 15, 2019 By Grace 2 Comments

What Are Brussels Sprouts?

Please visit this Wikipedia link for more information on Brussels Sprouts.

I have to say maybe they are not my favorite veg, but I LOVE eating them every time I have them, so perhaps I should prepare them more often?

An AWESOME Way to Prepare Brussels Sprouts

My sister June normally hosts Thanksgiving meals at her home. I am so grateful for my sister. 🙂 She puts on the most delicious and beautiful Thanksgiving meals.

One of my contributions to the Thanksgiving feast is pan fried brussels sprouts.

I really have to say I am so very proud of these for two reasons.

Reason #1: a die hard carnivore told me that he was impressed by my brussels sprouts!

Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts

I have roasted brussels sprouts before. They are FAB, don’t get me wrong. However, pan frying the sprouts is a quicker way to get absolutely delicious tasting sprouts in less time.

View this post on Instagram

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. ❤️ Thanksgiving Day is the biggest cooking day of the year, but it's so much more than that. It really is the time to stop and be grateful for everything that we have. I hope that everyone has had the most amazing day with friends and family, with fantastic feasting. I want to say how grateful I am for the many friends that I have made here on Instagram. It is your friendship and amazing work that inspires and motivates me daily to try to be better. Most often I stand back in awe of the amazing talent and kind people that are here that I've had the incredible opportunity to connect with. I had a bit of a break today as my sister hosts Thanksgiving. 😊 I did bring a few side dishes, including these brussels sprouts. Not too exciting right? LOL I do have a bit of a boast though as my sister's mother-in-law enjoyed my sprouts from last year and told me she hoped that I would bring some along this year. That made me so happy. 😁 Brussels sprouts on the stalk is so fun to roast, but this time I pan fried them in a mixture of butter and olive oil until a bit blackened with simple seasoning of salt and pepper. Oh So Good. No more break for me as now it's my turn as I host Christmas. Brussels sprouts are perfect for Christmas too. 😊 Once again, please know how fantastic I think you are all and how thankful I am for you! May you all enjoy the beautiful season ahead of us. 🤗 Have the best weekend. Grace #sprouts #brusselsprouts #brusselssprouts #sidedishes #sidedish #vegetables #veggie #lovetoeat #lovetocook #thanksgivingsides #safoodie #sanantoniofoodie #sanantonioblogger #onmyplate #foodpic #foodpost #foodposts

A post shared by Grace Stewart (@explore_cook_eat) on Nov 28, 2019 at 4:56pm PST

These are simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side?

Try these pan fried brussels sprouts at Thanksgiving or Christmas, or ideally when in season which is from September to mid-February.

Ready to give these a shot? I hope so! Enjoy this most delicious and amazing vegetable!!!

You may also enjoy these other recipes for mouthwateringly delicious vegetables!

Okra Fries

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Grace

Pan fried brussels sprouts are absolutely incredible and you can make this in the fraction of the time it would take for roasting them!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 18 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

1 lb brussels sprouts
3 tbsp olive oil plus additional if needed
3 tbsp butter plus additional if needed
salt to taste
pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste

Instructions

Wash your brussels sprouts and then cut in half (from top to stalk).
Heat your frying pan (preferably cast iron!) to medium high heat. Add 3 tbsp each of olive oil and butter until butter is melted and mixture is hot.
Add the sliced brussels sprouts cut side down and cook for approximately 5-7 minutes until browned. You'll want to check on them (turn over) periodically to make sure that they are not browning too much or burning.
Once the cut side is browned, turn over and cook the other side for approximately 5-7 minutes. Again, turn over and check periodically to ensure that they are not over browning or burning.
Toss everything together a bit, and then add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

Video

Notes

Simple, quick, easy and delicious. What more do you want in a side? These brussels sprouts are delicious and even the most die hard carnivore will appreciate!!

Keyword Brussels sprouts, vegetablesidedish

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

November 30, 2019 By Grace Leave a Comment

The ham imparted such an amazing flavor to the soup and I’m happy that I have more ham so that I can whip up this soup again!

Benefits of Eating Cauliflower

You will absolutely love this soup! And you may also enjoy these soups as well!

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup

New Hampshire Inspired New England Clam Chowder

Cheers!

Grace

Creamy Cauliflower, Potato, and Cheesy Ham Chowder

Grace

So creamy and delicious, this is perfect for using up leftover Thanksgiving ham, or anytime you desire some serious comfort food!

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 21 mins

Total Time 31 mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Servings 3 people

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion diced
1 small potato peeled and cut into small pieces
1/4-1/2 lb diced ham
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 head cauliflower cut into small pieces
32 oz