f u l f i l l m e

This recipe is actually for macaroni and cheese with chicken meatballs, but I didn't want to make the mac n cheese. The meatballs were really good, and I don't even like meatballs that much ~_^

The mini-pita pocket idea isn't mine. I saw it online somewhere, but I can't remember whose site it was. My apologies to the creator, and if you see this, let me know it was you so I can post credit to you.

Click here for the bento version.

( Chicken Meatballs )

Chicken tortilla soup. I made it Sunday night for my parents for the first time. They liked it =)

Click here for the recipe.

This is the bento I assembled from the shrimp scampi dinner I cooked. Chocolate Silk is in the drink container, and the second L&L contains dried apricots and mango, and in the middle is trail mix with raisins, nuts, chocolate and peanut butter chips.

( Shrimp Scampi )
Alterations:
- Added double the amount of red chili flakes
- Used linguine instead of angel hair
- Omitted dry white wine (no replacement)
- Minced and peeled garlic

Notes:
Next time I won't be so liberal with the parsley.

My mom made this for dinner so I took some home. She and my dad have moved back to town. Yay! ^_^

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The water bottle I normally use has started to leak, so I ended up buying a Sigg bottle. I don't really like the mouth piece, though. I usually like wide mouth water bottles and this one just has one of those sports spigot things. Maybe I'll get used to it. The bottle was expensive, so I'm gonna keep using it for a while before I decide I don't like it.

Eh, I didn't really like this. And the picture didn't turn out that nice. Oh well.

( Duck Burgundy )
Notes:
- Omitted poultry seasoning, used thyme instead
- I don't know anything about wine so I just picked one that said "red wine"
- Didn't really measure anything
- Cut fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces

All recipes are from from the Food Network. I substituted vegan mayonnaise for regular in the two recipe requiring mayo.

Hot Crab Dip

( Hot Crab Dip ) Notes: - Added cheddar - Used Taco Bell Hot Sauce

I will definitely make the crab dip again. It didn't photograph very well since it's one color, but it was delicious. We ate the whole 8x8 pan!

Spicy Chinese Five-Spice Chicken Wings

( Spicy Chinese Five-Spice Chicken Wings )

Boneless, skinless tenders instead of wings

I actually didn't like the wings that much. They were much better with the dipping sauce below, but I think next time I will make a more traditional spice blend for the chicken.

Cilantro Dipping Sauce

( Cilantro Dipping Sauce )

I discovered I can eat sour cream as long as it's cultured. I read online somewhere that it's cultured sour cream has the same bacteria as yogurt. These bacteria break down the lactose, which is what my system can't digest. Hooray!

Didn't feel like cooking tonight, but my bf helped so it wasn't too bad. We just threw together some pasta, shrimp, butter and basil. I used the garlic butter to make some bread with Parmesan cheese on it. Yum!

The weather was stormy -- perfect soup weather. I overcooked the noodles so they were a little mushy, but it was still tasty. Some of the carrots and most of the onions weren't soft enough after the 8 hours, so next time I will probably cook it longer and add the noodles later. I liked the onions with a little crunch, but I like my carrots really soft. Also, I normally detest celery, but I didn't use as much as directed, and they were soft, so I didn't mind them as much.

( Slow Cooker Vegetable Minestrone )

( Less biscuit, more bisque )


This turned out really delicious, though I was afraid it wouldn't turn out right because of the Silk substitution. I'm sure it's not the same as having real cream or half and half, but for my lactose intolerant household, it was tasty!

( Healthier Corn and Crab Bisque )

Alterations:
- Silk Plain Creamer instead of half and half
- Cayenne pepper instead of crab boil
- After Step 6, baked for 8 minutes topped with Pillsbury instant biscuit dough
- Omitted celery
- Yellow bell pepper instead of red; ♥ my hand blender ^_^

Notes:
Next time I'll use less broth and more Silk Creamer.

This is actually in a Lock & Lock but you can't tell cause it's such a tight shot. I don't like the pink spot on the chicken, but it was totally cooked; I took its temperature. I used garlic butter from Whole Foods to flavor both the pasta (mostly stuck to the pan) and the garlic bread.

Click here for the recipe.

Ah, finally back from the big company event this week -- and back in the kitchen.

This is the first time I've made chicken adobo since I botched up my first attempt a few years ago. I used boneless, skinless thigh meat instead of a disassembled whole chicken like my mom does. The absence of chicken bone makes it easier to eat, but it might have an effect on the flavor too.

I can't post the recipe since it's one of my mom's, but a Google search for adobo recipe yields many similar recipes.

( lunches )


( Slow Cooked Korean Style Short Rib Soup )

Alterations:
- Closer to 7.2 lbs before trimming fat
- Slow cooked on high for 8 hours instead of 6 hours
- Used thinner noodles
- Boiled noodles per package directions rather than soaking

To the right is breakfast and to the left is lunch. Chicken tortilla soup, tortilla chips, banana nut muffins (recipe below), Safeway chocolate chewy cookie, chocolate silk, strawberries, organic strawberry yogurt, and granola in the green container.

( Kona Banana Bread )

Alterations:
- Muffin tin instead of a loaf pan

Had my brother, his gf and a friend over for dinner. Cooked them chicken tortilla soup at their request.

Click here for the recipe.

This pasta was freshly made from a farmer's market vendor. I quickly boiled it this morning, tossed in some butter, garlic and cheese.

I forgot my spork x_x