HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS

Got some tiles done for Halloween. Check them out.

If you would like some of your own, let me know in the comments or send me and email.

nEW rECIPE!

Asian Lettuce Wraps - Chicken & Cashew

Here is a recipe for the Asian Lettuce Wraps I made last night for dinner. First time I have ever made them or even eaten them for that matter. I don't know how good they are supposed to be, but these were like HEAVEN!  I think I have a new favorite food!

I looked around in Allrecipes (my favorite recipe website) and on Pintrest for a recipe.

As usual, I didn't really find anything that felt just right, so I used the ideas I had gleaned and made up my own.

 Here's the recipe:

ASIAN LETTUCE WRAPS - 

CHICKEN & CASHEW

CHICKEN FILLING

 Canola oil for sauteing

4 chicken breasts, sliced thin and diced

2 cloves roasted garlic, smashed

2 tbls Oyster sauce (my kids call it stinky feet sauce)

1 tbls  ginger paste  (the bottled kind, not dried)

Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add chicken and garlic, cook until about half done (still slightly pink inside) and then add the Oyster sauce and ginger. Continue cooking until just done, do not over cook.

TOPPINGS

2 green onions, julienne

1/8th of a green cabbage, shredded

1 stock celery, julienne

1 large carrot, shredded (like cheese)

1 can sliced water chestnuts, julienne

1/2 cup cashews, chopped

Prepare these ingredients prior to starting the chicken if you can't do both at the same time. Set aside.

Now you are ready to prepare the Cellophane noodles. I had never done this before, but it was kind of fun. I got my noodles at the Asian Food store out on Addison Ave West.  I suppose you can find them at WinCo or maybe even Smiths. You need to have everything ready and work fast. When you toss in the noodles, they expand and spread out in the pan, so allow for that when you are picking the size of your pan. Have a screen type skimmer or a slotted spoon ready to scoop them out when they are done.

CELLOPHANE NOODLES

1/3 5oz-package of Bean Thread or Cellophane noodles

Peanut Oil

Cover bottom of a large, flat bottom skillet with 1/2 to 1 inch peanut oil. Bring to high heat (don't leave) Break noodles into small batches. Throw a small batch of noodles into oil and allow to fry. They will jump and pop and spread out in the pan.  Remove quickly when they have stopped popping.  About 60 seconds. Drain and repeat with remaining batches.

SAUCE

2 tbls Oyster sauce

1 tbls Rice vinegar, unseasoned

1 tbls Hoisin sauce

1 tbls Soy sauce

1 tsp Sesame oil

Mix the above ingredients in a small cup or dish.

ASSEMBLE

Bottom to top:

Lettuce leaf (I used butter lettuce) - chicken - green onion - cabbage - celery - water chestnut - carrot - cashew - cellophane noodles - drizzle sauce

EAT!!

I let everyone put there own together.  That way I can be first in line to get mine! I hope you like it.  Let me know in the comments below.

D.