Fried Rice Heaven

Fried rice was one of the first things I ever learned how to cook (stir fried vegetables was the first thing, so fried rice was a natural progression). That means it is super easy and anyone can do it. Fortunately, my rice has improved a lot since those days. Now I eat it because it’s delicious, not because it’s the only thing I can make!

To make this rice, chop up whatever vegetables you want into bite sized pieces. Onions, zucchini, carrots, and broccoli are classic standbys. I added some asparagus too because I had it around. If you can find fresh bean sprouts, definitely include them!!

Put some vegetable oil in a large pan, and add your chopped veggies to it once it is hot. Stir the vegetables every minute or so until they take on some brown coloring and soften.

Then, crack some eggs into the pan and stir constantly until they are mostly cooked. Also add sesame oil (a little goes a long way) and sesame seeds, and stir it all around to combine. I love the little crunch you get when you bite down on a sesame seed. You can also add in any cooked protein you want like chicken (used here), shrimp, or tofu.

Next, add in your cooked rice. I prefer using a shorter grain white rice so it is stickier. Once the rice is mixed in with the veggies, I like to press the rice down into the pan and let it sit for a minute so the rice can get a little crispy on the bottom. I love crispy pieces in my fried rice!! I dream about the day I can get a hibachi grill in my kitchen…sigh. Drizzle some soy sauce over the rice and stir everything to combine. Now your rice is ready to eat! Fortune cookie not included- but if you’re eating this rice, you’re already lucky 🙂

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Double Chocolate Cookie Time

If you love chocolate, you have to make these cookies! They have the perfect balance of sweet, crispy, chewy, and chocolaty. But not too sweet. Yum. Get me another!

To make these cookies, pre-heat your oven to 375ºF. Mix 1 1/4 cups of flour, 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. I did my mixing in the food processor just to make things a little easier. Then, mix in 1 stick of room temperature butter (1/2 cup), 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and 1 egg.

You can also mix 1/4 cup of chocolate chips into the batter.

I finished off mixing the dough with my hands to make sure everything was really well-incorporated.

Then, shape the dough into balls and space them out on a cookie sheet. I used a small ice cream scooper on my dough to make sure the cookies all ended up the same size. Flatten the balls a little bit with your hands to end up with flatter cookies. Bake your cookies for 7 to 9 minutes. Cook them less for chewier cookies or longer for crispier ones.

Once the cookies are baked to perfection, let them cool. Then dig in! These cookies are extra delicious when served with some ice cream or fresh berries.

I hope these satisfy your chocolate cravings; they obviously satisfied mine!

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One-Pot Curry

This curry is a pretty good dish, but for some reason, I only make it in the summer. Something about it’s mild spiciness and fresh vegetables make it perfect for a muggy night. This curry definitely doesn’t taste like the Indian varieties, but it’s delicious in its own way. It is also an easy to cook, one pot meal.

First, brown some chicken in a cast iron or other large pot, and set it aside. Then, add your spices to the pot. I used 1/2 tablespoons of thyme and garam masala, 1 tablespoon of cumin, and 3 tablespoons of curry powder. Mix the spices around in the pot so they toast. Then add 1/2 cup of water, a can of coconut milk, the chicken, and the vegetables of your choice.

I used onion, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, potatoes, and asparagus. You don’t need to add much of each vegetable to yield a large stew, so pay attention to how much you chop up! I probably used 1/2 cup of each vegetable, and my stew yielded 4 or 5 servings. Season the stew with salt and pepper. Stir everything around. Then bring the pot to a simmer and partially cover it.

After about 10-15 minutes, your chicken should be cooked through and the vegetables should be tender. At this point, you can add frozen vegetables like peas or corn if you like.

Serve your curry over rice or your favorite grain. Some hot and crispy naan would also be a wonderful accompaniment. Enjoy!

Shopping list:

  • Chicken
  •  Thyme- 1/2 tablespoon
  • Garam masala- 1/2 tablespoon
  • Cumin-  1 tablespoon
  • Curry powder- 3 tablespoons
  • Coconut milk- 1 can
  • Vegetables of your choice
  • Salt and pepper
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