Sushi

I <3 SUSHI!

It is so expensive to buy, so I've learned how to make it. And if I was able to make it, so can you!

First you have to make the sushi rice. 

You will need:

• Sushi Rice 
• Rice Vinegar
• Sugar 
• Salt 
• Vegetable Oil
• Plastic wrap 
• Bamboo mat 
• Toasted seaweed
• Filling (whatever you want to put inside the sushi rice) I used avocado and crab meat which is a California roll but there are many different combinations

Combine 3 cups of rice with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Pour into a different bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil and pour over the warm rice and stir it in. Let the rice cool enough so that you can handle it.

Over your bamboo mat with plastic wrap so that the rice doesn't stick to it. Then place a sheet of seaweed on top of it and put a layer of rice on top of the seaweed. Next, put your filling at the end of the end seaweed, and wrap up the roll using the bamboo mat. Finally slice up the roll, starting in the middle for even pieces.

The more you do of these the better you will get, don't worry!

Chicken & Dumplings

Crockpot Meal

An easy meal that your family will love!

I like to make this meal on days that I don't have much time to spend preparing something. 

Things you will need:

• boneless skinless chicken breast (5) I used 5 small pieces 
• 2 cans of cream of chicken soup 
• peas 
• carrots
• 1 can of biscuits 

Directions;

Combine 2 cans of cream of chicken soup,chicken breast, peas, and carrots into a crockpot and cook for at least 5 hours 

Then turn crockpot on high and add biscuits to the top, make sure to cut up the biscuits into smaller pieces

Serve and enjoy! :) 

My Inspiration

My Mother

The best cook I've ever known! 

Great Appetizer

Spicy Garlic Ranch Chicken Tenders

Spicy Garlic Ranch Chicken Tenders

I used Koch Foods Cravers Whole Grain Breaded Chicken Breast Strips, 24 oz. bag from Wal-Mart for my chicken tenders. I was very happy with these tenders, they were very big and meaty compared to most tenders I've purchased in the past. Although, you may use whatever brand you prefer, and I chose the whole gain as a healthier choice. I cooked them per the instructions on the bag. Then I made of the Spicy Garlic Ranch Sauce.(See ingredients below, for a small batch of sauce) I then tossed the cooked tenders in the sauce and baked them at 400 degrees for about 5 more minutes. Then served with Ranch or Bleu Cheese, and enjoy! :)

 

 

 

 

Spicy Garlic Ranch Sauce:

• 1/2 cup Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• 1/2 Frank's Red Hot Sauce
• A pinch of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter
• Cook on a stove top in small sauce pan, or microwave 

The Village Tavern, Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Mine & My Mothers Favorite Restaurant

I can't even express what I wonderful place this is to eat! I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Lock Haven area. Not only is everything homemade and absolutely delicious, but everyone that works there is family. When you go there often, they treat you as though you are part of their family as well. Also. my favorite part of my meal at The Village Tavern is before my meal even comes out. As soon as you sit down they give the table a basket of homemade Italian bread, and a small dish of homemade peppers that are GREAT! You can purchase a quart or a pint to take home with you.


Please visit and like their Facebook page at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewvillagetavern?rf=100536046673271


Contact Information:
525 E Bald Eagle St, Lock Haven, PA 17745
(570) 748-6128

Simple Dinner Side

Shells, Cheese, and Broccoli

My best friend sometimes asks me what to have for a side with salmon, or pork chops. I know its sometimes a struggle to come up with new things to have. Most people resort to a potatoes of some form, but that can get old after awhile. So I tried this last night for a side with just sandwiches.

I had fresh broccoli left over from something else that I had made, so I boiled that until it was tender. Then I added the cooked broccoli to a box of Velveeta Shells & Cheese and little bit of extra cheese.

The World's Healthiest Food

The Avocado

I sometimes try to work avocados into dinners and lunches. Cooking for two guys that never want to try anything new or healthy it's hard to do, it's like tricking a little kid into eating their vegetables.

 

What you can put avocado in:

• Sandwiches
• Salads
• Burgers
• Guacamole

 

They have several health benefits being a super food.

• Promote heart health
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Carotenoids
• Cardiovascular
• Regulates blood sugar
• Anti-Cancer benefits

How to select the right avocado at the store:

A ready-to-eat avocado should be slightly soft, and the color should be green in color with hints of a dark purpleish/black color. Another way to tell is the top of the avocado , if you take the little stem off and it looks light green underneath then it is ripe.

Hours after you cut on an avocado they start to turn a yucky brown color there are several things that you can do to prevent this from happening but what I found that works the best is lemon juice. If you rub or squeeze a lemon on the avocado it will prevent it from getting brown so quickly.

Preparing an avocado:

I usually make a cut evenly the whole way around the avocado, and then twist it so it comes apart from the pit. Then I take a spoon and scoop it out away from the skin, and scoop out the pit the same way, then you can slice it however you wish to.