Cooking and Recipe Thread

[Otome-san]

I'm bringing back the recipe thread a little at a time. :D Here, you are welcome to share your favorite recipes and meals. I'll be adding some of my favorites, along with some kitchen tips. Stay tuned.

[sora chan]

I'm not a great Chef at all. Currently I am living in China and one of my Chinese friends taught me how to prepare tofu. It's not like Chef online recipe, but I think it taste good so I will share what to do here.

1.You cut pieces of tofu into strips
2.Add oil into the pan and then fry both sides of the tofu
3. Add a pinch of salt
4.Add green peppers or red peppers (red looks better) and fry altogether.
5.Add sliced pieces of celery, ginger, and green onion
6.Add another pinch of salt

Walaah! Sorry I am not very detailed, and it's super simple, but I am a beginner chef so yea. Authentic Chinese tofu for those who are interested. Hunan style.

[cocoLily]

Hi sora chan. :) Thanks for the recipe. This thread is for everyone at any cooking level (even I'm a complete beginner in some areas) so don't feel embarrassed. We're here to help each other out and anything is better than nothing. :XD

Speaking of helping everyone, I was watching a cooking show (I forgot what it was called), but the topic was pasta. The pasta specialist who was interviewed advised that adding a generous amont of salt to the water instead of oil will make it not only taste better, but will help the sauce stick to it.

Since I can't remember which show it was, I found an article stating the same thing:

Shirley Corriher:
" Add 1 to 2 tablespoons sea salt to a large pot of rapidly boiling water. By the way, the claim that salted water cooks food faster (because of its higher boiling temperature) is exaggerated; you're not adding enough salt to raise the temperature more than about 1°F."

Here's the link to the rest of the article:
http://www.finecooking.com/articles/cooking-pasta-properly.aspx

[JushiroNIchigo]

For aspiring baristas, I have two mocha recipes for you:

Almond Joy Mocha:

(yes, I know Int'l Delight has this as well, but this version is sugar free, theirs is not)

Swiss Miss Diet Cocoa
Any plain coffee creamer (dry)
1 tbs of DaVinci Coconut sugar free syrup
1tsp of DaVinci Almond sugar free syrup

stir into coffee and enjoy.


Snickers Mocha:
Swiss Miss Diet Cocoa
Any plain coffee creamer (dry)
1 tbs of DaVinci peanut butter sugar free syrup
1 tsp of DaVinci caramel sugar free syrup

stir into coffee and enjoy (if too sweet, may need to add more plain coffee creamer)

[Araxiel]

Ginger Sponge
6oz/170g plain flour
2tsp baking powder
1tsp vanilla essence
1tsp ground cloves
2 eggs
8floz/250ml whipping cream/Elmlea double cream
2tsp ground ginger
quarter tsp ground nutmeg
8oz/225g caster sugar
half tsp salt
2tsp ground cinnamon

1)preheat oven to 180c/gas mark 4
2)Put flour, baking powder, salt, and spices in a bowl.
3)Beat eggs on high speed [beat with a fork if you don't have a mixer].
4)Gradually beat in caster sugar.
5)With mixer on low, beat in flour mix alternately with cream.
6)Stir in vanilla.
7)Pour mix in tin. Bake for 40 minutes or so, or until a thin knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Serve warm with custard, or keep slices in the fridge till later.

[Otome-san]

First up is my recipe for beef stroganoff. It's one of my family's favorites.

Small amount of oil or butter
1 lb. sirloin steak, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 small onion, chopped
1 8-oz. container of sliced mushrooms, rinsed
1 big can cream of mushroom soup
1 8-oz (small) container of sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot cooked noodles or fettuccine

* In a skillet, heat the oil. Once the oil is heated, cook the meat, onion, and mushrooms until the meat is done and the onions are tender.
* Drain any excess fat. Stir in soup and sour cream. Heat to a slight boil.
* Remove from heat; add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pasta.

I like to serve this with peas and carrots or a simple green salad. You can also add a splash or two of Worcestershire sauce in the second step for extra flavor.

[CommanderEivlys]

Family recipe for chocolate cake, best I've ever eaten (Four people):

Ingredients:

- 220g of dark chocolate
- 180g of butter
- 3 eggs
- 200g of sugar (brown is best)
- 40 g or cocoa powder
- 80 g of flour

You can double or even triple these.

1) Preheat the oven at 180°C
2) Break apart the chocolate into small pieces and add the butter. Heat them and mix them until you get a smooth mixture.
3) Break the eggs in a big bowl and add the sugar. Beat them white.
4) Add the cocoa powder and flour, then the molten chocolate. Use a mixer to mix all of this until you get a smooth result.
5) Take out a large dish in which you can pour in the mixture. Put it in the oven for 15-20 mn (max).
6) The less time in the oven, the better.
7) Take out the cake and leave it to cool off in the fridge. Eat cold, either as such or with icing/sugar on top.

Beware: this recipe is delicious, but also incredibly filling.

[Otome-san]

Three-Ingredient Fudge (a favorite in my family)

Ingredients:


2/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (This is one 6-ounce bag.)
1/2 bag mini marshmallows


Instructions:


Grease a shallow baking dish with margarine. Set aside.
In a saucepan, melt peanut butter and chocolate chips, stirring regularly.
Remove the pan from the heat. Fold in marshmallows.
Spread evenly into the baking dish. Refrigerate about 3 hours.


Tips:

I use the colored marshmallows and don't completely fold them in, just for a "stained glass" effect.
You can fold in raisins or crumbled cookies if you like.