Sesame Buns

The best part about making your own bread is that you know exactly what goes in it. You don't want plastics in there that they use to make yoga mats then make your own bread. There isn't always time, but it's important to really sit down and ask ourselves what we are really putting in our body. Better yet, what are we really feeding our kids? You want to substitute whole wheat flour? Do it. Make it your choice to eat healthier. We're trying to minimize the ingredients that we can't pronounce in the foods that we eat. It's as simple as that. Plus healthier and cheaper together really is an unbeatable combination.

Sesame Buns

Sesame Buns

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 cup bread flour

4 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp rapid rise yeast

1 tbsp powder milk

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup water

1 tsp vanilla flavor

1 tbsp sesame seeds

eggwash

1 egg yolk

1 tbsp water

Procedure

preheat oven to 350 F

-mix all the dry ingredients (flour,sugar,salt, powder milk,rapid rise yeast)

-add oil, eggs,vanilla flavor and water

-knead for 7-10 minutes using the dough hook attachment

*if the dough is too wet, dust with more flour

-let dough rest for 10 minutes

-turn the dough in to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (approximately 5 minutes)

-divide to 9 pieces for large buns or 18 for slider buns; add sesame seeds on top

-let the dough rise for 1 hour

-bake for 15 minutes

-remove from the oven and egg wash then cook for another 5 minutes

Enjoy!

Beef Tapa Sliders with sauteed Baby Bellas and onions with Sriracha Aioli

As often as I find myself trolling aisles of the supermarket, every time I look at the meat section, I get sticker shock looking at beef prices. The price alone can make you start thinking about being a vegetarian... or at least eat a whole lot more chicken. We all love working with the sexy and exotic ingredients, but realistically, lots of people will be filling their carts with the family packs of chicken thighs, pork shoulder or beef chuck. Fortunately, along with being the less expensive cuts of meat, they're also packed with flavor. We just have to be creative in working with them. I would love to use Wagyu brisket to make these sliders but for all intents and purposes, $4.99 per pound Chuck steak will work for us working class folk. :)

Steak Sliders with sauteed Baby Bellas and onions topped with Sriracha Aioli 

1 lb Chuck steak sliced thin

3 cloves garlic minced

3 Calamansi or 1 lime

4 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp brown sugar

pinch of black pepper

marinate the meat for at least an hour

1 cup Baby Bellas or Button mushrooms sliced thin

1 yellow onion sliced thin

saute and set aside

Sriracha Aioli

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1-2 tbsp of Sriracha 

1 tsp of soy sauce

1 tsp of honey

1 tbsp green onions sliced very thin

Sesame Bun Recipe

*a very sharp knife and cutting against the grain is the way to go

*make sure that the pan is very hot when you cook the beef. cook to your desired temp, although well done and with nice caramelization is the way to go. 

Pan Fried Tofu with Soba Noodles

I gave up smoking 4 years ago and to this day I still get cravings. Everything in moderation doesn't work for cigarettes. Well not for me at least. Being a vegetarian never crossed my mind but I do understand that cutting down on meat should be addressed. Maybe one meatless day will be a nice step towards a healthier lifestyle. Well maybe one meatless meal for that day. To be continued...

Pan Fried Tofu with Soba Noodles

Pan Fried Tofu with Soba Noodles

1 package tofu cut in to desired size

cornstarch for dredge

salt and pepper

 lightly dust tofu pieces and brown on both sides. set aside

1 package soba noodles under-cooked according to directions (since we will be stir frying the noodles, it's best to be at least 1 minute before the cooking time.

3 cups of your choice of shredded vegetables

(shredded yellow squash, carrots, cabbage onions and some minced garlic)

2 tbsp of sesame oil

5 tbsp of soy sauce

salt and red chili flakes to taste

stir fry the onions and garlic until fragrant then work your way down the vegetables from hardest to softest. leave the vegetables with a slight crunch and then add the noodles, sesame oil and soy sauce. season to taste. 

Tofu sauce

1 tsp prepared black bean sauce

1 tsp sambal

1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp rice wine

1/2 cup water or your choice of broth

2 tbsp cold butter

reduce this mixture in a pan by half then whisk in the cold butter to thicken the sauce. 

arrange the noodles in a serving platter, place the tofu slices over the noodles and sauce over the whole dish. serve immediately. ENJOY!