Recipe: Pastrami Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)

Pastrami Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)

Food and Wine Magazine, Apr 2021, p. 94

4.8 stars

I'm a huge Pad Kee Mao fan so when I saw this using pastrami (strange and interesting!), we had to try it. Because we don't have any Asian grocery stores near us, we used fresh udon noodles instead of the fresh wide rice noodles that it calls for. I could have done without the pastrami, but blog contributor the grandcruman really enjoyed it. I think a Vietnamese Shaking Beef would go well in this dish. 

FYI - This was a spicy dish with the jalapenos and Thai chiles -- loved it!

Ingredients: fresh wide rice noodles, pastrami, red bell pepper, jalapenos, fresh Thai chiles, garlic, sugar, oyster sauce, black soy sauce, fish sauce, Thai basil leaves, vegetable oil, ground white pepper, brined green peppercorns

Tips:

• Doubled the amount of red bell pepper to make it hearty
• Used regular basil leaves
• Left out the optional brined green peppercorns

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta

Dark Chocolate Panna Cotta
Laylita.com

4.6 stars

Nice dessert that we served to guests with whipped cream and berries. The panna cotta was a bit more pudding-like so I may try a different recipe next time. This was delicious, though, and not very sweet which I liked.

Ingredients: milk, heavy cream, gelatin, sugar, dark chocolate, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract

Tips:

• The milk boiled so fast on our induction stove that it boiled over a little bit (I need to watch it more closely next time!)
• Half the recipe made 4 martini glasses plus a little leftover

Recipe: Crispy Cheese Burritos with Chorizo and Eggs

Crispy Cheese Burritos with Chorizo and Eggs

Food and Wine Magazine, Feb 2021, p. 35

4.8 stars

Super quick and easy weekday meal! I thought this was as good as Torchy's Tacos...

Ingredients: flour tortillas, Mexican chorizo, eggs, sharp cheddar cheese, black beans, white onion, cilantro, jalapenos, canola oil, Kosher salt, black pepper, avocado, tomatillo salsa

Tips:

• Didn't sizzle the cheese on the tortilla -- instead, we melted the cheese on the tortilla in the microwave
• Added red pepper
• Used full can of black beans
• Bought regular salsa vs. tomatillo salsa
• Made eggs only for this meal (vs. making extra with the need to reheat the eggs later)

Recipe: Udon in Buttery Tomato and Soy Broth

Udon in Buttery Tomato and Soy Broth

Bon Appetit Magazine, Mar 2021, p. 80
5 stars

Incredibly flavorful vegetarian soup -- and restaurant worthy.

As the recipe blurb states "you may be surprised at how quickly this broth builds flavor, with massive depth from golden onions, tomatoes, soy sauce and just a tiny bit of butter for a silky finish." They were absolutely right! Plus, this was a very easy weeknight dish.

Ingredients: beefsteak tomatoes, instant udon noodles, onions, scallions, cilantro, garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, soy sauce, unsalted butter, sesame oil, vegetable oil, black pepper, Kosher salt

Tips:

• Used regular large beefsteak-looking tomatoes
• Grated the tomatoes using the food processor
• Next time, try substituting 2 cups of the water for 2 cups of beef broth to add another layer of flavor, not that it really needs more flavor -- but it might give it an even more pho-like flavor
• Could add basil next time as a garnish too