Asian Baby-Back Ribs with Udon Salad

I am trying SO hard to get better at meal planning! This is the 1st entry. I got this recipe from Real Simple Magazine. The ribs turned out really good. The noodles - Ben wasn't crazy about but weren't too bad. I want to keep this recipe around for the ribs!

Asian Baby-Back Ribs with Udon Salad

Ingredients

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

2 TBSP rice vinegar

2 TBSP cornstarch

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 1 inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled & sliced

1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

4 lbs. Baby Back ribs, cut into 8 pieces

1 8.8 oz package udon noodles

1 bunch radishes (about 8), halved & sliced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

4 scallions, sliced

Directions

In a 4-6 qt slow cooker, mix together the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, cornstarch, oil, ginger, cayenne. Add the ribs and turn to coat.

(I doubled the sauce & added the other 1/2, 1/2 way through cooking)

Cover and cook until the ribs are tender, on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours

Twenty minutes before serving, heat broiler. Place the ribs, meaty-side up, on a foil lined baking sheet. Strain the cooking liquid from the slow cooker to a medium bowl. Brush the meaty side of the ribs with half the cooking liquid and broil, basting twice with the pan juices, until shiny and glazed, 3 to 4 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and run under cold water to cool. Add the noodles to the bowl of remaining cooking liquid from the slow cooker and toss with the radishes, cilantro, and scallions.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

It's been TOO long since I've added to the blog. I had a hankering for some lettuce wraps this week ~ I dug around for recipes and settled on this one. It was worth posting. I will definitely make this again. Easy, healthy & delicious!

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Source: Recipegirl.com

Ingredients

1 TBSP canola or vegetable oil (we used sesame)

1 medium shallot, minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 TBSP minced fresh ginger

1 LB ground turkey or pork

1 can water chesnuts - rinsed & chopped (this was an addition)

2 TBSP soy sauce

1/4 bottled chili sauce

1 tsp fish sauce (I omitted - didn't have it on hand)

1 tsp granulated sugar

1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro

1 head butter or Boston lettuce, separated

Directions

1. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Stir fry shallots in hot oil for several minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and stir fry for 1 minute. Add the ground meat and separate for even cooking. Stir in soy sauce, chili sauce, fish sauce and sugar.

2. Cook until meat is brown and crumbly and the liquid is reduced, stirring frequently. Stir in cilantro. Spoon the meat mixture into a serving bowl. Mix in the peanuts.

3. Self serve: Spoon meat mixture onto a lettuce leaf and roll tightly.

1/3 cup minced peanuts

Simple Sesame Noodles

Thanks to my friend Jennifer for sharing this recipe! A nice easy side side or can be made into the main meal by eating some extra veggies and/or chicken/shrimp. We had it with some grilled pork chops and green beans. This was super easy to make!

Simple Sesame Noodles

Ingredients
12 ounces, fluid Thin Noodles, Cooked And Drained ( I used Udon noodles - I'd probably just use multi grain spaghetti next time)
¼ cups Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Sugar
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
3 Tablespoons Pure Sesame Oil
½ teaspoons Hot Chili Oil
4 Tablespoons Canola Oil
2 Tablespoons Hot Water
4 whole Green Onions, Sliced Thin

Directions
Whisk all ingredients (except noodles and green onions) together in a bowl. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
Pour sauce over warm noodles and toss to coat.
Sprinkle with green onions and toss.

Chicken Pineapple Stir-Fry

Getting a new Pampered Chef pineapple corer gadget sent me on the search with a recipe to use some pineapple! I found a quick, easy dinner. And better yet, a serving is only 4 weight watchers points.

Chicken Pineapple Stir-Fry
Source: Recipezaar.com
Servings: 6

Ingredients
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP cider vinegar
1 TBSP ketchup
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 TBSP minced garlic
1 tsp. cornstarch
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2 inch strips
2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 (16 oz.) package stir fry vegetables
1 (8 oz.) can pineapple chucks, drained, reserve 1/4 cup juice (I used the fresh pineapple & white wine instead of wine juice)
hot cooked rice

Directions
1. Mix first ingredients with reserved 1/4 cup pineapple juice in small bowl.
2. In large skilet, stir fry chicken in hot oil 5 minutes.
3. Add vegetables, stir-fry 4 more minutes.
4. Stir in pineapple and sauce, heat through.
5. Serve over rice.

Chicken Satay Skewers

In my haste to prepare for guests ~ I forgot to take pics ~ but, throughout an evening, they were all gone. I figured that was testimony enough to blog this recipe. Works great for an appetizer but would also work well for a dinner with some accompaniments.

Chicken Satay Skewers
Source: Everyday Food Martha Stewart

Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - 6-8oz. each, thinly sliced lenthwise
(I used way more chicken - maybe 1 1/2 pounds or so & doubled both sauces)
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Course salt & ground pepper
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 TBSP rice vinegar
Vegetable oil, for pan

Directions
1. In a bowl, toss chicken with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and 1/4 tsp. of red pepper flakes. Season with salt & pepper. (I let sit for a hour or so - only because I had the time). Thread each chicken strip lengthwise onto a skewer.

2. Make dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes and 2 to 3 tsp. water.

3. Heat grill pan over high. Work in batches, brush pan with oil, and cook chicken until opaque throughout. It took about 8 minutes or so all together - flipping the skewers.

4. Serve skewers with dipping sauce.

Peanut Butter Noodles

Thai/Asian food at home. Trying to get some more of these types thing in my recipe box. I found this recipe from All Recipes.Com. Made a couple alterations to make it more of a meal.

Peanut Noodles
Source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger root (I had jarred ginger)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons hot chile paste (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces Udon noodles (can substitute spaghetti)
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

I added a red pepper & 1 lb. chicken breast

Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until tender according to package directions. Drain.

Meanwhile, combine chicken broth, ginger, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, chili paste, and garlic in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until peanut butter melts and is heated through. Add noodles, and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and peanuts.

I cut 1 lb. chicken breast in bite size pieces & a red pepper. I sauteed them in peanut oil. Adding them to the sauce/noodles.