Happy list

I have decided to put my happy list on this blog for anyone to follow.  I have been battling depression and it was suggested that I make a list of things to do when I get depressed.  It took me a long time to come up with this list because I have gotten so blue that I didn't think anything would make me better.  But I started doing this list thing a few months ago and surprisingly it's worked.  I have to push myself very hard to do these things because these are mainly things I do when I'm happy. But, I've learned that sometimes it's good to push yourself out of the hole and try to make things at least seem better than they are.  It's not always a bad thing to lie to yourself is it? It's also very good for distracting yourself and I have found that this is a list that changes my environment and makes it more upbeat.  I have found that it's not becoming a distraction to do these things, it's become something that makes me feel fulfilled and more content.  Dare I say a little happy?!  For all of you reading this out there, just in case your blue take some time and find little things that inspire your day. Feed your soul and let things happen naturally.  It will take some time and I'm not saying I'm cured or anything, but it makes me feel like I accomplished something great when I do a few things on the list. I have found that feeling fulfilled and valued is one of the key things that keep dark depressive feelings away.  It's one of the things I am trying to find in my life because it gives me purpose and I don't feel as directionless as before.  So please try it out and make your own and have fun with it.  Buddha says Relax!!!  :P

Steph’s Happy List

July 2011

v Watch something Funny        30 min.

v Bother Sasha and Sam                 10 min.

v Draw, Paint, Color Art               20 min.

v Listen to music and sing along    30 min.

v Research new recipes                    10 min.

v Clean, do some chores                    5 min.

v Express my feelings to someone    20 min.

v Play a game                                                  20 min.

v Sing Karaoke                                    30 min.

v Talk to someone                           10 min.

v Think about my boyfriend                                                                                                  unlimited

Ride the wave dude!!!

Pansit Pansit!!

I make this recipe when I have leftover stuff in the fridge or freezer.  I also make this recipe when I don't have a lot of money to make food. The noodles can be found in the asian store and are usually pretty inexpensive.  I don't remember the prices but one package of rice noodles (bihon) usually contain 6 large bunches of noodles each. The sutanghon is the noodles in plastic covered with the pink wiry stuff like where they put fresh seafood in. You get 6 bunches per package. This is my favorite type of noodles because they absorb a lot of flavor and have really good texture when you bite into it.  The  You can use any type of noodle you want, just follow package directions for it.  For this recipe I usually put two bunches sutanghon and 1bunch of bihon each for 4 people.  Also, you can substitute salt with soy sauce.  So it's a win win.  Be careful not to over cook it because it's easy to overcook.  Remember, you can use any vegetable you have in your pantry.  If you're using canned vegetables make sure you strain the liquid and rinse them to get rid of preservatives.

Steph’s Easy Pansit

Serves 4

6 pieces chicken thighs(1 package)

1 bunches rice noodles (bihon)

2 bunches sutanghon noodles, soaked in warm water for 5-10 minutes

1 c. chopped carrots cut medium dice

1 c. frozen spinach or kale defrosted

1 c. sugar snap peas cut into bite size pieces

2 chicken bouillons with 1 c. water

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. ginger powder

2 tsp. lemon pepper

1 ½ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. salt

2 T. lemon juice

1 T. soy sauce

1 T. olive oil

½ c. chopped scallion cut diagonally

Directions

1.   Make sure you soak the sutanghon noodles.  Use a large wok or large pan with a wide circumference and a lid.

2.  Cut the chicken thighs into bite size cubes and season with 1 tsp. lemon pepper, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. ginger powder, ½ tsp. black pepper and 1 tsp. salt. 

3.  Turn fire to medium high heat.  Heat the olive oil in the pan and sauté chicken until cooked.  Add the vegetables and cook for a minute. 

4.  Crumble chicken bouillons into mixture and add water. Bring to a boil and add the rest of the spices except for the lemon juice and soy sauce. 

5.  Put the bihon in the pan and close with the lid for 2 minutes until rice noodles have come apart into the broth. 

6.  Stir around until chicken and vegetables are on top and rice noodles in the bottom.

7.  Add soaked sutanghon noodles and add soy sauce.  Mix all the stuff together again and close lid until all the liquid is absorbed.  Turn off fire.

8.  Add the lemon juice, scallions, and more soy sauce to taste.

If you want you can use 1 c. sodium free chicken broth instead of bouillons and add shrimp and use chicken breasts.  But if you don’t have the cash, this is really good for it. Enjoy!!!!!

Double the Cheese double the love

I had a yearning for cheeseburgers the other day.  I wanted to make a gourmet hamburger I could hopefully serve to the public one day.  Yes, the dreams of a startup bistro or small restaurant still runs through my head.  Ive been making and remaking recipes to perfect them for a couple years with fam as the taste tester.  Sometimes even the cats too.  I had recipe success with these burgers and I am damn proud of myself.  Even my family, which is hard to please loved them too.  But we could only eat so much.  It's summer here in Las Vegas and eating a lot of food is out of the question.  It was the perfect summer food.  I should only have bought some fries or something to complement the burgers!!
Nobody made the face of death either!! Even My brother in law ate it up.  Yay!!!!!!!  so here's the recipe which I am pretty proud of.  Enjoy the oozy cheesy goodness!!!

Double Cheese Italian Burgers

Serves 4-6

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 egg

1/3 c. Italian style breadcrumbs

6 small slices fresh mozzarella

1 T lemon pepper

2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

6 slices cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Place the ground beef in a large bowl with all the powders and spices. 

2. Put in breadcrumbs and egg.  Mix whole thing together with your hands

3. Put ½ c. of the mixture in your hand. Form it into a patty.  Place one slice of mozzarella in the middle.  Get ¼ c. of ground meat from the ball and place it on top.  Cover mozzarella completely and make sure you pinch the sides so cheese doesn’t leak out of the burger.

4. Place burger patties in the fridge for 15-30 minutes to firm up.

5. Put grill on medium heat.  When hot, place patties on grill and let cook.  It should take about 5 minutes When one side is cooked, you will see the sides as brown. Turn over and let cook for 3 minutes. 

6. Place slice of cheddar cheese on top and cover. Let steam melt the cheese. 

7. Place on toasted sesame seed bun with your choice of fixings.

YUMMMY CHEESE!!!!

 

Healthy or Unhealthy? Whole wheat cookies

My sister asked me for a request the other week.  PLEASE STEPH PLEASE BAKE ME SOME HEALTHY COOKIES!!!!!!!!  Ok, maybe not so dramatic but it got to me.  For the past year, we have all gotten fat off of my cooking, yes my cooking.  I've been baking like crazy and making cakes as well.  Demented Betty Crocker anyone?  So, we've cut back to TRY to be healthy.  I've only cooked in olive oil, added no salt or less salt to my stuff and bought low fat everything.  
This is my recipe to try to marry buttery shortbread with not so fat cookies.  It turned out pretty well too.  It's a good base for many platforms like snickerdoodles, or chocolate chips, etc.  It's a tea cookie though.  That means it will be dry.  So drink some no sugar green tea or black tea or soymilk or lowfat milk.  it will be pretty good but I found it a little fibery because of the whole wheat.  I'm thinking of maybe pulsing it in the food processor and sifting it fine to make it smoother next time.  

Enjoy!!!!!

Whole Wheat Shortbread Cookies

Serves: 36

1 1/2 c. margarine, softened

½ c. butter flavored shortening

2 c. whole wheat flour

1 c. all purpose flour

1 c. ground walnuts

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 ¼ c. white sugar

1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

1. Sift flours and cornstarch together into a bowl.

2. Place margarine, shortening, and sugar into a large bowl and beat until whipped and fluffy.

3. Add vanilla extract and mix.

4. Add flour and ground nut mix slowly to margarine until everything is combined. 

5. Place in wax paper or plastic wrap and roll until you get a log shape.

6. Chill for at least 1 hour before cutting cookies.

7. Cut cookies ½ in to 1 in. in thickness and place in sheet pan with parchment paper. 

8. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes.

This is what it looks like:  

F is for fiber!!

Linguine in clam sauce

Linguine with clams

Serves 2-4

½ of a box of linguine noodles

8 oz frozen clams with juice, defrosted

1 ½ T sinigang with calamansi powder

1 T extra virgin olive oil

4 T roasted red peppers, minced

1 T chopped scallions

2 tsp. chopped garlic

1 tsp. lemon pepper

2 c. fresh spinach

¼ c. water

TT salt

TT white pepper

½  c. grated parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Clear 2 burners on your stove.  Set up the pasta pot and a large pan for the sauce.

2. Cook the linguine as per directions on the box.  The pasta should be a little undercooked, like it still has a bite to it.  Take pasta out but save about 2-3 T pasta water for sauce

3. Heat oil in large sauté pan.  Place scallion, roasted red peppers, and garlic in pan and cook until translucent.  This should take like a minute. 

4. Add the sinigang powder and the ¼ c. water.  Bring to a boil and make sure the powder is dissolved.  Add clams with the juice and add the lemon pepper.  Stir and let frozen clams heat through and cook.  About 2-3 minutes.

5. Add the cooked linguine and stir around.  The linguine should suck up the sauce but if the sauce is still loose, add the leftover pasta water 1 T at a time until it comes together. 

6. Add the spinach and let it wilt then add the salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. 

Serve in large bowl with toasted garlic bread.