Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

 Two weeks ago my daughter Reena got this recipe from her friend and made these cookies for us to enjoy and to share with neighbors and I have to say I was in Heaven!  These were so moist so pepperminty that sent the whole house smelling like Christmas the instant it came out.  So naturally these are adopted into the Stevens Christmas traditional cookies right away!  And Debrie added an extra teaspoon of peppermint to make it even more amazing!

1 stick of butter softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

1 tsp peppermint extract (add 1 more for that strong flavor:)

           Cream together all the above ingredients until fluffy and lighter color.  

Next add,

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp salt

Then add,

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/2 powdered sugar, for rolling

24 Hershey Kisses Candy Cane variety to insert in the middle of the cookies after they're baked for a more decorative look

Scoop and roll the dough into a ball and roll in the powdered sugar and bake for 9 minutes @350 degrees F.  

Chicken and fluffy Dumplings

 Cook chicken soup the way you want it.  (Chicken, onions, celery, carrots, chicken bouillon)

Make this dumpling and add it to your chicken soup by spoonful...viola!

3/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup of milk

1-1/3 cups flour

2 teaspoon baking powder 

 

Cinnamon Apple Bread

 Normally I tweak some ingredients and changed some things out until it's perfect the way I want it but this recipe is pretty perfect the way that it is so no tweaking.  I got this recipe from my friend Sedi one day.  I visited her to give her some gifts and she gifted me probably my favorite bread in the world!  Enjoy making it!

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅔ cup white sugar
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• 1 large apple, peeled and finely chopped

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. 1. Mix apples, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside.
3. 2. Combine white sugar and butter until smooth.
4. 3.Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat on medium speed until combined.
5. 4. Add flour and baking powder, then milk.
6. 5. Pour half the batter into the prepared pan. 
7. 6.Pour apples with sugar and cinnamon mixture.
8. 7.Pour the remaining batter over apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.
9. 8.Pat topping into the batter
10. 9.Bake for 20 + minutes depending on the loaf pan size.  Use the toothpick trick
11. 10. Cool in pan 10 minutes before eating if you could wait that long :)

Crab noodle soup (AKA bún riêu)

 

•     4   tomatoes, diced
• 
  2   garlic cloves, diced
• 1/2 lb minced pork
• 
  minced crab meat or prawns if you don't have crabs
• 1 package of firm tofu, thickly sliced
• 3 eggs
• Mushroom (optional)
• 1 onion or shallots
• 2 tbsp of oil
• 1 to 2 tbsp of crab paste (depending on how strong you want the crab paste to taste)
  

 Sauté tomato with 1 tbsp of oil. Heat a separate large skillet with oil, scramble together eggs and tofu.  Add oil, onions and shallot. Sauté for 1 minute then add garlic, tomatoes, salt, sugar and black pepper. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add all above ingredients with 6 cups of water in a pot.  Add crab paste and bring to boil.  Viola, it's that easy!  Enjoy with vermicelli or round rice noodles.

• 1lime, cut into wedges
• 1 cupbean sprouts

Mi La - Mi Quang Noodles

 One of our favorite dishes while living in Vietnam was Mi Quang.  This is an authentic dish from my hometown of Quang Nam.  This province has THE best Mi Quang and you cannot leave this area without trying some fresh Mi Quang noodles.  We even learned how to make this noodle in Tien Phuoc.  Our friends were so impressed with the delicacy of this noodles and the way that it uses fresh ingredients.  You soak the rice overnight, grind it and add water as well as tapioca starch.  Here we have rice flour so this is a good ratio of the mix I found:

1 and 1/2 cups of rice flour

1/2 cup of tapioca starch

2 1/2 cups of water

1 tbsp of oil

1 tsp of salt

Cao Lầu

 

Ingredients:

• 2 medium shallots, finely chopped
• 2 lemongrass stalksf chopped
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce (nuoc nam)
• 1 tablespoon hot chili paste (optional)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1½ teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder (ngũ vị hương)
• 1 pound boneless pork shoulder 
• 1 pound skin-on pork belly
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• Marinate for 3+ hours or overnight in the fridge. 
•  
• Cook pork, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 10–15 minutes
• 
• Pour off all but 1 Tbsp. fat from pot. Add garlic and cook, stirring. Add reserved marinade and 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Add pork, reduce heat, and simmer, partially covered, turning pork occasionally.  Serve with noodles. 
• Noodles 

• ½ cup plus 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 4 wonton or egg roll wrappers, cut into 4 squares
• 1 pound dried wide rice noodles
• Add veggies suchs as mung beans sprouts,mint, cilantro, and Thai basil)

Egg Noodles

2 cups of flour
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp of water

Knead together ingredients, spread working surface with flour.  Use rolling pin to flatten dough, cut, put in boiling water for 2 minutes. Transfer to cold water.  Take out and enjoy with Alfredo sauce or your choice of soup.

Chicken and Dumplings

• Cook chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions until soft.  Add chicken bouillons.  Mix the ingredients below and add in the hot soup.
• 1 egg beaten
• 2 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 
  
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

Homemade Tortillas

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Mix,Knead, Make into a ball, Press.   Serve with grilled chickens and cheese.

 

Chocolate cake in a cup!

This is our kids' favorite.  It's quick and ready in 10 minutes!  What's not to love??

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup (31 grams) all-purpose flour spooned & leveled
2 tablespoons (10 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (40 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Tiny pinch of salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) milk
2 tablespoons (30 ml) canola, vegetable, or melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon (14 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips optional
INSTRUCTIONS
Grease a 12-ounce (or larger) mug then whisk
together:
flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Add the milk, oil, and pure vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared mug and sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
Transfer the mug with the batter to the microwave and microwave for 60-90 seconds or until the center of the cake is just set.
Carefully remove from the microwave and allow to cool slightly, then top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!