Shaking Tofu

Tofu, or bean curds, is made by pressing curdling soy milk into a solid block. Some tofu is firm while others are more soft and smooth. It can be sliced into different shapes and cooked in lots of ways.

People in Japan have made tofu for more than 2,000 years. It’s gotten popular in other places more recently. Some people complain that it's bland, but it nicely takes on the flavor of the sauce or seasonings you prepare it with. Also, it’s got a lot of health benefits going for it. Tofu is almost an indispensable food in vegetarian dishes besides vegetables, beans, and mushrooms. This is a healthy plant-based protein source made entirely from soybeans. Vegetarian dishes made with ingredients from tofu are quite diverse, rich in flavor, delicious, and nutritious for vegetarians.  I will introduce you to a very simple recipe to make a very interesting and delicious dish from tofu. Shaking tofu with a combination of tofu and bell peppers will surely bring you a unique experience.

Ingredients:

16 oz. firm tofu

1/2 cup cornstarch

Vegetables:

1 white onion, cut into big chunks

Combination of red, green, and yellow bell peppers (about 2 cups)

Green onion and cilantro for garnish 

Sauce ingredients:

2 tbs soy sauce

1 tbs vegan oyster sauce

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tbs honey or sugar

1 tbs vegetarian seasoning

Serve with rice

Directions:

Have all the ingredients ready,

Cut the tofu into small cubes and place into a small bowl. Then add the cornstarch and mix well. Immediately afterwards, empty the mixture into a sieve, which will help to remove excess cornstarch.

In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients and mix well.

Put the pan on the stove, add the cooking oil, and heat it up. In the hot oil, fry the tofu over medium heat until the tofu is golden, then take it out.

Remove the oil from the pan and then add ½ of the red onion to the pan and fry until fragrant. Add bell peppers and stir well. Season with ½ tablespoon of vegetarian seasoning and stir-fry for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and scoop out.

In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the rest of the minced shallots and sauté until fragrant, then turn off the heat. Add the sauce and ground pepper and stir well.

Put the fried tofu in the pan and stir over low heat so that the tofu clings to the spices, then add the bell peppers. Continue to stir a little. Then sprinkle green onions to taste and turn off the heat.

Serve with hot rice and enjoy.

With only a few ingredients that are easy to buy and a little time to prepare, we have a delicious shaking tofu dish for vegans. I hope that with this delicious dish, you will have one more entry to include in your family's vegetarian menu. 

Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Cashews for many people are thought of as a snack. However, cashews are also a popular ingredient of many exotic dishes, contributing to the deliciousness. One of these dishes is Stir-fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts - a famous delicacy of many Asian street food vendors. Each Asian country will have slightly different ways to make a sauce, but the method is very much the same. If spicy taste is your choice, then choose the Thai style. For this recipe, I like to use the sauce balanced between the Chinese and the Thai sauce. I am Vietnamese, but I think this dish is originally from China. The roasted cashew nuts recipe is such a combination, bursting with flavors and adding more protein for this dish. Of course, this dish can be easily turned into a vegetarian dish by using tofu instead of chicken. Because we live in America and not in other countries, such as Vietnam or other Asian countries, we can use the already roasted cashew nuts sold in the supermarket to save time for making this dish . This dish is rich in nutritional value and not only favored for its delicious taste.  The effects of cashews are extremely diverse. They are not only rich in protein, cashews are also a rich source of fiber that is effective in improving constipation. The fiber in cashews helps you feel full for a long time, thereby reducing the amount of starch and hunger pains, which is good support for the weight loss process. What's better than when a meal is both delicious and healthy?

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast, washed and diced

1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts

Marinade ingredients:

1 tsp. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 tbs oil

Vegetables:

1 carrot, sliced into 1/2 thick coins (about 1/2 cup)

Red and green bell pepper diced same size as chicken (about 1 cup)

Spices:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 piece fresh ginger peel and smashed

1/2 cup diced white onions

2 green onions separate the white part and sliced.

Sauce ingredients:

1/3 cup water

1 tsp cornstarch

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp black strap molasses

1 tsp black vinegar

1 tsp cooking wine

1 tsp mushroom seasoning or chicken powder

Other requirements:

Chopped cilantro and oil for cooking

Cooked rice

Directions:

Add the chicken with the marinade ingredients and mix well. Let the mixture marinate for 30 minutes.

Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch the carrot in the boiling water for 1 minute. Drain.

In a wok, add 1 tbs oil and heat until hot. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink or gets brown. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, add 1 tsp oil and add spices. Stir and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).

Stir in carrots and bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes. 

Return the chicken to the wok and add the sauce. Stir and cook until the sauce has thickened; Stir in the cashew nuts. Adjust the seasoning to your liking. Turn off the heat and add the green parts of scallion and cilantro.

Serve with rice.

Oatmeal, Banana & Peanut Butter Cookies

This is a very easy and healthy snack to make. The bananas and raisins will add the sweetness, so no sugar is needed. The oatmeal replaces flour, so you can eat these cookies anytime. This is also just one of a series of small batches of cake and cookies recipes that I have already posted and will continue to post on my blog.

Ingredients:

1 cup of oatmeal

1/2 cup of peanut butter

1 ripe banana, peeled and mashed

1 egg

1/4 cup sugar (optional)

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1 tsp baking powder

Baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Use a small ice cream scoop to form the cookies and place each cookie onto the prepared cooking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown.

Stir-fried Ramen Noodles with Cabbage

Many of us have Ramen noodles in our kitchens because they are a budget friendly food to stock up on.  For the new recipe below, I used one pack of Ramen noodles. This is a quick and easy dish and can be used for vegetarians or meat eaters.  If you are a member of Sam’s Club, use their pre-made coleslaw because it will save time for this recipe.  It is called ready-made coleslaw with two kinds of cabbage and carrots. This dish is for people who have limited free time and on a tight budget. The seasonings that come with the Ramen noodle are perfect.  However, I will share the seasonings that I use for myself because I do not like the chemicals that are contained in the provided seasonings. A protein source can be an egg or any kind of ground meat or seafood, such as shrimp. Ramen noodles have many different ways of processing, and this is an easy recipe using Ramen noodles. Learn how to make stir-fried Ramen noodles with cabbage and eggs, which is both simple and delicious, guaranteed to make this dish a success the first time you try it.

Ingredients:

1 package Ramen noodles

2 cups ready-made coleslaw

1 garlic clove, minced

1/4 cup sliced white onions

1 green onion, sliced for garnish

1 egg

Seasonings:

1/4 tsp salt

1 tbs soy sauce

1/4 tsp mushroom seasoning

1 tsp honey

1/4 cup water

Directions:

If using an egg, break egg into a small bowl. Mix well.

Soak the Ramen noodles in water until the noodles are just soft, but not too soft. You can cook in boiling water for 1 minute and drain well.

Combine all the seasonings in a bowl and set aside.

In a wok, add 1 tbs oil and heat until hot.

Add the white onions and minced garlic. Stir-fry until the onions and garlic are slightly yellow and fragrant.

Add the cabbage and seasonings to the pan and continue sautéing until the cabbage is soft.

Add eggs to the pan, mix well.

Push the eggs and the cabbage mixture off to the side of the wok and add noodles. Stir to combine

. You might need a little more oil. Adjust the seasonings at this point and add green onions for garnish

Tip: You can blanch the cabbage in boiling water for 2 minutes and drain well. This will make the cooking time faster.

Small Chocolate Cake

This recipe is one in my series of small batch cake recipes. I have this recipe from my friend, Pamela, and it is called triple chocolate cake with butter cream frosting. I divided the recipe into three parts and share here for people who do not want to make a whole cake. I like the results of this cake. The frosting for this cake can be either the chocolate buttercream frosting described below or a ready-made frosting sold in supermarkets.

Ingredients:

Dry ingredients:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup to 1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp espresso powder

1/4 tsp cinnamon

A pinch of salt

Wet ingredients:

2 tbs nonfat Greek yogurt

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup strong coffee

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Grease a 9 inch cake pan with butter or oil and line with parchment paper.

In a bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients.

In a blender, combine all the wet ingredients except the coffee and blend well.

Pour the wet ingredients and coffee into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the cake pan.

Chocolate butter cream:

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted softened butter

1 ½ cups powdered sugar 

1/4 cup cocoa powder

A pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

When cake is cool, spread the frosting over the cake.

Beat the butter until creamy. Add the rest of the ingredients and continue beating until combined and spreadable. You can add more sugar if too thin or milk if too thick.

Bean Cake

The journey to finding a healthy lifestyle is never easy. Some methods may be too harsh, too strict, or ineffective. If you're still searching for the motivation and inspiration to change to live a healthier life, making small changes to your diet and lifestyle can help you feel energized, creative, and motivated. I myself have felt that. Thanks to the power of nutrition and lifestyle changes, I have discovered I am very healthy. In the modern world and because everyone is busy, often we choose fast food. However, if there is a dish that is both quick to prepare and contains many essential nutrients for the body, why don't we choose it? Today, I will share a recipe made with beans. This recipe can be served as a cake, accompanied with rice, or used to make a beans burger.  If you have time, I recommend using dried beans and a pressure cooker to make this dish, but if time does not allow, use canned beans from the supermarket.  Making small changes will help your inner energy gradually improve, reduce stress, your mind becoming more focused, and your creative energy gradually increases.

Ingredients:

5 cups cooked beans, drained

1/2 red onion or 1 cup diced total

2 garlic cloves

3 scallions, green part and white part seperate

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 egg (optional)

Seasonings:

For an Asian taste:

1 tsp oyster sauce

1 tbps soy sauce

1 tsp mushroom seasonings

1 tsp salt

1 tsp honey

For a Mexican taste:

Add 1 bag taco seasoning 

For a burger taste 

1 tbs chopped fresh parley

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp chopped fresh oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

For non vegans use:

Add 8 oz fillet fish (tuna, salmon , tillapia)

Other:

1 cup Panko 

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor without green onions and blend well. Do not over blend the beans (I like to leave some chunks of beans).

Put the mixture into a mixing bowl and add the seasonings of your choice, chopped green onions and panko. Mix well. Adjust the taste to your liking.

Use a ½ measuring cup size to form a cake.

In a nonstick pan, add 1 to 2 tbs oil to pan fry each cake (3 minutes on each side).

Serve with cooked rice and soy dipping sauce on the side. Move down

Serve as a patty inside a hamburger bun with lettuce, cheese, etc.…

Tips:

if use dried beans use 1 and 1/2 cup dried beans and soak over night. Cook in the instand pressor cooker for 7 to 9 minutes. Drained the beans

 

Oatmeal Bread with Cheese and Herbs

 

 

The human body needs different complex carbohydrates to function. Grains are a good source of protein and oatmeal is the healthiest grain. Oatmeal makes a healthy porridge for breakfast, muffins, cake, or granola bars for a snack and oat milk. One of my favorite recipes is oatmeal bread. This bread recipe can be made sweet or savory. I will now share an oatmeal loaf of bread with cheese and herb. I use dill, but use any kind of herbs that suits your family’s taste.

Equipment:

2 cups oatmeal

3 eggs

1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt

2 cups cheese (your choice) shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1/2 cup chopped dill or herbs of your choice

1 tbs baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup coconut oil

Equipment 8” x 5” loaf pan

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cut a parchment paper to fit the bottom of the loaf pan and brush with oil.

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.

Tips:

For sweet bread:

Omit the cheese and herb. 

Add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup sugar.

Add on dried fruit, such as raisins, cranberries, apricots, etc.

Add on nuts, such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts etc.

Cut up 1/4 cup butter to put on top and bake.