Asian-style Tofu, Greens & Mushrooms

Tofu
8 oz. Firm tofu; drained, cut into 8 slices
1/4 cornstarch
1 tsp garlic salt
Greens
1 c vegetable or chicken stock
Fresh ginger root, 6 slices
4 baby bok choy, sliced vertically*
1 small head collards (about 10 leaves), rib removed and sliced into 1" strips*
Mushrooms & Sauce
1/2 lb button mushrooms, sliced
1 Tbl butter
1 Tbl light olive oil
Sauce
1/2 c vegetable or chicken stock
1/4 c oyster sauce
2 Tbl soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbl sesame seeds
Brown rice, cooked

I used a hot plate griddle, a 10" skillet with lid and a saucier pan to cook the tofu, greens and mushrooms all at once. You could also do each item one at a time in a large skillet or wok if you are limited on space or dishes.

If you don't already have brown rice cooked (you should... cook it ahead and keep in the freezer), you'll need to start it early.  The bulk of the dinner takes 15 minutes to prep, but brown rice takes about 45.

1) Heat the electric griddle on high (or skillet, medium-high) . Put cornstarch on a plate and stir in the garlic salt.  Dip the tofu in the cornstarch and place on the hot griddle.  Cook on each side 5 to 7 minutes until browned.

2) Put the stock and ginger into a skillet.  Bring to a boil.  Add the sliced greens, turn down heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove the lid and allow any remaining stock to cook off.  Remove and discard the ginger slices.

3) Heat butter and oil in a saucier (or saucepan)over medium heat.  Add mushrooms.  While the mushrooms cook, make the sauce.  Whisk together the stock, oyster sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and toasted sesame oil.






*NOTE: Most greens are interchangeable.  This is what I had in my refrigerator.  I liked the flavor combination of the bok choy and collards but feel free to use what you have or what your family likes.  You need a sturdier green.  I think spinach would wilt too quickly and not hold up.

Homeschooling

We decided to homeschool this year... a decision long overdue, I'm finding, as I try to undo some very bad habits my gifted son developed while not being adequately challenged.  (sigh)  Now that I feel like I've found SOME balance, I'm looking forward to getting back to my blog.  Still foofy... yet not foofy.  :-D

Here's a cute picture of a sweet big brother sewing a Build-a-Bear from a kit he won for his sister.  More soon...

Back among the blogging...

I am back among the blogging again.  About the time of my last post, we got an offer on the sale of my grandmother's house.  She passed away last summer and had lived in the house since 1953.  We'd long since had the estate sale but there was still a LOT of stuff in that house. As the only local family member, it was on me to get it ready to close.  Boy, what a job!  But we closed on Tuesday, May 1st... with the house being the emptiest it has been probably since it was built in 1910.  Only three families have lived in it.

Goodbye 5700!  I know the new family already loves you and will fill you with new memories.

Rest in Peace, Old Friend

The first clue something was wrong was when I walked in the door and didn't smell dinner...  Soy Balsamic Chicken.  The second clue was when I went to stir and the chicken was still raw!  Twelve plus long years our 6 quart slow cooker has served us well.  A sad day. 

Coconut Pork

I apologize for the lack of a picture. This wasn't a really pretty dish anyway... just super simple and very tasty. Many thanks to my friend, Jerritt, for the inspiration.

Coconut Pork - slow cooker recipe

1 pork shoulder roast (pick the right size for your family... ours was about 2 1/2 lbs)
1 can coconut milk
1 can crushed tomatoes (I used a half quart of home canned tomatoes)
1/2 recipe of garam masala (use the whole recipe for 4+ lbs of roast)
Brown rice, cooked

Place the pork roast in the crock pot.  Stir the remaining ingredients together and pour over the pork.  Cook on low 6-8 hours.  Serve over brown rice.

We cut up the pork (once cooked) and ate it with a spoon more like a stew.  Very yummy.

30 Day Book Meme - Day Thirty

Yay! Finally to the end of the list.  Maybe I'll do a photo day-of meme next.  


Day 30 - Your favourite book of all time

Easy... To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time

30 Day Book Meme - Day Twenty-Nine

Day 29 - A book everyone hated but you liked


Twilight, et al by Stephenie Meyer.  I'm not a TwiFan or a Twilighter or whatever the heck the rabid fans call themselves.  It was a fun read though... angst and all.  I've actually listened to all the books while working out at the gym.  They are perfect for that... slightly engrossing but not so much I forget what I'm doing, funny, compelling characters, even if not always likable.  The only thing I don't like is the character Jasper... not the character but that my son will run into WAY more Jaspers in his life now than he would've otherwise.  At least they are all much younger. 


The Master List

Day 01 - The Best Book You Read Last Year
Day 02 - A Book That You Have Read More than thrice
Day 03 - Your favorite series
Day 04 -Favorite book of favorite series
Day 05 - A book that makes you happy
Day 06- A book that makes you sad
Day 07 – Most underrated book
Day 08 - Most overrated book
Day 09 - A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 10 – Favorite classic book
Day 11 – A book you hated
Day 12 – A book you used to love but don’t anymore
Day 13 – Your favorite author
Day 14 – Favorite book of your favourite writer
Day 15 – Favourite male character
Day 16 – Favourite female character
Day 17 – Favourite quote(s) from your favourite book(s)
Day 18 – A book that disappointed you
Day 19 – Favourite book turned into a movie
Day 20 – Favourite romance book
Day 21 – Favourite book from your childhood
Day 22 – Favourite book you own
Day 23 – A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t
Day 24 – A book that you wish more people would’ve read
Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most
Day 26 – A book that changed your opinion about something
Day 27 – The most surprising plot twist or ending
Day 28 – Favourite title(s)
Day 29 – A book everyone hated but you liked
Day 30 – Your favourite book of all time