Lentil & Chick Pea Salad with Dried Cherries and Creamy Lemon Yogurt Dressing

I pride myself in a well stocked pantry. I could say it's because I like to be prepared for a natural disaster, but in fact, it's because I like to be prepared for whatever culinary adventure strikes me at any given moment.

Of course, there's the dried stuff.... the pasta, rice noodles, egg noodles, rice, couscous, cornmeal, oatmeal, bulgar, lentils, chickpeas, and other beans and pulses. Oh, and don't forget the flours and sugars. Then there is the canned stuff... the chopped tomatoes, coconut milk, evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk.  Then, the essential sauces and oils. I mean, I like to make most things myself, so I am not referring to add and toss pasta sauce or meat sauces, I am talking about seasoning sauces like worchesterchire, tobasco, soy sauce, hoisin, oyster sauce, sesame oil, truffle oil, vinegars, etc.

Oh, and don't even get me started on the spices!  That would take hours.

But then there are times when it is necessary to do a "pantry clearout." Those are the times when I feel up for a challenge, or when my husband and I finalize a move to a different country and we realize we have far too much stuff in our pantry. So, for some number of weeks, or months (yes, it can take me THAT long to clear all the stuff in my pantry), we survive on what we have, plus the essential fresh stuff that we allow ourselves to buy.

And let me tell you... dishes can get mighty creative! So, here is one of them. A salad made from beans, dried fruit, and other stuff.

Oh, and as a note, I used dried lentils and chick peas rather than canned. I find that the texture of dried is far nuttier than canned and that each individual pulse stands up to being tossed in dressing and never gets that mushy texture. That is why I prefer to take the time and cook my own.

Lentil & Chick Pea Salad with Dried Cherries and Creamy Lemon Yogurt Dressing

Makes loads

2 cups Chick Peas, cooked

3 cups Lentils, cooked

3/4 cup Dried Cherries

1/2 cup Cilantro, chopped

For the Dressing

Zest and Juice of 2 Lemons

1/2 cup Yogurt

1/2 cup Olive Oil

2 tbsp Dijon Mustard

Salt and Pepper

In a jar or container with tight fitting lid, add add dressing ingredients. Place on lid and shake, shake, shake!!

Then, in a large bowl, toss together chick peas, lentils and dried cherries. (Everything can be done ahead up to this point).

When you are ready to serve, pour the dressing over the chick peas mixture and toss. Then stir in the cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Twice Baked Honey-Soy Chicken Wings

This is an awesome recipe for chicken. I used it to make some kick a** chicken wings, but it can also be used as a marinade for a roasting chicken, chicken legs or even chicken breasts.

Sorry to use such strong words, but these chicken wings were really super amazing. I made them for my 30th (gulp, yes 30th) birthday party and they were a huge success. In fact, I would say that they were the hit of the party!

Sweet and sticky, my guests had to force themselves to STOP eating them! Now that's what I call a winner!

Twice Baked Honey-Soy Chicken Wings

Makes a whole lot of wings

4 kg Chicken Wings, wing tips removed

8 cloves Garlic, minced

3/4 cup Hoisin Sauce

1 cup + 1/2 cup Honey

1/2 cup Dark Soy Sauce

2 tbsp Sesame Oil

1 tbsp Chili Powder

Vegetable Oil for pan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Rinse and pat dry the chicken wings. Separate the wing from the drumette and place the wing parts into a large bowl or ziplock bag.

In a bowl, mix together garlic, hoisin, 1 cup honey, soy, sesame oil, and chili. Pour half of the mixture into the chicken wings. Massage the marinade into the wings. Set the other half of the marinade aside.

Line a baking sheet with tin foil, then rub vegetable oil all over the foil. Place the wings, skin side up onto the baking sheet then pour the marinade that was with the wings over top. Bake for about 8 minutes, then flip over and bake for another 6 minutes.

After 14 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Place the wings into a bowl. Drain the fat and excess marinade off the baking sheet, change the foil, and rub again with oil.

Add 1/2 cup of honey to the remaining half portion of marinade. Toss the wings in the marinade and place on the baking sheet skin side up, and drizzle with leftover marinade as before.

Bake in the oven for another 12 minutes until the wings are sticky.

Potato & Calamari Salad

There are so many versions of potato salad. And most are the mayonnaise drenched, rich kind that accompany fried chicken at a picnic or German sausages.

Well, not this one. This potato salad is colorful, healthy, light (well, by light I guess I mean in comparison to other potato salads), fresh, and full of veggies.  There is the crunch of the vegetables, the tender chewiness of the squid, the freshness of the lemon juice.... it is just so delicious.

So, try this salad. Not as an accompaniment to other picnic favorites, but on its own as a lunch or light dinner or a starter before other great dishes!

Potato & Calamari Salad

Serves 2 generously as main dish

3 Large Potatoes

1 Shallot, chopped

2 Small English Cucumbers

1 Large Tomato

2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 sprigs Fresh Rosemary, destemmed and chopped

500 grams Squid, cut into rings

Juice of 1/2 Lemon

2 tbsp + 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and pepper

Peel the potatoes and boil or steam until fork tender. Cut into large chunks and place in a bowl, along with the chopped shallot, cucumber and tomato. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In a large sautee pan over medium heat, add 2 tbsp olive oil. Add the garlic, chopped rosemary and squid and cook for about 1-2 minutes, until squid just turns opaque. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Pour the entire mixture into the bowl with the potatoes and vegetables. Toss. Drizzle with about 2 tbsp of olive oil and season to taste. Enjoy warm or cold.

"Home Brewed" Vanilla Extract

 

Real vanilla extract is so darn expensive that it makes me want to scream! Why does it cost so much when it is so easy to make?

This frustration has led me to start making my own. With just 2 ingredients, you can make as much as you want!  Then, you just use it in recipes as you would store bought vanilla extract. Combine that with the satisfaction of making your own, and you have a winner!

"Home Brewed" Vanilla Extract

Makes about 1 cup

1 cup Vodka

3 Whole Vanilla Beans, split or about 12 used whole pods

Place the vanilla beans and vodka into a sterilized jar. Let sit for about 2 weeks in a cool, dark place until the vanilla infuses into the vodka. Use in recipes that ask for vanilla extract.

Chinese Beef & Green Bean Stir Fry

One of my favorite Chinese dishes is Beef & Brocolli Stirfry. And somehow, my mom's is always the best. Everytime I go home, I ask her to tutor me again on this dish. And everytime I go back to my house, I try it and it never tastes the same. I don't know why. Must be that thing about your Mom's cooking.

Anyway, for my birthday, I decided to try it again. However, since brocolli isn't very common over here, and my husband isn't really a fan, I made it with green beans. Served with steamed rice, it was delicious, but the reality is, it will never be as good as Mom's.

Chinese Beef & Green Bean Stir Fry

Serves 4-6 people

1 kg Beef, cut into thin slices across the grain

1 kg Green Beans, trimmed and cut into 2 1/2 inch pieces

Marinade Ingredients

2 tbsp Rice Vinegar

1 tbsp Sugar

1 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 tbsp Water

2 tbsp Corn Starch

Other Ingredients

1/4 cup Oyster Sauce

1/4 cup Dark Soy Sauce

2 tbsp Cornstarch

1/3 cup Water

5 cloves Garlic

1 inch piece Ginger , cut into slices, then sticks

Vegetable Oil

Salt to taste

Place the beef in a bowl or ziplock bag. Add all the marinade ingredients except the cornstarch. Massage into the beef. The sprinkle in the cornstarch, ensuring the beef is coated with it. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

In the meantime, blanch the beans in boiling water until they turn bright green. Drain and rinse under cold water so they stop cooking.

In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water to make a slurry (Chinese method of thickening).

Heat a wok or large sautee pan on high heat. Add about 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Add the beef and cook for about 3-4 minutes until browned on all sides. Remove the beef from the pan and set aside.

Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn. Add the blanched beans and fry for about 1 minute. Add the beef back into the pan. Stir in the oyster sauce and soy sauce. Then add the slurry. As soon as the mixture thickens up, it is ready to serve. Add salt to taste. Serve with steamed rice.