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Monday's Leftovers: Roasted Cod With Sesame Mushrooms

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:45:44 -0800

After a full weekend of birthday bashes and dinner parties, I'm feeling like something light for dinner tonight. I've got some leftover cod, and I'm going to roast it and serve it alongside sesame scented shiitakes and bok choy.

I'll be forgoing richness but not flavor, with fragrant sesame oil, loads of garlic, and lime packing a punch on my plate. To serve up this recipe, which is quick, elegant, and delicious,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Beef With Onions and Watercress

partysugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:45:36 -0800

Peppery watercress and seared beef chunks make for an out-of-the-ordinary midweek meal. To save time, quickly marinate the meat while you prepare the rest of the salad. This delicious dinner salad calls for thinly sliced red onion, but you could incorporate other ingredients like mushrooms or bell pepper. Just remember the steak marinade is a mixture of soy sauce and fish sauce, so select vegetables that match the flavors of Asia. To look at the recipe,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Tofu and Broccoli Stir-Fry

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:45:40 -0700

If you're not already a big stir-fry fan, you should consider adding it to your meal circuit: in addition to being healthy and nutritious, stir-fries are also incredibly quick.

This tofu and broccoli version, with its firm tofu, is ideal for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, as the protein has a meaty flavor and substantial texture.

To get dinner on the table in no time,

'Wich of the Week: Fish and Farm Baguette

YumSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:00:42 -0700

Faced with some random farmers market booty a few weeks back, I ended up inventing a rather out-there sandwich that may just be one of my favorite creations since I started this series. This pile of goodness combines quick stir-fried veggies with orange roughy fillets baked in a parchment paper pouch — or, in my case, a paper bag since I was out of parchment. Either one works equally well.I used zucchini, leeks, and peppers to take advantage of what's in season, plus some enormous trumpet mushrooms I couldn't resist buying. But you could easily adapt the veggies on this 'wich to correspond with the changing seasons. The sweet marinade for the fish reminded me of a delicious sea bass, and the Asian flavors played well off of the simple baguette. To see how I made this easy but surprising sandwich,

What Kind of Soy Sauce Do You Use?

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:15:33 -0700

Last time I went out for sushi, I debated over whether to use regular or reduced-sodium soy sauce. Reduced-sodium soy sauce is the condiment of choice for those who are watching sodium intake, as too much sodium can result in high blood pressure. Regular soy sauce, while definitely saltier, has more flavor, in my opinion. Ultimately, I opted for regular, but this prompted me to wonder what most people tend to use in their kitchens.

What Kind of Soy Sauce Do You Use?

I prefer to eat and cook with regular soy sauce.

I opt for reduced-sodium soy sauce when dining and cooking.

Either is fine with me — it doesn't matter.

I don't cook or eat with soy sauce.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Vietnamese-Style Beef and Noodle Broth

partysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:15:42 -0700

Ward off the early Fall chill with a steaming bowl of this scrumptious soup. It's perfect for a Friday night — all you have to do is drop the ingredients in a pot. Crunchy bean sprouts and fresh, fragrant basil finish off the soup. To add more heat, serve with a spicy Asian sauce. Learn how to make this dish when you

Fast & Easy Dinner: Halibut in Green Tea Broth

partysugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:45:44 -0700

With the inevitable change of seasons, it's time to start thinking about comforting, soothing meals like this halibut.

Served in a shallow bowl with a fragrant green tea broth — so delicious you'll be drinking every last bit — and an assortment of Asian vegetables, this fish dish is filling, healthy, and flavorful. A helping of quinoa acts as a hearty side dish.

To learn the cooking process,

Monday's Leftovers: Steak and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:45:38 -0700

Stir-fried steak reminds me of a dish my mother used to make. This recipe calls for skirt steak, but flank steak or any leftover steak would taste great in this dish.

With rice, vegetables, and peanuts, this balanced, bold-flavored dish is a great way to have dinner on the table in less than an hour. To get the recipe,

Name That Dish!

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:15:18 -0700

If you were to attend this year's Olympics, you'd probably get to try the dish pictured below. It's a traditional Asian breakfast stew. Do you know what it's called?

8 Prosperous Chinese Courses

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:30:45 -0700

In Mandarin, the number eight, or "ba," sounds similar to the word that means "prosper" or "wealth"; therefore, eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture. Today being 08.08.08 is an incredibly fortuitous day that has me in the mood for Chinese food. Since this Asian civilization has existed for thousands of years, its people are highly attuned to texture, flavor, color, and aroma. Here, I've included a medley of dishes with flavors that are inspired by the various regions of China.