Potato Mac Salad (to go with your Hamburger Steak)

This was the best potato mac salad I ever made.  And the only . . . 

I looked at recipes online and kinda made up my own.

Throw together:

One good-sized potato, microwaved for 6 minutes, skinned and cubed

1 cup-ish macaroni, boiled and drained

2 boiled eggs, diced

1 can tuna, drained

1/2 cup (maybe more?) mayo

carrots, shredded

cilantro, minced (cause I had)

2 teaspoons onion powder (cause Landon doesn't like raw onions)

salt (sprinkle)

pepper (planny if you're Cy)

Hamburger Steak

I first posted this recipe back in 2008 and you can find it here.  It was super easy to make and so juicy ono that I want to make it again already.

 

Here's my bowl with the fixings . . . buttered corn, Geri's kimchee and Safeway potato salad.

   

I used this to make the gravy.  I added some of the juices from the frying pan to make it even more unhealthy.

  

Da Seedlings

Here are the Hawaiian chili pepper seedlings! 😬

Enchilada Sauce over Taquitos

This was the best enchilada sauce I ever made!  It was also the only enchilada sauce that I ever made.  The recipe is from the COOKIE + kate website.

I layered some taquitos from Costco in an 8 x 8 pyrex dish, covered them with some precooked taco meat (1 pound hamburger, 1/4 cup taco seasoning, 1/2 cup water), poured on the enchilada sauce and topped with choke cheese. Baked at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

It came out surprisingly good for an impromptu meal.

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons flour 
• 1 tablespoon ground chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
• Pinch of cinnamon 
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1. This sauce comes together quickly once you get started, so measure the dry ingredients (the flour, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt and optional cinnamon) into a small bowl and place it near the stove. Place the tomato paste and broth near the stove as well.
2. In a medium-sized pot over medium heat, warm the oil until it’s hot enough that a light sprinkle of the flour/spice mixture sizzles on contact. This might take a couple of minutes, so be patient and don’t step away from the stove!
3. Once it’s ready, pour in the flour and spice mixture. While whisking constantly, cook until fragrant and slightly deepened in color, about 1 minute. Whisk the tomato paste into the mixture, then slowly pour in the broth while whisking constantly to remove any lumps.
4. Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, whisking often, for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the sauce has thickened a bit and a spoon encounters some resistance as you stir it. (The sauce will thicken some more as it cools.)
5. Remove from heat, then whisk in the vinegar and season to taste with a generous amount of freshly ground black pepper. Add more salt, if necessary.

Fred Update

 Fred is still around, though not as active as before, but still enjoying meal worms.

Dd's Pork Rind Crusted Chicken

Pork rinds!  Good idea!

BAKED PORK RIND CRUSTED CHICKEN

 

¼ c. mayonnaise

1 TB Dijon mustard

2 small chicken breasts, pounded ¼-inch thin

garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 ½ c. pork rinds*

½ tsp. garlic powder

Salt, freshly ground black pepper

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and mustard; set aside. 

Place pork rinds in a plastic bag; crush with hands or a rolling pin. Transfer into a shallow dish. Stir in garlic powder, salt and pepper; set aside. 

On work surface season chicken with garlic salt and pepper. Brush chicken on both sides with mayonnaise mixture.  Dredge in pork rinds pressing to adhere well on all sides. Place chicken on baking rack placed in baking pan. Bake 12-14 minutes dependent on thickness of chicken. Turn over; continue baking additional 6-8 minutes.

*Seasoned pork rinds will work well; eliminate garlic powder, salt and pepper. Serves 2.

Wendell's Ham and Potato Soup

Here's another dish that Wendell saw in the Crave section of the newspaper.  It's actually supposed to be topped with cheddar cheese and scallions but he didn't do that.  It still was super tasty. 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 white or yellow onion, diced

• 2 stalks celery, diced

• 1 medium carrot, diced

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 4 cups)

• 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups diced cooked ham (8 to 9 ounces)

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 cups whole milk

Directions:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium. Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until the onion is just softened and everything is fragrant.

Adjust the heat to medium-high, then add the broth, potatoes and ham to the pot and cover to bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork, 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour and whisk until light brown and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add milk and continue to whisk until thickened, making sure no lumps form, 4 to 5 minutes more.

Add the milk mixture to the pot. Stir until incorporated and the soup is fully warmed through and creamy, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. 

Growing Chili Peppers

I've tried growing pepper plants before but I've always failed.  My friend Ryan even gave me several very healthy potted plants, and somehow I just couldn't keep them alive. 

And yet, here I am trying again.  Because I saw a YouTube video.  I wanted to try the guy's method for sprouting seeds, and I wanted to do it with Hawaiian chili pepper.

 

The guy said to snip off the pointy tips.

   

You put the snipped seeds into a paper towel, dunk it into hot water, cold water, hot water, cold water several times.  Then, supposedly in 10 hours the seeds would sprout.

   

 It actually took about a week.  But that was okay.  I was just stoked that they sprouted.

  

Wish me luck!  🤗

Jar Opener

I've been having a hard time opening jars lately.  When the guys aren't at home I use this contraption.  It usually does the job, but is not that easy to manipulate.

Do you have a tool or tip that works for you?

Family Reunion

We met up with some of Kai's family yesterday.  Kai had a blast.  Me too!

Thank you R and S for hosting this event. 

From left to right:  Sister Naimi, Mom Maggie, Sister Luna, Brother Teru, Brother Reshi Bear and Kai.  Dad Yume is in the foreground on the right. 

Dd's Chimichurri Sauce

Didi made this sauce to go with her steak.  She said it was "winnahs". 

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

 

1 c. packed fresh Italian parsley leaves

¼-1/2 c. cilantro leaves, as desired**

3 cloves garlic, peeled, crushed

½ tsp, lemon zest

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. chili garlic crisp

½ tsp. kosher salt

¼ c. olive oil

2 TB red wine vinegar

 

Place all the sauce ingredients to a small food processor.  Pulse 4-6 times until herbs are roughly chopped and chunky to your desired consistency. Transfer to a serving bowl.

**Note: I love the taste of cilantro stems, so I add about 2 TB.

 

Makes approximately ½ c.  Great with steaks, seafood, on eggs.

Kai's Toys

 Click on the photo below to watch Kai with some of his fave toys.

Cy's Breakfast

 Turkey from Times.  $12.99.

Then and Now

 Kai at 2 months old and now. 

Green Island Cheese Cake

I joined Geri on her excursion to Chinatown the other day.  We visited Green Island Cheese Cake for the first time.

 

We couldn't resist trying the Custard Tart and the Honeymoon Cake right there.

   

The Custard Tart was flaky ono, but our fave was the Honeymoon Cake.  It tasted like a baked (not deep fried) coconut jin dui.  I think the gal there said that it was made with mochiko.

I guess sometimes you just gotta go out of your comfort zone (Hotel Street) to find and enjoy new things.

Domino's Pizza Deal

Domino's is having a great deal right now:  any size pizza with up to 7 toppings for $10.99.  The promotion is available until August 3rd. 

This was the second time in just as many weeks where we had pizza for dinner.  🤤

Chicken Salad

I got this recipe from the Allrecipes site.  It was really easy to make, and came out ono except that it was a bit salty.  Maybe if you use the Costco chicken like I did, no need put in the salt.  My favorite ingredient might have been the nuts.  I used walnuts instead of pecans.

Ingredients

• 2 cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into cubes

• 3 stalks celery, finely diced

• ¾ cup chopped pecans

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons minced yellow onion

• 1 ½ tablespoons sweet pickle relish

• 2 teaspoons prepared mustard

• 1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper

• 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh dill

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• ½ teaspoon white sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Stir together chicken, celery, pecans, mayonnaise, onion, relish, mustard, pepper, dill, lemon juice, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and paprika in a large bowl until well combined. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Wendell's Pork Tenderloin

This was called No-Fuss Tenderloin in the past Crave section in the Star Advertiser.  Wendell made it for a class get-together and for his team.  We got the left overs. 

I actually got to try the first slice, and it was super tender and very tasty.  

The interesting thing about this recipe is that you bake the pork for only 5 minutes at 500 degrees.  You then turn off the heat and leave it in the oven for another 30 minutes!!

(Patty, your balsamic vinegar came in handy again!)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound)

• 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

• 2 tablespoons seasoning salt

• Optional: minced parsley, as garnish

Directions:

In a container or plastic bag, place the pork with the oil, vinegar and seasoning salt and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or even overnight. Take the pork out of the refrigerator on a foil-lined pan and let it get to room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Heat your oven to 500 degrees. When it reaches temperature, place the pan in the middle of your oven for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, but do not open the door for 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and check the temperature of the meat with a thermometer. It should be between 145-160 degrees. Let rest 5 minutes.

Slice into 1/2-inch rounds and serve. Drizzle any liquid from pan over the meat. Garnish with minced parsley. Makes about 2-3 servings as a main dish.

Cy's Breakfast

 From Lam's.  $15 plus $3 for extra sauce.

Wendell's Vegan Summer Salad

Here's another dish that Wendell made using a Star Advertiser Crave recipe.  It was so good that I ate a ton of it.

(Patty, thanks for the balsamic vinegar!)

Ingredients:

• 2 large yellow potatoes (about 3/4 pound) 

• 2 cups fresh green beans, cut in 2-inch lengths

• 1 cup organic, canned white beans, drained

• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

• 1/2 cup pitted olives

• 4 marinated artichoke hearts 

• 2 tablespoon capers, drained

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, for garnish

• Salt and pepper, to taste

For dressing:

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon agave 

• 1/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

Scrub potatoes (no need to peel) and place in a pot filled with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook 15 minutes. Drain and let cool. Cut in pieces to make about 2 cups. Set aside.

Blanch green beans 2 minutes in boiling water. Immerse beans in ice water 1 minute, then drain and dry.

To make the dressing: Mix the first five ingredients, then whisk in oil until emulsified (well-combined).

Arrange potatoes and all the other ingredients on a platter. Drizzle with dressing. 

Adjust to taste with salt and pepper. Top with parsley. 

Serves 4.

Farmhouse Bean Soup Mix

I made this soup using a mix from Compleat Kitchen.  I just added 9 cups of water, potatoes, bacon and Portuguese sausage.  It was very flavorful!

 

The mix was part of a Christmas gift so I don't know the cost.

 

Kai - 16 months

Costco's Beef Kebabs

Wendell bought this from Costco recently and we liked it.  He said it was $12 something.

 

I ate it like this with a lemon aioli sauce.  You can find the recipe here.  I've been copying Cy with the pepper lately.

   

You can microwave, pan fry, bake or use an air fryer.  I threw them in the toaster oven.  I can't remember if I cut the pieces in half or if they were actually this size.  At any rate, was ono.  Wendell went back and bought another one.

Kyushu Countryside

I think these will be my last photos from the trip.  Am wrapping up organizing them.  I took these from the bus.

I really enjoyed Kyushu.  Mostly for its friendly people.  And for its not being crowded.  But that 10-hour plane ride . . . brutal.