When the weather is cold, I turn to hearty chilis and stews to warm up. I'm also lazy. And stews and chilis are wonderful one-pot meals loaded with meat, beans and lots of veggies! This recipe has no actual heat (spiciness) so who knows if it should still be called a chili. Feel free to enlighten me on this in the comments. Regardless, if you are unlike me and have no young children to worry about, by all means add a tsp of chili flakes when the turmeric goes into the pot.
Read moreShanghai Pork + Bok Choy Wontons / Dumplings
Che vey! That's shanghainese for "eat rice" which is like saying "bon appetit" before you begin a meal. These words were most frequently uttered around my grandmother's dinner table. She was the one who created the shanghai wonton loving monster that I am. Sometimes when we are feeling decadent (not lazy), we also add a tiny morsel of raw white shrimp in with the filling. Homemade dumplings are a labor of love but so very worth it. Put some great music on and make them asap!
Read more4-Ingredient Crunchy Chicken Nuggets
Nuggets made with spelt crumbs.
This is an essential weeknight recipe that I default to again and again because it is so easy to prepare and because of how much my girls love them! Think 4 ingredients, 15 prep time, 25 mins bake time. There is no reason to buy packaged nuggets ever. EVER. I also make this recipe regularly with ground turkey with wonderful results too but of course it will be a tad less juicy. I always make a double-batch and freeze a portion of uncooked nuggets for future school lunches.
Apr 2017: I have added gluten/grain-free AND dairy-free alternatives. Hurray! Nuggets for everyone!
Read moreLion's Head Meatballs
Lion’s Head Meatballs is a very traditional Chinese dish featuring large pork meatballs and leafy greens. This is a family recipe passed down from my Shanghainese grandmother, which always uses bok choy. The big fluffy meatball represents a lion's head and the surrounding leafy greens, its mane. Don't you love the fanciful name? Just as much to love is the dish itself, a mainstay comfort meal to be certain.
Read moreBone Broth (Two Ways: Stove Top + Instant Pot)
I used to think it was too much trouble to make my own broth. I purchased good quality stock from my butcher made from naturally-raised animals from local farms. So why bother with homemade?
Read more