Shrimp Phad Thai

I got this from the Food Network Kitchens and it is so good. There are a lot of ingredients, but if you get everything ready before you start, it is fast to throw together. It is expensive to make the first time but once you have everything, then you're good to go if you want to make it a lot. We like it with the Sriracha sauce but it's not necessary and use a light hand because it is spicy. You'll really like the flavor of this one. Don't be afraid to try it.
4 oz. medium thick flat rice noodles
2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. fish sauce
2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
¼ c. peanut oil
2 large eggs, beaten
12 oz. peeled and deveined shrimp
¾ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 c. cubed firm tofu
5 scallions, 3 cut into ½ in. pieces, 2 chopped
1 ¼ c. mung bean sprouts
1/3 c. salted roasted peanuts
Lime wedges
Sriracha sauce
Put noodles in a medium bowl and add enough hot water to cover. Soak until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and set aside. Combine sugar, fish sauce and vinegar. Set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp. peanut oil. Pour in eggs and tilt the skillet to make a thin coating. Cook until set and slide onto a cutting board and cut in pieces. Set aside. Add another Tablespoon oil and heat over high heat. Add shrimp, ½ tsp. pepper flakes and salt. Cook until shrimp are just done. Move to a plate. Heat the rest of the oil and add garlic, shallots and ¼ tsp. pepper flakes. Stir-fry 1 minute. Add tofu and cook 2 minutes. Add noodles and toss. Add fish sauce mixture and large scallion pieces. Stir in eggs and shrimp, 1 c. sprouts, 1/3 c. peanuts and toss. When serving top with remaining sprouts, peanuts and scallions. Serve with lime and sriracha sauce.

Onion Garlic Bubble Bread

This is Amy's favorite!!

1 loaf (1 lb.) frozen bread dough, thawed
½ c. finely chopped sweet onion
½ c. butter, melted
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried parsley
¼ tsp. salt
Divide dough into 24 pieces. Combine remaining ingredients. Dip each piece of dough into butter mixture. Place in a greased 10” fluted tube pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place 1 hour. Bake @ 375° 20-25 minutes.

Fresh Salsa

We've been eating a lot of this lately. It's very simple to make with only a few ingredients, but I like it better than any other I've had. I can't stand to eat the stuff from the store now.

3 medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped
½ onion, finely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped (usually I only use 1/2)
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
Salt
Combine in a small bowl.

Guacamole

ONe of my favorite things to eat. Yes, I know it's fattening, but so good.

3 avocadoes, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced
½ tsp. kosher salt
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. cayenne
½ medium onion, diced
2 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice. Toss to coat. Drain. Reserve the lime juice after all the avocadoes have been coated. Using a potato masher, add salt, cumin and cayenne and mash. Fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro and garlic. Add 1 Tbsp. of reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour.

Michelle's Fruit Pasta Salad

I got this recipe from Marshall's sister who is a really good cook. We always have this the night before a swim meet or road race. Sometimes we even pack it in a cooler to take for lunch.

2 c. cooked macaroni
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 c. celery
5 c. cooked, chopped chicken
1 c. toasted slivered almonds
1 c. seedless purple grapes, cut in half
1 tsp. chopped onion
1 c. mayo

Broccoli/Caulifower Salad

This is one of my favorite salads. I got it from my mom.
Combine:
5 c. broccoli
5 c. cauliflower
2 c. grated cheddar cheese
2/3 c. chopped onion

Dressing:
1 c. mayo
½ c. sugar
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
Combine and pour over vegetables. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Sweet And Sour Pork

My girls loved this. They chose to eat the leftovers tonight rather than have pizza. It marinates over night so keep that in mind. I was going to make it for Sunday dinner before I realized that. I got it off Good Eats, which I happen to love, but I only watch it when Marshall's out of town because it drives him crazy. Seriously, try it.
2/3 c. soy sauce
2 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. minced ginger
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. cornstarch
1 pound pork, cut into cubes
salt and pepper
vegetable oil
1 c. ketchup
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/8 c. honey
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1/3 c. large diced sweet onion
1/3 c. large diced celery
1/3 c. carrots, sliced on bias
1/3 c. large diced red pepper
1/3 c. large diced yellow pepper (it's supposed to be green but I hate them)
1 c. pineapple, cut in cubes

Combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger, flour and cornstarch. Season pork with salt and pepper. Place pork in the bowl and toss. Marinate overnight.

Drain off marinade and dredge pork in flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large frying pan. Fry the pork in batches until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

In a seperate bowl, combine ketchup, sugar, vinegar and honey.

Heat vegetable and sesame oil. place pork and vegetables in pan and cover with sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook until pork is tender.

Baked Eggs With Potatoes

I sometimes make this for dinner. We like it topped with salsa.
3 Tbsp. butter
8 red skinned potatoes, diced
1/4 c. chopped flat leaf parsley
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
black pepper
8 eggs
1 c. shredded cheddar
preheat oven to 400 degrees. melt butter in a cast iron skillet, or other oven proof skillet. Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parlsey, garlic, salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Make 4 shallow nests and break 2 eggs into each. bake about 10 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over eggs and bake about 1 minute more.

Strawberry Romaine Salad

This is a great one for spring.

torn romaine
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings

poppy seed dressing:
1/2 c. mayo
1 4/ c. sugar
1/4 c. milk
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar

Waffles

I got this recipe from a friend. I haven't tried it yet, but they assured me these are the best waffles ever.
1 c. white flour
1 c. wheat flour
3 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
mix together
3 eggs
4 Tbsp. melted butter
2 c. buttermilk
Mix just until combined. The batter will be very lumpy. They also said to use real buttermilk and not the milk and lemon trick. It makes a big difference.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Bars

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1 egg
1/3 c. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. flour
1 c. old fashioned oatmeal
1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

Icing:
1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. milk

preheat oven to 350 degrees. cream butter nad sugars. Add egg and peanut butter and mix well. Stir in soda, salt, flour and oatmeal. Press into a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips over top. Bake 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with icing.

Shrimp Scampi

3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. butter
1/4 olive oil
1 lb. uncooked shrimp
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 c. grated parmesan
1/4 c. dry bread crumbs
1/4 c. minced fresh parsley
cooked angel hair pasta

Saute garlic in butter and oil until tender. Stir in shrimp, lemon juice, pepper and oregano. Cook and stir 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and parsley. Broil 6" from heat. Serve over pasta