Asian Lettuce Wraps

Wow, I feel like this blog has become very food focused.  I'll probably start adding new types of posts, even if I don't have pictures.  Never fear though, the recipe posts will continue, partly because I've gotten some good feedback from my 3 readers and mostly because it's a good place for me to catalogue recipes I want to have Eric make part of the rotation.

So, back to the food!  Last week I went to Detroit on business and took the opportunity to go to dinner with my awesome step-sister, Kelly and her boyfriend, Antonio.  We went to a Japanese restaurant and ordered the Lettuce Wraps as an appetizer.  They were really delicious.  We all agreed that if we weren't trying to be civilized we'd be shoveling the remainder of the filling into our mouths with our hands and licking the plate.  I decided it would be in my best interest to try this dish at home and to try to make it a bit healthier (i.e. lighter and less goopy, but therefore slightly less tasty).  This is where Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen comes to the recipe rescue.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients
For the sauce:  (I ended up doubling this recipe because I had A LOT of filling)
1½ tsp. Hoisin Sauce
1 tsp. Soy Sauce
½ tsp. Sesame Oil
1 tsp. Rice Vinegar
Freshly ground Black Pepper
1 tsp. Sriracha Hot Sauce
 
For the filling:
2 tsp. Canola Oil
2 cloves/1 tsp Garlic, minced
1/2 tsp Ginger, grated
2 Green Onions, chopped
1(ish) lb ground Turkey
Mixed Vegetables, chopped
   I used frozen peas, carrots, red pepper and onion
1/2 Green Apple, chopped
1 can Water Chestnuts, chopped

Toppings/Wrap:
1 head Butter Lettuce, leaves washed and seperated
2 Carrots, finely sliced

Directions
Combine all the ingredients for the sauce (hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, black pepper, sriracha sauce) in a small bowl and mix to blend.

Spend a lot of time cutting and chopping.

To make the filling:
1.  Heat oil in wok on high heat.  Add scallions, ginger and garlic and fry until fragrant.


2.  Add the ground turkey or chicken, breaking into small pieces, and cook until almost cooked through.

3.  Add the vegetables to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.

4.  Mix in the sauce and cook for about 1 minute until thickened slightly.

5.  Add the apples to the pan and toss to coat. Immediately remove the pan from the heat.

6.  Spoon the filling into lettuce leaves and enjoy!  Make sure you have napkins!

Leftovers approved!  I just ate the filling alone as leftovers for lunches.

Last Days of Freedom

I spent my last days pre-work freedom with my lovely sister, Jessica and great friend, Kate in New York. I had a great time, but only wish it could have lasted longer.

I arrived via Megabus on Thursday, and after a long walk after getting off at the wrong Subway stop (who would think there would be a 51st street stop after a stop at 50th st, not me apparently.  I didn't realize that the distance between those stops takes you across town), I was on my way!

My first stop was Union Square, I was intending to walk and shop the high teens but I decided to keep walking and stumbled upon this New York City landmark.  I loved the walking through the square with people who were taking a break from there day and local artists displaying and selling their wares.

Next I headed over to meet with Kate at the Rebecca Minkoff sample sale.  There were some beautiful bags for sale but I showed restraint.  I'm very proud of myself!  I can't say the same for Kate, however who scored the "Morning After Mini" she had been lusting over on her third visit to the sale.


After a quick pizza stop for me, we met up with Jess at a store opening on the Upper West Side and finally headed to dinner at Fatty Crab, which I had been hearing about for ever.  Fatty Crab is a laid back, Malaysian inspired restaurant with cute, scruffy waiters and spicy food.  We shared steamed pork buns, mango salad, Lo Si Fun with tofu and Nasi Lemak.  Yum!

 Nasi Lemak at Fatty Crab

I had requested Kate to provide me with a food itinerary for my solo day on Friday.  The morning started out with a stop at Clinton Street Baking Company.  I got there a little late, not expecting it to be a problem since it was a week day after all.  I was wrong.  After about a 40 minute wait I was seated!  Yes!  I was told that I had to order the pancakes, I had no option.  That was fine with me as I LOVE pancakes.  I also ordered a side of eggs for some protein to get me through the day.  I plowed through the scrambled eggs, which was a much larger portion than expected.  Then it was on to the pancakes.  Oh, the pancakes.  Let me just say that it was worth the wait.  I got the banana nut version and they were amazing.  They were light and fluffy and delicious.  Clinton Street Baking doesn't serve syrup.  Instead they serve pancakes with a warm maple butter that is just amazing.  I now want to go to New York in February for Pancake month and eat every meal here.

Clinton Street Baking Company Banana Nut Pancakes

I spent most of the day walking around SoHo, got a haircut, nothing too exciting.  When I finally realized what time it was I found that I was almost out of time for Arepas at Caracas!  New York has so many food experiences to offer that I rarely want to repeat any.  I usually want to try something new.  This is one of the first meals I've put on repeat.  An arepa is basically a cornmeal patty stuffed with deliciousness.  I got the La Del Gato, plaintain, cheese and avacado.  Oh my goodness.  A-Mazing.

My La Del Gato Arepa and Jess's custom Creation at Caracas Arepa Bar.

Jess and I headed over to Tokio 7, an upscale thrift store which I would love to spend more time in with more money to spend.  I had my celebrity sighting while I was there when I spotted Jennifer Carpenter from "Dexter."  It seemed out of place so I was unsure until Kate confirmed that she and her husband, Michael C. Hall (Dexter of "Dexter") live in that neighborhood.


We then went back to Union Square to visit the new Nordstrom Rack before meeting up with Emily and Jesse for dinner at Cafe Mogador, a mediterranean restaurant with amazing falafel and grilled cheese.  Not grilled cheese as in the sandwich, grilled cheese as in slices of cheese thrown on a grill.  What?  That's right, folks, cheese that didn't melt, but got warm, and chewy with a bit of a caramelized crust when thrown on the grill.  Yeah.  The foodgasm ended with vegan ice cream at Lula's Sweet Apothecary.  I don't know what their secret is (I hear its something about soy and/or cashews), but you would NEVER know that this ice cream (I got caramel popcorn) is vegan.  It's still very smooth and creamy and tastes just like the ice cream we're all used to.


Finally, it was time to leave and say a sad farewell to New York (at least for a few weeks).  We loaded up the trailer with Jess's (my new?) patio furniture and were on our way home.  Did I not mention that was the nominal purpose of my trip?  I now have a new patio set.  Now if only I had a deck to put it on....

My new patio furniture in it's (hopefully very) temporary home.