Vietnamese Chicken Ragu

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Xin Mời Ăn

Although nothing about Vietnamese Chicken Ragu screams Vietnamese, it remains one of our most beloved dishes. Clearly, it is a culinary delight left behind by the French from the old colonial days. Perfect on a cold winter’s day, or any day for that matter, this stew-like dish is traditionally eaten with freshly baked, crusty French bread. I simply love dipping the bread into the savory broth!

After years of watching my mother and grandmother make this dish, I have perfected the recipe by combining their techniques with a few of my own :-). I prefer to use a combination of chicken drumsticks and thighs because they are my favorite; however, you could use any combination of chicken parts you prefer. I hope you give this recipe a try soon!

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Quick and Easy Orecchiette with Chickpeas

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Nothing is easier or more convenient than making a one-pan dish for dinner! I found this recipe last year in a Martha Stewart Living Magazine. By changing a few ingredients to my personal liking, I made a delicious and easy pasta dish that was ready in 30 minutes. Best of all, I only had one pan to clean afterwards!

I love this pasta dish because it’s light, healthy and bright with the fresh arugula and lemon zest. The chickpeas add a nice nutty flavor and give you that protein boost to keep you full longer. Although this is a vegetarian dish, you could always add your favorite meat, such as Italian sausage or ground beef. Sliced mushrooms also add a great umami flavor to the dish! The original recipe includes olives which would give a salty flavor; however, I chose to omit them because I’m not a huge fan of olives.

Be sure to give this recipe a try for your next lunch or dinner! Continue reading →

Easy, Delicious Plum Cake

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Michael is from Germany so often misses the delicious cakes and tarts he grew up eating. He complains that the desserts found in the U.S. are usually very sweet or topped with artificial sugary frosting (I can’t really disagree with him on this one). Hence, I am always on the hunt for an easy, delicious dessert recipe. I stumbled upon this plum cake recipe late one night when we both had a taste for something fruity, buttery and slightly sweet. We were also in the Alps with no store open at 10pm! This dessert has become one of my favorite cakes. Best of all, it is ready to eat in no time at all! I hope you give it a try because I know it will be a hit with your family and friends! Continue reading →

Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Who doesn’t love baked ziti? Pasta, fresh tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese bubbling on top…yum! I found this amazing recipe on the Food Network and made a few tweaks of my own. What I love about this dish is that it’s perfect for a large group because everything is baked in one dish AND you can prepare it ahead of time. I recently made this for a dinner party and the ability to prepare ahead of time was a definite plus. I made the sauce the day beforehand and stored in the refrigerator. I boiled the pasta and mixed with the sauce and cheese a few hours before serving. Then transferred everything to a baking dish and covered with foil. All I had to do was pop the dish into the oven 30 minutes before serving. I ended up having more time to mingle with my guests and have a few cocktails myself. 😉 Continue reading →

Cá Nướng Cuốn (Vietnamese Roasted Fish Rolls)

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Those who are familiar with Vietnamese cuisine understand that it’s all about freshness and different flavors coming together perfectly. Cá nướng cuốn is no exception to the rule. Cá nướng means ‘fish grilled or roasted’ and cuốn means ‘roll.’ Using a fish, such as Bluefish, that has a lot of flavorful, white meat with a minimal amount of bones is very important; however, what makes this dish so fresh and bursting with flavor is the combination of herbs and vegetables in the roll. Fresh mint, Thai basil, cilantro, lettuce and cucumber are the usual suspects in any Vietnamese roll. The fish sauce, though, takes everything to a whole new level!

Vietnamese people love to socialize and have a good time over a meal. Hence, dishes like this are typically eaten for lunch or dinner in a group setting. Growing up, I watched my grandma, mom, aunts and uncles make this dish many times for our family gatherings. Using their original recipe, I made a few adjustments based on available ingredients and my own preference. I hope you enjoy this dish with your loved ones too :). Continue reading →

Mango Sago Recipe

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

I LOVE a good mango sago. Michael and I tried our very first version of this ‘oh-so-yummy’ dessert in 2006 while visiting friends in Hong Kong. They were selling this stuff everywhere! We were addicted ever since. Sadly, it’s not as readily available in New York City, unless you go to Chinatown or Flushing. A few Chinese dessert places have been popping up elsewhere around Manhattan, but nothing like a Dunkin Donuts on every corner.

I decided to make my own version of mango sago yesterday because mangoes were on sale in Chinatown. 3 for $1. It doesn’t get any better than that folks. I think my version comes pretty darn close to that sold in stores – nice coconut flavor, natural sweetness from the mangoes and overall so refreshing. If you like mango sago, definitely give my recipe a try! It is so quick and easy to make. Continue reading →

Squash ‘Carbonara’ with Pancetta and Sage

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

I absolutely love this recipe from bonappetit. What a healthy, delicious and clever twist on a classic pasta dish! This ‘carbonara’ recipe is much lower in calories and fat than the traditional recipe because it does not have any heavy cream, eggs or butter. But don’t fret – it does not lack in flavor either! The sauce has a natural creaminess from using pureed butternut squash – so clever, right?! Obviously, nothing can ever replace the taste of heavy cream and butter, but this squash substitute will certainly satisfy your taste buds. I made this dish for Michael, a carbonara connoisseur ;-), and he loved it. The crispy pancetta and light sprinkle of Parmesan go a longgggg way! Continue reading →

Lemon Garlic Green Beans

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

I’m turning up the flavor on a classic side dish with this easy recipe! The fresh lemon zest and juice add such a nice citrus brightness to the dish, while just a pinch of red pepper flakes gives a kick to your taste buds. You can use green beans or haricot vert (French green beans) for this dish. I prefer the latter because they are more tender and have a slightly more complex flavor. Either way, this would be a great side dish to serve with roasted chicken, grilled steak or fish. You can also cut down on preparation time by getting ready-to-use packages (washed and trimmed). Enjoy! Continue reading →

Roasted Butternut Squash

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Despite the fact that it’s a well known ‘power food,’ I used to always avoid cooking with butternut squash. It’s not that I didn’t love the nutty, creamy or slightly sweet taste, I just didn’t want to deal with carrying the heavy squash home, or wrestling with it on my cutting board. Nowadays, however, cooking with butternut squash has become extremely easy with the convenient pre-cut packages! With my simple recipe, just unwrap and toss onto a baking sheet with three other ingredients. It’s really THAT simple. Continue reading →

Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes, Basil and Feta

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Xin Mời Ăn

Happy 2014! Many of us probably have eating healthier, or some variation, on our New Year’s resolutions list. We are very committed to the cause the first month or two, but things start to change a little towards the third month. Perhaps we just can’t quite make that spinning class, or we simply can’t bare the thought of eating another cold, boring salad. The reasons are endless. Let’s face it – eating healthy is much easier said than done. The trick, however, is to have a variety of easy, healthy and tasty recipes at hand.

That’s why this dish is one of my favorites! I first came across this recipe in a Living magazine. It’s such a nice mix of flavors that are light enough to serve as an app or side dish, but satisfying enough to serve as a main. Imagine Greek salad meets Caprese salad, all on top of a nice grilled slice of eggplant. It’s great to make on the outdoor grill in the summer, or on your stove top grill pan throughout the year. No grill pan? No problem. You can always use the good old frying pan! Continue reading →