Author Archives: Xin Mời Ăn

Easy Frittatas

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Do your Saturday morning eggs need a makeover? I’ve got the perfect solution! These easy mini frittatas are quick to make, but look so elegant and appetizing on your plate. I love the wonderful smell that comes from my oven whenever I make these. Michael has to constantly pull me away from the oven window because I can’t help but stare at how beautifully they puff up! :) The best part about making these frittatas is you can use any leftover veggies or deli meat in your fridge. I had some leftover mushrooms this morning so decided to throw them in too; however, you could use anything you have available. Zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, or even jalapenos would work well. Just remember to chop them up into little pieces so they cook quickly. I’ve also tried the recipe using cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan; the frittatas came out just as yummy! Continue reading →

Ginger Chicken Salad

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For all my foodies out there that love Hainanese Chicken, THIS is the salad for you! And if you have no idea what I’m talking about, you definitely need to keep reading ;). I’ve taken the the two things we love most about this dish (the ginger sauce and moist chicken) and put them into a healthier version. You’re probably thinking, “Salad, for dinner??” But I promise this salad will leave you feeling satisfied. It has just the right balance between bright and intense flavors, and the protein from the chicken will keep you full longer. Best of all, it is SO easy and simple to make. The traditional version of this dish requires boiling a whole chicken, while this recipe only uses chicken breasts. The fresh ginger, lime juice, and chili sauce make this refreshing salad perfect for any summer meal! Continue reading →

Bún Riêu

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The first Vietnamese dish I ever made was bún riêu, pronounced “boon rew,” which is a tomato and crab noodle soup. Of all the Vietnamese noodle soup dishes, I think this is the easiest to make because it requires the least amount of time and ingredients. This doesn’t mean there aren’t many ingredients, it just means less. 😉 Vietnamese cooking is all about flavor and finding the perfect balance between sweet, savory, spicy, and sour. So that means a little bit of this, and a little bit of that. Continue reading →

Sauteed Snow Peas

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During the week, I like to keep my side dishes simple and healthy. I try to rotate different veggies so we don’t get bored, but it does get a little difficult at times. With Michael’s intense dislike for broccoli :roll:, I have to constantly be creative. (I think this dislike is due to only having plain boiled broccoli in the past!) These sauteed snow peas are the perfect accompaniment to any meat or seafood dish, especially seared scallops. You’ll be amazed by how much flavor comes with every bite! Continue reading →

Seared Scallops

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Scallops are little pieces of sweetness from the sea that melt in your mouth. It never ceases to amaze me, though, how much restaurants charge for just a few pieces. The good news is you can easily make them at home for half the price! It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and cook, but looks so elegant on your plate. Make these scallops for your next dinner and you’ll be sure to impress your honey. 😉 Continue reading →

Decorating with Pumpkins and Gourds

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Creating centerpieces for your table doesn’t always have to include flowers. I made this cute and festive centerpiece for a Thanksgiving dinner one year that didn’t require any flowers! I simply placed a 4 x 8″ pillar candle on a large glass dish. Then I spread a layer of fake acorns around the candle, and finished it with mini ornamental pumpkins and gourds. This centerpiece would look beautiful on your dinner table surrounded by votive candles, but it could also be placed on your coffee table or sideboard. The best part about using these decorative items is they last FOREVER. We kept this centerpiece for almost two months! Continue reading →

Perfect Soft Scrambled Eggs

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People always ask how I get my scrambled eggs to be so soft and fluffy. “Do you add milk or cream to them?” I always answer with a big NO. You don’t need anything other than eggs, a good nonstick pan, and a lot of patience. The most important thing, however, is to cook the eggs over low heat while stirring gently and frequently. Follow my simple recipe and you’ll have perfect scrambled eggs for your next breakfast! Continue reading →

Nectarine Pancakes

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Brunch, how I love thee. Let me count the ways…eggs, waffles, french toast, and oh yes, PANCAKES. Who doesn’t love a nice fluffy pancake drizzled with warm maple syrup?! I usually make plain, blueberry, or banana pancakes, but I came across this recipe one day in a Martha Stewart Living magazine. I never had nectarine pancakes before, but I thought they would be perfect since nectarines are in season right now (which means they’re inexpensive!).

When selecting nectarines, you want them to be ripe but still have some firmness. So avoid ones that are bruised or have wrinkled skin. You don’t want the nectarines to become mushy or watery in your pancakes. Most importantly, the trick to making fluffy pancakes is to NOT over mix the batter. You actually want a lumpy batter. Over mixing will create flat heavy pancakes, and no one wants that! Continue reading →

Shish Kabobs

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Barbecues are synonymous with summer. Living in the city, however, makes having a barbecue very difficult. Don’t get me wrong, I love living in New York, but it comes with both pros and cons. One of the cons is not enough outdoor space to have a proper grill. So, Michael and I improvised. We decided to have a mini barbecue tonight by taking our little electric grill onto the balcony! :)

The excitement quickly faded away, though, when I realized we can’t cook much on our grill. It’s too small and doesn’t produce enough heat. Basically, we ain’t makin’ baby back ribs or anything fancy tonight! I got a little sad at the thought of this, but came up with a perfect solution. Something fun, yummy, and quick to grill?  Shish kabobs! Continue reading →

Roasted Asparagus

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One of my favorite side dishes to make is roasted asparagus. It’s simple, elegant, delicious, and so quick to make! It’s also a great side dish to make if you’re already using the oven to cook your entree. Roasted asparagus goes nicely with almost any meat or fish. I make this dish every week and we never seem to get tired of it! What I love most about these little spears, however, is that they have so many health benefits. Asparagus spears are low in calories and sugar, have virtually zero fat and cholesterol, but are loaded with vitamins and fiber. FIBER. Need I say more? Continue reading →