Garlic butter rice

 

Garlic butter rice is a simple yet flavorful dish that can be a perfect side for many meals. Here’s a basic recipe for you to try:

 

Ingredients:

 

1 cup of rice

2 cups of water or chicken broth (for more flavor)

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter

3 cloves of garlic, minced

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional: Chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions:

 

Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and helps the rice to be fluffy.

In a medium saucepan, bring the water or chicken broth to a boil.

Add the rice to the boiling water/broth, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.

While the rice is cooking, melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat.

Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.

Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes.

Fluff the rice with a fork and then pour the garlic butter over the rice. Mix well to ensure the rice is evenly coated.

Season with salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Serve the garlic butter rice warm as a delicious accompaniment to your main dish. Enjoy your cooking! 😊🍚

Pineapple Fluff

  

Pineapple Fluff recipe that’s perfect for warm weather or any occasion.  

 

Pineapple Fluff

Ingredients:

1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple (in juice)

1 box (3.4 ounces) vanilla instant pudding mix

1 container (8 ounces) whipped topping (such as Cool Whip)

1½ cups mini marshmallows

½ cup crushed pecans (optional)

¼ cup maraschino cherries, halved and patted dry (optional)

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed pineapple and vanilla instant pudding mix. Stir to combine and set aside for about 5 minutes to allow the pudding to set.

Once set, gently fold in the whipped topping, mini marshmallows, pecans (if using), and maraschino cherries (if desired).

Cover the bowl and refrigerate the mixture for 1-2 hours, or until it’s nicely chilled.

Serve your Pineapple Fluff and enjoy its creamy, tropical flavors!

Notes:

 

Be sure to use pineapple in juice, not syrup, as the syrup can be overly sweet.

If you prefer, you can substitute the whipped topping with homemade whipped cream (about 1-1.5 cups).

For a fun twist, add shredded coconut to give it a pina colada flavor.

Salami Cups

 

 Salami Cups with Antipasto Fillings:

These bite-sized Salami Cups are a fun and creative appetizer idea. They’re made by baking thinly sliced salami into little bowl shapes, creating a crispy base. You can fill each salami cup with your favorite combination of ingredients:

Ingredients:

24 large salami slices (4 inches wide) – regular or spicy

Diced fresh mozzarella cheese

Quartered cherry tomatoes

Marinated bell pepper (drained and coarsely chopped)

Marinated artichoke hearts (well-drained and coarsely chopped)

Pitted Kalamata olives (chopped)

Olive oil

Fresh basil leaves (thinly sliced)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Lay the salami slices in muffin tin cups, forming little bowls.

Bake for about 10 minutes until crispy.

Fill each salami cup with diced mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, artichoke hearts, olives, and basil.

Drizzle with olive oil.

Serve and enjoy these flavorful antipasto cups! 🍽️

General Tso's Tofu

 

 General Tso’s Tofu

Ingredients:

1 block of firm tofu (about 450 g)

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped ginger

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce (or red pepper paste)

3 green onions, thinly sliced

3/4 cup vegetable broth

Oil for frying

Instructions:

Prepare the Tofu:

Press the tofu to remove excess water.

Tear the tofu into bite-sized chunks.

Coat and Fry the Tofu:

Toss the tofu with oil and tamari until well coated.

Sprinkle cornstarch over the tofu and toss again.

Spread the tofu pieces out on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 30 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.

Make the Sauce:

In a saucepan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat.

Add chopped garlic and ginger. Sauté until fragrant.

Whisk together maple syrup, soy sauce, ketchup, Sriracha (or red pepper paste), and vegetable broth. Pour into the saucepan.

Bring the sauce to a boil and cook until thickened, stirring constantly.

Toss and Serve:

Add the crispy tofu to the sauce and toss to coat.

Garnish with thinly sliced green onions.

Serve your General Tso’s Tofu over rice or noodles.

Enjoy this spicy-sweet, protein-packed dish that’s perfect for a cozy dinner at home! 🌱🍽️