Fumi Yamasaki's Pork Donburi

Brown in a lightly oiled skillet 1 pound of pork steak, cut in bite sized cubes.  (May use  chicken breast)
Add in 2 cups assorted chopped vegetables (green onion, regular onion, cabbage, carrot, celery, bean sprout, brocolli) and saute until tender crisp.
Sprinkle with ground black pepper and 1 T. fresh grated ginger root, 2 T. sugar, 1/2 c. soy sauce
Pour 6 beaten eggs over the top and bake in 300 degree oven until the egg is set.
Cut in wedges serve over steamed rice with pickled ginger.

Homemade Kettle Corn

So I LOVE this stuff. A friend taught me how to make this and I want to eat it everyday. I beg the kids to have a movie night just so I can make this stuff. But unfortunately I just dump everything in so you will have to make this a few times before you figure out your stove and get things just the way you like them.

First you need a large stockpot preferably one that has a heavy bottom. Pour your popcorn in the bottom just don't exceed a single layer of corn across the whole bottom of the pan. Add in oil enough to coat the whole bottom of the pan. And add about a 1/2 tsp of salt or so depending on how much corn you are popping. Then fire up your burner. When it starts to get really hot add in about 1/4 cup - 1/3 c sugar. Stir the sugar and kernels. Put on the lid before the corn starts to fly. Then every 5 seconds or so I pick up my pan and swirl it around. Then continue to let it pop. When the popping is really strong sometimes I pull the pan off the stove and continue swirling it and letting it cool off a touch. The risk that you run is from burning the sugar. Sometimes I pull off the lid and dump off the top and so I can continue to cook the kernels on the bottom.

This stuff is amazing. When it is done you should have white kettle corn. If it is a little bit brown then turn down your heat next time or spend more time pulling the pot off the stove. I have flat electric cooktop and I have tried this on gas too and the gas was a little more difficult. But you will not be sorry if you overcook a few batches until you get it perfect.

Good luck!

Banana Pancakes

Cucumber, Tomato and Feta Salad

This is super fast, easy and is absolutely delicious. I have been eating it for lunch a lot lately.

1-2 cups cucumber chopped
1-2 cups tomato chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese
1 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1 Tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper

Mix the red wine vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Pour over other ingredients. Toss until coated. Delicious!

Latin Chicken with Black Beans and Sweet Potatoes

I made this for Sunday dinner last night. Since we have church at 1:00, I like to try to do something in a crock pot for dinner so it is ready right when we come home. This is one of my favorite slow cooker recipes. The chipotle peppers make it spicy, but if you don't have these, you can use medium/hot salsa.

* 3 lbs bone-in skinless chicken thighs
* 2 teaspoons ground cumin
* salt
* pepper
* 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or 1-2 Tbs. chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
* 1 cup water
* 1 Tbs. chicken base
* 1/2 - 1 cup salsa
* 3 large garlic cloves, pressed
* 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed
* 2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size chunks
* 1 cup chopped peppers (red, yellow or green)
* 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped


Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 4 1/4 hrs

1. Put beans,sweet potatoes, and peppers in slow-cooker.
2. Place chicken on bean mixture.
3. In bowl, mix broth with spices, salsa, and cilantro.
4. Pour this over chicken in crock pot.
5. Cover with lid and cook on low 8 hrs or 4 hrs on high.
6. Serve over brown rice.



(I found this recipe at www.food.com/recipe/slow-cooker-latin-chicken-w-sweet-potatoes-and-black-beans-253599#ixzz1FHDs7TDY and made a few changes to it.)

Special Request

I am looking for slow cooker recipes.  Could you gals post some of your faves?  Thanks!

Slow cooker Santa Fe Chicken

FAST, EASY, CHEAP, HEALTHY AND YUMMY.  This recipe is a keeper.  I make it every so often.  Stephen loves it.  It's nothing fancy but it tastes good.

I can't remember where I first found this recipe.  I've changed up a few things to give it more flavor. You really don't need to measure this out -- This recipe is super flexible.  I tried to guess amounts just to give you a ballpark.

2 cups corn (recipe actually called for 2 cans of corn. I like to use frozen corn cuz it's healthier...and better!)
2 cups beans (Recipe calls for 1 can of black beans.  I like more beans and I like to use lots of kinds, just                                                           whatever I have on hand.  I usually don't use canned either)
2-3 chicken breasts
1-2 cups of salsa
Taco seasoning to taste and two or so cubes of chicken bouillon (not in original recipe.  Gives better flavor.)

Just dump all of these ingredients in the slow cooker and turn it on high or low, depending on how long you want it to take before it's done.  On high it will take just a couple hours (in my slowcooker at least) and on low it takes 3 or 4.  Serve over rice.