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Cooking time: 35 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
This menu is based on one form '1000 Chinese Recipes' cook book... Except for the apple tarts. A combination Chinese New Year and Valentine's dinner. According to Chinese tradition there should be one 'dish' for each diner (not counting the rice). So we have soup and pork.
Velvet Corn Soup Preparation and cooking time: 15 minutes1 cup (8oz, 240gr) corn
2 egg whites
4 tbs milk
2 1/2 cups (20oz, 600ml) chicken stock
1 tbs cornstarch (corn flour, maizena) dissolved in 2 tbs water
1 slice Prosciutto substitute 1 slice bacon, fried crisp or a small bit of ham
1 tsp olive oil
Drain corn and rinse lightly. Heat chicken stock, 2 tbs milk and corn. Slice the ham into thin matchsticks. Heat oil in skillet, add ham and sauté until crisp. Remove and set aside.
Separate eggs, *discarding the yolk. With a whisk beat the egg whites until very frothy. Then beat in the remaining 2 tbs of milk, set aside. Dissolve the cornstarch in the chicken stock.
To finish: When the stock/corn is boiling stir in the cornstarch mixture and stir until the soup has thickened and cleared. Remove from heat. Pour in the egg whites and stir gently a few times. Ladle into bowls, divide the ham and sprinkle on each serving. Serve immediately.
*Note: The easiest way to separate eggs is to crack it and dump it in your clean hand. Let the white run through your fingers into the bowl and discard the yolk. Or you can, carefully, transfer the yolk from eggshell half to eggshell half - this keeps your fingers clean. I don't do this because our eggshells have not been washed like they (usually) are in the U.S. I know my fingers are clean. I have no use planned for the egg yolks. You can refrigerate them and use them in omelets, freeze them and save them for baking, (see techniques) or discard them.
Sweet and Sour Pork Preparation and cooking time: 20 minutesThe pork:
12 - 16 oz (300 - 450gr) lean pork I used pork tenderloin
1 tbs oil
1 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs chicken stock
The sauce:
1 tbs oil
2 cloves garlic
2 tsp minced fresh ginger (2 - 3 thin slices, 1" (2.5cm) wide)
1/2 large red bell pepper
1/2 head broccoli
1 medium carrot
1/2 cup (4oz, 120ml) chicken stock
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs white sugar
4 tbs red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
1 tbs cornstarch (maizena, corn flour) dissolved in
2 tbs chicken stock
2 tsp soy sauce
Cut the pork into 1" (2.5cm) cubes. Heat oil and soy sauce in nonstick skillet. Add pork and stir-fry 5 minutes. Add chicken stock, reduce heat to low. cover and simmer 10 minutes or until done.
Mince garlic. Peel a small section of ginger, cut into thin slices, then mince. Slice pepper and carrot into matchsticks. (see Techniques) Cut broccoli into small florets. Dissolve cornstarch in chicken stock, soy sauce and set aside.
In large nonstick skillet heat remaining 1 tbs oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger and stir-fry 30 seconds. Add carrot, broccoli, pepper and stir-fry 2 - 3 minutes. Add stock, sugars, vinegar and soy sauce and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Give cornstarch a stir to recombine and add to sauce, stirring until thickened. Remove pork from pan juices and add to sauce. Stir well, heat through and serve.
1/2 cup quick-cooking brown rice substitute Basmati
1 cup chicken stock or whatever your rice calls for
1/2 tsp sesame or walnut oil
2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds
Cook rice according to package instructions stirring in the sesame oil, soy sauce and seeds when rice is almost done. Fluff and serve.
Note: You can toast regular sesame seeds in a small, dry, skillet over medium heat for 5 - 7 minutes, until light brown.
Apple Tart Preparation and cooking time: 25 minutes1 large cooking apple
1 tbs butter
4 tbs mascarpone
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 sheet puff pastry
Cut 2 squares, rectangles or circles out of the puff pastry... whatever works best, shape is not important.
Cut apple in quarters, through core. Slice out core, then thinly slice each quarter. Heat butter in medium skillet, add apple slices and sauté over medium heat for 3 - 4 minutes, just until warmed through.
Lay puff pastry on baking sheet, either nonstick or lightly oiled. With a knife lightly score a line around the edge of each pastry, about 1/3" (.75 cm) from the edge. Do not cut through the pastry. (A butter knife works best.)
Divide the mascarpone and spread within the scored lines. Arrange the apple slices on the mascarpone. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 420F (210C) for 10 - 12 minutes, until sides of pastry have puffed around middle and are golden brown.
Remove and serve.
Cooking Schedule:
35 minutes for menu |
Start to cook pork (same skillet as Prosciutto) |
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