Inspiredbites' profile page
Recipes
Irma's Cranberry Nut Bread
By inspiredbites
When I was a kid, growing up in New Jersey, my family would spend every Thanksgiving with some family friends from ...
- 2 cups sifted all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- juice & grated peel of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons butter
- boiling water
- 1 cup chopped, fresh cranberries
- 1 cup chopped nuts (pecan or walnut)
Seafood Quesadillas
By inspiredbites
When I was in my teens, my family lived in Evansville, Indiana
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 10 twists of the pepper mill
- Salt to taste
- A couple of shakes of red pepper flakes
- A good handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
- 10 ounces fake crab meat, chopped
- Cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheese
Butternut Squash Casserole
By inspiredbites
Last week I was sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office, flipping through the pages of Better Homes and ...
- 1-1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut in 1-inch cubes (3 cups)
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz. dried noodles (I used campanelle)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 6 shallots, minced
- 6 chicken sausages (I used apple flavored, but Italian would be good as well)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 8-oz. carton mascarpone cheese
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley, chopped
- 1 cup panko (Japanese-style) bread crumbs or soft bread crumbs
Brown Sugar Custards with Cointreau Cream
By inspiredbites
In the world of food, Pam Anderson is not the bombshell blonde sex symbol
- Custard Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups 2 percent evaporated milk
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
- Whipped Cream Ingredients (Whipped Cream is optional!)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 teaspoons Cointreau
- candied orange peel for garnish
- (http://inspiredbites.blogspot.com/2008/08/candied-orange-peels.html)
Almond-Cardamom Christmas Cookies
By inspiredbites
Every year I make a small assortment of Christmas cookies for friends and family
- 12 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 10 teaspoons ground cardamom (it will be separated)*
- 1 1/2 cups salted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- sliced almonds for garnish
- 1 egg (or just the white) to adhere the garnishes
- * Some people may want to consider cutting the cardamom in half. I love cardamom, but I will admit that it was strong in this amount.
Soba Noodles with Fresh Vegetables and Pan-Grilled Tofu
By inspiredbites
I've been into many things Japanese lately
- 8 oz soba (2 bundles)
- 1/3 lb (4 oz) snow peas (about 3 cups once sliced)
- 4 oz carrots (about 1 1/3 cup once sliced)
- 3 oz scallions (about 1 1/2 cup once sliced)
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (the small grate)
- 1 tablespoon oil (for sautéing)
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (I used low sodium)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
- 1 brick of tofu
Chicken and Dumplings
By inspiredbites
Chicken and Dumplings is a truly comforting dish that I have been craving for some time now
- For the Stock
- 5-6 lbs chicken parts (breasts, drumsticks, thighs, with bones), skin removed
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- salt and pepper for seasoning the chicken and onions (to taste)
- 6 cups hot water
- For the Stew
- 3 celery stalks, trimmed and cut into 1/3-inch pieces
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 6 boiling onions (approximately 1" in diameter), peeled, halved, & sliced
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons dry sherry or vermouth
- 1 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
- 1 cup frozen green beans, thawed
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves
- Ground black pepper
- For the Dumplings
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup minced fresh herb leaves such as parsley, chives, and tarragon (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cup milk
Cold Soba Noodle Salad With Shrimp
By inspiredbites
I just got through watching Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in Japan
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1 package soba noodles (mine was 9.5 ounce)
- 5 scallions, diced
- 8 ounces snow peas
- one large carrot, shaved with a peeler and left in long strips
- 1 1/4 pounds shrimp, peeled and de-veined
- Shrimp Marinade
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 5 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons strong flavored honey (I use chestnut honey)
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (done on a microplane zester)
- 1/4 teaspoon yuzu juice
- Sauce (it's the same as the marinade, but doubled)
- 5 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 10 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce
- 4 teaspoons strong flavored honey (I use chestnut honey)
- 4 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (done on a microplane zester)
- 1/2 teaspoon yuzu juice
Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
By inspiredbites
I've been hanging out a lot on Facebook lately
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup chopped green pepper
- 2 cups chopped sweet onion (I loves me some sauteed onion)
- 4 chopped cloves of garlic
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 (28 oz) cans crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1.25 lb ground beef (85% fat)
- 1 (1.5 ounce) rind of Parmesan cheese)
- one 2/3 ounce package fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- salt, again, to taste (my taste was 1/2 teaspoon)
Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry wit Peanut Sauce
By inspiredbites
I got my new Eating Well magazine in the mail yesterday and was instantly drawn to this recipe
- 1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 teaspoons canola oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil, divided
- 1 pound sirloin steak, trimmed and thinly sliced (see Tip)
- 3 large stalks of bok choy plus the leaves of one more
- 2-5 tablespoons water
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- 1/4 cup chopped unsalted roasted peanuts (optional)