Pesto

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Every time Willie visits we try to make some cookies for him to bring home. This time its chocolate chip cookies. I used mini chocolate chips. =]

Miyabi Japanese Mushroom Soup

Lately I have developed a fondness of soups and mushrooms. I had this yummy mushroom broth at this restaurant on a very windy day. It was simply amazing but that is the thing. It was simple so I came home and made it for myself.

Chinese Ginger Sauce

So a couple weekends ago I went to my mom's friend's house for lunch. They used to own a Chinese fast food restaurant which means they know how to cook. They made the traditional streamed chicken with this amazing ginger sauce. I have a high flavor tolerance so I loved it. My mom's friend saw how much I loved it and made me a batch to take home in a matter of minutes. I asked her for the recipe and now I can make it for myself!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Whenever Willie come visit me I make him a batch of cookies to take home as a souvenir.

Petite Sirloin Steak

I got this for $2.52! What a great deal and it is so easy to cook! Serve with a side of potatoes or a salad and you have a steak dinner!

Soft Tofu with Soy Sauce

Simplicity!

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

I have been baking a lot of chicken lately. The chicken retains moisture and it is so simple!

Edamame: Oh, Mommy!

While I was in Hawaii I found a recipe for edamame! 

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

Ahh! I love shrimp! More Hawaii inspired food!

Chocolate Chip Cookies for One

I am not much of a baker since it is really hard to bake for one person. My parents don't eat sweets and I am not a huge sweet person. I just like to have one or two. How am I suppose to finish 38 cookies?! Also baking takes a lot of work. You have to measure everything exactly and do things in a set pattern. My website is call Improvised Cooking for a reason.

Baked Garlic Shrimp

A healthier and easier version of a previous recipe I tried, Garlicky Baked Shrimp. This time I tweeked the recipe to my liking instead of following the recipe to a tee. I made it healthier easier without cutting out the delicious factor.

Baked Cheddar Tomatoes

Improvised cooking at its best. I bought tomatoes for my Italian pasta salad and shredded cheddar cheese for the Cheesy Garlic Biscuits. I have tons of recipes saved that I want to try and one of them is similar to this but with Parmesan cheese. 

Italian Baked Chicken

In college one of my best friends who happens to also be named Sara told me about marinating chicken in Italian dressing. I also learned recently that baked chicken is so moist and tasty. 

Pineapple Fried Rice

Fried rice is one of the most diverse dishes. You can literally do whatever you want and add whatever you one. This has a balance of sweet and savory with a touch of crunchy.

Italian Pasta Salad

I learned this recipe from seeing my college roommate Madisyn make this one time for a potluck. Since then I have making it all the time. It is the perfect potluck dish and it is great for cooking in large quantities. Every batch usually last a couple meals for me. Great for the summer!

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

I love biscuits! This is so easy that I think I am going to make these for breakfast.

Chillis

I don't like spicy foods but you never know when you have to use them in your cooking or you accidentally ate something too spicy to handle. Here are some tips on how to handle chillis.

Kauai!

I just got back from my week long trip to Kauai! I went to Oahu two years ago. I hope to go to all the big islands in my life time. Funny thing is I have yet to leave the country. I have an entire lifetime so no sweat. Anyway, as with any trips I always have to make sure I eat at delicious restaurants.

Fats & Oils

- Flavorful plant oils include olive, sesame, walnut, almond, and hazelnut oils. Their distinctive flavors are changed by heat, and best preserved when the oils are added at the end of cooking.

- Fats and oils slowly break down and become rancid. Exposure to light, warmth, and/or air causes them to develop stale, cardboard, paint aromas and a harsh taste.

- Liquid oils are especially prone to rancidity, while solid fats are more stable.

- Use the freshest fats and oils possible. Check use-by dates, and buy them in small quantities so they don't sit in your pantry for weeks or months.

- When using stored fats, scrape the surface layer away and discard it. This is where rancid flavors accumulate.

- Taste oils and fats before cooking with them. Off flavors will get into the food, and are also a sign that the oil or fat will deteriorate further during cooking.

- Nonstick sprays combine a small amount of vegetable oil with emulsifiers and other chemicals that help prevent food from adhering to pan surfaces. Most sprays begin to brown and smoke at around 350F/175C


Source: Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes by Harold McGee

Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes

I am officially done with my first year of medical school! This has been an interesting year. As much as I miss my parents and having to adjust to the workload I love having my own kitchen. I hope you guys enjoy all my cooking adventures as much I did this school year. I am home and don't have my cooking stuff so for the next month I will be posting some tips from this book my friend Connie gave me. It is called Keys to Good Cooking: A Guide to Making the Best of Foods and Recipes

Sauteed Mushrooms

Chicken and Broccoli

Happy May! My favorite month of the year!

Trader Joe's Risotto

Beef Noodle

Simple and tasty.

Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp

About 1.5 years ago I went to Hawaii with my friend Connie. I knew we were going to have a lot of shrimp. We paid 12 bucks for our own lunch box. I was like WTF! 12 bucks for this?! I can totally make this. My friend didn't believe me (She's not a cook). I preceded to ask the cook how she made the famous Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp. Pretty much exactly how I make mine except mine is healthier! 

Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

A modification of a previous dish I made: Parmesan Roasted Potato Wedges This is a little softer but with a bit of a crisp whereas the wedges were more like fries. I feel this is a bit healthier too.

Savory Oatmeal

I have a hard time eating oatmeal although I know it is healthy and is a good source of fiber. I eat a couple bites and I am done.
Using broth to cook the oatmeal will make it so much easier to eat healthy! No picture because it doesn't look very appetizing but I assure you it is delicious!

Mini HasselBack Potatoes

Isn't this so cute?!

Garlicky Baked Shrimp

I love shrimp. This is an easy recipe. Enjoy!

Garlic Bread

Garlic Parmesan Edamame

Saucy Asian Meatballs

Meatballs are so easy to make! Please check out the recipe source for the recipe of the sauce.

PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Hawaiian Pizza

Sorry this is a ham and pineapple pizza but we want to use up the cheese so you can't see the ham.

Garlic and Soysauce Green Beans

Asian Fusion Stuffed Mushrooms

I saw that my friend made stuffed mushrooms. They looked delicious so I asked her to send me the recipe. I changed it to make it more Asian Fusion.

Breakfast Pizza

Cliantro Turkey Meatballs

A healthier version of the beef meatballs I made a couple weeks ago.

Parmesan Topped Green Beans & Chicken

Shrimp Toast

I tried this at the APAMSA Thanksgiving Potluck and I had to learn how to make it since I LOVE shrimp! Reminds me of a couple dim sum dishes. This is the second time I tried making it. I guess I just had to find the right recipe.

Scallion Meatballs

Deviled Eggs

My friend really likes boiled eggs so I told her to come over for dinner so I can make her some deviled eggs. Super easy!

Yangzhou Fried Rice

Per Wikipedia: “Yeung Chow Fried Rice”, or Yangzhou Chao Fan (also spelt as “Yung Chow”), is a popular Chinese-style wok fried rice dish in many Chinese restaurants in China, the Americas, Australia, United Kingdom, and the Philippines.

Shrimp & Mushroom Risotto

Pad See Ew

I love shrimp but you can make this with whatever protein you like: chicken, pork, beef, or tofu.

Bloomin' Onion Roll with Oven Roasted Garlic

A twist to a favorite. Adding garlic to the already delicious Bloomin' Onion Roll. Instead of using a regular size sourdough bread which feeds an entire family I used a mini sourdough roll. It looks small but after stuff it with all the cheese it actually gets really big. Enough for two! Appetizer!

Old Bay Shrimp

Fried Garlic Topped Noodles with Sweet Soy Sauce