Malted White Chocolate Hot Cocoa with a hint of Star Anise


*Serves 4

What you will need :

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 cups of milk ( any % milk you use in your household ) * I use 1% milk

1 8oz. white chocolate ( I used Ghirardelli)

1 cup malted milk

1/4 cup marshmallow cream

1 Tablespoon vanilla

* optional

Top with marshmallow's, whip cream, or orange zest.

Place all ingredients into a pot until everything is nice and hot.
Do you see those two stars inside my pot, they are called star anise.  They taste like black licorice, so if you don't like the taste of black licorice you should omit this ingredient.

* You can also grate orange zest into your wonderful white chocolate goodness which will perfume the background of your cocoa.

Ta DA....I toasted my marshmallow's with my kitchen torch. Can you see the flame?  I blew it out seconds later, but not before I burnt one to a crisp...lol The aroma of toasted marshmallow's is one of my favorite smells.  It's like traveling in a time zone through your five senses... Try it out and let me know what you think, or if you added anything different to manipulate the flavor.

Ps. 23:3 "He restores my soul, He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake."

White Reduce Sauce.. Grilled chicken with Angel hair pasta


What you will need:

2 skinless chicken breast sliced in 2 inch strips
2 small cartons heavy cream
3 gloves of garlic minced
1/2stick of real butter
1 small  diced onion
salt & pepper ( to your taste )
1 box of angel hair pasta
grill seasoning ( a couple of shakes over your chicken)
olive oil
red bell peppers
2 Tablespoons of Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning (found on the spice isle...red and green can)

Saute your sliced chicken breast seasoned with your grill seasoning 3 minutes on each side.





   

        

After the chicken is done take out of pan let rest on a plate.  Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to your pan that is still set on med high then add in your butter, diced onions, red bell pepper, sprinkle with Tony Chachere's and minced garlic, saute for 5 minutes.

( I know you cannot see the bell peppers in the picture, that's because I forgot them until the end...lol I had to saute them separately while my pasta was cooking....) 

Add your 2 small cartons of heavy cream...cook and stir on medium heat until thickened. (this takes about 5 to 7 minutes)  Fill a large pot with water... turn on high with lid on...it will boil quicker..A watched pot never boils so don't look at it..lol

While your cream sauce is preparing to thicken now is the time you should add your pasta to your boiling water and cook per the directions on the box, it's usually 8 to 10 minutes depending if its multi-grain pasta or regular. Drain your pasta when done..Add to your sauce...

Put your chicken back into your saute pan go around the pan once with olive oil...Ta DA your all done now sit down and enjoy your dinner... I like to sprinkle mine with red hot pepper flakes and a little more Tony Chachere's...

Matthew 7:24, " Therefore if everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Michele"s Award Winning Chili


What you will need :

* 1 pound of ground turkey, or ground beef
* 1/2 red bell pepper
* 1/2 green pepper
* 1/2  yellow onion
* 2 Tablespoons cumin powder
* 2 Tablespoons chili powder
* 2 Tablespoons garlic powder
*1Tablespoon cocoa powder (my secret ingredient... shhhh don't tell anybody ;)
*1 Tablespoon chipotle peppers in adobe sauce
*1 tsp. of each salt &pepper
*1 Tablespoon of olive oil
* 1 16oz. can tomato sauce
* 2 16.oz. cans of Red beans ( Or you can make your own pinto beans and add them :)

*Some suggestions for your toppings:

* shredded cheese (any kind of prefer)
* sour cream
* green sliced onions
* Frito chips
* sliced avocado
* sliced jalapenos
* chipotle hot sauce 

Dice up some green peppers, red peppers, and onions...Put into a preheated large pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add all your seasonings, cumin powder, chili powder,garlic powder, salt, pepper, chipotle, and cocoa powder saute for 5 minutes. 

Now is the time to add your meat choice...brown meat until done. After meat is browned add 1can of your tomato sauce, and your 2 cans of pinto beans. I added the pinto beans I made the day before to this recipe and one can of red beans...

Simmer until ready to eat, then serve with your condiments ;)

Proverbs 10:11, "The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life..."

Grilled Chicken Soegogi gui


Traditionally this dish is made with pork belly, or beef tenderloin, but I like chicken so therefore I adapted the recipe.  I pray you feel comfortable enough to do the same...

***What you will need***

1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast, ( I use organic)
Butter lettuce washed and dried
8 to 10 long green onions
 8 to 10 pieces of whole Garlic, sugar, salt, pepper, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy sauce, (I use Tamari soy sauce) hot pepper flakes, hot pepper paste, steak grill seasoning, and soybean paste.

First slice your chicken in cube size pieces cut about 1/2 inch thick put 1 tbsp. of sesame oil over chicken along with 1 tbsp. of steak grill seasoning.  Let rest on counter while preparing sauce.

Second we will make the ssam jaary dipping sauce

Mix the following ingredients all together...

1 Tbsp. hot pepper paste
2 Tbsp. soy bean paste
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 clove of garlic minced ( I use a micro plane and graded it over the bowl)
1 Tbsp. chopped green onions
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1/2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

Watch out this sauce has a kick with a bite, if you're too hasty the sauce will melt your teeth right out of your mouth, so go lightly with the sauce, not unless your from Texas then pile it on baby!!!

Now let's get to making the seasoned green onions called, "Pajuhri."

Slice lengthwise 8 green onions very thinly like the picture below.

Mix all of these ingredients together...then pour over green onions, now you have created Pajuhri

2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. hot pepper flakes
1/2 Tbs. sugar
1 tbs. sesame seeds..( Not toasted)
1 Tbs. sesame seed oil

Here is what it should look like...








Heat your Korean grill on med-high... brush with sesame oil to prevent sticking.. (I found mine at World Market for 20.00 If you do not have a Korean grill you can use a cast iron skillet or any skillet you have.)

Place your thinly sliced seasoned chicken on your grill along with some whole garlic.

Wow!!! that is looking good...







After your chicken is cooked along with your garlic...grab a piece of your butter lettuce spoon on a little or if your brave a lot of your dipping sauce onto your lettuce...place several pieces of your chicken with a couple of whole grilled garlic cloves, topped with your seasoned green onions place gently into your mouth and wait for it.........Right about now you should be experiencing an explosion of nontraditional Soegogi..Thanks for the inspiration Maangchi....I served mine with homemade pinto beans and grilled tortillas.

What do you think?  Go ahead try it and let me know how yours turns out.


John 15:12, "This is my commandment, that you should love one another, as I have loved you."

Lavender Breve

Okay let's get started on one awesome Lavender Breve
First, boil 1 cup of sugar with one cup of water (commonly known as simple syrup), along with 1 tbs. of organic lavender boil for 2 minutes then simmer for 10 minutes.

After you allowed your simple syrup to simmer for 10 minutes...strain it into a glass container. looking good

Add 2 tbs. of your lavender simple syrup to a glass mug or coffee mug. Your just about there...

Add 2 shots of espresso, froth your half and half...Pour your espresso into the glass or coffee mug... then top with your froth...Sit back and enjoy the fruit of your labor all the while enjoying the perfumed latte you just created in your very own kitchen...

Ps.145:20, "The Lord perserveth all them that love Him..."

* Stay tune for my untradional Soegogi  using my new
    Korean bbq grill this evening, 2-21-13

Here it is my Grandmother's Chicken and Dumplings recipe...


Chicken and Dumplings

 

First, rinse your whole chicken.... place chicken and 1/2 of onion along with 2 celery sticks diced into pan... cover with water. Boil for 45 minutes until chicken is done.

Strain the chicken broth into a seperate bowl.. set aside...let chicken cool.. then pull  the meat off the chicken... put into a seperate bowl.

Add 2 cups of all purpose flour in a seperate bowl with 1 tsp. salt and 1/3 cup of shortening such as (Crisco) cut into flour mixture with two forks or with a pasty cutter as shown in the picture, until your flour looks like pea size balls (about 5 minutes.)  Add 3/4 cup cold water... mix with fork until you can form a round ball of dough, (like pizza dough.)

 Roll dough out to about a 1/4 inch thick and about 12 to 18 inches in length.

Cut strips with a pizza cutter into squares (whatever size you perfer.)

Pour your reserved chicken broth back into the large pot that you cooked your chicken in...bring to a boil...then start placing one dumpling  at a time until all dumplings are in the pot...Let boil for five minutes...(If your broth is not thickend after five minutes you can add 2 Tablespoons of  tapioca flour or corn starch to 2 Tablespoons of water...mix well then add to your dumpling mixture...)

Now, turn off the burner..add your chicken meat to the pot...put on a pair of stretchy pants sit back and get ready for my grandmoter's amazing chicken and dumplings...Enjoy


Ps. 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."

Maca Berry Smoothie

1 cup black tea
1 tsp. Maca Powder
1/2 of frozen banana
1 cup of organic frozen mixed berries ( I purchased mine at Cosco)
2 leaves of organic Kale
1 Tablespoon of Rice Protein ( purchased at Whole-Foods)
1/2 cup of ice
Blend all together...I blended mine in my Vita-Mix...Drink and Enjoy

* Maca is found in your local health food store. There are four alkaloids found in Maca that is known to nourish the endocrine system. Maca is used for a stress fighting adaptogen to increase stamina, boost libido, and fight fatigue. It has many nutrients packed with vitamins, plant sterols as well as essential minerals, and amino acids....Go ahead give Maca a try.

* Chicken and Dumplings coming up later today as promised.


Ps.46:10, " Be still and know that I am God."



Living a life worth repeating....Michele Davenport

Thai Tea Recipe

Boil 2 cups of water with 2 Tablespoons of Thai Tea Mix for 2 minutes...

Strain and allow to cool for 20 minutes

Add 1 Tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk, stir, then pour over
ice, add 1Tablespoon of half and half....Enjoy :)



Isaiah 40:31, "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." 


Side Note: You can find Thai Tea Mix in your local Thai market....Stay tuned for an old family Chicken and Dumplings recipe on Monday.....Feb 18, 2013

Lemon Grass Tea

While I was in Thailand I was served this aromatherapy tea which perfumed the air as I shopped for clay pots. Lemon grass tea is good for insomnia it's also know as a calming tea.                       

Yum Oh, I can smell it from here...Can you?

First Boil 2 cups of water with 9, 2 inch lemon grass stalks for 5 minutes.  Found at Whole foods or your local Asia Market.

Then add fresh ginger and 1 tsp. of rock sugar found at Whole Foods or a speciality tea shop put lid back on and allow to rest for 5 minutes... Drink and enjoy. 

Isaiah 26:3, " Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trust in thee."

Bubble Tea

I have recently discovered Bubble Tea after returning home for Thailand last month.  This is my take on it.

Bubble Tea...

Start with 3/4 cup of Black Tea cold
 1 Cup of Coconut powder ( Found at your local Asian Store)
1/4  Cup of milk....almond, so, low fat, evaporate it's up to you
3 Tablespoons of simple syrup   ( equal parts water to sugar bring to a boil let cool)
 Fill a clear glass with ice then pour tea over ice then top with milk
Add this to a blender along with 1 cup of coconut powder to 3 Tablespoons of simple syrup. Blend until smooth.
 To make Tapioca pearls also known as (BUBBLES)

Place 1/4 cup  of tapioca pearls into 3 cups of  boiling water let boil for 5 minutes let sit after boiled for another 5 minutes with lid on pot....strain off water add about 3 Tablespoons of brown sugar put about 2 tablespoons into bottom of glass then pour your Bubble tea mixture over the bubbles serve with a larger straw, (also found in your local Asian Market) place any left over pearls into a air tight container to use within the next several days.