Cabbage with Mushrooms & Turkey Bacon

I love when a great dish comes out of what's left in the fridge from the week.  I had leftover cabbage, some cremini mushrooms (a pint) and a few slices of turkey bacon.  I threw it all together and the results was this delicious rustic and hearty dish, something I imagine a Polish grandmother might also make!

First I browned onion and garlic in olive oil, then added the turkey bacon (chopped) and then the cremini mushrooms sliced.  I let it saute until it was nice and caramelized.

Then I added sliced cabbage and mixed it in, it was a medium size head.  I drizzled more olive oil and covered the pot.  I let it steam a few minutes then I continued sauteing mixing often (my arm was tired!).  As soon as the cabbage was tender enough I added salt and pepper to taste.  The cabbage was sweet, crunch and had a delicious smoked flavor from the turkey bacon.  It was yummy!  Next time I'm going to use smoked turkey kielbasa instead of bacon. Tip: try not to overcook the cabbage; I'm convinced that anyone that doesn't like cabbage or brussel sprouts has only eaten them overcooked!  

Dungeness Crab and Ginger Egg Fried Rice

For tonight's dinner I made my favorite fried rice and boiled dungeness crab.

30 Minutes cooking time !

 15 mins for the rice and 15 mins for the crab.

Ginger Egg Fried Rice

Ingredients

- 3 cups - cooked rice

- 2 tbs ginger - cut into thin matchsticks

- 2 eggs - lightly beaten

- 1/2 onion - chopped

- peas

- scallion - chopped

- soy sauce

- white pepper

1. Heat pan or wok with oil, add onion and ginger - stir and cooked for 1-2 minutes

2. Add the rice - stir and cooked until all mixed well

3. Push the rice aside and slowly add the eggs - when it's half cooked stir in the rice 

4. Stir fry until eggs are fully cooked and season with soy sauce and white pepper

5. Add scallion, cilantro and some peas

* I made the rice ahead of time and let it cool down completely that way the rice will be loose and fluffy not sticky

Boiled Dungeness Crab 

            

Heat a pot of salted water - bring to boil 

Add crab - cook for 15 minutes

 *cooking time 8 mins for 1 pound 

Drunken Chicken with Shitaki Mushroom and Ginger - Steamed

Drunken chicken,  marinated chicken in rice wine. 

And yes, I love it very marinated, the wine just does something magical to the meat - helps tenderize and gives it this lovely aroma.

Often reminds me of the chicken wine soup Mama Ng likes to cook for us from time to time. Very popular in the cold seasons as it helps promotes the blood circulation. It is very strong in flavor but delicious and best consumed in small amounts. Will post more on Mama Ng chicken wine soup one day.

Here is my version. 

Steamed Chicken with Mushroom and Ginger 

I used boneless chicken thighs, marinated in rice wine mixture over night.

Steamed it with 2 types of mushroom and a lot of ginger. With the tender chicken soaking in the ginger rice wine mushroom broth.... delicious ! You can serve it over noodles, rice or congee. We had it with white rice and Chinese broccoli on the side.

Ingredients 

- Chicken - Boneless thighs - slice into 1 -2" size

- Shitake Mushroom - cut to 1 "

- Wood ear mushroom - cut to 1 "

- Ginger - cut in matchsticks

- Garlic - minced

- Scallion - cut slant

Marinade for the meat 

-ShoaXing - Rice wine

-Light soy sauce

-Sesame oil

-brown sugar

-white pepper

-garlic and scallion - minced

* combine together in a bowl and adjust the seasoning to your liking

Wood ear and Shitake Mushroom

Most of the flavor you get is from the shitaki and not much from the wood ear but you get a fun jelly texture.

Soak into warm water until soften then slice in bite size pieces.

Mix together the marinated chicken with mushrooms garlic and ginger.

Top with scallion ( I like to drizzle a few drops of fish sauce right before steaming)

Steam for 20 - 30 mins depending on the amount of meat. 

while the chicken was cooking I quickly stirred fry Chinese broccoli with garlic and oyster sauce.

Here's dinner... and don't forget the chili garlic hot sauce!