Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Geoline H on June 21, 2010 at 2:20pm

Mock Stir Fry

Hello, my name is Geoline. I am a creative Asian Hawaiian mom originally from Hawaii, and now transplanted in Memphis, Tennessee. Asian ingredients can be quite a challenge to find in Memphis. So I have learned to substitute when I can't find what I need to cook or craft with in Memphis.

The basic oriental style recipe is super simple and can be adapted to include frozen shrimp in lieu of canned chicken breast. We make a BIG POT because the leftovers can be reheated for lunch or mixed with a little mayonnaise for a tasty cold sandwich filling or veggie/chip dip. Even my 20 year old son, who somehow manages to burn water, fixed this for Father's Day. I came up with the recipe when we ran out of imported Asian sticky rice for a stir fry and were short on the regular ingredients which I use in stir fries. Luckily I keep lots of canned goods, dry pastas and dry onion soup packs in the pantry along with lots of frozen peas and carrots for days when we run out of imported Asian ingredients. The basic recipe with chicken is not only great for the whole family, but easy for little toddlers to eat.

Ingredients in order of usage:
2 tablespoons of sunflower oil (a few pennies)
1 16 ounce bag of tiny star pasta (about $2 any shape tiny pasta will work like alphabet or pastina)
1 ounce packet of dry onion soup mix (about 50 cents)
2 14 ounce cans of chicken broth (about $1)
1 12 ounce bag of frozen peas and carrots (about 50 cents)
1 10 ounce can of chicken breast chunks (about $3) or 8 ounces of frozen cooked peeled shrimp (about $7)

Optional:
1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro (optional ... I grow my own fresh herbs)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (about 50 cents)

Total cost:
With Chicken about $7
With Shrimp about $11

Feeds 8 very hungry people

Cook:
In a BIG POT, lightly brown the pasta stars in sunflower oil for a few minutes at medium high heat.
Stir in onion soup mix.
Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
Stir in frozen peas and carrots.
Stir in chicken chunks or shrimp.
Make sure the mixture is still boiling vigorously after adding the the frozen veggies and meat.
Turn off the heat and cover for 10 minutes.
If your family likes cilantro and almonds, stir in some fresh chopped cilantro and almonds before serving piping hot.

Total preparation time:
Less than 15 minutes

Leftovers:
Reheat in microwave oven or add a little mayonnaise to use as a cold sandwich spread. The spread is also awesome as a veggie or chip dip.

Permalink Reply by Dede on June 22, 2010 at 9:26am

Thanks so much Geoline!
Geoline H said:

Mock Stir Fry

Hello, my name is Geoline. I am a creative Asian Hawaiian mom originally from Hawaii, and now transplanted in Memphis, Tennessee. Asian ingredients can be quite a challenge to find in Memphis. So I have learned to substitute when I can't find what I need to cook or craft with in Memphis.

The basic oriental style recipe is super simple and can be adapted to include frozen shrimp in lieu of canned chicken breast. We make a BIG POT because the leftovers can be reheated for lunch or mixed with a little mayonnaise for a tasty cold sandwich filling or veggie/chip dip. Even my 20 year old son, who somehow manages to burn water, fixed this for Father's Day. I came up with the recipe when we ran out of imported Asian sticky rice for a stir fry and were short on the regular ingredients which I use in stir fries. Luckily I keep lots of canned goods, dry pastas and dry onion soup packs in the pantry along with lots of frozen peas and carrots for days when we run out of imported Asian ingredients. The basic recipe with chicken is not only great for the whole family, but easy for little toddlers to eat.

Ingredients in order of usage:
2 tablespoons of sunflower oil (a few pennies)
1 16 ounce bag of tiny star pasta (about $2 any shape tiny pasta will work like alphabet or pastina)
1 ounce packet of dry onion soup mix (about 50 cents)
2 14 ounce cans of chicken broth (about $1)
1 12 ounce bag of frozen peas and carrots (about 50 cents)
1 10 ounce can of chicken breast chunks (about $3) or 8 ounces of frozen cooked peeled shrimp (about $7)

Optional:
1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro (optional ... I grow my own fresh herbs)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (about 50 cents)

Total cost:
With Chicken about $7
With Shrimp about $11

Feeds 8 very hungry people

Cook:
In a BIG POT, lightly brown the pasta stars in sunflower oil for a few minutes at medium high heat.
Stir in onion soup mix.
Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
Stir in frozen peas and carrots.
Stir in chicken chunks or shrimp.
Make sure the mixture is still boiling vigorously after adding the the frozen veggies and meat.
Turn off the heat and cover for 10 minutes.
If your family likes cilantro and almonds, stir in some fresh chopped cilantro and almonds before serving piping hot.

Total preparation time:
Less than 15 minutes

Leftovers:
Reheat in microwave oven or add a little mayonnaise to use as a cold sandwich spread. The spread is also awesome as a veggie or chip dip.

Permalink Reply by Dawn R. Martinson on June 22, 2010 at 1:59pm

Whenever we don't know what to have for dinner or have been running around and it is getting late, the favorite fast, good and inexpensive meal we always have ingredients on hand for is Black Bean Quesadillas! They can be made very basic or they can be spiced up for your own liking! Of course, this works best with a Quesadilla Maker and we got ours at Target for $20.00, so if you don't have one and you win this contest - my suggestion is to get one! These can, however, be made in a dry skillet as well....



1 package flour tortillas - fajita or soft taco size ($1.49)

1 can black beans drained (About .69 cents - $1.29 depending on sales and where I purchase)

1 package (12 oz) shredded cheese - can be Mexican or Taco flavored, or just Cheddar-Jack, Co-Jack - whatever your family prefers (About $2.00 a package)



Put a tortilla on the skillet, add cheese and spread around, add a 1 - 2 spoonfuls of black beans, top with a bit more cheese, add 2nd tortilla and cook about 1 - 2 minutes.



Top with salsa, hot sauce or sour cream if you like.



Usually when it is just hubby and I, we have 2 quesadillas each - very filling dinner, if having friends, add a side of Spanish rice - about $1,89 and a salad for a full meal!



Fast, easy, fun, versatile, inexpensive and good for you!



Dawn Martinson

Grand Rapids, MI

Permalink Reply by Maureen on June 23, 2010 at 12:16pm

I like both of those ideas, but will try the mock stir fry but i will use sirloin.

Thanks for both ideas.

Permalink Reply by Geoline H on June 25, 2010 at 3:26pm

Hi Maureen,

If you use beef for the mock stir fry, use beef broth instead of chicken broth or just substitute water since a packet of onion soup mix is used to season and salt the mock stir fry. Then add a little sea salt or Mrs. Dash to season it to your taste. You can be creative with the basic recipe and experiment with your own favorite veggies and herbs.

Permalink Reply by Maureen on June 29, 2010 at 3:20pm

I like OXO beef cubes myself. I use them in any beef dish where I want a bit of flavor. Also, to make any steak taste like a 'restaurant steak' try Dales Steak Seasoning prior to putting the steaks on the grill. You will thank me.

Geoline H said:

Hi Maureen,

If you use beef for the mock stir fry, use beef broth instead of chicken broth or just substitute water since a packet of onion soup mix is used to season and salt the mock stir fry. Then add a little sea salt or Mrs. Dash to season it to your taste. You can be creative with the basic recipe and experiment with your own favorite veggies and herbs.

Permalink Reply by Geoline H on June 30, 2010 at 4:05pm

Hiya Maureen.

I'll keep an eye out for Dale's Steak Seasoning. My local grocery stores were very sparse on specialty grill seasoning this summer, which is quite odd for Memphis. I saw mostly Mrs Dash, Schilling, McCormick and house brands. My husband loves red meat but seriously lacks culinary skills. Dale's sounds like something he can manage when I'm not doing the grilling.

I'm more Asian so I drift toward more veggies and white meats. I deal with steaks the Kobe way and add some flavor and tenderness by soaking in beer a few hours before grilling, then season after the steaks have caramelized on the grill. We should start a grilling thread on the WHATS FOR DINNER area. Sounds mouth watering!

Speaking of Grilling and Frugal Divas, many of the Hardware and major Department Stores should be starting a clearance on Grills soon if they haven't already started.

Permalink Reply by Stacey Littlejohn on July 2, 2010 at 9:43am

Hello All... my vote is for Black Bean Quesadillas! Great recipe I am definately going to try this.

Permalink Reply by Dawn R. Martinson on July 6, 2010 at 5:49pm

Thanks Stacey, I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.... and, of course, you can vary them any way you want - still a fast and inexpensive meal!

Stacey Littlejohn said:

Hello All... my vote is for Black Bean Quesadillas! Great recipe I am definately going to try this.

Permalink Reply by Dede on July 6, 2010 at 5:53pm

Dawn,

Can you believe that I am still waiting for just ONE more person to vote lol so that I can give away the giftcard:(
Dawn R. Martinson said:

Thanks Stacey, I hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.... and, of course, you can vary them any way you want - still a fast and inexpensive meal!

Stacey Littlejohn said:

Hello All... my vote is for Black Bean Quesadillas! Great recipe I am definately going to try this.

Permalink Reply by Amy Furbee / The Hatched Egg on July 6, 2010 at 6:11pm

My vote is the Stir Fry sounds like there is lots of ways to enjoy this.

Permalink Reply by Dede on July 6, 2010 at 6:18pm

Thanks so much for your vote Amy and Mock Stirfry it is:) CONGRATS Geoline!!!

Amy Furbee / The Hatched Egg said:

My vote is the Stir Fry sounds like there is lots of ways to enjoy this.

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