Liz's Egg Rolls

1/2 pound ground turkey or pork
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 C. shredded cabbage
1 small onion, shredded
1 shredded carrot
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. cornstarch

1 package egg roll wrappers

Cook meat until no longer pink. Add seasonings. Let meat cool then combine the rest of the ingredients (except wrappers).

Fill and roll wrappers.

Fry in 1/2 inch hot oil (350 degrees) until brown and crispy.

Shrimp Pot Stickers with Sriracha-Ginger Sauce

My family doesn't like pot stickers from a bag, but they do like the ones from PF Changs, and they loved these ones. They especially loved playing Kung Fu Panda with them.

Recipe from Everyday Foods magazine

Sauce:
1/4 C Soy sauce
2 1/2 Tbsp white vinegar
1 Tbsp Sugar
1 1/2 tsp. grated peeled fresh ginger
1 1/2 tsp sesame oil
scallion greens for garnish

Combine all ingredients and set aside.

Pot Stickers:
2 scallions
1 medium carrot
1 large egg
.5 to 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined (I used cooked)
wonton wrappers (about 36)


Combine all but half of the shrimp and the wonton wrappers in a food processor. Pulse until a chunky paste forms. Roughly chop the remaining shrimp and fold into paste (I just put it all into the processor). Place a scant tablespoon of shrimp mixture in the center of the wonton wrapper. Moisten outer edge with fingertips dipped in water. Fold in half and seal the edges. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers. Cover finished dumplings with a towel while you work.

Lightly coat a large nonstick pan with oil and heat over medium high. Cook dumplings in batches until golden brown on both sides--1 to 2 min per side (watching carefully and reducing heat if they cook too fast. When wontons are browned pour 1/2 cup of water into pan and cover, cooking until water is almost evaporated. Remove lid and cook until water is gone. Remove from pan.

Repeat cooking remaining batches. Serve with dipping sauce.

Creamy Wild Rice Soup

I made this Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup from MelsKitchenCafe.com without the chicken and substituted veggie broth for the chicken broth (compensate for the chicken with extra veggies and rice). No one missed the chicken at all. It was very hearty and filling, and with the rice, almonds, and milk you easily have a complete protein.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Printable Version

*Note: The vegetables in this soup are very adaptable. I usually use a combination of carrots, celery and corn and use the guideline of having 2 cups total of any number of combinations (i.e. only carrots and corn, carrots and celery, carrots, celery AND corn, you get the picture).

½ cup butter
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
½ – 1 cup frozen corn
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup carrots, sliced
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
¾ cup all-purpose flour
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups cooked wild rice
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup slivered almonds
2 cups nonfat half-and-half (use normal half-and-half if you prefer, but you won’t believe how delicious this is with the nonfat variety!)

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, celery, corn, chicken and carrots and sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are tender and chicken is cooked through. Add the mushrooms and sauté 3-4 more minutes. Then add flour and stir well. Over medium heat, gradually pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly. Bring the soup just to a boil and then reduce heat to low and let simmer, while stirring, for 5-6 minutes, until it has thickened slightly.

Next, add the rice, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley, ground black pepper and almonds. Allow all the ingredients to heat through and then pour in the half-and-half. Let the soup gently simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The soup should not boil but should simmer over low heat so that it thickens slowly.