Asian Flank Steak Skewers

I love love this recipe.  I found it on the blog for Skinnytaste.  Everyone loved this!

This will be great for tailgate because anything on a stick is easy and doesn't use plates or utensils.

The original recipe is located here.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs flank steak (sliced it to about 1/4 inch)
• 1 1/2 cups reduced sodium soy sauce (make sure it reduced sodium or you will have a salty mess on your hands...believe me I did that the first time and it was gross)
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tsp fresh ginger (I used the powdered from the pantry)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 lime juice

Directions:

If you are using metal skewers ignore this step.  If you are using wooden skewers then make sure you soak in water for 30 mins.  If not you're going to have a hot mess on your hands and the skewers will catch fire part way through the cooking.  And they you'll char your hands trying to get them off the grill.  Can you tell I've forgotten this step and done that several times before??? :-)

Cut the steak in the strips.  Mix all the other ingredients together and put the steak and the ingredients in the ziploc bag.  Squish it all around until its coated. 

Let marinade for 30 mins or more.

Take out of bag and thread onto the skewers.

Cook on grill in direct heat on a low setting for about 10 mins give or take until they are cooked to your liking.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

So I had some chicken breasts that needed to be used soon so I did this recipe.  Turned out ok.  I shouldn't have cooked that long though because I was out and didn't get back in the recommended time.  Oh well...next time...still good even an hour over the recommended cook time.

The original recipe is from A Year of Slow Cooking blog.  The link is here.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (4 or one thigh per family member)
• 3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 cup soy sauce (La Choy or Tamari wheat-free are gluten free)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup honey

Directions:

 

Use a 4-quart slow cooker (if using a 6-quart, this will cook faster. Check after 3 hours on high, 5 hours on low).
Put the chicken into your cooker. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients, then pour evenly over the top. -- Yeah I just poured it in and didn't combine first. 
Cook on low for 6 hours

Copycat PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Love PF Chang's food but the closest one is 20-25 minutes away.  There are also some folks in the tailgate that are on the Atkin's Diet so I was looking for a recipe that didn't have a lot of carbs.

Found this recipe on the web when I did a google search for "Lettuce Wraps from PF Changs".  Thought I would give this a shot.  I modified the original recipe that I found.

I've got to say its similar to PF Chang's but not exactly the same.  But it was really really good.

Ingredients:

Marinade

• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsps red wine
• 2 tsps water
• 2 tsps soy sauce

Filling Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced small
• 5 tbsp of vegetable oil
• 1 tsp of ground ginger
• 2 tsp garlic, minced
• 1 cup of shittake mushrooms
• Few shakes of minced onions
• 1/2 can of bean sprouts (drained)
• 1 can (8oz) of water chesnuts (drained)

Cooking Sauce

• 1 tbsp hoison sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp red wine
• 2 tbsps oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tsps cornstarch

Lettuce leaves (washed)

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients for "cooking sauce" and set aside.

In bowl, combine marinade ingredients and mix well.  Add chicken and stir to coat.  Stir in 1 tsp of oil and set sit for 15 mins.

Heat wok or frying pan over medium-high heat.  Add 3 tsp of oil.  Add chicken and stir fry for 3-4 mins.  Set aside.

Add 2 tsp of oil to the pan.  Add ginger, garlic and minced onions. for a minute or so.  Add mushrooms, bean sprouts, and water chesnuts.  Stir and cook for 2 mins.

Return chicken to the pan.  Add cooking sauce to the pan.  Cook until thickened and hot.

To serve, pour the mixture into a lettuce leaf and eat like a burrito.  (NOTE:  make sure that the mixture is drained a little before putting in the lettuce leaf or it will get soggy)