Ramen Noodle Bowls

Japanese style noodle bowls are all the rage right now in the food world.

Beef Lo Mein

I found this recipe in our local newspaper tucked in between all the Christmas cookie recipes.

Chicken Breasts in Mango Sauce

This is a super flavorful and delicious family meal that we all loved!

Tomato-Cauliflower Curry With Sweet Potato And Corn

We are finally getting some reprieve from hot humid weather around here and I couldn't wait to make a nice hot curry!

Chicken Thighs In Honey Sriracha Lime Sauce

It seems I always come back to the statement that the simplest is usually the best!

Dal, Indian Spiced Lentils

 Dal (Dhal) is a super easy lentil stew full of flavor!

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala with Cucumber Cilantro Relish

This is the easiest and most delicious meal I have made in a while.

Thai Coconut Chicken Curry Soup

This was the perfect soup for this chilly day. Woke up to 10 below zero F (-23 Celsius). That's crazy cold even for the hardiest of Minnesotans.

Mu Shu Chicken Lettuce Wraps

I love lettuce wraps and I should make them more often than I actually do.

Mango Rice salad with Grilled chicken

This is a fabulous summer meal. Just look at the colors!

Broiled sesame salmon with carrots and leeks

My oldest daughter has asked me many times to make salmon for dinner and I finally did. This is only the second fish recipe I have posted which shows that cooking and eating fish isn't something I naturally gravitate to. It is not that I don't like fish. I will often order fish at a nice restaurant, but preparing and cooking it at home is still rare.

Peanut-chicken stir -fry

I am always looking for something new and different and this recipe from the latest issue of Cooks Illustrated fits the bill. My kids really liked this meal, a peanut chicken stir-fry served over fried noodles. My son told me over and over again how good it was. Even my two younger ones ate more than usual. They were a little suspicious of the noodle cake, but loved the stir fry.

Sugar snap peas with Toasted sesame seeds

I served these with my chicken satay. They turned out perfectly crisp-tender and were so flavorful. And they come together in a snap!!

Sauteed sugar snap peas with toasted sesame seeds
1 pound (1/2 kg) sugar snap peas, stringed
2 t vegetable oil
1 T toasted sesame seeds (see below)

Perfect color!

1 t sesame oil

Toasting the raw sesame seeds: In a medium, dry skillet, toast over medium- low heat until golden, about 3-4  minutes, shaking pan a few times, remove from heat immediately.

In a large skillet, saute sugar snap peas in 2 teaspoons vegetable oil over medium heat until crisp tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Toss with the toasted sesame seeds and sesame oil.

Sprinkle with a small amount of sea salt.

Gorgeous!

Recipe by, For the love of dinner, 2011

Coconut rice

This rice was perfect with the chicken satay and the sauteed sugar snap peas. Making coconut rice isn't much different from making your usual plain rice. All it entails is to substitute some of the water for light coconut milk. Just for fun I toasted some coconut as a garnish on top.

Coconut rice
2 cups long-grain rice (I used Basmati)
1 can (14 oz/about 4 1/2 dl) light coconut milk (Shake well!)
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
2  T cilantro, roughly chopped

In a medium saucepan, over high heat, let water, coconut milk and cinnamon stick come to a boil. Add rice. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick. Fold in the cilantro.

Recipe by, For the love of dinner, 2011

Yogurt marinated Chicken Satay with peanut sauce

My whole family loves Thai food! We have a favorite Thai restaurant here in Saint Paul, where we order take-out once in a while, but the other day I decided to make my own chicken satays. There are many different recipes out there, but I like Taylor Florence and decided to go with his version.