Showing posts with label easy recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label easy recipes. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2016

easy blueberry banana smoothies + $25 UncommonGoods giveaway


Life is better during the summer, isn't it? I'll take frosty glasses over frosty winter mornings any day (then again I live in San Diego, so what do I know). These smoothies are so easy, so healthy, and so versatile (substitute blueberries for whatever fruit you like). While I'm not one to jump on bandwagons, these smoothies tick all the in-vogue foodie groupie bandwagon boxes: raw, organic, vegan (could be), etc. 



A quick side note: This post is brought to you by another collaboration post with UncommonGoods, who graciously gifted me the soapstone shot glasses you see above. To get them click here. Also, Chow Creations and UncommonGoods want to show all of y'all our love by giving one of our lucky readers a free $25 gift certificate to UncommonGoods' catalog. Details on entering are at the bottom of this post. I made the criteria super easy, quick, simple, and painless. Now back to the post. 

Saturday, May 28, 2016

heirloom tomato & blackberry crostinis + $25 giveaway


Last week, I treated myself to an early Father’s Day gift (no, I’m not a father, yet, so goes my rational). And, I didn't even need to spend much time searching cause I knew exactly what I wanted was on UncommonGoods dot to the com. I literally ordered myself some socks and rocks (I’m not even joking), plus two soapstone appetizer platters and a shot glass set. Then I realized. What am I going to do with two (two!) soapstone appetizer platters and a soapstone shot glass set? I can’t even drink yet! Then I realized. What can’t I do with two soapstone appetizer platters and a shot glass set! I even rationalized my buying a "hiding-place rock" for top secret recipes (more on that later). This Father’s Day, treat dad to this beautiful Heirloom Tomato & Blackberry Crostini that's rich, refreshing, and so easy. And, don’t think I’m just writing this post to brag to y’all about my new haul. Keep reading below to learn how you can win a fresh-off-the-printing-press $25 UncommonGoods gift card (I haven’t forgot about y’all, my fellow incorrigible shopaholics)!


This post is divided into two sections: 1) Heirloom Tomato & Blackberry Crostini, and 2) $25 UncommonGoods Giveaway. Peppered throughout are my reviews of the four uncommon goods I got from UncommonGoods. You can check out the exact items I bought here


Friday, May 13, 2016

easy steak gyros + homemade pita


I saw a hilarious Arby's commercial where the company was promoting their new gyros, and the narrator pronounces gryos six different ways (euro, jiro, guyro) before giving up, calling them Mediterranean tacos! So, I thought I'd share with you my own Mediterranean tacos that, are not only cheaper and healthier (check out this wonderfully-detailed article about the benefits of eating steak) than Arby's, but are ten-times tastier. As summer peaks around the corner, you're going to want this recipe in your arsenal for those sunny beach day picnics. I'll show you how to make everything you see in the picture: the pita, the steak, and the tzatziki. Let's get started!

Thursday, April 21, 2016

5 pro tips when making homemade pasta


Whether you call it pasta or noodles, doing it fresh not only tastes better, but it's healthier for you. Once you know how quick and simple it is to make your own pasta, you’ll be ashamed you ever bought the store-variety. With just four ingredients and 20 minutes, you can whip up a truly home-cooked meal that is sure to impress the guests and show them who the real foodie is.


Tuesday, March 15, 2016

crunchy honey almond butter


Read the back of a Skippy jar. I'll bet you at least three words in the ingredients list you cannot pronounce. If you can't even sound out what your eating, why are you spreading it on your breakfast toast (some of us for lunch as well). While today's intro comes from the platitudinously uninspired section of my vernacular, the message still rings true. Whether you're a parent with young children or an old fart who likes reading about mushy foods (usually I can get away with insulting the elderly because most of them haven't figured out how to use the "box"), you've arrived at the right place. Even though Homemade Almond Butter falls into the dreaded category of raw, healthy, and organic, it fortunately doubles as a delicious and satisfying alternative to practically anything spreadable. Homemade is not only healthier than Store-bought, it's actually easier to make than having to go to the store. Come along as we discover the one-ingredient fix (and the fixings you could add) to end all pantry guilty pleasures. 


Wednesday, December 9, 2015

peanut butter raisin oat cookies


Peanut Butter Cookie fans and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Fans rejoice, for tonight we settle our differences and come together for the holidays. I know, lately tensions have been running high between our cults, but if anything can bring peace to our warring sides it is this cookie. 



Creamy peanut buttery, chewy raisin oatliciousness, this cookie is not only flavor packed, but texturally symphonetical—made up a whole bushel of words in that sentence. But miracles happen when cookies like this enter our hearts. Enough dawdling, let's get on with the recipe. 


Sunday, November 22, 2015

thanksgiving sour cream biscuits


If you're reading this post, you're one of two people: (1) Thanksgiving just passed and you're trying to see how long you can last before the food coma takes you too, or (2) you're panicking because Thanksgiving is tomorrow and you just remembered that mother-in-law Margaret only comes to Thanksgiving dinner for the biscuits! Whether you're the former or the latter, these super easy biscuits can solve your problems. Did I mention they only take 5 minutes (of effort) to make!



Take a quick look at the picture of me in the left sidebar. No matter how strong your astigmatism is, I am definitely not the face of an expert biscuit maker. Nor do my parents look like expert biscuit makers (picture me...thirty years older). The fact is, Chinese people are not expert biscuit makers, nor are they even that fond of eating biscuits. If any person was as unqualified as I was to show you how to make a biscuit, it would be a babbling two-year old. Nevertheless, there in that statements lies my point. If I can make these damn good lookin' biscuits, you can definitely make them...and they'll probably turn out even better than mine. 


Sunday, June 28, 2015

grilled mac & cheese sandwiches


You...yeah you! Yes you! When you go to a restaurant do you have a compulsion to ask for the kid's menu even though you're kind of old and have no kids? Are you ashamed that you linger when the hostess asks you if you'll need any kids menus? Can you make a sandwich? If you answered yes to these three questions then venture no further. You can make this sandwich right now in the comfort of your own home without the glaring eyes of the world staring down on you. How do I know? I mean you can probably make this right now. Most people can. All you need is bread, cheese...what do you mean you don't have cheese. Everyone has cheese. I have at least five types of cheese in my fridge right now. What do you mean I'm crazy. You're the crazy one. Now you messed me up. I had a point. You get the point right? This sandwich is so easy to make that anyone, even you...yes you, can make it right now. Forget it about. I said FORGET ABOUT! You know what, you've just embarrassed me, yourself, and your family. What've you got to say for yourself...yes you! Who else would I be talking to? What did you say? WHERE CAN YOU BUY CHEESE?!?! (if you're confused keep reading)


This was a conversation I had with my neighbor's dog a couple mornings ago (see paragraph before). In all seriousness, this sandwich is probably the best sandwich you'll ever try in your entire life. It's impossible not to think of the good ol' days when you're sinking into crispy buttery bread through soft creamy mac & cheese and gooey cheddar. Classic mash-up comfort food at its finest. The best part is, it takes less than 20 minutes to make which means these are the perfect party favors...or midnight snack, depending on the type of person you are.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

virgin mango bellinis + basil


For the entire week I have procrastinated writing this post because I wondered whether it was really necessary to write down a recipe that has only 3 ingredients, and even less steps (and I was being lazy). Making these bellinis was so easy that I'm pondering whether I should change this blog to an only bellinis blog. I mean, the alliteration is right there. 



Truthfully, if there weren't any laws mandating that children under 21 can't drink, these bellinis would be totally non-virgin. But, laws and regulations and stuff. What can you do.


Tuesday, May 19, 2015

maple-roasted nectarine pancakes


The photography in this post is going to be a bit erratic because 1) I shot it at different times of the day, 2) I'm not very good at photography, and 3) I'm kind of an idiot. As the days pass I'm slowly but surely degrading into a mushy pile of peanut butter and pancakes. 


But enough about me, let's turn our focus to the important matter, the thing which is captured within the execrable photography - the humble pancake stack. It all started with a question. A question of whether it was possible to incorporate maple syrup, a topping that dowses and sogs pancake stacks all across America, within the batter itself. Finally the answer would come to me a whole 2 hours later - simply substitute sugar with maple syrup. Any simpleton could have come up with that. That's why I had to push the envelope; cue the maple-roasted nectarines.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

scrambled eggs and tomato | a childhood favorite


Those of you who have scoured cookbooks and websites in search of a quick and easy recipe for the weekdays and nights, exposing yourself to computer viruses whilst scraping the dark underbelly of the internet, scour no more. Often times the best things in life are the simplest, case and point, the humble scrambled eggs and tomato. After reading the comments you guys left me on my social media (links in the sidebar), I learned that many of you also grew up eating this dish. Some of you suggested adding onions while others emphatically yelled "witchcraft" from their rooftops. While suggestions are encouraged they aren't necessary because today we're sticking with the crowd-pleaser. Passed on to my momma from her dad and generations before him, this dish needs no accoutrements or augmentations. Remember, the simplest things are often the best. 



While I'll admit it was difficult to shoot this dish because of it's somewhat brain-like features, the poorly taken photography in no way degrades the deliciousness of the recipe. Because this is so easy to make and can be achieved with only basic refrigerator staples, this is a dish you can prepare whenever you want in whatever mental state you're in. On a completely unrelated note, this is the perfect hangover food. I know this not by experience so one need not call the Center for Underaged Drinking. My point is nostalgia can be had by you whenever you'd like in less than five minutes. Cheers!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

crunchy chocolate peanut butter chip cookies


In retrospect, I should have patented chocolate and peanut butter when I discovered it in '08. Now look how its blown up. I don't know if you've heard about it but now there's this little company called Reese's that makes chocolate and peanut butter candies. Actually Reese's and I go a long ways back. He and I used to be roommates until he stole my recipe and wouldn't give me credit. I had to kick him out of the dorm. Well actually I left. Technically he kicked me out for what he dubs "inappropriate" and "salacious" behavior. Whatever that means right. I actually know what it means. His lawyer made me look up "salacious" in the dictionary when I was taken to court. It means vulgar or explicit. What was I talking about...oh yeah chocolate and peanut butter. One of the best combinations in the world. 


Similar in texture and appearance to your traditional peanut butter cookie, this upgraded crunchy chocolate peanut butter chip cookie has crunchy salty pretzels and creamy peanut butter morsels laced throughout. The bitter notes from the cocoa and the salty sweet combination from the pretzels and the peanut butter make this the perfect cookie flavor. I guarantee this is way better than the boring peanut butter cookies you've had in the past. Not to mention, these are super easy to make and you can make a lot of them for parties and potlucks. I'd like to see Reese get a hold of this one. What type of peanut butter morsels am I using? Reese's...damn you Reese and your delicious confectionary products. 


Thursday, March 26, 2015

meatballs & marinara - juicy balls of deliciousness



If you're an atheist, vegan, or Indian (from India), you should probably shield your eyes from what I'm about to say. Thank you God for making cows edible. Amen. I guess I should be thanking him for pigs too cause these are beef and pork meatballs, but then I'd have to list every ingredient and then the "Indian" criteria wouldn't really work. Analogies, can't live without them, can't form all-encompassing logical statements with them. 


The interweb is inundated with meatball recipes. In fact, unbeknownst to me Foodnetwork just came out with an edition entirely dedicated to the little balls of meat. Yet, there's been this void inside me that has been pecking at my sanity ever since I started this blog. A meatball shaped void that when filled I can finally call this "thing" a food blog. Plus, it was an excuse for me to make meatballs. Mmm meatballs. Meatballs. If you're uncomfortable with the word you should probably stop reading now. 

Sunday, February 8, 2015

mini pear 'n banana breads // for ALOHA


I was inspired by ALOHA to write a post about staying healthy throughout the colder months, but I have to be honest I was genuinely stumped. One has to realize that the healthiest post I've ever written is probably the time when I made that chocolate chip cookie cake. Nonetheless, it posed a serious culinary question to me. Can something be easy and healthy, and taste good at the same time? The surprising answer is...yes! I know, I was skeptical at first too. 



In this week's post, Chow Creations is teaming up with ALOHA to spread the happiness of healthy eating via banana bread. Not only do these mini pear 'n banana breads taste and look amazing, but they have no butter in them, 50% less sugar, and are laced with flavor packing nutrition bombs such as ginger and cinnamon. Benefits of which I'll go more into detail down below. 


Tuesday, January 20, 2015

5 minute weeknight alfredo sauce!


Not only should everyone have a quick and easy, go-to, weeknight recipe, but it should be something delicious and not something that comes from a can, bag, cup, or liquor store. Don't deny it. It's close to your house and they have occasionally good sales on stale cookies and offbrand colas. But, that is all in the past, today I'm going to show you how to make a weeknight alfredo sauce which has been rumoured to cure everything from marriages to cancer. However, rumours are rumours and if those claims turn out to be false, rest assured you still have a killer sauce that you can drown pasta and rice in for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. 


Oh, and did I mention this recipe has 50% less heavy cream and 75% less butter than its predecessors. So yeah, it does cure cancer. 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

chocolate chip cookie cake - Cookie Week!


Shout out to Sarah @ The Sugar Hit who's having Cookie Week! this week, which inspired me to partake in the theme and make this epic, awesome, indulgent Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. Chocolate chip cookies are too good to be giving to your loved ones in boring cookie form. Try this awesome chocolate chip cookie cake, which despite the overload of alliteration in the title, is an awesome vehicle for serving chocolate chip cookies, and a fantastic crowd pleaser at your next holiday party!



This recipe makes two chocolate chip cookie cakes, which if you were smarter than me, would have stacked them on top of each other like a sane person. Darn I hate myself sometimes. You know what to do. Click the orange button to unleash chocolate chip cookie cake havoc. 

Friday, December 12, 2014

{how to make} quick and easy homemade biscotti w/ cranberries + white chocolate


Homemade biscotti is a completely different experience than the ones that come from the plastic wrapper. Unlike the biscottis that you buy from the tubs at Costco these aren't stale or dry. They're hard and crunchy like they're supposed to be, but because we make them fresh, you can really taste the buttery shortbread-esque crumb that's just so good!



Not only do these biscotti look awesome, but they taste just like you would get them from a really fancy italian restaurant. I'm not even kidding you guys. I was so surprised at how quick, and easy, and awesome these turned out that I made a second batch for the neighbors (a.k.a myself). These are also a wonderful gift for friends and family this holiday season. You know what to do. Press that orange button. 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

bacon & parmesan kale salad - another cool kale recipe


At Chow Creations, we pride ourselves in our exceptional ability to adulterate healthy foods with bacon. 



This week I'll show you how to make the most unbelievably cheesy, creamy, restaurant parmesan dressing. You'll want to glug it down when no one is looking. In other words, keep your eyes on your creamy parmesan dressing because someone will want to glug it down if you're not paying attention. Oh, and we're also making a salad. It has bacon. Now you're probably interested. You know what to do, click Chowtinue Reading. :-)

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

no-bake caramel reese's peanut butter cups


Not a lot of us like preparing huge Thanksgiving meals. In fact, in a study I just made up, that is the number one reason why people make friends at all, so they can crash their friends' Thanksgiving dinners. But you can't go to your friend's mother's house and expect to get a meal without bringing her a gift. That's where these no-bake, super quick and easy caramel reese's peanut butter cups come into play. In fact, in another survey I just made up, it takes longer to say the name, than it takes to make the actual recipe. 


I should also remind you that your friend's mother loves peanut butter and chocolate. Bring these and I guarantee you she'll give you first dibs on turkey. You know what to do. Click Chowtinue Reading.



Monday, November 24, 2014

coming soon - no-bake caramel reese's peanut butter cups


These take so little time to make, and make great gifts for the friends and family on gobble-gobble day! Check back regularly!