Potato Cakes

Hello All... It is Christmas season again! I am done with finals and have been enjoying the holidays! What about you guys? Busy shopping, cooking, and having fun?

Today, I would like to present to you an easy yet delicious dish-- potato cakes!

Ingredients:

1. Potatoes Qty: 3-4 (I used Idaho potatoes)

2. Onion Qty: 1 (white onions)

3. Green onions Qty:1

4. Egg Qty:1

5. Salt: 2 tsp

6. Vegetable Oil: 3 tbsp

7. Ketchup

Procedure:
1. Clean and scrub the potatoes. Boil them with skin on for 20 minutes. Use a fork to test if the potatoes are completely cooked. Remove the skin and mash the potatoes.

2. Prepare the onions and green onions by mincing them. I used an electronic mini chopper. You could do it by hand if preferred.

3. Combine the minced white onions and green onions with the mashed potatoes and a whole egg. Add 2 teaspoonful of salt and 1 tablespoonful of vegetable oil. Mix well.

4. Add one tablespoonful of oil to a nonstick pan. Turn on medium low heat. Use your hands to shape the mixed ingredients into round shape, carefully place them into the pan. You can do multiple cakes at once, depending on the size of your pan.

5. Heat one side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown. Then turn the cakes to the other side and cook for about 3-4 minutes until golden brown.

6. Serve hot with ketchup.

Enjoy!!!

Pepsi Flavored Chicken Wings

Hi guys! It has been a while... How hectic the past few weeks have been! Exams, quizzes, projects, assignments... you name it, I had it. I am getting a bit depressed as we get into the winter season and closer to the finals! I have been busy with school and when I do get stressed, I usually go vent in my other blog which I have had for over four years. Anyway, I hope all is well and I would like to share a dish with you guys today!

I am a big pop/soda drinker: Pepsi, Coke, Mountain Dew... and not really a big fan for the diet products. That is just my personal preference. The dish that I present to you today is actually quite popular in China. I remember the first time I had it was when I was 4 or 5 years old, at my uncle's place . Yeah, I know, time just flies by. I feel really old now. Anyway, without further ado, here it is!

Pepsi Flavored Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

1. chicken wings Qty: 5-6

2. Half a can of Pepsi ( DO NOT USE DIET PEPSI)

3. dried red chilli (optional) Qty:1-2

4. ginger finely minced Qty: 1 tablespoonful

4. Vegetable cooking oil Qty:1 tablespoonful (15ml)

5.Soy sauce Qty: 1 tablespoonful (15ml)

6. Salt Qty: 1/2 teaspoonful (2.5g)

Process:

1. Turn stove on high heat, then add one tablespoonful of cooking oil

2. Put ginger and red chilli into the pan, heat until the oil begin to sizzle

3. Turn the heat to medium, put chicken wings into the pan, cook until slightly golden brown. Keep stirring to prevent sticking, and to ensure all sides of the wings are slightly golden brown.

4. Add half a can of Pepsi, 1 tablespoonful of soy sauce, and 1/2 teaspoonful of salt. Let it simmer. Stir occasionally.

5. When most of the sauce is evaporated and the chicken wings are covered with thick sauce (takes about 4-5 minutes), turn off heat.

6. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Ying's tips:

1. You may substitute pepsi with coke if you wish to

2. Please do not use diet products. We need the sugar!!!

3. You may add a little bit more pepsi/coke if you want the dish to be sweeter.

* When heated above 70 degrees C, the sodium bicarbonate in Pepsi is converted into sodium carbonate, water, and carbon dioxide. This process makes the meat more tender in taste.
In case you are as big of a nerd as I am, here is the equation:
2NaHCO3 --> Na2CO3+ H2O + CO2



* I did not take pictures for the cooking process this time due to the lack of time. Please feel free to ask me if you have any questions!

Shrimp and Vegetable Stir Fry

Serving Size: 1-2

Ingredients:

1. Frozen Shrimp Qty: 10-12
2. Zucchini Qty:1 Cut into slices

3. Mushrooms Qty:4 Cut into slices

4. Jalapeno Qty:1 Cut into stripes

5. Fresh Ginger Finely minced

6. Others: Vegetable oil 2 tablespoonful (30ml), Salt 4/5 teaspoonful (4 mg), Soy sauce1-2 tablespoonful (15-30ml), Shaoxing cooking Wine 1 tablespoonful (15ml)

Process:

1. Put 2 tablespoonful vegetable oil into a pan, turn on high heat
2. Put the minced ginger into the pan and heat until you can smell the fragrance

3. Put the frozen shrimp into the pan
4. Add 1-2 tablespoonful (15-30ml) of Shaoxing cooking wine, stir for 3-4 minutes

5. Put the sliced zucchini, mushroom and jalapeno into the pan, stir for 2-3 minutes.

6. Add salt, soy sauce, stir for another minute.

7. Turn off the heat. Serve hot!

Enjoy!



Dummie-Proof:

It has been a while...

Hello everyone,

I have been busy with school and tests. How have you guys been? I have come back with more dishes. Coming right up!

Ying

Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs

Ingredients:

1. Pork Ribs

2. Green onions (spring onions), ginger

3. Vegetable oil, Zhenjiang vinegar, soy sauce, Shaoxing cooking wine, salt, sugar



Procedure:

1. Prepare all the ingredients:
- Cut fresh pork ribs into chunks

- Cut ginger into thin slices
- Cut the white part(stem) of the green onion into thin slices
- Leave the green part(leaves) of the green onion intact until further use

2. Boil the Pork Ribs
- Fill the pot with cold or luke warm water; put the pork ribs, part of the ginger, and the leaves of the green onion into the pot; turn the stove to high heat


- When the water start to boil, wait for 2-3 minutes,then remove the foam with a ladle.


- Take the pork ribs out of the pot and set it aside for further use.


- You may save the broth for other uses, or you may discard it.

3. Cooking the Ribs
- Add a tablespoonful of vegetable oil into a pan



- Turn on the stove to high
- Wait until the oil begin to sizzle,add the sliced onion stem and the rest of the ginger, stir until they start to brown and you can smell the fragrance

- Quickly add the ribs into the pan


- Add two tablespoonful of soy sauce, 2 tablespoonful of Shaoxing wine, four tablespoonful of sugar, three to five tablespoonful of vinegar, and 2 teaspoonful of salt * Be careful with the hot oil

- Turn the stove to medium heat and allow the ribs to simmer in the sauce
- Keep stirring to prevent burning or sticking to the pan

- Cook for about 3-4 minutes then turn off heat

4. Place the ribs onto a plate or into a bowl, garnish with slices of green onion

ENJOY!!!


Tips from Ying:
1. The reason for us boiling the pork ribs with ginger and green onion is to remove the blood and fat from the ribs (that's the foam we removed). We want delicious and healthier eating!

2. When comes to seasoning the ribs, it is important to remain flexible. You may adjust the proportions of vinegar and sugar to your own preference. If you like it to be a little sweeter, add a little bit more sugar; if you'd like it to be a bit more sour, add more vinegar.
Also, if you are making a larger portion of ribs, add more ingredients accordingly. (duh!) ^_^

3. In case you are curious, this dish is called 糖醋排骨 in Chinese. You can pronounce it like this: "Tung Tsu Pie Gu". Next time you are in a Chinese restaurant, show if off! ^_^

Welcome to Ying's Kitchen!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Ying's Kitchen!

I love food. I love the memories that brought about by food. To me, food is not only what keeps you alive, but also the relationships you built with others, the bridge into another culture, and, as always, the taste of home.

I live more than 10,000 miles away from my parents. Whenever I am homesick, I cook.

In this blog, I hope to share recipes and stories, laughters and tears with you, my friend.

Welcome to Ying's Kitchen！