Spam Clay Pot-like Rice

This is my twist on the classic Cantonese sausage clay pot rice. Instead of using using lap cheung and clay pot white rice, I used Spam and stir fried brown rice.

UPDATE: I procrastinated writing this recipe so it may not be completely accurate. If you found something that isn't right, please tell me and I will update it.

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups cooked brown rice
  
• 1/2 can SPAM sliced into 1 in by 1/2 in and 1/4 in thick pieces
• 8 black mushroom caps, stems removed and sliced
• 1/2 tablespoon ginger minced
• 1/2 tablespoon dried shrimp coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• dash of sesame oil
• dash of white pepper
  
• 1 sprig of cilantro (leaves only) roughly chopped
  
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pan fry SPAM until crispy. Remove SPAM pan and set aside.
2. Combine soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil into bowl and set aside.
3. Add canola oil to pan and heat on high until just smoking.
4. Add dried shrimp and ginger to pan and stir fry for 30 seconds.
5. Add mushrooms to pan and stir fry for 3 minutes.
6. Add SPAM back into pan and then add the rice. Stir fry to mix.
7. Add soy sauce and pepper to mixture. Stir fry for 3 more minutes to thoroughly mix.
8. Add cilantro and quickly mix.
9. Remove rice from heat and serve hot.
   

Delicious Lemony Salmon, Cream Cheese & Dill Crepes

It really is all in the name. This is my first attempt in contributing to this blog. Bare with me. As you all know I never really measure any ingredients, so if you're attempting to replicate this... good luck.. and let me know how it tastes!!

Ingredients:
Already Made Crepes (don't judge me)
Smoked Salmon
Fresh Dill
Cream Cheese
Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette
Baby Romaine Lettuce
Pepper
Lemon

The best part about this recipe is the fact that I did not cook any of it. I will now describe how these babies were assembled:

1. Heat the crepes (do not do this for too long, they will end up like crackers.... yes, this is by experience... )
2. Combine cream cheese, chopped dill, and pepper together. Spread onto the crepe.
3. Place Smoked Salmon with a squeeze of lemon onto the cheese
4. Toss romaine in vinaigrette and place on top of salmon
5. Wrap it up, and enjoy!!


Don't be a jerk. I know the garnish is just ridiculous. I tried, okay?!

Van's Tuna Salad

I didn't take any photos because... well, I was too hungry! haha I'm sure everyone in the family has a tasty tuna salad recipe and doesn't need mine, but I added cumin powder and spicy honey mustard and it gave it just the kick it needed!

Ingredients:

- 2 cans of tuna (6 or 7 oz each)

- 6 tbsp miracle whip or mayonnaise

- 1 tbsp sweet honey mustard

- 3 tbsp sweet pickle relish

- 1 tbsp minced dried onion

- 1 dash cumin powder

- 1 pinch garlic powder

Directions:

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve with crackers or bread. For another variation, put on a bun with a slice of cheddar, and toast for a tuna salad melt.

Enjoy!

Perfect Red-Dyed Egg

After some trial and error, I finally got a dye mixture that produced a nice deep red egg. There eggs are beautiful for red egg and ginger parties.


INGREDIENTS

• 8 eggs
  
• 1 fl oz liquid red dye
  
• 8 cups cold water
• 1/8 cup + 1 tblspn white vinegar
  
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• Olive oil for polishing
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a stainless steel pot, add water, dye, vinegar, salt, and eggs.
   
2. Bring liquid to boil.
   
3. Once the liquid is in full boil, turn off fire and remove from heat.
4. Cover the pot and let sit for 15 minutes.
5. Remove eggs from liquid and let cool on wiring rack.
6. Once eggs are cool, polish them with olive oil by using a paper towel.
   

Thien Vu Cheesecake

Graham Cracker Crust
Ingredients:
2 cups of graham cracker crumbs (We used 3 cups for a 9inch pan)
1/4 cup of melted butter (Used 1/2 cup (one stick) for a 9inch pan)

Directions:

1. Line bottom of pan w/ parchment
   
2. Mix above ingredients and put in pan

Cheesecake
Ingredients:
3 8oz. cream cheese packages
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (I used one and 1/2 vanilla bean pod)

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese, vanilla and sugar
2. Add egg one-at-a-time and mix
3. Pour over crumb crust
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes* (*Try baking at lower temperature 250 degrees so cake does not dry out)
5. Take out for 6 minutes

Topping
Ingredients:
1 pint of sour cream (16 oz tub or 1 lb)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (I used 1/2 a vanilla bean pod)

Directions:

1. Beat for 2 minutes
2. Start from the outer edge and cover the top of the cheesecake
3. Bake for 6 minutes