Osso Buco!

I made Osso Buco last week,and it’s my first time to cook this dish. It turned out good if I say so myself. It’s my favorite to order in restaurant whenever they have it in the menu. It reminds me of short ribs in red wine sauce. They have that similar taste and beefy flavor,so rich and decadent. I decided to use Giada’s Osso Buco recipe because I had all of the ingredients and it looked really simple to follow. I think it’s always better to have it the next day because the flavor really intensifies and gets into the meat. So Good!

Veal Shanks (it's so important to brown the sides)
Veal Shanks (it’s so important to brown the sides)
messy but oh so good!
messy but oh so good!
with gremolata(lemon zest,garlic,parsley)
with gremolata(lemon zest,garlic,parsley)
I prefer next time to not add the gremolata; I find the zest too much when the dish is already flavorful.
I prefer next time to not add the gremolata; I find the zest too much when the dish is already flavorful.

Osso Buco (Giada De Laurentii recipe; foodnetwork.com)

Ingredients:

1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 dry bay leaf
2 whole cloves
Cheesecloth
Kitchen twine, for bouquet garni and tying the veal shanks
3 whole veal shanks (about 1 pound per shank), trimmed
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All purpose flour, for dredging
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 small carrot, diced into 1/2-inch cubes
1 stalk celery, diced into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon zest

Directions:

Place the rosemary, thyme, bay leaf and cloves into cheesecloth and secure with twine. This will be your bouquet garni.

For the veal shanks, pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Veal shanks will brown better when they are dry. Secure the meat to the bone with the kitchen twine. Season each shank with salt and freshly ground pepper. Dredge the shanks in flour, shaking off excess.

In a large Dutch oven pot, heat vegetable oil until smoking. Add tied veal shanks to the hot pan and brown all sides, about 3 minutes per side. Remove browned shanks and reserve.

In the same pot, add the onion, carrot and celery. Season with salt at this point to help draw out the moisture from the vegetables. Saute until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Return browned shanks to the pan and add the white wine and reduce liquid by half, about 5 minutes. Add the bouquet garni and 2 cups of the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pan and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is falling off the bone. Check every 15 minutes, turning shanks and adding more chicken stock as necessary. The level of cooking liquid should always be about 3/4 the way up the shank.

Carefully remove the cooked shanks from the pot and place in decorative serving platter. Cut off the kitchen twine and discard.

Remove and discard bouquet garni from the pot.

Pour all the juices and sauce from the pot over the shanks. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon zest.

 

Anniversary Weekend!

Yesterday (april 5th) Hubs and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary! Time flies really fast. I thank God for my marriage and for giving me such a loving and patient husband. So blessed to be married to my best friend. Hubs is super busy with work this month, so it’s really hard to take time off so we decided we’ll just have a “late” celebration next month and travel somewhere.We did go out this weekend and had dinner at John Howie’s Steakhouse Restaurant. We watched the new Captain America movie and had dinner after. What a fun weekend!

with the Pastors who married us!
with the Pastors who married us!
Pretty Flowers from Hubs!
Pretty Flowers from Hubs!
Roasted Bone Marrow!so rich and good but not the healthiest!
Roasted Bone Marrow!so rich and good but not the healthiest!
steak tartare
steak tartare
my order:filet mignon "oscar style"
my order:filet mignon “oscar style”
mac and cheese, french onion soup,hubs steak
mac and cheese, french onion soup,hubs steak
Happy Anniversary Hubs!
Happy Anniversary Hubs!
yummy cream brûlée!
yummy cream brûlée!

Last Friday night we had a Pre-anniversary dinner at our local favorite restaurant here in Issaquah (Flat Iron Grill). It was another delicious dinner with my Hubs:

Garlic Sage fries
Garlic Sage fries
Muscovy Duck! so so good..
Muscovy Duck with truffle rissoto! so so good..
I had flat iron steak with goat cheese polenta!
I had a flat iron steak with goat cheese polenta!

For Sunday dinner,we invited my In Laws to have a late celebration with us. We’ve been eating steaks since Friday night so I wanted to have seafood.  We had clams and mussels in a white wine broth.

caprese salad
caprese salad
I love sunday dinner with family!
I love Sunday dinner with family!

 

 

Food This Week!

Some of the food we had this last week:

Grilled pork belly
Grilled pork belly
Ravioli (trader joe's) in sage butter
Ravioli (trader joe’s) in sage butter
pear,walnut,blue cheese salad
pear,walnut,blue cheese salad
scramble eggs, strawberry in balsamic glaze,OJ (breakfast for hubs)
scrambled eggs, strawberry in balsamic glaze,OJ (breakfast for hubs)
chicken picatta
chicken picatta
moscato wine,grilled asparagus,mashed potato
moscato wine,grilled asparagus,mashed potatoes
banana pancakes and coffee
banana pancakes and coffee
homemade pizza (we used flatbread)
homemade pizza (we used flatbread)
YUM!
YUM!
chili sweet potato fries
chili sweet potato fries
sweet tea, chili fries,pizza
sweet tea, chili fries,pizza
fried chicken,roasted broccoli
fried chicken,roasted broccoli
spaghetti and meatballs,garlic bread,salad (all from trader joe's
spaghetti and meatballs,garlic bread,salad (all from trader joe’s)
comfort food
comfort food

We ate out also this week: RAM and Genki sushi

spinach artichoke dip and burger
spinach artichoke dip and burger
RAMS vanilla milkshake (i didn't like this, i will not order this again)
RAMS vanilla milkshake (I didn’t like this and will not order it again)
Genki sushi:yellowtail
Genki sushi:yellowtail
Mackerel
Mackerel
Ramen Noodle
Ramen Noodle

Grocery Haul!

This week, I shopped at Fred Meyer and Trader Joe’s. I really enjoy looking at people’s grocery hauls.  I’m curious about what other people are buying and eating (it might be weird to some). I do like it when some bloggers give product reviews, share their meal plans and how they save when they do their groceries. I rarely coupon now a days, most of the coupons available right now are not what I want my family to eat. I do try to provide  healthy and whole foods for us to consume. I’m still using meat from our freezer so I didn’t buy any this week (except for some meatballs). I really like Trader Joe’s meatballs, they are flavorful and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Happy Shopping and Savings friends!

Fred Meyer: Paid $16
Fred Meyer: Paid $16
Trader Joe's: Paid $19.65
Trader Joe’s: Paid $19.65

Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cheesecake!

We had this cheesecake when we had St. Patricks day dinner with our friends and my goodness this was so decadent! I’m not really into baking and measuring so the Hubs did most of the “work” making this dessert. We found this recipe on food.com and it got good reviews so hubs was convinced right away! I like the Baileys part:) This was even good the next day,we gave a piece to my MIL and she really liked it too, because she requested that for her birthday this coming June.  We’ll have to make this for her! I really liked the flavor but it was too dense for me (I like my cheesecake creamy and fluffy!). Based on our family and friend’s reactions Hubs will probably make this again and this recipe is a keeper.

making of the crust!
making of the crust!
creamcheese and other yumminess!
cream cheese and other yumminess!
chocolate chips galore!
chocolate chips galore!
off to the oven it goes!
off to the oven it goes!
cooling off!
cooling off!
Finish product!
Finish product!

Baileys Irish Cream Chocolate Chip Cheesecake (www.food.com)

Ingredients:

Crust
1/2 cup toasted pecans, cooled and crushed
2 cups chocolate Oreo cookie crumbs
1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter
Filling
2 1/4 lbs cream cheese, at room temp
1 2/3 cups sugar
5 eggs, at room temp
1 cup Baileys Original Irish Cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Coffee Cream Topping
1 cup chilled whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
chocolate curls or Skor English toffee bit, for decoration on top

 

Directions:

Crust:.
Mix all ingredients.
Press into a 10″ spring form pan and up the sides one inch.
Bake at 325 for 7-10 minute.

Filling:.
Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until smooth.
Beat sugar in gradually, and then add eggs one at a time.
Blend in Bailey’s and vanilla.
Sprinkle half of chocolate chips over crust.
Spoon in filling.
Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.
Bake at 325 degrees approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes or until puffed, springy in center and golden brown.

Place a pan of water on bottom rack of oven while baking to keep it moist. Cool cake completely.

Coffee Cream Topping:

Beat all ingredients and spread over cooled cake.

Top with chocolate curls or Skor bits.

*NOTE: Be sure to make and refrigerate at least one day before serving.

 

Food This Week!

Here we go, Food we ate for the last 2 weeks (I wasn’t able to post last week)..

mung bean soup (with pork belly)
mung bean soup (with pork belly)
steak with blue cheese
steak with blue cheese
roasted broccoli and steaks
roasted broccoli and steaks
pizza,chicken wings,salad (we invited my inlaws for dinner)
pizza,chicken wings,salad (we invited my inlaws for dinner)
thai iced tea and pear smoothie
thai iced tea and pear smoothie
wedge salad
wedge salad
chicken cordon blue and roasted veggies
chicken cordon blue and roasted veggies
stir fry noodle
stir fry noodle(with chicken and liver)
corned beef (dinner at my In laws for St.Patricks)
corned beef (dinner at my In laws for St.Patricks)
potatoes and cabbages (perfect together with the corned beef)
potatoes and cabbages (perfect together with the corned beef)
pulled pork and rice
pulled pork and rice

We went out/ate out couple of times too:

Foccasia sandwich at RAM issaquah
Foccasia sandwich at RAM issaquah
American burger
American burger
Snoqualmie Casino "Fall Buffet"
Snoqualmie Casino “Fall Buffet”
King Crab leg galore!
King Crab legs galore!
Jimmy John's sandwich (so fresh,we love it)
Jimmy John’s sandwich (so fresh,we love it)
Take out from Agave Cosina restaurant! steak nachos is our fave lately
Take out from Agave Cosina restaurant! steak nachos is our fave lately
closer look!
closer look!

Grocery Haul/Savings!

This is my Grocery Haul this week! I shopped at Fred Meyer(Kroger affiliate) and Trader Joe’s. We still have milk and bread from last week, so I didn’t buy any this week. Most of the items are on sale and I only used 1 coupon (for the eggs). We try to eat organic meat, milk, and eggs, but for baking I use non-organic eggs.

all produces were organic(all sale)
all produces were organic(all sale);Paid $15.80
Trader Joe's Haul! Paid $10.58
Trader Joe’s Haul! Paid $10.58

I hope you’re having a great friday evening friends! Hubs and I are watching Sherlock ( british series).

Savings!

This is my grocery haul this week. I got lucky this time because most of what I wanted to buy had marked prices. Even the cashier said that “you sure are in the right morning to shop!”. My favorite find was the steaks, which we already ate last night and were delicious!  I’m always on the look out for natural/organic meat and chicken because they’re really pricey and if my store has it on reduced price I will most likely  put it in my cart. Second favorite was the organic bread,they’re normally $3.49 for a loaf so I got excited to see that they’re reduced too (they are now in our freezer). I shop at Fred Meyer because it’s so close to my gym.  I usually shop on Monday morning when it’s not crowded and less people are in the checkout area.

I paid $56 for this haul (regular price:$83)
I paid $56 for this haul (regular price:$83)
Jackpot!
Jackpot!
After pic of the steaks!My hubs prepared this last night!
After pic of the steaks with blue cheese!My hubs prepared this last night!
my fave lately,roasted broccoli (i splurged and bought organic)
my fave lately,roasted broccoli (i splurged and bought organic)
AFter my Fred Meyer trip, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up pineapple juice(they're onsale this week 2/$4.). I paid $13 for this. The soap and sweetener will be ship to the PI.
After my Fred Meyer trip, I stopped at Walgreens to pick up pineapple juice(they’re onsale this week 2/$4.). I paid $13 for this. The soap and sweetener will be shipped to the PI.

Hope you had a good Thursday family and friends! Happy shopping and savings:)

Food This Week!

Here’s what we ate this week:

corned beef sinigang
corned beef sinigang
sauteed pork belly
sauteed pork belly
crockpot pork afritada
crockpot pork afritada
pork belly in tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots
pork belly in tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots
zach made egg salad sandwich
zach made egg salad sandwich
flatbread pizza (sausage,olives,artichoke)
flatbread pizza (sausage,olives,artichoke)
baked salmon
baked salmon
YUM!
YUM!
Thai food takeout
Thai food takeout
Pad See ew
Pad See ew
Souffle Pancakes:I put nutella and banana,hubs had apple sauce and cinnamon
Souffle Pancakes:I put nutella and banana,hubs had apple sauce and cinnamon
yummy salad with roasted chickpeas
yummy salad with roasted chickpeas
roasted chickpeas
roasted chickpeas
left overs for sunday dinner (aside from the salad)
left overs for sunday dinner (aside from the salad)

I hope you get to eat some yummy food this week!

Savings!

I shopped at 4 stores this week, Grocery Outlet, Walgreens, Bartells, and Fred Meyer. I didn’t drive all over the place because 3 stores are in the same area. I wasn’t able to take pictures of my Fred Meyer haul because most of the items were produce and milk, which I put right away. My favorite haul this week was Grocery Outlet’s because I didn’t use any coupons and still saved.

Regular Price:$85,after sale I paid $37
Regular Price:$85,after sale I paid $37
Bartells:after coupon I paid $13 ( I had BOGO coupons for the nutella,they're onsale for $3)
Bartells:after coupon I paid $13 ( I had BOGO coupons for the nutella,they’re onsale for $3)

My furry son Riley in the picture is not very happy when I told him that he can’t have nutella because his Vet forbid him to eat chocolate!

Walgreens: After coupons and sale I paid $11
Walgreens: After coupons and sale I paid $11