Jaipur vegetables from trader joe's

We didn't have time to go out for Indian food ( the closest Indian restaurant that we love is 30 mins driving), so here was our solution: a pack of instant curry from trader joe's.

Actually, the total cooking time was 15 mins, because I cooked some grounded chicken before add the curry. To make it have more flavor, I also added: 1 spoon of coconut powder, 1 tea spoon of cumin powder, 1 tea spoon of curry powder, 1 tea spoon of paprika powder when I stirred the meat at medium heat (of of these I bought from Trader Joe's). After five minutes, I added 1/2 cup of water and mushroom, closed lid for another 5 minutes. Finally, I added the curry, stir well and cook for another 5 minutes or until the mixture got boiled again. 

If you have fresh cilantro, add some is great!

The most beautiful orchid I've bought from Trader Joe's, and it lasted for 2 months

New pizza from Trader Joe's

ps: I use Breville oven, and bake for 15 mins instead of there suggestion.

Chou farci - Pork stuffed cabbage

1. Ingredients:

- A whole savoy cabbage ( just around $1 at farmer market)

- 1 carrot (chopped)

- 1/2 onion (chopped)

- 4-5 mushrooms (chopped)

- Parsley and basil: 1 spoon for each chopped herb (if you don't have fresh leaves, used the dried one that every Trader Joe's sells it)

- 1/2 pound of ground pork

- 1 egg

- Stock: chicken/pork/ beef or vege is ok, even water

- bacon or prosciutto (I bought at Wholefood)

- Salt: 1,5 spoon, pepper

- Cotton string

2. Method:

- Clean the cabbage, cut the leaves out and boil them in boiled water for 1-2 minutes

- Risen the leave under cold water to let them cool down

- Mix meat, egg, chopped onion, carrot, mushroom, 1/2 amount of chopped herbs, salt, and pepper

- On a flat surface (or you can make it in a big bowl to make the round shape), put 3 to 4 strings cross each other before placing the biggest leaves in the shape of blooming flower

- Add a small leave in the center

- Start to stuff: 1 layer of mixed meat (around 1/2 inch) then 1 layer of leaves until all the meat gone.

When stuffing, try to make the whole piece as round as possible.

- Close the outside leaves and tight the strings

- In a medium pot, add stock/ or water (up to 1/2 volume of the pot), heat until it boil, then add the cabbage and the rest of chopped herbs. Make sure the water can cover the cabbage. After it boils again, cook at low medium heat.

- After 1 hour, take the cabbage out, the remain stock you can use to cook soup

- Cover the cabbage with bacon or prosciutto and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degree

- And here is my final chou farci

- This dish can eat with pickle baby cucumber (I bought from Trader Joe's). This one is imported from France.

Gourmet Fired onion Pieces

If you don't have time to fry onion or shallot by yourself, this is the best alternative choice. The product contains no preservatives, no artificial flavor and color, so it's safe for you to add into any dishes, even salad, boiled vegetable, or stew. It was made in Holand!!!

Artichokes with stems

It tastes like young bamboo pickle in Asia, so match with a meaty dish.

Shrimp gyoza

Preheat a non-stick pan with 1 spoon of oil at medium heat, then add the gyoza, bottom down

After 4 minute, add 1/2 cup of water, open lid cook for 5 minutes, when all water gone, cook at lower heat for extra 2 minutes

Here are the crispy bottom gyoza, as good as you often eat at Japanese restaurant. This is perfect dish for a simple breakfast

Half-baked Panini Rustic Rolls

We used to buy bread, and had to reheat/ bake it again every time before the meal. Recently, I just find this amazing bread from Trader Joe's: half-baked rolls. Following instruction, after preheating the oven to 425 degree, it takes only 8 minutes for you to have fresh and hot bread every morning.

Here, see how beautiful the roll is! Love it!

And this is how I use a roll for breakfast, ces't la vie!

How to Roast duck thighs

In Asia, duck is a kind of "cold" meat, it means it can help you feel better in a hot day~~~~
So, it's time to do it. This simple dish, I believe anyone can do it, if you have a oven. However, to make  the meat have better flavor, it takes time to marinate.

1. Ingredient
- 2 duck thighs (you can find at wholefood, about $4 each)
- BBQ sauce, I bought from Trader Joe's: Kansas city style BBQ sauce
- Garlic: 2 gloves
- Green onion: 1
- Flour: 1 spoon
- Vegetable: Any you can have, cabbage, potato, squash....: today I use baby squash from farmer market

2. Method
- Clean the duck thighs under water and dry with paper towel

- Put them in a bowl, add BB sauce: 1/2 cup
- Mix well then put in refrigerator before cook 2 hours

- Preheat oven to 380 degree (I use Breville Compact Smart Oven ) at roast setting and cook for 30 mins, skin side up

- Turn the thighs and cook at 350 degree for 15 mins


- While roast duck, you can prepare the sauce and vegetable. If you use potato, it takes more time, I use squash so time for cooking just 5 minutes: slice squash, heat pan with 1 tea spoon of oil, add chopped garlic, than add squash, add salt and black pepper, stir well, add 1/2 cup of water, turn heat to high, close lid and wait 3 minutes, then your side vegetable is done!

- Sauce: add flour to 1/2 cup of water, mix well than add to the small pot with the left marinated sauce, cook well, then add chopped green onion, it's ready for you to add to the meat.


- Finally, turn again, skin side up, add some honey if you want to the skin, cook for another 5 mins.

Roast lamb rack

At Trader Joe's, it's easy to find frenched lamb rack. For two people, buy a small pack, around $13 is enough.

1. Ingredients.
- Lamb rack: use a small knife, separate racks it into piece
- Butter: 1/2 spoon or use olive oil
- Seasoning: 1 tea spoon salt (better to use sea salt),black pepper (few) and 1 tea spoon of  Thyme, rosemary, oregano, basil. You can find dried one in Trader Joe's, too.
- Lemon: 1 small piece

2. Method:
- Ground all season (if you can)
Here it how I do with a Japanese grinder bowl

- Mix seasoning with butter then rub the mixture to lamb rack, marinate for 30-60 minutes.
- Roast at 400 degree for 15 mins, then turn the meat, and roast at 300 degree for 5 mins.

You can add some drop of lemon juice