When Anna came to dinner...

Dinner ingredients (the grapes are a snack)

Anna, Diana's daughter was coming to dinner. Anna is a vegetarian so tonight's menu had to include tofu as well as meat for the rest of us who choose to eat meat. Tonight's menu included Tofu and Broccoli Stir-Fry, Meatloaf Roll with Spinach and Feta Cheese, Green Bean Medley, Asian Avocado Salad,  and for dessert, Almond Lake with Mandarin Oranges (that's just rice pudding, people). 

Extra firm tofu cut into triangles in preparation for pressing out the water

Tofu press

Martha Stewart, whose recipe this is, recommends using canned goods to  weight down the tofu. But this is the Teeny Tiny Kitchen here and I don't keep cans of food on hand. The only can in the cupboard was a tin of spam I inherited from a previous tenant. But we have LOTS of books. Looking at the spines, you can tell what we're reading (and studying) these days...

Tofu with Broccoli Stir-Fry (adapted from Martha Stewart.com)

1 package firm tofu (I used extra firm)
1 1/2 pounds or 3 cups broccoli florets
salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup cashews, toasted (optional)
Salt and pepper or Maggi seasoning to taste

Cut off the tough broccoli stems and trim the florets. Boil 4 cups of water with a little salt. Put the broccoli florets in the water for 2 minutes or until they turn bright green. Remove broccoli with a slotted skimmer and rinse in cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.

This is the easiest way to cut the tofu into uniform triangles. First, cut the tofu cake in half. Cut each half in half then cut each quarter in half.  Place the triangles on a baking sheet lined with 2-3 layers of paper towels. Top with another layer of paper towels. Either put another baking tray on top and weight it down with canned goods (or books). Or, as I did, put a layer of plastic beneath the books. Let stand for 20 minutes. Discard the paper towels.

Heat oil in a large skillet. Fry the tofu triangles 5-6 minutes on one side until golden brown. Carefully turn and fry for an additional 5-6 minutes on the other side. Set aside to drain on a paper towel. Pat the top with another paper towel. Set aside. Or keep warm in a low oven.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and cornstarch. Set aside. To the pan, add the broccoli and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the soy sauce mixture and toss to coat. Add the tofu and toss gently. Add the cashews, if using. I adjusted the seasoning by adding salt and pepper. Anna drizzled a little of the wasabi/rice vinegar dressing for the salad on it and said it tasted great!

Tofu with Broccoli Stir-Fry

Meat Loaf Roll with Spinach and Feta Cheese (from grouprecipes.com)
This meat loaf is moist and full of flavor. It isn't necessary to cook the spinach first. It looks and tastes better when rolled up using fresh spinach. 

2 pounds lean ground meats (preferably a meat loaf mix of beef, lamb, and pork)
3/4 cup finely ground bread crumbs (I used Panko crumbs processed in a blender)
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 carrots, finely grated
1 onion, finely grated
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon or more dried herbs (I used dill and oregano)
1 pound fresh spinach, chopped
2 oz. feta cheese

Preheat oven 350˚F. Line a baking tray with foil (for easy clean up). Line 9x13 inch baking tray with waxed or parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine meat, bread crumbs, milk, egg, carrots, onion, salt, pepper, and herbs. Turn out onto the waxed paper. With your fingertips, spread out the meat as evenly as possible. Sprinkle the chopped spinach on top, leaving an inch border. Sprinkle the feta cheese on top of the spinach.

Roll up the paper, jelly-roll fashion. Lift up the paper at one of the shorter edges and gently roll away from you, not too tight but not too loose either,  easing up the paper as you roll the meat and the filling into a log. Moisten your fingers and seal the edges closed. Smooth the seam and any cracks closed. Gently roll the meat log onto the foil lined tray, sliding the paper away. It won't need any oil. I rolled it seam-side down on the baking tray. Bake 45 minutes or until the inside temperature is 160˚F. Turn off the oven. Let the meat loaf rest in the oven for 5 minutes.

I was afraid the meat loaf might be dry so I made a gravy. I poured the pan drippings into a small saucepan. Then, I added 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 3/4 cup of water to the drippings. Next, heat until the gravy begins to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. It turned out I didn't need it but some people might like a gravy with meat loaf.

Meatloaf Roll with Spinach and Feta Cheese

Green Bean Medley
This vegetable dish is from the Betty Crocker Cookbook and it's a family favorite.

1 pound fresh string beans, cut into 2 inch lengths
2 carrots, cut into 2 inch sticks
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 medium red onion (optional)
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil 4 cups water with a little salt. Boil the carrots 2 minutes or until bright orange. Use a slotted skimmer to remove and rinse in cold water. Repeat with the green beans. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil, add garlic and onion, if using. Cook until just fragrant. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring for two minutes. Add carrots and green beans. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Green Bean Medley

Asian Avocado Salad (adapted from: Epicurious.com)
Originally called Asian Avocado Salsa, I adapted this recipe into a salad. It has a fiery wasabi dressing. Here's a tip to keep the apple and avocado from browning: sprinkle with lime or lemon juice.

Salad
2 cups coarsely chopped and trimmed romaine lettuce hearts
1/2 cup apple, chopped
2 avocados, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup grape tomatoes
Scallion and cilantro, chopped (optional)

Salad dressing
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1 teaspoon wasabi paste (optional)

Asian Avocado Salad

Almond Lake with Mandarin Oranges (from a Chinese cookbook by Alison Burt)
This dessert is a lightly sweet and creamy rice pudding with the crunchy taste of almonds. 

1/3 cup white rice, ground finely
2 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup almond flakes, toasted
1x15 oz. can Mandarin oranges in syrup

In a medium saucepan, add the rice, milk, sugar, and almond extract. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to simmer, and stir occasionally until thickened. Cool. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Top with mandarin oranges, syrup, and almond flakes.

Almond Lake with Mandarin Oranges and Almond Flakes

Personalize a collage

Ma Po Tofu and Bean Sprouts with Scallion

Teeny Tiny Kitchen

 I have a tiny kitchen so it doesn't pay to invest in a lot of pots and pans. So I got one good one, a Calphalon Everyday Pan that can be both a skillet and a pot. To go with the tiny kitchen is a tiny apartment sized refrigerator that doesn't hold much. I'm constantly juggling leftovers with freshly cooked food. The fridge was getting full so it was time to move stuff. I had half a cake of firm tofu and a pound of bean sprouts both left over from this week's pad thai. Hence, dinner! First, Ma Po Tofu is simply bean curd in a spicy meat sauce. The Bean Sprouts with Scallion is my own invention using whatever is on hand.

Ma Po Tofu (Spicy Bean Curd)

Ma Po Tofu
1 cup bean curd
1/2 pound ground pork
1 scallion minced
1/2 inch of ginger root, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 chili, chopped
1 tablespoon chili sauce (sold in Asian markets as sambal)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water


Pour hot water over the bean curd and let sit about 5 minutes. Drain and cut into bite size pieces.

Combine scallion, ginger, garlic, and chili pepper in a small bowl. Heat 3 tablespoons oil over high heat in a large skillet. Add scallion mixture and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add meat and cook until no longer pink. Add chili sauce, sesame oil, and chicken stock. Cook until bubbly. Add the bean curd and gently turn to combine. Mix cornstarch and water together. Add to the sauce to thicken. Remove to a serving bowl and keep warm. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Bean Sprouts with Scallion
1 lb bean sprouts, picked over
1 scallion, cut into 1 inch lengths
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon water
Salt and pepper to taste
Fish sauce to taste, if desired

Pinch off the root and any brown bits on the bean sprouts. Wash and drain.

Wipe out the skillet used to make the Ma Po Tofu with a paper towel.  Heat the oil in the skillet. Add the scallion and garlic and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bean sprouts and combine. Add the water and cook uncovered until the bean sprouts just turn transparent. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add fish sauce, if desired.

Ah, dinner!