Thursday, January 12, 2012

KIMCHI JIGAE!!!

Okay...so not many people are fans of Kimchi...which I can understand.  But, When I worked at Choochoo we came up with a kimchi taco and it was disgusting.  Most people hate pickles or are just scared of the super garlic smell that it puts off.  But still...it's very savory and good for you.  I recently decided to make Kimchi Jjigae, which is a Korean soup made using kimchi.  I liked it and used some of my Homemade


Kimchi Jjigae

1 cup kimchi chopped into small pieces
2 cups pork broth or water
7 slices of pork jowels, bacon, or bork belly sliced into small pieces
½-¼ an onion julienned and sauteed
3-10 mushrooms sliced thin and sauteed
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp gochujaang
1 tsp Chinese soybean paste
1 tsp salt
Rice, corn, wheat, or buckwheat noodles chopped short
8 ounces cubed firm or extra firm tofu raw or sauteed

Basically just cover the bottom of the pot with the pork and cook it until it renders.  Next add in the onion and mushrooms and cook them until they sweat.  Then add in the tofu and kimchi.  Stir to combine well being careful not to break the tofu cubes.  Then add in the water and spices and cook for about 20-45 minutes (just right for tofu). 

Boil the noodles in another pot with some gochujaang and then drain them when they are barely undercooked.  Then strain and combine carefully in the soup.  Lastly cook another 10 minutes and serve hot!

It's really not too spicy and really yummy!

Also...I lost my camera...so...no pictures....gimme time...

Happy Cooking!
Kylie Swayne

Monday, January 9, 2012

Collards, Collards Everywhere and as soul as Yo Mama.....


I thought I would make this Collards recipe because I for some reason decided to attempt collard greens after eating at the Pope house for Christmas.  They made soul food because their mom is a Soul goddess from the south who knows how to make amazing fried chicken...better than mine could ever be.  So I'm kinda pleased with my recipe...not gonna lie...

Kyle’s BBQ Bacon Collard Greens

1 Head of collard greens (like 20-30 leaves??) chopped into ½” x 4” pieces
½ onion diced or julienned
4 pieces of bacon chopped into fine pieces
¼ cup BBQ small pork pieces
2 cups water
2 Tbsp lard, bacon grease, or butter
1 tsp salt
2-5 tsp of chicken bouillon powder or to taste
1 tsp curry powder
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp nutmeg

Cook in a crock pot, stirring every hour to 30 minutes, for about 4-6 hours.  Serve hot.  You can cook as long as you want just as long as the leaves don't fall apart.  Soul food is known for cooking a long time. 

And if you have leftover chicken breast or tenders try this.

Soul Taco

Halved Onion Pita bread
Kyle's BBQ Bacon Collards
Handful of Italian 5 cheeses
slices of grilled or baked chicken breast/tenders

Warm everything up and put it in a warm onion pita.  It's AMAZING!! 

Happy Cooking!
Kyle Swayne