from instant to pho

i took an unexpected break from the blog
back with one less job (i quit), and no additional free time (upped the hours in the work i LOVE)

so...on those days when i have no time to conjure up a feast for myself, i try to improve something in an instant.

in the case of instant soups, i buy them in chinatown. i buy rice noodle versions, and a bit of chili paste, and whatever leftover meat to make it into a pho-style soup (i try to have bean sprouts on hand, but didn't this time.

so for this version, i had a chicken/rice noodle instant soup, added 1/2tsp of red chili paste and 1/2 leftover chicken breast from the bbq, sliced thinly. prepped the soup (boiled water...tough, eh?!), added chicken slices and done

tasty, easy and pho-like

thai/vietnamese inspired fish stew

oh i just wanted some soup today. i paid for having a bit of delicious pizza from our fave pizza place and was crampy and had hearburn for hours after (i know this when i indulge but it is really that good). so soup seemed like a perfect cure...and it was.

i think i have mentioned i live in chinatown and often end up trying lots of new ingredients. so i knew i had fish in the freezer and coconut milk in the cupboards and some vietnamese pho bouillon cubes kicking around - good start...here's what i decided to use (and had on hand)...

400g (just under a lb, a lb is 454g) mahi mahi from frozen
3 vietnamese pho bouillon cubes
1 can coconut milk
dash all spice
1tsp frozen chopped lemongrass
1c frozen corn kernels
1/2c chopped green onion
1/2c chopped cilantro
6-7c water
1/8 package thai rice vermicelli noodles

optional to add to individual bowls - chili garlic

bouillon cubes and water first and stir once in a while until dissolved
add everything except the noodles and cilantro
simmer until mahi mahi is cooked and break apart into small pieces in the pot
add noodles - simmer 5 minutes
add cilantro - simmer 2 more minutes
then serve

this is where i add the chili garlic sauce (it's super spicy but i love spicy asian soups) - i tried it without and was great less spicy.

hilarious - my 3.5yr old was given a piece of leftover takeout pizza and asked to have the soup instead. soup trumps pizza...pretty amazing.

slow cooker pulled beef and peanut sauce - asian flavours - many meals

mmm - lemongrass
this week, i decided to simply go with herbs and spices i love and see what happened.
it helped as well that cheap beef roasts were ready to go in my freezer.
this recipe ended up becoming 3 meals

lemongrass pulled beef in rice wrappers with peanut sauce

ingredients
2.5-3lb beef roast (mine was 1.99lb so a cheap cut)
1 pho bo bouillon cube
2.5c water
2tbsp soy sauce
2tbsp chopped lemongrass
1tbsp each of turmeric, cumin, minced garlic and lime juice
sugar to taste
...all in the slow cooker on low for 8hrs (pull at about 7hrs in)

wrap in rice paper wrappers with a bit of iceberg lettuce and shredded carrot

now...peanut sauce
1-1.5c water (for desired thickness)
1c peanut butter
1tbsp lime juice, fish sauce
2tbsp soy sauce
1/4c chopped onion
sugar to taste
...cook on low on the stovetop
...use as dipping sauce
i like to add sriracha sauce after it's plated (that way the peanut sauce isn't spicy so the bubs can eat it)

 DAY 2 of this recipe
pulled beef pho
omit the peanut sauce
there was enough left over liquid to use as a soup base
add one more pho bo bouillon cube
4-6c water
1c pulled beef
soy sauce to taste
1/2 pack of asian rice vermicelli noodles
...all together in a pot until the noodles are soft

 DAY 3 of this recipebeef pho with rice noodles
ingredients
1.5c pulled beef
1c water
1/2 pack of asian rice vermicelli noodles
peanut sauce (reheat) 
sriracha sauce to taste (optional) 
...cook noodles in a pot of water until soft - drain
add water and noodles to walk and pulled beef until well blended
...top with peanut sauce

 DAY 4 of this recipe (lunch)
salad with pulled beef and peanut sauce
can be served hot or cold
just add the beef and sauce over lettuce (with or without carrots, cucumber)

can you tell this recipe was a success?! there are still leftovers in the freezer.