Chinese Home Cooking: Chinese Broccoli with Mushrooms and Chicken

For the most part, I feel I know how to cook.  I want to now learn how to cook what my dad makes... the family recipes.  So I told my dad that I wanted him to walk me through the process of how he makes some of his signature dishes so I could take notes and document the process.  We started very simple: Chinese broccoli with chicken and mushrooms.

You start with preparing the Chinese broccoli:


And the mushrooms if you want these:


These are King Oyster Mushrooms. They are huge!

Cut up the chicken or pork or whatever meat you want.

Start by cooking the chicken:

You'll add a little bit of MSG, salt, and sugar to this mixture.  Cook until about 75% cooked through.
Add the Chinese broccoli and the mushroom.  Add some oyster sauce.  Cook until vegetables are cooked but still crisp. 


This is definitely more Chinese home cooking.  Fresh and healthy!
I told him I'd like to learn one new thing each time I come into town.  I want to learn specific things like how to make the Chinese beef stew, curry, braised pork in soy sauce, etc.   So be on the look out for future post.

Valentine's Day: Strawberry Cupcakes

Some Valentine's Day strawberry mini cupcakes.  Made with real strawberries and buttercream strawberry frosting.

Here is the recipe for it from Martha Stewart's website.

http://www.marthastewart.com/258957/sprinkles-strawberry-cupcakes?center=276967&gallery=275179&slide=258957

Nutty Brown Cafe

After a few hours cutting down cedar trees and hauling them away, it was time for lunch.  We decided on a local eatery called the Nutty Brown Cafe.  I got the "veggie" (but really not-so-veggie) plate with green beans, fries, okra, creamed corn, and side salad.  Do you get the feeling that I like okra and fried foods???  Mr. MD got a chili cheeseburger with onion rings.

Chili Cheeseburger

"Veggie" Plate

Check this place out if you are in the Drippin Springs vicinity! 

http://www.nuttybrown.com/

Dale's Essenhaus Walburg, TX

Dinner with the fam at Dale's Essenhaus in Walburg. It was my first time there. I got FRIED everything!  If you are ever in the Georgetown/Salado area, check this place out!  It's a real German town.

http://www.dales-essenhaus.com/index.php

Fried Mushrooms (appetizer)

Fried Tilapia (meal) with Fries, Hushpuppies, and Fried Okra

The Weekend is Here!

It has been an incredibly long week with the near completion of performance reviews for my staff, an exam last night, and finally Friday is here.  So I did follow through and get my haircut last weekend!  Talk about a surprise to everyone in the office when I got to work or ran into them throughout the week!  Here are the before and after shots:

BEFORE

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AFTER

I cut 10" of hair off so this will be going to Locks of Love! 

Optional: Hair

Once I get the donated part of my hair cut off (about 8 inches), I need to decide what the next look consists of.  I can either go with....             

Following one of my favorite shows: Law & Order!

A new rendition of Friends!

The messy Bob

My So Called Life