Daikon and Carrot Pickle

Ingredients

• 1 large carrot (peeled and cut into thick matchsticks)
• 1 pound daikon (peeled and cut into thick matchsticks)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp + 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup rice vinegar
• 1 cup lukewarm water

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Cold Sesame Noodles

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• 1 inch chunk peeled fresh ginger (coarsely chopped)
• 1 large clove garlic (coarsely chopped)
• 2 tbs rice vinegar
• 1 tbs toasted sesame oil
• 1 1/2 tbs light brown sugar
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• water, to thin
• 8 oz spaghetti (or soba noodles)
• 4 scallions (thinly sliced)
• 1 yellow bell pepper (thinly sliced)
• 1 orange bell pepper (thinly sliced)
• 1 medium cucumber (peeled and sliced)
• 2 tbs toasted sesame seeds
• (optional) cubed extra firm tofu or shredded cooked chicken

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Streusel-Topped Jam Bars

Yields: 18 bars

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, very cold
• 1 large egg
• 1 (8 oz) jar of jam, jelly, or preserves
• 1/2 cup rolled oats

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Mix sugar, flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Add butter and mix until crumbs are the size of peas.
4. Add egg and mix until combined.
5. Press 2/3 of crumb mixture into bottom of pan, pressing firmly.
6. Pour jam onto crumb base, spreading with a spatula or back of spoon.
7. Add the 1/2 cup of rolled oats to remaining crumb mixture. Stir to combine. Sprinkle over jam layer.
8. Bake for appx 30 minutes, until edges begin to brown.
9. Let cool and cut into squares.

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Lightened Rice Pudding

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 6 cups skim milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon or ground cardamom
• (optional) 1/2 cup golden raisins

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, combine rice and 5 cups milk. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender (15-17 minutes).
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon (or cardamom), and remaining 1 cup milk. 
3. Slowly pour egg mixture into rice mixture. Cook on medium-low, stirring constantly, until pudding coats back of a spoon (3-5 minutes).
4. Remove from heat. Stir in raisins, if using. Pour into a large bowl or container, and let cool to room temperature. Serve warm, or refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 3 days). Serve pudding garnished with raisins and cinnamon/cardamom.

Note: Tweak the flavor of the pudding by substituting ingredients. Try nuts (like pistachios) or other dried fruit instead of raisins. And/or use ground nutmeg instead of cinnamon or cardamom.

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Three Cup Chicken

Ingredients

• oil
• boneless chicken thighs (cut into chunks)
• sesame oil
• fresh ginger (sliced)
• 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 1/2 cup cooking wine
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tbs sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh basil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken pieces until lightly browned. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
2. Heat a little sesame oil. Add garlic and ginger. Cook until ginger begins to brown, about 30 seconds.
3. Stir in chicken, cooking wine, soy sauce, water, and sugar.
4. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until only 1/4 of sauce remains (about 20 minutes).
5. Stir in basil. Increase heat to medium. Cook until liquid is almost gone.

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Nutella Cookies

[another recipe: Recipe 2]

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temp)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Nutella
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Mix butter and sugars with electric mixer, until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg and vanilla, then Nutella, mixing well.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Form dough into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. (Optionally, place cookie sheets in freezer for about 10 minutes to prevent cookies from spreading too much)
7. Bake for 6-7 minutes (7-8 minutes if baking from freezer). Let cool.

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Nutella Marshmallow Cookies

[another recipe]

Ingredients

• 1 cup Nutella
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/8 cup marshmallows
• (optional) 1/8 cup chocolate chips*

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together Nutella, flour, sugar, and egg. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Drop 1 inch balls of dough onto baking sheet. Push marshmallows into middle of each and press down firmly to flatten.

4. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

*Recipe is pretty sweet already without the chocolate chips. 

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Sweet and Sticky Drumsticks

-Recipe-

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