Szechuan Noodles with Spicy Beef

Szechuan Noodles with Spicy Beef
Food.com

The Line Up
1 lb ground beef
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/2-1 1/2 tsp dry crushed red pepper (to taste and tolerance)
2 TBSP sesame oil
2 TBSP cornstarch
3/4 c beef broth
1/3 c hoisin sauce
2 TBSP soy sauce
8 oz cermicelli, cooked
1/2 c sliced green onion

The Game Plan
Brown ground beef in a large skillet, stirring until crumbled; drain and keep warm
Pour sesame oil in pan and heat. Saute onion and next 4 ingredients in hot sesame oil until tender
Combine cornstarch and beef broth, whisking until smooth.
Stir broth mixture, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce into onion mixture
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Stir in ground beef
Toss with hot pasta, and sprinkle with sliced green onions.

Coach's Post Game Conference
There really isn't much to say about this recipe. It's very simple and straight forward. It is tasty and makes everyone happy!

Final Score
Coach -  Home Run
Catcher - Home Run
The All-Star - Home Run
The Rookie - Home Run

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Spicy Caramelized Pork

I am ALWAYS on the lookout for new pork recipes. Seriously, if you have one you'd like to see us try and share - send it to me! I ran across this one on Pinterest and HAD to try it. I mean what's not to like?? Pork, brown sugar and spice!

This recipe was originally named Sweet Caramelized Pork, but I changed it to spicy to remind myself that it is, in fact, spicy! :)

Spicy Caramelized Pork
Picture the Recipe

The Line Up
1 1/2 lbs boneless pork rib meat
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp cayenne (or paprika for less heat) - or to taste
1 tsp ground ginger powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 medium onion
2 TBSP oil
1 green onion (for garnish)

Game Plan
Pre-heat oven to 375°.
Then start by mixing together the brown sugar, cayenne, ginger powder, black pepper and salt.
Spoon half of the dry rub onto the pork ribs on all sides and rub it into the meat well. Save the other 1/2 of the rub for later.
Heat oven proof pan on high and add about a TBSP of oil.
Sear the pork ribs to brown on all sides, then place in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
Turn the pork about 1/2 way through the cooking time.
Take the pan out and allow meat to rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, chop onion into large diced pieces.
Once the meat has rested, slice into thin slices.
Heat 1 TBSP oil in wok or frying pan on medium-high and saute onion for about 2 minutes.
Add sliced pork and toss it well with the onion.
Add the remaining brown sugar/spice mix and stir it in with the pork.
Keep stirring the pork around in the sauce until it becomes sticky.

Coach's Post Game Conference
I realized as I started cooking this that I didn't have "cayenne" pepper, rather just "red pepper" so I used that. I also doubled the meat, as I've got two hungry players on this team! Oh... I also just rolled the pork in the brown sugar/spice mixture, instead of rubbing.  Aside from that, I followed the instructions as they are written above. I served it on mini-pretzel rolls and made the "Sweet and Tangy Apple Slaw" that Noreen mentions on Picture The Recipe to serve on top.

Final Score
Coach -  Triple
Catcher - Triple
The All-Star - Triple
The Rookie - Didn't taste it - you see -- apparently she is still on a Halloween Candy only diet.

We all agreed that this was a LITTLE spicy for our tastes, but that the flavor was REALLY good, and a definite recipe up for replay - with a little less spice.

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Spiced Tilapia with Honeyed Mango Lime sauce

Fish is not one of my most favorite things to eat OR cook... but sometimes I feel like we need to eat it more often, so I try to find something to make.

Spiced Tilapia with Honeyed Mango Lime Sauce
Bisquick - February 2011
The Line Up
Sauce
1 ripe mango seed removed, peeled and diced
grated peel and juice of 1 medium lime
2 green onions, coarsley chopped (2 TBSP)
1 TBSP honey
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Fish
1 egg
2 TBSP bisquick mix
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
4 tilapia fillets (1 lb)
1/4 c vegetable or canola oil
1 tsp chili paste
1 TBSP fresh cilantro

The Game Plan
Place all sauce ingredients in food processor. Cover; process until smooth. Set aside until serving time.
In shallow dish, beat egg and milk with fork. In another shallow dish, mix bisquick mix, salt and pepper. Dip fillets into egg mixture then coat with bisquick mixture.
In 12" skillet, heat oil and chili paste over medium heat; stir to combine. Cook fillets in oil 4-6 minutes. Turning once, until golden brown and fish flakes easily with fork.
To serve, place fish on serving platter or individual plates. Drizzle evenly with sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Coach's Post Game Conference
Never heard of  "chili paste"?? Neither had I, nor had the manager at the local grocery store when I asked. I imagined that I was looking to something in a tube, similar to anchovy paste. When I found it I figured I better share, because it is NOT what I was looking for at all!! (It's in the "oriental food & sauce section")

Again - I used frozen fruit, rather than fresh... again... I need to remember to take it out in time for it to thaw before I try to make it into a sauce!
Aside from that - this recipe was very easy and very YUMMY!!!

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher  - Home run
The All-Star - Home Run - though he requested his fish sauce-less. He tasted the sauce and didn't care for it. He loved the fact that the fish was spicy!

**edited - please see label disclaimer in "True Confessions" - 11/7/2013

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Beefy Shells and Cheese

I've done regular beefy macaroni and cheese, but this has a few extra ingredients that make it slightly different and quite interesting.

Beefy Shells and Cheese
Taste of Home ground Beef - April 2009The Line Up
1 lb ground beef
1 pkg (12 oz) shells and cheese dinner mix
2 c water
1 1/4 c salsa
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1-2 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp salt

The Game Plan
In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer  pink; drain. set aside cheese sauce packet from dinner mix. Add shells and water to skillet. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender.
Stir in the salsa, beans, chili powder, salt and contents of cheese sauce packet. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.

Coach's Post Game Conference
I omitted the salt out of accident. Have you noticed that I don't always read the recipes well?? ;)  That's ok, because I made up for the lack of salt by not measuring the little bit of chili powder I had left and I'm fairly certain that I had more than 2 tsp in the dish. Team Matos likes spicy food anyway so it's all good!
The All Star even asked for seconds I couldn't believe that but he really enjoyed it.

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher  - not in the line up tonight
The All-Star - Home Run - both bowls!

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