Savory Stir-Fried Beef and Cabbage

 

"This quick and hearty stir-fry combines tender beef and crisp cabbage in a flavorful sauce. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal!"

Ingredients:

For the Stir-Fry:

1 lb beef (such as sirloin or flank steak), thinly sliced

1/2 head cabbage, chopped into 1-inch pieces

1 tbsp vegetable oil or sesame oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 small onion, sliced

For the Sauce:

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp hoisin sauce (optional, for a touch of sweetness)

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (optional, for thickening)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1 Prepare the Beef and Cabbage:

Slice the beef into thin, bite-sized strips.

Chop the cabbage into roughly 1-inch pieces.

2 Make the Sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce (if using), rice vinegar, and cornstarch slurry (if desired for a thicker sauce). Set aside.

3 Cook the Beef:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.

Add the beef strips, season with salt and pepper, and sear for 2-3 minutes until browned but not fully cooked. Remove the beef and set it aside.

4 Stir-Fry the Cabbage and Onions:

In the same skillet, sauté the sliced onions and garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add the chopped cabbage and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, letting it soften slightly while staying crisp.

5 Combine Everything:

Return the seared beef to the skillet.

Pour the sauce over the beef and cabbage, stirring well to coat all the ingredients.

Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, letting the sauce thicken slightly and the flavors meld together.

6 Serve and Enjoy:

Serve hot over steamed rice or noodles for a complete and delicious meal.

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: ~350 per serving | Protein: ~25g

Famous Crab Bombs

 

Ingredients

This recipe yields about 4 large Crab Bombs (baseball-sized). Adjust quantities to make smaller portions if desired.

Crab Bombs

• 1 lb (450 g) jumbo lump crab meat, picked clean of shells
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup (60 g) mayonnaise
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning (or preferred seafood seasoning)
• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup (approx.) crushed butter crackers (Ritz) or panko breadcrumbs — add sparingly
• Juice of ½ lemon (about 1–2 tsp)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Optional: 1–2 tbsp melted butter, for brushing before baking

Serving Suggestions

• Lemon wedges
• Drawn butter or melted garlic butter
• Simple remoulade or tartar-style sauce
• Fresh herbs for garnish (parsley, chives)

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Baking sheet lined with parchment or a lightly greased baking dish
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Offset spatula or spoon for shaping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease a shallow baking dish.
2. Whisk the binder. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, and chopped parsley until smooth.
3. Fold in crab meat gently. Add the jumbo lump crab meat to the bowl and fold carefully to coat the crab with the binder. Take care to preserve the lumps of crab — avoid vigorous stirring that will break them down.
4. Add crackers or breadcrumbs sparingly. Sprinkle in crushed butter crackers or panko a little at a time, folding just until the mixture holds together. Use only enough to bind; the interior should remain moist and crab-forward.
5. Form the bombs. Using clean hands, shape the mixture into 4 large, compact balls (baseball-sized). Place them evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. If you prefer smaller portions, form 6–8 medium-sized bombs instead.
6. Optional butter brush. For an extra golden finish and richer flavor, lightly brush the tops with melted butter before baking.
7. Bake until golden. Bake 20–25 minutes, or until the tops are golden and the centers are heated through. The exterior should be slightly crisp while the interior remains moist. If baking from frozen, add 5–10 minutes to the cook time.
8. Rest and serve. Let the Crab Bombs rest 2–3 minutes on the sheet, then transfer to a platter. Serve hot with lemon wedges, drawn butter, or remoulade sauce.

Soft and Light Pancakes Recipe

 

Ingredients 

To make the softest pancakes, you’ll need the following ingredients:

1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk + 1 tbsp vinegar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons melted butter or oil (plus extra for greasing)

Optional fillings: chocolate hazelnut spread, jam, honey, or just powdered sugar

Tip: The buttermilk is the secret to extra fluffy buttermilk pancakes. The acid reacts with the baking soda, creating tender bubbles that make the pancakes rise beautifully.

Directions

Follow these steps for golden, soft and light pancakes every time:

Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk, vanilla, and melted butter until smooth.

Combine: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix until just combined. It’s okay if the batter is slightly lumpy — overmixing will make the pancakes tough.

Rest the batter: Let the batter rest for 10 minutes. This allows the flour to hydrate and the leavening agents to start working — a key step for lightness.

Heat the pan: Preheat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly grease it with butter or oil.

Cook the pancakes: Pour about ¼ cup of batter onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges look set (about 2–3 minutes). Flip and cook another 1–2 minutes until golden brown.

Serve warm: Stack the pancakes, top with your favorite toppings, and enjoy immediately.

Banana Pudding Trifle with Chocolate Chips

 

Ingredients:

Vanilla Pudding:

1 package instant vanilla pudding mix

2 cups cold whole milk

Vanilla Wafers:

1 box classic Nilla wafers or similar butter cookies

Fresh Bananas:

3–4 large ripe bananas, sliced into rounds

Whipped Cream:

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Chips:

1/2 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

Prepare Pudding:

Whisk the pudding mix with cold milk for 2 minutes.

Refrigerate for 5 minutes until fully set.

Make the Cream:

Whip the heavy cream with powdered sugar and vanilla to stiff peaks.

Gently fold whipped cream into the set pudding for a mousse-like consistency.

Prep the Cookies:

Keep some cookies whole for the base.

Crush a handful into coarse crumbs for textured layers.

Layering:

In clear cups, start with a layer of cookies or crumbs.

Add a layer of pudding, then a layer of banana slices.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over the bananas.

Repeat the layers, finishing with pudding on top.

Chill:

Refrigerate at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and cookies to soften slightly.

How to Make:

Use clear cups or glasses to showcase the layers.

Press banana slices against the side of the glass for visual appeal.

Use a piping bag for the top pudding layer to keep edges neat.

Garnish deliberately with banana slices and chocolate chips.

Moist and Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes

 

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18–20 minutes

Servings: 12 cupcakes

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Ingredients

1 cup sugar

½ cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1½ cups all-purpose flour

1¾ teaspoons baking powder

½ cup milk

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.

3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla.

4. Combine the flour and baking powder, and add to the creamed mixture. Mix well.

5. Stir in the milk until the batter is smooth.

6. Spoon batter into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.

7. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Nun’s Puffs

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• Cinnamon sugar (optional, for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 12-cup muffin tin thoroughly or line with parchment liners.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and milk. Bring just to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately add the flour and sugar all at once. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until a smooth dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the pan.
4. Let the dough rest 3–5 minutes to cool slightly. Beat in the eggs one at a time, incorporating each fully before adding the next. The final batter should be smooth, glossy, and slightly thick but still soft enough to spoon or pipe.
5. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Smooth the tops if needed.
6. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the puffs are well risen and deep golden brown. Avoid opening the oven door during the first 20 minutes to prevent deflation.
7. Remove from the oven and, while still warm, toss in cinnamon sugar or dust the tops. Serve immediately for a crisp exterior and custardy interior.

Lemon Custard Yogurt Cake – A Zesty, Creamy Delight

 

Ingredients

For the Cake Batter:

• 3 large eggs

• 100 g (3.5 oz) granulated sugar

• Pinch of salt

• 60 g (2 oz) plain yogurt (full-fat yields best texture)

• Zest of 1 lemon (only the yellow outer peel)

• 45 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (reserve remaining juice)

• 60 g (2 oz) unsalted butter, melted

• 170 g (6 oz) all-purpose flour

• 5 g (≈1 tsp) baking powder

For the Lemon Custard Filling:

• 1 egg

• Zest of the reserved lemon

• 60 g (2 oz) granulated sugar

• 30 g (1 oz) cornstarch

• 240 ml (8 fl oz) whole milk

For the Pan & Decoration:

• Butter (for greasing)

• Parchment paper (to line pan)

• Powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

• Extra lemon slices or mint leaves (optional garnish)

Step-by-Step Cooking Directions

1. Whip the Eggs & Sugar
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer or sturdy whisk to beat 3 eggs, 100 g sugar, and a pinch of salt until pale, ribbon-like, and nearly doubled in volume—about 3–4 minutes. This aeration is key for a light cake structure.

2. Add Yogurt & Lemon Zest
Gently fold in 60 g yogurt—this adds moisture and a subtle tang. Next, zest only the yellow part of the lemon using a fine micro plane, avoiding the bitter white pith. Stir the zest into the batter to disperse fragrant oils.

3. Incorporate Lemon Juice & Butter
Measure 45 ml of fresh lemon juice (juice the lemon over a small strainer to catch seeds). Add it to the batter, then drizzle in the melted butter. Fold until smooth. The acidity will slightly curdle the butter to create micro-air pockets in the cake.

4. Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together 170 g flour and 5 g baking powder. Sift them into the wet batter in thirds, folding each addition just until no dry streaks remain. Over mixing can develop gluten and toughen the crumb.

5. Bake the Cake
Preheat oven to 180 °C (350 °F). Grease a 20–23 cm round pan, line the bottom with parchment, and grease again. Pour the batter in and smooth the top with an offset spatula. Bake 30–35 minutes, rotating halfway, until the top is golden and a toothpick comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.

6. Cool Completely
Allow the cake to rest in its pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then lift out by the parchment and let cool fully—about 20 minutes more. Cooling thoroughly prevents the custard from melting the cake upon assembly.

7. Prepare the Lemon Custard
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, whisk 1 egg, 60 g sugar, 30 g cornstarch, and the reserved lemon zest until smooth. Gradually pour in 240 ml milk while whisking to avoid lumps. Place over medium heat and whisk constantly. As the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency—about 5–7 minutes—continue whisking for 1–2 minutes to cook out the starchy taste. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent a film on top.

8. Assemble the Cake
Once both cake and custard are cooled, slice the cake horizontally into two even layers using a long serrated knife. Place the bottom layer on a serving plate. Spread the custard evenly, leaving a 1 cm border. Gently top with the second cake layer. Press lightly to adhere.

9. Decorate & Serve
Dust the top with powdered sugar, or artfully arrange thin lemon slices and mint leaves. Slice with a sharp knife dipped in hot water (wiped dry between cuts) for clean edges. Serve immediately or chill for up to 1 hour for firmer custard.

Nutritional Information (per slice, yields 12 slices)

• Calories: 240 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 31 g

• Protein: 4 g

• Fat: 10 g

• Saturated Fat: 6 g

• Sugar: 18 g

• Fiber: 0.5 g

• Sodium: 75 mg