Let me back up a little by saying that I haven't been inspired to cook too much lately. I don't know if it is because the weather is warming up or maybe it is the pregnancy fatigue and hormones but, well I just wasn't inspired by my old cookbooks and recipes. Joe must have picked up on the vibe because for Mother's Day he gave me a fabulous gift (one of many gifts, actually) - he got me a subscription to a cookbook club - so up my alley, right!! Yay! I can't wait to get some new cookbooks. Because aside from the gorgeous Morimoto cookbook I got for my 40th from my college friend, Nicole I actually haven't bought a new cookbooks since Chez Panisse came out - when was that, like the 80's, right? Still it a good one to stop at if you are stopping, I love the recipes by Alice Waters, but I am getting off track here...
Anyway, instead of plopping down money for a cookbook, I usually pull recipes and ideas from the internet. I have enjoyed reading wonderful food bloggers like Blazing Wok and Just Cook It, to name a few. And although browsing through the internet is a great (and free) way to get cooking ideas and recipes, there is something lovely and wonderful about flipping through a cookbook. Maybe it is the glossy color photos and detail step-by-step instructions. Maybe it is the collecting of them that is thrilling. Whatever it is, thank you Joe for the great idea (and the ok to spend money!) I can't wait to get the new Ina Garten book Back to Basics and of course books by my favorite Chefs; Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.
Here are a few books Joe got me for Mother's Day.
The Better Homes and Garden book was so right on for Mother's Day. I have been using my mother's well used, beaten and tattered book from the 70's and it is nice to get an updated edition of my own. It was one of the few American food books that she used. When she met my dad she had never cooked an American recipe. This book taught her everything about American cuisine(scary, I know!) LOL.
Here is the beef teriyaki stir-fry we made for dinner Sunday night. The sauce is a compilation of several recipes that I mingled together: from Dr. Weil's (another fav recipe resource of mine) Salmon Teriyaki and the Beef Teriyaki recipe from by new 365 Last-Minutes Meals book.
Combine ingredients for teriyaki sauce and pour over meat and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or as long as you like, overnight even!)
Quickly stir fry your vegetables in a little vegetable oil. Remove from pan and set aside.
Drain the meat from the marinade (and reserve the marinade for later). Cook the meat until well done.
Add the vegetables to the meat.
Using your reserved marinade, add a tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well. Then add the sauce to the meat and veggies and stir-fry until the cornstarch sauce mixture is bubbling and thicken.
Serve over rice and enjoy. At the last minute I threw in some pineapple I had in the fridge. You can omit this but I did it on a whim, it is the pregnancy hormones talking to me again! Joe enjoyed it!
