Simple Food, Fancy Napkins

Tag: beef

Lasagna

It’s A Classic This is a recipe that I am really proud of. Lasagna is one of those dishes that most people just throw together without a recipe, so I had to trust my tastebuds for guidance. One of the best things about lasagna? No…

Classic Meatloaf

Classic Meatloaf

Winter is here and what better way to warm up than tossing a classic meatloaf in the oven, maybe making some Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes from Lidia Bastianich and cozying up with some tea and a game of cards after you’ve stuffed yourself and put…

Fridge Clear-out Stir Fry

Fridge Clear-out Stir Fry

We’ve all been there. Random halves of bell peppers, almost too floppy celery because let’s face it: who actually eats an entire bunch? An onion that you think might grow an arm soon, that 3/4 of a cabbage that is still left because you only needed a little bit to make another recipe… Well, my friends, the answer is always stir fry. This is honestly one of my favourite things to cook because I rarely have to worry about going to the store for ingredients and I feel good about not having to throw away unused produce. You can do this one with meat (I used two large chicken breasts) or without, if you aren’t using meat just add extra veg and almonds and obviously just skip the part where I cook the meat.

I add whole almonds to this stir fry – but if you’ve got halves, or you’ve only got peanuts in your cupboard, go for it! I love the versatility that comes with cooking! Also, in case you are curious, the veggies I used on this day were: celery (only one stalk), onion (sweet, although I totally prefer purple in a stir fry), bell peppers, cabbage and carrot (had a bag of baby carrots, so chopped them up). Other veggies I really love in stir fry are: broccoli, mushrooms and zucchini. You can also easily add frozen veggies – they are so great to keep in the freezer just in case!!

If you are trying to eat low carb or trying to stay away from them altogether (all the power to you), the veggies are really satisfying on their own, I promise. But obviously rice and noodles are always the best with a stir fry! You can easily add them to your wok or dish them out separately. If you have purple cabbage on hand, I highly recommend mixing the rice/noodles right in with your veggies.. the cabbage will turn them purple and even though I’m closer to 30 than I am to 10, I think purple rice looks pretty cool!

I used Stir Fry Sauce in this recipe, it’s basically just a thick soya sauce, so if you have soya sauce already, go for it! Just scoop all of the nice liquid onto your rice.

Serve right away and keep the leftovers for your lunch the next day! If you don’t actually mix the rice right in before serving, I recommend doing this with leftovers so you can mix it up with the sauce.

Fridge Clear-Out Stir Fry

Fridge Clear-Out Stir Fry

Empty out your fridge and you'll have a super flavourful stir fry. Salty, nutty and a little bit creamy. Great for next-day leftovers too!

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp seasame oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 chicken breasts cut into even, bite size pieces
  • 8 cups assorted veggies chopped
  • 3 tbsp honey separated
  • 3 tbsp stir fry sauce
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup whole almonds
  • 4 servings rice or noodles
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook rice/noodles per directions on the package
  • Heat sesame oil on low and add minced garlic
  • Toss chicken in salt and pepper before adding to skillet, browning for about 5 minutes on medium heat, covered and stirring occasionally
  • Add all veggies, season with salt and pepper
  • Drizzle with 2 tbsp honey, stir and let cook, covered for 5 minutes
  • Add stir fry sauce, stir and cover for 5 minutes
  • Add peanut butter, last tablespoon of honey and almonds, stirring well and covering again for 5 minutes
  • Remove cover, continue to simmer for about 5 minutes
  • Taste test a couple of veggies to determine whether they are cooked to your preference as some people like harder veg, others like softer. If your veggies need more time, leave the element on and continue to stir occasionally until the veggies have reached your desired softness
  • Add cooked rice/noodles to pan with veggies OR serve veggies overtop. Your choice!
One Pot Stroganoff

One Pot Stroganoff

Not Just Hamburger Helper Hey guys! Today, I have a solid recipe for you – The Fancy Napkins’ One Pot Stroganoff. A friend had a photo of Hamburger Helper on his Snap Chat earlier last week and alas, I was inspired to whip up my…