Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

 2 oz rice vermicelli noodles
8 dried rice paper sheets, dried not frozen
8 jumbo cooked shrimp, peeled, deveined and halved lengthwise
3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
4 tsp finely chopped fresh thai basil
2 large romaine leaves, chopped
Dipping sauce:
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp lime juice
4 tsp fish sauce
1/2 tsp garlic chili sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tsp finely chopped peanuts

Cook noodles until al dente, 3-5 minutes.  Drain and rinse noodles and drain again.  Cot noodles into shorter pieces.  Fill a large baking dish with hot water.  Dip 1 rice paper sheet briefly into water to soften slightly, about 1 second, then lay on a work surface.  Arrange 2 shrimp halves over half of sheet closest to you, then sprinkle with about 3 Tbsp noodle, 1 rounded tsp each of mint and cilantro, 1/2 tsp basil and 2 Tbsp lettuce, leaving 2 inches uncovered on each side.  Starting with bottom edge, begin to roll up sheet tightly around filling.  After 1 roll, fold in ends of rice paper like a burrito, then finish rolling.  

Stir together water, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce, chili sauce, and garlic in a small bowl until sugar dissolves.  Stir together hoisin and peanuts in another small bowl.  Serve with rolls.

Miso Noodle Soup with Meatballs

 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/3 cup diagonally sliced green onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp grated ginger
3 cups chicken stock
2 oz uncooked soba noodles
1 tsp honey
1 tsp chile paste
6 oz ground pork
2 tsp white miso paste
1/3 cup mung bean sprouts
1 serrano pepper, sliced

Heat oil in saucepan.  Add green onions, garlic and ginger; saute 6 minutes.  Add stock, bring to a simmer.  Reduce heat to medium low; cook 8 minutes.  Cook noodles separately according to package directions; drain.  Rinse with cold water; drain.  Combine honey, chile paste and ground pork.  Shape pork mixture into 8 meatballs.  Stir miso into stock mixture.  Add meatballs to pan; cook 6 minutes or until done.  Add noodles.  Sprinkle with mung bean sprouts and serrano.  

Jalapeno Lime Chicken Drumsticks

 1 jar (10 oz) red jalapeno pepper jelly
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp sriracha
3 pounds chicken drumsticks
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

In small saucepan, heat jelly, lime juice and sriracha over medium heat until melted.  Set aside 1/2 cup for serving.  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken on baking sheet.  Bake at 400 for 40 minutes or until internal temperature reads 170.  While chicken is cooking, turn occasionally.  During last 5 minutes of cooking, increase oven temperature to low broil.  Baste chicken with remaining jelly and allow chicken to get crispy under broiler.  Watch closely as it can burn easily.  

Creamy Noodle Casserole

 1 pkg (6 oz) egg noodles
1 pkg (8 oz) frozen broccoli cuts
1.5 cups cubed fully cooked ham
2 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
2 oz shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup half and half cream
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

In a large pot, cook noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes.  Add broccoli and ham; cook 5-10 minutes longer or until noodles are tender.  Drain; return to pan.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Cook and stir over low heat until butter is melted and mixture is heated through.

Mound Bars

 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 Tbsp sugar
1 stick butter, melted
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 (10 oz) pkg semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Stir together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and butter in a boil until moistened.  Press mixture into bottom of 13x9 pan.  Bake until edges are lightly browned, about 15 minutes.  Stir together condensed milk, flaked coconut and shredded coconut in a bowl, then spread gently over crust.  Bake until slightly puffed and light brown around edges, about 15 minutes.  Transfer to wire rack to cool.  Meanwhile, melt chocolate in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring until smooth.  Spread chocolate evenly over coconut, Let cool about 1 hour, then chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.  

Hoisin Glazed Pork Tenderloin Bowls

 Marinade:
1/2 cup hoisin sauce
3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp sriracha
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp avocado oil
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp grated ginger

Pork Tenderloins:
2 pork tenderloins, about 1 pound each, silver skin removed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Bowl:
8 oz fresh broccoli florets 
1 Tbsp avocado oil
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups prepared rice

In a bowl, combine hoisin sauce, sugar, soy sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, avocado oil, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger.  Whisk until smooth and well combined.  Spoon 1/2 cup of the sauce into a small bowl and reserve for glazing and drizzling later.

Place pork tenderloins in a ziploc bag and pour remaining marinade over pork, turning to coat.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to 24 hours.

Place tenderloins in 13x9 pan and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper.  Place broccoli around pork and lightly drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes or until internal temperatures are 145-150.  During the last few minutes of cooking, brush pork with 1/3 cup of the reserved hoisin sauce.  

Pour the remaining reserved marinade in a small saucepan over med-low heat to warm up while pork finishes cooking.  

Let pork rest for 5 minutes before slicing into medallions.  Serve pork and broccoli over rice.  Drizzle with remaining warmed sauce.  

Serves 4

Sausage Rolls with Hot Honey

1 pound breakfast pork and sage sausage
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
2 eggs
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 (17.3 oz) box puff pastry
2 Tbsp everything but the bagel seasoning
Hot honey

Preheat oven to 400 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  In a mixing bowl, combine the sausage, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, 1 egg and fresh thyme.  In a separate small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg and 1 Tbsp water until well combined.  Unroll puff pastry on a floured surface.  Use a rolling pin to roll it out slightly to create a large rectangle and soften the puff pastry slightly.  Cut the pastry in half to create two long strips.  Repeat with the second puff pastry dough, so that there are 4 long equal strips.  Divide the sausage mixture into fourths, shaping each portion into a long log.  Place each sausage log in the center, lengthwise along the pastry strips, pressing it down as needed so that it creates a long, thin line of sausage down the center of each puff pastry strip.  Brush one side of the puff pastry with the dijon mustard, then brush the other side with the egg wash.  Roll the pastry around the sausage, letting the egg wash act as flue, pushing the puff pastry together until it seals.  Flip it over so that the seam is on the bottom.  Using a sharp knife, score small slits into the top.  Cut into 1/2 inch rolls.  Place each seam side down on the prepared baking sheet.  Brush the tops with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with everything but the bagel seasoning.  Bake 18-20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown and sausage is cooked through.  Drizzle each sausage roll with hot honey, sprinkle with extra thyme, and serve warm.

 

Lime and Coconut Cocktail

 2 oz Malibu Coconut Rum
2 oz Coconut Milk (or coconut cream for a thicker drink)
1 oz Coconut syrup
1 oz lime juice
1 oz guava syrup (or to taste)
Ice

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with a generous amount of ice.  Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds until well chilled.  Strain over fresh ice in a tall glass.