Homemade Potstickers

These homemade potstickers weren't all that hard to make but they beat Ling-Lings' pants off! The kids helped make the dumplings. We made them with ground turkey, but any ground meat would work well. We also grated carrots & threw them in with the cabbage for the salting routine. YUM!

Pan-Fried Asian Potstickers with Sesame Beef and Cabbage Filling

Published in Cook's Illustrated, September 1, 1994.

Why this recipe works:

Salting the cabbage kept the filling from getting soggy in our pan-fried potstickers recipe. For crisp potstickers that were cooked all the way through, we pan-fried them, added liquid and let them steam, and then uncovered them and cooked them some more until they crisped up again. (less)

Salting the cabbage kept the filling from getting soggy in our pan-fried potstickers recipe. For crisp potstickers that were cooked all the way through, we pan-fried them, added liquid and let them steam, and then uncovered them and cooked them some more until they crisped up again.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups filling

The filling amount is enough for 32 dumplings. Look for wonton or gyoza wrappers in 3-inch squares, with about 50 wrappers per pound in the package. See the related Illustrated How To Guide, "Shaping and Filling Asian Dumplings" for illustrations.

Ingredients

1/2	small Napa cabbage , finely shredded (about 2 cups)
1	teaspoon table salt
4	ounces ground beef
1	medium scallion , minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1	medium clove garlic , minced (about 1 teaspoon)
1	tablespoon soy sauce
2	teaspoons sesame seeds , toasted
2	teaspoons sesame oil
	Pinch cayenne pepper
1	package wonton wrappers (see headnote), or gyoza wrappers
2	tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

1. 1. Toss cabbage and salt together in colander; let stand until cabbage wilts, 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse cabbage; squeeze dry. Mix cabbage with remaining filling ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to make dumplings.

2. 2. To fill ruffled potstickers - Place one rounded teaspoon in the center of a round wrapper. Moisten the edge with water. Fold the wrapper in half, then pinch the edges together and seal. Lightly press the filling on the counter to form a flat base. Gather the pinched edges together to form ruffles on the top.

3. 3. To Pan-fry Dumplings - Bring 1/2 cup water or chicken broth to simmer in small saucepan. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil is hot and hazy, add dumplings, flat sides down. Fry until bottoms are brown, about 2 minutes. Add simmering water or broth to skillet, pouring around dumplings. Cover and cook until liquid is absorbed, about 3 minutes longer. Uncover and let dumplings fry until bottoms are crisp again, about 1 minute. Serve with dipping sauce passed separately, (see related recipes).

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/detail.asp?docid=5393

Stir-Fried Pork

2 cups white rice

1 tsp. oil
1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
8 oz. sugar snap peas
1/4 cup Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing
3 green onions, diagonally sliced
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Cook rice as directed on package

Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on med-high heat. Add meat, cook and stir 2 min. Add peppers and peas, cook 3 min. stirring frequently. Add dressing and onions, cook and stir 1 min.

Mix soy sauce, cornstarch, and ginger until well blended. Add to meat mixture in skillet, cook 1 min. or until sauce thickens, stirring frequently. Serve over rice.

Spring 2008 Kraft Food and Family magazine.

The Best Most Perfect Crockpot Roast Ever

1 roast
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 env dried onion soup mix
1 1/2 tsp A 1 sauce
2-3 cloves mashed garlic

Place roast in crockpot with soups, garlic and A1 sauce. Cook on low 4-5 hours. When finished the soups and roast juices make a great gravy for potatoes.

We use the Onion and Garlic Marinated Pork Tenderloin from Costco.

Recipe from Tammy Zundel

Swedish Meatballs

Meatballs:
1 large egg
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 large slice high-quality white sandwich bread, crusts removed and bread torn into 1-inch pieces
8 oz ground pork
1 small onion, grated on large holes of box grater (about 1/4 cup)
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
8 ounces lean ground beef
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

Sauce:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons juice from 1 lemon
table salt and ground black pepper

For the meatballs:
Whisk egg and cream together in medium bowl. Stir in bread and set aside. Meanwhile, in stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat pork, onion, nutmeg, allspice, pepper, brown sugar, salt and baking powder on high speed until smooth and pale, about 2 minutes, scraping bowl as necessary. Using fork, mash bread mixture until no large dry bread chunks remain; add mixture to mixer bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and homogeneous, about 1 minute, scraping bowl as necessary. Add beef and mix on medium-low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl as necessary. Add beef and mix on medium-low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds, scraping bowl as necessary. Using moistened hands, form generous tablespoon of meat mixture into 1-inch round meatball; repeat with remaining mixture to form 25-30 meatballs.
Heat oil in 10-inch straight-sided saute pan over medium-high heat until edge of meatball dipped in oil sizzles, 3-5 minutes. Add meatballs in single layer and fry, flipping once halfway through cooking, until lightly browned all over and cooked through, 7-10 minutes. (Adjust heat as needed to keep oil sizzling but not smoking.) Using slotted spoon, transfer browned meatballs to paper towel-lined plate.

For the sauce:
Pour off and discard oil in pan, leaving any fond (brown bits) behind. Return pan to medium-high heat and add butter. When foaming subsides, add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until flour is light brown, about 30 seconds. Slowly whisk in broth, scraping pan bottom to loosen brown bits. Add brown sugar and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium and cook until sauce is reduced to about 1 cup, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and return to simmer.
Add meatballs to sauce and simmer, turning occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and serve.

We have had these meatballs with both noodles and mashed potatoes.