Category: Food

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Cooking Vlog – Making Stuffed Cabbage Rolls & Beef Cheeks & Veggie Soup

Hey guys, I pray you are all well and safe. With prices on the rise for everything, I am trying to stretch my meals as much as possible. In this Cooking vlog, I make Stuffed Cabbage Rolls for the first time and Beef Cheeks and Veggie Soup.

Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage Rolls

I grew up eating stuffed peppers; my mom made them, and they were always so delicious. We also ate a lot of cabbage, but never cabbage rolls. I’ve seen several recipes and videos of people making and enjoying stuffed cabbage rolls and it seemed like a recipe that could last for several meals and that it would be easy to make. However, of course, I had to make the recipe my own and make a few adaptations for the things that we do not consume like tomatoes. So have a look at the video below to see how I made my Cabbage rolls.

Beef Cheeks

With food prices being so high in the United States, it’s hard to stay within a budget for food, especially when one is trying to feed a college student and a teenager; my kids have extremely healthy appetites. I must be very intentional about what I buy, but still make sure that when I cook, it tastes good. The advantage that I have is that growing up, we didn’t have a lot of money. My mother made a little something into a lot and made it taste good. Back when I was younger, all the odd cuts of meat were extremely inexpensive, like neck bones, organ meat, cheeks, feet, and such. But now, people have gotten hip to the fact that these inexpensive/trash pieces are some good eating.

I grew up eating chicken hearts, pig feet, hog jowls, and the likes but never had any beef cheeks. It was a nice cut of meat and not too expensive, so I decided to pick up a pack and try it. It looked like a roast with a bit more fat on it, so what better way to cook such a cut than to make it into a soup or stew. Check out the video below to see the process.

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Until next time, Remember to Cook, Eat and Enjoy, Travel, Live and Repeat!

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Hot Pot Crazy | The basics to making Hot Pot at home

Yes, you read the title correctly. I think I have a problem. I have become Hot Pot crazy; obsessed with Hot Pot; eating it 2-3 times a week (sometimes more). It is the middle of summer and yes I am eating Hot Pot. Why you ask, do I love Hot Pot so much? Well… it is a great group meal and the variety of ingredients are endless. And a good broth makes my soul smile.

Hot Pot starts with a hot broth which can be spicy, sweet, sour, etc. There are so many varieties of Hot Pot broth, it is crazy. Most people like it spicy, but I prefer not. Here are the Hot Pot broths that I found at my local Asian market that is my favorite.

And two others I will be trying in the future. The also have a spicy one that I have tried as well.

And then there are the veggies. Take your pick and add them in. My go-to veggies are a variety of mushrooms, yellow squash and or zucchini, bok choy, cilantro and some type of hot pepper. However, one of my recent Hot Pots I used purple broccoli which worked well. I suggest using veggies that you know will stand up to the boiling, however, you can use any veggies, but if you know that a certain veggie cooks extremely fast like spinach, use it, but just add in what you know you are going to eat immediately and then add as you go.

Grey squash and hot peppers

White and Brown Beech Mushrooms

Spicy Hot Pot broth, yellow squash, purple broccoli, and whole tilapia and more

Hot Pot is not all about the veggies and broth, you can also have seafood or paper-thin sliced meat, all to add as you go. I have tried both meat and seafood.

Additionally, another ingredient I love to add to Hot Pot is dumplings (Mandu) of all varieties.

Assorted Mandu (Dumplings) and Cilantro

Varied Dumpling added to the Hot Pot!

Various Dumplings and Mushrooms, bean sprouts and green onion

There are so many different types of dumplings, it is fun just trying different ones and seeing what you like and don’t like.

To make Hot Pot, you are going to need a nice size pot for boiling and I recommend a heavy one that will keep the heat. You can purchase a Hot Pot from your local Asian Market; they usually come with spacers inside so that you can have more than one types of broth and it is equipped with its own heating unit, so no burner required. Here is one from Amazon.

I just purchased a non-stick Caldero pot which is usually used for soups. I purchased one from my Asian market, but here is one similar to the one I used when I cook Hot Pot. Either will work.

The only other thing you need is a single cooking burner that you can put on your table; unless you get the actual Hot Pot as mentioned above. There are butane burners which are very commonly used for Pot Pot,

or you can use an electric one like I have.

I have added a link to both options from off of Amazon, just click on the pictures.

See what I am saying about going Hot Pot crazy. The options are endless and delicious and you can tailor it your taste buds. I hope you give it a try either in a restaurant or make it at home. I had my first experience at a restaurant and afterward, it has been Hot Pot at home!!! I hope you enjoyed this blog and check out the video link (just click on the photo below) if you want to see how I make a Hot Pot at home.

Until Next time, Remember to Cook, Eat and Enjoy!!!