cause i'm a fatty

Momos!

The local Asian grocery store sold dumpling wrappers, so we made momos, which are Nepalese dumplings that are stuffed with meat and potatoes, or vegetables. We sauteed ground beef with hot curry powder and onions for the filling, and then pan fried the dumplings in a little bit of olive oil. They were delicious steamed too, with a little bit of soy sauce and chopped green onions to round out the plate. 

Pork Chops with Peanut Sauce

I love satay, which is normally barbecued meat with a spicy dipping sauce, usually peanut based. Even though I was only 5 years old at the time, I can very clearly recall how much I savored sate from the street vendors of Indonesia. This dish was made to evoke that feeling once again. Plus a rich peanut sauce is deliciously satisfying with seared pork chops. I adapted the recipe from All Recipes.

Directions:

Ingredients:

2 thick boneless pork chops, with fat trimmed
1 tbsp of flour 
1 tsp cumin/coriander blend
2 shakes of cayenne pepper or paprika 
2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
2 green onions, chopped
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste (or a crushed garlic clove)
1 spoonful of honey
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp sriracha

Directions:

Mix the flour and spices and coat both sides of the pork chops. Add a tbsp of oil to a shallow pan (preferably a skillet) on medium heat, and fry each side for 5-7 minutes, depending on how thick your chops are.

In the mean time heat up a little bit of oil in a saucepan and saute the garlic and ginger. On low heat add the peanut butter, salt and pepper, honey, sriracha, coconut milk and 1/3 cup chicken broth, stirring quickly until it has become thick. Plate your chops and drizzle with the sauce, and garnish with cilantro.

I know these rice bean cakes are terrible for you but I LOVE mochi. And I love taro. While mochi ice-cream is delicious, I take these and stick them in the freezer for an hour to get a similar texture, with half the calories. (And they are a bit cheaper too)