Hello Readers,

Today’s Guest Blogger is Jocel of   FOODnTRAVELla whose sharing a wonderful recipe with my readers.

Whenever I plan to cook a meal or a dish, I’ll always make sure it is simple, easy to cook, not time consuming and mostly important satisfy everyone tummies.
Steam boat or hot pot is a traditional Chinese cuisine partake especially during Chinese New Year, cool weather or even gathering. I usually cook steamboat during the eve of Chinese New Year where all my family members gather for dinner. This also strengthens and fosters our relationship.
My typical type of steamboat is made of Chinese herbal soup/stock with arrays of fresh ingredients and seafood.
Since I don’t have the traditional steamboat pot, I substitute with a rice cooker.

INGREDIENTS
You can put your favorite seafood, meat and other ingredients including egg or noodles. As for me, my choice is:-
A. SEAFOOD
Fresh tiger prawns, ring squids, clams, cut abalone, slices of fish meat, variety of fish balls, crabs, sea asparagus and sea cucumber

B. ASSORTED MUSHROOMS
Shitake, Button and straw mushrooms

C. VEGETABLES
Lettuce, carrot, cabbage, parsley and young corn

D. FRIED GARLIC OIL – for garnishing (optional)
Stir fried chopped garlic with enough of oil till golden brown/fragrant enough

METHOD
A. SOUP/STOCK (guesstimate)
In a pot of filter water, put cleaned anchovies/chicken bones + slices of ginger + wolf berries (optional) + 2 slices of dong quay/Angelica sinensis (optional) + salt. Let it simmer/boil for about 30 -40 mins .
B. Filter and remove all the cook ingredients from the soup. Set aside

HOW TO ENJOY THIS SUMPTIUOUS POT OF STEAMBOAT

1. When the soup starts to boil, add in ingredients and close the cover for 10 minutes.
2. Scope into your bowl and garnish with fried garlic oil.
3. Dip with chili sauce for more ummph!

Jocel, is a food and travel blogger from Maylasia. Visit the blog  at FOODnTRAVELla

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This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

Warm yourself up with this creamy spinach soup you can whip up in only thirty minutes. It’s great for those cold nights when you want to cuddle up in your chair.

Preparation time- 15 minutes
Cooking time- 20 minutes

Serves- 2-4

Ingredients

1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth

1 (9-ounce) package refrigerator three cheese tortellini

1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thaw, squeeze out water

2 cups left over chicken, diced

2 cups whole milk

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon dried parsley

2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over low-medium heat, add chicken broth and tortellini cook until soft.

2. Next add spinach, chicken, milk, salt and pepper, thyme, parsley, and both cans of  cream of chicken soup.

3. Bring pot to boil; cover, reduce heat to low simmer for 10 minutes.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

When most people think of meatballs they think of Italian spaghetti and meatballs. For a change of pace theirs nothing better than a hot bowl of soup made with buttery lima beans and meatballs to warm you up from the inside out on a cold winter night.

Preparation: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 1/2 hours
Servings: 2-4
1 pound ground beef
1 cup dry lima beans
1 bay leaf (remove after cooking)
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup carrots,diced
1/4 cup celery with leaves, diced
1/4 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 beef bouillon cube
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 (15.5 ounce) can tomatoes, diced
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse lima beans and pour into the Dutch oven with 4 cups of water. Bring water to a rapid boil for 3 minutes; set aside for 1 hour.
2. In a small bowl, mix flour and 1/2 cup water; pour into Dutch oven with lima beans. Cook over medium heat until fork tender; stir in onion, bouillon cube, tomatoes,carrots, celery, salt, pepper, and bay leaf; bring to boil; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine with your hands ground beef, Italian style bread crumbs, evaporated milk, and Worcestershire sauce. Roll meat mixture into balls about the size of a quarter. Add to Dutch oven; cover and bake in oven for 1 hour or until meatballs are cooked; stir occasionally.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

Are you trying to find something to make with your leftover turkey? Instead of turkey sandwiches, why not have a good old fashion bowl of turkey soup. If you’re tired of turkey today, freeze it for tomorrow.
Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients
Leftover turkey with bones
16 cups water
4 cups turkey,chopped
1 pint half-n-half
2 medium onions, diced
3 large carrots, diced
4 celery stalks with leaves, diced
1 1/2 cups margarine/butter
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white rice, uncooked

Directions:
1. Pull meat and skin off turkey into a large bowl. Place only skin and bones into 5 quart saucepan with 16 cups of water; cook for 20 minutes. Remove from burner; pour through strainer into a large bowl.  Discard skin and bones. Set aside turkey broth.
2. Place vegetables, rice and 4 cups turkey broth into the same saucepan. Cook on low-medium heat for 20 minutes or until vegetables are fork tender; stir occasionally. Pour into the same bowl as turkey; set aside.
3. Melt margarine in the same saucepan; mix in flour; cook until bubbly. Add half-n-half and the set aside turkey broth into the same saucepan; bring to a boil. Next, add vegetable mixture, turkey, and seasonings into saucepan. Heat thoroughly while stirring occasionally.

Tip #1: Freeze leftover soup for 1 month.
Tip #2: Use store bought turkey broth instead of making your own turkey to save time.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

In a hurry or having a busy day? Use your slow cooker to save yourself a lot of time and energy. Prepare the meal in the slow cooker the night before and let the slow cooker do all the work, your meal is ready before your home. Happy Cooking

Pulled for upcoming book askmsrecipe: Simple Recipes that Make Cents

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 1/2 hours
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, bite size pieces
5 cups chicken broth
2 cans 15.5 oz.northern beans, rinsed
2 large potatoes, peeled, cut into bit size pieces
2 cans 15.5 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrots,diced
1 teaspoon pepper
2 small zucchini, chopped
1 1/2 cups frozen green beans

Salt (optional)

Directions

1. Pour all ingredients into 5 quart saucepan except northern beans  cover and cook on medium-low heat; stir occasionally. Cook for 1 hour 15 minutes;
2. Pour northern beans into saucepan and cook covered for 15 additional minutes. Serve with your favorite bread.

Tip: Use a strainer to drain the northern beans.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

A reader asked a question about my post for Groovy Reuben Soup.

hello hello. hmm. this one seems to be easy to do. however, i want to ask… what is sauerkraut? quite puzzled about that.

Ms Recipes Answer:
Sauerkraut is actually Fermented Cabbage. You can check out a bit of the history and pictures of sauerkraut at  Wikipedia

A few readers said someone in their home doesn’t like sauerkraut. If they don’t like sauerkraut you can cook the sauerkraut with some butter, salt, and pepper in a saucepan. Just cook enough on the side and add it to you soup bowl.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

Mama always says chicken soup was good for what ails you. Now you can make your own chicken and noodle soup, the easy way. Mama would be so proud.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 3-4 hours
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts, bite-size pieces
2 (32 ounce) cartons chicken broth
1 tablespoon chicken seasoning
½ medium yellow onion, chopped
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 (12 ounce) bag wide egg noodles
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt to taste

Directions:
1. Place chopped chicken into slow cooker with broth, chicken
seasoning, onion, salt, and black pepper.
2. Add egg noodles and cornstarch after chicken is fully cooked.
stir well. Add additional water if needed. Cook until noodles are
cooked.

Tips:
#1 Substitute bouillon cubes for chicken broth (1 cube to 1 cup
of water)
#2 Use store brand chicken broths to save money, but omit salt
as store brands tend to be salty.

Part of my Published  Cookbook

Ask Ms Recipe: Simple Recipes that Make Cents © Nina Marana

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

Tonight, I was looking to have something quick and easy for dinner. Soup sounded really good because its been really cold outside.

Egg Salad Sandwiches on whole wheat bread with optional sliced lettuce and
Chicken Noodle Soup.

What Did You have for Dinner?

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011

The flavors in this recipe are really intense. I was pleasantly surprised how good this not so ordinary chili turned out. Its one of those recipes that you can pre cut to cook later.

8-10 servings
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes

4 large sweet potatoes
1 28 ounce can black beans (un-drained)
1 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 green onions thinly sliced
1 teaspoon margarine or butter
1 large red or green bell pepper, diced
2 15 ounce can diced tomatoes (un-drained)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons ground cumin or to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 cup dried parsley
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1/2 inch pieces. Sauté sweet potatoes in margarine until brown and fork tender.

2. Sauté garlic and onion with olive oil until onion is translucent in a large pot. Add the remaining ingredients except sweet potatoes green onions, cilantro, salt and pepper and parsley. Bring to a boil then simmer covered for 15 minutes.

3. Add sweet potatoes and remaining ingredients. Continue to simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes or until the vegetables are heated thoroughly.

This post was originally published on Ask Ms Recipe If found anywhere else, this content is illegally copied and should be reported to askmsrecipe.com. Copyright 2008-2011