Day 18, Mission: May Wah Vietnamese Egg Rolls, 347 recipes to go

One of my absolute favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Boulder is May Wah. They have a wide variety of both Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese dishes available in lunch size portions and dinner portions.Everything is delicious and very authentic. The meal that Jason and I go crazy for is the Vietnamese Noodle Bowl with Vietnamese Egg rolls and Pork. Since making this all would stress you out, and the ingredients are tough to get a hold of... I decided to figure out how to make my favorite part of it all: the egg rolls. These egg rolls are very different from traditional egg rolls, but are far more delicious. Here is how you can make this yummy snack at home thanks to simplyvietnamese.wordpress.com
Yields: 4-6 Servings
Total Time: 1 hour
# of Pans: 1
Ingredients:
For egg roll:

1/2 Pound ground pork
1 Garlic clove (chopped)
1 carrot, peeled and shredded
1/8 cabbage, shredded
1 ounce dried vermicelli noodles
2 Mushrooms (any kind will do)
1-2 large eggs
Ground black pepper
1-2 tbsp of fish sauce (depending on taste)
1/2 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
12oz package of egg roll wrappers
Oil for frying
For Sweet Fish Sauce/Dipping Sauce:
1 garlic clove chopped
1/8 teaspoon of hot chili peppers flakes
2 Tablespoons  fish sauce
1/3 cup water
1 tbsp fresh lime/lemon juice
1 Tablespoons cup sugar
1-2 tbsp shredded carrots
Directions:
*Soak vermicelli noodles in a bowl of warm water for 20 minutes
*While soaking, add your ground pork to a frying pan and cook until no longer pink
* In a food processor add vermicelli noodles and mushrooms, pulse briefly until all ingredients are integrated.
* In a large mixing bowl, transfer ingredients from food processor and combine with ground pork, shredded vegetables.
* Add black pepper, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and 1 egg, mix ingredients together.
*If the mixture seems dry, add the other egg.

thanks to ihatemymessageboard.comi

*Fill a shallow dish with 1 inch of warm water.
*Quickly dip rice paper in the water bath, making sure all parts of the paper is wet.
*Place wet rice paper on a plate and let it soften.
*Lay 1 ½ tbsp of filling on the lower edge of the rice paper, near you, leaving 1 inch edge. Begin to fold egg roll like an envelop: first, fold over the lower 1 inch edge over the filing, then the left edge, then the right edge. Now roll the roll up to the top edge.

thanks to ladyprogress.com

*Place the wrapped egg roll on a platter and keep on rolling until all your filling is used up
*Pout your oil into a deep frying pan or deep fryer and warm over medium heat
*Place egg roll one at a time into hot oil, with the seam down (this will keep it from unraveling) and then quickly turn the egg roll to ensure the skin crisp up and does not stick to other egg rolls in the pan. Adjust heat so that the oil is bubbling gently and not too vigorously around the egg rolls.

thanks to foodmayham.com

*Each egg roll will cook for about 5 minutes
*Place your cooked egg rolls on a cooling rack or paper towel
* Next, make the sweet fish sauce for dipping.
*Mix your chopped garlic and red pepper flakes
*Place the chopped or smashed garlic and pepper into a small bowl then add the rest of the ingredients for the dressing.
*Stir well until sugar dissolves.( If the sauce is not quite sweet enough add a bit more sugar. If the sauce is too sweet and not tangy enough for your taste, squeeze in some lime/lemon juice to cut the sweetness)

And there you have it. Now you can make this yummy treat at home for a party or for a snack. And if you are in Boulder, I highly recommend you try out May Wah and order the Vietnamese Noodle Bowl...or at least order the Vietnamese Egg Rolls :)

Thanks to cookingdunkinstyle.blogspot.com

Vietnamese noodle bowl...yummy!

Day 17, Mission: Divine Donuts Mini Donuts, 348 recipes to go

For the past 25 years Denver has been hosting a wonderful event called the Taste of Colorado. I got a chance to go in September of last year. First off, if you ever plan to attend...be prepared that there are thousands of people and lines get out of hand...this was maybe because Brett Michaels performed haha.I think Jason and I spent all our tickets on dessert...one of our favorites was Divine Donuts...a.k.a. mini donuts. Here is how you can make them at home :)
Yields: about 14 mini donuts
Total Time: 30 minutes
# of Pans: 1
Ingredients:
3 Cups flour
1 and 1/2 Cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon melted butter
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1 and 1/4 Cup milk
1 Table spoon vanilla
Oil for frying
Directions:
*In a large bowl, mix together your flour, 1 cup sugar, salt, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon.

*In a separate bowl, beat your eggs. Add in your melted butter, 1/4 cup milk and vanilla and stir until fully mixed

*Slowly combine your wet ingredients into your flour mixture and mix well
*Once your dough is fully mixed, plop it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 inch thick 
*Use a biscuit cutter or a standard size glass to cut out about 14 circles (or as much as you can fit). Use your finger or a marker to cut smaller holes inside your now cut our donuts

*Pour your oil into a deep heavy pot (or deep fryer if you have one). Warm the oil to just below a boil.
*Gently place 2 or 3 donuts into your oil on one side and cook until one side is slightly turning brown. Flip your donut over and cook until the second side is slightly brown

*Carefully remove your donuts from the oil and cool on a paper towel.
*For the glaze: Mix together your 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup sugar into a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the mixture becomes thick and sauce-like
*Turn off the heat and either pour the glaze on the donuts, or pick up each donut and dip one side into your sauce pan.
It's a simple little snack or breakfast item everyone will love!
If you want chocolate glaze, follow the above steps, only add in 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder :)
If you don't like a glaze, you can simply sprinkle sugar and cinnamon over the donuts, or coat them in powdered sugar

Day 11, Mission: McCormicks Fish House & Bar Chorizo & Cheese Fundido, 354 recipes to go

I spent the evening in Denver with Jason again before heading out in Denver. We wanted to eat a really good, cheap happy hour meal. Jason recommended we try out McCormicks Fish House & Bar located in the Oxford Hotel in lower downtown Denver. Their happy hour meny features Edamame, Baja Fish Tacos, Hummus, Grilled Artichokes, Flatbread Pizza, Chicken Wings and much more, along with an extensive drink happy hour (there is a $3.50 drink order minimum). But the best thing we ate was their Chorizo and Cheese Fundido. This queso type item is served warm with flour tortillas and it is delicious! So here is how you can make it at home!
Yields: 4 servings
Total Time: 25 minutes
# of Pans: 2
Ingredients:
1/2 Pound ground chorizo sausage, or sausage links with the skin removed
1/2 Small onion, chopped
1/2 Cup Monterrey Jack cheese
1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese
1 Jalapeno seeded and diced
1 Tomato, diced
6 Small flour tortillas, or a bag of tortilla chips
Directions:
*Pre-heat oven to 400', and grease an 8" oven safe casserole pan
*Add oil and sausage to a large frying pan, bring to medium heat and cook sausage fully. Set aside

*In a medium sized bowl, mix together your cheese, tomatoes and jalapenos. Once mixed, add in the chorizo and mix again.

* Pour your mixture into your casserole dish and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until cheese is completely melted and bubbling , and the top is golden brown
*Allow to cook for 3-5 minutes, then serve with tortillas or tortilla chips and enjoy this cheesy goodness :)

And Check out McCormicks Fish House & Bar

      http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/denver-colorado/denver-colorado/wazee.aspx