Lettuce Wraps

It's been a while since I posted a recipe but I have been working on one for a while now and wanted to share. One of my absolute favorite splurges is PF Chang's Lettuce Wrap. They are by no means a health food, but they are fairly low in carbs which is what I watch the most for myself. I have been tweaking this recipe and trying to get it just right and I am SO CLOSE!

Copy Cat Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

• 11/2 TB Olive Oil (separated)
• 1 Pound Ground Chicken
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• Half of a large onion, diced fine
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 3 TB soy sauce
• 1 TB rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 8-oz can of water chestnuts, diced
• Lettuce leaves, I used a head of Bib Lettuce

Instructions:

1. Heat large pan to medium high heat and add 1TB olive oil. Cook the ground chicken until completely browned. Make sure to crumble the chicken as fine as you can. 
2. Drain any fat from the cooking. 
3. Add 1/2 TB olive oil and add the onion and garlic. Cook 3 minutes, then add back the ground chicken. Lower heat to medium and add the remaining ingredients. Cook about 2-3 minutes until well combined. 
4. Serve on lettuce leaves and wrap like a taco!

One of the great things about this recipe is it is dairy, egg, gluten and nut free! Here is my issue (and I am welcoming suggestions)... it is lacking a hint of sweetness. I've tried a few things but nothing seems to add the sweet undertone and keep the asian flavor profile.  Suggestions?!?

I also wanted to note that I bought Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Hoisin, Rice Wine Vinegar and water chestnuts and all were gluten free. I like to have a go-to gluten free meal for when friends with allergies come to visit. This could be a a meal or a snack! I was very impressed with the Kikkoman brand and the quality of the ingredients. 

Beef and Broccoli

I have to share a couple of my new FAVORITE blogs! As you know, I have been rethinking my blog and it's focus and in the course of doing this I have been researching other blogs out there that I can relate to. In my search I came across the following ah-mazing bloggers:

A Cozy Kitchen

Edible Perspective

Table for Two

Never Homemaker


You can see the obviously common theme here. :D Anyway... I stumbled across Table for Two when I did a quick google search for an Asian Beef recipe. I have some angus beef and wanted to try something new. I found her Take Out, Fake Out Beef and Broccoli Recipe.  We made a few adjustments to suit our family and it is DELICIOUS! I actually want to make it again tonight. :D (Too bad we filled our red meat quote for the month... one or two meals max. ;D)

Crock Pot Beef with Broccoli

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless, angus beef strips 

1 cup beef broth

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce (we have a dark soy sauce from Wegmans that was perfect)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tbsp. sesame oil (the original recipe called for 1 tbsp but we upped the ante)

1 tsp jarred crushed garlic

2 tbsp. cornstarch

1 tbsp. peanut butter

2 cups of washed broccoli crowns

Cooked Brown Rice

Instructions:

1. Add the beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic to the crock pot and stir. 
2. Add beef to the liquid and toss to coat.
3. Turn crockpot on low and cook for 5 hours.
4. When done, in a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, peanut butter and cooking liquid to create a thickener, pour into crockpot, stir to mix well. 
5. Add the broccoli crowns and toss to coat.
6. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes to thicken up the sauce.
7. Serve over rice.