Ginger Beef - Best of the Best cookbook

I make a recipe exactly as written then add my changes onto the recipe

I microwave rice in a huge measuring cup. I added beef stock for flavouring (low salt). This is brown rice.

the cornstarch mixture and the eggs....

Recipe suggested mixing the cornstarch into the eggs. This batter fell off the meat. Next time I will use the egg, but dip the meat into dry, seasoned cornstarch.

Tender, top sirloin (on sale).

cut the meat against the grain for tenderness

Test the oil to make certain it is hot enough. A small dot of batter should  sizzle

Lots of paper towel to remove excess oil. The batter is not crispy and it fell off the meat!

I grated the carrot and added celery and a handful of prepared coleslaw.

Quick stir fry of vegetables.

The sauce ingredients. I use white balsamic vinegar instead of white. 

I sauce mixture.

The batter fell the meat!  The sauce recipe was perfect.

Rice is finished when all water is absorbed and you see open spaces (fish eyes) in the rice.

Chocoflan recipe from allrecipes.com

FROM allrecipes.com

OOPS, really need to look this up on line (not this snap shot)

Preparing the water bath and the pan while the oven preheats. Take the middle rack out and use the low one.

A fellow baker told me to use only Duncan Hines, better volume and taste!

I read a review that suggest you whip all of the wet ingredients until frothy before adding the cake mix; I will try that for my next cake!

Ingredients for the flan part of the recipe.

I break each egg into the measure so I can see egg shell, add eggs one at a time for proper mixing.

I love this paddle/spatula from The Bay, also at  home hardware!

The flan mixture sinks during baking and forms the top flan layer.

Cake covered with aluminum foil, sprayed with oil to avoid sticking.

 

This brand cake mix really rises!  Cool at least 30-60 minutes. If longer the caramel and flan could stick. 

Cover the cake pan, then flip over onto the cake plate. Make sure you have a firm hold of this heavy cake!

It worked!  The plastic heart doily is from IKEA (10 years old).

a small vase of flower in the center

This is a really poor recipe from Eagle Brand.  The ingredients are not separated into cake and flan
this could lead to a baking disaster!!! There website will only accept comments from the USA

Chicken Salad - bought too many tins at Costco!

6 huge tins!  Perfect for a lunch of Chicken Salad!

From Company's Coming CHICKEN cookbook. I am finding this line of cookbooks at the local hospice shop for
.50 cents each!  I take a picture of the recipes I will use then donate the book  back.

a variety of colours/vegetables to add to the chicken. Recipe calls for green onion but a red one works just as well. Same when substituting orange pepper for red or green.

I bought a new OXO brand grater. It can be separated from the fine grater.

served with a green salad and a sprinkle of seasoning for added colour.