Day 6
I am so far behind in posting that I am beginning to realize I am going to have to at least start making notes as I cook something, instead of relying on it being readily availble in my cluttered little mind days later. However, I am going to do my best to recall the ingredients of a scrumptious little recipe I made on Day 6 for boys3 (Moose, Max and Ro). Unfortunately, I made this on a work day, before I went to work and when I got home to steam the little gems, I completely forgot to take a picture. I am planning to make these again. So, I promise to snap a shot then.
After the trip down American snackfood lane and its relative success, I started thinking about placing good-for-you items in little tasty packages. On my day of desperation, when I was standing in the grocery store with both boys screaming at me for cheese, I neglected to mention that I also picked up a pack of wonton wrappers.
The following night, I began brainstorming on what ingredients I could incoporate that would be palatable to everyone and would also be relatively indistinguishable in a potsticker. I've been reading a great deal about the health benefits of cabbage, courtesy of The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen. Cabbage is a potent detoxifier, can aid in detoxifying carcinogens and the destruction of human tumor cells. Cabbage is also one vegetable that Moose will willingly eat. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflamatory and gives things a lovely zing.
I decided both would go into the potsticker, along with the last of my zucchini from my garden, half a red bell pepper I needed to use up because I'm not eating nightshades currently, a tiny (and I mean fit in the palm of my small hand) sweet onion (walla walla from my garden), garlic and of course, meat. Nothing says 'mmmm good' and this is a 'MEAL' to Moose like meat. I thought I had pulled out a package of frozen ground pork, but realized after it thawed that it was lean ground beef.
And so I give you:
Gingery Beef and Cabbage Potstickers
(Disclaimer - I am recreating this in my mind from memory. Amounts are approximate, but I doubt you could go wrong if I am slightly off! :)
1 cup nappa cabbage
1/2 medium red bell pepper
1/3 medium zucchini
1 tiny onion (the equivalent of 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped)
1 clove garlic
1/2 piece of peeled ginger
1/4 lb lean ground beef (or pork, or chicken or turkey)
2 tbsp sesame ginger teriyaki sauce
1/2 package wonton wrappers
small bowl of waterPlace cabbage, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, garlic and ginger in food processor and pulse several times until finely chopped. Don't just turn it on or you'll puree the mixture. In a mixing bowl, mix the ground beef and the processed vegetables. Add the sauce and combine well, without compacting the meat.
On a working surface, take a wrapper. Place 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture in the middle of the wrapper. Wet the edges of the wrapper with your finger and water. Fold the wrapper over until the edges meet and press down to seal all edges. Place the completed pot sticker on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and cover with a damp papertowel.
Repeat until you've used all wrappers or mixture, whichever comes first.
At this point, you can do one of three things. You can immediately steam them or you can keep them in the fridge to steam later or you can freeze them on the cookie sheet and place them in a ziplock bag or container once frozen. I've done each of these with any combination of potsticker fillings and it works fabulously.
However with this recipe, I removed the papertowels and covered in plastic wrap, placed them in the fridge and steamed them when I got home from work that evening.
I steamed them in a steamer for 14 minutes or so. I imagine you could do the same thing with a steamer insert on a pot.
Serve with a side of the sauce you added in the beginning to dip them in.
My Notes:
I had way more filling than I needed. I also feel like I didn't stuff them full enough once they were cooked. I would probably use a teaspoon (or more), as long as the wrappers don't tear when you are pulling them over. I also served these with a chicken, vegetable and noodle teriyaki stirfry coourtesy of Trader Joe's.
Results:
Moose loved them, but also commented that they weren't as full as potstickers you get in a restaurant. He had no idea there was zucchini in there.
Rowan ate more of the potstickers than the stirfry.
Max ate 1 potsticker and then devoured the stirfry, much to my surprise.
I didn't eat them, wontons being full of wheat and the whole red bell pepper business. I promise to post something in the next several days that ALL of us actully ate.
All in all, I was incredibly pleased with the results of a completely cheese (and cracker) free meal!
