Roasted Garlic-Edamame Spread

During my trip to Chicago my best friend Martina made this Edamame spread for me and I fall in love with it. This is the perfect substitute for the traditional chips and dips. There is so much calories in tortilla chips compare to fresh vegetables. This is a much healthier alternative choice. I used cucumber and zucchini chips with the spread.

Ingredients:
1 garlic bulb
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups fully cooked, shelled edamame (green soybeans)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Assorted fresh vegetables

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425°. Cut off pointed end of garlic; place garlic on a piece of aluminum foil, and drizzle with 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Fold foil to seal. Bake 30 minutes; let cool 5 minutes. Squeeze pulp from garlic cloves into a bowl.
2. Process edamame in a food processor 30 seconds or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Add roasted garlic, ricotta, basil, and lemon juice; pulse 2 to 3 times or until blended.
3. With processor running, pour 1/4 cup oil through food chute in a slow, steady stream, processing until smooth. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables.

Acapulco-Style Shrimp Cocktail

This recipe was from Rick Bayless' website. This is my first time trying out his recipes and it turned out great! I brought this to my friend Erin's Mexican tamale pot luck dinner. Thanks for having us over Erin!

Ingredients:
1 pound cooked shrimp
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons hot sauce (Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 small white onion, finely diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 ripe avocado

Directions:
1. Place the shrimp in a large bowl and add the lime juice. Measure in the ketchup, hot sauce, Worcestershire, onion and cilantro. Mix well.
2. Cut the avocado in half, running a knife around the pit from stem to blossom end and back again. Twist the two sides apart and scoop out the pit. Scoop each half out onto your cutting board, cut gently into small cubes, then scoop the avocado on top of the shrimp mixture. Carefully fold in the avocado, then divide the mixture between 4 to 6 serving dishes (martini glasses make a dressy presentation). Garnish with sprigs of cilantro and prepare for a taste of beach-side dining.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Summer finally arrived on July 5th this year. I was a little worried this will be a cold and rainy summer. Seattle is heating up! We might hit the 90s this week. I found this recipe on FoodNet.com. This is the perfect dish for a hot summer night. The lettuce wraps are light and healthy.

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh mushrooms
1 1/2 lb thin cut chicken breast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Coarse salt and coarse black pepper
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 inch ginger root, finely chopped or grated
1 orange, zested
1/2 red bell pepper, diced small
3 scallions, chopped
3 tablespoons hoisin, Chinese barbecue sauce, available on Asian foods aisle of market
1/2 large head iceberg lettuce, core removed, head quartered
Wedges of navel orange -- platter garnish

Directions:
1. Remove tough stems from mushrooms and brush with damp towel to clean, Slice mushrooms. Chop chicken into small pieces.
2. Preheat a large skillet or wok to high. Add oil to hot pan. Add chicken to the pan and sear meat by stir frying 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook another minute. Add salt and pepper to season, then garlic and ginger. Cook a minute more. Grate zest into pan, add bell pepper bits, chopped water chestnuts and scallions. Cook another minute, continuing to stir fry mixture. Add hoisin Chinese barbecue sauce and toss to coat the mixture evenly. Transfer the hot chopped barbecued chicken to serving platter and pile the quartered wedges of crisp iceberg lettuce along side. Add wedged oranges to platter to garnish. To eat, pile spoonfuls into lettuce leaves, wrapping lettuce around fillings and squeeze an orange wedge over.