Chicken and Dumplings (Slow Cooker)

Rainy, fall days are here. 

Rainy, cold days are not my favorite.

But, it was time to make it positive with making a delicious meal that will change my mood.

It's my first time making Chicken and dumplings!

...And it was so good guys!

Especially making it in the crockpot.

This is perfect for someone who doesn't have much time to cook.

Perfect for busy week day. 

Or a chill weekend when you just want to sit down and watch movies all day and 

 relax with your love ones.

Let me know what you guys think!

CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS (SLOW COOKER)

INGREDIENTS   

1 

onion, chopped

1 1/4 lb. 

boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 tsp. 

dried oregano

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 

(10.5-oz.) cans cream of chicken soup

2 c. 

low-sodium chicken broth

4 

sprigs fresh thyme

1 

bay leaf

2 

stalks celery, chopped

2 

large carrots, peeled and chopped 

1 c. 

frozen peas, thawed

3 

cloves garlic, minced

1 

(16.3-oz.) can refrigerated biscuits

DIRECTIONS

1. -Scatter onion in the bottom of a large slow cooker then top with chicken. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.
2. -Pour over soup and broth then add thyme and bay leaf. Cover and cook on high until the chicken is cooked through, about 3 hours.
3. -Discard thyme and bay leaf, then shred chicken with two forks. Stir in celery, carrots, peas, and garlic. Cut biscuits into small pieces, then stir into chicken mixture. Spoon liquid over any biscuits at the top. Cook on high until vegetables are tender and biscuits are cooked through, about 1 hour more. 

Enjoy, and Stay dry friends!

xoxo

Cashew Chicken

Hello Friends!

Happy Weekend!!

So excited for this long weekend. 

Just happy to have more relaxing time with my boys. 

Maybe, I'll have extra time to cook too!

I missed baking and  cooking something new. 

Yesterday, for dinner I made this delicious dish. 

Hubby hates peanuts, So I never make anything like this when he's home.

I mean, right now is the perfect time to cook what ever I want.

This turned out good.

The boys loved it.

Let me know what you think!!!

Cashew Chicken

Ingredients 

3 tbsp hoisin sauce

½ tsp chili garlic sauce

3 tbsp chicken broth or water

1½ lb boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

salt and pepper

1 tbsp cornstarch

1½ tbsp vegetable oil

1 small onion, cut into 1-inch pieces

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsp rice vinegar

6 green onions, diced

¾ cup unsalted, roasted cashews

cooked white rice

Instructions

1. Whisk together hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, and chicken broth in a small bowl. Set aside.
2. Transfer chicken to a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper.
3. Sprinkle corn starch on top of chicken and toss to coat.
4. In a large non stick pan, or wok, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the chicken, stirring often, until golden brown and cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Add the onion and cook for another 3 or 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is soft and translucent.
6. Add garlic and cook for another minute or so.
7. Add rice vinegar and stir. Cook for another minute.
8. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the hoisin mixture. Stir to combine and cook for another few minutes to warm through. Remove from heat.
9. Stir in cashews and green onions. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
10. Serve over cooked white rice.

Enjoy!!!

xoxo

Dokdo Korean Restaurant (Venice)

Few weeks ago, Me and my friends are craving for some Korean food!

So we went to our favorite Korean restaurant. 

It's a bit of a drive but, its definitely worth it.

If you are stationed here in Aviano and craving for some Korean food?

This is the place to go. 

It's called Dokdo Korean restaurant.

I highly recommend!!

They open for lunch but we went right when they open for dinner. 

They have really good selection on their menu.

And they definitely serve authentic Korean food.

Started off with some Korean beer!

One of the Korean dish that my boys love.

Of course, you got to have some Kimbap!

..And their chicken is the bomb, I swear you can't go wrong with any of it.

Just order any and try it!

You won't regret it.

Their garlic sesame chicken.

We also ordered the Samgyupsal the beef one, sorry I forgot what its called for beef.

But, Samgyupsal is pork!

Our cooks!

Kimchi cheers!

What a fun night with friends.

xoxo

Fable Table (Fontanafredda)

The weather here in Italy is definitely been changing.

Cold weather is here, So time to find more things to do indoor. 

I really like the Indoor playground in Ordezo but, its nice to have other options.

We went to this indoor place in Fontanafredda, this town is not too far from Sacile.

We celebrated my youngest son's Birthday there and it was amazing.

This was our first time going there just for fun.

It's called Fable Table!

They opened at 5, I thought why not go right when they open.

It was perfect timing.

We have the place all to ourselves.

Their play area is not crazy big, but its a good area to play.

..And what makes it so much better is you can just relax, have a drink,

coffee, snack, be on your phone and you can see the kids without any worries.

They have dinner menu!

A drink while the kids play.

It was so relaxing!

When the kids got tired I ordered the dinner.

I ordered burger for me. 

Cotoleta and Pizza for the boys.

Their burger was pretty good.

I ordered the Carbonara pizza.

One of my favorite pizza, its sooo good!!!

It was a good meal for us. 

It was so empty while we were there.

People started to come around 7. 

It was our cue to leave :)

It was a good night with my boys.

Ciao, Ciao!!

-Jen

Dreams.

"Every morning you have two choices;
Continue to sleep with your dreams, 
Or wake up and chase them."

Pumpkin Rigatoni

It's officially Pumpkin season!!

It's one of my favorite flavors for fall!

I thought, why don't I try making Pasta too.

I've been just making Pumpkin desserts and its aways a hit!

So I decided to give this recipe a try.

It's actually really good.

Very light, Healthy and so much flavor.

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce package rigatoni
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 8-ounce bag fresh spinach
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. 1.Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions for al dente – reserving 1 1/2 cups of pasta water for sauce before draining.
2. 
   
3. 2.In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into pieces as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.
4. 
   
5. 3.Add olive oil to pan and sauté shallot, garlic and crushed red pepper, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly golden, about 3 minutes.
6. 
   
7. 4.Add spinach to pan and wilt, stirring occasionally. If needed, reduce heat to low until pasta is ready.
8. 
   
9. 5.Return heat to medium-high. Add pumpkin puree, sage and salt & pepper. Slowly stir in pasta water, about 1/2 cup at a time, until sauce has reached desired consistency. Return sausage to pan and toss with pasta, adding extra pasta water if needed.

Enjoy!!!

xoxo

Nilagang Baka

Cold weather is definitely here in Italy.

It's surprisingly not rainy.. yet, compare to last year.

Days like today calls for a soupy dish. 

I'm so happy you guys like my Sinigang recipe.

Here's another dish similar to it, but made with beef.

Perfect with a bowl of rice.

Nilagang Baka (Beef)

Is a very common dish in the Philippines.

We love to eat it even in the middle summer time.

It's a really delicious comfort food.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. beef sirloin cubed
• 2 bunches baby bok choy or pechay
• 1 small cabbage chopped
• 6 pieces Saba banana halved
• 4 pieces baking potato quartered
• 1 large white onion halved
• 4 celery stalks chopped
• 2 pieces star anise
• 4 cups beef broth
• 4 cups water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Combine the water and beef broth in a large cooking pot. Bring to a boil.
• Add the onion, star anise, and celery. Reduce the heat in medium. Cover the pot and continue to boil for 20 minutes.
• Remove the onion, star anise, and celery from the boiling liquid using a skimmer or a strainer. You can discard these ingredients.
• Add the beef. Simmer for 60 to 90 minutes or until the beef becomes tender. You can add more water if necessary.
• Put-in the saba banana and potatoes. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Add the bok choy and cabbage. Sprinkle salt and pepper. Stir.
• Cover and turn the heat off. Let the pot stay with cover-on for 2 to 5 minutes to cook the vegetables.
• Transfer to a serving bowl.
• Serve. Share and enjoy!
  
  

Enjoy!!

Oh by the way,

Look at this beautiful framed picture of Venezia.

It's official.

One year left in Italy.

I already started getting souvenirs I want to bring back the US.

So sad.

But yes, I am ready to go.

Have a great week.

xoxo

-Jen