Homemade croissant Cinnamon Rings

This is simple and easy to make. I made croissant cinnamon rings. Perfect with a cup of coffee. 

Croissant dough

1 cup warm whole milk

1-2 tablespoons sugar

1 package yeast

1 cup flour

3/4 cup whole milk at room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup melted butter

3-4 cups flour (all purpose flour)

1 cup chilled butter

tablespoons melt butter in a bowl and a brush

In a large mixing bowl, mix in warm milk and sugar together. Add yeast and let stand for 10 minutes, then stir well. Add in flour, mix well. Add in milk, sugar, and egg. Mix until smooth. Add in butter mix well agian and set a side.

In another mixing bowl, add in 4 cup of flour and chilled butter. Cut butter into the flour (small size but not too small) Then pour the liquid batter into the flour/butter mixture. Stir until moistened and form into a ball, cover bowl, refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.

On a floured board, knead dough, and divide into 4 parts. 

 Rolled each dough into rectangle

Brushed with butter and sprinkled with mixed cinnamon, brown sugar, and, nutmeg

Then roll each into log and formed into a doughnut/bagel shape. Place each on a baking sheet in a baking pan.

Brushed each with melted butter and sprinkled some cinnamon powder. Bake in the oven at 225 degrees C and bake for 20 minutes until golden. I didn't make any icing but it would of taste great if I poured a little icing on each cinnamon rings.

Orange Chicken

I haven't had orange chicken for almost 4 years. When I'm in the states I would go to Panda Express in Boston or when I order Chinese food I would order orange chicken, veggies, and rice. I miss American Chinese food so much, actually I miss American food. I would like to take a vacation from cooking and go back home for a week. I have to say most Chinese food in Oslo that I have tried are kind of bland. I'm not a fan of eating out in Oslo besides being expensive, I think it's a waste of money. But if I were to go out to eat in Oslo I prefer Vietnamese, Thai, or Indian food because they are my favorite and I like spicy food. 

Today while watching King of Queens, there was a scene in the mall when Arthur Spooner said, "Panda Express, I could eat." All I thought was ORANGE CHICKEN. So I checked what I had in my kitchen. I had about 2 kilos of chicken breast and I had most of the stuff that I need to make Orange Chicken. All I needed was to get some oranges and starch at the store. It was a struggle out there. SNOW SNOW and more SNOW. My hands felt like it was going to fall off because it was so cold, couldn't find any brush to brush snow off my car. I will never get used to this cold Norwegian weather. Anyways at least I got the stuff I needed.

 For my orange sauce 

1 cup water 

1/3 cup sugar or 1/2 cup sugar (if not using ketchup)

1/2 cup ketchup (optional)

1/8 cup vinegar

tablespoon soy sauce

4 teaspoons cornstarch or potato starch

1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)

1 tablespoon grated orange zest

1/3 cup marmalade

1 tablespoon chopped scallions

In a sauce pan added water and whisked in sugar, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, grated orange zest, marmalade, cornstarch. Whisked until well combine and thick over low/medium heat. Remove from heat. (add in more liquid if it's too thick)

Meanwhile cut chicken into chunks and marinade with a little soy sauce, grated ginger, pepper, salt....

 My flour batter.

 Coated chicken with flour batter.

 Fried my chicken in olive oil because I didn't have vegetable oil. It came out good and crispy. After I was done frying all chicken. I heated my orange sauce over medium to high heat, stirring constantly and from burning, then I added in my fried chicken into my orange sauce and coat well. Topped with chopped scallion and red pepper flakes. Served with steamed rice and steamed broccoli.

My American Chop Suey

The other day for dinner I've made American chop suey. One of my favorite dish as a kid. I have made this dish different ways and I wanted to share this because my kids and husband loves it. When I was pregnant with my first that 's when I started to make American Chop Suey. I was craving it a lot. That was back in 2006. 

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter

2 stalk celery, chopped

1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and finely chopped

1 onion, minced

2 clove garlic, minced

650 grams 80% lean ground beef

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons Heinz chili sauce (optional)

salt & pepper

1/4 cup dried Toro tomato soup base (optional)

1 can 28oz tomato with juice

tomato sauce

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/3  cup beef stock

a pinch of sugar

1 lb elbow macaroni

1 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Chopped bell pepper and celery.

Chopped onions and garlic

In a large pan or large pot over medium heat, add in melted butter. Add in onion and bell pepper. Stirred often until soft for about 5 minutes. Stirred in garlic, cook for a minute, then added in ground beef, stirred and breaking up meat with a spoon. 

Stirred in celery

Added herbs, spices, Heinz chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, pepper over beef mixture. Added in salt to taste, stirred until mixed well. Afterwards I added in dried toro tomato soup.

Add in canned tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, paste, beef stock and sugar. Stirred, covered, simmered for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile in a soup pot with water, add in dash of salt and a little olive oil, bring salted water to a boil over high heat. Added in macaroni, cooked, stirred,  for 10 minutes until cooked through. Drained macaroni and added to chop suey. Stir and mix well.

Serve hot, top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Twice baked double stuffed buffalo chicken blue cheese baked potatoes

I am so happy that Norway is showing more American sports on TV. My husband and I like to watch NFL. Our favorite team is the New England Patriots. Anyway Superbowl food. I usually make the works. My famous hot buffalo wings, stuffed baked potatoes, mini burgers, homemade fries, pull pork sandwiches, homemade dips, and desserts. Someday I would love to go into catering for holidays and sports event.

 Hot wings and honey BBQ wings

 pull pork hoagies

Homemade chocolate mousse and homemade chocolate pudding

How I made my sauce click on this link

http://sorieyahomemadecooking.blogspot.no/2012/03/homade-bufflo-chicken-wraps-buffalo.html

This time I had made less because I have been baking and cooking all week. For my husband I have made him twice baked double stuffed hot buffalo chicken blue cheese baked potatoes. What a mouth full but so yummy.

My hot sauce mixture

 650grams skinless chicken breast cut into bite size. Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, seasoning salt, Worcestershire sauce, old bay seasoning. Stirred and cooked for 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through.

 Stirred in hot sauce mixture. Seasoned with a little pepper and garlic powder. Covered and let simmered for 5 minutes and then remove from heat.

 Washed and brushed each potatoes with olive oil and salt. Baked in the oven for 45 minutes until skin was crisped. Remove from oven set a side to cool. Then sliced each in halves.

 Scooped the inside.....

 Seasoned potatoes with steak seasoning, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, crumbled blue cheese, and måt fløte.

 Mashed and added in tablespoon chopped spring onions.......

 Stuffed it back in the potato skins

 Topped with hot buffalo chicken and crumbled blue cheese....baked in the oven at 220 degrees C. for half hour until cheese melted.

Serve with celery and carrots and drizzled blue cheese sauce on top of the stuffed baked potatoes.

 Homemade chocolate fudge brownies......

Broccoli, ham, macaroni and cheese heart shape pie topped with crushed Ritz cracker

My homemade broccoli, ham, macaroni, and cheese heart shape pie I made this specially for my husband because it was our 10 years anniversery of living together. We have known each other for 12 years. He got me heart shaped chocolate and twixs. He knows me well.

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup måt fløte, 1 tablespoon melt butter, salt, pepper, cheddar cheese seasoning, broccoli cut into bite size and steamed, 1 1/2 cup cooked macaroni, diced ham.....

Pastry dough in a heart pie form

Added in macaroni and cheese mixture

Topped with crushed Ritz cracker and baked in the oven at 220 degrees c. for about 10 minutes until lightly brown. Serve with side of salad.

The update on what's happening in my kantina.......

I had been very busy during the week cooking, baking, running errands, taking care of  3 wild kids and a husband, they caught some flu. Good thing they are all doing better. What I love about Friday, it's my day off and it's weekend. 

February 1, 2013 was a very special day. Our 10 years anniversary, the day I moved out of a little town in New England to moving to Norway. I honestly never imagine myself living in Norway, ever. Raising a family, and living life. I still can't speak Norsk well. I have known my husband for almost 12 years. He is the best thing that ever happen in my life. What an adventure we had during the past 10 years of living together. I can't wait for another 10 years and more to see what life brings to us. 

My daughters in my kitchen at my cafeteria.

My son trying to charm his way for one of mommy's chocolate muffin.

Running a cafeteria/kantina is not easy especially in Norway. Now I understand why it cost so much to eat out in the city. Buying supplies in Norway is so expensive especially for making American food. It cost twice the price than back home. Even if I asked one of my family members to ship me some things that I need back from the states, the shipping and handling cost around 50 to 100 dollars, depends on the weight and cost.

I do all the prep work and the cooking by myself  and I love it. I have noticed that my blueberry muffins and chocolate muffins were a hit. I sold all of it. My hot pockets and pork spring rolls are a hit too. Besides making Broccoli & Ham Cheddar Cheese and Pizza Hot Pockets. I also made BBQ chicken hot pockets. Those were really tasty.

The hardest part working in the kitchen is my kids. They are always with me. They have a play room near by but they seem to be more attach to me. It's stressful at times and challenging trying to do both. My husband's shop is across the hall but still the kids just want their mommy. I'm glad that my husband helps me with the kids. He tries his best to keep them busy while I'm working in my kitchen.

One of my daughters cried because I sold out all my muffins. She really loved the blueberry ones. I have to make some on her birthday which is in April.

Anyways here are somethings I have made and sold in my kitchen.

My pork filling for my spring rolls. (ground pork, oyster sauce, Chinese cabbage, carrots, onion, garlic,.........)

Spring rolls rolled and sealed.

Ready to serve with a side of sweet chili sauce. 2 pork spring rolls for 30kr-

My fillings for my hot pockets. Broccoli & Ham cheddar cheese, pepperoni, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese, BBQ chicken with onions, garlic, mushroom, BBQ sauce......

Pizza filling (sauce)

Pepperoni

& mozzarella cheese

Broccoli & Ham cheddar cheese

BBQ chicken topped with mozzarella cheese

Pizza Hot Pockets ready to be bake in the oven

and the others too

I had made about 30 hot pockets. 20kr for 1

My chocolate, chocolate muffins........

I made a dozen muffins. Next time I might make more.

This is how they turned out and they were all sold out. 20kr a muffin or 30kr with coffee.

For my husband and I special day I had made broccoli, ham, macaroni and cheese heart shape pie topped with crushed Ritz cracker. Baked in the oven. Came out great. Special day for a special husband.

Heart shape cheese omelet

Heart shape blueberry pancakes. 

Mozzarella, tomatoes, basil grilled sandwich served with marinara sauce

Elmo sandwich I made during the week for my son's lunch.