What's for dinner?

I've recently came to the conclusion that I've lost all my touch in cooking and baking. Not that I was a good cook but I've had compliments.. :) The cheesecake that I was once famous for has became a failure. I still like cooking and when I do cook I was told by my husband that I over cooked. I've been craving for all kinds of food that I used to have when I was back in Edmonton. I enjoyed cooking for my friends when I was home. Now my only audience is my husband and he is picky with his food. I've been deprived of good food!! I can't wait to go back to visit and get my dad to cook a storm. Curry balls?? my friends?.. hahahaha

I hate having to decide what's for dinner. But luckily for me, I usually don't have to cook on the weekdays cuz' his mom cooks. The usual fish and veggies. You can always predict what's for dinner from Monday thru Friday. I'm not complaining cuz' I don't have to think of what to cook after a long day at work. I just hope she can be more creative, more flavor, less greasy... Weekends are special request from Herb most of the time and that's when I show off my talent.. hahahaha

Tonite, Herb and I will be going for Shabu-Shabu(hotpot) at a little place in Quincy. Been bugging him to try it out since last summer. If it wasn't his friends that said it was pretty good, I doubt he would take me. I don't know what happened. At one point we were out trying out different restaurants once a week or month and then it all stop. I think its because we can never agree on 1 thing and we start to argue. I heard the soup base for tonite's shabu shabu is pretty good.. loaded with tons of MSG for sure.. yum!

UPDATE: Went shabu shabu, it was spicy! But it was delicious. We had 2 soup base - a mongolian spicy base and a chinese herbal base. The mongolian side was HOT but you can't stop cooking on that side. We order some beef balls, and it only came in 4 pcs.. cheapo! 2 bucks for 4 balls.. I could have bought a whole pack myself. It was good but a little on the pricey side.

Food for thoughts.. I revamped a wonton recipe and it turned out pretty good..
I don't have the exact measurements.. as Herb always say that I never measure and each time I cook the same food its always different. Good cook doesn't require measuring cups or spoons. Have you seen iron chef measure? LOL

Ingredients:


1 pkg Wonton Wrap
1 lb ground pork
10 pcs shelled, deveined and chopped shrimp
Scallions - chopped in to small pcs.
Cilantro - chopped into small pcs.
Corn starch
Oyster Sauce
Sesame oil
Light soy sauce
White pepper

Chili oil

2 tbsp of veggie oil

2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
chicken stock
1 sm thai chili pepper
2 gloves garlic
hoisin sauce

Steps:

Minced the ground pork and shrimp together. Mix in scallions, cilantro, white pepper, oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce and cornstarch.

Refigerate the pork fillings for abt 30 mins. While that's being marinated, heat up 2 tbsp of oil and saute the garlic and chili peppers until fragrant. Add in 2 spoonful of peanut butter, chicken stock and hoisin. Whisk until it's smooth and it comes to a simmer. Add sugar if you want it to taste sweeter. The consistent of the sauce should be a little on the watery side.

While the sauce is being cool, begin wrapping the wontons. Once it's done, cook them in a pot of salted boiling water. When it's floating, it's done. Drain the wontons and add some peanut sauce, scallions and hot chili oil if you desire spicy.