my kitchen: EASY LEMON KALE FAGOLI

Lemon kale bean soup just sounded so good and perfect for winter, and of course, halfbakedharvest takes the best photos, so I had to try this recipe. (I wish my kitchen had the window light that hers does, but sadly no windows in my kitchen). 

LEMON KALE ORZO SOUP

▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

▢ 1 shallot, chopped (x) 

▢ 4-6 cloves garlic, smashed

▢ red pepper flakes (x)

▢ 2 tablespoons salted butter

▢ 2 cups dry orzo pasta (i used fagoli, 1 cup next time, soaks too much liquid) 

▢ 6 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

▢ 1 can white beans 

▢ kosher salt and black pepper

▢ 1/2 bunch kale, finely shredded

▢ 1/2 cup basil pesto (I added less) 

▢ 1/2 cup whole milk (I added a little heavy cream) 

▢ 1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I added 1/2 cup) 

▢ zest and juice of 1 lemon (I did 1/2 lemon)

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/white-bean-lemon-pesto-orzo-soup/

Yum would make this again though I would add less starch so it’s more soupy than not

My kitchen: EASY CRISPY POTSTICKER SKIRT

Easy Crispy Potsticker Skirt 

Learn something new everyday and if you haven’t learned how to make crispy pot stickers at home yet, you must try this easy method perfected by @kirbiecravings. Our current fave brands of supermarket potstickers are Mazendo or the shrimp pork dumplings from Ba Fang. I should document the different brands I’ve tried, but always end up going back to Mazendo. 

[TAIPEI] 🥟Practice makes perfect #potstickers #crispyskirt 

EASY CRISPY POTSTICKER SKIRT 

1/2 cup water 

2 teaspoons flour 

Stir together to make a slurry. 

1- Oil pan and griddle potstickers for 2 min uncovered, medium high heat. I usually put 10-12 in a circle on nonstick pan 

2- Pour in slurry and cook 3 min covered on medium heat

3- Uncover and cook about 5-8 more minutes til skirt is golden brown and edge of skirt can be gently lifted by spatula

4- Gently put plate on top of potstickers (top of plate facing top of pan) and flip pan and plate together. (Or slide it off the pan to plate if you want the skirt to be at the bottom)

Enjoy!! 

american/chinese: i recommend FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS

[TAIPEI]

Orange chicken in Taipei. 

When I first started the blog, the question I would get once in awhile was "where can I find Americanized Chinese food in Taipei?" And I had no idea, I mean it just was not a thing here. Plus you've got dumplings, noodle soups and veggies galore. 

But then after a few years I would really get nostalgic for that styrofoam box of orange chicken, chow mein and a fried egg roll. I know I wasn't alone because I even followed the news of an American Chinese diner opening in China (and closing a few years later) and orange chicken getting so popular you could buy it at Trader Joes. Panda Express even started trying to started making burritos with orange chicken and had Innovation Kitchens. 

And now, Taipei finally has its own spot to order a few of your takeout faves. The founders of FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS 筷叉小館  were feeling the same cravings and tackled this problem with a cloud kitchen solution. 

The menu at Forks and Chopsticks isn't long, but it's got the classics you might spy at the mall food court - broccoli beef, orange chicken, chicken zucchini, eggplant and tofu, chicken and string beans, fried rice, and chow mein..and yes, there's fortune cookies, takeout boxes and that familiar looking styrofoam shaped box (minus the styrofoam cuz it's Taiwan 2022). 

And the taste comes pretty close, at least for me who hasn't been to the states in 2 years and hasn't had orange chicken in more than that. I must admit Panda Express' orange chicken was such the guilty pleasure in college. So while the flavor is close, I do wish it was a bit more crispier and stickier (though I guess I get Korean fried chicken for those cravings these days). Paired with a chewy chow mien, it scratches an itch. The familiar fried rice, the lucky numbers with your fortune.

You can order by the dish or get a combo 1, 2 or 3 dishes with rice or noodles (or upon special request half and half). Currently you can find @ForksxChopsticks on ubereats or pick up,  but there's no dine in yet. They are also testing egg rolls (another fave that I haven't had in years) and crab rangoon. 

There _are_ fortune cookies, but they are an extra charge unfortunately, the same way chips and salsa are not free in Mexican restaurants here. lol. 

So anyone been missing their takeout menu from back home? What else are you missing? Maybe honey walnut shrimp or (it's been so long I had to google) sweet and sour shrimp or Kung Pao chicken. 

FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS 

(pick up and delivery only)

No. 67號, Guangfu S Rd, Songshan District, Taipei

(02) 2748-4205