verosnacks

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Whole-Wheat Bread

Ingredients:

Sponge:

1 cup water

1/3 cup whole milk

2 and 1/4 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast (about 1 packet)

2 cups (260g) whole wheat flour

Dough:

3 Tablespoons (63g) honey

3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar)

1 and 1/3 cups (173g) whole-wheat flour, plus more as neede

1 teaspoon salt

optional oat topping: 1 beaten egg white + 1 Tablespoon whole oats

Instructions

Make the sponge. In a large bowl of stand mixer, whisk together water, whole milk, and y east. Add flour and stir with a spatula until a thick batter forms.

Cover lightly, allow to double in size @ room temp. Takes 60-90 min, can be up to 2 hours.

Add remaining dough ingredients (honey, butter, lemon juice, flour, and salt). With a dough hook attachment, beat on medium speed or until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl (3min). If too wet, beat in more flour (1 Tbsp at a time) until a workable dough. Should be soft and a little sticky, but still kneadable with floured hands.

1st rise: PCover and allow dough to rise in a warm environment for 1.5-2 hours.

Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Shape the dough: when ready, punch to release the air. Use rolling pin to shape into a rectangle, about 8x15 inches.

Roll up into 8-inch log and place in prepared loaf pan.

2nd rise: Cover and allow to rise 45-60 min.

Bake @ 350 for 36-40 min.

06/19/2025 - This experience was terrible, stupid bread had to rise literally three times. Took ALL day, I would rather spend the $3 to buy this at the store any day of the week. I thought my loaf was going to be too big so I split it into two. I only succeeded in making tiny little bread slices, could totally have just kept it as one giant loaf.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKvFRAQrwpY

[verosnacks]

Whole-Wheat Tortillas

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups (355g) whole wheat flour

1 cup (142g) All-Purpose Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil (or any oil)

1 1/4 cup warm water

Instructions:

Mix together dry ingredients - flours, baking powder, and salt.

Add oil and mix, until the flour is crumbly.

Add about 3/4 of the warm water, mix until dough is smooth. Add remaining water if needed. (I used all the water)

Cut the dough into 12 pieces, about 2 oz each. Roll into a ball, rest for 15 minutes.

Once rested, roll out into 8 x 8 inch circles on a floured surface.

Over medium heat, cook each disk about 2 minutes on the first side, flip over, then cook another 2 on the second.

Cover and store at room temperature for up to 2 days - they also last really well in the fridge.

Notes:

06/13/2025 - These are still really annoying to roll out, even when they've been squished with a tortilla press. These are high effort but high reward - it's nice to not have to buy tortillas and used up remaining whole wheat flour in the pantry.

Source - https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/whole-wheat-tortillas/

[verosnacks]

Vietnamese Watermelon Rind Soup

Ingredients:

watermelon rind

chicken (1/5 pound)

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp fish sauce

oil

Broth:

1 liter chicken broth

1 tbsp chicken powder

1 tbsp fish sauce

1 tsp sugar

Instructions:

Season chicken with fish sauce and black pepper.

In a medium pot, add chicken and saute in a small amount of neutral oil. Remove when cooked.

Add watermelon rind to the pot. Saute for 1 minute.

Add in chicken broth and seasonings. Adjust to taste if necessary.

To garnish - cilantro, green onion.

Notes:

06/05/2025 - Made this with chicken powder and water and IT WAS SO GOOD. So light and good for the diet. Would be interested to try this with other proteins. Could add tofu for more protein or a veggie, essentially.

Source: Adapted from - https://meetandeats.com/vietnamese-watermelon-rind-shrimp-soup/

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Watermelon Kimchi

Ingredients:

~ 2.5lbs of watermelon rind

4 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon peeled and minced ginger

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons gochugaru

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

fresh ground black pepper to taste

Instructions:

Remove the green part of watermelon rind

Mix all ingredients in a container.

Add watermelon rind and toss to combine.

Eat after at least four hours. Will last in the fridge about one week.

Source: https://www.funkyasiankitchen.com/blog/watermelon-rind-kimchi/

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Chicken Fuji Apple Salad

Ingredients:

lots of spinach

feta cheese

chopped apple (like one)

sliced red onion (like one)

walmart salad topper

balsamic vinaigrette or whatever's on hand

Instructions:

Eat with chicken, top with avocado!

[verosnacks]

Vegan Matcha Butter Mochi

Ingredients:

2 cups Mochiko flour

1.5 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1.5 cup full-fat coconut milk

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

3 tsp Matcha powder

4 Tbsp butter (half a stick)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, and matcha.

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, vanilla, coconut milk, and eggs.

Stir wet into dry.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Notes:

06/04/2025 - Made this vegan by using vegetable shortening instead of butter. It smells like shortening. I also put 1 cup of sugar rather than 1.5, and when it came out, it wasn't that sweet at all... definitely needs some vanilla ice cream on top. Would make this again, but just use real butter, I only used shortening because these are for Hope and Andy and Hope can't have dairy.

Source: https://www.chichilicious.com/recipes/green-tea-mochi-cake/

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Marissa's Watermelon Spring Salad

Ingredients:

5 cups cubed watermelon

1 cup diced cucumber

5 cups spring mix

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/3 cup fresh mint (1 bundle)

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 avocado, cubed

1/2 jalapeno, finely chopped, optional

Dressing:

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/2 garlic clove, minced

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions:

Make the dressing. In a bowl, combine olive oil, lime juice, salt, and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss red onion, watermelon, spring mix, and cucumber. Top with avocado, mint, and feta cheese.

Source - https://www.loveandlemons.com/watermelon-salad/

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Traditional Red Enchilada Sauce

Ingredients:

8 dried guajillo chiles (55 g)

small piece of onion

1 clove of garlic

2 tsp (7 g) chicken bouillon powder salt to taste

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cup water or soaking liquid **Makes 1 3/4 to 2 cups of sauce

Instructions:

Open and remove seeds from guajillo chiles. Wash them to get rid of dirt and debris.

In a small saucepan, add the chilies, and pour boiling water over it. Soak for about 20 minutes.

In a blender, puree the chilies with 1.25-1.5 cup of the soaking liquid. Add onion, garlic, and chicken bouillon powder.

In a saucepan, add a little bit of oil, and then pour the enchilada sauce in it. Simmer for about 10 minutes and salt to taste.

Source: Simply Mama Cooks on Youtube

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Rice Cooker Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

1.5 cups long grain rice (washed)

2 cups chicken broth

8 oz tomato sauce (1 half can)

3 tablespoons butter (optional)

1/2 small white onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno, minced (forgot this lol)

1 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teasponn chili powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt (to taste)

Garnish - cilantro and lime

Instructions:

Add all ingredients into a rice cooker, stir. Cook according to settings.

Notes:

04/15/2025:

followed recipe, but too much water. reduced accordingly.

would be better made in a pot, will probably do that in the future

would try this again, with less liquid. little bit more flavorful than white rice

Source: https://pinchandswirl.com/rice-cooker-mexican-rice/

[verosnacks]

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Ingredients (one serving):

1/2 an apple, cubed

1 cup milk, divided in 2

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup oats

Instructions:

In a small pot, add apple, half a cup of milk, and cinnamon. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Add oats, mix until combined well.

Add chia seed, hemp seed, or flax seed if desired. Also one scoop of protein powder.

Add other half cup of milk. Stir well.

Add about 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.

Top with cinnamon, maple syrup, walnuts, and/or granola.

Notes:

04/16/2025 - Made this, pretty tasty. I would eat this as a dessert, but I don't like sugar that much. Feeding this to Jacob would be very cheap. He doesn't like the apples in it. He just wants oats and sugar...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J1Bt3t-o3Q

[verosnacks]

Creamy White Wine Mushroom Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast (cut in half)

salt, pepper, flour, cayenne spice mix (optional)

oil (once around the pan)

1 tablespoon butter

8 ounces mushrooms (I used 12, too much)

1/4 teaspoon italian seasoning

2 cloves garlic

1/2 cup dry white wine

3/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions:

In a large pot, boil water for desired amount of pasta (like 10-12 ounces is good).

Dredge chicken salt, pepper, and flour.

Add oil to pan. Fry chicken 2-3 min on each side. Remove.

Add 1 tbsp butter, more oil (if needed), mushrooms, some chopped onions, and italian seasoning. Cook for 5-6 min, until mushrooms have softened and water has been cooked off.

Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.

At this point, start cooking the pasta.

Add white wine, scrape up browned bits from the b ottom of the pan. Let sauce bubble for 2-4 min, or until liquid is reduced.

Add heavy cream, squish of lemon juice, and dijon mustard. Cook for about 5 min, until sauce his thickened. Add salt and pepper if desired.

Add pasta if desired.

Notes:

04/03/2025 - good for guesstimating and cleaning out the fridge. a forgiving recipe. I tossed in a giant handful of spinach.

Source - Adapted from - https://www.saltandlavender.com/creamy-white-wine-mushroom-chicken/

[verosnacks]

One Pan Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

Ingredients:

neutral oil

1lb pork chops (can use more or less)

salt and pepper

3/4 cup chicken stock (I used wine)

1 tsp Dijon mustard (a generous glop)

1 tsp Sumac blend (can use sage, rosemary, and thyme)

1 large apple (thinly sliced)

1/2 medium onion (thinly sliced)

Instructions:

Season pork chops with salt and pepper.

In a pan, add oil and heat up. Cook pork chops, 2-3 min on each side, until almost cooked. Take out.

Add more oil. Cook apples and onions, about 4 minutes until soft.

Add salt, pepper, and herbs.

Add in stock/wine and mustard, then scrape around the pan.

Slide pork chops back into the pan, cook 2-3 more minutes, until liquid has reduced by about half.

Serve with a starch and a salad or a vegetable.

Source: https://www.thechunkychef.com/one-pan-pork-chops-apples-onions/

[verosnacks]

Slow Cooker Beef Stew - serves 8

Ingredients:

2 pounds beef stew meat

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)

1 pound potatoes (guesstimate)

2 stalks celery

2 cups beef broth

14 oz tomato sauce

2 cups water (just use the can to guesstimate)

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dried herbs (thyme, oregano, basil)

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker.

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Serve with a side of pasta, rice, or crusty bread.

Notes: 03/09/2025 - A very forgiving recipe. I'd add more water. But the flavor was very good and concentrated as is. I don't think I would make any changes, this is perfect as is. Looks like leftovers cooked down and chopped more finely would make a delicious pot pie. Soup flavor is very concentrated and hearty.

Source: https://bestrecipebox.com/slow-cooker-beef-stew/ (there's also a youtube video)

[verosnacks]

Turkey Bolognese

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil + 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 medium carrots (whatever you have), chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 lb ground turkey

2/3 cup white wine

1 6-oz can tomato paste

2/3 cup whole milk

2 bay leaves

1 parmesan rind (optional)

Salt and pepper

Spices of choice (oregano, parsley, italian seasoning)

1 lb pasta of choice

freshly grated parmesan

Instructions

Heat butter and oil in a heavy-bottomed skilled. Saute the onions in it until just soft, about 2 minutes.

Add celery and carrots - this can be blended in the food processor to make it finer and hide the veggies. Add the garlic, cook 1-2 more minutes.

Add the turkey meat and cook, stirring, until starting to brown, about 5 minutes.

Add the wine to deglaze, reduce slightly.

Add tomato paste, milk, bay leaves, and parmesan rind. Add salt and pepper.

Put the lid on and cook on low-medium for 45 minutes.

Serve over pasta, sprinkle with cheese.

Notes:

02/16/2025:

steak fat instead of olive oil + butter to give it a beefy taste

onion and celery melted into the sauce without leaving chunks behind

used 2% milk rather than whole, turned out fine

Source https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/turkey-bolognese-13271070

[verosnacks]

Ingredients:

napa cabbage

ground turkey (again lol)

discarded miso butterfish marinade (remainder)

sugar (added too much)

fish sauce (goes really well with these flavors - saw this suggestion on tiktok)

minced garlic

could probbaly stand to add something spicy but didn't have anything

02/17/2025 - just usin up stuff in the fridge

[verosnacks]

Ground Turkey and Green Bean stir-fry

Ingredients:

ground turkey

green beans

oil (used steak fat)

minced garlic

red chili pepper or chili garlic oil (whatever spicy sauce - but not sriracha)

02/12/2025 Fed this to Jacob with rice, got rid of ground turkey and rice, old sauteed green beans from different thing. Was tasty, used up the jar of old chili garlic oil in the pantry.

[verosnacks]

Mustard Green Broth Soup

Ingredients:

HomeEat's mustard greens fish soup

Chicken broth (made with bouilion and water)

fresh cilantro

green onion

rice

Made a rice soup/porridge with leftovers from HomeEat and a half off fried fish from Hmart. It was tasty until I poked into its giant egg sac. 02/12/2025