Month: October 2014

Hoisin Asian Meatballs

Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried, and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. They are a great appetizer or main dish.Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

I found this recipe for Hoisin Asian Meatballs a couple of years ago on Pinterest and thought I’d give it a try. It didn’t disappoint!

The ground beef meatballs are easy to make. To make it even easier, they are cooked in the oven, so they are baked, not fried. The baked hoisin asian meatballs are then coated with a wonderful sweet and mildly spicy Asian-inspired Hoisin glaze before serving.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

What Is Hoisin Sauce?

Hoisin sauce is a commonly used Asian glaze for meat or as an addition to a stir-fry dish… think “Chinese BBQ Sauce”… a bit sweet and a bit spicy. It is commonly made from soybeans, peppers, garlic and sugar. This sauce is widely used in Chinese cooking. When used in this recipe as a base and combined with a few other Asian-inspired ingredients, creates a pretty tasty sauce for the meatballs.

Hoisin sauce is commonly found in most grocery stores in the Asian foods section.  It is also very easy to make at home. I’ve done it, and posted the recipe for hoisin sauce here.

How To Make Hoisin Asian Meatballs

This recipe could not be any easier!  Basically, you mix up the meatball ingredients, roll into meatballs, then bake them for about 15 minutes. While the meatballs bake, mix up the sauce.  Once the meatballs come out of the oven, you simply drizzle each of the meatballs with the hoisin sauce mix, then serve.

See how easy it is to make hoisin Asian meatballs? About 15 minutes total for the prep time, and 12-15 minutes to bake. That’s it!!

How Many Meatballs Does This Recipe Make?

The recipe yields approximately 18 one and a half inch meatballs. Because of the short cooking time, they can easily be ready to serve in 30 minutes, which is an added bonus, right? Right!

Hoisin Asian meatballs can be used solely as individual appetizers. Just stick a fancy toothpick into each one, and serve them on a pretty platter. You can also serve them as a main course (which is how I served them), paired with some rice and a vegetable.

Hoisin Asian Meatballs are served as a main dish, on a bed of rice, with asparagus on the side.

Hope you will give these yummy Hoisin Asian Meatballs a try… I think you will like them! I know we did! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon. Have a great day.

Looking For More Meatball Recipes?

There are several other meatball recipes, using ground beef on this website!  They include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

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Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: http://damndelicious.net/2012/12/16/hoisin-asian-meatballs-sundaysupper/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: hoisin Asian meatballs
Servings: 18 meatballs
Calories Per Serving: 88 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 4 green onions , thinly sliced (stem and bulb), divided (3 for meatballs, 1 for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds , for garnish
FOR THE HOISIN GLAZE:
  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce (found in ethnic section at grocery store)
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
Instructions
  1. Before making meatballs, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper onto a large baking sheet.
  2. Prepare the meatballs: Mix the ground beef, sesame oil, Panko bread crumbs, ginger, egg, garlic and green onion together in a large bowl. Make sure the ingredients are fully incorporated together. Once combined, use your (clean) hands to form the meat mixture into approximately 18 one and a half inch wide meatballs.
  3. As each meatball is formed, place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the meatballs at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes (meatballs should be browned and cooked through).
  4. Prepare hoisin glaze while meatballs are baking: Mix the glaze ingredients (hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic) in a small bowl until fully combined.
  5. As soon as meatballs are done, drizzle hoisin glaze over the top of each meatball, garnish with reserved green onions and sesame seeds and serve while hot.
  6. If serving as appetizer, insert toothpicks or small skewers into each meatball on serving tray. If serving as main dish, serve it along with rice and a vegetable. ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (1 meatball)
Calories 88 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 124mg5%
Potassium 86mg2%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 40IU1%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

 

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Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons

You’ll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they’re a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!

The holidays are coming… the holidays are coming! Hope that fact doesn’t stress anyone out! This is the time of year I begin planning out the goodies I will make for my family and friends during the holiday season. Do you plan your Christmas goodies, too? My list this year will include these easy and delicious Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons!

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Do You Like Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons?

I really like the slightly crisp outside on these wonderful, sweet cookies. The inside is chewy coconut and tastes amazing. The taste of these chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons is complemented by dipping the bottoms of each treat in melted chocolate, then drizzling some on top. Yum!

If you like coconut and chocolate, you’re gonna love these chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! They are very easy to make, and taste great any time of the year.

I tend to make these yummy treats each December for the holidays. They are easy to plate up, and are fun to give to friends and neighbors for Christmas. There’s a lot of love shown to those you care for, when you give them a homemade food gift!

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, ready to eat, on a Christmas plate.

The chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are full of flavor! Go ahead… grab one. There’s enough to share! The recipe makes 2 dozen, so I saved you one. Yum.

Chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons, on a Christmas plate, ready to eat!

These chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons are a great treat to add to your homemade food gift list to bless family or friends with over the holidays, or ANY TIME during the year.

The recipe makes approximately 2 dozen of these beautiful macaroons, and they are pretty simple to make. The coconut cookie mixture is mixed, formed into balls, then baked. Once done, the bottoms are coated with chocolate, then chocolate is drizzled over the tops. EASY!

I hope you will give them a try! They’re fun to make them during the holidays, but since when do we need a special holiday to eat a great cookie, right? I really hope you enjoy these delicious macaroons!

Looking For More Christmas Goodies To Make?

You can find all my desserts in the Recipe Index at the top of the page.  Some of our favorite holiday goodies to eat (and give to others) include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe! 

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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The Grateful Girl Cooks!
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Author's signature

Recipe Source: http://www.bakerita.com/black-bottomed-coconut-macaroons/

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
Prep Time
50 mins
Cook Time
13 mins
Total Time
1 hr 3 mins
 
You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!
Category: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Keyword: macaroons
Servings: 24
Calories Per Serving: 184 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For cookies
  • 5 cups shredded , sweetened coconut (20 oz.)
  • 6 large egg whites
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
For chocolate base and drizzle
  • 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable shortening
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, place the egg whites, sugar, salt, vanilla and almond extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are fully incorporated; mixture will be a bit foamy. Add the coconut to the egg mixture, and stir until well combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap; refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes. This mixture will thicken.

  2. While mixture is refrigerating, preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Make sure your oven racks are set in the middle and lower positions. Place parchment paper on the bottoms of two large baking sheets. Spray the parchment paper with a non-stick spray or grease the paper.

  3. With wet (clean) hands, roll 1 Tablespoonful of the macaroon mixture into a round ball. (You can also use a cookie scoop if desired, but find it easier to use my hands). Place each of the "dough" balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. You should have approximately 24 macaroons.
  4. Bake macaroons at 375 degrees for 13-15 minutes. Halfway through baking time, rotate baking sheets (from one rack to the other for even baking). When done, the macaroons should be light golden brown on top. Remove from oven. Keep macaroons on the baking sheets while they cool, for about an hour. They need to be completely cooled before removing from baking sheets or dipping in chocolate glaze. Once macaroons have completely cooled, lay a clean piece of parchment paper on counter, then make the chocolate glaze.

  5. To make glaze: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate and 1 Tablespoon shortening in a microwave. Cook on high for 45 seconds. Stir, then continue to cook in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment, until chocolate is smooth. Be careful not to overcook and burn the chocolate.
  6. Carefully (macaroons are delicate) dip the bottom of each macaroon into the melted chocolate (just enough to cover), then place macaroon on clean parchment paper to let chocolate harden. Repeat with remaining macaroons. Use remaining chocolate to decoratively drizzle over tops of macaroons.

  7. Let macaroons cool, at room temperature, until the chocolate is completely "set". This will take about 30-45 minutes. Keep macaroons stored in an air-tight container for best results! Hope you enjoy them!

Recipe Notes

Note: If you do not want to use vegetable shortening when you make the chocolate glaze, simply omit it, and proceed per instructions. I use it, because I it thins out the chocolate slightly, and makes the chocolate a bit shinier, but choose your own preference!

Nutrition Facts
Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons
Amount Per Serving (1 macaroon)
Calories 184 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Sodium 123mg5%
Potassium 132mg4%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 5IU0%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 8mg1%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!You'll enjoy chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons! Easy to make, with chocolate bottoms and drizzle, they're a delicious chewy treat for eating and gift giving!

 

 

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Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!
Fall is here! I am ready for cool, crisp mornings… and soup! I made a pot of Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup yesterday, and it was really good!

We’re had a gorgeous summer here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but I am really enjoying the cooling air, the trees beginning to turn into their Fall colors, etc. There’s just something about Fall that calls for a large pot of delicious smelling soup cooking away on the stove.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I Came Up With This Recipe For Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup

Yesterday I was in the mood for a yummy, Italian-inspired Tuscan chicken vegetable soup. I’ve seen many recipes online for Tuscan Soup over the years (trust me, there’s a bazillion of them). Because of that, I had a basic idea of what items COULD go into this soup. I I ended up not using any ONE particular recipe, because I decided to simply create my own version. Guess what? We LOVED it!!!!

Seriously, people, we LOVED this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup! Success! Lots of “good-for you-veggies”, cannelini beans, chicken, and spices in a light Italian broth produces one great pot of soup!

Can You Make This Soup Vegetarian?

If you wish to make this a vegetarian friendly soup, it is easy! I typically use chicken broth and chicken in this soup when I make it. However, this soup tastes just as good using vegetable broth and NO chicken (if you’re vegetarian).

A bowl of the Tuscan chicken vegetable soup, ready to eat!

The Tuscan chicken vegetable soup was fun to make, because I was able to use some of the veggies I grew in our garden. These home-grown veggies included onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, carrots, kale and spinach! Of course, all those ingredients can also be found at your local grocery store!

All that said, this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup is an easy recipe to prepare, and is absolutely delicious! I sure hope you’ll try it. Serious… you just gotta try this soup, because it is so yummy! Throw on a warm sweater, some sweatpants, turn on some great music, and make a pot of this soup. While you’re at it, enjoy the beauty of this glorious Fall season! Enjoy!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. These recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do soIf you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest:
The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram:
jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: My brain. In “Fall” mode.

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Tuscan chicken vegetable soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 194 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts , cooked and cubed
  • 7 cups chicken broth (may substitute vegetable broth, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup onion , chopped
  • 3 carrot stalks , sliced thinly
  • 3 celery stalks , sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 small zucchini , sliced thinly
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup kale , chopped (stems removed) (if omitting, double the spinach quantity!)
  • 1 cup baby spinach , chopped
  • 1 can cannellini beans , drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt & pepper , to taste (may have to add more)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • Parmesan cheese , grated (for garnish if desired)
Instructions
  1. In a large soup pot, saute the onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken broth and cooked, cubed chicken to soup pot. Now add the salt & pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder to season the soup. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

  2. Add tomato paste, Mix well to combine. Add cannellini beans, kale and spinach. Season again with salt & pepper to taste, if necessary. Cook on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. When ready, ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tip: Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for the fastest way to make this recipe.

*I boiled the chicken breasts in water for 45 minutes earlier in the day... then used them later in this recipe. Whatever works best for you is the bottom line.

Nutrition Facts
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 194 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 1556mg68%
Potassium 826mg24%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 7035IU141%
Vitamin C 44.1mg53%
Calcium 116mg12%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

 

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