Beef and Mushroom Tacos with Avocado Salad

 

I never get tired of Mexican inspired food, especially tacos and enchiladas, and I was excited to try a new variation. Although my kids definitely would have preferred these without the mushrooms, Mike and I really enjoyed them. I loved the cool avocado salad with the warm mushroom and beef mixture and added a little shredded Monterrey Jack cheese on top...YUM! (recipe from Rachael Ray)

Ingredients:
* 3 T olive oil
* 1 pound ground beef
* 1 onion, thinly sliced
* 2 jalapeño chiles—stemmed, seeded and finely chopped
* Salt and pepper
* 2 avocados, cut into cubes
* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (1 1/2 limes)
* 8 ounces sliced white mushrooms
* 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
* 8 small flour tortillas (I used corn)

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef, half of the onion and the jalapeños; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; reserve the skillet.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the remaining onion, the avocados and lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
3. In the reserved skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook until golden, 7 to 9 minutes; stir into the beef mixture and cover with foil to keep warm.
4. Wipe out the skillet and return to medium heat. Working with 1 tortilla at a time, lightly toast on both sides for about 1 minute. Stuff the tortillas with the beef mixture and avocado salad.

Mediterranean Spring Bowls

As soon as I saw these bowls on Favorite Family Recipes I couldn't wait to try them! They incorporate so many things we love and they didn't disappoint. It was fun to add some new and different flavors from our usual southwestern fare and I couldn't stop eating it! (there is lots of garlic, so be sure everyone eats some so you don't kill each other with your breath!) (it's a copy cat of White House Grill, but I have never been there so I'm not sure how it compares)

Ingredients:
1 bottle Lawry’s lemon pepper marinade
2 chicken breast halves (I used 3)
lemon pepper
1 onion, diced
1 medium-sized zucchini, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1/2 c. garbanzo beans (I forgot to get these so left them out)
12-15 cherry (or grape) tomatoes
feta cheese (used reduced fat)
For the rice:
1 c. long-grain, white rice
2 c. water
3 Tbsp. olive oil
juice of 2 lemons
4-5 cloves garlic, crushed (I used 6)
1/2 tsp. pepper
salt (to taste)

Directions:
Marinate chicken breast halves in lemon pepper marinade for at least an hour (sealed tightly in a plastic Ziploc bag works best). Remove chicken and discard marinade. Place chicken in a 9x13 glass baking dish and sprinkle with lemon pepper on both sides. Bake at 350-degrees for about 35 min or until juices run clear and chicken is completely cooked through. While chicken is cooking, heat a little bit of oil in a large skillet. Add diced onion, zucchini, bell pepper, and garbanzo beans. Saute until onions become clear. Add tomatoes and saute an additional minute or so until tomatoes become hot.
Chop up cooked chicken into smaller pieces and stir in with sauteed veggies.
For the rice:
Cook rice with water according to package instructions (or in a rice cooker). After the rice is cooked, combine remaining ingredients (from olive oil on...) and pour slowly over rice while fluffing with a fork. Add more lemon juice a little at a time if needed.
To serve: (I put it all in one big serving bowl this time)
Put a scoop or two of rice on a plate (or in a bowl). Add sauteed veggies and chicken. Top each bowl with about 2 Tbsp. feta cheese (or to taste).

Asparagus Carbonara

I loved the asparagus in this Rachael Ray pasta dish...and the garlic! It was pretty light and a great summer dinner, not to mention a yummy lunch the next day. I'll sub turkey bacon next time to keep it lighter.

Ingredients:
* 2 large eggs
* 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* 3/4 pound spaghetti (I used gluten-free)
* 1 bunch asparagus, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 5 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken broth)
* Salt and pepper

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and cheese. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, adding the asparagus during the last minute of cooking. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the hot pasta and asparagus to egg mixture; toss to coat.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, stir in the garlic. Add the wine and cook until slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Stir the bacon mixture into the pasta, adding enough of the reserved pasta water to moisten; season with salt and pepper.

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread and many more

While in a doctor's waiting room I was excited to find the May 2011 issue of the Food Network magazine to look through. I LOVED this page of mix and match ingredients that you can use to make any type of bread you want. We used zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts (and skipped a glaze) but I plan to try many more combinations!

Prep:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter one 9x5 inch loaf pan or three 6x3 inch mini pans.

For the batter:

Mix 1 1/4 c flour, 3/4 c sugar, 1 t each baking powder and salt, and 1/2 t each baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl; add your dry mix-ins (from step 2).

In a medium bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 1/2 c cooled melted butter or vegetable oil, 1/2 c plain yogurt or sour cream, 1 t vanilla extract and 1 citrus zest (optional).

Stir your fruit or vegetables (from step 1) into the egg mixture, then fold into the dry mixture until just combined.

Bake:

Spread the batter in the prepared pan(s). Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes for a standard loaf, 35-40 min for mini loaves. Cool 30 minutes in the pan on the rack, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.

Cracker-and-Parmesan-Crusted Fish Fillets

This Rachael Ray recipe for breading fish was my favorite yet I think. It turned out crunchy and light tasting and was packed with subtle flavors. It was a huge hit with the whole family!

Ingredients:
* 1 cup oyster crackers (I used saltines)
* 1/3 cup Ritz crackers, a generous handful
* 3/4 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese
* 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
* 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (I used 1 t dried thyme)
* 1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning (I used Tony's Creole)
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic
* Flour, for coating
* 2 large eggs, beaten
* Splash heavy cream or half-and-half (I used 2% milk)
* Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for frying
* 4 sole or tilapia fillets, rinsed and patted dry (I used some tilapia and some catfish)
* Salt and pepper
* Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions:
1. Using a food processor, grind the oyster crackers, Ritz crackers, parmigiano-reggiano, parsley, chives, thyme, Old Bay seasoning and garlic powder, if using. Transfer to a shallow bowl. Place the flour in another shallow bowl. In a third shallow bowl, beat the eggs and cream.
2. Fill a large skillet with enough EVOO to reach a depth of 1/4 inch and heat over medium-high heat. Preheat the oven to 200°. Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper. Coat the fish with the flour, shaking off any excess; coat with the egg mixture, then with the cracker crumbs. Working with 2 fillets at a time, fry the fish in the skillet, turning once, until deep golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer each batch to the oven to keep warm.

Balsamic Chicken

After the end of the school year and just getting back from vacation I'm ready to get back to my meal-planning and cooking again! This was the last new recipe we tried that I never got around to blogging about. I had seen it posted a few times on Melissa's Bargains weekly menu but when I saw it also had good reviews on Favorites, I decided I better give it a try. Of course, the fact it was an easy crock pot meal helped in my decision too. It was easy and flavorful and light. I also LOVED the tanginess and the fact that my kitchen didn't get hot making it!

Ingredients:
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves – approx. 1.5 to 2 lbs.
½ C. Olive Oil
½ – 1 C. Balsamic Vinegar – depending on how tangy you like the recipe (I used 1/2 c and it was plenty for us)
1 large can of diced tomatoes (I took this to mean a big 28 oz can)
1 can tomato sauce (I used an 8 oz can)
3-4 cloves of garlic minced or pressed
2 t. crushed dry oregano

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and serve chicken and sauce over rice or angel hair pasta. The consistency and taste of the sauce is sweet and tangy like an Italian barbeque sauce.

Lemon-Sage Chicken

 

I absolutely loved the flavor of the sauce on this chicken! The recipe was in the last issue of Taste of Home magazine and was definitely a winner in our house. I was planning to make some roasted asparagus to go with it and think it would have been a great pairing, but my asparagus wasn't looking too hot when I got it out of the fridge, so we went with salad instead.

Ingredients
* 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan and Romano cheese blend
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
* 1 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (I used cornstarch)
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
SAUCE:
* 2 tablespoons chopped shallot (I used green onion)
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1/4 cup white wine (I used chicken broth)
* 4-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
* 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
* 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream (I used FF half and half)
* 3 tablespoons cold butter, cubed

Directions
* Flatten chicken to 1/2-in. thickness. In a shallow bowl, combine the eggs, cheese and seasonings. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Coat chicken with flour, then dip in egg mixture.
* In a large skillet, brown chicken in oil in batches. Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 170°.
* In the drippings, saute shallot until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add the wine, lemon juice, herbs and lemon peel; cook over medium heat until liquid is reduced by half. Add cream; cook until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in butter until melted. Serve sauce with chicken.

Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

Although it is admittedly a little warm for soup here in Houston, this week was a crazy one and I was looking for a healthy crock pot meal and this one (from Family Circle magazine) looked good. It was easy and flavorful and light. I'm a fan!

Ingredients
* 1 cup wild rice and grain blend or all wild rice (I used an Uncle Ben's box without the spice packet)
* 1 medium onion,chopped
* 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
* 3 ribs celery,trimmed and chopped
* 1 package cremini mushrooms, cleaned and quartered (large ones cut in sixths)
* 1 whole chicken (3 or 4 pounds), cut up, wings reserved for another use (I used 2 breasts)
* 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) low-sodium chicken broth
* 2 teaspoons dried poultry seasoning
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
(plus 4 cups water)

Directions
1. Sprinkle rice into bottom of slow cooker. Add onion, carrots, celery and mushrooms. Remove skin from chicken pieces and trim rib bones from the breastbone. Place chicken pieces over vegetables; add broth and 4 cups water. Add poultry seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the pepper.
2. Cover and slow cook for 6 hours on HIGH or 8 hours on LOW. Carefully remove chicken to a cutting board; discard bones. Shred or chop chicken; return to slow cooker and add remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt. Serve warm.

Fish Tacos

Mike has made some really great versions of these in the past but it was long before I started my recipe blog and we never wrote them down unfortunately (and now he of course has no recollection of what he used for his sauce, etc.). I went to Allrecipes.com and this one had the best ratings so I went with it. The original recipe calls for fried fish, but I grilled ours instead and just heated the tortillas instead of frying them. I'm sure it's even better the fried way, but these were still super yummy and better for us! They hit the spot for sure! (also, the sauce makes a lot, so you could probably half the recipe)

Ingredients:
* lime juice
* chili powder
* salt and pepper

* 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used FF Greek)
* 1/2 cup mayonnaise
* 1 lime, juiced
* 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
* 1 teaspoon minced capers(I didn't have, so left out)
* 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
* 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

* 1 pound cod fillets, cut into 2 to 3 ounce portions (I used tilapia)
* 1 (12 ounce) package corn tortillas
* 1/2 medium head cabbage, finely shredded (I used a cole slaw mix)

Directions:
* To make white sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt and mayonnaise. Gradually stir in fresh lime juice until consistency is slightly runny. Season with jalapeno, capers, oregano, cumin, dill, and cayenne.
* Dust fish pieces lightly with chili powder, salt and pepper, and sprinkle with lime juice. Grill until the fish is done. Heat tortillas so they are soft. To serve, place fish in a tortilla, and top with shredded cabbage, and white sauce.

Chicken Salad with Yogurt Ranch Dressing

 

I was excited to try this Rachael Ray recipe because I love chicken salad and this one is made without mayo, so it's actually pretty dang good for you! It is crisp and cool and refreshing and sooo perfect for summer! I shared it with a friend and we had it with pita and tortilla chips, but I'm sure it is great as a yummy sandwich or on top of a green salad as well.

Ingredients:
* About 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 clove garlic, grated or minced
* Juice of 1 lemon
* 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar (I used red because I was out of white)
* Salt and pepper
* 1 cup fat-free greek yogurt
* A small handful each finely chopped dill, parsley and chives
* A few dashes hot sauce
* 1 rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded and meat shredded
* 1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
* 1 small red onion, chopped (I unfortunately used my red onion the day before so I put in extra green onions, but I bet it's even better with red!)
* 1/3 seedless cucumber, chopped
* 2 ribs celery from the heart, thinly sliced on an angle
* 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
* 4 flatbreads, warmed

Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the EVOO , garlic, lemon juice and vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the yogurt, herbs and hot sauce. Add the chicken, bell pepper, onion, cucumber and celery; season with salt and pepper. Top the salad with the tomatoes and serve with the flatbreads. (or chips, etc.)

Cup of Garden Soup

 

I saw this recipe in last month's Better Home and Gardens magazine where they had a special feature from Jamie Oliver. Since I have been on the lookout for healthy recipes, this one caught my eye. I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful and filling it was! The rest of the family even liked it for the most part too. Jamie says you can use whatever veggies you happen to have in your garden and since I don't have one, I just followed the recipe pretty closely :-) and it was great!

Ingredients:
* 1 Tbsp. olive oil
* 2 strips of smoked bacon, finely chopped (I used 4 strips turkey bacon, or leave it out to keep it vegetarian)
* 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
* 1 medium red onion, peeled, halved and finely chopped
* 2 carrots, washed and finely chopped
* 2 sticks of celery, finely chopped
* 1 zucchini, finely chopped
* 1 small leek, washed and finely chopped (I used 4 green onions)
* 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
* 1 bay leaf
* 2 14.5-oz cans chopped plum tomatoes (I used fire-roasted garlic)
* 1 large potato, scrubbed and diced
* 1 cup Romanesco cauliflower or cauliflower florets (I used regular cauliflower)
* 1 15.5-oz. can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
* 4 cups (one 1-qt. container) reduced-sodium vegetable broth
* Large handful curly kale, stalks removed, chopped (about 2 cups)
* 1/2 cup mixed small pasta shapes or broken spaghetti
* Small bunch of fresh basil (optional) (I left this out because I was already spending a lot at the grocery store)
* Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
* 5 Tbsp.freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the bacon and fry it gently until it starts to turn golden. Add the chopped garlic, onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, leek, oregano, and bay leaf. Cook slowly for about 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until the vegetables have softened.
2. Add the cans of tomatoes, the chopped potato, cauliflower, drained chickpeas, and vegetable broth. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender and cooked through (check by sticking one with a small knife).
3. Add 2 cups of water to the pan and return to boil. Once boiling, add kale and pasta and cook for 10 minutes more, or until the pasta is tender. If soup is too thick, thin it out with a little more broth or water.
4. If using the basil, tear the larger leaves into the soup and reserve the baby leaves for garnish. Season with a little pinch of salt and black pepper. Taste to check the flavors. Remove bay leaf and discard. Divide soup between serving bowls and sprinkle with the reserved basil leaves. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese.

Indian Butter Chicken

I thought this recipe sounded really good when I first saw it on Mel's Kitchen Cafe, but I just now got around to finally giving it a try. It was definitely a hit! One of our favorites of the new meals we have tried lately. I really loved the flavor of the sauce, in fact, all I really wanted was the sauce on rice...more and more and more of it! :-)

Ingredients:
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped (I forgot to get this, so I used 1 1/2 t ground ginger)
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 jalapeño, seeded, and finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon coriander (I left this out-I didn't have it and it was $11 at the store, so I skipped it)
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup fat free half-and-half
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch chunks (I used 1 large breast)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
Hot cooked rice for serving (I used Basmati)
Chopped fresh cilantro for extra garnish

Directions:
In a large 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until hot. Add the onion, ginger and jalapeno. Stir often while cooking until the onion is translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in garlic, garam masala, chili powder, cardamom, and coriander. Cook stirring, constantly for another minute.

Scrape the mixture into a blender or food processor and add tomato paste and chicken broth. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Pour the sauce back into the skillet and add the half and half. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and add the chicken pieces and the salt and pepper. Stir. Keep the sauce at a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook for 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened.

Cut remaining 3 tablespoons butter into chunks and stir into the sauce until melted. Serve the chicken and sauce over hot rice. Garnish with fresh, chopped cilantro, if desired.

Latin Crock Pot Chicken

I really try to have at least one crock pot meal a week for our busiest day. It's nice to have dinner ready to go whenever you need it! I found this recipe on Fabulously Delicious and it sounded yummy, was healthy, and I could throw it all in the crock pot...awesome!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. chicken thighs salt and ground black pepper to taste (I used 1 large chicken breast)
1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, divided
1 large sweet potato, cut into chunks
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
(I added in 1/2 red onion, cut into thin slices)
1 (15.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 cup hot salsa (I'll use medium next time, it was a little too hot for the kiddos)
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground allspice (I used Goya multipurpose seasoning)
3 large cloves garlic, chopped
lime wedges, for garnish
rice and tortillas

Directions:
1.Heat the olive oil in a large skillet; season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cilantro over the chicken thighs; brown the chicken in the frying pan, 3 to 5 minutes each side.
2. Arrange the chicken in the bottom of a slow cooker. Place the sweet potatoes, red bell pepper, and black beans on top of the chicken. Mix together the chicken broth, 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, salsa, cumin, allspice, and garlic together in a bowl; pour into the slow cooker. Set slow cooker to LOW and cook for 4 hours. Garnish with lime wedges to serve.

Greek Orzo (or Brown Rice)

This salad from Taste Buds was SOOO delicious and a perfect lunch to make and have on hand during the week. I used brown rice instead of the orzo to keep it gluten-free and also threw in some chicken to add a little protein and help feel me up. I LOVE it and can't wait to go eat more today!!!

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked orzo (or 3/4 cup brown rice)
1/2 cup diced cucumber; seeds removed
1/3 cup diced red onion
1/3 cup fresh minced parsley
3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (I used reduced fat)
1/4 cup chopped, pitted Kalamata (or black) olives (I left these out)

Directions:
Cook orzo according to package. Drain. Combine orzo, cucumber and onion in a large bowl; toss well. In a separate bowl combine parsley, lemon juice, oregano, olive oil, salt and pepper. Stir well with a whisk until incorporated. Pour over orzo and add remaining ingredients. Toss gently to coat. Serve with grilled pita bread (brush with olive oil, sprinkle on a little kosher salt and warm through on grill.)

Rumbi Rice Bowls

I have never been to Rumbi, but when I saw this recipe on Favorite Family Recipes I thought it looked really delicious and was intrigued by the combination of flavors and ingredients used. Her picture looks much more appetizing than mine though - I was in a hurry so I used my food processor to chop all the veggies, which left much smaller pieces. In my opinion the sauce makes this meal! I loved the rice and the chicken and veggies are just ok, but when you combine the two together and top it with the sauce it is heavenly! Loved it!!!

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil (I used canola)
4 carrots, peeled and grated
3 celery stalks, washed and sliced
1 zucchini, chopped into small cubes
1 1/2 c. chopped broccoli florets
2 c. chicken, grilled and cut into small cubes (I used pre-cooked and chopped chicken, like I said, I was in a hurry)
*Rumbi Rice (see recipe below)
**Spicy Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce (see recipe below)

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, zucchini, and broccoli (pretty much equal parts of said vegetables.. you can add more or less veggies depending on your taste). Saute ONLY until vegetables are crisp tender. About 1-2 minutes tops. Serve over Rumbi rice and top with chicken. Serve with Spicy Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce on the side.

*Hawaiian Coconut Rice with Red Beans aka Rumbi Rice
2 c. long grain white rice
2 1/2 c. water
1 (14oz) can coconut milk (I used light)
1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 can red beans, drained and rinsed

Combine all ingredients in a rice cooker. Gently stir it all together so the beans are all mixed. Place the lid on and start the rice cooker. Fluff rice with a fork before serving.

**Spicy Hawaiian Teriyaki Sauce:
3/4 c. teriyaki sauce
1 tsp. soy sauce (I used low sodium)
2 tsp. chili garlic sauce (aka: sriracha)
1 tsp. fresh ginger
pinch of salt
pinch of brown sugar
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. cold water

Combine teriyaki sauce, soysauce, garlic sauce, ginger, salt, and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Combine cornstarch and water and SLOWLY add to sauce for thickening. You want it to be slightly thicker than the teriyaki sauce. Allow to simmer for about a minute. Cool to room temperature and serve with your rice bowls. (I just realized I didn't even cook mine, I just mixed it in a bowl and poured it on top and it was great)