Cooking Exceptionally With Gin Lee

Holiday stuffed bell peppers Today, I am preparing my holiday ham and dressing and holiday stuffed bell peppers. These aren't your typical stuffed peppers. Instead of using ground beef and rice, I am using my ham dressing to stuff inside the prepared halved bell peppers. These are so festive to serve as a side dish on the holidays and they're truly very delicious.  Instructions:  6 bell peppers (red, green, yellow, and orange all look festive) 1 onion, finely diced ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt 2 cups of shredded cheese, use your preferred (I used a combination of shredded Swiss and mozzarella) 1-½ cups of holiday ham dressing , or boxed stuffing  1 ham steak, cooked and diced Ingredients: First, make your stuffing. To make whole stuffed peppers, slice the tops off of the bell peppers, and remove the seeds and the white lining from the inside of each pepper.  To make more servings, slice each bell pepper lengthwise down through the center of each pepper. Leave the ste...

The Ultimate Spaghetti Bolognese: Your Guide to Authentic Italian Comfort Food Forget those watery, bland versions you've tried before. We're about to embark on a culinary journey to create a Spaghetti Bolognese that's rich, deeply flavorful, and utterly satisfying. This isn't just pasta and sauce; it's a hug in a bowl, a taste of tradition, and a dish that will have everyone asking for seconds. The Soul of Bolognese: Building Flavor from the Ground Up The secret to an incredible Bolognese lies in its foundation. We're not just throwing ingredients into a pot; we're coaxing out layers of flavor through patience and technique. This starts with a meticulously crafted soffritto. Think of the soffritto as the aromatic backbone of your sauce. It's a finely diced mixture of onion, carrot, and celery, gently sautéed in good quality olive oil until they're soft, translucent, and just beginning to caramelize. This process, known as battuto in Italian, takes t...

Holiday ham dressing This is the perfect dressing to prepare for the holidays as a main course, or as a yummy side dish. I prepare it much like my normal dressing, but I add diced mushrooms and diced cooked ham instead of using chicken, or turkey. It's completely delicious and I hope y'all will enjoy it! Ingredients: 1 pan of baked southern -style yellow cornbread 4-6 pieces of dried or toasted bread, cut into cubes 1-2 ham steaks, cooked and diced 2 chicken, or vegetable bouillon cubes 1 can of cream of celery soup  1 can cream of mushroom ½ cup of butter, plus extra butter to grease your pan 1 large onion, diced 4 chives, chopped 2 teaspoons of dried celery flakes 1-2 stalks of celery, chopped 1-½ teaspoons of dried sage 1 teaspoon of thyme ¼ teaspoon of oregano ½ teaspoon of seasoning salt 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper 2 to 3 cups of water 3 eggs whisked Optional ingredients: Cooked sausage Sliced mushrooms Boiled eggs Instructions: So, first make your cornbread ...

Delicious Smoked Paprika Macaroni and Cheese Recipe This delectable dish combines the creamy goodness of cheese with the smoky kick of paprika, creating a mouthwatering blend of flavors that will leave you craving more. Perfect for a cozy night in or a special gathering with loved ones, this recipe is sure to impress. Follow my simple instructions to create a dish that is both comforting and satisfyingly delicious. Ingredients: 2 cups of dry elbow macaroni (once cooked and drained, the pasta measures 4 1/2 cups). 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup of butter 2 cups of evaporated milk 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 to 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika Seasoning salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Instructions: To prepare the macaroni, begin by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. If desired, add a pinch of salt for flavor. Once the water is boiling, add the macaroni and stir to prevent sticking. Allow the water to return to a boil and cook the macaroni uncovered, stir...

Home-Style Country Butter Bread The bread dough can be made in a bread machine if you're pressed for time, and it can be baked in it as well. However, I am making it by hand because it's just so much fun to prepare. It gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing that my bread is truly handmade. Ingredients: 1 cup of warm water 1 1/2 teaspoons of dry instant yeast 3 tablespoons of Splenda or sugar 2 tablespoons of melted butter, cooled plus about 3 tablespoons extra for brushing over the dough, greasing the bowl and bread pan 1 egg 3/4 teaspoon of seasoning salt 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour Instructions: Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 1/2 teaspoons of active yeast. Allow the yeast to bloom for 5 minutes. Now, add 3 tablespoons of Splenda or sugar, 2 tablespoons of cooled melted butter, and 1 egg. Mix well. Then add 3/4 teaspoon of seasoning salt and 3 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour. Begin mixing the dough with a spatula. Once the dough becomes shaggy, use your hands to bring it...

The Ultimate Mushroom Alfredo Spaghetti: A Creamy, Dreamy Recipe for Your Inner Foodie Tired of the same old weeknight pasta? Get ready to elevate your dinner game with a dish that's rich, decadent, and bursting with earthy mushroom flavor. This Mushroom Alfredo Spaghetti is more than just a meal; it's an experience. Let's be honest, a good Alfredo sauce can be life-changing. It's the ultimate comfort food, a hug in a bowl. But when you add the savory depth of perfectly sautéed mushrooms, it transforms into something truly spectacular. This recipe is designed to be your go-to for impressing guests or simply treating yourself to something incredibly delicious. Why This Mushroom Alfredo is a Game-Changer Forget those bland, watery versions you might have encountered. This Alfredo is all about building layers of flavor and achieving that perfect, silky texture. We're not just throwing mushrooms into a sauce; we're coaxing out their natural sweetness and umami. The ...

Easy Microwavable Corn Bread If you're planning to prepare cornbread dressing for the holidays, here's a way to simplify how to prepare a great-tasting cornbread for your dressing in less time. This yummy homemade cornbread can be made easily in the microwave in just under 5 minutes! Ingredients: 1/2 cup of self-rising flour 1/2 cup of yellow cornmeal 2 tablespoons of Splenda or sugar (optional for sweet cornbread) 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning salt 1/2 cup of water or milk 4 tablespoons of melted butter plus extra butter to smear on top of your bread while the bread is piping hot. 2 large eggs Instructions: In a microwave-safe bowl, add 1/2 cup of self-rising flour, 1/2 cup of yellow cornmeal, 2 tablespoons of Splenda or sugar (optional for sweet cornbread), 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning salt, 1/2 cup of water or milk, 4 tablespoons of melted butter, and 2 eggs. Mix until all the ingredients are incorporated. (I used a microwave-safe round cake pan.) Transfer the bowl to your microwav...

Edible Weeds With Health Benefits: How to Identify and Cook Six Uncommon Greens A patch of weeds can hide tender leaves, tart shoots, or flowers that belong on a plate. Some edible weeds add fiber and other nutrients to meals, but “edible” doesn’t mean safe in any amount. Here are six less-talked-about plants, with notes on what to eat, how to prepare it, and what to check before harvesting. Uncommon edible weeds can add more than greenery to meals These plants have food uses, but their flavor and nutrition can vary with species, growing site, season, and cooking. Treat them as seasonal ingredients, not medicines. Correct identification comes first. Common mallow offers tender leaves and edible flowers Several Malva species have edible young leaves, shoots, and flowers. The leaves taste mild, while their slippery, mucilaginous texture can thicken soups and stews. You can also cook them like other leafy greens or add the flowers as a garnish. Mallow can bring variety and plant nutrients...

No-bake chocolate silk pie Our holidays at home just wouldn't be complete without a dreamy chocolate silk pie. The pie is creamy and decadent with every bite. It has a homemade chocolate graham cracker crust, rich and creamy whipped chocolate filling, whipped cream topping, and chocolate chunked shavings on top. This dreamy chocolate silk is a no-bake pie. Plus, it's simple to prepare. It can be made within minutes, but will need to chill before serving it. For my crust, I broke out a package of my homemade chocolate graham crackers that I made previously and froze for the holidays. However, you can purchase chocolate graham crackers, or purchase a chocolate graham cracker crust that's pre-made. And if you prefer, you can also use any type of chocolate cookies to make a cookie crust for the pie. I use pudding mix as one of the ingredients for my pie filling, for an easy no-fail holiday pie. However, you can make homemade chocolate pie filling if that's what you prefer. ...

Cocoa graham cracker crust I know the easiest way to make a chocolate graham cracker crust would be to go shopping and purchase a box of chocolate graham crackers. But what if you're in a pinch, or the store is out of stock?  You could also take the time to make homemade chocolate graham crackers, but what if you're needing a chocolate pie crust for a specific recipe like right now and just don't have the time to bake something extra?  I have a quick remedy for making a delicious chocolate graham cracker crust, just in case you're ever in any of the described above predicaments.  If you can't find regular graham crackers, this same recipe can also be made with crushed oreo cookies, or any other type of chocolate cookies, and even made with crushed Cocoa Puffs cereal.  Simple cocoa graham cracker crust Ingredients: 5-6 tablespoons of melted butter ¼ cup of Splenda  1-½ cups of grounded graham crackers  ¼ cup of cocoa Instructions: In a microwaveable dish, ad...