Category: Easy Recipes

Lunar New Year Charcuterie Board – Easy Cottage Cheese Dip recipe

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This blog post is sponsored by Shamrock Farms

New Year’s Eve went by quickly. And that’s a wrap of the holiday season for a lot of people. However, there is one more big holiday for Asian which is the Lunar New Year. As an Asian American, I always want to introduce the culture to the world, as well as incorporate American lifestyle into our family traditional culture. Today, I’m going to share a charcuterie board that would be perfect for Lunar New Year. Whether you’re hosting a dinner with some Asian friends, or you’re an Asian family celebrating Lunar New Year with American friends, this post is for you. Also, scroll down for the Creamy Garlic Cottage Cheese Dip recipe.

First, the dairy snacks!

Whenever I think about charcuterie boards, cheese is on top of the list. To be honest, our family didn’t grow up eating cheese in our daily meals. Now that we are introduced to lots of different types of cheese, we are excited to try them all. I personally choose the basic ones since we’re still new to having cheese as a snack. But this is totally optional based on your preferences. I also love having cheeses on our charcuterie board in case the guests have never tried any of the below Asian snacks before.

Now add the Asian snacks

If you have been to any Asian New Year party, you might have seen a party tray that is full of all the dried snacks. It’s a must actually. Therefore, I fill half of this charcuterie board with dried snacks. There are plenty of options from fruits to meat. Like I mentioned, if you are hosting friends who have never tried Asian snacks before, I would choose the snacks that are tasty and easy to eat. My favorites are:

  • Dried shredded chicken with lime leaves that had a balancing taste between salty, sweet, and spicy. My daughter can eat them so it’s not very spicy.
  • Asian spicy beef jerky. This type of beef jerky tastes totally different than the ones in national markets. It’s bold, sweet, and really spicy. You can taste the spices and herbs that were used in making them. The best thing is, it smells just as good as it tastes.
  • Crunchy Peanut candy – a candy bar that is pre-divided into small bars for easy sharing. It’s sweet but not overly sweet. The perfect combination of brown sugar and crunchy peanuts.
  • Dried seeds like watermelon seeds – roasted red & tiny seeds that are the most traditional item to have in the Lunar New Year tray; sunflower seeds; and pumpkin seeds.
  • Dried fruits and veggies. Such as dried sweet potato strips, dried mango rolls, dried young coconut strips (it is hard to find a good one in the US), dried sugar coated ginger strips, dried sugar coated lotus seeds, raisins, and dried cranberries.
  • Drinks!!! Since it’s a mixed style, you can prepare some red wine. However, serving the bird’s nest drink means you care for the guest’s health. You can easily search for its benefits.

Don’t forget the dips

While my charcuterie board is half full of Asian snacks which require no dips, the other half does. I center this charcuterie board with a homemade dip that would go well with the dairy snacks. I call it Creamy Garlic Cottage Cheese Dip. It’s smooth, creamy, balancing, and just super easy to make. Here is the recipe:

  • 250 gr Shamrock Farms Cottage Cheese
  • 50ml Shamrock Farms Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 50ml Shamrock Farms Whole Milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt + black ground pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Blend all ingredients above in a blender until thick and smooth.

I choose Shamrock Farms Cottage Cheese because of its soft and mild flavor, farm-fresh superior taste, and delicate texture. I have been choosing Shamrock Farms since all their products start with pure, fresh milk from their family of local farms. My family can notice the farm-fresh flavor and richness. Plus, they are a local Arizona company. As an Arizonan, I’m so proud to support them. You can find more information on where to buy Shamrock Farms’ Cottage Cheese, and get a coupon to save $1 on any two Shamrock products by visiting ShamrockFarms.net/coupons or click here.

I hope you enjoy the dip recipe above, as well as the ideas for a Lunar New Year Charcuterie Board. If there are Asian dried snacks that you absolutely love, share with me in the comment section below. A big thanks to Shamrock Farms for partnering with me in this blog post sharing a part of Asian culture. I also shared an Easy Eggnog Cream Puff recipe on my blog, check it out.

An Easy Recipe with Eggnog this Christmas

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This blog post is sponsored by Shamrock Farms

Everyone love having Eggnog as a Christmas tradition. I do too actually, and love it. Eggnog has always been a must for our family every holiday season. With the perfect taste that is just right for the holiday atmosphere, I personally think eggnog deserves the spotlight throughout the entire holiday season. This year, I have been loving to share unexpected twists from traditional dishes. So here is another recipe that I believe everyone will fall in love with. Before getting into it, be sure to check out my previous Thanksgiving side-dish which is the Crispy-Fried Pumpkin Salad with Sour Cream ranch. Now let’s check out the Eggnog Cream Puffs – an easy recipe with Eggnog you can make this Christmas.

Eggnog Cream Puffs
Ingredients:
  • ½ cup water
  • 65gr all purpose flour
  • 65gr unsalted butter
  • 3/4 tsp granulated sugar
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 5 tbsp Shamrock Farms Eggnog
  • 3 tbsp sugar powder
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
Why Shamrock Farms products?

I have been using and loving Shamrock Farms dairy products. Shamrock Farms is a local Arizona company and since I’m an Arizonan, I am proud to support them. It’s because all of their products are handcrafted with pure and fresh milk from their family of local farms. This holiday season, Shamrock Farms is sharing modern twists and transformed traditional recipes with Eggnog on their website. And you can find this Eggnog Cream Puffs recipe there too. 

How to make (steps by steps)

1. Boil water, ¾ tsp granulated sugar, ¼ tsp salt, and butter in a small pot on high heat until the mixture is completely boiled.

2. Turn the stove to low heat, quickly add all-purpose flour and mix well until everything is thick and non-sticky.

3.Remove the mixture from the pot, mix a little more to make it less hot.

4. When the mixture cools down but is still warm, add 2 eggs and mix well until smooth.

5. Preheat the oven to 430 degrees.

6. Transfer the mixture into a pastry bag or thick ziploc bag and cut a ⅓” hold.

7. Squeeze the mixture out on a baking tray/sheet. Each dough should be a size of an oreo cookie. Use your finger to shape them if necessary (Tips: dip your finger into water to avoid stickiness).

8. Bake at 430 degrees for 14 mins (or a little longer until you start seeing the shells get golden brown if your oven is big) then continue baking at 350 degrees for another 10 minutes.

9. After baking, take the puffs out and wait for them to completely cool down.

10. Meanwhile, prepare the Eggnog filling cream by mixing Shamrock Farms Heavy Whipping Cream (either stand mixer or hand mixer works) until soft peak.

11. Add sugar powder 1 tbsp at a time, then add vanilla extract.

12. Slowly add Shamrock Farms Eggnog and continue to mix until stiff peak then transfer the cream into a frosting bag/ziploc bag.

13. The puffs should be cool now. Use a knife to cut them horizontal however small or large you want. I personally leave a small part to make them open and close like a seashell.

14. Fill the Eggnog cream in the middle of each puff. We love eating them with just the right amount of cream, but you can fill less or more cream depending on your preference.

And that’s it. 

It might seem a lot when you read it but it’s really not complicated at all. I am sure everyone can make them. This is an easy recipe you can make this Christmas or throughout the holiday season if you love eggnog like I do. Shamrock Farms Eggnog is made in small batches, from pure, fresh Shamrock Farms milk and cream. With a custom blend of spices for the creamiest premium taste, it is a holiday favorite. This is why I love Shamrock Farms products. I can notice the farm-fresh flavor and richness from them.

This Eggnog Cream Puffs recipe is an easy recipe and it’s going to be your family’s favorite this Christmas. You can also make them fun for the Holidays by adding colors to the cream. Again, this recipe is going to be listed on Shamrock Farms website. They have many great recipe ideas for holidays that you can follow as well. Plus, they are having a coupon which is $1 off any 2 Shamrock Farms products. Have fun and enjoy!

A different Thanksgiving side dish you should try

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This blog post and recipe is sponsored by Shamrock Farms

What I love about Thanksgiving is the delicious dishes on the Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, of course, is always the hero every year. As we love keeping the tradition while trying something new at the same time, side-dishes would be what you can switch around. Besides the tried-and-true holiday side-dish traditions like mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and mac & cheese, there are many different side dishes our family loves. In this post, I am going to share a recipe I’m sure you’ll love. This side dish would be a twist this Thanksgiving and is something different that you should try. 

Shout out to Shamrock Farms

This is my favorite dairy brand. The first reason is that I notice a delicious difference when using their products. Everything made at Shamrock Farms starts with pure, fresh milk from a family of local farms. There are never artificial growth hormones added. And this company is a local Arizona company. Since I’m an Arizonan, I love supporting local businesses. Now let’s get to the recipe. 

Crispy-Fried Pumpkin Salad with Sour Cream Ranch

Ingredients:

  • 250ml Shamrock Farms Sour Cream
  • 260ml Shamrock Farms Organic Wholemilk 
  • 100gr rice flour + 50gr all purpose flour
  • Pumpkin of choice 
  • Lettuce of choice
  • Bell pepper 
  • Corn (optional)
  • Shredded cheese (optional)
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper (optional)
  • ¼ tsp salt (optional)
How to make step by step:

1.Wash bell pepper and peeled pumpkin then leave a side.

2.While waiting for the pumpkin and bell pepper to dry, wash, drain, and cut lettuce.

3.Mix 250ml Shamrock Farms Sour Cream with 40ml Shamrock Farms Whole Milk, black pepper, and salt. This is a salad dressing and also a dip.

4.Mix 100gr rice flour + 50gr all purpose flour and 220ml milk into a deep bowl.

5.Slice drained bell pepper and pumpkin into thin slices (about ⅛ inch) then add them to the mixture above.

6.Carefully mix well so the mixture evenly coats pumpkin and bell pepper.

7.Boil oil in a deep pot until hot enough. Then use a fork to pick and drop each coated slice into the pot. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes.

8.Add lettuce and other optional ingredients into a salad bowl. Place the fried pumpkin and bell pepper on top.

9.Top with the Sour Cream Ranch dressing made in step 3.

I love using Shamrock Farms dairy products for their richness and farm-fresh flavor. The Shamrock Farms Sour Cream gives a richer and more natural flavor. It is handcrafted with pure and fresh milk so you can notice the difference. Also, their whole milk is another staple item in our fridge. Now that you have the recipe. This Crispy-Fried Pumpkin Salad with Sour Cream Ranch would be a different side dish you should try this Thanksgiving. It’s super quick and easy to do. I hope you give a try and love it. Also check out my previous recipe with other Shamrock Farms products: the Matcha Cookie Smoothie.

ENJOY <3

Easy Matcha Cookie Smoothie – Smoothies Recipes for Summer

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This blog post is sponsored by Shamrock Farms.

Summer during this uncertain time, I found myself in my kitchen a lot more. I am sure I’m not the only one enjoying making delicious desserts. Actually, I am officially team “recipe making” now. So make sure you check my blog often for more recipes to come.

In this blog I’m introducing you to some recipes with cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is a healthy addition to your recipes that makes your tasty recipes harder to resist. Shamrock Farms Cottage Cheese is always a delicious staple in my kitchen. You can also jumpstart your day with cottage cheese as a healthy snack packed with protein.

Now let’s get into some of my favorite recipes:

Are you a fan of matcha? If so, I’m bringing you a simple recipe that you can try at home. I created this recipe after a couple tests to bring you the most balanced flavor: 

The Matcha Cookie Smoothie

Ingredients:

-1/2 cup Shamrock Farms Original Cottage Cheese

-1/2 cup Shamrock Farms Whole Milk

-1/4 cup Shamrock Farms Heavy Whipping Cream (optional)

-1 tbsp matcha powder

-1 tbsp granulated sugar

-a couple OREO cookies

How to turn all those above into a delicious smoothie?

1. Add ½ or 1 cup of ice into the blender.

2. Top the ice cottage cheese, milk, heavy whipping cream, matcha powder, and sugar.

3. Blend until smooth.

4. Break the cookies and add into the blender to continue to blend.

I like it crumby but if you like it smooth then blend a little longer. You can adjust the amount of the ingredients to meet your best taste.

Cottage cheese makes this smoothie a lot more tasty. Shamrock Farms Cottage Cheese is made with pure, fresh Shamrock Farms milk which is high in bone-building calcium and protein. They are available in Original and Low-Fat varieties. 

I also tried some recipes from Shamrock Farms website and love them. Below are my top favorite summer recipes using their cottage cheese.

Click here for this Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Cottage Mousse recipe

Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie recipe

Tell me which recipes you would try. If you have your own, comment below, I want to try them too. 

Xo,

Vannie

*Shamrock Farms is a nearly 100-year-old local Arizona dairy company. This brand is my go to when it comes to dairy products since I can feel the high quality in their products. Plus, I love supporting local businesses. 

*You can find other delicious recipes on Shamrock Farms website as well. They also offer $1 off coupons to use on any of Shamrock Farms Cottage Cheese or Sour Cream products.