Fawm Kauv/Steamed Rolls

Fawm kauv or steamed rolls is my husband's favorite. Probably because it's filled with just meat. I can only enjoy it with a side of a really good pepper sauce. I do love it because it's really easy and simple to make. It's a simple snack that everyone enjoys, but takes some patience to make. I've been making steamed rolls every since I was in my teens and we had always bought the premade package mix. However, this time, I made everything from scratch because I didn't have a bag of the premade package mix. The flours are really simple and I came across this recipe through a mistake. I was actually trying to make something else that uses the same kind of flours, but it didn't turn out right. Instead of wasting the flour batch, I decided to steam it since the mixture is similar to the steamed roll mixture. It turned out nice, but might have turned out better if I actually steamed it instead of using a frying pan. Making steamed rolls in a frying pan is the way I grew up doing it and it's definitely a lot easier. However, since I've been experimenting, I've actually steamed them and they turn out a lot better. I'm still working on this recipe because this was my first time making them from scratch (which was by mistake). Therefore, I don't actually have the accurate recipe for this. All I know is that it uses glutinous rice flour and rice flour plus water and a dash of salt. You can add a bit of oil, but I can't remember if I did.

I had some mistakes with this experiment. The flour mixture was a bit too thick and the texture was a little bit off. I added more water, but it still didn't turn out perfectly. Nevertheless, it was still delicious. My husband ate them all. He even packed them to work which he never wants to pack food to work. I obviously enjoyed them since I made a delicious spicy pepper sauce to dip them in. Here's the pepper sauce recipe.

I promise I will have a recipe soon from scratch. Feel free to go ahead and buy the premade steam rolls mixture. They work great too, but some packages have soil in them. This is why I'd like to make it from scracth. Besides, I was bored and I always like to know the ingredients that goes into such a simple, but delicious snack. Sorry....recipe coming soon!

Beef Noodle Salad

I made some to try for myself...
just the noodles, beef, and pepper sauce...
yummmm!!

Okay, I found these pictures from last year. I can't seem to find the recipe for it. I guess I will look harder. Anywho, I made this last year for our wedding anniversary and we ate this at the beach. It was a perfect cold noodle salad for the warm summer breeze. I love vermicelli noodles and I would literally eat it every way or find some way. I decided to add beef for my husband. Normally, I would add cold cooked shrimp or cold boiled chicken. This time I did it with beef and I also flavored the beef. I don't have the exact recipe, but I can remember the ingredients. The beef was marinated in a little bit of fish sauce, finely minced lemon grass, minced garlic and ginger, and sugar. The marinade is enough to just coat all the sliced beef; it's not soaked or drenched in the marinade. Cook the beef on medium heat until it's cooked. Cook the noodles and drain it out. Place noodles in a bowl, top with bean sprouts and cilantro, add the beef, and then the pepper sauce. The pepper sauce is the main flavor that will combine everything together. Without it, you mind as well not eat it. Luckily, I have the recipe for the pepper sauce. You don't have to have a recipe for the beef, any asian marinade for the beef will do.

Chili Pepper Sauce/Nouc Cham:

1 Tbsp lime juice
2 Tbsp sugar
½ cup water
2 ½ Tbsp fish sauce
1 ½ tsp vinegar
1 Tbsp chili garlic pepper paste

Combined all ingredients and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set in the fridge and then drizzled a few tablespoons over the beef noodle salad.

**This pepper sauce is great on steamed rolls, eggrolls; basically, it's great on anything and everything.

Our packed cold lunch for the beach in celebration for our anniversary.



Cheesy Bread

Mmmm....cheesy bread. Who doesn't love it? I happen to love it. Love the smell, the cheese, the softness, and, especially, the taste. I was craving for cheesy bread while I was studying late at night for my classes. Did not want to order from Pizza Hut or Dominos (Dominos was just a walk away) because I know I can make just as good cheesy bread without paying extra. I had 2 different kinds of cheese in my fridge and flour so I decided to make it all from scratch. 3 words...well worth it. I used the most simple ingredients and it tastes just like the delivered cheesy bread sticks. I don't have much experience with making the perfect bread, but I always go with a simple bread recipe.

Ingredients:
1 package active dry yeast
4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour,plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons unsalted butter,softened
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fine salt

Topping:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter,melted
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 of 1 lbs block of cheddar; shredded (about 2 cups shredded cheese)
1/4 of 1 lbs block of mozzarella cheese; shredded (about 1 cup shredded cheese or less)

Place 1/4 cup warm water in the bowl or mixing bowl and sprinkle in the yeast. Set it aside until it's foamy which is about 5 minutes. Add the flour, butter, sugar, and salt. Mix with the paddle attachment or with a wooden spoon until a slightly sticky dough forms. this takes about 5 minutes. If you have to use your hands....go right ahead.

Knead the dough by hand on a floured surface until very smooth and soft for about 2-3 minutes. Cover with a cloth and let it rise in a warm spot until almost doubled in size. This takes about 45 minutes and then divide the dough in half. Use a lasagna pan or a 9 x 13 baking pan and spread the dough to the bottom of the baking pan. If it doesn't touch all sides or corners, it's okay.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush the dough with the half the melted butter for each bread dough and sprinkle with half the kosher salt to each. Sprinkle the oregano seasoning along with the shredded cheese to both bread dough. Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly golden.

I baked hald the bread dough on an 8x8 baking pan...
which came out to be a think bread.

Serve with some marinara sauce and voila`.....
no need for delivered cheesy bread sticks!