Hey, hey!!Ā Long time, no talk!Ā Did you miss me?Ā Okay, do not answer that just in case you didn’t! šĀ But I sure missed all of you.Ā It was so refreshing to take a week-long break from the blogging world and to disconnect from technology a bit, but I must say that I am glad to be back.
And I am coming back with a brand new concept: Magazine Monday.Ā I have an endless stack of recipes from food, health, and fitness magazines just sitting in my apartment.Ā I have mentioned this several times before, and I know that so many of you are experiencing the exact same problem!Ā So, what are we to do about it?Ā Well, start a monthly (or possibly bi-monthly..I have not decided yet), feature on my blog dedicated toward working through that stack of recipes, of course!Ā It is time to quit talking about the recipes and to actually start cooking them!
(P.s. I apologize for the not-so-pretty pictures.Ā My camera was just not cooperating!)
First up…a dish that I slightly adapted from the April 2013 issue of Women’s Health Magazine.
Magazine Monday
Bok Choy with Mushrooms and Red Bell Peppers
Servings: 2
Ingredients
5 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
3/4 tsp cornstarch
1 packet of Truvia (or other natural sweetener or sugar)
1 TB sesame oil
1 TB garlic, minced
1 TB fresh ginger, minced
1 head of bok choy, removed from stems and sliced
1 8 oz package sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1/2 small yellow onion, sliced
black pepper, to taste
crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
1/8 cup chopped cashews
Directions
1. Whisk together the soy sauce, 1 tsp of sesame oil, cornstarch, and Truvia.Ā Set aside.
2. In a large wok, heat sesame oil over medium-high heat.Ā Add in garlic and ginger and cook for approximately one minute.
3. Stir in bok choy, mushrooms, peppers, and onions.Ā Stir-fry for approximately five minutes, or until the vegetables are tender, but not mushy.
4. Add black pepper, red pepper flakes, and cashews.Ā Cook an additional one to two minutes.
5. Serve over whole brown rice, if desired.
Surprisingly, this was the first time that I had ever cooked with bok chok, and it may have even been the first time that I had ever eaten it.Ā I sure am glad that I gave it a go because it was a delicious and perfectly crunchy addition to the more traditional stir-fry.Ā Plus, bok choy is so darn good for you, so you really cannot beat that!Ā Click here to learn more information about some of the health benefits of bok choy.
My first experience with bok choy was a tasty one, and I am sure that the addition of mushrooms, peppers, and the delicious soy and sesame stir-fry sauce didn’t hurt, either!Ā This dish definitely has a bit of a kick to it, so if you are not a spicy fan then I would omit the crushed red pepper flakes altogether.Ā Oh, and the addition of cashews?Ā Well, that was not in the original recipe, but since I have been so addicted to them lately I used them in place of the roasted sesame seeds that the original recipe called for.Ā It was a swap that I most certainly did not regret making.
So, now I am putting the pressure on you!Ā I know that you have your own stack of recipes that you have torn out of magazines but have yet to cook.Ā No more excuses!Ā It is time for you to participate in your own “Magazine Monday” and get cooking through that recipe collection.Ā If your next magazine recipe creation turns out to be half as delicious as this dish was, then I know you will not regret it.
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LOVE the Magazine Monday idea š
I am finally going to tackle that stack of recipes!…AND get some great meals out of it!
Total connection(s) there. I have a HUGE stack of mag recipes “I’m going to cook someday.” Also, I saw that recipe in WH this month, and I thought it looked soooo good! Glad to see it tested out. And welcome back š
You should definitely give it a try. I am sure glad that I did!
Welcome back girl! You were definitely missed, but I’m glad you unplugged for a week! Refreshing, isn’t it?? This is an awesome idea, esp since Joe’s mom gave me her extra copy of food network magazine yesterday, and there were lots of tasty looking ideas in there š
Thank you! It was definitely very refreshing :).
Magazine hoarder over here! š But seriously, glad you’re back. And bok choy is just awesome for stir fries!
Yes, it really is. I will definitely be adding it to my stir-fries more often now :).
Welcome back girl, and YES I surely missed you!!
Magazine Monday – such a great idea!! I am more in a blogger-recipe-hoardness, does that count too? š
Oh trust me, I do that too!! š Maybe we should start a support group! š
I always forget about bok choy, but I like it!
I was really loving its crunchy texture!
That sounds yummy, I never think to use bok choy in anything but I know it’s so good!
You should definitely give this one a try!
Magazine Monday = awesome idea!!!! I will join you in this challenge. š
Great!! I cannot wait to see what you make :).
Of course everyone missed you! I have a huuuuuge stack of Food and Wine magazines that I’ve barely even opened, so Magazine Monday is a fabulous idea. I’m pretty suprised you’ve never tried Bok Choy. Love it!
Aww, thanks! š Yes, my magazine collection has gotten a bit out of hand..oops.
that looks so good! I love mushrooms!
ME TOO! š
I am so happy to see you back but glad the week was what you needed. I am such a fan of bok choy
Thank you! It was a great week of relaxation :).
Glad your back! Love bok choy!
Bok choy is awesome. I will definitely be cooking with it more often!
Glad you had a nice blogging break š Great idea to actually start cooking up your bookmarked recipes. I tag so many dishes that I want to try and never get around to actually making them. This one sounds delish, and the pic still looks nicer than all the pictures I take with my phone haha
Yes, I have tons of recipes torn out of magazines and TONS more bookmarked. I am trying to work through them, though!
I don’t think I’ve ever cooked with bok choy! I should really do that. I love trying to cook all kinds of veggies š
You definitely should! It is super tasty :).
I think your pictures are good! And i love the magazine monday idea š
Thank you for your kind words! š
Welcome back!! I always mark recipes in magazines then never go back to them, so this is a great idea. I’ve never used bok choy, but this looks delicious!
Yes, it is a horrible habit for so many of us…it is time to change that! š
Of course we missed you! I love the idea of magazine Monday! I have a ton of food network and cooking light magazines that I look at yet never really try anything.
I hear you. I have been doing that for years now and the more that I think about it that more I wonder why I am essentially wasting my money on magazine subscriptions that I never put to use. I am going to change that, though! š
We did miss you!! š I haven’t ever prepared Bok Choy before either but this dish looks very tasty! I love the idea of Magazine Monday, I always see good recipes worth trying in magazines.
You should totally try this! Bok choy is awesome :).
Woohoo you’re back! I actually stopped by your blog last week to see your recipes for eggplant. (I bought one but wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it!) Looking forward to your new Monday posts!
I hope you found something good!! š
So glad you’re back!! I love the idea of Magazine Monday…I’m the exact same way with magazines and recipes. This meal looks like a major winner!
Yes, my magazine recipe hoarding is bad. But I am going to do something about it! š
magazine hoarder here too! what a great blog series š
We should start a support group! š
Looks tasty! And great idea re: Mag Monday.
Thank you!! š
Looks delish – my kinda meal!
Thank you! Let me know if you give it a try :).
Wow! Your dish actually looks very similar to the picture in the magazine! I don’t think I’ve ever come close to pulling that off!
Thank you!! I certainly tried ;).
Yep, I totally have a pile of magazine recipes to try! This one looks great!
I think we all have magazine recipe hoarding tendencies! š
I’d like to try using bok choy…never used it!
You should totally try it! It is perfect in stir-fries :).
Love your veggies choices here! Yum.
They all combined so nicely in this dish!
Love your veggie choices here! Yum!
Mmmm I love the idea of this especially over yummy brown rice. Thanks for the inspiration as always!
You’re welcome!! I hope to inspire! š
Love this idea! I not only have stacks of magazines sitting around my living room, but stacks of recipes, workouts, etc I’ve torn out of magazines. I meal plan each Sunday, so next week my goal will be to choose a magazine recipe. Thanks for the inspiration!
What a great goal!! You can do it!! š
Welcome baaaack!! I AM going to answer your question because yes, OF COURSE you were missed! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed your week away from blogging though; taking a break always revitalizes me, too!
Mmm…this stir fry sounds like it’s right up my alley. I adore mushrooms, and if I remember correctly, love bok choy as well. It’s been awhile since I’ve cooked with it, but I remember the stems being really crunchy. š
Magazine Monday is a fabulous idea! I think I’ve mentioned this before, but kind of hoard magazines, and always clip recipes that sound good. Now I have some motivation to actually make them! <3 xoxo
Aww, thank you for the kind words!
The crunchy texture of bok choy is amazing! You really need to cook with it again ASAP!
And yes, I think that magazine recipe hoarding is a problem that a ton of us are dealing with!
yum! I love bok-choy and I always forget to buy it. This looks awesome š
Bok choy is awesome! I will definitely be cooking with it more frequently now :).
What a great idea! I always have gazillions of magazine recipes lying around, even organized in binders, and I NEVER make them, just get inspiration and carry on. [I cannot follow a recipe for my life.]
I have only cooked with bok choy once, and I loved it, but then I got sick right afterwards and so I now am terrified to eat it again! This looks so good though…
Oh no! Getting sick after eating a certain type of food usually always ruins it for me, too! Hopefully some day you will be able to eat it again.
YUM! I’m always looking for ways to use bok choy. I’ll have to try this one out. Thanks!
I was definitely loving the bok choy in this dish! Please let me know if you give it a try :).