Gyoza (Potstickers) Venison Style!

Venison Gyoza

I am used to calling these by their Japanese name - gyoza, but you may know them as potstickers, Chinese dumplings, or possibly mandu.  Dragon King absolutely loves them and can eat a whole plate himself.  I am always trying to come up with new and creative ways for us to eat  venison, since we have quite a bit of it.

For my first excursion with these, I decided to make it really simple.  Fairy Princess absolutely loved them this way.  Dragon King liked them quite well, but I think he was looking for that similar taste as what he usually gets in an Asian restaurant   So, next time I am definitely going to add some green onion and minced ginger.  I think my husband and I will like them that way better too.  Obviously, rather than venison, you can use beef, pork, shrimp, tofu ... what ever you like!

Venison Mixture
1 pound ground venison
1 beaten egg
a handful of bread crumbs
garlic salt to taste
(diced green onion and minced ginger  will spice it up a bit - but Fairy Princess loved this planer and meaty taste)

You can buy round gyoza (potsticker) wrappers at an asian store.

Just place a small spoonful of your mixture into the center of the potsticker.  Moisten your finger with water and drag it around one half of the outer circle.  Then just fold over the wrapper.  Once folded pinch/pleat one side of the crescent and the flip it over and pinch/pleat the other side.  (You can see the pleats in the top picture).  Surprisingly, to me - I was able to make these in about 20 minutes.  It doesn't take long at all.  I then pan fried them.

Dipping Sauce (these are to taste and approximate measurements)
2 T soy sauce
2 drops of sesame oil (and/or chili oil)
1 t of rice vinegar (not distilled or cider - it won't be the right taste)
My kids just like plain soy sauce.


Dragon King rates this as a 4.5 - we will try the ginger and green onions next time.
Fairy Princes rates this as a big 5!

Please let me know if you try them!

Seared Chicken and Buttery Noodles

 Seared Chiken and Buttery Noodles

 

This has been one of Dragon King's favorite dishes for a long time.  It is very simple, but one that he loves.

Ramen noodles - After boiling drain water, toss with butter and soy sauce.
Chicken - season with garlic salt, sear on both sides in hot frying pan that contains butter and olive oil.
Peas.

Dragon King rates this meal as a 5 - of course
Fairy Princes rates it as a 4 ... except for the peas, which are a 5.  She is crazy for peas.

Chili and Biscuit Bowl

I modified this recipe from Food Network.  My kids have only had chili a couple of times and are only just starting to like it.  This is a nice mild recipe.  The original recipe calls for Bisquick for the bisquits ... I like to make my own Bisquick recipe that I found on Cooks.com a while back.

Master Mix for Bisquick - cut by 23% to make about 2 Cups.
2 C all purpose flour
1/3 T salt
1/2 C shortening
1/8 C baking powder
1/3 t cream of tarter
1/2 T sugar

Sift dry ingredients - cut in shortening till the size of corn meal.

Bisquit Bowl
Add 2/3 Cup of milk to bisquit mix. Shape into a ball.  Turn out on floured surface and knead 3-4 times.  Divide the ball into 6 pieces.  Roll each piece into a 6-inch circle.  Place a dough circle over the back of a lightly greased muffin cup.  Press around the cup to form a bowl shape.  Bake forr 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned.  Let cool slightly and remove.

Chili
1 pound of ground meat (we used venison)
1/4 of an onion chopped
1/4 of a green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 (14-oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1 (15-oz) can kidney beans, drained
2 T chili powder
Garlic Salt, Cumin, and Paprika to taste

Brown the meat.  Add onion, green pepper, and garlic and continue to cook until the meat is completely brown and the vegetables are tender.  Drain off any fat and discard (there was none with venison).  Stir in the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.  Then cover and reduce heat to low.  Simmer 35 minutes.

When ready to serve - spoon into the bisquit bowls.  Garnish with whatever toppings you like.  We added shredded cheese, but you could also add sour cream or sliced green onions - or anything else you like!  We also served it with blue and yellow corn chips.

Dragon King rated the chili a 4 and the bisquit a 2.  I guess that he prefers his bisquits with butter!  Fairy Princess rated the chili a 1 (still not a fan) and the bisquit a 4.  They could be like Jack Sprat and his wife and lick the plate clean!

Chicken Box Dinner

Once a week we are at Karate for two hours which encompases dinner time.  Fairy Princess has her class first so Dragon King eats during that time and then they switch.  It is a challenge to pack them a dinner that is fairly neat, nutritious, and appealing.  Here is their Chicken Box Dinner.







Chicken Box Dinner
Chicken cubed, sprinkle garlic salt, roll in egg and then flour.  Then it is lightly fried.  Ketchup for dip.
Green Pepper
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Watermellon

They loved it!  Both rated it a 5, especially the chicken.

Advocado Chicken Salad

Advocado Chicken Salad

9 oz Shredded Chicken
1/2 Chopped Advocado
1 t Lemon Juice
3 T Mayo
Salt and Pepper to taste

We put the salad on sesame buns with lettuce and served it with a side of cucumbers,  bell peppers, and baked blue corn chips.  I liked it but would have preferred a lighter bread - maybe a croissant.  Both the Dragon King and the Fairy Princess liked it pretty well too and rated it a 4 each.

Green Healthy Shake

Healthy Shake Recipe

Fresh spinach – (handful) preferably from a local farmer and/or organic
Milk – ½ cup
Protein powder (1 scoop)
Banana (1/2 of a whole banana)
Ice
I first put in the spinach and the milk and blend until completely smooth.  Than added the other ingredients.

Both Fairy Princess and I think it tastes very delicious and rate it 5 stars.  Dragon King is not so fond of it and rates it 2 stars.

ABOUT US!

This blog is the work of three individuals.  A mom - me, my eight year old son - Dragon King, and my 5 year old daughter - Fairy Princess.  In gumball world we find and create kid friendly recipes, we make the dishes, eat them, and rate and critique them!  We hope you will find the recipes tasty and the reviews helpful!

Note - 5 stars - terrific-want it again soon!
4 stars - great!  3 stars - fine-will accept it.
2 stars -not so good-may tolerate it. 1 star - not like it - no thanks!
0 stars - terrible!