Mapo Tofu & Broccolini Over Rice

I went grocery shopping with Dr. P on Sunday. Too bad there is no Fresh and Easy in West LA. So we settled for Ralphs. Gotta love the double coupon there. With the Ralphs card and some coupons, we were able to save $48! Since we had a box of instant mapo tofu sauce from Nijiya Market at home, we decided to cook lunch at home.

Mapo Tofu & Broccolini Over Rice

I sauteed some ground pork, add the sauce in a pouch, add tofu (medium firm), then simmered. Done. Yes, it was fast and easy. No, it didn’t taste good. The mapo tofu sauce didn’t exactly taste like the mapo tofu to me. Or maybe that was Japanese version mapo tofu flavor? I think I can make a much better mapo tofu sauce using Chinese chili bean sauce. And I gotta have garlic, ginger, and green onion in my mapo tofu. Next time I’ll definitely make my own mapo tofu sauce.

We also bought some broccolini. I really like this veggie. It’s like a cross between chinese broccoli and broccoli. I sauteed it with some garlic and garlic chili sauce from Wonton Forest (I am super addicted to this hot sauce). It tasted much much better than the mapo tofu.

We will be cooking at home more now. Gotta spend less money (you know… with the layoff and all….). But I really enjoy cooking. If you guys have some good/easy/cheap recipes, please share with me, yeah?

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March 11th, 2009 | Category: COOK | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL

Liz:
March 12th, 2009 at 9:32 am

There is a Fresh and Easy on Hollywood & Sycamore. I don’t know how far is it from Dr P?

That one is close to his mom’s house.
But his apartment is near UCLA, so still a bit far.

PeyPey:
March 12th, 2009 at 11:03 am

I always go to the one in Rosecrans & Aviation.
I think the city is Manhattan Beach..
Easy access from 405…

Still kinda far from us. Really hope they open one in West LA.

Paul:
March 12th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

mabo tofu sauce is easy. let me know if u need the recipe. store bought stuff sux. for cheap eats and easy, i eat.

sauteed cabbage w/garlic fish sauce. take garlic and brown in a pan. after throw in chopped cabbage in and put a bit of water or unsalted chicken stock if u have. fish sauce and sugar as desired saltiness. cover for 5 minutes and done.

steamed egg
take two eggs. mix w/one cup of water. beat throughly. salt to desired saltiness. i usually put 1 teaspoon. steam for 10-15 mintues. done

eat w/steamed rice.

this meal should cost you less than a dollar for two people.

Oooohhh the famous Chef Paul giving me his recipes! Gotta try them!! Thank you~~~~ ^^

Pink:
March 12th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

Hi Eileen! Just wanted to say hi. I’ve been following your blog for months, but never commented before. So hi! I love reading your blog posts.

I’ve got lots of recipes on my blog, which you are welcome to try. Most are pretty easy, and inexpensive.

http://pinkiesyummies.blogspot.com/

Yum! Your recipes look great! Subscribed to your blog!
Gotta try your recipes soon!

Sammy:
March 13th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

haha, when I saw the title, I was thinking, would it taste good…and then after I read on, you just answer my question…

Speaking of Broccoli, it’s definitely one of the most healthy veggie available on the planet, i like it a lot too.

BTW, I once saw a post on one random forum i visited. The topic is “Why do people eat broccoli??”, so i checked out some responses people left on the forum, and there is a pretty funny one, I can’t stop laughing after reading it.

so here it goes, “Why do people eat broccoli??” (read on)
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” To fart!!!”…………….haha