It is not often that this gravy lovin’ country girl braves the world of Asian cooking… but when I do- it is oh so good! This past weekend was my Grandma’s birthday. She is a huge fan of sushi and loves Japenese food. I do not eat sushi, but love the challenge of making it. Here are some fun pictures of that good dinner… and a bonus recipe for potstickers. This recipe is a staple at every Asian themed meal I host. I created it a few years ago and I am famous for it now (at least in my small circle of friends!)

Pork Pot Stickers
Makes 30

1 lb Unseasoned Ground Pork
3 Tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
1/8 tsp Seracha (not sure how to spell, hot sauce)
2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
2 Tbsp Green Onions
1 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
½ cup Cornstarch (enough pull everything together)
1 cup Finely Chopped Green Cabbage
1 Tbsp Cilantro, fresh, chopped
Wonton Wrappers

Mix ingredients for filling. Lay wonton wrappers out onto the counter, then fill with 1 heaping teaspoon of filling- in the center of each square. Brush edges with egg wash, then fold in half to create a triangle. Then connect the two legs of the triangle with egg wash.
Using a steam insert for a stock pot, steam each pot sticker for 5 minutes. Once steamed, fry pot stickers in a small amount of vegetable oil until crisp on each side. The pot stickers can be stored (steamed) in the refrigerator for up to one week. Or frozen.

Sauce

1 tsp Honey
½ tsp Garlic
1 Tbsp Mustard
1 Tbsp Sweet Chili Sauce
¼ cup Rice Vinegar
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
¼ tsp Ginger, grated fresh
¼ cup Soy Sauce
Cilantro, for garnish
Mix all ingredients for sauce and let chill for at least an hour before service.

For the sushi I made… Spicy Tuna Roll, Marinated Shrimp Roll and some sushi wrapped in rice paper- for those who don’t like Nori (me!)

Other items on the menu included: marinated shrimp, chicken and beef skewers, which were cooked at the table. Soy Pork Noodles with stir fried vegetables. Sticky Rice. Wasabi Slaw- which was the favorite item of the day. And fortune cookies which my mom made with little sayings on the inside. She is much better than I am at making things that involve patience!

My Asian themed table.

And here I am snapping a quick shot of the sushi before it was gobbled up!

These simple appetizers are so easy they can be whipped up in minutes. They also use ingredients that most people have on hand.

Swiss Cheese Crostini

1 cup Sour Cream
½ cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Swiss Cheese, shredded
3 Tbsp Italian Dressing Mix
Hearty Italian Bread

Combine sour cream, mayo, cheese and Italian dressing powder. Slice crusty bread and spread with cheese mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve warm.

For more simple recipe ideas please be sure to check out my cookbook- Celebrating Simplicity, The Starter Kitchen. They are available on Barnes and Noble.com