Comments on: Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:15:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.2 Comment on Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme by: Barbara http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-50307 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:54:15 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-50307 Andrea--first of all, thank you for pointing out my editorial error. I fixed it--the water chestnuts and cloud ears go in after the pork is cooked. For a vegetarian version, I would use rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and discarded, water squeezed out and saved to use in the sauce, and caps diced. To these, I would add 8 ounces of fresh button mushrooms, minced finely--as if I were making duxelle. These, I would saute as I cooked the meat--in place of the meat. This will give a great textural contrast with the tofu and will taste awesome! The brand that I favor comes from Taiwan and is made by the Ming Teh Food Industry Company. It has a yellow, red and blue label with a globe on it and very little English lettering. I am glad you are enjoying the archives--check out the category titled "The Chinese Pantry," where you can get my recommendations for brands of various ingredients. Andrea–first of all, thank you for pointing out my editorial error. I fixed it–the water chestnuts and cloud ears go in after the pork is cooked.

For a vegetarian version, I would use rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and discarded, water squeezed out and saved to use in the sauce, and caps diced. To these, I would add 8 ounces of fresh button mushrooms, minced finely–as if I were making duxelle. These, I would saute as I cooked the meat–in place of the meat. This will give a great textural contrast with the tofu and will taste awesome!

The brand that I favor comes from Taiwan and is made by the Ming Teh Food Industry Company. It has a yellow, red and blue label with a globe on it and very little English lettering.

I am glad you are enjoying the archives–check out the category titled “The Chinese Pantry,” where you can get my recommendations for brands of various ingredients.

]]> Comment on Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme by: Andrea http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-50304 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:02:07 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-50304 I found this old post when I was making ma po tofu the other night; I was using Fuchsia Dunlop's recipe from <i>Land of Plenty</i>, but wondered if you had any suggestions for making a vegetarian version. (I did end up using cloud ears instead of the meat, which worked very well). I can't help but notice that in this version you apparently abandon the cloud ears after rehydrating and mincing them, and never use the water chestnuts at all -- do you actually use either of these ingredients, and what do you do with them? Any advice for a particular brand of chili bean paste? I don't think mine is Sichuan, and it's not very hot. I found this old post when I was making ma po tofu the other night; I was using Fuchsia Dunlop’s recipe from Land of Plenty, but wondered if you had any suggestions for making a vegetarian version. (I did end up using cloud ears instead of the meat, which worked very well).

I can’t help but notice that in this version you apparently abandon the cloud ears after rehydrating and mincing them, and never use the water chestnuts at all — do you actually use either of these ingredients, and what do you do with them?

Any advice for a particular brand of chili bean paste? I don’t think mine is Sichuan, and it’s not very hot.

]]> Comment on Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme by: Barbara http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-21012 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:31:44 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-21012 Hello, Jen! I read your recipe, and it isn't that different from mine; it sounded good to me. Sometime, try adding shao hsing wine or sherry to the ma po--it gives it even more tastiness. If you can believe that... Great stuff, isn't it? Keep cooking! Hello, Jen!

I read your recipe, and it isn’t that different from mine; it sounded good to me.

Sometime, try adding shao hsing wine or sherry to the ma po–it gives it even more tastiness. If you can believe that…

Great stuff, isn’t it?

Keep cooking!

]]> Comment on Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme by: Jen http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-21011 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:17:00 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-21011 Hi, I totally understand where you are coming from! I made ma po tofu on Friday night and it is all I can think about now. It was amazing! So hot and spicy, but so perfectly balanced that there was no after-burn. My recipe is a bit different from yours, but I'm sure both are great! All I want to do now is go on a mission at eat it at all different restaurants and compare them! Hi, I totally understand where you are coming from! I made ma po tofu on Friday night and it is all I can think about now. It was amazing! So hot and spicy, but so perfectly balanced that there was no after-burn. My recipe is a bit different from yours, but I’m sure both are great! All I want to do now is go on a mission at eat it at all different restaurants and compare them!

]]> Comment on Winter Returns, and Comfort Food Rules Supreme by: Recipes on the To-Make List « Leslie Loves to Eat http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-18034 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 02:37:07 +0000 http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2005/02/17/winter-returns-and-comfort-food-rules-supreme/#comment-18034 [...] Ma Po Tofu [...] […] Ma Po Tofu […]

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