Introducing Two New Culinary Delights From Mike’s Food Lab:

• Chicken Fried Rice with Black Beans and Cabbage

• Semolina Flour Egg Noodles

We all love to eat and a good meal connects us as we share in a common delight while discussing the events of the day. In between the banter of jovial conversations, I love to hear words like, “oh my god”, “mmm” or “this is so good”.  I keep a mental count of the “oh my god's” and use it as my gauge when assessing the overall success of the meal as well as my guests' impression of my presentation.

The first OMG’s I hope you will get will be from my vibrant Chicken Fried Rice with Black Beans and Cabbage, a fun twist on a classic dish. Then, the words will hopefully come as a result of tasting Semolina Flour Egg Noodles that are impressive in both texture and flavor.

Chicken Fried Rice with Black Beans and Cabbage

Rice is one of those dishes that can have countless variations and flavor combinations.  Although black beans and cabbage are definitely not traditional ingredients you would expect to see in a fried rice, they fit in just perfectly. The rice is bursting with wholesome flavor and the added fiber and vitamins provides additional nutritional value.

To get the detailed recipe, click on the image below to be directed to the recipe.

A vibrant bowl of Chicken Fried Rice with Black Beans and Cabbage showing a variety of ingredients

To get the full recipe, be sure to check out the detailed instructions online, where you'll find handy tips to make this dish shine.

Semolina Flour Egg Noodles

I have tried many variations of all-purpose and semolina flour to assess the difference in the taste and texture of the final noodles. 

1.      All-purpose flour and eggs

2.      A combination of all-purpose and semolina flour and eggs

3.      Semolina flour and water

4.      Semolina flour and eggs

5.      Semolina flour, eggs and water

Each variation had its own unique characteristics, some better than others.  My favorite combination is the final one on the list, #5.  It combines semolina flour with eggs and water to produce an excellent all-purpose noodle.

Set your imagination free and experiment with your own variations by following the basic steps clearly explained in my recipes and then adding your own touch.  Impress your family and friends with your culinary skills by presenting them with your very own homemade pasta dishes full of flavor and creativity. Unleash the artist in yourself.

To get the detailed recipe, click on the image below to be directed to the recipe.

Freshly made Semolina Pasta Egg Noodles drying on a rack

Creating pasta allows for infinite customization, as you can adjust the flavor, thickness and texture to suit your whims. This adaptability means you can create everything from spaghetti, fettuccini, ravioli, dumplings, lasagna noodles or anything else pasta that you so desire.

For those looking to embark on this pasta adventure, detailed instructions are available online. I also include step by step instructions for using a pasta machine so you will have all the information you need to become a noodle master.

Embrace These Culinary Experiences

These satisfying dishes are just two of the many lovable recipes on my site. Some are derived from traditional recipes that I have tweaked through the years while others are the result of successful experiments that were aimed at creating new and unique flavors.

Experimenting with recipes is one of my greatest passions in life. Embrace the gratifying experience and let yourself be free to create wonders in your very own food lab.

Final Thoughts

Although my site is new and my collection of published recipes is currently limited, I have a plethora of new ones in my cookbook that are waiting in the wings and will all eventually appear on my blog.  Every recipe has been tried and tested and I provide enough details so that beginners and experts alike can follow my instructions with ease.

I invite you to try my recipes and I hope you enjoy your cooking adventure.