Chicken Fingers

Ok, not exactly a very healthy recipe...so put aside your New Years Resolutions for a bit and make some chicken fingers! (If you need some more convincing, Shaun calls these the BEST chicken fingers he's ever had...but maybe he's just buttering me up...make them and decide!)

**Note -- If you really don't want to pan fry these you could likely spritz them with non stick spray and bake them, they won't taste quite the same but I bet they'd still be good!

Jen's Ball Game Meat Balls

This is my friend Jen's recipe for Ball Game meatballs! A sweet and sour meatball with a twist! Don't let the sauerkraut scare you, it adds a subtle sourness to the recipe that's balanced by the cranberry and chili!
I've used frozen meatballs here but you can make your own of course - Jen's hint for fast and easy meatballs - Ground Beef and Stovetop Stuffing!

What's For Lunch? Mama's Noodle House

What's for Lunch?

A few weeks ago Shaun told me about a new Asian Grocery store on Winnipeg just off of McPhillips, Lucky Supermarket. I can't resist an Asian grocery store and inevitably leave with a bag full of exotic ramen and strange and wonderful meat and vegetables and while I am intensely loyal to the tiny but very well stocked Van Loi Market on the nearby, this new and much larger grocer also boasts an instore bakery, fully stocked fresh meat and seafood counter, cooked meats counter (featuring char sui pork, cooked half and whole duck and pork ribs amongst others) as well as a cafeteria style restaurant/dim sum bar. The restaurant, serving what I assumed was Chinese fare was well priced at roughly $7 for a very large portion of “pick three options” plus noodles/rice. The dim sum was slightly more expensive then the Dim Sum Garden, Rupert St we usually frequent at about $3.50 per order (Dim Sum garden charges $2.60/order at happy hour).

With all this you would expect us to have actually eaten there...that was not the case....ha ha! Shaun deemed the food as convinced me to pass as he didn't see anything that caught his fancy so off we went...and I am so glad we did!

(Photo by NAM)

Shaun took me to a tiny Asian restaurant frequented by late shift Liquor Inspectors (who came I suspect, for the late night hours...(open till 2am!) And returned I can confirm, for the delicious food, hearty portions and great prices!)

Mama's Noodles House (Serving Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai and Japanese Cuisine) is located at 141 McPhillips and could be easily overlooked by the casual observer, once housing a burger joint according to Shaun, the building is bland and nondescript. The food however is a whole different story.

Shaun quickly informed me there was really no need to look at the menu, and indeed there really wasn't. “Mama's Specials” are updated daily on a whiteboard over the cash register and there is no need to look any further. Among the specials on the day we went was Deluxe Beef Pho – a beef noodle soup in a light home made broth, a noodle and a rice dish. All priced below $7 and for a massive portion..

We did glance at the menu long enough to order 2 pork Salad Rolls ($3.85) to share as a starter.

Which were fresh and delicious, containing flavourful grilled pork, noodles, bean sprouts and veggies. The peanut sauce that came with them was clearly home made and very very tasty.
 

Since it was -40 (or felt close to it) Shaun and I both ordered the Beef Pho (soup) as our main course. Each portion arrived in a massive bowl, hot and steaming with a light broth that tasted home made. Amongst the rice noodles in the bowl were slices of rare beef (that cooked quickly in the hot soup) and beef meat balls. Vegetables were served on the side (bean sprouts, onions, Thai basil, tiny mouth searingly hot red chili's and lime wedges).
 

 

The soup was delicious, fist pounding on the table delicious, and everything else that came out of the kitchen looked to be equally as good and also in massive portions. The table across the aisle from us ordered the noodle dish from the specials board and it looked very impressive as well!

I would eat at Mama's Noodle House again in a heart beat and I hope anyone from Winnipeg reading this will support this small mom and pop restaurant. My empty bowl and full belly is testament to its deliciousness! Yum!

Mama's Noodle House – 141 McPhillips – 204-783-4847

Take out also available!!!