Michael Dean Cooking & Event Planning

Michael Dean Cooking & Event Planning Providing limited event planning, catering and wedding services.

Wedding, Event & Party Planning
Invitation & Publication Design
Small Event Catering

A little helpful reminder about boiling foods...
10/08/2025

A little helpful reminder about boiling foods...

Ever wonder where to put that darn oven rack? There really is a method to the madness…
08/11/2025

Ever wonder where to put that darn oven rack? There really is a method to the madness…

The American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage and urges people to make an appointment to give now to help...
08/14/2024

The American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage and urges people to make an appointment to give now to help patients across the country receive lifesaving medical treatments. Fewer donors than needed have given blood this summer, drawing down the national blood supply and reducing distributions of some of the most needed blood types.

As thank you for stepping up, you’ll get a $20 e-gift card to the merchant of your choice when you come to give blood for the first time by August 31st. https://tinyurl.com/kubblood 🩸

What's the secret to authentic Chinese restaurant style cooking? Baking Soda! Yes, you heard me correctly! A few days ag...
08/13/2024

What's the secret to authentic Chinese restaurant style cooking? Baking Soda! Yes, you heard me correctly! A few days ago, Justin and I, independent of each other both discovered a recipe hack for making stir-fry taste better.

Baking soda is a common ingredient in Chinese cooking that's used to tenderize meat, especially in stir-fries. The technique involves applying baking soda to raw meat before cooking to raise its pH level, which alters the charge on the muscle filaments. You can make chicken melt-in-your-mouth tender by quickly tossing chunks in about ¾ tsp of baking soda for about 15 minutes before your next stir fry, then rinse and pat the meat dry before putting in the pan.

Then boil spaghetti in water with baking soda to create noodles that are similar to ramen. The baking soda's alkaline minerals give the noodles their springy texture and yellow color. Use one tablespoon of baking soda per quart of water. Then after boiling, rinse the noodles in cold water, let them cool, and toss them with sesame oil.

Put these hacks together and you've got some of the best homecooked chow mien ever!

Dill Pickle Dip8 ounces sour cream8 ounces cream cheese, softened2 T ranch seasoning1 cup dill pickles, chopped¼ cup pic...
06/10/2024

Dill Pickle Dip

8 ounces sour cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 T ranch seasoning
1 cup dill pickles, chopped
¼ cup pickle juice, from the jar of pickles
1 T worcestershire sauce
1 T fresh dill

1. Add the sour cream, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning to a large mixing bowl.
2. Use an electric hand mixer to combine the ingredients.
3. Add the chopped dill pickles, pickle juice, worcestershire sauce and fresh dill to the mixing bowl. Use a spatula and stir to combine everything.
4. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

What to do when you have tons of leftover dill pickle dip? Make it into a dressing and the perfect summer salad dinner i...
06/10/2024

What to do when you have tons of leftover dill pickle dip? Make it into a dressing and the perfect summer salad dinner is born! 🥗

Looking for yummy ways to use that rotisserie chicken! Check out these great ideas from one of my favorite chefs!
03/16/2024

Looking for yummy ways to use that rotisserie chicken! Check out these great ideas from one of my favorite chefs!

🍋You don't have to be a professional baker to make perfect scones! This super simple blueberry-lemon scone recipe is sup...
01/11/2023

🍋You don't have to be a professional baker to make perfect scones! This super simple blueberry-lemon scone recipe is super moist and absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon lemon zest
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, frozen
½ cup dried blueberries
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 large egg

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position.
2. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
3. Grate butter into flour mixture on the large holes of a box grater. Use your fingers to work in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
4. Add the dried blueberries.
5. Whisk the sour cream, egg and sugar together.
6. Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Use your hands to shape the dough into a ball. Dough may seem dry at first but will come together as you work it.
7. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and pat into a circle about 3/4 inch thick.
8. Cut the dough into 8 triangles and place on a baking stone or prepared cookie sheet.
9. Bake the scones in oven for about 15-17 minutes or until golden brown.
Optional: Cool and drizzle with a powdered sugar icing.

Mix it up with one of these variations on the basic scone recipe:

🍊Cranberry-Orange Scones: Add a generous teaspoon of finely grated orange zest to the dry ingredients and substitute dried cranberries for the fruit.

🍒Cherry-Almond Scones: Add 1/2 teaspoon almond extract to the sour cream mixture and substitute dried cherries for the fruit.

🍫Double Chocolate Scones: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the dry ingredients and substitute 1 cup chocolate chips for the fruit.

Feta & Spiced ChickpeasIngredients 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzle2 t...
01/01/2023

Feta & Spiced Chickpeas

Ingredients
1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for drizzle
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp chilli flakes
8 oz feta cheese
1/2 c plain yogurt
1 clove garlic
zest of 1/2 lemon
Salt

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Place chickpeas on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess liquid
3. In an oven proof skillet combine chickpeas with seasonings. Place in oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Whole baking, whip together feta, yogurt, lemon and garlic until smooth.
6. Spread mixture evenly on serving plate and top with chickpeas.
7. Drizzle with additional olive oil and salt to taste. Serve with warm pita bread.

Winter Margaritas are being served tonight…
12/26/2022

Winter Margaritas are being served tonight…

This time change has for me hungry for lunch by 10:30 in the morning! So it’s popcorn shrimp and homemade cocktail sauce...
11/06/2022

This time change has for me hungry for lunch by 10:30 in the morning! So it’s popcorn shrimp and homemade cocktail sauce to the rescue!

Here’s my quick recipe…
3/4 cup ketchup
1 T lemon juice
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 T prepared horseradish
1 T Dijon mustard
1 T pickle relish

Just mix it all together in a small bowl. And don’t worry about it being too much. This will keep well in the fridge for up to 6 months if stored in an airtight container. Enjoy this sauce with seafood, on burgers, as a tangy veggie dip, and more!

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Keizer, OR
97303

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