Do It Yourself – Asian Buffet Dinner

Cucumber salad: Cut up a cucumber into small chunks. Add a few finely sliced pieces of onion. Marinate in rice vinegar, salt, and a pinch of sugar. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the food.

Chicken: Slice into strips and sauté in a little water, oil, and soy sauce. Sauté with minced garlic and ginger. If you have 5-spice seasoning, sprinkle it on the chicken for flavor. Place on the platter.

Warm Vegetables: Sauté some sliced onion and bell peppers, and tomatoes in a little rice vinegar, soy sauce and your favorite Asian seasonings. Place on the platter.

Cool Vegetables: Shredded carrots, bean sprouts, and water chestnuts. Also, some large Boston lettuce leafs for making lettuce wraps! Place on the platter.

Japanese Noodles: Submerge in boiling water for about 5 minutes. These cook very quickly compared to other noodles, making them a great idea for a mid-week meal. Place on the platter.

Peanut sauce: Bring natural peanut butter, soy sauce, coconut milk (or soy), red chile flakes, and salt to a simmer while stirring. Place in a little bowl on the platter.

Want to make a great sauce that turns your cooking up a notch?
Get a couple ingredients from the Asian food aisle and you can use them again and again. This recipe is a daily favorite from a friend of ours who is a Thailand native.

What you’ll need:

•	1 tsp red curry paste (or dare to add more!)
•	1 cup coconut milk (or soy for a low fat sauce)
•	1 Tbsp fish sauce
•	1 Tbsp soy sauce

What to do:

1.	Bring to boil while stirring the curry paste until completely dissolved.
2.	You can stir this in with any of the above ingredients to give them a great flavor! For instance, last week I made this for a few guests and used the sauce for the warm vegetables and noodles to make a creamy vegetable stir-fry.
3.	After you make this sauce once, you’ll make it over and over because it is so easy.

So… you’re husband is a Bear, you are a Monkey and your kids are Otters?
Sounds like the typical Hauser Diet family zoo! Cooking for all of you can be a challenge. Get out a large platter and let’s fill it up. Here is a fun and easy Asian buffet dinner that everyone can enjoy! Have the family help you in the kitchen and dinner will be ready in a flash!

How can the Monkey make this a great dinner?
The Monkey’s plate should contain mostly vegetables and noodles with a small serving of chicken. The peanut sauce is not the best option for the Monkey because it is all fat! But a little taste or two is ok.

How can the Otters make this a great dinner?
Their plates should contain mostly chicken and vegetables with some peanut sauce for dipping. On the side a small serving of noodles is ok.

How can the Bear make this a great dinner?
The lucky Bear can take a small serving from everything, but keeping reserved with peanut sauce servings. The calories in that can really add up fast! Remember Bears, portions, portions, portions!