Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Pu Pu Platter


You know me, I am always looking for fun dishes and ways
to serve up food that makes it more entertaining.

One of our local Chinese restaurants, China Bowl, which is
no longer in business, was a favorite place to go for
inexpensive Chinese food.  One of our favorites was
their appetizer called the Pu Pu Platter.
Wikipedia says a Pu Pu platter is a "tray of American Chinese
cuisine consisting of an assortment of small meat and seafood
appetizers." 
(Pronounced with a long U so that makes the kids all laugh!)


What makes this such a fun Chinese Dish is that you have 
a mini hibachi that you can heat things over.

Years and years ago I asked if I could purchase some of these
appetizer trays from them and we have enjoyed them
now for years.

I found them on Amazon for you if you want to have
the platter and mini hibachi to use.  They are so fun
for entertaining and often we would just buy the appetizers
from the restaurant and bring them home and serve them
on the platter set.  I gave one to my sister Joni years ago too


What makes them heat up is that you place Sterno in
the mini hibachi and light it so that you can heat up all
of your precooked foods right there at the table.


This time we decided to make some things and to purchase 
some things.

We made these Teriyaki Beef Skewers.

Teriyaki Beef Skewers Recipe

3 tenderloin steaks (you could use other
steak, but these make such a tender skewer)
bamboo skewers
1/2 C. soy sauce
1/2 C. water
1 C. brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger root

Soak the skewers in a pan of water for 30 minutes.

Slice the steak across the grain into thin strips.  Thread
them onto drained skewers.

In a 9x13 inch pan mix the soy sauce, water, sugar, garlic and
ginger.  Place the beef skewers in the pan, turning over to coat
all sides.  Let marinate in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Cook on 
a grill until medium.  Remove to a platter.

To eat, place them on the hibachi grill to reheat one at at time.


and we made Paper Wrapped Chicken.

Paper Wrapped Chicken Recipe

3 C. cubed raw chicken breast
1 T. oil
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. white or black pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. dark sesame oil

Tin foil, cut into 6x6 inch squares (I made 18)

Mix all of the ingredients together and place in refrigerator
for about 1 hour to marinate.
Place about 2 T.
chicken mixture into the center of each square of foil.  Fold
the foil in half into a triangle and then fold the two edges
over a couple of times to seal them.

The traditional method is to deep fry the packets of chicken
at 350 for about 3 minutes,
but we like to place them on a baking sheet and bake at
400 for 20-25 minutes.  Check one to see if it is done.  If you
want the chicken to caramelize a little, you can bake it a
little longer.  These are a big favorite.
(This recipe comes from Betty Crocker's Chinese Cookbook,
printed in 1981.  I have had it since college.)



We pan fried purchased Potstickers


and deep fried purchased Egg Rolls.


Ham Fried Rice filled out the menu and it was finished
off with fresh pineapple and Strawberry Cheesecake.

Ham Fried Rice Recipe

6 C.  cooked, converted brown rice (use 2 C. uncooked rice)
6 eggs, scrambled
1 C. ham, cubed
1 bunch green onions, sliced diagonally
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2-3 T. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. salt (if desired)
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 T. vegetable oil, divided

In a wok or large frying pan, heat 2 T. oil and add the cooked
rice.  Stir fry it until the rice is dry and beginning to "pop" a little.
Remove the rice and add the remaining vegetable oil.  Stir fry
the onion and garlic for one minute.  Add the ham and stir fry
one more minute.  Add the rice, eggs and stir fry for a minute and
stir in the soy sauce.  Season with salt and pepper if desired.
(This makes enough for a crowd.)



This is a really fun meal and my daughter in law reminded
me that it had been way too long since I had cooked
this fun, interactive meal.

I will be posting with 



Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

27 comments:

  1. Wow, you have a lot of fun things going on here! Amazing to think they deep fry the chicken in the tin foil and you reminded me it's been way too long since I've had fried rice! Gonna correct that:@)

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  2. Such a cute Hibachi:) we are fans of fondues..raclettes..all with unique heating methods..Love these!

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  3. I love to share a pupu platter. All of these recipes sound so good, I am saving all of them. Especially the marinade for the chicken. xo

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  4. This looks so good, great recipes and everyone can join in! Reminds me of the days of fondue parties!

    XO,
    Jane

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  5. What a fun party dish! I am constantly amazed at the clever ideas of all of our friends in the blogging world. This is a home run!

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  6. What a fun idea. My family would love this.

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  7. I will admit to being like a little kid and giggling every time I see or hear "pu pu platter"!!! It's funny!!!

    What's NOT so funny, though, is how beautiful and appetizing this all looks! I don't think I've ever seen a mini hibachi. How cool! The pot stickers look absolutely wonderful!!! It has been years since I had any. All the food looks great! Glad you had a chance to indulge!!!

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  8. How cool - i've never heard of a hibachi either - now i'm definitely checking them out on amazon - thanks!

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  9. A blast from the past...I remember when pu pu platters were all the rage. Thanks for all the recipes, Jacqueline...they sound delicious.
    Have a great weekend...

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  10. I love cooking Chinese and Asian style meals at home and all of your recipes look wonderful! What an adorable little hibachi and tray. That would be a fun interactive meal!

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  11. I love cooking Chinese and Asian style meals at home and all of your recipes look wonderful! What an adorable little hibachi and tray. That would be a fun interactive meal!

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  12. OK so I can attest that the Chinese food was soooo good. My kids ate up the leftovers. Thank you for being so gracious and allowing us to partake! I have many fond memories of cooking Chinese with you when I was in college -- it was waaay fun. Great pics of the food. Joni

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  13. You always have something fun going on at your home. This all looks delicious and entertaining.

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  14. As an Asian, your table got lots of palatable dishes that make our mouths watering §:-)

    I guess you're een to Indian, Thai and Chinese foodies coz they are so popular. Have you try to revise Filipino dish? A very own Filipino dish or maybe a Swedish dish? LoL* Isn't it so exotic with the combination? Oh my! I can't wait for to see that here.

    Happy w/end.

    Greetings from D´Box.
    /CC girl

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  15. I love making fried rice. I remember first having a pu pu platter and everyone getting a kick out of the name also:) Have a great weekend!

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  16. i am not gecieving ur wonderful blog?? i love this blog i really do so i have to go into google to get it. can u please look into this unfortunate hiccup??

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  17. I love the Pu Pu platter idea.
    such a lovely presentation and so darn good. The hibachi is so pretty too! Thanks for sharing these wonderful tidbits and recipes. A perfect meal for guests or yourselves. I might have to go out and purchase a hibachi for us.

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  18. Oh, Jacqueline! This just looks SO delicious! I haven't had a pu-pu platter in years, and this really makes me want one!
    YUM! You are such a wonderful cook/hostess!

    I want to thank you for your kind comments. They mean a lot, my friend. Sending you hugs and love across the miles. Be blessed.

    XO,

    Sheila

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  19. You and your family have the most fun times! Thanks for sharing all your ideas and recipes. I can't wait to try them.

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  20. Good Afternoon Jacqueline, I am sorry I have not been around to leave comments, but I am catching up with everyone since my return from India....and what a lovely surprise, you have a beautiful new blog design and a dish which I have never heard of. I have made a note of the mini habachi to see if I can buy one in England as this looks fun to make with friends and family.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  21. You have me drooling all over my comouter !!!!! Everything looks So good. I love the little mini hibachi, my hubby would love this so I am going to Amazon to see them. Thanks for the link and the recipes:) XO, Pinky

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  22. Wow this all looks so good! The mini hibachi is neat- I've never seen one. Love your new blog look.

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  23. I am so drooling here! That is, after I laughed at the name ;) They look so good, how did you resist not eating them before taking these pictures. You are one talented cook.

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  24. How truly amazing...having this at home would be such a special treat.

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  25. Looks like a fabulous meal. I like making Chinese dinners, lots of prep, but i like to control what goes into things.
    Cute hibachi!
    Good to see you J!

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  26. This is awesome.

    We have in our country a similar way of cooking in the table... similar because you cook at the table, normally different kinds of meat. But you cook them over a hot stone, that goes to the oven for a while to get really warm, and then put lamparines below to keep it warm. They you place the meat on top of the stone - it cooks kind of fast - and eat was your meat is at your please.

    Thank you so much for sharing this. I thought my stone was nice looking but your hibachi is a step towards awesome.

    Teresa

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