Homemade Garlic and Onion Powder

Pho Ga

Me:  a friend of mine is looking for a recipe for Pho.  I know it can be made with chicken.

 

ChatGPT: let’s make Pho Gà doable with what you can grab at Sobeys or Superstore in Yarmouth.

You don’t need a specialty Asian market — here’s how to adapt it. 😄🍜

🛒 Nova Scotia Grocery-Friendly Substitutions

🐔 Chicken

Ideal: Whole chicken

Easy Option:

2–3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

OR

1 rotisserie chicken + 1 carton low-sodium chicken broth

👉 Thighs give richer flavor than breasts.

🧂 Fish Sauce

Look for: Thai Kitchen, Blue Dragon, or any small bottle in the international aisle.

If unavailable:

Substitute (not perfect, but works):

1 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

(Still try to find fish sauce if you can — it’s worth it.)

🌿 Whole Spices

Some stores may not carry black cardamom or fennel. No worries.

Must-have:

Star anise

Cinnamon stick

Cloves

If coriander seeds aren’t available:

Use ½ tsp ground coriander

If no whole spices at all: Use:

½ tsp Chinese 5-spice powder

It won’t be fully traditional but gets you 80% there.

🍜 Rice Noodles

Look in:

International aisle

Sometimes gluten-free section

If you absolutely can’t find them:

Use thin rice vermicelli

Or in a pinch, thin spaghetti (not traditional, but works in an emergency)

🌿 Thai Basil

Hard to find sometimes.

Substitute:

Regular fresh basil

Or even a little fresh parsley + mint combo

🌱 Bean Sprouts

If unavailable:

Thinly sliced cabbage

Or just skip — pho is flexible at home

🍋 Lime

If limes are expensive or hard to find:

Lemon works just fine

🍁 “Maritime Pantry Pho” Version

If you wanted to make this using very normal pantry stuff:

Chicken thighs

Store-bought chicken broth

Onion

Ginger

Cinnamon stick

Ground coriander

Soy sauce

Rice noodles

Fresh basil

Lemon

You’ll still end up with a very comforting bowl. 🍜

FYI, I live at the other end of Nova Scotia. I live in North Sydney.

Ahhh — North Sydney! 🍁⚓ Cape Breton changes the grocery game a little!

Thanks for the correction 😄

Up your way, you’ve got:

🛒 Sobeys (Commercial Street)

🛒 Superstore in Sydney River

🛒 Walmart

And sometimes smaller local shops with surprisingly good international sections

Good news? You can absolutely make solid pho up there.

👍 What You’ll Likely Find Easily

Whole chicken or thighs

Fresh ginger

Onions

Rice noodles (Superstore almost always has them)

Fish sauce (international aisle at Superstore/Sobeys)

Star anise & cinnamon sticks

🤏 What Might Be Hit or Miss

Thai basil (regular basil works perfectly)

Bean sprouts (sometimes available, sometimes not)

Black cardamom (very unlikely — skip it)

Honestly, with Superstore in North Sydney, you’re in better shape than a lot of rural spots.

If you’d like, I can tailor a “North Sydney Superstore exact shopping list” version so you can grab everything in one run. 🍜

6x Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse recipes

1️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Honey & Cinnamon

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor.

Blend on high until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy.

Transfer to a small bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

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2️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender.

Process until no lumps remain and the texture is silky.

Pour into a dish and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set.

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3️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Berry

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup fresh strawberries or raspberries

1 tbsp honey

1 pinch salt

Instructions:

Add the cottage cheese, berries, honey, and salt to a food processor.

Blend until the fruit is fully incorporated and the mousse is light and airy.

Serve immediately or refrigerate for a firmer texture.

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4️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Lemon

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

2 tbsp agave nectar or honey

Instructions:

Place all ingredients into a blender.

Blend until the mixture reaches a smooth, mousse-like consistency.

Chill for at least 20 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

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5️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Peanut Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

2 tbsp creamy peanut butter

1 tbsp maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender.

Blend until the peanut butter is fully integrated and the mixture is smooth.

Transfer to a bowl and serve topped with a pinch of cinnamon if desired.

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6️⃣ Cottage Cheese Protein Mousse — Cookie Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup cottage cheese

2 tbsp cookie butter

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

Add all components to a high-speed blender.

Pulse and blend until the mixture is silky and no cottage cheese curds remain.

Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before enjoying.

Poor Man’s Husband Casserole

Poor Man’s Husband Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

2 cups cooked egg noodles

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 cup sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

Salt & black pepper to taste

6x Cabbage Roll Soups

1️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Garlic Parmesan

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

28 oz crushed tomatoes

4 cups beef broth

1 cup cooked white rice

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat until cooked through, then drain the excess fat.

Add the onion and garlic to the pot and sauté for 3 minutes until softened.

Stir in the cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, salt, and pepper.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is tender.

Stir in the cooked rice and Parmesan cheese just before serving.

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2️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Lemon Herb

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

28 oz diced tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup cooked white rice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tbsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground turkey in a large pot over medium heat until no longer pink.

Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent.

Add the cabbage, tomatoes, chicken broth, oregano, thyme, and salt to the pot.

Simmer the mixture for 25 minutes until the cabbage is soft.

Stir in the cooked rice and lemon juice, then serve warm.

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3️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Sesame Ginger

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken

1 medium onion, diced

1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

32 oz chicken broth

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 cup cooked white rice

1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

Cook the ground chicken in a large pot over medium heat until browned.

Add the onion and ginger, sautéing for 2 minutes.

Pour in the chicken broth and soy sauce, then add the chopped cabbage and salt.

Simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is completely tender.

Stir in the cooked rice and sesame oil before removing from heat.

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4️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Taco-Style

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

15 oz tomato sauce

1 packet taco seasoning

4 cups beef broth

1 cup cooked white rice

1/2 cup frozen corn

1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot over medium heat and drain the fat.

Add the taco seasoning, cabbage, tomato sauce, beef broth, and corn.

Bring the soup to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Stir in the cooked rice and salt.

Cook for 2 more minutes until heated through.

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5️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Curry

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

14.5 oz diced tomatoes

4 cups beef broth

2 tbsp curry powder

1 cup cooked white rice

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 tsp salt

Instructions:

In a large pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat and drain the fat.

Stir in the onion and cook for 3 minutes.

Add the cabbage, diced tomatoes, beef broth, curry powder, and salt.

Simmer for 25 minutes until the cabbage is tender.

Add the cooked rice and peas, stirring until warmed through.

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6️⃣ Cabbage Roll Soup — Spicy Chili-Lime

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion, diced

1/2 head green cabbage, chopped

28 oz crushed tomatoes

4 cups beef broth

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tbsp lime juice

1 cup cooked white rice

1 tsp salt

Instructions:

Brown the ground beef and onion in a large pot over medium heat and drain the fat.

Stir in the cabbage, crushed tomatoes, beef broth, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and salt.

Simmer for 20 minutes until the cabbage is soft.

Stir in the cooked rice and lime juice.

Serve once the soup is hot and the flavors are combined.