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Soups & Stews

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Utterly Delicious Thai-Inspired Chicken

January 3, 2020

I woke up with an oddly urgent hankering for Thai food. I honestly can’t explain this, since I have rarely tasted Thai food and never been to Thailand. Usually, when I have a strong craving, it relates back to some nostalgic time in my past but, well folks … Not Today!

Now that I’ve prepared this dish, only an hour before this post, I can’t stop eating it. And, as I was cooking, a friend dropped by exclaiming “Oh it smells so good in here!” then happily waited until the Jasmine rice was ready so he could take a batch of this dish home with him.

This dish wasn’t at all complicated!

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 Boneless Chicken Thighs
  • 1 Can full fat Coconut Milk
    (The cream will settle on top. Do not shake!)
  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth (I had home made but any will do).
  • 2 Tbsp (6 teeth/cloves) Minced Garlic
  • 1 Heaping Tbsp Fresh Ginger
  • 2 Heaping Tbsp Thai Curry Paste (does not taste like yellow curry powder)
  • 1/4 Tsp Chili & Garlic Sauce (Hey… red pepper flakes will do just fine!)
  • 1 Tsp. Fish Sauce
  • Zest of a whole lime
  • Juice of a whole lime
  • 1/2 Cup Chopped Cilantro
  • 2 Cups of Steamed, Jasmine rice

PREPARATION

Partial ingredients. Not shown: garlic, ginger, fish sauce, chicken & broth.
  1. Sear Chicken Thighs in some hot oil for a few minutes, skin down, until skin is brown and crispy. Remove and set aside.
  2. Open the can of coconut milk and skim off the creamy, oily top into your medium hot saucepan.
  3. Into the creamy coconut oil, Sautee Thai Curry Paste, Garlic Chili Sauce, Ginger, and Garlic on medium heat for about 1 minute.
  4. Add the remaining coconut milk.
  5. Add the chicken broth.
  6. Add the zest of the lime.
  7. Add the chicken and simmer for 1/2 hour, until chicken is tender.
  8. When you are ready to serve, toss in 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro and the juice of the lime. Reserve cilantro and lime wedges for presentation.
  9. Spoon 1/2 cup Jasmine rice into a bowl, add 1 chicken thigh, coconut broth and garnish with fresh cilantro and lime wedge.

Comfort Food

Chickpea Love, My Version

December 13, 2019

When I came across Alison Roman’s NYT-Famous Chickpea Stew, I thought “Ohhh … I’ll try this one!” Alas, and as usual, I found I had neither the patience nor temperament to read a complete recipe or to follow anything or anyone. But you can find Alison’s recipe here. Famous Chickpea Stew.

I took my own path to delicious (USING double the Turmeric; adding Nutmeg and Curry, Carrots, Celery and the option of adding chicken or shrimp). The result was a hearty, gorgeous soup with a beautiful, golden color. Here is what I did, from me to you, With Love and Butter!

A note to meat eaters!: Look for the notes in Bold below, if you are adding Shrimp or Chicken..

.

THE INGREDIENTS

  • 1, 29 ounce can of Chickpeas, or 2 15 oz cans Rinsed Well!
  • 2 15 oz cans of full fat coconut milk
  • 1 Cube of vegetable or Chicken stock
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped Kale or Mustard Greens.
    This is optional. The soup is also very good without the greens!
    Spinach or Arugula are ok, but not sturdy.
  • NOTE TO MEAT EATERS: Option: If you want to make this meaty, have some raw chicken Breast Chunks OR Fresh Shrimp at the ready.)
  • 3 Sticks Celery, diced small
  • 2 Carrot Sticks, diced small
  • 1/2 a Medium Onion, diced small
  • A knob of fresh, minced ginger (about as big as your whole thumb)
    (I keep mine in the freezer)
  • 3 Teeth of garlic, finely minced
  • 2 Tbsp. Turmeric
  • 1 Tsp Yellow Curry
  • 1/2 Tsp Nutmeg
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1/4 Tsp (or more) Red Pepper Flakes (Cayenne will work)

PREPARATION

  1. In your favorite a sturdy soup pot, heat 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil plus 1 tbsp butter.
  2. Toss in the chopped Garlic, Onion, Ginger, Celery & Carrots.
  3. Sauté over medium heat, adding a bit of water to prevent sticking or burning, until the onions are clear and becoming soft.
  4. Add the Turmeric.
  5. Now add your rinsed Chickpeas. Stir.
  6. After the Chickpeas are in the pot, add all the coconut milk. Stir.
  7. Into this mix, add the remaining spices:, Nutmeg, Salt & Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes. (Gentle with the pepper flakes. You can add more later.)
  8. Cover and simmer on low for 30 – 45 minutes.
  9. IF YOU ARE USING GREENS, this is when you add your chopped Kale, or whatever greens you prefer. I served some of this dish before adding the Kale! It’s optional, really. See my photos at the end. I have pictures of this soup with and without the kale!

    IF YOU ARE ADDING MEAT, this is the point when you add your Chicken Chunks or Fresh Shrimp!
  10. Cover and cook on low for another 20 minutes.
Celery, Onion, Ginger, Garlic, Carrots
Add Chickpeas, Rinsed!
Here, with Coconut Milk, Turmeric, Nutmeg, Pepper Flakes.
Now, the chopped Kale or Greens.

SERVING & GARNISHES
Ladle into a bowl and garnish with any of these:

  • Sour Cream or Yogurt
  • Fresh Mint OR Cilantro Leaves
  • Chives
  • Orchid, Hibiscus flower or any edible flower (Pansies are nice!)
Here, without the Kale. Garnished with Yogurt & Fresh Mint Leaves.
With the Kale


Comfort Food

20 Minute Lentil Heaven

January 26, 2018

These days, it’s a challenge to find a dish you can serve to everyone, from your manliest meat-eater to your weight-watcher, the animal-conscious vegan or even a diabetic. Here’s a fast and tasty way to provide bowl full of heavily health in only 20 minutes that’s good enough and healthy enough for almost any diet!

Red Lentils are low in fat, loaded with protein and fiber, and chock full of heart-healthy folate and manganese. They are also pretty to look at, which makes them festive enough for company. The best part? They are extremely easy to prepare because, unlike green or brown lentils, red lentils are very quick cooking, i.e., no soaking,  no waiting.

With it’s fresh splash of lemon and bright mint, this recipe will bring a bit of the Mediterranean to your soup bowl and it will keep you feeling full for hours.

EASY RED LENTIL SOUP

In a small soup pot, boil 2 cups of salted water and add to it:

  • 1 Cup red lentils
  • 1 large, or 2 small, minced garlic teeth
  • 1 Tsp. dried, flaked onion

Simmer about 15 minutes, until lentils are soft. Now add:

  • 1 Can “no salt” diced tomatoes. Your choice, but I prefer to add & control my own salt.
  • 1 Tsp. fresh Italian flat parsley, chopped
  • 1 Tsp. fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 Tsp. fresh or jarred lemon juice. Use more or less, to taste.

Simmer soup about 5 more minutes. Add salt to taste and serve.

Notes:  Garnish with fresh Mint or Parsley. Use fresh tomatoes, if you like. Add carrots if that appeals to you.  I did not need to use any type of flavor “cute” or powder as the lentils, garlic, salt I used and fresh herbs created a lot of flavor!

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