Simple Curry

I tweaked a recipe from Tasty Kitchen (which turns out to be from my lovah Jamie Oliver) and came up with this yummy curry. It hit the spot for me as I was nursing a cold on some dreary rainy spring evenings. Easy and delicious.

Ingredients
One bunch Scallions, thinly sliced white and light green parts only
One medium onion, finely diced
One bunch Fresh Cilantro, coarsely chopped
3 Tablespoons Roasted Sesame Oil
10 to 15 teaspoons Curry Powder (the more the merrier on your tongue)
2 Tablespoon Butter
2 cans Coconut Milk
2 large pinches Kosher Salt
the juice of one Lemon
2 blocks Extra Firm Tofu (pressed to Dry And Cut Into 1-inch Cubes) OR 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes
*** adding a dollop or two of sour cream or plain yogurt will cut the spice if you over do it***
Serve over cooked rice.

Directions

1. In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
   
2. If you are making rice, start it now.
   
3. Add onions and scallions and simmer until translucent.
   
4. Add tofu/meat and cook/brown.
5. Add cilantro and stir to combine.
6. Add the curry powder Stir everything together.
   
7. Add the butter. Continue to stir and cook for 20 to 30 seconds more.
   
8. When it’s all simmering nicely, add the coconut milk.
   
9. While stirring often, bring everything to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 2 minutes.
   
10. Finish the sauce by seasoning it to taste with salt and then stir in lemon juice.
11. Turn off the heat and serve over cooked rice.
    

Chopped Salad

This is my favorite dish to order at the Sundown Saloon.

Here's a picture of the original that this recipe is modeled after.

Ingredients

Chicken breasts grilled (if preferred marinate them in lemon juice and cilantro first) and chopped

1 avocado chopped

2 heads romaine chopped

3 tomatoes chopped

I can plain corn, pan seared with a little lemon pepper

I cup shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack cheese

tortilla wraps

Process

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss. Chicken and corn may be hot when put in salad. Toss with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. Serve with tortillas.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette is one of my favorite dressings for one of my favorite salads. Though originally served and purchased often at the Sundown Saloon, I have managed to recreate this in my own kitchen for a close second version of a long time favorite. The Salad this goes to I will be naming the Tex Mex chopped salad, but I can think of a lot of other salads or grilled meats this would taste superb on.

Ingredients
8 tablespoons oil.
6 tablespoons Lime juice
1 or 2 cloves garlic
Half a bunch of fresh cilantro
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon sugar (if dressing is too sour add more)
1 teaspoon salt

1 raw egg - optional to those who fear them.

Process

1. In a blender combine the ingredients.
2. Taste.
3. Adjust ingredients or seasons to your liking. I like mine on the limey/sour side, but you may want it creamier.

Slow Cooker Sandwiches

It's time to bump this post for all the busy baseball and lacrosse parents. This link is from another blog I follow, I JUST got off the phone with SP asking what we should do for dinner. I just returned from vacation, am busy unpacking the car and getting laundry done, have appointments this afternoon, followed by the first baseball game of the season for Puckstopper. There is no time to get much done, since my afternoon project, if time allows, is to plant some seeds with Daughter. Anyway, this lovely link below will bring you to 14 different recipes for slow cooker sandwiches!
Click this link below to get the the Better Homes and Gardens website about the sandwiches.
Simple Slow Cooker Sandwiches

But here you will find the 12 different sandwiches and links to their recipes:
Sloppy Chicken Joes
Apricot Pulled Pork Hoagies
Caramelized Onion, Walnut and Cilantro Chicken Salad (can you say YUM!?)
Southwestern Shredded Beef Sandwiches
Pulled Pork with Root beer Sauce (Puckstopper will love this)
Tangy Barbecue Beef
Pork and Slaw Barbecue Rolls
Easy Chicken Rarebit (oh my I am craving cheese again)
Cuban Pork
Slow Simmering Barbecue Sandwiches
Five Spice Pork Au Jus
German Style Pork Sandwiches

SP's Fake Ceasar Dressing

I know I posted our favorite Cesar Salad recipe from Cook's Illustrated, but when it comes down to it, my favorite is the mock dressing that SP made up while I was pregnant with out daughter. I crave it - still. And I have asked him to write it down, for centuries, but he always tells me that he "eyeballs" it and can't create a recipe. Well tonight I think he proves that he is interested in this blog after all because I asked him to make this recipe. I walked over to taste the divine creation and low and behold on a tiny scrap of paper was his measurements and proportions! Apparently, this idea needs to be credited to our friend "Ambrose de la Nord" who made this during one of our visits to their house. We love this so I hope you enjoy!

Process:
Whisk together the following ingredients:
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1.4 cup olive oil
1 small clove garlic finely chopped
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 inch squirt from the tube of Anchovy paste (SP says, "yea like toothpaste")
1/8 teaspoon White pepper

Makes enough to dress a salad for at least 2 people.

Easter Dinner

Grilled asparagus, roast leg of lamb with an herb mint rub, mashed purple potatoes with Boursin cheese, and a spring salad with grapefruit and blood orange slices served with an OJ vinaigrette.