Saturday, June 30, 2012

Crockpot Paprika Chicken

Yum
 I am totally embracing my crockpot/slow cooker during these hot days of summer. I am also loving the set it and pretty much forget it convenience of this style of cooking.  I set this dish at 8am yesterday on low for 9 hours of cook time while I went out with the kids for a play date with their cousins.  I got back 7 hours later and had actually forgotten I was cooking dinner in the crockpot until I came into the house and was greeted by the insanely good smell of this Paprika Chicken cooking.  I finished it off with some sour cream and then cooked up some store-bought  cheese tortellini to complete the meal.  My family was doing the happy dance at dinner and I was doing the happy dance because it was so wonderfully simple. 

 
 Ingredients:
3lb of skinless chicken (any parts)  I used frozen boneless chicken breast
2 cups chicken stock (or water and bullion equivalent)
1 jar (48oz) tomato pasta sauce
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 Tbs dried parsley flakes
1 Tbs onion powder
1 Tbs brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce (or to taste)
2 Tbs paprika
red chili flakes to taste
1 bell pepper diced
1lb of mushrooms sliced
1 large onion chopped
1 bay leaves
1/3 cup of sour cream
1/3 flour (if needed)
seasoning salt and black pepper as needed
garnish with torn fresh basil (optional)

Note:  If you do not want to serve this over rice or pasta, you can decrease the stock and pasta sauce by half each.






Directions:
Place all ingredients into large crockpot/slow cooker (except for sour cream).  Place on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-9 hours.  Stir occasionally and adjust seasoning.  Add sour cream in the last hour of cooking.  Serve over pasta or rice. Enjoy.
 

Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Chicken Caesar Salad and Dressing

Yum
 It's HOT outside!! I wanted something light, cool and still satisfying to eat for lunch yesterday.  This is my plate before I dove in, demolished it and enjoyed every bite. I pan fried some grilled chicken breast and just threw in the salad fixings I had available at home.  I think I'm going to have to run and get more salad fixings because I can eat this again today for lunch. 

 Ingredients
Salad Fixings:
romaine lettuce chopped
carrots grated or julienne
cucumber sliced (I like English cucumbers)
grilled chicken (recipe below)
grated parmesan cheese
red chilies minced or red bell pepper
caesar dressing (recipe below)

Directions: Add all ingredients together. Enjoy.
Grilled Chicken:
Chicken breast
salt and black pepper
olive oil

Directions: Heat olive oil in frying pan and add seasoned chicken breast.  Pan fry both sides until fully cooked.


Kittencal's Famous Caesar 

Salad Dressing:


  • 2 anchovy fillets (or to taste)
  • 2 cloves of fresh garlic (or to taste)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup half and half cream or milk
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (to taste) (optional) 
  • buttermilk or half-and-half, for thinning  
Directions:
First mince/paste the anchovy fillets and garlic together.  This must be the first step or the anchovies and garlic will not become a paste.   Then add all the other dressing ingredients to the food process and blend well. Adjust seasonings to taste.  If you want a thinner dressing add more buttermilk (or milk) as desired. Store in fridge, covered in a glass container for 3 or more hours before using (the flavors become stronger when left in the fridge for a longer time).

 Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/kittencals-famous-caesar-salad-116849#ixzz1z1FhvkpU



Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Sri Lankan Omelet Curry

Yum
 Omelets are so easy and versatile. You can eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner and customize them to whatever you have leftover in your fridge.  Have you ever thought about making a curry with it?  My mother makes this great omelet curry and it full of spicy flavor. You can eat this omelet curry with rice, bread, roti, naan etc...  I love to make a big batch of this and enjoy it for a spicy lean protein packed breakfast.


Ingredients:
For the omelet:
6-8 eggs
salt and black pepper to taste
1 medium onion finely sliced
1-2 green chilies finely sliced
8-10 curry leaves (coarsely chopped)
canola oil as needed

For the Curry:
1 medium onion sliced
10-12 curry leaves
1/2 tsp of fennugreek seeds
1/2 inch of cinnamon stick
1/2 Tbs of grated fresh ginger
1/2 Tbs of grated fresh garlic
2 medium tomatoes chopped
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 Tbs of curry powder
red chili powder to taste (I added 1 Tbs)
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
1 cup of water
1 cup of milk (cow's)

Directions:

The Omelet:
 Beat 6-8 eggs with a little salt and black pepper.  In a large skillet saute sliced onions, green chilies and curry leaves until tender.

Lower heat on stove and pour egg mixture into frying pan and allow to set.

Roll omelet from one end of frying pan to the other and then slice into squares.  (They don't need to be perfect)  because it will all look great in the curry.)

Remove omelet out of pan to make the curry.
 The Curry:
Add more oil (Tbs) to pan and add sliced onions, curry leaves, cinnamon stick, ginger, garlic and  fennugreek seeds.  Add tomato next and salt.

Then add Red chili powder, turmeric, curry powder and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer for 3-4 minutes.  Then add 1 cup of milk.  Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly.

Add prepared omelets back into pan and simmer until most of the liquid gets absorbed by the omelets.  Serve with rice, roti, naan etc..   Enjoy.



Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

White Bean Dip

Yum
You don't always have to have the traditional salsa, guacamole or spinach dip for parties. It's nice to offer a healthier alternative and that's exactly what this White Bean Dip does.  I always like to have a few guilt-free dishes to offer to the more conscientious eaters in my family, but I still want to  please everyone else.  I used some yogurt in this bean dip and some lovely cumin to give it a Mediterranean flavor. Eat it with pita chips or any vegetable and enjoy.

Ingredients:
2 (15oz) cans cannellini beans drained and rinsed well
1/3 cup of Greek yogurt
1-2 cloves of garlic grated
1-2 Tbs of olive oil
2 tsp of cumin powder
1tsp of lemon juice or red wine vinegar
red chili flakes to taste
salt to taste

Directions:
Put all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning and adjust to taste. Serve with pita chips or sliced vegetables.  Enjoy.






Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

My Kid's Triple Delight - Chocolate, Coconut and Cranberry Cookies

Yum
I have survived the first week of summer vacation with both my kids at home.  Today they asked if we could make cookies so I was more than happy to oblige.  I was ready to make some simple chocolate chip cookies, but they decided they wanted to each add a special ingredient to the cookie batter.  I'm always up for a good experiment so I asked them what they wanted to add.  My son is not fond of any kind of nuts in his cookies so he requested dried cranberries.  My daughter decided her contribution would be baker's coconut. We all wanted chocolate of course and my daughter was thrilled with the little mini chips I added.  Then we waited patiently for them to bake and cool enough for us to taste our creation.  Yippy!!!!! They were fabulous and my kids wanted everyone to know they not only helped make these cookies, they also helped write the recipe.




Ingredients:
1 box of yellow cake mix
3/4 cup chocolate chips (we used minis)
3/4 cup of dried cranberries
3/4 cup of baker's coconut (in the baker's aisle)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of canola oil



Directions:
  Mix the cake mix with the eggs and canola oil.  Then add your  chocolate chips, dried cranberries and coconut. Mix all ingredients into the cookie batter well.

Make golf ball size balls from the cookie dough and place them on a sprayed cookie sheet.  Place them in a 350 degree oven for 15-18 minutes.  When the edges start to turn brown they are ready.  Allow the baked cookies to remain on the cookie tray to cool completely and finish setting.  Store cooled cookies in an air tight container.

Makes 15-18 cookies




Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Sri Lankan Shrimp Curry

Yum
When I am rushing to cook a rice and curry meal, shrimp curry is an easy go to dish for me.  I always try to keep some cleaned frozen shrimp in my freezer that I can quickly defrost for a quick meal. This aromatic and spicy dish makes my mouth water just thinking about it.  My mother gave me this recipe and my entire family loved it.  The dish is cooked without any oil so it is very figure friendly.



Ingredients:
1lb of cleaned shrimp
1 medium onion sliced or chopped
1-2 chili peppers sliced (fresno,jalapeno or serrano)
3-5 cloves of garlic finely chopped
2 inches of ginger finely chopped or grated
1 stalk of lemon grass (pounded a few times)-- the lemon grass is optional
handful of curry leaves
2 Tbs of lemon juice
1 Tbs of red chili powder -or to taste
1/2 tsp of turmeric
1 tsp of fenugreek seeds
1 (2 inch) stick of cinnamon
salt to taste
1/2 cup of water
1 cup coconut milk

Directions:
 You can use frozen or fresh shrimp (do not use already cooked shrimp).  I used frozen shrimp that I defrosted under cold water.  My shrimp was cleaned with only the tails on.  I do think that the shrimp shells give a wonderful flavor to the gravy so if you don't mind cleaning your shrimp as you eat, the shells are good to have while you cook the dish.


Add all the ingredients to the pan and bring to a simmer on medium-high heat.   You will see more liquid form in the pan from the shrimp.    


Simmer for 10 minutes with the lid on.  Stir occasionally.


Add coconut milk and stir well.   Taste for salt here.  Serves 4 people.  Eat with rice other curries.  Enjoy.




Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Mung Dhal (Lentil) Curry

Yum
 Mung Dhal (Lentils) comes from the mung bean.  It is also called green gram in parts of Asia.  The variety I used here is the hulled or skinned green gram which is a shade of light yellow.   This is one of my favorite lentil dishes and I could not wait for mother to show me her recipe.  The trick to giving her mung dhal curry a great flavor is she roasts the lentils first then cooks them.  This gives a really wonderful taste and aroma.  We made this dish a bit spicier by adding some red chili powder and whole red chilies during the cooking process. I can eat this lentils with rice alone, but my mother loves to eat it with the Deviled Onion Sambal .  Anyway you eat this lentil curry, it's delicious! 

Ingredients:
1 cup yellow mung dhal (lentils)  This is available at all Indian Stores.
2 cups of water (or more as needed)
1 medium onion chopped (divided into two parts)
1 (1 inch) piece of cinnamon stick (divided)
1-2 green chilies sliced
15-20 curry leaves (divided into two parts)
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
red chili powder to taste
salt to taste
1 cup of milk
2-3 whole red dried chili pods
red chili flakes to taste 


Directions:
Take the dry mung lentils and roast it in a clean pan for 8-10 minutes on medium heat. Stir continuously.  The lentils will start to turn brown and become very fragrant.  Carefully take it over to the sink and add cold water.  Stir lentils and drain and rinse again about 3-4 times.   You may need to stir with a spoon until the lentils cool down. The final rinse (when the lentils are cool) make sure you use your hands to clean the lentils well.  When the water runs clear from rinsing the lentils they are ready to cook. 
Place 2 cups of water into the pan of cleaned lentils then add half of the curry leaves and onion, turmeric, half the cinnamon stick, red chili powder and all the green chilies.  Place on high heat and turn down to medium when it starts to boil.  Cook with a lid on the pot until the water is all absorbed and the lentils are tender and can  be smashed between your fingers.  Add more water if you need to get the correct texture to the lentil.   ***Do not add salt when boiling lentils***
Once the lentils are cooked, heat 1Tbs of oil in another pan and add the remaining onions, curry leaves, cinnamon stick, broken chili pods and chili flakes. Saute on medium heat until the onions start to brown.  Then add the cooked lentils into the pan and add milk and salt to taste.  Simmer for 3-5 minutes and serve with rice. Enjoy.
 



Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Asian Salmon Mousse

Yum
If your are looking for a quick fix appetizer for a party and you like salmon... this mousse recipe is right up your alley. I made this Asian Salmon Mousse in a matter of minutes and let the fridge do the work to set it up.  It was a lovely creamy mousse and my kids, mother and nephew really enjoyed it so much they cleaned out my bowl.  We ate it with crackers and even on some toasted bread and it was delicious both ways. I think this would make a perfect appetizer for any party and the best part is you get it done ahead of time.


Ingredients:
1 (6oz) can of good quality boneless skinless salmon
1 bunch of green scallions (greens and whites separated)
1/2 inch of grated fresh ginger
1 large clove of fresh garlic grated
1 green chili sliced  (seeded if you prefer less heat)
black pepper to taste
1/4 red onion chopped
1 (8oz) package of plain cream cheese (at room temperature
2 Tbs of mayonnaise
1-2 tsp of soy sauce

Directions:
In a saute pan add 1 tsp of canola oil.  Saute the onion, scallion whites, ginger, garlic and green chili. When onions soften add the drained can of salmon and soy sauce.  Taste for seasoning. Allow mixture to cool before proceeding.

 In a food processor add the room temperature cream cheese, cooled salmon mixture and mayonnaise.  Blend until well incorporated and smooth.  Place mousse mixture in serving dish and cover.  Place in refrigerator overnight. Top with greens of scallions and serve with crackers.  Enjoy.



Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.