Michel Richard

Sometimes I stop and think that I am one lucky girl. I had the best dinner at a restaurant for my birthday- DH took me to Michel Richard Citronelle. Then I read in the paper that Richard was speaking at a bookstore downtown and so DH and I turned this into a fun evening. We started with a drink at Central, Richard's new bistro. (I think that I will have my next bookclub meeting there.) Then we went next door to Tenpenh for dinner. I have been wanting to eat there for a very long time and missed my bookclub's meeting there a year or so ago. It was worth the wait. I had a very yummy dinner and DH was very pleased with his meal. I had the Vegetarian Hotpot and could not stop eating the broth. After dinner, we walked to the bookstore and found seats in the front row. :) Michel Richard loves food and seems so happy to share his love. He was most animated when talking about food in context with family and friends and when searching for something new that is also delicious. He mentioned the recipe for Tomato Tartare from his new cookbook. I wish that I could quote him but he was sharing his excitment about realizing that tomatoes "chopped chopped" with love and seasoned would taste very much like steak tartare. It is this playfulness that I most admire about him. Richard is able to see food in new ways that are creative, artistic, and very tasty. I will have to share how he signed my copy of his cookbook- he draws a picture of himself in a chef's hat- very cute! I felt so lucky to hear him speak and to have had such a lovely evening with my DH.

A great class, a beginner's curry and a dal

A friend took me to an Indian cooking class at Sur la Table last monday night. It was the most work I've ever done in a class but the food was great and I've been inspired to try more Indian cooking. The instructor was very knowledgeable and so willing to answer questions. This was the 5th Indian cooking class I've taken and its the one class that has really inspired me to give Indian cooking a go at home.

I will admit to making a purchase at Sur la Table that night! There was a 15% coupon good for just about anything in the store that night. I spied a Santoku knife at some of the cutting stations so I made sure that I ended up there. The knife felt so good in my hands and cut beautifully. I went, ok I rushed, over to the knife display at break. After holding several knives and talking with the sales helper, I chose a 6-inch chef's knife. The handle felt as one with my hands- sturdy, comfortable and well-balanced. Chopping and cutting are dream now. Which is very important when you chop lots and lots of veggies. Why a chef's knife and not the Santoku? I rock when I chop (advantage- chef knife) and also thought the chef's knife would be more versatile. I am so pleased with my new knife.

Tuesday after the class, I went to the store and bought radishes, carrots, onions, a cucumber, a yellow pepper, and celery for a salad for dinner that night! I chopped and chopped and smiled and smiled!

This Sunday I tested out the knife and some Indian recipes. I made the dal from the class and a beginner's curry from The Great Curries of India by Camellia Panjabi (pictured above.)

The dal was very delicious. I added the cilantro and some hotter pepper than the version I had at the class. DH and I love a bit of spice and the taste of cilantro. The packaged lentils were a shade of red with a hint of orange and pink but the dal cooked up yellow. It was a cheerful color on a cold rainy night. I thought that initially the dal had too strong a ginger taste- although I love ginger I felt that it was a bit strong. However, there is no ginger in the recipe! What was I tasting?? the lemon?? The next day for lunch, the dal had mellowed and tasted perfect with no trace of the ginger. I would like to try cooking this in the crockpot next time.

4 1/2 flamingos taste

5 flamingos for ease

The recipes...

I still am hoping to have pictures soon but please read about the curries.

Masoor Dal

Beginner's Curry

Menu for the week of 12/2

Sunday
Dal- recipe from an Indian cooking class at Sur la Table
Beginner Curry from Great Curries of India
brown basmati rice
Madras Curry from Seeds of Change with seitan for DH

Monday
pasta with marinara
steamed kale
salad

Tues
out! I'm going to hear Judith Jones speak at Politics and Prose
http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/oop/click_ord/showdetail.html?sid=1425&isbn=0307264955&music=&buyable=0&assoc_id=&spring=

Wed
work book club and girls night out!

Thurs
undecided

I also made made some homemade cookies for Indy- he just loved them!

My cookbook this week for Cooking Light's Game of the Week is The Curry Book: Memorable Flavors and Irresistible Recipes From Around the World. I have made several very delicious recipes from this book but haven't looked at it since going almost vegan. Another highly recommended book on the CL boards!

From Amazon- Review "Nancie McDermott blends exotic seasonings, clear directions and precise kitchen techniques for all of us who enjoy enticing curries and curry-spiced dishes from around the world." -- James McNair, author of James McNair's Favorites Book DescriptionDrawing inspiration from the rich curry traditions around the world, Nancie McDermott provides more than 100 intriguing recipes from Thailand, India, Malaysia, Jamaica, Africa, and the United States. Every recipe can be as easy or complexly flavored as you want, for each can be made with convenient store-bought curry powder or with authentic homemade herb and spice blends. Includes: Cheddar Curry Bites - Spicy Peanut Chicken Soup West African Style - Thai Grilled Chicken with Sweet and Spicy Garlic Sauce - Singapore Curry Noodles with Green Peppers and Shrimp - Green Pea Curry with Fresh Paneer Cheese - Indonesian-Style Rice Pilaf - Ginger Pear Chutney

The recipes I have made have been soooooooooo good and not overly complicated at all. Here are some links to discussions on this book-http://community.cookinglight.com/sh...ighlight=curry
http://community.cookinglight.com/sh...ighlight=curry

Three recipes have caught my eye- I hope to have time to make them all!
Carrot, Zucchini and Green Pepper Sticks with Thai-Style Peanut Sauce
New Potatoes and Red Bell Peppers in Fresh Green Curry
Vegetarian version of Singapore Curry Noodles with Green Peppers Shrimp!

I made one recipe last night and it was good. It took me longer to make the fresh green curry than I thought but well, I should know myself. I take my time when I have the time. Also the potatoes didn't cook in the amount of time she indicated- but, well, they never do for me. I should always remember to slightly cook them ahead. After 30 minutes they were good to go. I also was thinking this morning that it was a bit of cooks error. I should have used a saucepan- the kind that is deep rather than a skillet type pan. I fried the h#@@ out of my Pampered Chef rice cooker- the only thing that I can think of was that I cooked my rice for 25 minutes on high power instead of the 25 min on 1/2 power! After all that, it was a delish meal. I loved the taste of the curry very very much.

New Potatoes and Red Bell Peppers in Fresh Green Curry
Serves 4-6
Here is a quick vegetarian curry, bright with fresh herbs. This curry paste takes only a few minutes, but you can make it even simpler by using any store-bought paste, Thai- or Indian- style, instead of grinding your own.
1 pound new potatoes, unpeeled, about 2 inches in diameter
1 red bell pepper
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped shallots
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic
1 teaspoon peeled, coarsely chopped fresh ginger
2 fresh jalapeno peppers or 1 fresh Serrano pepper
3 tablespoons plus 1 cup water, divided
¾ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems, divided
1 can (14-ounce) unsweetened coconut milk, divided
1 teaspoon palm sugar or light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup fresh basil

Halve the potatoes. Halve the red pepper lengthwise, discard the stem and seeds, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Set aside.In a small food processor or blender, combine the shallots, garlic, ginger, chiles, and 3 tablespoons water. Add ½ cup of the cilantro. Grind until you have a fairly smooth paste, pulsing and stopping often to stir down the sides and incorporate all the ingredients. You will have about ¼ cup curry paste; set aside.

Open the coconut milk and stir well until smooth. Pour ½ cup coconut milk into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and gently boil 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.

Add the curry paste and cook, stirring and mashing, until it is dissolved into the coconut milk and heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining coconut, remaining 1 cup water, sugar, salt and potatoes. Increase the heat to maintain a gentle boil and continue cooking, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is smooth and a soothing green throughout.

Meanwhile, chop the basil leaves crosswise into thin strips, reserving a sprig or two for garnish. When the curry is cooked, stir in the basil, the red peppers and the remaining ¼ cup cilantro. Remove from heat and serve hot or warm, garnished with basil sprigs.

Notes:
*You will need a total of 1 ½ cups canned or frozen coconut milk. If you make fresh coconut milk from scratch, omit the 1 cup of water that is added to the canned coconut milk, and use a total of 2 ½ cups of your own freshly made coconut milk.
* To substitute prepared curry paste, omit the shallots, garlic, ginger, chile pepper, cilantro, and the 3 tablespoons water, and begin by cooking 2 tablespoons prepared curry paste in coconut milk.
*If you can find only big new potatoes in the market, use them, cutting them into walnut-sized chunks.

Smoky Seitan, Pinto Bean, and Hominy Stew

I love when I choose a recipe that sounds good and then it tastes good! And this one is that recipe plus it's even easy! and quick! And I'm saying that after having had to run to the store to buy another can of hominy and pinto beans. The first can of hominy I opened had some kind of thick layer just under the lid and then I noticed a few dents in the rim of the can at the bottom. Of course, I noticed this after dumping the hominy over the pinto beans to drain. I dumped it all and ran to the store to buy more. I am so glad I did- this really is good!

5 flamingos all around!!!

Smoky Seitan, Pinto Bean, and Hominy Stew
adapted from Cooking Light

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups diced white onion (about 1 large)
1 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)
3/4 cup diced carrot (about 1 large)
1 cup diced red bell pepper (about 1)
1 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups organic vegetable broth
1 teaspoon hot chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with mild green chiles, undrained
1 pound seitan, cubed
1 (15.5-ounce) can white hominy, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and next 4 ingredients (through garlic) to pan; sauté 5 minutes. Add broth and remaining ingredients to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Yield: 8 servings
adapted from Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2007

Black-Eyed Pea Patties

Black-Eyed Pea Patties with Garlic Pepper Salsa
Black-eyed peas were introduced in the Caribbean by African slaves. Somewhat drier than other legumes, they are ivory-gray in color with a black "eye" at the inner curve. They go by many names, including gungo and pigeon peas. These patties can be shaped an hour in advance; cover and refrigerate.

3 garlic cloves, minced
2 serrano chiles, seeded and finely chopped
2 (16-ounce) cans black-eyed peas, rinsed and well drained
1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
6 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 cups chopped tomato
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice

Combine minced garlic and chiles in a large bowl. Place 1 teaspoon garlic mixture in a small bowl; set side. Add peas to remaining garlic mixture in large bowl; mash mixture with a potato masher. Stir in bell pepper, 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and ground flaxseed, stirring until well blended. Divide mixture into 6 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2-inch-thick patty.
Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add patties; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Repeat procedure with the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and 6 patties.
Add remaining 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, chopped tomato, and fresh lime juice to the reserved garlic mixture in bowl; stir well. Serve with patties.

adapted from Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2007

Tempeh Ruebens

I did love a Rueben back in the day. I have tried making Ruebens several times and think that I like this version based on Vegan With a Vengeance best. First, I pan fry a few slices of Smoky Tempeh Strips (fakin' bacon). Then spread spread a wee bit of butter (Earth Balance) on each piece of pumpernickle bread- I prefer this to the more traditional rye. Place one slice of bread in a preheated skillet (nonstick or not- your choice) and layer the tempeh strips, some sauerkraut, and a bit of the dressing. Top with the remaining slice of bread, flip when ready, and serve with pickles, chips, or whatever to-go-with you like. The cheese is left out- I do like vegan Monterey Jack cheese but it doesn't add anything but calories to this sandwich. The recipe in Vegan with a Vengeance adds some pickles and avocado slices. I would love some avocado but chose to leave it out. Pickles will be served on the side. I also found some yummy sounding soup at Whole Foods and thought that would be a good dinner on this rather cold windy day.



A Dressing for Reubens very loosely based on Thousand Island
very loosely because I do not like ketchup or sweet pickle relish. I added some chopped pickles and pickle juice.

1/4 cup Veganaise (I like this brand the best.)
1 teaspoon pickle juice
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped pickles
1/4 teaspoon onion powder or 2 teaspoons minced onion
2 teaspoons capers
1 heavy tablespoon Gates Extra Hot BBQ sauce
pinch cayenne

This is good but not at all sweet. But that's how I like my dinner.