If I had to pick only one protein that I could eat for the rest of my life, it would be in the fish/seafood family. And oh! how I do love shrimp! And curry. And anything with coconut milk. Needless to say, I savored this dish.
And it's another quick and easy one. I served it with some of that coconut rice I just made and stashed in the freezer, plus I found another bag of frozen coconut milk I had tucked away. And, of course, I had shrimp in the freezer (I'm plowing my way through my freezer at a pretty good clip these days.....I actually have room to put more stuff in.....{just kidding, Sweetheart}).
I served this with steamed broccoli, but mango slices would also be good if you're wanting some sweetness. Also, I had some leftover petite diced tomatoes with chipotle, so I left out the cayenne pepper and it still had enough heat for a little a bit of a bite, but not too hot for us. Also, I cut this recipe in half and used a 12-oz package of 26/30 shrimp.
COCONUT SHRIMP CURRY (6'ish servings)
For the shrimp marinade:
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
1-2 pounds large or extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
For the sauce:
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium red or yellow onion, finely chopped
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp minced fresh garlic, from about a 1" piece of ginger
1 Tbsp kosher salt
2 tsp finely minced garlic
2 tsp ground corianer
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp curry powder
1 (14.5 oz) can diced or petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can coconut milk, light or regular
1/2-1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Hot cooked rice for serving, if desired
For the shrimp marinade, toss the shrimp with the S&P, cayenne, and lemon juice in a resealable large bag or in a bowl. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes (or hours if you want to do this step earlier).
Meanwhile, in a medium-sized pot, heat the oil over medium heat until rippling and hot. Add the onion and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the pepper, ginger, salt, garlic, coriander, turmeric, and curry powder. Add the undrained tomatoes to the pot and cook, stirring and scraping up the browned bits from the bottom, for about 1 minute.
Increase the heat to medium-high and then simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring often. Add the coconut milk, stirring to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and add the shrimp and marinade liquid. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until the shrimp are curled, slightly pink, and cooked through, about 2-4 minutes. Stir in the cilantro. Serve over hot, cooked rice, if desired.
Recipe Source: www.melskitchencafe.com
This is about and basic and simple as it comes. I tend to make quite a few Asian-inspired dishes and this is a perfect accompaniment to almost anything. It make quite a bit and since there are just the two of us, I freeze leftovers so I have a ready-made side dish.
I actually used this to serve with the Thai Pork and Mango Salsa I made back in July (see 7-25-14) post. And yes! That pork freezes and thaws wonderfully (eight months in the freezer!) And one more thing: don't throw out unused coconut milk.....it also freezes wonderfully.
COCONUT RICE (6 servings)
2 cups jasmine rice
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
1 tsp kosher salt
Rinse and drain rice in cold water. Place in a saucepan with water, coconut milk, and salt. Place the pot over high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir and reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting and cover tightly with the lid. Continue cooking for 15 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let stand 10 minutes, covered. Fluff with fork and serve.
Recipe Source: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/coconut-rice-recipe1.html
I had some leftover cauliflower and broccoli in the fridge and looked up a recipe for a creamy soup. I was so in luck....I just happened to have every ingredient on hand! So this soup came together in a snap.
I followed the recipe exactly, but found that the end result was very, very thick. So I thinned it out a bit with a little extra milk. It was perfect. However, when I reheated leftovers in the microwave, it was too thin. So I would suggest if you plan on having leftovers, put that aside first and thin out what you want to use first. Then if the reheated soup is still too thick, you can add a little extra milk at that point.
Regardless, thick, thin, or just right, it's a really good soup!
CAULIFLOWER BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP (4 servings)
1 1/2 cup small cauliflowerets
1 1/2 cup small broccoli florets
1/2 cup chopped onion\
1/2 cut sliced or chopped carrots, or whole or halved baby carrots
1-2 Tbsp butter
3 cups milk, divided
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
black pepper to taste
1/4 cup AP flour
2/3 cup (about 4 oz) processed American cheese, like Velveeta
In a large saucepan, cook the cauliflower, broccoli, onion, and carrots in butter for 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in 2 1/2 cups milk, bouillon, S&P. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
Combine the flour and remaining 1/2 cup milk until smooth; add to saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; add cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.
Recipe Source: www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cauliflower-broccoli-cheese-soup
Well, this is obviously a really late post! Christmas cookies. But I wanted to add it because you can get such a great deal on seasonal cookies after holidays.
After any holiday, stores always put their seasonal candies on sale. Not having much of a sweet tooth, it takes quite a cookie recipe to say it is my favorite. And that is so with these Espresso Mint Cookies (see 10-22-14 post)...the cookies in the middle. But this year I also picked up a package of Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips and Nestle's Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels. These two make a great chocolate cookie with mint flavoring, but can only be found around Christmastime.
I used the recipe on the package for these last two cookies, but fall back on the Espresso Mint Cookies I found several years ago (I wish I knew who published that recipe....it's the best!) And if, in the future, you find a recipe you like for any seasonal chip/candy, don't be afraid to load up on them. When the Candy Cane Kisses are marked 50% off, I usually get about a dozen bags and throw them in the freezer. The are good for at least a year, you'll save money, and your friends and/or family will think you're the Easter Bunny, even if it's 4th of July!
HERSHEY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies)
2/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp AP flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 pkg (10 oz) Hershey's Mint Chocolate Chips
Heat oven to 350F.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-9 minutes or until just set; do not overbake. Cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.
MINT CHOCOLATE DELIGHTS (makes about 4 dozen cookies)
2 cups AP flour
2/3 cups baking cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 sticks butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 package (10 oz) Nestle's Toll House Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels
Preheat oven to 325F.
Combine flour, baking cocoa, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by well-rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 11-13 minutes or until cookies are puffed and centers are set. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
I had some buttermilk looking for a home and decided to make use of it in a couple of bundt cakes. I generally make a coffee cake with cinnamon and pecans, but this is a straight-up pound cake.
Moist and dense, it's a perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee. You could make a glaze for it, but for travel purposes, a little sprinkle of powdered sugar might be easier.
BUTTERMILK POUND CAKE (16-20 servings)
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups AP flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, optional
In a large bowl or stand-mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour and baking soda, add alternately with buttermilk and heat well. Stir in flour.
Pour into a greased and floured 10" bundt pan or tube pan (I use cooking spray for baking). Bake at 325F for 70 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.
Recipe Source: www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/buttermilk-pound-cake
This is a really quick and easy fish recipe for a weeknight. The original recipe calls for red snapper, but any mild white fish would work (tilapia, Swai, I used barramundi sea bass).
Since it's just the two of us I cut down this recipe. We generally eat about 4 oz of protein (chicken, fish) so I simply used an 8 oz fillet. As for the salad, there's really not a recipe, I just list what I like based on a basic Greek Salad (you could make it vegan by substituting firm tofu, cubed, and marinated in the dressing, for which that recipe is listed below). Serve it with a nice crusty bread and you're set.
GREEK FISH (6 servings)
1 Tbsp EVOO
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/4 cup sliced black, kalamata, or oil-cured olives
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 pounds red snapper (or any other mild white fish) fillets
2 oz feta cheese, crumbled
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Pour oil into a large skillet. Place over medium heat until hot. Add onion and garlic; cook until tender, stirring constantly. Stir in tomato and next 5 ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
Place fish fillets in a greased 13x9" baking dish. Spoon tomato mixture over fillets. Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with cheese and parsley. Serve immediately.
Recipe Source: The Ultimate Southern Living Cookbook, 2004, p. 217
GREEK SALAD
Salad:
Chopped lettuce (iceberg, romaine, spring mix)
Chopped tomatoes and grape/cherry tomatoes, halved
chopped red onion
chopped green pepper
chopped cucumbers
Greek or black olives
crumbled feta cheese
fresh or dried dill week
Dressing:
1/2 cup EVOO
1/4 cup white wine vinegar or fresh lemon juice
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried oregano
minced fresh garlic, to taste
salt, to taste
Mix dressing ingredients and whisk until well-blended.
Recipe Source (for the dressing): Tofu Cookery by Louise Hagler, 1982, p. 28
Well, I don't know who Pam Bland is, but Bless Her! This is a wonderful chili-family soup. It has a base of chicken broth, refried and chili beans, chicken, and cheese.
This recipe calls for 2 (12 oz) cans of white chicken meat, but I still have a handful of smoked turkey in the freezer, so I used 8 oz of that. Also, it calls to thicken the soup with 1-2 Tbsp of cornmeal. I did that the first time I made this soup, but didn't the second time.....it was thick enough for our tastes.
Eat it as is, or top with with shredded cheddar cheese, salsa, crushed tortilla chips, and/or cilantro. This is a meal in itself, or serve it with a small quesadilla or green salad.
PAM BLAND'S CHICKEN FRIJOLE SOUP (makes about 9 cups)
2 cups chicken stock/broth
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp minced garlic
1 cup frozen corn
16 oz can fat-free refried pinto beans
1 can chili beans, undrained
2 (12 oz) cans white meat chicken with broth, or 8 oz cooked, cubed turkey or chicken
14 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes
8 oz light Velveeta
1-2 Tbsp cornmeal, optional
cilantro to taste, optional, to add to soup and/or as a garnish
shredded cheddar cheese, optional as a garnish
salsa, optional, as a garnish
crushed tortilla chips, optional, as a garnish
Bring chicken stock/broth to a boil. Add garlic, spices, corn, and refried beans. Stir until smooth.
Add chili beans, tomatoes, and chicken. Lower heat, add corn meal, if using, until it starts to thicken.
Add cheese (and cilantro, if cooking with the soup), remove from heat. Cover. Stand 10 minutes. Serve with optional garnishes.
Recipe Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, 12-3-08, p. E6
