It's Just Food

I truly enjoy cooking and baking. I like to try new recipes, thought I can't follow a recipe to save my life; I am far to creative and practical for that. I am self-conscious about others eating my culinary creations, and I feel the need to preface every meal I serve with, "it's just food." I would hate for someone to smell my cooking and think it looks so delicious just to be disappointed that the taste didn't match up to the anticipation of it.

Here are a few recipes I would like to share. These are very good recipes, but remember, "it's just food," so if the recipe doesn't turn out perfectly you don't need to be too devastated.

Curried Chicken Salad (thanks Kirsten)

4 large chicken breasts, 1 inch cubes
2 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
zest from 1 lemon
Saute on high till browned.

½ c. yogurt, drained in paper towels and strainer for at least 1 hour
2 T. mayonnaise
2 t. curry powder
1/8 t. hot paprika
1 t. salt
juice from one lemon
3-4 T. chopped fresh cilantro

Mix together, then add to chicken. Then add:
3-4 T. chopped toasted almonds. Serve with whole wheat bread, or pita, with spinach.

Crock Pot Yellow Curry

• 1-2 red chilies (or substitute green), depending on desired spice level (you can also leave out the chili for an extra mild curry)
• 2 shallots (or 1 small cooking onion)
• 1 thumb-size piece ginger, grated
• 3 large cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. ground coriander
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. fresh nutmeg (or substitute cinnamon)
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 tsp. dried turmeric OR 1 thumb-size piece fresh turmeric, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 4 fresh or frozen kaffir lime leaves, snipped into small pieces with scissors (discard central stem)
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (or juice from 1/2 lime)
• 1 Tbsp. ketchup OR 1 Tbsp. tomato paste + 1 tsp. sugar

First, make the curry sauce by placing all above ingredients together in your food processor or blender. Pour sauce into crock pot. Then add:

• ½ chicken chopped into pieces
• 1 stalk lemon grass, with bulb and tough outer leaves removed. Cut leftover stalk into 2 or 3 pieces and reserve
• 2 potatoes, peeled, chopped into small chunks
• 1 green or red bell pepper, de-seeded and sliced
• 1-2 additional kaffir lime leaves, left whole
• carrots, chopped into small chunks
• sliced green onions
• bamboo stalks
  

Cook in crock pot until vegetables and chicken are fully cooked and soft. Serve over rice and add 1 cup cherry tomatoes, and fresh coriander OR fresh basil to finish the dish.

Cinnamon Rolls (or Orange Rolls) (thanks mom)

2 Tbs. dry yeast
1 ¼ cups warm water
½ cup melted shortening (or vegetable oil)
3 eggs
2 tsp. salt
½ cup sugar
4 ½ cups flour

Dissolve yeast in warm water and set aside for 5 minutes. Mix the shortening, eggs, salt, and sugar together and add yeast mixture. Add flour. Mix together until smooth. (Dough will be very sticky). Let rise 1 hour. Punch down and refrigerate covered overnight. Four and one-half hours before serving cut dough into thirds. Each third makes 1 dozen. Roll out on lightly floured board; *spread a thin layer of butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up and cut in 12’s and put into greased muffin pans or on cookie sheets. Let rise for four hours; then bake at 400◦ for 4-6 minutes.

* For orange roll option omit spreading butter and cinnamon for orange mixture

Orange Mixture
1 cube melted margarine
½ cup sugar
1 grated orange peel
add a bit of orange flavoring
Dough can be stored in refrigerator for 3-4 days

Oatmeal Fudge Bars (thanks Alicia)

1 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups oats
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 package chocolate chips (2 cups)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Grease a 9x13 pan; set aside. In large mixer bowl, cream margarine and brown sugar; add eggs and vanilla. In small bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Mix in oats. In heavy saucepan, mix sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and margarine; heat just till melted. Stir in vanilla and nuts. Spread two-thirds of dough into prepared baking pan. Spread with chocolate mixture. Drop remaining one-third of dough on top by spoonfuls. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool, then cut into bars.