Spices: Review and Chicken Curry

Last year my mom got a house down in Delaware near the Lewes and Rehoboth beaches.  In Rehoboth there is a spice shop called The Spice and Tea Exchange (www.spiceandtea.com) which I have walked into and oogled every time I go down for the past year.  Seriously, the smell of the place makes your mouth water.  I'd been wanting to buy some spices, but never had the money when I walked in (I have mentioned to you all how poor I am, right?).  So I simply oohed and aahed and dreamed. 

This time around I made certain I reserved a little money to buy some spices to try at home.  Now I'm generally a very simple cook.  I use a few staple herbs (from my awesome pot garden this summer!) and spices that I keep on hand for most every dish I make.  So as I was browsing I decided I would aim for some more exotic flavors that I've never tried.  These are what I ended up with:

From Left: Moroccan Seasoning, Malaysian Ginger Curry, Ginger Teriyaki

I've only had a chance to use one so far, the Malaysian Ginger Curry, and I used it to make—what else?—CURRY!  Now I've never been a huge fan of spicy food, and most curries are described as spicy, so for years I was afraid to try one.  Until one night several years ago when a friend we were living with invited us to share some he had made.  I was surprised how delicious it was.  So here I am, years later, trying to make it myself.
 **Warning: this is NOT a traditional Indian curry by any means.  It is an Americanized version.**

To review the spice blend first, I'd like to say that a little goes a long way.  As you can see from the picture above (which was taken after I made the curry) you can't tell I used any.  In fact I used 2 tsps and that was more than enough to give powerful flavor to the dish.  This particular blend has more dimension to it than the grocery store kind my friend used, so it makes for a much more interesting dish.

Mine came out a little thin, but thickened in fridge the next day

Crock-Pot Curry Chicken
Serves 4 with leftovers (or 2 for several days)
Ingredients:

• 1 large chicken breast (you could also use boneless thighs) cut into 1" cubes
• 1 Tblsp vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 larger potatoes, cubed (I used red-skin potatoes)
• 3-4 large carrots, cut into 1" chunks (thicker is better here)
• 1/2 to 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 cup cream (or milk)
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 2 tsp curry powder 
• Water (or homemade stock) to cover
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Cornstarch to thicken (if desired)

Directions:

1. Heat vegetable oil in non-stick skillet over medium heat.
2. Cube chicken breast and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of curry seasoning.
3. Brown chicken in skillet on all sides.  Remove from pan and set into bottom of crock-pot or slow-cooker.
4. Sweat onions in skillet to soften.  Add garlic after 2 minutes.  Once onions and garlic take on a soft, translucent look add them to crock-pot.
5. Add carrots and potatoes to crock-pot.
6. Add condensed soup, cream/milk, water/stock and curry seasoning.
7. Stir to combine.  Salt and Pepper to taste.  Cover and set on low for 4-6 hours.
8. 10-15 minutes before serving, add frozen peas.
9. If curry is too thin for your taste, mix 1 Tblsp cornstarch and 1-2 Tblsp water and add to curry a few minutes before serving (leave pot uncovered for best thickening results).
10. Serve over rice and enjoy!

A Long Overdue Return to Blogging with Harvest Soup!

I've been away from the site for awhile, found myself in a graduate program for creative writing and working as a school bus driver when not writing for class.  So, things have been busy in the house.  I've made lots of meals and items I've wanted to share with you all but never found the time.  With this recipe I decided to make the time.

I made this soup for a fundraiser at work, a Soup,Chili, and Bakesale to help a local foodbank.  It was so popular it sold out in the first 15 minutes of the sale!  I was super excited when I heard how much people had liked it.  So I thought, I've got some people who really want the recipe—why not put up the step by step on my blog?  So here, my peace offering for keeping away so long.

The Zombie Cooks
Harvest Soup

Hardware:
Large Dutch Oven
Sharp knife
Peeler
Spoon for seeding
Blender

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash (around 1-2 lbs)
1 apple (I suggest a type that is tart and good for sauce-making, because we want it to break down)
3 parsnips (or a 1lb bag)
2 large carrots
1 large sweet onion
2-3 celery stalks
Chicken stock to cover (I used about 4 cups) home-made is preffered
1 cup Half-and-half
1 tsp dried thyme (if using fresh remember to use more!)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Nutmeg (fresh only!)
Cayenne Pepper (optional and to taste)
Butter
Cooking oil
Sour Cream to top for serving

Directions:
1) In large dutch oven melt 2 tblsp butter over medium low.  Add 1 tblsp oil to prevent burning.  Chop onion and celery, add to pan to sweat.

2) Peel and remove seeds from butternut squash.  I always suggest getting one from your local farm.  Why? Well the cost for butternut squash in season at the grocery store is around $1.29 per lb.  At your local farm store? $0.69 per lb. This really can be a great cheap, healthy meal for those on a budget.  Not sure how to go about peeling and seeding?  Here's a video from Good Housekeeping to help.  I find using a pumpkin spoon or melon spoon (one that has a serrated edge of some kind) much easier when removing seeds and pulp.

 3) Chop squash into 1/2 to 1 inch pieces.  Measurement doesn't really matter as long as they are all around the same size for even cooking.  Add to pot and let soften.

4) Peel and chop carrots, add to pot.

5) Parsnips:  You may be tempted—because a parsnip looks just like a white carrot—to peel it like a carrot.  Some recipes even tell you to peel them.  DON'T DO IT!  All peeling a parsnip does is get rid of all the sweet, vitamin rich skin (don't believe me? Ask Alton Brown) and you're left with the woody interior while you throw the best part (the part you really paid for) down the disposal.
Wash your parsnips, like you would a potato.  Once washed, trim the ends and chop.  Add to the pot.

6) Core apple, remove skin and chop.  You want a firm apple for this, again something best bought at a local farm store or orchard.  Why?  Cost again is the main factor, but more than that you are garunteed freshness and a local orchard will be able to provide the home cook with greater variety to choose from.  Many farm stores have descriptions and suggested uses for each apple type, but if not ask which apple's are tart and best for things like apple sauce.

7) Salt and Pepper as you cook.  I like to add salt and pepper at each stage of the process to create the greatest depth of flavor.  This is something you should really apply to every meal you cook (except dessert).

8) Allow vegetables to soften, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.  You should start to see the squash and apple breaking down.  If it gets too dry at the bottom of the pot, add another tblsp of butter.  If veggies start browning, turn down the heat.

9) Once veggies have softened add Chicken Stock.  Liquid should come about an inch above the veggies.  Home-made stock is, of course, preferred, but sometimes we're too busy to make it.  Carton stock or broth works just fine, though I'd suggest the low sodium kind.  Or if you want to get really economical, I use Better Than Bouillon, a sort of bouillon paste you add warm water to.  Not as much salt as the cubes, with the ability to control the flavor concentration.  Vegetable stock or bouillon paste will also work to make this dish completely vegetarian!

10) Add bay leaf, thyme, and another round of salt and pepper, tasting as you go..  Grate about 1 tsp fresh nutmeg into soup—a little goes a long way.  Why is fresh so important? If you've ever watched Good Eats with Alton Brown, you know.  Whole nutmegs can keep nearly forever, while the pre-ground stuff ends up tasting like sawdust after a few months.  Once you taste fresh nutmeg, you'll never go back!  Bring soup to a boil, then lower heat to allow it to simmer for 30 minutes. Stirring occasionally.

11) Remove soup from heat, add half-and-half, stirring while you add.

12) Allow soup to sit off the heat to cool for 10 minutes, then add a spoonful or two at a time to your blender.  Blend until smooth, then transfer to a large bowl or tupperware for serving/preserving.  Repeat until all is blended smooth.  At this point you want to taste, add salt and pepper if needed.  If you want to add cayenne now is the time.  Even if you don't like things spicy (which I admit, I don't) a 1/2 tsp of cayenne will add another level to this soup.  The heat from the spice warms up the sweetness, making it more savory.  For an added touch, grate a little more nutmeg on top just before serving.  People will be begging for your secret to that nutty flavor.

13) Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream, or freeze and reheat on a cold, rainy night.

Picture copyright Dan Goldberg, Sunset 2006 (Jalapeño-Ginger Butternut Squash Soup)

Found at myrecipes.com

Onion Soup

Ok, Here it is, the first post. Should be heading to bed since I've got work early tomorrow, but I just had to start sharing with you all. We'll begin with something short sweet, and of course, yummy.



Out with friends at Minila's diner late, late at night. Sometimes there is just nothing better than some melty, cheesy, onion soup. I mean just look at that. Collagen rich broth, sweet onions, crusty bread sopping up all that delectable deliciousness. I believe it to be one of the best late night meals ever. Tomorrow I will post the dinner I created tonight. I was very proud, but you'll just have to wait a bit ;)

Keep those brains pink and healthy!
-The Zombie Queen