Sweet Potato Casserole

For the Casserole:

2 lg eggs, lightly beaten
4 fist sized sweet potatoes, baked, skinned and mashed
6 Tbs. butter, melted
1 c. milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish or casserole dish and set aside. In a large bowl mix all ingredients together. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until center is almost set but still jiggles.

For the Topping:

8 Tbs. butter, warm and very soft
1/2 c. dark brown sugar, packed
3/4 c. corn flakes (1 c. corn flakes if omitting the pecans)
1/2 c. pecans, chopped (optional)

In a bowl, mix the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Gently mix in the corn flakes and optional pecans. Spread evenly over baked casserole. Return casserole to the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

*** This can be made partially a couple of days ahead. Make the casserole part, spread into baking dish, cover with plastic wrap put directly onto the potato mix and refrigerate. On the day you want to serve it, remove from refrigerator and allow the casserole to sit out for an hour to warm up before baking for the recommended time, followed by adding the topping, etc.

Cranberry Cake with Butter Sauce

Cake:
3 Tbs. butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 c. evaporated milk
2 c. fresh cranberries

In a large bowl, cram butter and sugar together, Sift in all dry ingredients and add evaporated milk and blend well. Add cranberries and fold to mix. Pour into a greased 8x8-inch baking dish. Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cake may be served warm or at room temperature.

Butter Sauce:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In medium sauce pan combine butter, sugar and whipping cream. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla. Serve hot over the cake.

Spiced Streusel Apple Crisp

Streusel:
2/3 cup walnuts
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Filling:
2 1/4 pounds Granny Smith apples (about 6 medium), peeled, quartered, cored, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

For streusel: Combine nuts, brown sugar, cornmeal, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in processor. Using on/off turns, process until nuts are finely chopped. Add butter and process until small moist clumps form. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

For filling: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Toss apples with sour cream in large bowl to coat. Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in small bowl. Sprinkle mixture over apples and toss to coat.

Transfer filling to greased casserole dish. Sprinkle streusel over apples, covering completely. Bake pie until apples are tender and streusel is golden, tenting with foil if streusel browns too quickly, about 1 hour. Transfer to rack and cool slightly.

Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Roasted Beets

2 lbs. fresh beets, washed and trimmed
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons shallots, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 450F. Line a large piece of aluminum foil with parchment paper. Place beets in center of parchment. Drizzle with one tablespoon oil, and season with salt and pepper. Fold aluminum foil up to enclose beets. Place on a small baking sheet and roast until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour.

Remove from oven and let sit until no longer hot to the touch. Rub off skins and discard. Cut beets into wedges.

Whisk the vinegar, shallots, and honey in a medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in the 1/3 c. oil. Season the vinaigrette to taste, with salt and pepper. Add the beets and toss to coat. Place the beets on a foil lined and greased baking sheet and roast until the beets are slightly caramelized, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Set aside and cool.

Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

5 lbs. potatoes, cooked and mashed
1 (8oz.) package cream cheese
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and mix well and place into a large greased casserole dish. If making ahead, refrigerate. Otherwise, cover and bake at 325F for 45 minutes. If refrigerated, first let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes and then bake as directed.

Corn Soufflé

Not a fabulous picture but this this Corn Soufflé is absolutely delightful and it makes an appearance on our table each Thanksgiving, Christmas and any other time I want a special corn dish.  What I love about this dish is that the taste is light, creamy and just a bit sweet, like the best fresh picked corn of the summer.  I also love that I can mix everything up a day or two ahead and just pour it into my prepared dish and bake it when needed.  Even better, it reheats beautifully so make this dish, you and your guests will be delighted.

Corn Soufflé

• 5 lg. eggs
• 2 c. frozen white baby corn kernels, thawed & well drained
• 1 (15-oz.) can cream style corn
• 1 1/4 c. whole milk
• 1 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream
• 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt 

Preheat oven to 375F. Position rack in the center of the oven. Butter an 8"x8"x2" glass baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk eggs then add remaining ingredients mixing until well blended. Pour into prepared dish. Bake until top is golden brown and knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes.

Enjoy!

Lemon squares

Dough:

2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. confections sugar
1 c. butter

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix sugar and flour then cut in butter until particles are the size of small peas. Work dough with hands and press in the bottom and 1 1/2-inches up the sides of a lightly greased 13x9-inch glass pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until firm to the touch.

Filling:

1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 lg. eggs
2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tbs. grated lemon peel
5 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
confectioners sugar, for dusting.

While crust is baking, mix flour & baking powder and set aside. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Stir in sugar, lemon peel, lemon juice and flour mixture. Pour mixture onto hot crust. Bake 25 minutes or until set and top is slightly browned. Cool completely before cutting. Dust top with additional confectioners sugar.

Mrs. Ogle's tarts

1 pkg. refrigerated or frozen pie crusts
2 Tbs. butter, melted
1 c. sugar
2 lg. eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. almond extract
6oz. shredded coconut
strawberry jam
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 450F. Cut pie crusts to fit mini cupcake or tart pans. Spray pans with cooking spray and line the cups with the pie crust. Bake a few minutes until slightly browned. In a small bowl, mix butter, sugar, eggs, almond extract and coconut. Put a small amount of strawberry jam into the bottom of each shell and top with the coconut mixture. Bake until golden brown. Remove from pan immediately and cool on a wire rack.

Oatmeal Coconut Raspberry Bars

These are delicious lovely little bar cookies that are quick to put together and totally delicious!  What I especially love about these bars is that they freeze beautifully and you can eat them straight from the freezer and when you do they’re a bit chewy and oh-so yummy!

Oatmeal Coconut Raspberry Bars  

1 1/2 c. sweetened flaked coconut
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. light brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. butter, cut in pieces
1 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
3/4 c. seedless raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 375F. Spread 3/4 cup coconut on a baking sheet and toast in middle of oven, stirring once until golden, about 8 minutes, then cool. Blend together flour, sugars, salt in a food processor then add butter and blend until dough begins to form. Transfer to a bowl and kneed in oats and toasted coconut until combined well. Reserve 3/4 cup of dough, then press remainder evenly into the bottom of a buttered 13-by-9-inch metal baking dish and spread jam over it. Crumble reserved dough evenly over jam then sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup (untoasted) coconut. Bake in middle of oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes, then cool completely in pan on a rack. Loosen from sides of pan with a sharp knife, then lift out in one piece and transfer to cutting board, Cut into 24 bars.

Enjoy

Blog Parties I may be attending:  Cast Party Wednesday, Delectable Tuesday, Everyday Sisters Sharing Sundays, Fat Camp Friday, Food on Fridays, Food Trip Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh Food Friday, Friday Favorites, Friday Food, Friday Potluck, Full Plate Thursday, Homemaker Monday, Jam Hands, Let’s do Brunch, Make a Food-e-Friend Mondays, Mangia Monday’s, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Menu Mondays, Mingle Monday, Mommy’s Kitchen, Mouth Watering Monday, Savory Sunday, Seasonal Sunday, Simply Delish, Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday’s, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, This Chick Cooks, This Week’s Cravings, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Tuesday Night Supper Club, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday’s Tasty Tidbits, Recipes I Can’t Wait to Try, What’s Cooking Wednesday, What’s on the Menu Wednesday, Your Recipe My Kitchen

Peach (or apple) cake

Cake:
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter (softened)
3 lg. eggs
1 c. flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/3 c. milk
1 (28 oz.) can peach (or apple) pie filling/topping
4 Tbs. cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Cream sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Add eggs gradually, beating continuously. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt. Finally mix in the milk until smooth. Spoon mixture into a greased 9x13-inch glass pan and spread to an even thickness. Gently press the peaches(or apples) into the mixture. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar. Bake 30-35 minutes.

Topping:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. milk

During the last two minutes of the cake cooking, combine butter, sugar and milk in a sauce pan and dissolve over low heat. Bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes. Pour evenly over the hot peach (or apple) cake cake as soon as it is removed from the oven. Serve warm or cold.

Enjoy

Mango Thai Chicken

I adore mangoes and of course foods that have a nice little spicy kick to them so this recipe is right up my flavor-profile alley.  Eammon on the other hand will tell you that he doesn’t like when there’s fruit on his savory food but that little quirk of his doesn’t stop him from eating or begging for more of this recipe.  Maybe he just doesn’t realize that mangoes are a fruit and that they’re on his chicken or maybe it’s just that this chicken is so delicious his supposed dislikes are set aside.  Whatever it is, we both adore this recipe and whenever mangoes are in season this is a regular on our table.

Mango Thai Chicken

2 cups fresh mango, cubed
2 chili peppers, seeds removed
2 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoon fish sauce
3 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon rice cooking wine
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
juice of 1/2 lime

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced thinly
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup cornstarch
salt
pepper

2 Tbsp. oil for frying
handful of cashews, toasted (for garnish)
handful of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (for garnish)

Jasmine rice 

In a food processor chop the chili peppers, ginger and garlic to fine pieces. Add the Thai fish sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, Chinese cooking wine, brown sugar, lime juice and 1 1/2 cups of the chunked mango. Puree until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of mango chunks and pulse processor a couple times leaving mango chunks in the sauce. Taste test the sauce checking for a good balance of sweet, sour and salty and adjust as needed. 

Mix the flour and cornstarch on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the sliced chicken breast in the flour mixture. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet and cook the chicken until almost cooked through, stirring occasionally to make sure the chicken cooks evenly. Remove chicken to a plate.  Add the mango sauce to the now empty wok and cook for a couple of minutes until it thickens slightly.  Add back in the chicken and adjust heat so that the mixture is just bubbling. Cook until the chicken has cooked though.  Serve with Jasmine rice and garnish with cilantro and cashews.

Enjoy!!

Here are some blog parties that I might  be attending: Cast Party Wednesday, Everyday Sisters Sharing Sundays, Fat Camp Friday, Food on Fridays, Food Trip Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh Food Friday, Friday Favorites, Friday Food, Friday Potluck, Full Plate Thursday, Homemaker Monday, Let’s do Brunch, Make a Food-e-Friend Mondays, Mangia Monday’s, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Menu Mondays, Mingle Monday, Mommy’s Kitchen, Mouth Watering Monday,Savory Sunday, Seasonal Sunday, Simply Delish, Tasty Tuesday,Tasty Tuesday’s, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, This Chick Cooks, This Week’s Cravings, Totally Tasty Tuesdays,Tuesday Night Supper Club, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday’s Tasty Tidbits, Recipes I Can’t Wait to Try,What’s Cooking Wednesday,What’s on the Menu Wednesday,Your Recipe My Kitchen

Chocolate Mint Brownies

Brownies:
1 box fudge brownie mix (for a 13 x 9-inch pan)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

Peppermint Butter cream layer:
2/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Ganache:
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup butter
1 (12 ounce) bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325. Then prepare a 13 x 9-inch baking dish by spraying lightly with non-stick cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper to the width of the bottom of the pan and long enough to extend over the long edges. Spray parchment lightly with non-stick cooking spray.

To the brownie mix, add melted butter, water, eggs and 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract. Mix by hand just until dry ingredients are incorporated. Pour into prepared pan and bake according to package directions. Let cool completely.

To prepare the mint butter cream layer, beat together the powdered sugar and softened butter. Add the milk, peppermint and vanilla extracts and mix until smooth. Spread the butter cream evenly over the top of the cooled brownies. Place brownies in fridge to firm up the butter cream.

For the chocolate ganache, place the milk and butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat on 50%until the butter has melted. Add the chocolate chips and mix with an electric mixer on low until the chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix until incorporated. Beat in 1 cup powdered sugar until frosting is smooth. Spread chocolate ganache over the mint butter cream on the brownies.

Place back in fridge for about an hour to firm up frosting. Using the parchment paper, remove the brownies from the pan and while cold, cut into squares. They must be cut when cold otherwise the layers mush. Though delicious cold, these brownies are even better when served at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Curried Shepherd's Pie

4 -5 medium sized potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 pound ground beef or turkey
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 tablespoons hot Madras curry powder
2 teaspoons ground tumeric
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
1 pound frozen vegetables, thawed (we like the fiesta style mix which includes broccoli, carrots, kidney beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, Italian green beans and red pepper.)
butter or margarine
salt & pepper

Put unpeeled potatoes in a pot of water and bring to a boil, cook approximately 25 minutes until tender. Rinse with cold water. Peel and then mash with butter or margarine add salt and pepper to taste.

Heat olive oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until tender and brown, about 7 minutes. Add the meat and cook until just browned. Add garlic, curry powder, tumeric and hot pepper flakes and cook until fragrant approximately 2 minutes.

Stir in the veggies. Put the meat and veggie mix into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes. Bake at 350F for 40 minutes or until top is golden brown. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

Enjoy!!


Note: I cook my potatoes unpeeled and peel them later. This prevents the potatoes from absorbing too much water and makes for fluffier mashed potatoes.

Cioppino...my version

1/4 cup olive oil
2 1/2 cups chopped onion
4 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
28 oz can crushed tomatoes with added puree
28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
2 cups bottled clam juice
2 cup dry white wine
2 28-ounce cans baby or chopped clams, drained, liquid reserved
1 pound uncooked salad shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 pound crabmeat
1 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
1-2 teaspoons Cayenne pepper (or to taste)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until tender and brown, about 7 minutes. Add garlic, oregano and fennel seeds and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes with added puree, peeled tomatoes including the juice, clam juice, white wine and liquid reserved from clams. Increase heat and boil until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes.

Add clams, shrimp and crabmeat. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Mix in fresh basil and simmer until shrimp are just opaque in center, about 2 minutes longer. Season stew to taste with cayenne, salt and pepper.

Serve this with a nice warmed Chicago hard roll.

Enjoy!!

Hearty Beef Curry

This beef curry is one of my all time favorites as it’s easy to make, has gorgeous flavor and freezes beautifully, who could ask for more!  I love serving this over Jasmine rice or Cauli-Rice. 

First gather all your ingredients (not pictured are the raisins.)

Hearty Beef Curry

• 3 pounds well-trimmed boneless beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 large onions, sliced
• 12 whole cloves
• 8 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
• 13.5 oz. can coconut milk, or lite coconut milk 
• 1/2 cup milk, skim, 1%, 2% or whole
• 6 plum tomatoes, cut into 8ths
• 1/3 cup raisins, regular or golden raisins
• 5 tablespoons Major Grey chutney
• 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 6 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• salt & pepper
  

Sprinkle beef with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy Dutch oven over high heat. Working in batches, add beef to pot and brown on all sides, about 7 minutes per batch. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meat to a plate.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the same pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until tender and brown, about 7 minutes.

Return the beef to the pot. Add cloves, garlic, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves and dried red pepper to pot; stir 1 minute.

Stir in coconut milk, milk, tomatoes, raisins, chutney, lemon juice, ginger, curry powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until beef is tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 hours or place covered in a 350F oven for two hours and then follow directions below.

Uncover and increase heat to medium. Boil stew until juices are slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. I serve this over jasmine rice or Cauli-Rice.

Enjoy!!

Spicy Udon with Lobster

1 pound cooked lobster meat pieces
3 large frozen Udon noodle cakes, thawed
2 large onions, thinly sliced
oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons dark sesame oil
2 tablespoons lobster base
1/2 cup Heinz ketchup
1/2 cup medium sweet soy sauce
1/2 cup sweet rice wine (Mirin)
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Sriracha a few tablespoons, to taste
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

In a very large pan, heat oil and add onions, cook until golden brown. Add garlic and cook about a minute until fragrant. Add sesame oil and lobster base and stir well to mix. Add lobster, toss well and cook for 2 minutes. Add ketchup, sweet soy sauce, Mirin, vinegar and Sriracha. Bring to boil and cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Add Udon noodles and toss to coat, cook until noodles are warmed through. Sprinkle top with sesame seeds.

Serves 4.

Seafood Korma

1 1/2 pounds mixed seafood/fish, all shelled and cleaned (shrimp, oysters, clams, squid, cod, whatever you fancy)
2-inch-square piece of fresh ginger, minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 onions, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste
2 tablespoon turmeric powder
2 red chili peppers, minced
3 diced tomatoes peeled and seeded
1 cup low fat coconut milk
1 bag favorite frozen veggie mix, thawed & drained

Garnish:

Fresh cilantro to taste
2 tablespoons chopped cashews
2 tablespoons raisins

In a food processor, puree ginger, garlic and 3 tablespoons water into a paste. Scoop out; set aside.

Warm a large skillet a few minutes over medium-high heat. Add oil. When oil is hot add onion and allow to slowly cook to golden brown. Add cumin seeds and cook for a minute or two. (Cumin seeds may explode like popcorn, so keep the lid handy.) Add chili powder, salt and turmeric powder. Stir in chili pepper, cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato and ginger paste. Cook until fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Add coconut milk and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium, and cook 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sauce should thicken. Add veggies and bring sauce back to a boil. Add seafood/fish and cover. After one minute, remove from heat and allow fish to poach in the hot liquid for 15-20 minutes.

Serve over Basmati rice. Garnish with cilantro, cashews and raisins.

Serves 4.

Chicken Tikka Masala

1 lb. Chicken breast, boneless and skinless cut into 1-inch cubes
2-inch-square piece of fresh ginger, minced
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons Oil
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 teaspoon Chili powder
1/2 cup plain fat free Yogurt
Salt

In a food processor puree ginger, garlic and 2 tablespoons oil into a paste. Remove 2 tablespoons of the paste and set it aside for the gravy. Add turmeric powder, chili powder, yogurt and salt and mix well. Scoop out into a bowl. Add chicken pieces and stir to coat well. Allow chicken to marinate for about an hour.

After the chicken is marinated, Pre-heat the oven to 300 F and bake for about 15 - 20 min or until just cooked through.

For the Gravy:
2 Onions, medium dice
2 tablespoons ginger/garlic paste from above
2 teaspoons Coriander powder
2 teaspoons Garam masala
1/2 cup Tomato puree
Salt
oil

3 medium potatoes cut into 1-inch cubes (boil until cooked and fork tender)
4 Italian plum tomatoes quartered length wise.
10 fresh basil leaves

1/8 cup Cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup toasted cashews halves

Heat oil in a pan and fry onions till they turn golden brown. Add ginger/garlic paste and fry till the oil separates. Add coriander powder & garam masala, then add the tomato puree. Add salt to taste and then add little warm water and let the gravy to come to boil.

Add the cooked potatoes and plum tomatoes, allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Add chicken pieces and basil leaves and allow the gravy come to a boil.

Serve over Basmati rice. Garnish with cilantro and cashews.

Serves 4.

Tom Kha Gai

Whenever we go out for Thai food this is my soup of choice.  Tom Kha Gai is delicious as it’s just a bit creamy because of the coconut milk, it has a perfect blend of sweet and sour and just the right “kick” of spice and heat.  What makes this soup even better is that it’s oh-so simple to make and freezes beautifully.  I usually make a double batch as I love having this soup in my freezer ready for an easy dinner on a cold night or anytime I have the craving.

Not a beautiful picture but a truly gorgeous tasting soup.

Tom Kha Gai  

4 c. chicken broth
1 TBS. lemon grass, fresh minced
3 TBS. Thai fish sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 TBS. fresh grated ginger
3 Serrano peppers, thinly sliced into rounds
2 tsp. chili-garlic sauce
juice of 4 limes
2 (14 oz.) cans coconut milk
2 chicken breasts, boned, skinned and sliced thinly
1 (10 oz.) can straw mushrooms, drained
1/2 c. cilantro, chopped

In a stockpot, bring the chicken broth, lemon grass, fish sauce, garlic, ginger, Serrano peppers, chili-garlic sauce and juice of 4 limes to a boil. Stirring, add the coconut milk and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add chicken allowing it to cook through in the hot liquid. Add the drained mushrooms and the cilantro and allow the heat of the soup to warm them through.  Easy-peasy and delicious!

Enjoy!

Love Cakes filled with Lemon Curd

Make your favorite white cake recipe (box or scratch) as cupcakes. Fill the cup papers only half way as you need room in the cups to add the glaze later. Bake and cool completely.

Lemon curd recipe is here, make and cool completely. Or you can use store bought.

Put cooled lemon curd in a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip. From the top center of each cupcake, insert the tip and squeeze in a small amount of lemon curd.

I don't have a recipe or amounts, but the glaze is just icing sugar, lemon extract, some food coloring and water. Just mix to a thick glaze and spoon quickly on to top of cakes so that it settles nice and smooth. If the icing starts to get too thick, thin with a little more water. Allow icing to dry at room temp. for a few hours. Refrigerate.

If you make these delicious cakes, be sure to post pics and let me know how they turn out.

Enjoy!!