Autumn's Creepin' In

Fall Favorites

Kitchen Repairs and Stir-Fried Rice

I'm currently acting as watchdog, making sure my cats don't knock a sink off the kitchen table that has been precariously propped up on foam gardening mats, while my dad runs to the store to grab some more plumber's putty. Woo, that was a mouthful, and dangerously bordering on a run-on. After 30 some-odd years, he is putting in new fixtures, fixing a leak, and re-puttying the sink. Is re-puttying a word? If not, I just invented it. "Circle C"! Sorry, I can't help but add that in at the end. My boyfriend just took the bar exam, so peppering in some intellectual property lingo can't be helped.
Back to the guarding of the sink-I'm stationed in place and can't leave my post, but that can't prevent me from having a great lunch, right? I must mention that this is a leftover rice dish from the other night, so all I had to due was add a little homemade peanut sauce and sprinkle a few soybeans over the top before heating it in the microwave. Still, it's a nice blog-worthy meal, and since I didn't post the original version, I figured I'd make the most of my time (at my post) taking pictures of my iPhone and blogging.

The rice dish itself couldn't be more simple. It's just some jasmine rice, steamed veggies, garlic, ginger, soy, and rice wine vinegar. However, I have this secret ingredient that really elevates the dish. It's thai coconut curry broth made by College Inn. They have a whole line of culinary broths, and while I usually refrain from using anything but low-sodium chicken, this was hard to pass up. The broth is light and clear, yet very fragrant, with sweet lemongrass and mellow coconut. I'll admit, I use it to spice up boring rice dishes when I'm short on time, and I've even added small amounts to thai curry when I make it.

Cooking Channel to the rescue again

Dal Soup
Recipe Courtesy Bal Arneson



INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic
2 tablespoons garam masala, recipe follows
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1 cup brown lentils
5 cups water
Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper
Few fresh cilantro sprigs, for garnish


for garam masala

1/2 cup coriander seeds
1/2 cup cumin seeds
1/4 cup dried curry leaves*
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
2 tablespoons brown mustard seeds
5 whole cloves
2 black cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves
2 dried red chiles
*Can be found at specialty Asian and Indian markets.


DIRECTIONS
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it begins to get hot. Add the garlic, garam masala, cumin seeds, and turmeric and cook for 20 seconds. Add the tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Add the lentils and water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low and cook until the lentils are tender, about 30 minutes. Serve in a bowl and garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs.
To make garam masala:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Combine the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and chiles on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 15 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to an electric spice grinder, or use a mortar and pestle and grind by hand. Grind to a fine powder. Store the garam masala in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Everything but the...is awesome!

I definitely want to make this asian inspired barbeque chicken while the weather is still warm enough for grilling. It looks flippin' awesome! I co-opted this recipe from The Kitchen SInk and the picture below (courtesy of The Kitchen Sink blog) makes this dish look all-the-more moutherwatering.