Dinner exchange: Recipe #3

This week I have another delicious dinner exchange...I am IN LOVE with this idea, life is much better with a little less rush and more time to spend with the kids! 

Happy mom+happy kids+well fed husband=happy family!

  

I adapted this recipe from a cookbook called, "Looney Spoons", and has been a family favourite ever since.   This recipe fed two families, and was perfect for sharing with a friend who got home from work late and needed a little helping hand!

INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN

Use about 10 Chicken thighs or about 3-4 breasts, cut into pieces, or a rotisserie chicken..

2 Tsps Butter

1 1/2 cups chopped onions

2 Tbsps minced garlic

3 Tbsps grated ginger root or 2 Tbsps ginger powder

2 tsps chili powder

1 1/2 tsp  turmeric 

1 1/2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cumin

1 Can diced tomatoes (I like to blend this so no chunks)

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1 Tbsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 Big spoonfuls  mild curry paste (Pataks is the brand I use)

1/2 to 1  cup heavy cream, sour cream or thick plain yoghurt (to taste.)

   Coriander leaves

Cook your chicken so it is not pink anymore, remove from pan.

Cook onions until clear in butter, then add in your spices.

Blend Tomatoes with all the spices and the broth.

Add in chicken again and let cook at least 15 minutes to absorb all the spices.

Add cream at the very end, I find it separates if cooked too long.

Serve over Basmati rice, and naan bread for dipping in the sauce. (Available at Provigo and Costco)

Garnish with fresh coriander leaves (aka cilantro)

Freezes well and also tastes best the next day!

Dinner with the gourmets.

I am excited about a fun night of dining in two weeks! It is absolutely frivolous, with no occassion, no guest of honour, other than to enjoy food itself with friends (who love to cook...perhaps more than me!)

Inspired by the dinner exchange, I have fallen in love with the idea of community dining.

The way I see it, a meal out at a gourmet restaurant is something to save up for, often costing a small fortune for tiny portions, but this way we can all enjoy a long wonderful meal with a MUCH smaller bill!

The idea is to each bring a homemade "gourmet" addition to the table, for a multi course meal of fine food. Maybe better defined as a gourmet potluck.

So far the menu is :

Appetizer is prosciutto wrapped asparagus.

My contribution is a pork tenderloin in a port, shallot and bacon reduction.

Dessert may be poached pears in a chocolate sauce.

Also, I was thinking of putting together a game to play up on our gourmet airs. maybe some trivia with the theme of "Stump the Gourmet". Questions like "What kind of bowl is recommended to whip up a soufflé?", "Where is the proper placement of a oyster fork?"

Can't wait!

learning how to freeze.

Throughout this process of thinking up ideas for great dishes for this Dinner swap, there have been many questions.

Thought I would record some of the answers:

What food items freeze well? Which do not?

http://www.formerfatguyblog.com/2007/11/03/the-ultimate-guide-to-freezing-food.html

http://busycooks.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=busycooks&cdn=food&tm=587&f=10&su=p284.9.336.ip_p830.4.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.realfood4realpeople.com/oamcrecipes.html

What are some new ideas for the freezer?

http://www.momsbudget.com/freezerrecipes/index.html

Dinner Dilemma

I am excited to do another dinner exchange! Last time we got together it was all but crazy hectic!

We ended up having 4 dinners to exchange:

Mango Curried Chicken, Beef stew, a pasta bake, and Cranberry chicken. All delicious and much appreciated since the holidays have so many activities and by the end of the day I have no more inspiration to make dinner!

I felt like most of us were time crunched and had less people particpate. 3 drop-outs and many who said they would do it the next month.

Now this month has rolled around again and I feel like I was out of inspiration again!

All this week I have been cruising recipe sites, learning about freezer friendly foods, and all the while feeling anxious about what to make!

Some of my favourite recipes are not "freezer friendly" or has too many fresh ingredients

My options have come down to:

Chinese (potsticker) dumplings, Chicken a la King, baked Mexican casserole, butter chicken. uh...

I am not sure why my brain is freezing on this one. I want to make something good, not too "ordinary" but I don't want to use an experimental recipe. I will work it out, but until then I am going to have fun scouring the recipe world for ideas!!

http://www.momsbudget.com/freezerrecipes/index.html

Why I love snow these days.

Every day, when there is a burst of silence around here, it is usually for one of a couple reasons.

a.) someone is sleeping, b.) tv is on, c.)or the kids are making a "nest".

What is a nest? My kids think it is hilarious to take every pillow, blanket, stuffed animal and sheet, gathered together to make a huge pile where they jump, hide, and laugh.

I usually like this concept until I have to put it all away!

Now that the snow is here, there has been far fewer nests, because snow is far more fun to jump, hide in, laugh in.

Hooray snow! Other than the puddles you leave in my house, the cold spots you leave on exposed skin, and burying my car,I welcome you....until February.

Another reason I am enamoured by snow, is from a a story I heard the other day. A friend's daughter had been learning bible verses at a group she attends, and when the first snow came down, she burst out,

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18.

Advent fail.

So it turns out this year is just like the rest. December hits and by the time I am through with the first two parties, I am worn out. That's right, it takes a lot of energy to party with a family of five.

Did I mention that is usually by December 5th?

So here we are in mid December, and I have yet to do one advent activity. On the bright side, at least the actual calendar is made. In all its tacky Christmas glory, it is done. I wanted to do it all "etsy", but it turns out I am too cheap to buy the cool fabric. I can't even say the name Amy Butler without a tear. ;)

The Jesse tree.

The first thing "TO DO" in our advent calendar is to make a JESSE TREE, a symbolic tree honouring the geneology of Jesus. It works much like an Advent calendar, everyday a story of verse is read about someone in Jesus' lineage and then you hang up a new piece on the tree, wall ,or wherever.

I really like this idea because it is not just for the kids but can benefit all in our family! I still learn so much from the "same old stories" when I really listen and stop assuming that I am familiar with it. The great thing about children is that they ask great questions that make us think about things from a different perspective.

Oh, to be a child again, but second best is to be with one.

Two sites for the devotions that go with each day.

https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1628

http://www.jesse-tree.com/jesse_tree.html

Countdown to Jesus' birth.

I have a super inspirational friend who continues to keep me hopeful that Jesus can be part of any home. It takes some forethought , but it can be done, whether in teachable moments or in traditions that we establish as parents.

One idea is an advent calendar....(I know..not that new.) I was thinking to go beyond the chocolate.

My friend made one out of felt, and has a special activity for every day. Some are just fun and some are centered on Jesus, to help kids understand that Jesus is first this season, and all the other stuff is just fun. I will post a more detailed one with our own ideas.

Here are some ideas from a blog site:

http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2009/11/advent-calendar.html

It doesn't have to be something big every night--it could just be making hot cocoa. But just doing something everyday get us excited for the holidays.

Go Ice Skating
Watch It's a Wonderful Life, make spiced cider.
Exchange gifts
Make Christmas Cookies for friends.
Find Mistletoe, hang it in our house and kiss under it.
Address and Mail Christmas Cards
Go to Borders and Pick out one new Christmas CD.
Go to The Nutcracker
Listen to Handel's Messiah
Leave out wooden shoes on December 5 (This could pay homage to our Dutch heritage)
Drive around the city for a Nativity hunt.
Make Thick Hot Chocolate and Homemade Marshmallows
Host a Christmas Sweater Party
Put up a ribbon sash for Christmas cards
Donate canned goods
Give neighbors a present
Put up a wreath
Make a Gingerbread house
Make a popcorn garland
Make hot chocolate and read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Sing (or listen) to favorite Christmas songs
Drive around to see neighborhood lights
Go out and see public light display
Read Christmas story from the Bible and the Book of Mormon
Open a gift (new stocking or pajamas or pillowcase)
Make a family traditional dessert
Eat out at a festive restaurant
Go to a seasonal movie
Tell stories of childhood Christmas around the fire
Have a romantic candlelit dinner by the Christmas tree
Make decorative sugar cookies
Sign up to purchase gifts for a needy child
Host a Christmas dessert party
Write out a Christ-centered goal to start early for the New Year
Have a movie party (classic Christmas clips)
Go to a Christmas Concert
Attend City tree lighting event
Have a full traditional breakfast while listening to Christmas music

Here are some great ideas for the calendar:

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/advent-calendar-roundup-132023

Around the corner.

Christmas. Yes, it really is just around the corner. This is usually where i make all kinds of lists, start thinking about all he presents I have to buy, start digging up the decorations...

This year, we already have our tree up...sick early... I know...I felt a bit bullied by our 5 year old, but now I am happy it is up, despite the horrified looks i get from Dec 1 traditionalists.

Over the last two years, I have been trying to figure out how to bring Jesus into this season and edge out Santa a bit. How do you work both, or just one into a home.

Option 1: Just do Jesus, never say the S word, keep them from school, malls, no traditional stuff since it all "distracts" for Jesus. I thought that Santa would never even be mentioned in our home...good luck, even my own mother ix-nayed that on day two of Matty's life. I always think that if we ignore culture there will be push-back later. My mom grew up not celebrating Christmas because it was based on "heathen traditions" and when she had her own house it was rebelliously FULL of decorations .

Option 2: Just do Santa....i don't think so. Other than the threat, "Santa is making a list...", it is not that appealing to me.

Option 2: Work with both: Can the two live in harmony? Can kids distinguish them both? I always worry that they will think that Jesus drives a sleigh with twelve little disciples, delivering candy and toys, maybe they could make a delivery to baby Santa who was born in a manger...I dunno, weird, but in the back of my head that's what will happen.

We have friends who do a St Nicholas celebration earlier in December and then put everything away and start doing Jesus stuff. I have a friend who said that would never work unless it was opposite. But I want Jesus to be associated with he "good stuff" not Santa. I guess it is the same tension with Easter Bunny and Jesus' resurrection. It really feels like a competition, and I need to soup up the Nativity team...

So these next few weeks, I am going to hunt for some cool ways to celebrate Jesus' birth. Hopefully my kids will understand the gift that He is, no matter what happens in our home.

In closing , at least I know Jesus will show himself to those who seek, so pressure is off.

chat.

Just got off chat with an old friend, a girl who grew up under the teachings of Christ, knows all the right answers, lived a righteous life . After years of misery, she has 'had it" with living the good Christian life, obeying, abstaining, etc for the sake of God.

She has had a hard life. Abused as a child in a Christian home, suffering from health problems due to it, unemployed, lost her fiance because of health problems, frustrated with not having a child of her own yet, a dream which she has had for her whole life.

She said

......i can't bank on heavenly rewards if that's what you mean. I'm not sure God even loves me IF he's even there

likely he'll send me to hell cause after all the crap he put me through I wasn't able to believe or trust him anymore

....or maybe God's a sadistic prick who hated me since I was born... or a figment of devout imaginations we've held since childhood... to be honest I sometimes think it would be easier to accept that there's no good deity in control than it is to believe there's a god in control who enjoys lavishing pain on select people and blessing select others with favourtism and good things

It broke my heart to see all hope lost. I have no specific answers to much of the stuff she has gone through, and i know that. I have no similar situations to compare to hers, my life is a garden in comparison,.

I told her that God loves her, cares for her, has hope for her. But, I can't make her believe, trust,or hope again.

God, come and find your child, hold her, love her, open her eyes to see you again. I am am leaving her in your hands, I am at a loss for words.

Once a month Cooking

Here is a dream....I REALLY want to have a deep freeze. I think I will even put it on my Christmas wish list...along with 1700 other things. The reason...so I can just excuse myself downstairs to get already prepared whatever and bring it up..stress free.

Since watching Food Inc, I have been more conscious about what I eat, but it is hard when living on a budget, living with 3 small kids, and having barely anytime to plan anything but 'what can I use in my cupboard' meals. This would be a great way to buy local meat, local grown produce in an economical way, and not have everything freezer burnt by the time you are ready to use it!

I have been talking to a few of my friends about this Once a month cooking idea or as they say on the web OAMC recipes. It is not filling my freezer, but will definitely be great back-ups for those days when I don't have time to shop, prepare,or be creative.

I have wanted to do this for so long, but this has stayed on my TO DO list.

So this month, I will organize a group that will get together (mostly moms? I dunno) to exchange meals. I figure it goes like this, one night of insane cooking in exchange for a few nights of peace.

The idea is that everyone cooks ONE meal that can be frozen, with minimal things to add so that one can take it out of the freezer in the morning and be ready by dinner.

The rules are it can be over rice or noodles, but needs to be family friendly, but not to basic.

It has to be stored in a ziplock or tupperware, have recipe and instructions attached.

Everyone has to bring 2 other recipes, just to inspire the rest of us, because when stress happens, inspiration is hard to come by!

Let's see how it goes!

Loni

Heat.

What a week....one of those weeks where nothing got done as gar as housework, but a lot of running around, errands, busy-ness, and if I may, stress.

The whole week started out with a possibility of my dad coming to fix our radiators, which were moved last spring during a floor renovation. So last spring we had no heat, and with every chilly morning when I saw our breath while sitting in the living room, I would say,

'It WILL get warmer. Summer is almost here.'

Now that a sweltering summer has passed, one that made us forget about those 10 foot snow banks and wet-hair-freezing days are over, it started to get chilly again.

A little panic over came us, we needed our heat back.

I am especially fond of heat. I often say that I am living in the wrong country, as I love the look of snow but hate being cold...I mean REALLY hate it.

So when it started to get cold, I called my dad everyday, hoping he could get on a bus to remedy the situation. This is a big feat since my dad does not answer the phone, and does not drive.

He finally came, with my bro, with all their tools, fixing pipes, me, running around Montreal finding rare pieces to plug and finish the sequences of plumbing...

and finally...HEAT!!!

It is great to have heat, but after this week of stress and running, I realized that this male-side of my 'almost never seen' family are not good communicators and their love language is service. My dad was saying that 'he is not one to sit and chat' which is true, but I realized that if it were not for this old house, it would probably be another half year before I heard from my dad or brother.

As I waved goodbye, and packed up their last tools, it was bittersweet. Yes, it was a finished repair, but may be a while until I see them again even though there were promises of coming back to finish one last thing....

so.......maybe I will have to start another 'reno' at Christmas so that Granpa & Uncle J can come back to Montreal. :)