Shrimp and Coconut Curry

In this chilly weather it's nice to eat something that will warm you up - physically and mentally. This recipe for Thai Shrimp Coconut Curry will give you nice mental images of warmer places with flavours of coconut and lemongrass, and the heat from the dish will warm your bones and your stomach.

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Shrimp and Coconut Curry

Serves 3-4

• 1 lb large raw shrimp, deveined and peeled
• Salt
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground anise seed
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp green thai curry
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 1¾ cups coconut milk (I enjoy the Arroy-D brand)

Rub shrimp with salt and set aside (I read that rubbing shrimp with salt lightly cures them, making them succulent). Dry-roast the mustard seeds quickly, then add the other spices. Stir and shake the pan; when the aroma rises, remove the spices from the pan and let cool.

Heat the oil in a heavy pan and fry the green curry paste for 2-3 minutes. Add the onions and stir for a few minutes more. Add the spices and the coconut milk, and simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Put in the shrimp and simmer for 4-6 minutes, until they are cooked through. Do not overcook or they will be tough. Serve with basmati rice.

Enjoy!

Soba Veggie Salad with Sesame Oil Dressing

I love salads, but I get bored fast eating the same thing (except with pizza!). Day after day of regular tossed salads just isn't exciting enough. Alongside these meatballs, which are pork meatballs with an almond sauce (drool) is a soba noodle and veggie salad with a tasty sesame dressing. I like making different salads as it is a great opportunity to clean out your crisper. With all the fantastic fresh produce available right now, what better time then to get creative with veggies?

Soba Veggie Salad with Sesame oil dressing:
(for 2)

Any of the soba noodles I've ever bought come in packages that contain 4 individually wrapped servings each good for 2 people in this recipe, which makes it easy. Soba noodles are Japanese noodles made of buckwheat flour. If you can't get soba noodles, you can use vermicelli, it will taste great.

• soba noodles (or vermicelli)
• half an english cumcumber, chopped
• 1/2 cup edamame (fresh soy beans. Peas or beans would be good too)
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• a few green onions, chopped

Cook the noodles according to the directions on the package. Rinse under cold water until cool. Add these to a salad bowl with all the chopped veggies.

To make the dressing, add to a lidded jar:

• 1/2 tsp sesame oil, or to taste (be careful with this, it's very potent!)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1-2 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (you could use white wine vinegar instead)
• the juice of one lemon
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp red chili paste, or 1 small chopped chile (optional)

Shake the dressing in the jar until all the sugar has dissolved and it becomes emulsified. Toss the dressing with the salad and eat! Hope you enjoy this.

Check out this link to learn more about Soba noodles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soba

Rice Vermicelli with Beef and Tomatoes

"What is a good first post?" This is what I have been thinking all morning. I have pages of ideas, but none of them seemed fit for this debut! So, what I want to know is, what do you want? What do you love to eat? What do you hate to cook? Any questions, I'll answer them, any suggestions, please share them.

Lately it's been all about tomatoes for me - they are, after all, my favourite food (you might have gleaned a hint of this from my blog picture!) They are so good for you too - they are high in antioxidants, they have been found to ward off certain types of cancer, and can apparently help maintain mental function as we age. Tomatoes taste fabulous when they are in season -- I like them straight up -- no salt and pepper, no balsamic, no salad dressing -- why mess with a good thing? Simple perfection is refreshing, just like a juicy tomato! Although there's nothing wrong with adding a little kick if you're in the mood. Last night we had my version of Bunh (Vietnamese dish with rice vermicelli) with tomatoes, beef and onions, let me share it with you:

Rice Vermicelli with Beef and Tomatoes

For 2 people:

• 2 portions of beef (I used 2 eye of round steaks, very affordable), slice as thin as you can against the grain (so the meat is tender) -- if your knives are dull get yourself a sharpener, the wand type, it makes life much easier
• 2 medium sized tomatoes, sliced thinly
• 1 medium-large onion (I used yellow), cut in half, then sliced thinly
• 2 tbsp olive oil (you can use canola, I just prefer olive)
• Rice vermicelli
  
  Condiments:
• Hoisin sauce (Available at supermarkets, I know Safeway has it, although you'll find it much cheaper at asian markets)
• Hot sauce (Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce -- this is the stuff you see at most Vietnamese take out counters, they sell it at Superstore and other asian markets)
  
  Optional -- to make it pretty (spinkle on top):
• chopped green onion
• chopped peanuts
  
• Heat olive oil in pan over med-high heat (make sure it's not too high - if you use olive oil you'll know it's too high when it smokes!)
• Meanwhile, put water on to boil for the vermicelli
• Add the beef and cook until it is almost done, then add the onions and a good dollop of hoisin.
• Once the beef is cooked and the onions are tender, remove beef and onions from the pan and set aside
• Add vermicelli to boiling water - I generally add the noodles, bring the water back up to a low boil, stir up the noodles and then turn the heat off, they just need to soak (or, just follow the directions on the package!). Drain in a colander when done.
• Turn your pan to down to low
• Lay the tomatoes in the pan, try not to let them overlap too much
• After about a minute or less (you just want them to cook slightly) turn them quickly and remove the pan from the heat
• Put the noodles in big bowls if you have them (like pasta bowls) and arrange the beef and onions, and the tomato on top.
• Sprinkle the green onion and peanuts on top, if you have them
• Serve with hoisin and hot sauce and people can add as they like.
  
  Enjoy!!