Friday Food Blogging

dinner


The bums are having friends over for dinner. the menu:

Salad from our friend Jane.

Aloo Matar (from Madhur Jaffrey's vegetarian cookbook)

Saffron Rice (from RD's mind)

Green Thai style Curried Tofu (the pirate's recipe, using the usual suspects)

i am just finishing a book by Paul Davies called "The Mind of God" wherein he says about mystical experiences that ".....western mystics tend to emphasize the personal quality of the experience, often describing themselves as being with someone, usually god......"
"Eastern mystics emphasize the wholeness of existence and tend to identify themselves more closely with the presence."

the recipes:

Aloo Matar

1 lb potatoes
3 tblsps peanut oil
3/4 tsp whole cumin seed
1/8 tsp whole fenugreek seeds
3/4 cup peeled and chopped ripe tomatoes
2 tsps ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
1 cup frozen peas
salt to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne

boil potatoes till done, drain, break by hand into 3/4" pieces

heat the oil, put in whole seeds, ten seconds later add tomatoes, coriander, cumin,turmeric, and garam masala. cook till water is gone. add the rest. simmer for 20 minutes. tastes much better if allowed to sit for a while and reheated. even better tomorrow.

Saffron Rice with Raisins and sliced Almonds

quite easy as we have an electric rice cooker.
pinch cumin seed
saffron threads
pinch cinnamon
pinch cayenne
pinch suger
put in the rice and water
turn on the cooker
at the end of cooking add raisins and almonds


Green Thai style Curry Sauce with Tofu

put one unopened can of coconut milk in hot water

1 packed cup fresh basil leaves
1 packed cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 large peeled garlic cloves
1/4 cup peanut oil
1/4 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
put this stuff in a food processor and pulverize it.


3 tbsps olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 sliced red or yellow bell pepper
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground clove
1/2 tsp hot sesame oil
saute this stuff till it begins to stick, deglaze with dry vermouth

add a bit of water

put some coconut milk in a small bowl, add 1/8 tsp THAI brand red or green curry paste (this stuff is hot)and mix together. add to pan. put a bit more coconut milk in the bowl and set aside for heat adjustment later.

put the rest of the coconut milk in the pan

after it cooks for a while taste it. more salt? if it is hot enough just add the set aside coconut milk. if it wants to be hotter add a bit more curry paste to the cocnut milk, blend and add to pan.

cut a small package of tofu into smallish cubes and saute in a frypan or wok in peanut oil till golden brown. add to curry sauce. serve over rice.

Bon Apetit