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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Beer based bacon & cheddar mac n' cheese


What you'll need:
2-3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 box penne pasta
2 tbs butter, or 2 tbs bacon grease
2 tbs flour
1 & 1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 bottle dark beer
1 bag real bacon pieces or four strips of bacon, diced
Salt and pepper to taste, Italian breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese to top
Olive oil

What You'll Do:

Pre-heat oven to 350.

Boil your noodles and start your roux. Preferably use bacon grease if you have it, if not, melt 2 tbs butter over medium high heat and add 2 tbs flour. Whisk together until the two form a smooth paste. Slowly add 1/2 a bottle of any dark beer and keep whisking until all of the lumps disappear.

Next slowly add 1 & 1/2 cups of whole milk, continue to whisk and raise heat to high, continue to whisk. The mixture will slowly thicken, once it bubbles, lower the heat to low and add the shredded sharp cheddar. Continue to whisk until all of the cheese melts and then add the bacon pieces.

Strain the penne and add the noodles back into the pot they were boiled in. Pour the cheese and bacon mixture over the noodles and stir to cover the noodles. Pour the noodles into a large casserole dish and top with a thin layer of Italian flavored bread crumb mixed with grated Parmesan cheese. Drizzle some olive oil on top of the breadcrumb and place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes until the cheese bubbles.

To brown the breadcrumb, set the oven to broil on high for five minutes after it's finished baking. Serve immediately.

ENJOY!


Monday, January 16, 2012

Massaman Curry

Homemade Thai-Take Out
Massaman Curry

If you are like me and live no where near Birmingham, then you are stuck making your own Thai food. (I say that because throughout my many, many travels, Birmingham Alabama is still home to the best Thai restaurant I've ever eaten at). Thai food is not nearly as daunting as you may think. The main thing is getting all of the necessary ingredients, (which is many), and keeping them in stock at all times.

This is relatively easy to make, but a tad time consuming. Anyone can make this savory, spicy, Thai-stew. Most of the ingredients will keep so you can make this over and over again.

What you'll need:
2 tbs oil (Canola or vegetable)
2-3 tbs Massaman curry paste (or red curry paste)
1 slice 'fresh' ginger, minced
1/4 yellow onion, sliced thin
1 lb chicken, cubed
2-3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 tbs brown sugar
3 tbs fish sauce
2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup 'chunky' peanut butter (+canola oil cooking spray for cup)
1/2 cup to 1 cup roasted peanuts
1 can coconut milk
3 tbs fresh lime juice

What you need to do: [If you are making regular rice, follow the instructions and a give your self enough time, the massaman takes about 45 minutes with prep and cooking time]


Buy curry paste. I'm lucky I have an international market where I live and could get actual Massaman curry paste, but you can use 'red curry' paste, which can be found at just about any grocery store.

To make life easier, prep all of your spices and ingredients first and place in separate ramekins. I start with ginger. Always use FRESH ginger. No matter where you live you can find fresh ginger in any grocery store. After using it, store it in a storage bag and keep in the freezer. Slice off about a 1/2 inch piece, peel and use a 'microplane' (fruit zester) to grate the ginger over a ramekin instead of mincing by hand with a knife.

Thinly slice some yellow onion, I add this for some sweetness. Massman normally calls for Tamarind paste but I can never find it so I add Worcestershire Sauce instead and some yellow onion.

Next, using seperate ramekins, measure out your brown sugar, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and fresh lime juice. Please get a lemon/lime squeezer for the lime. This will squeeze out every drop of juice from the fruit and will contain all of the seeds, it's worth every penny!

Quick tip! Spray your measuring cup with canola-oil spray before you add your peanut butter so it comes out easier when you're adding it to the pot. Peel and dice your potatoes and dice your chicken. Turn the burner for your soup pot onto medium-high.

-Heat the oil, add the curry paste (2 tbs for milder flavor, 3 for hotter) and ginger and cook for two minutes. Next add the chicken and onions and cook for three minutes.

-Add the brown sugar, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, peanut butter, peanuts, potatoes, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for twenty minutes.

-Now is the time to start thinking about preparing your instant rice, or pasta (Where is it written it must be served over rice? Do what you want) It's the joy of cooking at home, serve over noodles if you like. I serve over brown rice.

-After twenty minutes check to see if the potatoes are done, add the 3 tbs of lime juice and continue to cook for five more minutes before serving.

ENJOY!