Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Karahi Chicken

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As we pulled up to the new market, we had no idea what to expect. The trip was just long enough that the kids fell asleep in the back of the car. There were the usual signs of a Grand Opening - colorful, triangle flags strung across the front of the store...hustle and bustle in the parking lot. There was a young Indian woman dressed in a Sari offering customers cool cups of tea...

My husband and I decided (in the interest of letting sleeping babes lay) I would run into the store to scope it out, while he hung back with the kids. I opened the car door and with a great sense of excitement (curbed only by my own conscience not to get too worked up in case of immense disappointment) ...I entered the market...

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Quick and Easy Chicken Mole ~ This was how it was ALWAYS meant to be...

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The first time my husband and I enjoyed a mole dish was in 1998. He was living and working in Boston...I was in my senior year at Penn State University.

I was visiting Massachusetts for a long weekend  ~ we spent the day at a Red Sox game ~ he took me to Sol Azteca for dinner. We both recall a, "Mole Poblano" meal that was out of this world delicious!

We weren't married back then...we weren't even engaged, but...

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Grilled Lamb Chops with Spicy Chili-Cilantro Sauce ~ What are the rules?

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I was excited yesterday to find frenched Lamb Chops for $11.99 a pound. I realize that's still not inexpensive ...but it's far better than the $19.99 I've been seeing!  The Lamb Chops looked beautiful, they were meaty, tender, nicely trimmed... so I decided to pick some up!

I usually marinate our Lamb Chops in garlic, rosemary and thyme and cook them atop a charcoal grill ensuring to keep them medium rare ~ but this time I wanted something different. When I stumbled upon, Grilled Lamb Chops with Spicy Chili-Cilantro Sauce on epicurious..I was intrigued ...but confused...

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Empanada Dough from Scratch ~ from a self-proclaimed cheater!

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When it comes to making recipes that require a homemade dough from scratch (like pizzas, pies and dumplings)...I'm generally...a cheater!

I've never pretended to be an avid baker ~ or even a good one when I try ~ it's how I justify buying premade doughs from the grocery store or our local pizzeria...

But the last time I made empanadas from a store bought pizza dough, they were chewy, bready...lacking that...

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Steamed Crabs with Old Bay Seasoning ~ Ocean Mom Mom

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Steamed Crabs remind me of Ocean Mom Mom... 

When I was little, my sisters, brother and I used to go crabbing off the dock down in Avalon, NJ.  With each trap full of Blue Claws we resurrected from the bay's floor, we would run the, "keepers" back to the house.  My Great Grandmom would be sitting at the kitchen table eagerly awaiting our arrival...pot going atop the stove...metal pliers in one hand, a mallet in the other...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Fried Eggplant Pizzas with San Marzano Tomatoes and Marinated Fresh Mozzarella ~ Leftovers

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I can not resist taking pictures of food. We had few pieces of leftover FRIED EGGPLANT from yesterday...so for today's lunch we enjoyed these delicious Fried Eggplant Pizzas with San Marzano Tomatoes and Marinated Fresh Mozzarella.

Akin to Eggplant Parmesan and proof that often...