Monday 13 February 2006

normal chicken

Me: (peering into freezer) Oh drat, we don't have any boneless chicken left. I thought I'd make Chicken Korma* tonight.
Bear: There is chicken in there, but I think it's on the bone.
Me: (not liking the idea of cutting chicken off the bone for Chicken Korma, which should be nice big chunks) Okay, let's see. I have some of that balsamic vinegar and lemon marinade left...
Bear: Could we have normal chicken tonight?
Me: Normal...chicken?
Bear: Y'know, chicken you bake in the oven? Plain chicken? Normal chicken.

I have to laugh. One thing my husband was not prepared for when we married was my love for what-he-calls-odd foods. My small-town boy grew up on foods cooked with very little spice besides salt and pepper. I love hot and spicy stuff. At some points in our relationship I think he's thought I was trying to kill him from the spiciness of it all. I've adapted pretty well (Chili in our house is seasoned with cumin, not chili, and then I add to my bowl, and I add extra rice to things like red-beans-and-rice, or some stir-frys.) but sometimes I have to have my favorites, and he gets a big salad and a lot of vegetables and a small helping so he can taste. Sometimes I've even won him over, to his surprise.

But normal chicken? Wound me.

We had plain baked chicken last night. Served with roasted carrots and sweet potatoes, and a very garlicky caesar salad.

Tonight he won't be home, so the kids and I? Are having hot and sour soup.

Yummy.


*I use a mix mostly, unless I'm really feeling adventurous. Patak's, a very cool company.

5 comments:

Tessa said...

I ADORE hot and sour soup. Please send me some. My mouth is watering already.

Anonymous said...

how do you easily convert the recipe?

Jess said...

Deb -
Here goes.

4.5 lbs of chicken pieces
2.25 cups of sour yogurt
scant 1/2 cup dried coconut
2 med. size onion
2 tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup ginger-garlic paste
1/4 cup green chilies
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp coriander powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup cooking oil
1 cup water
A sprig each of coriander and spearmint
Salt to taste

Method:

Chop the onions into fine slices and fry them till golden brown. Marinate the chicken pieces for 10 minutes in 2 tsp of salt (salt to taste) turmeric powder, garam masala, coriander powder and ginger-garlic paste. Put the marinated chicken pieces in when the onion is fried. After 10 minutes add the yogurt and a cup of water and stir well. Cook for 5 minutes. Then add dried coconut, pepper, chopped coriander and mint leaves. Cover and allow it to cook for 15 minutes. Serve hot with roti or rice.

The above quantity is to serve a minimum of 8 persons.

Nummy.

Crazy MomCat said...

YUM! That recipe sounds SO GOOD! Thanks for converting it!

Joke said...

I feel your pain...only I am not as charitable a cook as you are.

-J.

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