Monday, September 13, 2010

Thai Thai F-"after Q"-y Fly


Thailand is a country full of marvellously friendly people and outstanding food, but one thing it's not full of is the letter "R"

We were lost in a Thai Airport and searching for gate "R" when an airport employee comes up to assist us.
"Oh, you look fo gate 'afta Q'" he says in charming Thai style. And sure enough, Thailand's airport has no gate R, but they do have a gate "After Q" which makes me wonder how many hundreds have gone to gate L before gate "After Q" was invented.

Pronounce R as L and you've got a Thai Fly- a savory sweet chili chicken stir fry on a bed of coconut rice.


Thai F-"after Q"-y


Ingredients

1 cup Sushi Rice
1 can Coconut Milk
2 Chicken breasts
1 Red Bell Pepper
1 Green Bell Pepper
1 Yellow Bell Pepper
1 Onion
3 tbsp sesame oil
1/2 cup Peanuts
Juice and zest of 1 Lime
1/4 cup Sweet Chili Sauce

1) Bring 1 can coconut milk and the rice to a boil. Then reduce to low heat and let simmer 20 minutes, until the rice is fully cooked and the coconut milk is absorbed.
2) In a large frying pan, fry thinly slices bell peppers and onions in sesame oil.
3) In another frying pan, fry thinly sliced chicken until completely cooked.
4) Combine fried vegetables, chicken, peanuts, lime juice and zest, and sweet chili sauce. Let simmer 10 minutes on low heat.
5) Serve the stir fLy on a bed of the coconut lice and enjoy!

Feelin' Nutty n' Coconutty

In desperate search of any gluten-free baking ingredients at my grandma's century-old house in the middle of nowhere: Riston Meneikö, north of the north pole in Finland. And what did I find? Well, coconut, almond, sugar and egg. I'm in love with this recipe, it couldn't be easier!

Meringue Marzipan Muffins

Ingredients
3 eggs
200g almond
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups shredded coconut
Dark chocolate for drizzling

Preheat oven to 325
1) Seperate egg yolks and whites into two bowls. 
2) In the bowl with the egg yolks, add 1/4 cup sugar and whisk together until slightly airy. 
3) In a food processor, chop up the almonds until it forms almost a paste. Stir almonds into the yolk/sugar mix.
4) While the almond bowl sits, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Once soft peaks form add sugar, 1 tbsp at a time and whisk until stiff peaks form. 
5) Incorporate egg whites with coconut gently. 
6) In muffin tins, put one spoon of the almond mix and press down into the tin. Then add a spoon of the coconut mix. 
7) Bake 20 minutes or until the muffins turn golden on top. 
8) Drizzle with chocolate and serve to your grandmother.
Enjoy!

You say tomato, I say tamahto

Freshly out of fresh salad. Drowning in a tomatina of tomatoes. After a thorough debate with my inner self over whether a tomatina, the spanish tomato-throwing festival, or a tomato salad would be a better use of this plump little fruit... well you can figure out the conclusion to that debate.

Tomatina Tamahto Salad 

The essentials:
2 tomatoes
1 clove Shallot
1/4 Onion
1 Red or Yellow Bell Pepper
1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Avocado and Olives for finish

1) Finely, finely, finely chop your little shallot and onion. Let them swim around in red wine vinegar for 20-30 minutes.
2) Once the shallots and onions are finished swimming, add olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well
3) Dice your plump tamahtoes and bell pepper.
4) Pour the Shallot Dressing over your diced tomatoes.
5) Add avocados, olives and spaniards participating in a tomatina for garnish.

Just add Telemarketers

Sitting criss-cross in genie-esque linen pants, sipping my black tea and enjoying my banana tilapia curry after an hour of yoga. Add telemarketers and I'm in the heart of India.

Banana Tilapia Telemarketer Curry

Ingredients:
1 Onion
2 tbsp Coconut Oil or butter
1 Banana
1 Bell Peppers
1 can Coconut Milk
3 tbsp Curry Paste
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
2 Tilapia Fillets

1) Sautee diced onion, banana, bell pepper and curry paste in coconut oil or butter.
2) In a large pot, bring coconut milk to a boil.
3) Add in sautee mix, remaining spices, and tilapia.
4) Simmer about 30, stirring occassionally.
5) Eat with yoga pants and a side slumdog millionaire.