Once I read something about lo mein being standard college fare. Nope; not for us. Standard college fare was pizza with the occasional delivered salad... and the salad was also full of cheese. I know this for a very real fact. Because I worked in the restaurant (actually there were two) that made this stuff.
But when I read about someone's college goto being lo mein, I was jealous. I should have gone to college THEN. I adore lo mein and can even make a pretty darned good imitation. Well, since then, I've moved over to adoring Thai and because I'm so late-trendy, I like Basil Chicken. I seem to always miss it when things are "in."
And I like it when Bhan Thai makes it, not me. Mine is ok. Still, knowing how much Emily also likes Thai, I started looking for easy Thai recipes with videos and I came up with Thai Food Tonight...a series of lessons and videos, etc. by Dim Geefay. Dim brings along her American-born daughter Cathy to help translate and, between the two of them, we figure it out. The videos were, I think, originally on tv, but are now free online.
Dave has always been our wokman, though I occasionally use it, too. For the Basil Chicken Fried Rice, I did the planning, research, shopping, part of the prep, table set and so on. Dave cut the chicken (he's much better at that) and then just continued on cooking. I stood and kibitzed while drinking a lovely halb-trocken German Riesling, which suited the Thai dish to a T.
Did I say this was YUMMY TO THE MAX? And, unlike a lot of Asian food, it was nearly as good the next day. Yes!
Set the table before you begin to cook. |
I made the rice in the afternoon and spread it out to dry on a baking sheet. |
Wokman |
Hates cooking alone. |
Very quick, this man is. |
Not sure we had the heat up high enough. |
Turn off as soon as you add the basil. |
Garnish with cilantro and lime. |
Add pieces of cucumber for crunch and coolness. |
4 servings
Ingredients:
- 4 cups already cooked rice
- 6 big cloves of garlic, crushed (together w/ peppers w/ mortar and pestle or lrg knife)
- 2-4 Thai (bird) red and green chili peppers or 1-2 Serrano peppers, crushed (I used 1/2 jalapeno*)
- 1/4 c cooking oil ( I used canola; you could also use peanut.)
- 1 to 1 1/2 lbs chicken meat (I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs.)
- 3T Oyster sauce
- 2T Fish Sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 medium-sized red bell pepper, julienned
- 2 c fresh sweet basil leaves, whole
- 1 cucumber, cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 c cilantro leaves
- 1 lime, cut into quarters
- Heat oil in deep pan or wok over high heat.
- Wait until oil starts to smoke.
- Add crushed garlic and peppers.
- Stir quickly; don't let them burn
- Immediately add chicken, stiring.
- Add oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar.
- Stir until chicken is cooked through. (no pink)
- Add already cooked rice.
- Stir quickly until sauces are blended with rice. (a couple of minutes)
Two-Dog Kitchen and Around the 'Hood
-I'm busy packing. I hate it. Who likes it? Enough said.
-Had a perfect Valentine's Day..God was good; my husband was home and he made reservations at Pizzeria Rustica in Old Colorado City, one of my favorite places. They had a food and wine pairing deal--lovely.
-Dogs got groomed and are hot to trot. It was almost 70 F.
If only we could just get dropped off somewhere where they threw us in first a cage, then a tub, trimmed us all up, blew us dry, tied bandanas around our necks, gave us treats, and threw us back in a cage again. (Somehow it's just not the same when I go to the hair dresser's, though it's slightly reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz. I guess I'd skip the cage.)
----------------------
If you're keeping up with some of the responses to the "Deathly Letter" from within a segment of the Presbyterian Church, USA, here is another one I found intriguing:
http://www.wilsonpresbyterian.org/2011/02/resonse-to-the-deathly-letter-to-the-pcusa-by-rev-blake-spencer-second-presbyterian-church-nashville-tn/
Very well done indeed. If you are a Presbyterian in this country and wonder how we came to be likely to split, check this out--it's the chart of which Presbyterians came when and did what:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Connection2_900.jpg
Perhaps today isn't so unusual after all. Pray for this church. Pray for our seminarians. I have to admit I'm a bit abashed about worshiping at the UCC (along with quite a few other Colorado Springs Presbyterians)... But it's been a life-changing experience. Not enough words available.
Sing a new song,
Alyce
No comments:
Post a Comment
I can't wait to hear from you!
When you click on "Comment as," you have a choice of google id, etc. If you don't have a google id or a blog, choose ANONYMOUS. When you type your comment, you can sign your name there. Thanks!