Sweet Potato Curry

I started another Daniel Fast on January 7th,2012. That means 3 weeks with no meats, dairy, sugar or caffeine. Seafood is okay but I'll try to stay away from it as much as possible.

The first dish I attempted during my fast was a sweet potato curry


Ingredients


1 cup kidney beans, boiled
1 large sweet potato, diced
I head of brocolli, cut into mini florets
1 handful of raisins
2 carrots, cubed
1 can coconut milk
2 cups vegetable stock
Garam masala
Salt and Pepper
Cayenne pepper
Ginger
1 onion, chopped
Minced ginger

Method

Saute onions. Add spices and garlic. Saute further.

Add vegetables, beans and vegetable stock. Boil, then reduce to  medium heat. Cook until sweet potatoes are tender.

Add raisins and coconut milk. Heat.

Season with salt and pepper.

Happy New Year 2012!

Kathy won a free New Years Eve dinner at Maenam, a great Thai restaurant on West 4th Ave, and invited me to go along with her (thanks Kathy!). I wish I could remember the names of all the dishes. Everything tasted incredble anyway. Happy 2012!

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hot and sour soup of halibut

dark chocolate pot de crème

Masala Kheema

My former roommate moved back to Winnipeg and left some food in the freezer which I have to get rid of. I can't even remember the last time I bought beef, it must have been over a year ago. Usually I make beef chilli with minced beef but I decided to look up some Indian recipes and the masala kheema came up. It was very easy to make.


Masala Kheema

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:

1/2 kg ground beef/ minced beef (you can use any ground meat you prefer for this recipe)
3 tbsps vegetable/canola/sunflower cooking oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 medium-sized onions chopped fine
1 tbsp garlic paste
1 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsps coriander powder
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp garam masala (see link below for recipe to make your own)
Salt to taste
2 medium-sized tomatoes chopped fine
Juice of 1/2 a lime
Chopped coriander leaves to garnish

Preparation:

Heat the cooking oil in a wok or deep pan, on medium heat.
Add the cumin seeds and fry for 1 minute. Add the onions now. Fry till they turn a pale golden colour.
Add the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for 1 minute.
Add the minced meat and all the powdered spices - coriander, cumin, garam masala and salt to taste.
Continue to brown the minced meat, stirring often to prevent burning. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Add the tomatoes, stir and cook till they are soft.
Turn the fire off, add the lime juice and stir.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve with hot chapatis or parathas.



http://allrecipes.com/recipe/keema-indian-style-ground-meat/

Christmas 2011

Christmas this year consisted of dinner with my landlords on Christmas Eve followed, a few hours later, by dinner at my Aunt and Uncle's house and then finally a late Christmas lunch at my parents house. As you can see, all the food was amazing! I contributed with the baked sweet potatoes, my sister made her famous English trifle, and another of my sisters made lasagne.All in all, I had a wonderful Christmas. I thank God for my family and friends, my health and for helping me mature as a woman. This year has brought me so many blessings,more than I even deserve.

Vancouver Giants vs Prince George Cougars

Jade, Ronggie, Tracey, Eli and I got free tickets (courtesy of Jade's mum!) to watch the Giants beat the Cougars 5-1 at the Pacific Coliseum. Fun night!

Raspberry Fudge

After checking in Superstore, London Drugs, IGA,Safeway, Wal-Mart, Shoppers Drug Mart and Save-On-Foods for raspberry essence and coming up empty, I almost gave up on the idea of making raspberry fudge. Then I had an epiphany and decided to try the liquor store. I am so lost when surrounded by alcohol but this lady helped me find some raspberry cordial. I was a bit apprehensive about buying such a big bottle but she said I could use it in drinks and baking.

I made this fudge in a similar way to the orange fudge but I added some white chocolate chips, raspberry liquor and a few tablespoons of raspberry jam to the top layer.

Candy Cane Fudge

More fudge! I thought it would be fun to try making some festive fudge.


1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup light corn syrup
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1‑1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup crushed candy canes
1‑1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon peppermint essence

PREPARATION:

Line 8-inch baking pan with foil, extending edges over sides of pan.
Bring cream and corn syrup to a boil in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips; stir constantly until chips are melted. Stir in powdered sugar, candy canes and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Spread mixture into corners. Cover; refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
Lift fudge out of pan using foil; remove foil. Cut into 1-inch squares. Store in airtight container.