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Useful Kitchen Tip #1, or How to Avoid Saying "¡Ay, Caramba! I'm On Fire!"
2007-08-29 22:11:00
As many of you most certainly already know, the essence/juices of certain vegetables and other foods are particularly pungent (i.e., garlic, onions, seafood, etc.) or have a bit of a sting to them (i.e., chili peppers, lemons, etc.). And sometimes it's not always as easy as just washing your hands to get rid of the smell or the stinging. Once their essence is absorbed into your skin, it can often be very difficult to remove.Additionally, certain foods, like chili peppers, can be particularly hazardous if you get their essence of your hands & then accidentally rub your eyes. Not that I am talking from recent personal experience or anything. ;-)Heaven forbid you pet the cat or touch someone else & spread the wildfire. (Shameless plug, I know.)Case in point: About two nights ago, I decided to make green chutney as a side for one of the meals that I was preparing in advance. (See here for that recipe.)Let me first preface what followed by saying that I was tired & apparently did...
More About: Kitchen , Fire , Avoid , Cara , Chen

Quick Mini-Post RE: Calphalon Pots & Pans
2007-08-29 22:10:00
As my blog claims to be about "Recipes & Reviews," I realize that lately it's been all about recipes & less about reviews (either restaurant or kitchen product reviews).So, tonight, to placate my readers who want to know more about cooking gadgets, I'm going to take the easy way out & link to my sister's blog. (I know, I know. Don't tell me the obvious. Although I don't believe in making excuses, I will say this: I'm really tired & have a lot on my plate with my upcoming art gallery opening/exhibition/trunk show at the Sirani gallery, & other various actvities, & promise to write my own original material about cooking gadgets & the like when things calm down a bit & I've had a chance to try out new gadgets/restaurants & comment on them.)My sister's blog (http://ladybugandco.blogspot.com) has some great tips on how to simplify (& thus enhance) your life. Not only does she give great general advice, but she also reviews & recommends products which help...
More About: Post , Mini , Quick

Bombay Chicken Curry With Coriander & Coconut Milk
2007-08-29 22:09:00
Right now, I'm making yet another recipe from Indian Home Cooking. Do I love this cookbook or what? I think I'm basically working my way through the entire cookbook! ;-) So far, all of the recipes I've made from this cookbook are excellent! I can't recommend this cookbook highly enough!So here's the recipe:BOMBAY CHICKEN CURRY WITH CORIANDER & COCONUT MILK(Recipe source: Indian Home Cooking: A Fresh Introduction to Indian Food, With More Than 150 Recipes, by Suvir Suran & Stephanie Lyness.)Serves 4(Serving suggestion: Serve with plain basmati rice.)Ingredients:SPICE POWDER2 Tbsp coriander seeds1/2 tsp black mustard seeds (optional, but I like to include them)12 black peppercorns2 whole dried red chiles1//4 tsp turmeric1/2-inch piece cinnamon stick6 whole cloves6 green cardamom podsOTHER INGREDIENTS1 large red onion, quartered6 garlic cloves2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & cut crosswise into thirds3 Tbsp canola oil (NOTE: Again, I always substitute olive oil & instead use...
More About: Bombay , Milk , Coconut , Chicken , Curry

Lemon Cilantro Ginger Salad Dressing
2007-08-29 22:09:00
As the John Cleese catch phrase goes, "and now for something completely different..." and, I'd like to add, a bit more exciting than your average boring Italian or Balsalmic Vinagrette dressing. Thank goodness for variety!If I may so myself, this dressing rocks! Now you might think I'm slightly biased sinced I'm the recipe creator & cook, but my entire family loves it as well, so it's not like I'm some pompous braggart. Maybe I just have good taste! Hahahaha. ;-)Seriously, I will also tell you when I cook something that tastes like ocean-liner sludge, or as my sister likes to say, "pickled monkey with a side order of feet!" HAHAHAHAHA! My lil' sis cracks me up. Every time I recall her comments I can't stop laughing!But seriously, anyone who really knows me well, will know that I give very honest appraisals. You might not always like what have to say, but atleast you know that I'm telling the truth. I believe that life is too short for BS.I personally dislike flattering, syco...
More About: Lemon , Salad , Ginger , Cilantro , Dressing

Mangalore "Fried" Shrimp
2007-08-26 04:02:00
In a few minutes, I'll be preparing tomorrow night's dinner (mangalore fried shrimp) in advance. This dish has an exquisite taste! The spices & fresh curry leaves give the dish a wonderful flavor. The recipe is healthy, & isn't fried as the title suggests, but rather sautéed.Here's the reason for the advance preparation: Although I buy cooked, shelled, deveined shrimp, the shrimp still take about a half-hour to prepare. Aside from mixing up the marinade, the tails need to be plucked off & the shrimp needs to be doublechecked to ensure it's been fully deveined. (I like to be on the safe side with seafood, as with any shellfish, as there are often residual/trace amounts of waste products that still need to be removed.)I've found it's easiest to prepare the shrimp the night before & just let them marinate overnight. I usually throw the marinated shrimp into a ziploc bag & then toss them in the refrigerator. Of course, the longer you marinate the shrimp, the strong...
More About: Shrimp , Fried , Mangalore , Galore

A Sumptious Feast for Seven
2007-08-24 01:29:00
Last night my sister & I cooked a sumptious feast for 7 family members(!) . We have 3 visiting relatives from out of town staying with us, and so there was a lot of food to prepare. We made so many dishes our heads started spinning. With the exception of the chicken, all of the dishes we served that evening were original creations of the Irwin sisters. My sister prepared the chicken and made a cauliflower pesto caper dish & a fingerling potato dish with sage, while I made a soy sesame string bean dish, salad with a lemon cilantro ginger dressing I made from scratch, fennel bean soup, and a "peach" cobbler (which was actually made with nectarines).Since I'm really tired right now & it's very late, I'm not in the mood to post recipes right now. So please check back later & I'll do my best to include some of these recipes in my next post.Goodnight! Sweet dreams (of healthy & delicious peach cobbler with light non-dairy whipped topping)!-C
More About: Feast

Fennel Bean Soup & Some Procrastination!
2007-08-24 01:26:00
For dinner tonight, we had my fennel bean soup, some barbecued chicken, salad with my cilantro lemon ginger dressing, left-over string beans (marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, & sesame seeds), and some marinated zucchini & eggplant I made on the grill. For dessert, we had casaba melon & my masala tea. (The recipes for most of these items are listed here on my blog.)Yes, I know I still have to post the fennel bean soup recipe that I mentioned in earlier posts. For some reason, I keep procrastinating about posting this recipe. I think too much time has passed since I made it for me to remember everything I did. Perhaps I shall have to cook it again to remember! Hahaha!I'll just make a quick attempt to scribble down the ingredients here, and then will revise what I write later to make it into an official "recipe."FENNEL BEAN SOUPIngredients (that I can remember!):fennel stalks & fronds only (Note: The bulb should be reserved for the Tomato Fennel Salad recipe.)Ca...
More About: Bean , Soup , Procrastination , Some

You'll Find Only Delicious, Taste-Tested Recipes Here!
2007-08-23 23:24:00
Hi Everyone,Just letting you know that all of the recipes you see here on this blog have been taste-tested by yours truly (as well as by family & friends). I only post recipes that I've made myself & truly enjoy. As they say, good cooks taste their own food!-C
More About: Recipes , Find , Taste , Delicious , Deli

Shop at Your Local Ethnic Grocery Store & Save Big $$$$
2007-08-22 03:06:00
Yo, people, here's a word to the wise: If you buy your spices in bulk & shop at places like your local Indian market (or other ethnic market), you can often save big bucks.Now I don't skimp on quality ingredients, but why pay more if you don't have to pay it? Spend your money elsewhere, like on a 10-piece set of hard-anodized cookware. A much better investment, & more long-term bang for your buckola.Example: I paid just $3.99 for a 14 oz. bag of Laxmi brand cumin seeds (or $0.29 per ounce) at my local Indian market, for which I would've paid $40.04 (or $2.86 per ounce!) for that same bag at the regular generic grocery store; and THAT size bag, my friends, bag isn't even available at the generic grocery store. You do the math.Or, if you're feeling lazy & don't feel like doing the math for some reason, let me translate for you: You'd be paying over 10 times (Yikes!) what you might've paid if you'd only have gone to the Indian market.What a rip-off, eh?!If a light bulb has...
More About: Store , Shop , Local , Ethnic , Save

"Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" is Bloody Brilliant Television, If I Do Say S
2007-08-21 02:38:00
Is anyone else a fan of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares ? A friend of ours got us into this show & it's "bloody brilliant television, if I do say so, young chap"! ;-)Meet Gordon Ramsay -- ex-professional footballer, 7-Michelin star restauranteur, & foul-mouthed chef who isn't afraid to tell it like it is to failing restaurant owners & cooks who need all the help they can get. This show is hilarious! It's reality TV at its funniest & most outrageous!Apparently, there's an American version of the show, done in a different format. I haven't seen the American version of the show yet (not sure which channel or of the exact airing date), but have heard that it's not going to be in the same format as the British version. Of course, I imagine that they'd have to bleep out the entire show, unless it was on a pay cable channel like HBO. ;-) Here's the BBC America program info: Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares .
More About: Television , Mares

My New Creation: Licorice Spice Tea
2007-08-21 00:10:00
Yesterday I concocted another new tea spice mix, "Licorice Spice ," which has hints of licorice, cinammon, orange peel, & other yummy flavors. Like my other original spice blend (i.e., my masala tea mix), the licorice spice mix is supposed to be added to a cup of piping hot tea.As with my masala tea mix, I personally prefer to use decaf Green tea or decaf Jasmine tea. Unlike the masala tea mix, the licorice spice mix isn't really meant to be taken with milk, although you can certainly add sugar.I'm excited to announce that both of these tea spice mixes (along with other products) will soon be available for sale at my new online store. Check out the related blog & website: Lady Bug Tea Company Blog & Lady Bug Tea Company Online Store for more information. (The website is currently under construction, but check back in about a week or so for further sales & product information.)Also, see my sister's blog, Ladybug & Co.: Simplification of the Modern World & website, Ladyb...
More About: Creation , Ice T

Simple Lahori Chicken Curry with Onion & Tomatoes
2007-08-21 00:08:00
Well, you can tell I've returned home (to the city) again, because I'm once again back to cooking Indian food. ;-) I have a much more willing & eager audience here for eating successive Indian meals than I did when I was back at my parents' place. ;-)(It's more or less a trade off: The meals I typically cook at my parents' house are more vegetable-centric, while the meals I cook at home are more protein-centric & usually more adventurous in terms of spice & presentation. My fiancé, Erik, likes to eat meat a lot more often than me or my family, & while he likes many different kinds of fruit, he isn't as adventurous with the vegetables.)My family were good sports & seemed to enjoy my cooking (during my stay there), but tended to like it better when I made things closer to their comfort zone. (For me, my comfort zone is Indian cooking. ;-) ) Since I haven't lived at home for years, I forgot where that set point exactly was, but was quickly reminded by my mother on se...
More About: Chicken , Curry , Simple , Onion , Tomatoes

Surprising Summer Omelette, Take Two
2007-08-15 06:50:00
Tonight I cooked a different version of my "surprising summer omelette" for my family, & prepared the rest of the casaba melon for dessert. (The original omelette recipe can be found here.)This new recipe got even bigger rave reviews than the original, as "the best omelette I've made yet."COREY'S SURPRISING SUMMER OMELETTE, TAKE TWOMakes 1 serving.1/8 tsp. butter (or less), to season pan2 eggs1/4 c. non-dairy "lite" creamer1/4 c. soy milk1-2 oz. cheddar cheese, cubed1-2 sprinkles of shredded asiago cheese2-3 sliced fresh mushrooms2 sprigs fresh oregano, use leaves only2-3 sprigs fresh parsley, finely choppeddried spice mix, consisting of 1/4 tsp each of thyme, basil, oregano, parsley, marjoram, sesame seeds, & black pepper2 kalamata & 2 greek olives, pitted & sliced3-4 sundried tomatoes, sliced julienne1-2 tsp. capersfresh cracked pepper to tastePrepare all dry ingredients (including fresh spices & veggies) & put in separate bowls. Set aside. Mix together eggs, cream...
More About: Summer , Mele

Corey's Peach Cobbler
2007-08-12 23:10:00
As promised, here's the recipe for my peach cobbler (i.e., the healthy version), which doesn't contain any fat or added sugar. Enjoy!COREY'S PEACH COBBLER4 peaches (or nectarines)4 tbsp. cinammon1/2 tbsp. nutmeg1 c. orange juice3/4 c. oatmeal (plain, unsalted oatmeal flakes)lowfat/light non-dairy whipped toppingPit fruit & slice into wedges. (I like to leave the skins on because they add to the flavor of the dish & are nutritious to eat.)There are two ways to make this dish; you can either make it in a pan or in a glass dish.If you make it in a pan, you need to add all of the ingredients (except the whipped topping of course) to the pan. Reduce the liquid in the pan by about half, & stir until the sugars caramelize. This makes a really sweet treat with a compote-like consistency. I like to serve small portions in little glass custard dishes with a dollop of light non-dairy whipped topping on top.If you prefer, you can also cook the ingredients in a glass dish. Pour all of th...
More About: Peach

Pear & Apple Crisp Recipe
2007-08-12 20:23:00
As promised, I'm finally posting some of my original recipes from the last few days of my cooking escapades:PEAR & APPLE CRISP2 pears2 apples4 tbsp. cinammon1/2 tbsp. nutmeg1 c. orange juice3/4 c. oatmeal (plain, unsalted oatmeal flakes)lowfat/light non-dairy whipped toppingCore apples & pears & slice into wedges. (I like to leave the skins on because they add to the flavor of the dish & are nutritious to eat.)There are two ways to make this dish; you can either make it in a pan or in a glass dish.If you make it in a pan, you need to add all of the ingredients (except the whipped topping of course) to the pan. Reduce the liquid in the pan by about half, & stir until the sugars caramelize. This makes a really sweet treat with a compote-like consistency. I like to serve small portions in little glass custard dishes with a dollop of light non-dairy whipped topping on top.If you prefer, you can also cook the ingredients in a glass dish. Pour all of the ingredients into the glas...
More About: Apple , Recipe , Pear , Cris , Reci

Grapefruit Apricot Smoothie Recipe
2007-08-12 09:10:00
I made a really delicious smoothie today for lunch. It's another original recipe I concocted; I couldn't seem to find any grapefruit smoothie recipes out there that I liked, so I created my own! It has the perfect balance of tartness & creamy, mellow flavors. If you are like me, & like desserts & drinks that are tart as well as creamy, then you'll probably really like this recipe:GRAPEFRUIT APRICOT SMOOTHIE RECIPE1/2 c. low-fat plain yoghurt1/8 tsp vanilla extract1 c. grapefruit juice3/4 c. low-fat/light plain soy milk2 fresh apricots, pitted (This recipe works best with apricots that are soft)2 tsp "Max Pro" whey powder (protein drink powder mix) (Can be purchased at GNC.)6 ice cubesInstructions: Add ingredients to a blender & pulse until smooth. Makes 2 servings.
More About: Recipe , Smooth , Rico , Grapefruit , Reci

Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
2007-08-12 09:08:00
When I was a child, my grandfather would walk with my sister & me to the corner store to get a creamsicle on a hot summer's day. It's a very fond memory that my sister & I share; both of my maternal & paternal grandfathers liked to take us for walks in their respective towns -- We made several trips on foot to the playground, the corner store, the duck pond, etc. I think our grandfathers also took our parents when they were young children as well, because they also have a nostalgic fondness for creamsicles, which probably also came from similar long summer walks which most likely ended up at their local corner store! 8-)Of course, food can be a very nostalgic thing, & so, it's no surprise that I endeavored to recreate a bit of my childhood by making up my own "orange creamsicle" recipe, albeit in a much healthier form. My whole family loves this recipe; it's a real crowd-pleaser & I've gotten several repeat requests to make it while I've been here (i.e., at my parents...
More About: Orange , Range , Smooth