Classic Thai Green Curry

Kirin Tribe

Thailand is such a beautiful and enchanting place to visit, from up north in Pai with the Kirin Hill Tribe to down south where you can island hop and get a different feel at each one and enjoy amazing sunsets.  The food there was delicious and cheap.  If you want to budget then the street food is where it's at.  My girlfriend and I ate at the little push carts regularly which was really good.  You could get a quick pad thai for a little over $1.  While we were up north, for breakfast in the morning was rice soup with pork balls.  Since it was cold up there in the mountains it was a perfect dish to start the day before embarking on some sight seeing

Sunset on Koh Tao

Then there is the big city of Bangkok.  Lots of people, cars and motorbikes (we're not talking crotch rockets either).  There is a lot of things to see.  You have to be careful not to get ripped off,  because as a farang (what the Thai people call Westerners) it is.  You can be easy pickins for the locals always trying to give you a "good" deal.  I've learned my lesson though.  Even the taxi drivers try to scam you.  I remember this one time we needed to go to the airport and the driver was charging some outrageous price and I told him no, use the meter.  He refused so we got into another taxi and then the guy suddenly changed his mind and said he'd take us but we left him high and dry.

Tuk-Tuk

The tuk-tuks were an adventure too.  They are these 3 wheel mini taxis that can weave in and out of traffic and get you to a location not far away.  The downside is they are loud and the exhaust fumes can be a bit much.  They also always try to take you places you don't want to go, for instance a gem store.  They tell you just to go in and look around.  After asking why from a few of them they said that they get a portion of proceeds if we buy anything, great deal huh?  But it's just something you have to experience. 

Hot dog stand??

So I asked my girlfriend what she wanted for dinner and I got "Green curry like in Thailand".    It was so good while there that even though it was hot and humid we'd still order the dish sweating as it was being consumed and enjoying every spoonful.
I used store bought pastes which tasted good but I like to try and make everything from scratch to see how it compares.  I looked in my Thai cook book and found a recipe.  After going to the store to gather all the ingredients I was ready!

Green Curry Paste
2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tsp white peppercorns (I used black)
20 fresh green Thai chillies or a combination of mild and hot chillies
10 cloves of garlic
3 shallots sliced
1 tbsp grated galangal (ginger would also work)
1 tbsp sliced fresh or frozen lemongrass, white part only
2 tbsp sliced kaffir lime rind or lime zest
1 tbsp sliced coriander roots and stems
1 tsp shrimp past
1 tsp salt

Combine the corander, cumin seeds and peppercorns in a small pan and roast over medium heat, stirring constantly for a minute or two until you can smell the nice aromas.  Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to cool.
Pound the spices in a pestle and mortar until finely ground.  Combine all the ingredients except for the ground spices in a food processor, add a tablespoon of water and process until smooth.  Since I don't have one I used a pestle and mortar.  The 2nd time I made it, after getting a work out from pounding it in the pestle and mortar, I spooned it into my smoothie maker and whizzed it up which just made it a bit more combined.
Stir in the ground spices.  Transfer the paste to a clan jar and refrigerate for up to a week  or divide into 1 tablespoon portions and freeze in ice cube trays.  If you are going to keep the past in the fridge for any lenght of time, pout just enough oil over the top of it to cover.  This will help keep the paste fresh.

Thai Green Curry
1 tbsp oil
3 tbsp green curry paste
2 x 400ml (14 fl oz) cans of coconut milk
450 g (1 lb) chicken thigh fillets, trimmed and sliced (Shrimp and chicken breast would also work)
3 kaffir lime leaves (or 1 tsp grated lime zest)
1 tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp grated palm or soft brown sugar
2 courgettes (zucchini) cut into bit size pieces
2-3 hot red chillies seeded and sliced into long strips
1/4 cup basil leaves

Heat the oil in a wok or large pan over medium heat and add the curry paste.  Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Reduce the heat a little and add the coconut milk.  Stir and cook until an oily film forms on top.
Stir in the chicken and lime leaves (or zest) and simmer for about 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Add the fish sauce and sugar and bring to a boil.  Add the cut up courgettes (zucchini) and cook for a further 5 minutes.

Turn off the heat and taste.  Adjust seasoning by adding more fish sauce, sugar or chilli as desired.  Top with basil leaves.
Serve with a side of steamed jasmine rice.

Breakfast of Champions

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals and I love my eggs - scrambled, fried, poached, hard boiled..etc.  I eat 2-3 eggs in the morning and if I'm hungry in the afternoon I'll scramble up another 2 for a quick snack.  They are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals.  My girlfriend says that in the future we need to have our own chickens for the amount of eggs I eat which I wouldn't mind at all.
I went to the gym earlier this morning and had a great workout hitting my chest and back.  My muscles were screaming for some protein by the time I got home.  I had to make a quick stop at the veg shop for a couple potatoes, can't forget about those carbohydrates.  My usual breakfast is 2 scrambled eggs with toast or a bowl of muesli but wanted to change it up a bit.  I looked in my fridge to see what I could throw in with the scrambled eggs to make it tasty and then started chopping away.  This was a very easy meal to whip up.

Breakfast of Champions  - Serves 2
4 eggs
1/2 medium onion chopped
1/2 orange bell pepper chopped (or any bell pepper would be delicious)
6-8 mushrooms quartered
1 venison sausage (leftover)
1/2 cup of grated cheese (I had cheddar on hand)
2 medium-large potatoes chopped into 1in. pieces
1 medium onion chopped
3 garlic cloves chopped
1 package sausage of your choice
S+P

Heat a large frying pan on med/low heat, add some olive oil and the chopped potatoes cooking for 1-2 minutes.  Add the 1 chopped onion and garlic to the pan seasoning with salt and pepper and give a toss.  Continue to cook for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender tossing every couple minutes.  While the potatoes are getting to know the garlic and onion, whisk the eggs in a bowl and set aside. 
Place the sausages in another pan and cook on med/low heat for 15 minutes until done.
Heat another medium sized frying pan, add some olive oil (or if you really want to make it sinful use some of the sausage grease), and throw in 1/2 chopped onion, orange bell pepper, venison sausage and mushroom.  Cook for about 2-3 minutes before adding the eggs.  Continue to cook the eggs for another 3 minutes or until the eggs are done to your liking.  Last but not least add the shredded cheese and give a stir.
Top with some Cholula hot sauce or Franks and dig in. 

Cheese Burger My Way

Well Spring is here in England and the weather has been superb with lot's of sunshine and warmth.  With that, I felt it was only right to get the party started and fire up the grill.  I like using charcoal because I believe the food tastes better than if using propane, but that's just me and everyone has their own preferences. 

So I decided that a thick, juicy, mouth watering burger along with chips would be great to have flaming on the grill.  To me there's just something about grilling a nice burger, hearing it sizzle and the smell that brings back memories of spring, summer and good times.  I'm looking forward to many more meals on the coals.

Cheese Burger My Way
500g minced beef
1/2 onion finely chopped
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1/2 - 1 red or green chilli finely chopped
1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
S+P

Toppings I had on hand
spinach
tomato
avacado
onion
ketchup
mustard
Mayo/miracle whip

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well with your hands.  Shape into 3 patties or 4 if you like them smaller.  Place on grill and cook for 3 minutes per side depending on how well done you like them.  Add your choice of cheese and cover until it's nicely melted smothering the burger.
I served mine with some home made chips by slicing up a few potatoes, seasoning with salt and pepper, tossing in olive oil and baking for 10 minutes or until a crispy soft.  I also made my own buns where I got the tasty recipe from Reni over at cinnamon spice and everything nice.  Ever since making these buns I haven't bought any at the store, they are super easy and wonderfully delicious!  Thanks Reni!  Oh, one more thing is you can't forget a nice cold beer to compliment this delicious meal!

Homemade Spinach Pasta and Meatballs

Vernazza - Cinque Terra

I was looking through some old pictures on my computer of when I went backpacking in Europe for 6 weeks.  It was one of the best times of my life, opening my eyes to the world and catching the "travel bug".  I didn't want to stop traveling but I kind of had to because I was running out of money.  But on that trip I learned and experienced so much and met a bunch of new friends.  There is so much of the world I want to see.  One of countries I thoroughly enjoyed was Italy.  The food was amazing and the wine was cheap which just kept on flowing!  I ate gelato 2-3 times a day it was that good, if you've had any you'll know what I'm talking about.  Unfortunately while I was there I didn't take any pictures of the food because I wasn't as into cooking/food as I am now.  But when I go back it will be a whole different experience, mostly about food and wine along with practicing my Italian. 
When I was in Florence I had a nice dinner of spaghetti and meatballs accompanied with wine of course, which is what inspired me to write this post.  I don't know why I haven't tried making meatballs before. They are cheap and delicious so you can't go wrong.  I know it may not

View from St Peter's Basilica

be the healthiest (unless you buy lean meat) but hey, it's worth it.  Just to warn you I did not measure any of these ingredients out, just put a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  However I believe the ingredient list is very close.  They came out great.  Feel free to be creative.







Homemade Spinach Pasta and Meatballs

Florence

1lb minced beef (ground beef, I just got used to calling it that since living in the England)
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1 tbsp dried oregano (fresh if you have it)
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp of goats cheese (optional) 
1 egg
1 tsp sugar
S+P

Sauce

Trevi Fountain - Roma

400 mL passata
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sugar
1 bay leaf
S+P

Pasta
250g pasta flour
3 eggs
200 g spinach

In a large sauce pan cook the spinach and transfer to a plate.  Once it has cooled down, give it a couple of good squeezes to get all the water out.  Finely chop and set aside.  To make the pasta you can revisit this post.  The only difference is you will need to add the spinach in with the eggs.  If the pasta seems to wet then add a small amount of flour.

On to the meat balls - Place the minced beef, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, oregano, egg, sugar, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and season with S+P.  Mix with your hands until all the ingredients are fully incorporated.  Now give a taste and adjust seasoning.....just kidding, unless you like the taste of raw meat.  Take a pinch of the mixture and roll it into a ball a little bigger than a ping pong ball and set them aside.  You can make them as big or as small as you want.  After rolling about half of them I then added the goats cheese and rolled the rest.

Heat some olive oil in a large sauce pan and then toss in the meat balls.  Brown on all sides.  Add in the ingredients for the sauce, give a stir and cover.  Turn the heat to medium/low and simmer for 15-20 minutes. 
Serve over pasta and top with a little Parmesan cheese.