May 19, 2009

ragout recipe


Can't remember where I got this wonderful recipe so my sincere apologies to the talented chef. If you happen to stumble upon this blog, please send me a note and I'll credit it appropriately. Thank you!

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Ragout

In Vietnam, this recipe also is made with pork ribs and beef tongue. Traditionally, the chicken version is made with whole chicken -- bones, skin and all -- for added flavor and richness.

Ingredients:

--2 teaspoons minced garlic
-- 1/2 teaspoon salt
--2 tablespoons fish sauce
--2 tablespoons soy sauce
--1 tablespoon sugar
--1 1/2 pounds skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
--2 tablespoons vegetable oil
--3 tablespoons butter
--2 shallots, sliced
--2 tablespoons tomato paste
--2 Roma tomatoes, cut into wedges
--3 cups chicken stock
--1 cup dry white wine or vermouth
--3 bay leaves
--2 carrots, cut into 1-inch rounds (about 1 1/2 cups)
--3 red potatoes, cut into wedges (about 2 cups)
-- 1/2 yellow onion, cut into wedges
--1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen peas or lima beans
--Salt to taste
--Cilantro for garnish

Instructions:

Combine the garlic, salt, fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add the chicken and let marinate for 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the chicken and sear until the sides are nicely browned. Remove from heat and set aside. Heat the butter in a large saucepan over moderate heat. Add the shallots and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and the chicken and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, chicken stock, wine and bay leaves; simmer for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes and onion; simmer for 10 minutes. Add the peas, then simmer until meat and vegetables are done, about 5 minutes longer. Season with salt; garnish with cilantro leaves.

Serve with steamed rice or warm baguette. Serves 6.

Per Serving: 360 calories, 28 g protein, 27 g carbohydrate, 15 g fat (5 g saturated), 110 mg cholesterol, 164 mg sodium, 4 g fiber.

my favorite green beans recipe

GREEN BEANS GENOVESE RECIPE

1-1/2 lbs. green beans, trimmed
½ tsp. garlic, finely minced
1 tbsp. butter
1 tbsp. virgin olive oil
1/3 cup Italian parsley, minced
Black pepper

Easy Steps:

1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the green beans for 3 minutes or until they are tender-crisp. Do NOT overcook!
2. Drain the beans and plunge them into a bowl of ice water. Drain thoroughly and pat dry.
3. Saute the garlic in the butter and oil over moderately low heat until the garlic is golden. Add the beans and heat through.
4. Add parsley and pepper.

Selection/Storage:

Choose brightly colored beans that have an unblemished surface. Fresher beans are generally fuzzier. Green beans should bend with a snap and have a spurt of juice at the seam. Store unwashed beans in an airtight bag in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Preparation:

The secret to good green beans is to blanch them in plenty of boiling water, rinse with cold water, and then dry thoroughly. Reheat with seasonings.

April 18, 2009

April 10, 2009

life beautiful in wordle

Life Beautiful blog as seen by Wordle ... today. :)

April 8, 2009

adam's mad world

Haven't been posting and writing much because time has been monopolized by all the things I'm trying to do. Switching career at mid-life is not an easy task and doing it while holding down a 9-5 job, going to school at nights and studying on the weekends ... makes it even harder to find time for other fun things. {sigh}

Speaking of fun things, I'm in my friend's American Idol pool again this season! And Adam Lambert's Mad World last night blew me away! Not only was he singing one of my most favorite songs of all time, he did it so heartwrenchingly good, I have goosebumps watching! Who still wonders about who's the best in AI this season now? Really!

Btw, personal thanks to the person who uploaded this video on YouTube and to my cousin who IMed me today and told me all about "Adam's Mad World." Somehow, AI ran overtime last night and Adam's performance was cut off my DVR so I didn't get to see it on the tube, just on YouTube. But his performance is no less mesmerizing because of it!

March 9, 2009

Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan



Saw "Watchmen" this weekend. What an incredible, visually stunning ride! And isn't it interesting how they do it all behind the scene? :)

February 23, 2009

Slumdog Sweeping Oscar Night

It's a Slumdog year alright! Congratulations to the entire Slumdog team. My favorite movie of the year is bringing home a bunch of Oscars. Much deserved.

Saw this movie with my siblings last Christmas. And we all thought it was soooo good. Considering how diverse our movie preferences are, this is an amazing consensus!



Btw, the image above is from Vanity Fair.

February 14, 2009

New Soul



Something to LOVE! Happy Valentine's Day!