StephanieBice.com

I love ethnic cuisine (and fortunately so does my family). This photo is a culmination of 10 years of trying dozens of different curry recipes and finally creating one that is (IMHO) perfection. Try it – (but WARNING: this will be a spicy dish. If you are not familiar with curry powder – you might want to reduce the amount of curry to 1 tablespoon.)

Chicken Curry

2 Chicken Breasts, cubed
4 Chicken Thighs, trimmed of fat and cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon finely minced ginger (the real stuff folks, not that powdery kind. You can find it in the fresh vegetable section of your local market)
2-3 Tablespoons Mild Curry Powder (I like Rajah brand)
1/2 cup tomato paste
Two 14oz. cans low-sodium Chicken Broth (I use Swansons)
1/2 cup plain yogurt

Heat olive oil in large saute pan on medium heat. Place cubed chicken in pan and cook through. Remove cooked chicken to a plate, and throw the diced onions into the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent. Add garlic, ginger and curry powder and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Pour chicken stock into the pan and stir to incorporate the curry powder mixture, making sure to scrape all the small bits off the bottom of the pan. Wisk in tomato paste, followed by the yogurt until completely dissolved.  Gently add the cooked chicken back to the pan and simmer on medium-low for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce becomes thick. Serve over Basmati rice and Naan.

Enjoy~

So in my last post I outlined my goals for 2010. Unfortunately I have already failed at one (see # 2).  The good news is I am keeping up with#1 so far – which was one new recipe a week, bought two new pairs of boots (see #3) AND took a class on how to use my new camera correctly. I think that is pretty commendable for the first 14 days of the year, don’t you?

Not sure if I mentioned it – but I got a fabulous Christmas gift (yes, it is Christmas folks, not Holiday, Winter Solstice, etc… ) and was able to put it to good use. I have always wanted a Le Creuset dutch oven, but HOLY SMOKES they are expensive. So expensive, I could not in my right mind justify buying one. Good thing I have fabulous (and financially gifted) in-laws. See, they generously gave me a rather large gift card to Williams-Sonoma, which carries said pot. Now, I did have to pitch in some of my own dough, but I was able to get a wonderful sage colored green Le Creuset and was thrilled to use it for the first time. (The pot also lends itself to helping me be successful with my first goal of trying a new recipe once a week.) So far, here are the new recipes I have tried:

1. Funeral Dinner Chicken Casserole. (This dish requires a lengthy post all by itself.)

2. Beef Bourguignon. WOW. That’s all I can say about it right now; otherwise my mouth might start watering profusely and that isn’t too attractive….

3. Chicken Cacciatore. Not only was it good, but I got to cook with wine, and that is a good thing.

4. Chicken Parmesan Pioneer Woman-style. I really liked the homemade sauce – but will use red wine next time.

I am excited to try more recipes as time allows – so stay tuned.

Two thousand nine will be remembered for some wonderful and not-so wonderful memories. Here’s my recap:

The year started out at a good friends celebrating. A great New Years celebration that had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt the next morning. This was followed by my 13th wedding anniversary (am I REALLY that old??) and the celebration of my oldest daughter’s eighth birthday. In May, we shed a few tears (ok, I did) at the First Communion of our daughter and wrapped up a busy but great school year.

Next up might be the (happy) highlight of the year, our family vacation to Disney World and the Bahamas. Great pictures & memories that I will cherish (Think couples massage on the beach, ice cream for breakfast for the kids, and the first time my husband dared to try tuna tar-tar).

July brought the annual neighborhood fireworks display we enjoyed with great friends. (And some new ones that decided our back yard looked like a great place to come hang out – so they hopped the fence to join us…). The following month we cried (ok, I did – again) when our youngest daughter put on her first school uniform and paraded off to Kindergarden with Mrs. Jeter (singing anyone?).

In September, we made our annual pilgrimage to New York City and enjoyed seeing penguins at the Bronx Zoo and T-Rex at the Museum of Natural History. Oh, and did I mention Crumbs Bake Shop?

Life was hectic, but we were enjoying every minute. In the midst of weekends filled with soccer and Girl Scouts, we managed to spend a Saturday each month enjoying good friends and ethnic cuisine from around the country by starting our very own Supper Club. Each month was a different cuisine (Mediterranean, Italian, Greek, Mexican, French and more..). We enjoyed homemade Chicken Picatta, Cabbage Rolls, Gyros (how DO you pronounce that anyway?) and a wonderful Onion Tart. Great food and adult conversation made for a  nice break from parenthood.

Before you new it, the Holidays were upon us and it was time for turkey, shopping and Santa. Unfortunately that is where the rubber met the road. A few days after our family trip to Alabama to visit Great-Grandma, and only hours before I was to host December Supper Club – the unthinkable. A good friend left this world for the next. Painful. Sad. Though-provoking. A husband, father, son, brother and friend was gone. We switched gears from Holiday planning to focus on more important things – family and friends.

So, needless to say, I have spent the past few weeks re-evaluating. I am not the resolution type- but I have come to the realization that it isn’t such a bad idea to have to have goals. I mean, really; we have goals at work (finish a marketing plan, update a website, or learn a new process) – but how many of us really make goals for ourselves when it comes to life?

I decided to make a list of ten goals for 2010. (I don’t care for the word “resolutions” – goals is more my style.) So here goes:

1. Cook one new recipe a week
2. Write on this blog at least three times weekly
3. Become a bit more fashionable when it comes to shoes
4. Start two new family traditions this year
5. Take a family vacation (somewhere other than NY or AL)
6. Decorate my bedroom
7. Listen more
8. Talk less (don’t laugh, I’m serious)
9. Fix my wedding ring
10. Become a proficient photographer

In the coming days (or weeks) I will elaborate on all of the above goals – but for now, there they are. 364 days – and counting…