Things I Can't Live Without, Part 2

Patak's Curry Pastes
While I enjoy making my own curry pastes, sometimes time does not allow. When that's the case I always count on Pataks. They make a full range of pastes from mild to hot and the flavor is excellent. If you think a curry is just some curry powder mixed with some meat and vegetables, this will be a revelation.

Tony Chacheres Creole Seasoning
I am usually not a big fan of seasoning salts as they have too much salt taste and not enough flavor, but Tony’s is different. I first got turned on to this while in Louisiana and I have been hooked ever since. I love it sprinkled over chicken or beef before grilling. It really brings out the flavor of whatever you cook with without overwhelming it. Well worth a try.

Tra Chang Fish Sauce
This is the key to authentic Thai and Vietnamese cooking and you must have a fish sauce, or nouc mam that is full of flavor, but not too salty. Tra Chang ticks all the boxes and will really bring out the flavor and give you the real taste of Thailand. Buy your bottle and store it in the refrigerator and it will last better. Use sparingly and it goes great with Golden Mountain Sauce. See my November 30^th, 2011 post

Comments

Norfolk Style Seafood

This is such a good recipe and so simple to make. The story behind this recipe is interesting. When I was a young boy, we used to go to a seafood restaurant in Washington DC called O'Donnell's. They had wonderful food, and most importantly, they had Buck.

Buck was a gentle giant at 6' 2" and was always talking to me about his recipe. He had invented this style of cooking seafood and had even developed special pans which could be used over open flame and then it could be delivered to the tables still sizzling. He was rightfully very proud of this.

After being there quite a few times, Buck shared his recipe with me and told me to keep it a secret. Since this was over 40 years ago, I guess I can reveal it now.

Ingredients

1/2 lb Shrimp, Jumbo Lump Crab or Langoustines, raw and shelled
2 Tbsp Butter
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
Dash of Old Bay Seasoning
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Few dashes of Tabasco
Splash of White Wine
Salt and Black Pepper

Heat your pan until fairly hot, then add butter an…

The garden enclosure is finished!

This weekend the garden enclosure was finished and most everything has been planted. I planted three types of potatoes, Yellow Finn, Purple Viking and Desiree.

I also planted some garlic in with the tomatoes, as I heard that the garlic will keep down the aphids and hopefully the spider mites. However, interesting note, beans do not do well with garlic.

I just have some of the late geminating hot chilies still to go in and then I will direct sow some collard greens and maybe some additional carrots.

I think the linseed oil looks great as a finish and the wood seems to be very well nourished. I like the color it's taken on and the upkeep should be just a light coat just once a year.

For those who have asked, the panels swing outwards and upwards and then are propped with a pole, which you can see leaning against the right of the enclosure.

It's such a simple system and effectively it has made the garden secure, and with the drip irrigation system, mostly self sufficient.

I fully u…

Whole Green Moong Dal-Indian Comfort Food

Dal is an Indian staple which can be eaten in the morning, lunch, dinner as a side dish or for a snack. It can be eaten with rice, bread or on its own. Bottom line, it is Indian comfort food. A thick stew of moong (mung) beans, spices and creamy goodness. It is often made with spilt moong dal, but I prefer to use the whole moong dal
I had eaten various types of dal in many places around the word, including India and was always impressed with its creaminess, but speaking frankly I wouldn't have gone out of my way to make it at home. A friend kept mentioning that he was gong to cook “mug” which was a recipe from his Indian friend and I finally asked what he meant and he said moong dal.
I was intrigued and after comparing many recipes from my own cookbooks and online, I came up with this recipe which is nothing short of amazing. The house smelled wonderful while it was cooking and the flavor was hearty, wholesome and a bit spicy and just perfect for a fall afternoon.

Additionally, it i…

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