Curry That Chill Chaser

There;s nothing like a fiery curry to keep you warm after a cold winter';s day. It;'s spice brings heat to even the most bone chilled part of the body. It evokes sunny India with its' heat and passion, bright colors and sensual sights and sounds. Curry is the perfect pick me up during these frosty winter days.

The dish goes back to 1700 BCE to Mesopotamia it 's mname comes from esthe tamil work kari which was Anglicized into curry. The English have been using curry recipes since RichardII's day during the 1300's. It is a mixuture fioseveral differene spices and not just one,In Indioa it is usually associated with gravies and stews. It's made of turmeric, cumin , coriander seeds, cinnamon, black pepper and mustard to name a few. One of the easiest to make is a simple curry sauce with chicken . Mix two tablespoons curry powder with a cup and a half of milk and four tablespoons flour. You can add a dash of onion salt if you want too. Pour over sauteed chicken and vegetables ( which are being sauteed in in oil ) . This is a simple and easy curry dish,

You can also use dried curry as a rub. There;s nothing like curry lamb or goat which are popular in Jamaica.This type of rub is no different than any other. Just simply cover the meat, let stand for about fifteen minutes before grilling on an indoor grill. You can also try this with pork , especially with chops or ribs. Curry rub can be made as fiery as you can stand it for extra zing

Curry is a great way of combating the winter chill. it;s brings a warm bloom to the body, melting away any iciness from outside. it;s the perfect chill chaser on these frosty frigid nights!

Foodie In A BLizzard

This is the time for blizzards which we've seen recently today in the New York Metro area. .This is the time to have a well stocked pantry full of the basics. After all you're not only going to be stuck inside but you're also not going to reach your local stores for a day or two. Keep favorite foods at hand during these times.



Always have the basics on hand, these are eggs, milk bread and you can make an amazing amount of dishes with them. You can combine all three to make french toast or scramble the eggs with milk or toast for a hearty breakfast or lunch,. I also find that having anything canned, whether Spaghetti-o's or corn are also good. Another good thing to have is peanut butter. Eat some before you do a few rounds of snow shoveling for a burst of quick energy.



Of course a blizzard is the perfect time to snack as well. Have plenty of popcorn, chips and pretzels along with dips and soda for the long evening ahead. It's the perfect time to play board games and nosh. Cakes and cookies are also fun and surprisingly enough ice cream. For some reason during the snowiest weather there are some of us who crave a hot fudge or hot caramel sundae. Go figure. For others settle in with a sweet steamy cup of hot cocoa and enjoy a favorite show or book.



don;t let a blizzard throw you . have a well stocked pantry for when the weather turns arctic and a foot of snow is predicted. You'll be warm and safe - and most of all well fed during harsh weather.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my readers. Enjoy this day with family and friends. I hope you received many food related gifts!!!


Liz

The Luxury of Good Eating

I end this series of luxury eating with the best luxury of all food on the table. It's Christmas Eve around the world right now still and many will sit down to sumptuous meals. Many will not.

Enjoy what you with good friends and family. Treasure every bite and think about others who can't or who are separated from loved ones. Truly sharing a turkey or Christmas cake is a luxury no matter how small you may think it is.

A good holiday to my readers around the world. Thanks for the year long support you 've given me and Foodie Pantry. Having devoted fans like you is truly a luxury for me.

A Time For Champagne

The holidays are officially here and that means toasting them with a good bottle of champagne. The problem is which one? What sparkling wine best signifies the holidays? let;'s face ti there are so many choices that it;s hard to decide.

Luckily there is Eric Asimov' Wines Of The Times column in yesterday;s Wednesday's Dining section. There he described the different sparkling wines He mentions the unique Puet Petillant which is not fermented int eh usual way. Champagnes are made from a second fermentation in which carbon dioxide is trapped inside the vat , carbonating the wine.With this particular brand it's done during the first fermenting in which the grapes ferment into wine. A smaller amount of CO2 is released, creating a less fizzier sparkling wine. It's a smoother , more subtler taste.

Mr. Asimov also mentions a Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire from France. This is a type of champagne with less carbon dioxide than a regular champagne. This was from Burgundy and had a fresh taste. He also tried Domaine Agape which was a bubbly Chardonnay . This had a spicy taste different from the usual sec or brut flavors the drink is known for. Of course there are also the Italian champagnes from the light crisp Prosecco to the very sweet and frothy Asti Spumante. For luxury of course, there is Angel Champagne, one of the world's most expensive.

Any champagne will do for the holidays. Use this as a guide or simply follow your own tastes. Whatever you choose it'll be the best glass of bubbly to celebrate this festive season!

Still Working

There's an interesting article in today's NY Times Dining section about stills.Yes, stills, those symbols of illicit Prohibition fun. These are different though than those , however. They represent a kind of new wave of micro distillery,.

The article written by Toby Cecchini tells about a variety of distillers who use organic products. Distilling is nothing new to these parts. New Jersey first had applejack while Massachusetts surprisingly manufactured rum. Pennsylvania and Delaware made ryes long before bourbon came into being. it was a large part of the colonial trade. Nowadays it has a slightly different twist. Distillers are offering more wholesomely grown products appealing to the push for all things natural including spirits.

One good thing is that smaller distillers can put a twist on regular flavors. For example molasses can be added to rm for a sweeter, huskier flavor. Fruits can be added to brandies much as they did two or three centuries ago. Botanical can be added to gins to produce something purer in form to the Dutch genever. Another plus is that the alcohol is distilled in aged wooden casks too, similar to European wines.

Smaller distilleries , it seems are making a comeback, It should be interesting to watch what the public thins of them and how they'll grow. They may be the next trend in organic spirits.

Keep A Well Stocked Holiday Pantry

This last few days before Christmas are hectic. there;s still last minute shopping to do. pageants to attend. Guest lists to write out. We may pride ourselves on at least keeping our pantries well stocked for the big day however they do get empty. Also we may also forget to pick up even the e most basic essentials. Before you do anything make sure your holiday pantry is well stocked.

Ask yourself what you'll be needing? if you have more guests inviting themselves then have a few extra cans of veggies. There;s nothing like stocking up on string beans or creamed corn. Ditto for the mashed potatoes. A few boxes of plain or flavored can go a long way in extending a meal.Another is instant or jarred gravy During any big family get together gravy is usually the first thing gobbled up, so make sure you even have instant packets for extra. For guests staying over make sure you have breakfast ingredients like eggs, bacon and pancake mix at hand for those mornings when the kitchen looks more like a restaurant.

Another idea is to keep your dessert pantry filled too. have extra cookies and candies around for nibbling. Kids gobble these up pretty fast and you don;t want to be without. Other foodstuffs that go are soda and juice. Take advantage of the sales right now and buy five to ten bottles during one trip. You may also want to get extra bottles of wine and champagne for the more grown up celebrating. They're probably also going to be heavily used when you make your famous punch.

This holiday don't find yourself low on any food or drink . Keeping a well stocked pantry makes your holiday better. It also is one less headache to worry about during these busy last few days.