Butterless Butter Chicken

Oh, my goodness, I'm stuffed. I don't think that "larapin'" is an Indian word, but I just cooked a rendition of a recipe my sister told me about and larapin' was the only way to describe it. Heather lived in Deli, India for a two years working with college students. She frequently serves this meal and receives praises and requests for recipes. I found that it was especially good while listening to Baaba Maal on Pandora.

You can find Butter Chicken at any Indian restaurant in the world. Here is an easy way to do this quintessential Indian cuisine without the health drawbacks of butter.

Photo was retrieved from: http://www.noshkosh.com/FoodPhotos/butter%20chicken.jpg on 04/02/2011

4 Tbs olive oil

1 onion, chopped

4 cloves of garlic, pressed

1 can of tomato sauce

1 cup of plain yogurt

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut to bite size

1 Tbs turmeric

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp +/- ground ginger

1 tsp ground red chili pepper

Salt and black pepper

Heat the oil in a dutch oven and saute the onion and garlic over medium heat.

When the onions are translucent, add the turmeric, garam masala, red pepper, salt and pepper, and ginger.

Stir together to form a paste.

Stir in tomato sauce, yogurt, and chicken.

Simmer on low until the chicken is done.

Serve immediately over cooked rice.

Port Royal Cafe

http://portroyalcafe.com/

If you like Mexican food, real Mexican food, you have to try Port Royal Cafe. It is situated by Port Royal State Park.

One of the best plates that they serve is called the Wet Burrito. You have your choice of beef, chicken, or pulled pork. The mouthwatering thing about the wet burrito, other than being covered in cheese sauce and the size of your forearm, is that they use fresh pico de gallo and whole beans as stuffing.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very rustic. The floor slants so much that one can place a marble on end of the room and it will roll to the other in no time, flat. It's usually smoky from the indoor, short-order grill, and is not the sort of place to take a date after a night at the symphony. On the hand, if your date is adventurous and likes good Mexican food, this may be the place for you. The service is good, the food is tasty and filling, and it is reasonably priced.

If you go the second weekend of October, you can also see the annual NCC (Native Cultural Circle) Pow Wow which takes place in the State Park.

This is Jonathan, my former employer, savoring the WB.

Mountain Breakfast With Kenyan Chai

We are sufficiently snowed in. The kids slept in (a rarely enjoyed treat for me). As we have limited milk in the fridge I cooked milk-less pancakes. Maddie wanted bacon or sausage to go with the pancakes, but I didn't have anything defrosted. The Dillards (a mountain bluegrass band from the mid-20th Century) was playing on Pandora. It inspired me to do something which would make my brother and sister-in-law glow with pride. We fried bologna to go with our pancakes and chai.

I know that I've just done two things with that statement; 1) I've lost the respect of some, and 2) I've gained the respect of others. I'm not sure which statement contributed more to the change in respect, the mention of the Dillards or the fried bologna. Probably both.

One of my dearest friends taught me how to make good Kenyan Chai. He was reared in Kenya as the son of missionaries. The key to good Kenyan Chai is to have good Kenyan tea. We both agree that Kericho Gold sets the grandiose standard of Kenyan teas. It is grown in the Kericho district of the Kenyan Highlands near Nairobi.

Pour boiling water over the loose-leaf tea and steep. The longer it steeps, the more intense the resulting tea. Pour through a tea strainer into cups and add a lot of sugar and whole milk. It is also good by omitting the milk and sugar and pouring over sweetened condensed milk (which is what many Africans do).

Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce

It has been a cold, snowy day today. I wanted a hearty meal to fix for the kids and myself. This recipe was everything I hoped it would be.

4 Boneless pork chops

2 TBS olive oil

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp ground thyme

Salt and black pepper

3/4 c milk

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cavender's Greek Seasoning http://www.greekseasoning.com/

Cooked rice

• Lightly season the pork chops with Cavender's (Salt-free would be good, too).
• Brown the seasoned pork chops in the olive oil over medium high heat.
• While the pork chops are browning, mix the dry ingredients (garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper) separately.
• Mix the milk and the Cream of Mushroom Soup.
• Add the dry seasoning to the mushroom soup mixture and mix thoroughly.
• Lower the temperature of the pork chops and add the Cream of Mushroom soup mixture.
• Simmer for 15 minutes or until done.
• Serve hot over cooked rice.

Maddie loved it and asked for more.

Graham didn't think twice about NOT trying it.

On a side note about Cavenders Greek Seasoning. I noticed one day that Cavender's is made in Harrison, Arkansas. My Dad's side of the family lived in this area of the Ozarks for many years. I asked Grandpa if he knew of any Cavenders living in Harrison. "Well, they used to be our neighbors," was the reply. Small world...

I tried something new this evening for supper. I had forgotten a dish that my Grandma was fond of making. My little sister called me the other day to see if I knew the recipe, but I had to call Grandpa to ask him if he remembered.

It's a simple dish that Grandma called Goulash. I don't think that it bore any similarities to Hungarian Goulash, at least what I made tonight didn't.

This dish is made by browning an onion, hamburger, adding a can of tomato sauce, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

While the meat is browning, boil some elbow noodles. Add the cooked (and obviously drained) noodles to the meat, add cheese, mix and stir.

I added my own flare and used Parmesan and Cheddar Jack cheese.

Maddie gave it a thumbs up, and Graham almost gagged on the first bite. I liked it. It tasted like Grandma's.

Lunch With the Best Girl in the World

I had lunch with my favorite girl in the whole, wide world. Maddie and I cooked spicy Italian sausage in spinach marinara sauce. We served this over a bed of penne pasta.

Maddie thought that the pink, Nesquik Strawberry Milk complemented the red sauce. She enjoyed it and so did I. Of course we could in no way fully enjoy this meal without Old Blue Eyes singing in the background. And Bob, The Tomato place mats which Maddie picked out for us, watched in horror as we ate his cousins.

Country Lunch

It is truly a gift from God that a simple smell or taste can instantly transport us back in time to simpler days. My paternal grandparents lived on a farm in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Some of my favorite memories centre around the table at Grandma's house. She cooked very simple foods which make up great country cooking. Grandma's table always seemed to have pinto beans and cornbread and iced tea. On hot summer days we often sat under the big shade trees and ate bologna sandwiches with Frito Corn Chips on the side and a cold Pepsi (her favorite). After lunch my brother and I would skip down to the Binum Hole for a swim in the cool creek. Today, at lunch, I was transported back to the days when my family was in the United States visiting my grandparents' farm.

For lunch Jonathan (my employer) and I stopped at an unassuming place called Excel Grocery and Bar-B-Q. It is one of those little places in the country that busy people pass by without a second glance. In doing so they miss out on some of the best pulled pork sandwiches in the Gateway area. Servers are warm and hospitable. They give you a smile and ask about your day as they pile on the smoky meat and fixin's. Not only are their sandwiches good, but they also have a variety of homemade pies. Unfortunately for Jonathan and me, you have to get there early to get the pie. I was sorely disappointed we missed the little slices of heaven.

Taking advantage of the hot day, good food, and nearby McAdoo Creek, we had the best lunch-break that I can remember picnicking, swimming, and enjoying the simple foods of Excel Grocery and Bar-B-Q. I guess the only thing that would have made this a little more country would have been a Moon Pie and RC Cola!

If you are in the area of Clarksville and Old Ashland City Road, don't rush past the store. Step back in time to a simple place, simple food, and a simple pace of life.

Excel Grocery and Bar-B-Q

3102 Ashland City Rd
Clarksville, TN 37043
(931) 358-3638 (Phone)