tiki masala

1. For the chicken:
   • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 to 4 breast halves total)
   • 1/4 cup plain whole-milk Greek-style yogurt
   • 2 tablespoons peanut oil
   • 2 teaspoons fresh lime or lemon juice
   • 1 large clove garlic, minced
2. For the sauce:
   • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
   • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
   • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
   • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
   • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
   • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
   • 1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger (from 1-inch piece)
   • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
   • 1 large white onion, finely chopped
   • 1 1/2 cups canned tomato purée
   • 3/4 cup water
   • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
   • 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
   • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. Marinate the chicken:
   1. Use a fork to prick the chicken breasts all over on both sides. Arrange the chicken breasts on a large sheet of plastic wrap, spacing them apart from one another, then cover with a second large sheet of plastic wrap. Using the smooth side of a meat mallet or a rolling pin, beat the chicken until the breasts are an even 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness.
   2. In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 tablespoon peanut oil, lime juice, and garlic. Add the pounded chicken, and rub the marinade over the meat. Set the chicken aside while you make the sauce.
2. Make the sauce:
   1. In a small bowl, whisk together the coriander, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, and grated ginger. In a heavy, wide 4-quart pot or sauté pan over moderately high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until light brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. (Note that because they are sautéed so quickly over moderately high heat, the onions will not caramelize evenly.) Reduce the heat to moderate then stir in the spice and ginger mixture. Add the tomato purée, water, heavy cream, and salt, and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to gently simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD: The sauce can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, in an airtight container, up to 3 days.
3. While sauce is simmering, cook chicken:
   1. Heat a heavy 11- to 12-inch griddle or skillet over moderately high heat until very hot and add 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil. Working in two batches, cook the chicken breasts, turning them a few times and lowering the heat if the chicken chars too quickly, until just cooked through and browned well on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Transfer the chicken as cooked to a cutting board. Wipe the griddle or skillet clean with a paper towel and cook the remaining chicken, adding the remaining 1/2 tablespoon peanut oil between batches.
   2. When all the chicken is cooked, cut it into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce and continue to gently simmer it, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the black pepper and chopped cilantro, and season with salt. DO AHEAD: Chicken tikka masala can be prepared ahead, cooled, uncovered, and refrigerated, covered, up to 3 days.
4. 1. Serve with naan, and/or if desired with rice.

Vegetable Ramen

• 2 packages instant noodles
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce (optional for vegetarians)
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil
• Fresh ground white pepper
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• ¼ cup sweet red bell peppers or Holland chilies, julienned
• 5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1 medium carrot, julienned
• 1 ½ cups shredded cabbage
• 1 cup snow peas, cut in half at an angle
• 1 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
• 2 scallions, split and cut into 2-inch pieces

1. Open the instant ramen and discard the flavor packet. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for about 45 seconds to a minute, using chopsticks or a fork to stir occasionally. You want to just rehydrate the ramen until it breaks up from its rectangular form. It's important not to cook the ramen fully in this step! Once the ramen is rehydrated, immediately drain the noodles in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and get rid of the excess starch.
2. Combine soy sauces, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and white pepper in a bowl and set aside. Heat your wok over high heat, and add oil and garlic. Immediately add the peppers, mushrooms, carrots, and cabbage, and stir fry for 1 minute. 
3. Next, add in the cooked noodles, pulling them apart if they are stuck together. Pour the soy sauce mixture evenly over the noodles. Stir-fry for about 20 seconds using a scooping motion until the sauce is well distributed. Add in the snow peas, bean sprouts, and scallions. Mix well for another minute and serve!

cheese fondue

• 2 cups lightly packed shredded Gruyere cheese (about 8 ounces)
• 1 1/2 cups lightly packed shredded Swiss cheese (about 6 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup low-sodium, good-quality chicken broth
• 1/8 teaspoon lemon juice (don’t leave this out! I just gave a quick squeeze of a lemon without properly measuring)
• 1 tablespoon finely minced or pressed garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black or white pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• Dash of paprika

Directions:

1. Place both the shredded Gruyere and Swiss cheeses in a gallon-size resealable bag with the cornstarch and shake until evenly coated.
2. In a stovetop-safe fondue pot (or in a regular saucepan or electric fondue pot), add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and garlic and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cheese, a small handful at a time, stirring constantly, but not briskly. It works best to use a wooden spoon and and stir in an S-shaped motion, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot so it doesn’t burn.
3. Once the cheese is melted and begins to just barely simmer, add the remaining spices and move it immediately to the table on the fondue stand with the sterno flame below. It should be the consistency of warm honey. Add more or less cheese for perfect consistency and additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.
4. Serve with your favorite fondue dippers: steamed broccoli and/or cauliflower, carrots, apples, chicken sausages, bread (and more bread!), lightly sauteed mushrooms, tender potatoes – the options are endless! Don’t forget if you drop your food into the fondue pot, lean over and give your neighbor a kiss!

Don’t use pre-shredded cheese. It has a very different consistency than what you grate yourself – worth the tiny bit of extra work, I promise!

Spicy Honey Chicken

Spicy Honey Chicken

 Recipe by Our Best Bites

Ingredients:

2lbs chicken

2 t vegetable oil

Rub

2 t granulated garlic
2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder or cayenne pepper

Glaze
1/2 C Honey
1T Cider Vinegar

 

Instructions:

Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.

Sprinkle over chicken. Cook on the grill or in a pan until cooked through. Add glaze mixture to the pan at the end of cooking and cook for a couple minutes.

Great over rice with veggies and teriyaki sauce.