The Great GNI Recipe Hunt of Dec '06

(a/k/a Robin needs a break from working for a few minutes)

I have a fantastic group of girlfriends here. We're all local anglo (native English speakers) moms who decided to form an English speaking playgroup for our kids back when Itai was about 2.5 and I was very pregnant with Maya. Since then, we've met at one of our houses for playgroup just about once a week, with the occasional playground or other field trip thrown in. It's very informal, just a bunch of good friends getting together to chat (and eat!) while their kids play. As the kids have grown, they've started playing more and more in Hebrew, but the moms have pretty much given up that battle, especially since a few of the kids really don't speak English all that well. Besides, playgroup is really for the moms, anyway ;-).

Anyhow, to drag this post back on topic... About two years or so ago we decided it would be fun to have a girls night in. Basically a girls night out, but with us all cooking dinner together at someone's home rather than going to a restaurant. Our first dinner was Thai/Asian. It was such a hit that we decided to make it a regular event and try to hold a GNI as it's become known at least every 6 or 8 weeks, all with some theme or other. Over the years we've had Italian, Indian, appetizers, comfort food (yay homemade mac'n'cheese!), Mexican and too many others to mention.

Our next GNI is tomorrow, and we decided it should be Malaysian, but that was too limiting so we ended up with pan-Asian. I LOVE Malaysian food so I thought this would be great, but after searching countless cookbooks and recipes I ended up SO frustrated! Everything I thought to make was somehow no good - it either used ingredients I can't use (no pork or seafood - no one there is kosher per se but some won't eat them, no seriously spicy food - someone else can't handle that, no coriander - S HATES it with all her being, or else it required a host of exotic ingredients I can't even get at the Asian market). I was too late to offer to do a noodle dish so there went all those favorites too. I finally decided on a rice dish, but was stuck back at the same place. So, after much deliberation and hand wringing, I'm reverting to my roots and making an old favorite - Molly Katzen's Indonesian Rice Salad from the Moosewood Cookbook. Tried and true. A bit boring to me since I've made it so many times (it's a potluck picnic favorite), but hopefully new to the others and easy to bring since it's made in advance. (We try to cook together, but within reasonable limits, since in the early days of GNI we did so much cooking there that we'd end up not eating until 11 at night!)

So, Indonesian rice salad it is. Oh well, at least it goes well with the rest of the menu - "orange" Thai soup, noodles with beef, sate something or other (chicken I think), various pickled veggies, coconut cookies for dessert, oh, and loads of pina coladas :). Methinks the veggies won't be the only thing pickled tomorrow night...

Decisions decisions...

It's GNI time again on Thursday, and this month's theme is finger food.

Right now I'm debating between chicken enchiladas and mushroom turnovers (I think I'd up the seasoning on these though, they sound a bit bland as is). (I do seem to be craving pastry right now, don't I. Must be all those thoughts of dieting I've been entertaining.)

Other items on the menu so far are Thai ground beef and lettuce rolls and deviled eggs. I'm sure there will be some kind of veggies and dip, and probably a salsa or two.

So internets, which is your preference? Or alternatively, suggest a different recipe or even something else entirely (no pork or seafood though - too many won't eat them).

We do a fair amount of entertaining and it's time to mix up my appetizer offerings a bit, so any and all suggestions are welcome, even if they don't work for GNI.

And, if any of you decide to adopt the GNI idea I'd love to hear about it.

13 things I'd rather do than go to the gym today

I don't usually mind going to the gym. I don't love it, but I will admit to hating it much less than I expected to. On occasion I even sort of like it. More importantly, I know that I need to go. I neglected abused my body for enough years and I'm not getting any younger. Those aches and pains are starting to kick in, I can't take a healthy body for granted any longer. That said, I just plain don't feel like going today. In fact, I'd rather be doing just about anything else, including:

1. Getting a massage. I am in dire dire need...

2. Going out to lunch and eat something sinfully rich. Of course then I'd need to go to the gym even more.

3. Taking a nap. Why don't adults get to take naps?

4. Going out for a coffee with a girlfriend.

5. Working. Nope, I think I'd pick the gym over that one.

6. Going shoe shopping. Much as I hate to admit it, summer is winding down and I'm going to have to pack away all of my beloved sandals for another year.

7. Making a Thursday Thirteen list. Oops, I've already done that.

8. Visiting others' Thursday Thirteens and following up on all the interesting blogs I find. Yup, much more fun than the gym.

9. Making Sun-Dried Tomato Aioli Dip for tonight's GNI.

10. Making Spicy Dill Dip for tonight's GNI.

11. Cutting up vegetables to go with the dip.

12. Packing Itai's roller-hockey gear for this afternoon's practice, including a bag of tricks to keep Maya occupied in case we stay.

And last but not least, instead of going to the gym today I'd rather be doing...

13. Just about anything.

But wait, it gets better. Go here to find out what actually happened today...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday recap

It's been quite a day. It's 1:30am (ok, so it's actually Friday morning by now) and I'm exhausted. Which means of course that I'm an idiot for sitting here blogging when I should be going to bed, but nevermind...

Got up early this morning after just 4.5 hours sleep (more stupidity, don't ask). Got both kids dressed and ready then took Itai over to school. I then ran back to get to work (deadlines looming and making Robin a very cranky camper). It was only 10am when I got a call from the owner of Itai's afternoon program. His class was getting out early today since their big Hannukah party was tonight, and she was supposed to pick him up at 11. Unfortunately she was having a problem and couldn't get there, so I said I'd get him and take him for an hour until her assistant could get there. Dropped him off again at 12, ran a couple of errands while walking home (one of the advantages of urban life) and got back to work, in between cooking the rice salad for tonight's GNI. Picked up Maya at 4, took her to the greengrocer's next store and then hopped a cab to go get Itai. The kids played and had a snack while I did laundry and dishes. At 6:30pm it was time to go to Itai's party. They did a great job - lots of singing, dancing, props, black light effects (they had all the kids wearing white), candlighting, etc. Very cute. Hopefully a few of my pictures came out well and I'll have something to post tomorrow. I'm not sure though. I was sitting in a corner, and nearly every picture I tried to take either has someone's head, someone's butt, or someone else's kid!

After that it was home to visit for a while and then off to GNI, where much eating, drinking, laughter and mayhem ensued. A perfect end to a long day.

Well, I've rambled on enough for one night. I need to get up at a reasonable hour tomorrow. Jay will get the kids to school but I've got a 10am meeting and some other things to accomplish tomorrow morning. G'night all. Check back tomorrow to see if any of the pictures survived the cull...

GNI time again - and it was oh so good

It was definitely time for an evening of over the top high caloric goodness - last year's fondue night was such a rip-roaring success that we decided to make it an annual tradition.

Tonight the GNI (Girls Night In) crew gorged (and I do mean gorged, diets be damned) on both cheese and chocolate fondue, with a few green salads thrown in to keep us from all keeling over dead on the spot.

My contribution to our dining pleasure was spinach and strawberry salad:


340g (12 oz.) fresh spinach
1/4 c. salad oil
1 to 2 tbsp. sugar
Dash of pepper
Dash of tabasco
2 tbsp. roasted sesame seeds
2 tbsp. cider vinegar
2 tbsp. minced green onion
1 tsp. salt
1 pt. sliced strawberries

Wash spinach, discard stems (mine comes predone - yay!); dry and tear into bite size pieces. Wrap in paper towel and refrigerate.

Toast sesame seeds on pie pan, in 350 degree oven about 10 minutes until golden (or, if you're lazy like me, buy pre-roasted sesame seeds); cool.

Combine oil, vinegar, sugar, onion, salt, pepper and tabasco in covered container until sugar dissolves; refrigerate.

To serve: toss spinach and sesame seeds with the dressing. Gently mix in the strawberries. Delicious and looks great in a salad bowl. (Note: if you're planning on photographing it for your blog though, make sure the top few leaves aren't upside-down and therefore wilted looking. Live and learn...)

Chicken in Green Curry Sauce

We had a fantastic GNI (girls' night in) last night. My good friend S is moving back to the States in a few weeks, so we had to send her off in style with loads of good food, good drinks (appletinis are my new BFF) and loads of good company. Oh yeah, and a pretty beaded bracelet too.

Since it was her last GNI, we let S pick the menu and to my surprise she picked my very own chicken in green curry sauce as one of her all-time favorite foods! It got rave reviews and loads of requests for the recipe last night, so after going and digging it out (I remembered I'd written it up for someone else ages ago but didn't remember where I'd put it) I figured I'd share it with all of you, too.

Chicken (or Tofu) in Green Curry Sauce

This isn't a "real" recipe so all quantities and ingredients are suggestions... Don't be put off by the number of ingredients, this is much more of a "make it up as you go" dish and is actually quite easy to cook once you've gotten the basic idea down.

garlic (2-3 cloves)

scallions (separate whites from greens)

5-8 dried kaffir lime leaves

lemon grass (fresh is best but dried will also work)

galangal (dried root similar to ginger, sold sliced and dried, looks like wood). Substitute freshly ground ginger if you don't have galangal.

1-3 Tbl of green curry paste, depending on strength and desired heat. Available anywhere that sells Asian food products. It comes in a little plastic bag or tub and will last forever in your refrigerator. BE CAREFUL though, fresh chili paste is VERY strong. If in doubt start with a little and add more later. (If you can't find curry paste you can substitute 2-3 dried birdseye chilis or other small red chilis. It won't be quite the same, but it will still be good.)

Cut up any or all of the following (e.g. whatever happens to be in the fridge at the time):

eggplant (this can be left out if you're in a hurry)
carrots
zucchini
celery
peas
green beans
mushrooms

2 chicken breasts, cut into strips or chunks OR 1 package of firm tofu (cubed)

peanut or other light oil for stir-frying

Sauce:

Soy sauce
Mirin (or other white cooking wine)
Hoisin sauce
Oyster sauce
Coconut MILK (not cream). Shake to mix before using.

Approximately 1 heaping tablespoon corn starch mixed in about 1/3 Cup water. (You'll need to restir this just before using.)

Optional:
Cashews
Handful of chopped basil
Scallion tops (greens)

To prepare:

Stir-fry garlic, galangal/ginger, kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass, chili paste and scallion bottoms (white parts) in a bit of oil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from wok and set aside.

Add a bit more oil to the wok and stir-fry the chicken until just cooked through. Remove from wok and set aside.

Stir-fry the eggplant with a bit of salt. Add a little oil if necessary. (Not too much, eggplant soaks it up.) Cook until eggplant is very soft (5-10 minutes).

Put seasonings (garlic, etc.) back into the wok.

Add the "take longer to cook" vegetables (carrots, zucchini, etc.). Stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Start adding the remaining vegetables. When they're nearly done, add in the cashews and the tofu or chicken. (Note: tofu doesn't need to actually cook, just get warmed and seasoned) and cashews.

When the vegetables are bright colored and still fairly crisp, start adding sauces - I use a combination of soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, mirin (or other white cooking wine) and a little chicken (or veggie) stock to help make a sauce. Next add about half a can of coconut milk. Stir to mix. Taste. When you've got the seasonings the way you want them, give the corn starch mixture a quick stir. Pour into the wok and stir quickly. Add a little more if you want to make the sauce thicker.

Serve over noodles or rice. Top with fresh scallion greens. Remind everyone NOT to eat the galangal, lemon grass or kaffir lime leaves. As in Thailand, they're left in the dish but the diner just leaves them on the side of the plate.

Enjoy, or as we say in Israel, B'Teavon, which roughly translates to "Bon Appetit".

And the verdict was (GNI roundup)

drumroll please...

Chutney-cheese spread with cut up veggies and crackers, and stuffed mushrooms. Both were hits, but the cream cheese had people fighting for the leftovers. Highly recommended - delicious, and only took about 3.5 minutes (yes, I said 3.5 minutes) to make.

As always, GNI was full of good food, free-flowing wine, good friends, and lots and lots of laughter. And in a shocking twist of events we already have our theme for the next one - 70's food! Should be a riot, I think we'll end up with at least 4 different kinds of jello salads LOL.

And in other news, the NY Rangers SWEPT THEIR SERIES last night - trouncing Atlanta in four games straight! Wahoo! GO RANGERS!!

Red Velvet Cake

Because I prefer not to dwell on what are likely to be utterly abysmal election results in Israel's national election Tuesday...

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In the spirit of Valentine's Day and Ruby Tuesday and Hapoel Tel Aviv and all things red, I give you:

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Red Velvet Cake

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My thoughts:
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Recipe: (see above link for the full recipe) While the batter started out quite red, the finished product was a much more sedate reddish-brown. I did use gel coloring instead of liquid (as per the gel option in the recipe), but the gel is pretty potent stuff so I doubt that was the reason. Whatever the color, it was delicious. Rich, but not overly heavy, and the cream cheese frosting was divine. If I make it again I'll stop at two layers though, and use the rest of the batter for cupcakes - that third layer looked very elegant, but it made the cake ridiculously high.

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Decoration: I'd intended to stick a fondant rose on the top of the cake but forgot to get one. Luckily our GNI hostess with the mostess had a perfect pomegranate just sitting on her counter waiting for my cake to come along, and the idea that we use it. It was a stroke of brilliance, the slight tartness of the pomegranate was a great balance for the sweet frosting.

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Proof that the batter really did start out red

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And the kicker? I'm on a diet - out of this entire cake I only had three bites! I've still got leftovers on my table and I am very steadfastly not eating them. Sheesh.

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8 (More) Things About Me

The lovely LadyG tagged me for another round of the 8 things about me meme a while back and now that I'm home and back in the swing of things I figured it was time to stop forcing you to look at my vacation pictures and tackle it. Let's see...

1. I'm PMS'ing and in dire need of chocolate

2. which I'm trying desperately not to go find

3. since I'm on a diet

4. and trying to relose the 2 pounds I gained on vacation

5. plus the significantly more than 2 pounds I still needed to lose before leaving on vacation.

6. I deserve a pat on the back for going along with the healthy dessert choice of watermelon for tomorrow night's GNI instead of offering to bake something really decadent.

7. Instead I'm making a mediterranean-style cold rice salad to go along with the "healthy grilling" menu we've planned.

8. I just had my hair colored yesterday, and it's a lot more brown and less red this time. I liked the red better, but I'm trying to cover up the older blond highlights that kept showing through the red, so I decided to try this. It's basically my original color, but it's been a while since it's been this dark so it takes a bit of getting used to. I'm waiting to see what happens as it lightens up.

There, that's 8. Now I'm tagging any of you who want to play. Here are the rules:

• Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
• At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names.
• Don't forget to leave them a comment and tell them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

Sleepovers

Itai is growing up, right before my very eyes. My little boy, that tiny creature that I brought home from the hospital just yesterday, had his first sleepover this week. Actually, he had his first two sleepovers this week.

Sunday his friend came to the pool with us after camp and ended up staying late enough that I told his mother he might as well stay over and save her the trip. (He's the son of a dear friend of mine, a GNI friend in fact. They live in a neighboring town, for some reason she couldn't find a second session camp there so he comes to Itai's camp.) That went well, so when I needed somewhere to dump a playdate for Itai for this morning so Jay and I could go to an appointment with Maya she promptly offered to take him from last night.

He ran off, backpack and toothbrush in hand, with nary a backwards glance. My little boy's not so little anymore.

On the other hand, he's quite full of 6.5 year old sass though. When do they grow out of that? (And please don't say 25!)