Tales of Turkey.. and Grain-Free French Toast =)

Abrabacon always laughs at this episode of Portlandia, but it's pretty accurate.
Here's a picture of the chicken we will be serving for you today.. his name was Colin. He had a very happy life..
It really is funny.. But it's exactly what we were looking for.


I don't think you should be allowed to eat meat unless you know where it came from. Unless you can go to the places your food is kept and not flinch. Unless you can watch it be slaughtered and still sit down to your meal.


There is SO much disconnect between Americans and our food.. and I believe that plays a huge factor in Americans and our wonderful relationship with our heart spcialist. Our Endocrinologist. Our Gastroenterologist. Dietician. Personal Trainer. Guy at Complete Nutrition. 


So. I might be the only non-vegetarian yoga instructor in my city. 
This isn't a fact.. just a probably. Based on the looks I've gotten when I sit down to lunch with any of the yogis I know. 
They think it's impossible to eat meat if you know what it does to you.
I do know. And I know all of the benefits of vegetarianism. And I respect them thoroughly for it.
It isn't lack of self control that keeps me carnivorous. It's understanding MY body and what MY body needs.


But as an Omnivore, I felt I needed to be better connected with my food.


This started with a harrowing trip to the farm The Caveman use to live on.
We won't talk about that day... sigh.


But let's move on to today.
The Caveman and I decided to make our own turkey this year. I've made a few in my day, and was excited to flex that nurturing muscle. After all, what's more womanly than making a Turkey? It has become such a symbol of family and warmth and love..
That reminds me. I think I'll call my brother and see if he wants to come over for dinner... Be right back!




Where was I?
Oh ya. So Tom. Wanna meet him?

He's not cooked yet.. but his preparation was a bit of a milestone for me =)


See.. we got him from this amazing CSA we're part of. The farmer knows us both by name. He invited us to a bbq where he made amazing pineapple jalepeno brats and delicious burgers.. He supplies us with all of the grass-fed, pasture raised, happy meat we could ever want =)


So when The Caveman asked if I could prepare a turkey I just smiled. Duh. It's me.. I can make anything.


He didn't ask if I could cook a turkey.
He asked if I could PREPARE a turkey...
I was not prepared.


The first thing I noticed as I pulled the defrosted beast from his shroud of plastic and paper was that he still had feathers. Not all of them.. but many.
As I pulled them from the bird, rotating and taking care to treat the animal with respect, I notice several other differences between Tom and what I had always known a ready-to-cook turkey to look like..
For instance..
His head was removed.. but that was the end of it.
I had to butcher my own bird.


You know that bag of stuff they put back in there when you buy it from the store??
Turns out, turkeys don't all have those handy bags of goodies that you can just feed your dog.


I had to break and cut out it's neck. I had to find and remove giblets.. and other things that I still can't identify.
It took an extra hour (and many squeals from a cavegirl in the kitchen proclaiming that she doesn't know what she's cutting) 


But there he is... in the oven. Seasoned and buttered and ready to be loved =)




Sorry! Fairly long rant about food awareness!


In other news, I made french toast today!!
Quite the feat, considering we don't eat gluten or grain...


It started with knowing how much I would want a turkey sandwich tonight. Badly, is the answer to that..
So the caveman sends me this link to another food blog he likes. It's bread.. in the microwave.. in a minute and a half.
So I made it..
And I hated it =(
I don't like coconut fat as much as the average cavegirl, I guess..
But a little messing with the recipe and I'm sure I will enjoy it!
In the mean time, I hate waste. HATE IT!!!
So. I sliced the little guy up.. 

And I mixed him with some egg, hazelnut liquor, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Tossed him in a skillet and..

OmNomNomNom!!!


Sigh. Sorry so long-winded today guys! But there it is. 


I hope you had a very happy holiday!! I can't wait to check in with you all next week after my family has OUR Christmas =) =)

In honor of the First Happiness Ninja..

I sometimes feel I didn't have a normal childhood. I worked a lot. I didn't go to school. I lived in a packed house.. with just one bathroom. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 22..

But one day, I learned that surviving childhood trumps any amount of normal one could ask for.

There's a recipe at the end of this lesson.. so if you can bear with me for a few paragraphs, you'll be rewarded ;) Otherwise... scroll on down!

I was 13 or so. Word had gotten around the community that I was not only fantastic with kids, but I do dishes.

Lila was 7. So sweet. So fun to just hang out with that I often forgot I was her babysitter. She seemed so little sister-ish.. She had long blond hair that I was jealous of.. but all she ever wanted to do was to brush and braid (rip out) my own ashy locks. Her parents liked me because I made her feel just like everyone else.The only thing I realized was different about her was that she was so kind and loving.

Hard to come by, really..

So when her parents asked me to watch her so they could go on a real date.. their first since she'd gotten sick.. I of course agreed. I told Lila that I just wanted to hang out and have a movie night.. so could she ask her parents if I could come over?

I didn't feel bad about misleading her.. because really, I did just want to hang out with her. I loved painting her tiny toenails and putting on fashion shows in her livingroom. The hallway was a catwalk. The remote control was a microphone. She was a star..

Just before bed, we put in a movie. Sweet Lila looked sad. She asked if I could help her.. her eye was very itchy and needed to be washed.

I followed her to the bathroom, where I anticipated eyedrops and a warm washcloth.

She asked for a dixie cup. As I turned around with it in hand, she held out her tiny hand and dropped something in it.

Her eye.

We filled the cup with the cleaning solution the doctor had given her.

My oblivious 13 year old mind started putting it all together.

Lila had a brain tumor.

Her long blond hair was a wig, donated by Locks Of Love. Her eye, a prosthetic.

We can skip ahead 4 years at this point. Lila's tumor had come back, and was successfully treated.. but the harsh treatment had cost her all of her own freshly grown hair yet again.

She didn't qualify for a new wig because she's so recently had one. Donations were hard to come by, it seems. More and more girls were paying for real hair extensions.. so instead of donating, women were selling their hair. The organization was suffering greatly.

Lila was now a young lady. At the age where you start feeling bitter and frustrated with your body and your parents.. where you decide if you'll be a positive person who perseveres, or someone who throws in the towel when life has truly gotten the best of you.

She smiled sweetly as I helped her pick a new scarf to cover her beautiful bald head.

I went home that day. SchMom asked why I was so down. I never did tell her.

What I DID do.. was reach back and braid 27 inches of ashy blond hair. What I DID do, was hand her the scissors. What I did do, was drop that long braid to the ground, in honor of the first Happiness Ninja. 

Lila changes my life every time her sweet face enters my mind. She changes my life every time my mind wanders to what I'll never have. She changes my life every time I realize my hair has grown past the middle of my back, and that it's time to make a new donation.

Once a year, I perform my ritual of 100 things. Removing 100 things from my life that could benefit someone else, and donating them. 100 things that have served their purpose in my life, and now must move on to their next mission.

Every one of those 100 things makes me wish I was a brave as Lila. 

So here's to you, sweet girl. 100 things. And this story, is thing #1. It no longer lives in my head, but in the hearts of anyone who reads this.

I promised you a recipe, so here it is. While you go about your home cleaning your life, go ahead and detox your belly ;)

2 Detox smoothies for your tummy's enjoyment =) =) 

Healing Detox Juice

Subtly sweet and absolutely loaded with antioxidants.. and super easy =) =)

Ingredients:

3-4 Carrots
2 or 3 handfuls Fresh Spinach
Handful of Flat Leaf Parsley
2-3 Sticks of Celery

Juice all ingredients (putting celery through last). Mix with water to taste or drink neat (your preference).

I like adding some tabasco and some crushed red pepper.. but I'm just spicy like that ;)

See? Easy =)

Want another one? Okeydokey... How about. Hm.

Super basic Greeeeeeen smoothie

2 cups filtered water

2 bananas

2 peeled oranges (try to keep seeds out)

1 apple (leave the skin on.. mmmmm <3 )

1 lemon

1/2 inch chunk fresh ginger *you can leave the somewhat tough skin on this guy for tons of extra vitamins

½ - 1 head of romaine, spinach, chard, beet greens, or kale

Throw your water in the blender and fill it half way with chopped fruit.. the rest of the way with whatever leafy deliciousness you've chosen. If your blender isn't super powerful, you might prefer adding things slowly while you blend, to keep your motor from smelling like burning plastic. Not that I mind the smell of burning plastic.. but.. well. I kind of do....

Blend for a minute or two until very smooth.

Nummmmm =) =) =) 

My Latest Crush (and things I like to do with him...)

I don't know if this is a fair title... it's so much more than a crush already. At the least, lust. At it's best.. visceral, carnal.. passionate love.
Love.
I said it. And it's true.
And if you only knew how flexible... how incredibly mouth watering.. how tender and easily butchered..
I'm speaking, of course, about Chuck Eye Steaks..


 The meat pulls easily away from the fat (which SashaDog doesn't seem to mind) and can be chopped up into approximately infinity completely different recipes!


A few nights ago, I'd spent all day and night shampooing the carpets at the cave. I was so exhausted that The Caveman decided to take me out to dinner =)
Unfortunately, we forgot we live in Omaha.. and that it was 9pm. On a Tuesday...
So after driving around for half an hour looking for sustenance, we threw in the towel and came home to forage through the refrigerator.
And as always, I had some of this beautiful meat on hand (See! The Caveman supports me and Chuck's relationship!)
Being completely drained and not wanting to spend the time preparing a feast, I accidentally made the most delicious thing..


2 Chuck Eye steaks
4 eggs
salt or tenderizer
pepper


Yeah. That was it...
There's enough marbleization that I didn't need any extra fat to cook this in. Cubed the meat and tossed it seasoned in the pan.. when it was cooked to my liking, I plated it and cracked the eggs in the pan. Flipped once and served them over medium right on top of the meat. Steak and Eggs and blissss <3


Tonight, I made Sir Bacon the stroganoff he was craving (using Old Faithful) but I was in the mood for something spicy.. so I made for myself:


Chuck <3
1 red bell pepper
1/2 yellow onion
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup beef stock
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper


Cube and season meat and throw it into your hot skillet. When it's cooked ALMOST to your liking, throw in some sliced pepper (I also add some jalepeno to mine.. but I'm spicy like that ;) ) and onion. There should be enough fat in your pan to keep these from sticking, if not, add some butter.
Once the veggies are cooked down, deglaze your pan with beef stock. Add your tomato paste and reduce by half. Your dish should be creamy and sticky and delicious <3 <3 <3 I threw some pepperjack cheese and sliced avocado on mine.. because I'm worth it ;)

I'm currently sitting in the den.. Christmas socks on. Hot chocolate beside me.. Sweet kitten cuddling up beside me. 
The Caveman is enjoying one of his Christmas gifts (Madden for PS3) and I am just enjoying Christmas.
And I'm going to keep letting myself enjoy it..


And as for my new love.. well.
He's going to be the guest of honor Sunday when we have company for dinner...
I wonder what he'll wear....

Stuffed Mushrooms (and other remedies for the blues)

When I had to leave my job, The Caveman was so supportive. SO SUPPORTIVE! I've been working for such a long time. Always in a job that was emotionally taxing. Nurturing people always do tend to be drawn toward taxing jobs, yeah? I love taking care of people.. but as soon as they can take care of themselves, I get a new assignment. 

He said that if anyone deserved a month off, it was me.

If anyone deserved to just sit on the couch for a while, it was me.

I don't know what awful thing I did to deserve such torture =/

In addition, I've been in the process of moving in for.. I dunno. 4? 7? 9 months or so.... but who's keeping track?

This means that every single thing I own is living in the garage or in a box in a closet.

So between the interviews and the unpacking and the trying to figure out how to squeeze my full-grown life into the full-grown life of another human's.. I sometimes don't feel like I've got much time left in the day to just be myself.

I'm sometimes just too tired or too discouraged.. and Happiness Ninjas DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. We don't.

We keep everyone else from getting discouraged.

We bake and decorate and surprise people with trinkets to brighten their day. 

We sneak to people's work and window ninja their car with window crayon magic (more on this later) so they can't help but grin after a long, tough day.

They don't sit on the couch feeling defeated.

Sometimes, it's not until I realize that The Caveman is on his way home from a significantly LONGER, physically exhausting day (9 hours of work followed by 3 hours of training.. ) that I realize I can turn both of our days around.

I just have to do something delicious. Like. Turn on some Hello SafeRide and make something pretty for dinner =)

I've been toying with sides and appetizers lately. It ups the specialness of your meal, I think ;)

So last week, I made some stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer to stroganoff.. and they turned out SOOOO good <3

I used an entire box of Baby Bella mushrooms by the end of this night.. but half of them were used in the Stroganoff.. For the app I only used

4 Baby Bellas 

2 celery stalks, finely diced

1/4 of a yellow onion diced

1/2 red bell pepper diced

1/4 tsp ground sage

salt

Pepper

basil

And mayyyybe 3 TBSP ground almond

Sauté your onion, celery, and peppers in some butter.. salt.. pepper.. sage. basil. Maybe some garlic =)
Mix in a little bit of ground almond to bind it just a little bit.
Do not STUFF your mushroom caps.. just gently fill them. If you pack them.. I dunno. Something bad happens. I think I've blocked out the memory of what.
Sprinkle a lil bit of almond on top (for crunch and texture) and bake at about 375 for 15 minutes.
I put mine in a cupcake pan.. in case they wanted to tip =)

  I served them with a little bit of cream sauce (which was basically 1 cup of beef stock, reduced by half.. 3 tablespoons of sour cream)


I don't usually let myself get down for too long, but when I do catch myself sulking, I try to make someone I love smile.
It's medicine, really. The only cure.
My life is pretty amazing. My friends are interesting and creative. My sisters are beautiful and thoughtful of one another. My brothers are complete opposites of one another in most ways, save for kindness and selflessness. I have 20 nieces and nephews if I ever need to see true perfection. And every night, I get to make dinner.. which I LOVE doing.. and it makes My Caveman smile.
I don't forget why I'm stressed. I don't forget why I'm scared. I just remember why I'm going to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again.

Dear Santa..

I've been.. reasonably good this year ;) Not like.. I want a car or a ring good.. but I'll try harder next year =) 

But this year.. I'm thinking small.

Small business, that is..

Omaha is so full of opportunities for people trying to make it on their own terms.. lets try to support small business and local charities this holiday season!

If you know someone with any services you can give as gifts, support them! Small business is HARD!
Jacob Duncan is an incredible local musician who offers his talents as a music teacher.. in addition to his regular gigs playing concerts, weddings, parties... heck.. sometimes he just grabs his guitar because you didn't look as happy as you could be if he WERE playing..
Small craft items Like bows and clips from Curly by Anna Rose make great stocking stuffers.

Give prints of a local artist's work.. they're usually very reasonably priced and make such a beautiful, original gift! You'll never find anything like a William Holland original watercolor or graphite. Check out Curbside Clothing for everything from prints to t-shirts and jackets!

A 1 year membership to Bob's Fitness, which is Privately owned and operated in Bellevue, is an inexpensive way to get a jump start on your new year's resolution, start a healthier life, keep money in Nebraska.. and support a small business owner.

Obviously I could advertise my OWN small business *ahem! LockeYoga which is currently offering single sessions and gift certificates for private in-home yoga at 50% off* Ahem! Scuse me there.. somthin caught in my throat ;)

Or for that truly hard to buy for person on your list.. well.. do they really NEED another novelty mug? Take that $15 dollars and donate it in their name to a cause you know would speak to them. Youth Emergency Services of Omaha is ALWAYS grateful for any assistance you can offer.. and the work they do is SO important to at-risk and homeless youth! 

So please, Santa.. let's be mindful this holiday! Of course everyone loves knowing you've thought of them and spent your dollars on something extra pretty.. but lets do something more meaningful to the people around us this season =)

And to any of my friends who have happened upon this Christmas wish.. if you have any businesses or charities to recommend, please do so!!

Thank you Santa! And I'm sorry for all the times I've sworn in traffic. But seriously.. it's Nebraska! Did nobody else see the snow coming?!.. again.. next year, I'll do better ;)

Love, Sara

The Thankful Cavegirl.. and a glass of Cabernet

The Caveman has many mottos..
'4 legs are always better than 2 legs and 2 wings' (regarding his preference to beef over poultry)
'How did we do _______ 10,000 years ago and how do we do _______ now?' (In regards to... just about everything... and how he can apply more primal instinct)
'Only bring things into your lives that make them better'
'That's what SHE said'


Ok.. so they're not all terribly clever, and they're not all originals.. although I'm sure Michael Scott DID take a couple of comedic lessons from Sir Bacon..
But this second to last one.. the simplest.. is the one that resonates with me most often.


I see people walk into relationships they know will make them miserable. 
I see people take in trouble-making animals that will be nothing but a hinderance on their existence.
I see people apply for jobs they know they will hate...
And there will always be a reason to do these things... somewhere in our minds.
Like.. if it isn't unpleasant, it means it's not hard work.. and if it's not hard work, it's worthless.


Frustrating thought, really...


But the pleasant memory that brings this to mind is this:


Last winter.
My condo.
A Caveman is on his way over for dinner and I've decided I'm going to surprise him with a beautiful meal.
I know he's been living a newly paleo lifestyle and I want to adhere to it, but make it special.
He comes in, exhausted from a long day at work followed by training. He showers while I finish preparing


3 steaks (your favorite cut)
1 tbsp butter
shallots, sliced
Fresh garlic, chopped
Baby Bella Mushrooms
1 bottle of red wine, suitable for drinking
Pepper
Beef stock


Once your steaks are seasoned and cooked to your liking, set them aside to rest and let juices redistribute.
Toss butter in your pan and saute onions until softened. Add mushrooms and garlic.

Deglaze your pan with about 1 cup of your chosen merlot or cabernet.
Add about 1 1/2 cups of beef stock and reduce by half.


As my Caveman came down from his shower, I greeted him with a glass of wine and spooned sauce over his steak.
It was such a simple addition to what he would have been eating at home (a slab of ground beef on the foreman.. bbq sauce on top) but all he needed from me was this small, thoughtful touch. Nothing elaborate or over the top.. just special enough to show that I wanted him there.
Just special enough to show him he deserved a delicious meal...
He smiled at me so warmly that I can still feel it.
 He would have been content at home with his Fratboy-esque culinary attempt and a night of tivoed episodes of Community.. but something about tonight made our life start to feel like home to him.
We curled up on the couch and watched The Ten while we drank our wine and took turns giving back rubs.
And he was happy.
And I was thankful.

Paleo Comforts.. Banana Bread

Just a quick one today!


I made some banana bread yesterday.. which led to long conversations with The Caveman, with a friend on facebook, with a friend via text, and with several people at the gym today.
So. Here it is.
Paleo Banana Bread.


I would post some pictures of it after it was sliced, but once I served Abrabacon his first piece, warm and dripping with butter, he took a fork to the remainder and.. well. It was a massacre.
I don't know if anything could have made me happier than the sight of my big strong man with his puppy eyes.. being caught enjoying something I made for him =)


Innnnnngredients...

• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2/3 cup chopped nuts optional (I used walnuts)
• 4 ripe smashed bananas
• 2 tbsp honey, local if at all possible
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 and grease muffin tins or a bread pan. 

I measured my 2 tbsp of honey into a small bowl and microwaved it for 10 seconds to make it easier to mix into my mashed bananas 

cracked my eggs into a separate bowl.. that way if one is bad or I screw up and drop some shells in, it's easier to adjust and I haven't destroyed my entire batter. Break yolks and mix eggs and vanilla up before adding to batter.

Sift together dry ingredients and add to the rest of your batter.

Bake muffins at 375 for about 25 minutes, bread for 35-40 (or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean)

Serve with almond butter or butter. If you use margarine, I will come punch you.

Since there are only 2 of us, I thought this would exist long enough to become stale.. no such luck ;)

But I plan to make another batch tomorrow, slice it into sticks and bake it a little longer. I'll let the crisp bread cool while I melt dark chocolate chips in my double boiler, dip each halfway into chocolate, and take them as biscotti to add to our Thanksgiving table =) =)

Have a good week, my friends!!!!

It's Friday, I'm in love..

Once a week, Friday comes around.
Once a week.. every week.
Yet looking across the book of face, you would think it were a bicentennial event..
TGIF! I can't believe I made it.. FINALLY the weekend..
I'm not complaining. I enjoy seeing this once a week miracle.
But then, the inevitable question..
'What's going on this weekend?'
Because if you're not DOING something.. it's a waste of this too-infrequent gift!


The Caveman suggests we go to the ballet.. he knows how much I love it =)
I suggest we sling our exhausted bodies across the couch and camp out in our jammy pants. 
I know how much HE loves it =)


But we usually compromise.
We would go for long walks in the Old Market.. This summer, I showed him The Imaginarium.. a little antique shop. We wandered through, aimlessly. He found an old copy of Shinobi, a game he use to play with his little brother.. and a tiny little ring that became my favorite thing he's ever given me.
As the warm days grew late, we'd stop into a cafe or restaurant we'd never been to... sometimes with terrible results (ugh.. not even naming the place, for fear it's urban-legend quality awfulness will attract the daredevil reader) and sometimes with amazing.. delicious.. friendly.. just.. I'm lookin at you, Ahmad's.. with your singing waiter and your owner who sends food to your patio table.. just cuz you look like you'd enjoy it..


And as the weather slowly cooled, we discussed important things at length.. like the fact that I instantly and permanently lose respect for anyone who can walk past a pile of crisp orange leaves without stomping through them.. 


And now it's cold.
And it's only going to get colder.


New compromise.
Find hungry friends and feed them.


It's the only thing that makes the cold bearable, really.
I love feeding people I care about. Love it.. so much <3
Inviting a warm heart into your home. Sipping wine and chatting while I finish making dinner. Inventing flavor combinations that will forever remind you of a night by the fire, playing games and listening to music..


I can't help but wonder if my affinity for feeding (or rather, cooking for) people I care about doesn't stem from childhood nights in the kitchen.
I've cooked for as long as I can remember.. and what I remember is this:


A terrible.. awful 100 year old kitchen. Red floor. Orange counter tops. Peach walls.


I remember my beautiful sisters in the kitchen.. talking and laughing. 
Always fighting over what we'd listed to.. D wanted her new Paula Abdul album. H wanted Les Mes. E wanted Phantom of the Opera. I just waned it to never end..
We'd usually just settle for whatever was on Sweet 98 as one of us did the dishes, one of us cooked. One of us swept the floor and one of us cleaned the table and counters. Little L.. a toddler with her tiny broom and dustpan 'helping'. B in her highchair, our adoring audience.
All of us dancing.
All of us making up words to the music.. since we didn't quite know it yet, but knew enough to make it sound alright.
All of us wondering if our lives would be amazing when we grew up and didn't have to live in a house so full.
The weekends were the only times my sisters didn't have too much homework to help in the kitchen. I celebrated every Friday like the gift it was.
I didn't take it for granted. I loved my sisters every day I lived with them.
But I still wish I could go hug little Sara.. she really had no idea that one day, you're suppose to grow up. You're not going to see your sisters every day and people think you're unintelligent if you show too many signs of joy.


I don't care. I choose not to grow up. I choose to adore and miss my sisters every day..
The kitchen doesn't have orange counter tops anymore. They're white with gold specks. The floor, white and blue tile. The walls... probably an off white. 
But that kitchen remembers us. I promise you. Our happy faces haunt the home we grew up it.. echoing laughter and fighting. Phantom singing from the basement where we played star search..


The house misses us as much as I miss a 7 year old with freckles, worshipping her older sisters. 


So when you come over for dinner and I'm in the kitchen, singing along with Regina Spektor or Bon Iver on my Pandora station.. when I hand you a glass of wine and a plate of appetizers to put on the table.. know that tonight, you're my family. And one day, when I'm a grownup, I'll remember having you in my kitchen on a cold night. I'll remember how warm it was <3 

Creamy Chicken Curry. *Would a Gravied Ghost Glob by any other name still taste as.... savory?

When I was little, my Mother *for purpose of this post, let's call her... ShMom*  would give our dinner interesting names.
Sometimes, it was a ridiculous name.
Ground beef left in chunks with onions, garlic, and gravy is served over mashed potatoes with brussel sprouts to create a masterpiece; Gravied Ghost Globs with Moldy Eyeballs.
Sauerkraut with hotdogs, ketsup, and cornbread becomes SwAmP StEw!
Crab meat in a béchamel with pasta is lovingly referred to as Crab Louie.


And after years of eating Creamed Chicken Hearts on Mashed potatoes with gravy.. I learned that it was actually...
Ah ShMom! You know I wouldn't have eaten that if I knew it was actually chicken hearts, yeah?


Sometimes it was a name that existed for another dish, but if you were to order it in a restaurant, you'd be quite surprised.


I learned this the hard way when making dinner for a date.
I made pigs in the blanket.
Did YOU know that pigs in the blanket are just hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls?
I didn't.
He did.
He got Hungarian Cabbage Rolls.


Did YOU know that Stroganoff is sliced steak in a creamy beef gravy?
ShMom taught me to make ground beef with cream of mushroom on egg noodles.


It was only after finding out this last bit of information that the reason for this particular post came about. You're so close to my point! Hang in there!!


After having tasted ACTUAL stroganoff, I decided I'd make it for Abrabacon.
A deceptively simple dish to make.. delicious.. and if prepared properly, totally paleo! (obviously, no noodles) I rocked it, of course.. but then again, he is The Easy to Feed Caveman ;)

Which got me thinking.. if I switch out the sour cream in this recipe for cream cheese... a whole world opens up!


The next day, I decided to abuse my friends' taste buds. They're so accommodating in this way! We often use one another for culinary experimentation. By the way.. I love my friends. A. Lot.


And thisssss, my lovelies, brings us to today's recipe.


Curry.. chickeny.. delicious.. thing I made up! *this name is pending copyright* ;)


You will need:




4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (ya know? Dark meat would be good here too.. do your thing)
5 Red bell peppers
1 large sweet yellow onion
2 small spicy peppers (I had habeneros from the garden)
1 package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick of butter
curry powder
crushed red pepper
garlic
salt/pepper
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock


For Optional Rice (cuz I know you aren't ALL paleo)


3 cups basmati rice
2 tablespoons of lavender
1 tablespoon of cloves




Chop chicken and cook over medium high heat in desired amount of butter. (you may choose to add curry to your chicken before cooking.. I do, but it's not necessary as it will be a main flavor in your sauce)
Remove chicken and add sliced onion to butter until caramelized. Remove from heat.




Raise your oven rack to it's highest setting and broil red peppers until all are blackened on all sides. (place foil or a cookie sheer on rack underneath, as peppers will leak)
Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Once cooled, remove skins and seeds from your peppers and toss them in a food processor.

Add spicy pepper (optional) Slowly add cream cheese until mixture is smooth. Add curry powder, garlic, black pepper, salt, and crushed red pepper to taste.
Return skillet to heat. Deglaze pan with stock and reduce. Once reduced, add your red pepper sauce, chicken, and onions back to the pan.

You may serve this alone, with toasted Naan or Pita, or with Rice of your choosing..

For my friends, I smashed fresh lavender and clove in a mortar and pestle and put them in a tea ball. I place them in enough water to boil the rice and steeped it until the water was ready. Remove the tea ball and add rice.

Try not to cry with how delicious this is....

*sigh* 

End Transmission