Monday, April 23, 2012

African Peanut Stew


I made this about a week ago and even though the ingredient list is quite long, I really enjoyed it and being able to cook it in the crockpot is always a plus! Jared actually told me it is the best soup I have ever made. WOW! It is very flavorful so I strongly suggest serving it with some kind of rice. We used jasmine rice and really enjoyed it.

Recipe from : Simply Love Food
3 – 4 garlic cloves
1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and stems
1 can of diced tomatoes (14.5 oz size)
2 inch or so chunk of fresh ginger, peeled
2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or chunky-I used creamy)
1 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 tbsp of curry powder
¼ cup dark brown sugar (light brown is just fine too)
3/4 teaspoon salt
Fresh ground pepper
1 can of Lite Coconut milk (reg sized can 14.5 or so and don’t worry  some brands varry)
2 good sized sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 large red bell pepper, or 2 small ones, chopped
1 can (15-19 ounces) garbanzo beans/chick peas, rinsed and drained
In a blender or food processor add garlic cloves, cilantro, ginger, canned tomatoes, peanut butter, cumin, cinnamon, ground red pepper and curry powder. Blend until everything is nicely pureed. It will look very thick and pasty.
In the slow cooker, add the garbanzo beans, chopped onions, red bell peppers, and sweet potatoes. Add the peanut sauce mixture, brown sugar and the coconut milk and gently stir to incorporate all of the ingredients.
Turn the slow cooker on low and cook for 6-8 hours. If you are able to, stir the stew on occasion. And always taste it when the end is near so you can adjust the seasonings if you feel it needs more.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Shaved Asapragus Pizza



This pizza was so yummy! The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was kind of a pain in the bum to shave the asparagus (mine kept breaking). But I loved how it tasted, and can't wait to make it again soon!


Shaved Asparagus Pizza



1 whole Batch Of Pizza Dough - Enough For 1 12-16 Inch Pizza
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, For Drizzling The Dough
8 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella (or you can use pre-shredded. That's what I had)
1 bunch Asparagus
Herb and Garlic cheese spread (I used onion and chive whipped cream cheese)
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper


Cut the tough ends off of your asparagus and disgard. Cut the tips of asparagus and save for the pizza. Take a vegetable peeler and shave thin ribbons from you asparagus stalk. You will need a lot because they shrink a lot while cooking. Set shaved asparagus aside. Roll or shape pizza dough and put on your pizza stone or pan. Drizzle dough with olive oil and brush to coat. Spread Mozarella slices, or shredded mozarella over the dough. Evenly distribute your asparagus shavings and tips over your pizza. Put teaspoon sized dallops of herb cheese all over the pizza. Top with cracked black pepper. Bake on 450 for about 15 minutes.