A Little Taste of India

OK, so let's start this one off with YUM! Yep, I just gave the plot away....but it was that yummy. I decided that it was time to try a new recipe and I went to my old-faithful cookbook. Now, don't laugh at me, but the Reader's Digest Live Longer Cookbook has added so many wonderful dishes to my regular reportoire. Whenever I want to try something healthy that I know is going to taste wonderful, that's my go-to. So tonight it was a pork-stew. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound too wonderful, but don't judge a book by its cover. I don't usually use pork. I find that it dries out too fast and I don't know, they call it the other white meat, but really? Well, it is cheap, so it has that going for it.




So we start by making a paste/sauce. This thing has so many ingredients that I absolutely love. Onion, cilantro, garlic, chilis, unsweetened coconut milk (that you make yourself), lime zest and lime juice. Can you smell it? I haven't even started "cooking" yet!




Next we brown the pork...oh yeah, they called for pork shoulder....I tried to buy pork shoulder, I really did, but it just looked too....porky? I settled on tenderloin...looks a lot more like chicken. You add the paste/sauce and simmer slowly...The aroma takes over your kitchen and you're tempted to do a little bit of yoga before the meal just to get into the mood....Ohmmmm Shanti.....







The recipe suggested having white rice as a side, but I thought I'd try my hand at couscous again. I looked up a bunch of recipes and decided to kind of wing it...I added fresh veggies and my own broth that included an amazing curry powder that my uncle supplies me with. He gets it from a co-worker from Africa. That's right, I have a spice dealer....This time my couscous fluffed up magically and was amazing. I wanted to add raisins and slivered almonds, but I knew that'd be a deal-breaker with the kids.



The verdict? Well, obviously I'm head-over-heals, but we all know that the little people have to like it too. Jason started the meal by explaining the parameters of comfortablity that he is willing to go when considering the ethnicity of food. Indian food, is not within those parameters. That said, he ate it and admitted that although he doesn't usually enjoy pork, this pork was good. The twins said that they loved it, but I never know if they're just brown-nosing...that said, they did eat it all. Luke was busy building his own sundae at Friendly's on a playdate....Charlotte claimed to hate it and die every time she took a bite but when Charlotte truly hates anything she won't actually eat it and this one she ate almost all of! So two-snaps with a twist! Definitely will make it again. Thank-you Reader's Digest!