New Menu Mondays Return!

Ever since I stopped posting my New Menu Monday updates on Facebook, I have been besieged with desperate phone calls and e-mails, begging me to start it up again. Okay, maybe not besieged, but several people have asked about it. Okay, maybe not several, but at least one. Although he didn't ask about it so much as mutter “mm-hmm” when I brought it up. But still...... Here it is. 

 

Tandoori Chicken Pitas with Tomato Jam

Whisk:

• 2 tsp Frank's hot sauce
• 2 T chili powder
• ½ tsp coriander
• 3 T tandoori spice
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp tarragon
• ½ tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 T lemon juice
• 5 T olive oil
• s & p
• any other spices you feel like throwing in

Chicken:

1. Pound and slice 3 or 4 chicken breasts, then toss in the spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes or 18 hours, whatever works for your schedule.
2. Heat olive oil in cast iron pan, then brown the chicken. (It will be RED, not BROWN, but you get the point.)
3. Put chicken in a 350* oven for about 10 minutes. Or don't. If the chicken pieces are small, you could probably just cook them in the pan until you think they are done. (Does anyone know how to make the little “degree” symbol in Open Office??)

Tomato Relish:

(Inspired by Bobby Flay's recipe on foodnetwork.com)

Saute a chopped onion in olive oil. Add some s & p. Chop up a tomato or two, and throw it in the pan. Add some cayenne pepper and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Cover and simmer until thick. Cool and serve.

Pitas:

Go to the grocery store and buy a package of pitas. We used the non-pocket kind.

Fill with chicken, jam, thinly sliced cucumbers, and sour cream. If you are ambitious you can make an herbed yogurt sauce, but opening a container of sour cream is much easier.

That's it. 

 

These are pretty messy, and also have a bit of heat to them. You can cut down the hot spices if you are a wimp like me. (Although I am quite proud to say that my heat tolerance is improving! I handled this fine, with lots of cucumbers and sour cream.)

Enjoy!

SuperWHAT???

(noun) a large, concave vessel suitable for holding generous amounts of pasta

 So, apparently there is some big sporty thing going on today. I try not to notice these events, but even the Pastor had a few Rah-Rah-Go-Team comments peppered through his message today. I guess it's unavoidable.

Don't get me wrong, I have no disrespect for people who enjoy football, whether it is a year-round obsession, or one that just crops up for the Superbowl. Okay, well maybe just a LITTLE disrespect for the Superbowl-only fans.... these are the same people who would buy the “Best Of” CD and then call themselves a fan. (For you younger ones, a “CD” is the way we used to get our music. I won't try to explain cassettes.)

Anyhow, I can appreciate getting together with friends to eat, drink and be merry on a cold winter afternoon. I've even been to a couple of Superbowl Parties in my lifetime. I must say, it is ALWAYS an interesting observation into human behaviour. The Sociologist in me appreciates the chuckle almost as much as the Gourmand in me appreciates the food and bevvies.

I just don't appreciate the football.

I prefer sports like hockey, lacrosse, soccer.... You score a goal, you get a point. Simple. Football seems to involve too much math. I don't really understand it, but I don't care that I don't understand it. (Please do not try to explain it to me. I truly am okay with not knowing.)

So, I will observe Superbowl Sunday in my own way.... ignoring it completely and then watching the commercials later on YouTube. For all of you who are celebrating otherwise, have a great night! Enjoy the food, friends and fun. Oh, and that other f-word too.