Saturday, June 2, 2012

Weekend cooking/baking

Hi readers! I hope you are having a nice weekend. I wanted to make some new things this weekend, so I made some curry on Friday and some cherry muffins today.

This is a green curry made with coconut milk, plus garlic chicken and green bell pepper mixed in. It was a bit spicy because I didn't add in the sugar like the directions with the curry paste suggested, but I added it in after to the rest of the batch, along with some lemon juice that kind of balanced out my own serving.

These muffins, though, came out perfect. I used a cake recipe from The Joy of Baking, and adapted it to muffin form. What I really like is how nicely the lemon zest comes out in the flavor of the muffins.

Tomorrow, my coworkers and I are going to get dim sum! Tonight, my housemates and I are having a barbecue, too. So, more fun times ahead.

34 comments:

  1. Hi Jen!

    How was the barbeque and dim sum? Your muffins look absolutely delish! Your curry chicken, for a curry lover looks fantastic, however I have not mastered a love for any forms of curry, that, and also for ginger and cloves too (shudder). Too perfumy for me. I guess it's an acquired taste. One of my best friends is from Pakistan, she is working on me to develop my palate, I will perhaps in time. You know Jen, I think it's just me, when a dish has a greenish hue, I perhaps form an opinion, I know this is wrong.

    Thank you for the post! To you and also Al have a great week my friends!

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    1. Yes despite my hate/hate of of curry... got to look on the benefits http://www.3fatchicks.com/8-health-benefits-of-curry/

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    2. It's nice to know that curry is so healthy. It is not exactly my favorite food but I think it will come out better once I have some more practice with the technique and learn how to make it less spicy.

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    3. The barbecue and dim sum were great. At the barbecue we had steak, garlic bread, lemonade, strawberry mango daquiris, strawberries and whipped cream, and watermelon. Also I went to my friend's birthday party tonight and we had spring rolls, and a bunch of barbequed stuff: salmon, clams, chicken wings, and shrimp. Also, some mango, and cookies, and cake. So, definitely a weekend full of food for me! Haha.

      I know how you feel about the greenish hue. Still I think with the added sugar the second time around, plus a few days to mellow in the fridge, the flavor should be okay. I may just add some more coconut milk, even if that makes it not as thick, because I will just be mixing it in with the rice anyway. Have a great week too! :)

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    4. Heh Jen!

      Your weekend sounded excellent, ah the many foods, yummies!

      I hope you do not mind, next Saturday I am invited to a Bridal Shower, and I was asked to submit a recipe along with my gift. Among the numerous recipes that I have, your most recent QUICHE recipe struck my eye. No, I have not tried it yet, however I WILL! I have printed your recipe, because it was very precise within details. Oh yes, along with your recipe is a link to your Epic Treats...where I found it.

      Sarah, the blushing bride will definitely benefit with your recipes along with your BLOG ROLL.

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    5. Oh, I don't mind at all :). I hope the bride enjoys the recipe very much. It's packed with lots of veggie goodness, which is great for everyone.

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    6. Thanks Jen! You may getting a bit more of Canuck traffic viewing your beautiful site. You manage to keep things simple, you have a gift to explain and also attribute your sources as well.Of course, it's so nice to read about the places you have been to as well!

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    7. I would love to have more visitors to my site, and I hope that they would enjoy it as much as you do, Meesh.

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    8. Hi Jen!

      SUCCESS! Your recipe, was copied over and over. What I did, was also include your image of your masterpiece on the recipe card along with your directions and a link to your site. I also briefly explained who my source was----> YOU. At the shower, my submission was a true hit. Of the thirty guests, this recipe card was the only one that peeked enthusiasm..well I also adorned the recipe card with sunflowers, the bride's theme.

      Not sure how many bridal showers that you have attended... quite honestly I have been to many, (I
      have a HUGE family and blessed with many, many friends) I do not like showers.But this one was absolutely fabulous!


      The guests had to dress within a garden party attire, they held the shower both outdoors and indoors as well... for those who could not stand the heat. I loved the sunshine, What a great day!

      On Sunday morning, I met with the bride and groom for brunch. It was a serendipitous meeting at http://www.coffeeculturecafe.com/ The blushing bride happens to be the granddaughter of a dear friend, well his daughter (who lives in Huntsville) is my best friend, I decided to have lunch rather than breakfast, for she came far away with her brother...

      What a day it turned out to be, the soon to be bride happen to recognize us with her soon to be husband while driving along the main drag of the city. They joined us...they sat and we chatted, they ordered we had a great time. And then the groom's parents and a sister drove down the main drag, they spotted us. Yep the party dragged on till 4PM.

      Sorry that I am ranting, but what a great weekend, how was yours? And thank you for your permission to utilize your recipe! :)

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    9. I am so happy people were excited about the recipe. Quiche is just great. It sounds like you had a really nice time. I have been to 1 or 2 wedding showers/baby showers in the past. If I were throwing a bridal shower, it would be totally tea party themed, with mini-quiches, mini-tarts, and finger sandwiches... and, of course, tea, and the best china.

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    10. Jen,
      I have been Maid of Honour at several weddings and also a maitron of honour (quite a few times over)where I was part of the planning of the Bridal Shower. Do you know where this evolved from?

      This is from wiki:

      "The custom of the bridal shower is said to have grown out of earlier dowry practices, when a poor woman's family might not have the money to provide a dowry for her, or when a father refused to give his daughter her dowry because he did not approve of the marriage. In such situations, friends of the woman would gather together and bring gifts that would compensate for the dowry and allow her to marry the man of her choice."

      It evolved from Belgium, a century ago and then brought to the USA...here's the link ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridal_shower

      I find it fascinating, customs and traditions.

      Yes. quiche is a great choice, however your "true" end result, your image along with your post, makes it credible. How may times one is enticed to purchase a simple TV Dinner with "fake" pictures? It's a marketing ploy.Many women said: "Now that's credible!" When looking over your recipe. Yes, I had to admit that I had not tried it... YET. But I said I had compared it to my own recipe, and yours was worth it because of the thickness of your end result.

      Tea party for a shower theme, sounds wonderful - with fine china, maybe you can organize my future bridal shower Hahaha

      I loved this recent shower, because we had to wear Garden Party Attire. No blue jeans, shorts, or dress down... dresses, skirts, I had the perfect outfit too. We all compared notes on what we had chosen to wear. No, there wasn't fine china.

      Now most interesting though, as a mingling tool what these bridesmaids did as a first game. (I hate the games) But this was great... they had a list of the guests with things that the Bride shared about the guests. No names included, a simple thing about them. Example" She rode a motorcycle" stuff like that....Each guest were compelled to ask the women about themselves. This was an icebreaker in my opinion. At showers at many people know each other at first. I recognized where I may have failed in organizing a simple shower, could have been better.

      Oh yeah! there was another embarrassing game, I was the model where someone had to design a wedding dress onto me with toilet paper... I do not want to see those pictures. It was fun Jen!

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    11. Wow, I never knew where the tradition of bridal showers came from. That's quite interesting.

      Those games at the shower you attended sound fun, great way to "break the ice," so to speak. Sometimes you have to be a little silly in order to relax and have a good time. :)

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    12. Doh?! I re-read my previous comment...

      "This was an icebreaker in my opinion. At showers at many people know each other at first. I recognized where I may have failed in organizing a simple shower, could have been better."

      Should read as:

      "This was an ice-breaker in my opinion. At showers, where many people do not know much about each other,at first, they are forced/compelled to mingle to meet..."

      Anyway, to you and Al, have a great week! Pssst Al, someone is attempting is this what you are referring too? (eyeroll) http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1210449--nik-wallenda-walking-the-walk-will-cost-up-to-1-3-million

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    13. http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/all/Daredevil+Wallendas+tightrope+walk+over+Niagara+Falls/6771455/story.html

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  2. Hey Jen!

    Mmm, mmm good is all I can think about @ that yummy looking curry, and those delicious muffins. And a barbecue to boot, suddenly, I'm hungry. Hope everyone's week is off to a great start. Enjoy your day. Now, off to fetch a fresh muffin and a coffee. Low-whistle @ that curry dish.

    P.S. Wondering aloud if Jen's housemates and coworkers realize how fortunate they have it. Do any of them share your fondness for baking and cooking, Jen?

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    1. My week is off to a pretty good start. I made myself some simple veggie and rice soup for dinner.

      One of my coworkers also loves to bake, I recently discovered her blog. She bakes professional cakes and other goodies for children in need who cannot afford cakes of their own, which I think is a great thing to do. Her name is Jen also.

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    2. Good morning, Jen!

      Great news @ your week is off to a great start...what a yummy treat @ veggie and rice soup (I presume Campbell's, but knowing you it was homemade straight from your own expertise). Several days ago, had a Campbell's alphabet soup w/Texas toast...had a choice of going with the garlic version or a cheesy version, and given you and Meesh's strong recommendation for the healthy benefits of garlic in another thread, chose the former.

      Leave it to another Jen to genuinely care about others, and the world around her. Just curious, has anyone ever called you Jenny before? Perhaps your family members, close friends or your special Friend? Have there been moments at work when you and Jen(2) answered someone at the same time? Well, Jen(1), here's wishing you and Meesh a great day ahead.

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    3. Yes, I did make my soup from scratch. The only non-homemade thing about it is that I used chicken broth from a box.

      It's funny, the other Jen and I work in the same little room/"office" now, but I never get confused when other people are talking to her because I can gather from the context when they are addressing her about something or other. I have an uncle that calls me Jenny but that is about it.

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  3. Hey Jen!

    Hmm...now that's pretty interesting @ "chicken broth from a box", because I thought maybe you'd have your own secret recipe tucked away...Was it just a matter of time on your hands, or is there a brand out there that you just find agreeable to your taste buds?

    Wow! You guys work in such close quarters...good thing you are perceptive/sharp enough to differentiate just whose being addressed. Is it a matter of one of you is less outgoing, or could it be the conversational content/subject matter? <===Just thinking aloud, Jen, no need to answer. Appreciate the banter this week, here's wishing you and Meesh a safe and wonderful weekend ahead. Back next week to see what's next on tap here at your Epic Treats.

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    1. Yeah, I just didn't really have time to make my own broth. I just wanted something quick but still semi-homemade. :)

      See you next week, Al, have a great weekend.

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    2. Al, thanks for including me within your well wishes! I hope you are safe and HAPPY! Nice to see you.

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    3. p.s. re: my weekend, it was pretty nice :). A friend and I went and walked around some malls all day. We went to three different malls. It was beautiful weather.

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    4. Good morning, Jen!

      Glad to hear your weekend was pleasant--woohoo! Nothing quite like sunny California on a good day. Am scrambling out to get ahead of the lunch hour traffic (some guy is attempting a highwire walk across the mighty Niagara Falls later this week, and this region is bustling with activity around that)hope you and Meesh have a great day in store. Given your visit to three different Malls, Did you happen to wear out your shoes? If so, you would have had a golden opportunity to replace them with a new pair (lots of stores to choose from)Did you guys have something to eat amid your travels? Enjoy your day.

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    5. Haha, I like your joke Al. I did not wear out my shoes, I just wore sandals that day, made of a very thick foam material. :) Hope you are enjoying your week.

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    6. Hey Jen!

      Hahaha at your quick wit. Your sandals sound soooo comfortable, and whatwith all that walking, er, shopping that's a good thing. Pretty day here, lots of sunshine with a gentle breeze to boot--not bad for only 67 degrees. Off to visit the hotdog vendor for a quick bite in the park. Enjoy your day--Carpe diem :)

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  4. Good morning, Jen!

    Peeked in to say have a great weekend guys. Back next week to see what's next on tap here at your Epic Treats. Please don't tell me you are out setting a new Guinness World Record for most consecutive days/hours shopping. Where in the world is Jen? Mall alerts have been issued all along the California coastline...

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    1. Haha, I have no time to shop when I am working all week :). Likely I'll be very busy this weekend, finishing up classwork... but a trip to San Francisco within the next few weeks is tentatively on my agenda. Have a great week too Al (and Meesh) :)

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    2. Good morning, Jen!

      Haha @ your quick wit. Hope your weekend was measured with a sense of satisfaction with completing your classwork, and also enjoying some "you time" as well. Cannot wait for your next adventure into San Francisco (hopefully another interesting post and great pics are in store). <===Maybe? Hope you and Meesh are enjoying a great day.

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    3. Yes! San Francisco this weekend! :)
      Last weekend was nice, I went to the farmers market in Campbell and also Whole Foods to do a little shopping.

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  5. Hey Jen!

    Peeked in to say Hi. Any truth to the rumor swirling about that the A's of Oakland may soon be playing in San Jose? Just thinking aloud so no need to answer the baseball question. Enjoy your day.

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    1. Hi Al,
      My apologies for not updating sooner.. I've been so busy with classes and work, and I wasn't able to get good pictures of this one thing I made.. but I'll see what I can come up with for next week.

      I am not sure about the A's of Oakland, I don't really go to sporting events, but that would be cool if they are going to be here. :)

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  6. Good morning, Jen!

    Have a great weekend...back next week to see what's next on tap here at your Epic Treats.

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    1. Have a great weekend too, Al! I will definitely post next week because I am visting San Francisco this weekend. I've committed to it. And it's for school so I can't say I'm too busy. :)

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    2. Thank You, Jen! You, too : ). Am scrolling up to reread your latest SF adventure. Enjoy your day.

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