Thai Cooking Class

Last night, a few girlfriends and I went to a Thai cooking class. It was great and we learned many delicious new recipes. I'm including a few of my favorites. In fact, I'm making the Garlic Pork recipe tonight.

Kratiem Prik Thai Moo
(Garlic Pork Tenerloin)

Servings 8
Preparation: 15 min
Cooking: 5 min

1/2 to 1 tbl black peppercorns
1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
10 cloves garlic
1 tbl chopped cilantro stems (stems are more peppery and flavorful)
3 tbl soy sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
whole pork tenderlion
5 tbl cooking oil
cilantro and lime for garnish

In mortar, place black peppercorns, salt, 5 cloves garlic and cilantro stems. Pound with pestle until it becomes paste. Stir in soy sauce and sugar to make a marinade sauce. Pour marinade over sliced pork tenerloin and mix well. Let set for 15 minutes.

In frying pan, fry remaining garlic (chopped) in oil until yellow golden. Remove and set aside. In the same frying pan, fry sliced pork tenerloin on both sides until cooked, about 3 minute on each side.

Place pork on serving plate and garnish with fried garlic, cilantro and lime wedges.
Serve with jasmine rice.



Phanang Neua
Beef in Phanang Curry
(I liked this best, but will substitue chicken the next time. Curry is very spicy in this dish)

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 min
Cooking: 5 min

2 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbls red curry paste (Thia Kitchen brand is good to use)
1/4 to 1/2 cup coconut milk
1 lb beef top sirloin steak, thinkly sliced
1/2 tsp sugar
salt and fish suace as needed
3 tbl basil leaves, thinly sliced

Roast coriander and cumin seeds in fry pan over md. heat until fragrant and seeds are brown. Let them cool and then grind in spice grinder.

Pan-fry curry paste, coriander and cumin with 1/4 cup coconut milk and let it cook on md-high heat until oil is separated and the curry is fragrant. Stir in beef until cooked. Add coconut milk as needed to make it creamy but not soupy. Remove from heat when beef is cooked. Add sugar, salt and fish sauce as needed.

Garnish by sprinkling witha few tbl of coconut milk and basil.



Saku Peark
(Tapioca Pearls with Sweet Coconut Cream)

Yeilds: 4 cups
Prep Time: 10 min
cooking: 5 minuts

4 cups wates
1 cup small tapioca pearls
1 cup sugar
1 cup coconut cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes

Bring water to a boil in saucepan. When the water is boiling, pour in the tapioca pearls and stir until they become translucent. Pour in sugar and stire until it is melted. Divide into 8 serving bowls.

In samke saucepan, heat coconut milk and salt together until the salt is dissolved and milk is warm. Pour 2-3 tbl coconut milk over tapioca in each bowl. Garnish with toasted coconut flakes. Best served right away while still warm. Also good with banana, mango, and papaya mixed in.

Betty Crocker

Campbelle made cookies this afternoon... she was a great helper, especially when she added the chocolate chips. For every chip she put into the bowl, I think 2 went into her mouth.

Woodlawn Park Zoo

This morning we went to the zoo with a few friends. We had a great morning and loved to see all the animals. Campbelle's favorite animals were the tigers - however, we didn't see them as they were taking a nap. ?!? Here is Sydney and Campbelle in front of a huge python.

Marcus and Campbelle

The bear put on a very good show. Growled, swam, caught fish from the water! Campbelle didn't look too scared.

Adam and Christian - stroller buddies! Some day your mom's will let you out!!

Mom's favorite - Giraffes.

Christian's first day of Baby Swim. He loved it.

Gina's new apartment. It is so cute. All she needs is a dining room table! We already LOVE having her here. Campbelle wondered if she could live with her Aunt Gina, but I think I'd miss her too much. :-)

You can't tell that these kids are related, can you?!?!

On her way to school. She looks so grown-up!

Fiesta Scalloped Potatoes

I've made this recipe a few times, and always gets good reviews. Makes a big serving - 10-12. So we usually half the recipe.

4 lbs Russet potatoes
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbl finely chopped pickled jalapenos
1 cup corn kernels
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup tiny diced red bell pepper
1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream
2 cups cream

Preheat over to 350. Butter a 9x13 glass baking dish.

Peel and slice the potatoes into 1/4 inch slices. You should have about 10-12 cups potatoes. Toss them with salt, pepper, jalapenos, corn, green onions, red peppers and green chiles.

Layer half potatoes mixture in dish, distributing evenly. Spinkle with halk the cheese and top with remaining potatoes mixture.

In bow, whisk together sour cream and cream and pour over potatoes.
Tap the dish on the counter to spread the sauce. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Bake potatoes uncovered for 1 - 1 1/4 hours or until browned and tender.

(Can also be made up to 1 day in advance and kept in refriderator.)

Art projects are Campbelle's favorite things to do. I think she could cut, glue and draw all day long!!

Dad, Marva, Tammy, Gina and the kids having coffee while walking around Pike's Market. Tammy and Gina drove here with Gina's car and Dad and Marva pulled the U-Haul with all Gina's stuff. Both cars got here on Wednesday. Gina moved into her apartment Friday. It will be great to have her close!

Gina is here to stay... but Tammy flew out on Saturday.

Christian's first coffee... now a true Seattlite

Grandpa Jerry and Campbelle, just hanging out

Christian had his 9 month check up today. 20 lbs and 31 inches. A tall, skinny Norwegian boy!

Shooting Stars Preschool!

Campbelle was so excited about her first day of preschool, although a bit dissapointed that a bus wasn't coming to get her. She seems to have had a fun day... the questions she really answered had to do with snack time!! Go figure. She will be going Tuesday and Thursday morning for 2 1/2 hours.

First day of Preschool

Kelly!!

Our dear friend Kelly Bates-Felany came to visit us for awhile this past weekend. She is out here working at Microsoft for a few days. Campbelle thinks the world of Kelly and was so excited to have her here. No one could do things for her like buckle her seat belt, pour her milk, put on her shoes, take her to the potty, or read a bedtime book for her except her 'Auntie Kelly'. She does seem to miss Kelly's husband Toni... as she keeps asking 'Where Toni, he come later and play soccer for Campbelle." We wish they lived closer to us!!

Out of my bed Pappa!!

Get me outta here!

Campbelle thought this was a good idea..... Christian did not!

Movie Time

This morning Campbelle brought all her stuffed animals to the steps and pretended that they were all seated in a movie theater watching 'Madagascar'. I love that girl's imagination!!

Happy Birthday

Leif celebrated his 35th Birthday today.

Christian is taking a bath

Cousins

My cousins from my Dad's side were all together for the first time in many, many years. We were all back in South Dakota for my Grandma Hulda's funeral. She would have loved to see us all together and laugh along with us as we reminisced about our days of growing up together and all the fun we had. We all felt so fortunate to have such a special, fun, crazy Grandma like we did and are so thankful we were so close to her. She lived to 81 and had a great and active life.

From left: sister Gina, Amy Kolb, sister Tammy, me, Jaci Potts, and Robyn Shoop

Girl Scout

My neice Madison wearing Grandma Karen's Girl Scout uniform from the 1950s.

Book Club

Tonight was our book club meeting and another evening with a great group of women. I've only been a part of this book club for a few months, and at the evenings end... always feel so lucky to have this group. Discussions are always lively, philosophical, and intriguing. Ranging from a bit of psycho-analysis to the perils of childbirth!

Our book of the month was Reading Lolita in Tehran and we all pretty much agreed that we didn't like the book. I really wanted to enjoy the book, but had a hard time getting into it. Felt too much like reading a book report on the Nabokov novels then of the plight of Iranian women. Disappointing.

Next month's selection is a regional book The Winemaker's Daughter by Timothy Egan, set in the Pacific Northwest (Cascade Mts). It is about a young woman trying to save her fathers vineyards from drought and fire.

I hosted book club this month and I used my favorite chef's - The Barefoot Contessa - menu:

Turkey Lasagna

2 tbs olive oil
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 lb sweet Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes in tomato puree
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaved parsley
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper
1/2 lb lasagna noodles
15 oz ricotta cheese
3-4 oz creamy goat cheese
1 cup grated parmesan, plus 1/4 cup for sprinkling
1 egg, beaten
1 lb fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

Preheat over to 400.

Heat oo in large skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8-10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tbs parsley, the basil, 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. Simmer, uncovered , over medium-low heat, for 15-20 minutes, until thickened.

Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain.

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup parmesan, egg and remaining parsley salt, pepper. Set aside.

Ladle 1/3 of sauce into a 9x12 baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom . Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, 1/3 sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.


Pesto Pea Salad

Spinach
Frozen Peas
pesto (Barefoot Contessa makes her own, but I used the store bought kind)
Toasted pine nuts.

Combine!

Frozen Berries with Hot White Chocolate
(this is soooooo good... and sooooo easy!!)

1 bag white chocolate morsels
1 cup cream
bit of vanilla
Frozen mixed berries

Melt the chocolate, cream and vanilla. Pour the hot chocolate over the frozen berries.