village roots http://villagerootsvt.com Mon, 13 May 2013 21:57:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Gai Tom Ka and my love of Thai food http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1533 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1533#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 21:57:15 +0000 admin http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1533 It is no secret around here that I love Thai food. It comes through in a great deal of my cooking. However, living in central Vermont, there are not a lot of Thai food options OR ingredients. We make do with what we got. Period. So my apologies for the few ingredients that are less than authentic. This is one of my absolute favorites and I make it quite often for my weekly specials for my customers. It freezes like a dream as well. It is rare that I don’t have at least 1 quart held up in emergency back stock. We will try this is one in my series of “The No Recipe Recipes”. Don’t be scared.

Start with this in a big old pot: IMG_3302

Sorry for the crappy picture. I’m working on it (all good things in time), but this includes: 1 thumb of ginger, 1 jalapeno, scallions, dried shiitake mushrooms, fresh shiitake mushroom stems, star anise, basil and lemongrass. Shrimp shells if you’ve got them! Add 4-5 cans of coconut milk and 1 quart of stock (vegetable,chicken, fish, shrimp, pork…whatever). Bring to a bubble and simmer for at least 20 minutes or so. Meanwhile, during the simmer, cut up these veg (or any variation you like) into easy-to-fit-in-your-mouth pieces and place them raw in another big pot:

Red and/or yellow peppers, cabbage (Chinese if available), Bok choy, slivered white onion, bambo shoots, spinach, fresh shiitake mushrooms, button mushrooms… Feel free to add cooked chicken, pork or shrimp here as well.

Strain the hot coconut broth right over these fresh raw veg.

Add chopped up scallion, cilantro and the zest + juice of a few limes. Season the soup to taste with soy sauce or tamari AND fish sauce. (Yes, it smells a bit much, but NOT to be skimped. Use a light hand and add a splash or two, there is nothing like it).

End up with this and many friends… IMG_3310

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1533 0 Laundry Basket Dinner http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1516 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1516#comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:47:17 +0000 admin http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1516 IMG_3266 IMG_3274 IMG_3286 IMG_3282 IMG_3273 111The first warm night we headed into the woods for a picnic supper, only a laundry basket was more our style. Adam says that Vermonters are like turtles, they crawl out of hiding to sun themselves on a log the first warm day. That is exactly what we did, seeking sunlight on the deck of an old empty hunting camp far up in the woods.

Laundry Basket Dinner:

Salad Greens With Cucumber, Tamari Almonds, Chick Peas and Miso Dressing

Grilled Flat Bread with jar sauce

PB&Js

Seltzer and various bad for you drinks

Snap Peas

Snickers

 

Pull Ups, Wipes and a great book.

 

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1516 0 This Moment (A Day Late) http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1510 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1510#comments Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:42:19 +0000 admin http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1510 {this moment} - A Friday “today” ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Idea borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/

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]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1510 0 Quiet Dinner http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1493 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1493#comments Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:09:30 +0000 admin http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1493 Very rarely, do we get a chance to go out alone, kidless. As most early thirty-somethings working for ourselves with 2 kids age 5 and under, the funds often aren’t there for babysitter AND fancy dinner. When the stars do happen to line up we go for it. This time we headed toward Middlebury and after a long walk, ended up at the Storm Cafe. Here is a snip from our night…

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Well, we never really are alone…

 

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Seared Diver Scallops with Local Spinach and Popcorn Puree.

 

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Shrimp Carbonara with Wild Mushrooms and Tomato.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1493 0 Thinking of Boston http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1482 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1482#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:59:41 +0000 admin http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1482 IMG_1889IMG_3183 IMG_3177 IMG_3179 IMG_1587

My heart goes out to all the runners and spectators of the Boston Marathon.

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1482 0 Easter Weekend http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1463 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1463#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:33:40 +0000 admin http://www.villagerootsvt.com/?p=1463 Just a few snaps from a beautiful weekend spent in the sunshine with family and friends. It really doesn’t get any better.

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]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1463 0 Fried Rice http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1456 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1456#comments Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:15:24 +0000 admin http://www.villagerootsvt.com/?p=1456 This is one of the recipes in my “No Recipe Recipe” series. I just take some things and throw them together for an easy meal. You get the idea….

IMG_3202 Start with this.

Scramble the eggs and set aside.

Saute the vegetables (or keep some raw) and add some cooked rice (or grain of your choice).

Put the scrambled eggs back in with everything and drizzle with the sauce. Use a sauce of equal parts soy sauce (or tamari) and brown sugar (or sweetener of your choice).

You get this…

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Soon after you serve it comes this…

IMG_3206Enjoy.

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1456 0 This Moment http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1451 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1451#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:50:15 +0000 admin http://www.villagerootsvt.com/?p=1451 IMG_3183

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Idea borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1451 0 Anyone Else? http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1446 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1446#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:53:24 +0000 admin http://www.villagerootsvt.com/?p=1446 I just wanted to share this photo (taken on my iphone). This is how I regularly find our local “megamart” grocery store. Where is all the “food” (these days I use that term loosely)? Not only is the quality of food a huge disappointment, but the selection and amount as well. Boo.

Something has got to change.

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]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1446 0 This Moment http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1442 http://villagerootsvt.com/?p=1442#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:19:40 +0000 admin http://www.villagerootsvt.com/?p=1442 IMG_3152

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Borrowed from http://www.soulemama.com/

]]> http://villagerootsvt.com/?feed=rss2&p=1442 0