Posts Tagged october

Pumpkin and peanut curry

Pumpkinpeanutcurry

“Peanut butter and pumpkin is not something that you would otherwise have thought would go together, especially in a curry, but this works on so many levels. Great idea for those leftovers from the Halloween pumpkin surplus”.

  • 2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp tomato puree
  • 1 lime, Zest and Juice
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • fresh coriander, small handful
  • 2 red chiles, halved & seeded
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 cm fresh ginger root
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 red onions, cut into thin wedges
  • 800 g pumpkin, peeled, deseeded and roughly diced
  • 400 ml coconut milk

Stir the peanut butter into a jug containing 200ml hot water, until it dissolves. Stir in the purée, lime zest and juice, soy or fish sauce and sugar. Ignore how ropey this looks! Set aside.

Remove the leaves from the coriander and set aside. Chop the stalks and roots as finely as you can, along with the chilli, garlic and ginger.

Heat the oil in a wok or good-sized pan and fry the onions quite briskly for a few minutes, so that they catch slightly. As soon as this starts to happen, add the pumpkin and stir-fry for a few minutes. Stir in the chilli mixture for 1 minute, then add the coconut milk. Stir, then add the peanut butter mix. Cook at a brisk simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the pumpkin is tender. Season to taste or add more soy or fish sauce, as you like. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with cooked rice.

Notes : Could be spicier, would add more chili in the future, as when I had done this recipe the first time, I used very small 5-6cm chillies, which didn’t seem to give too much of a punch.

Substitutions : To substitute dried coriander for fresh in a recipe, use 1 tbsp dried for 3 tbsp freshly chopped

Source : Delicious Magazine : website

Servings/Yield : 4 servings

Rating : 4 out of 5

Difficulty : Moderately Easy

Cuisine : Asian : Southern

Course : Main

Preparation Times : Ready in: 45 Minutes

Wine Recommendation : The exotic flavours call for an Aussie white Semillon-Chardonnay or a red Pinot Noir.

Nutritional notes : Per serving: 333kcals, 27g fat (16.8g saturated), 7.4g protein, 16.3g carbs, 8.5g sugar, 0.8g salt

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Butternut squash soup with chilli & crème fraîche

pumpkinsoup

“Come in from the cold to a warming bowlful of autumn”

  • 1 kg butternut squash, peeled and deseeded
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 onions, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
  • 2 red chillies (mild), deseeded and finely chopped
  • 850 ml vegetable stock, hot
  • 4 tbsp creme fraiche, plus more to serve

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash into large cubes, about 4cm/1½in across, then toss in a large roasting tin with half the olive oil. Roast for 30 mins, turning once during cooking, until golden and soft.

While the squash cooks, melt the butter with the remaining oil in a large saucepan, then add the onions, garlic and ¾ of the chilli. Cover and cook on a very low heat for 15-20 mins until the onions are completely soft.

Tip the squash into the pan, add the stock and the crème fraîche, then whizz with a stick blender until smooth. For a really silky soup, put the soup into a liquidiser and blitz it in batches. Return to the pan, gently reheat, then season to taste. Serve the soup in bowls with swirls of crème fraîche and a scattering of the remaining chopped chilli.

Notes : We used Soya Cream instead of creme fraiche as well as pumpkin in leu of butternut squash

Source : Good Food : October 2009

Servings/Yield : 4 servings

Rating : 5 out of 5

Difficulty : Easy

Preparation Times : Prep: 15 Minutes Cook: 50 Minutes

Nutritional notes : Per Serving: 264 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 28g, fat 15 g, saturated fat 7g, fibre 6g, salt 0.61 g (These figures will be a hell of a lot lower with the Soya Cream alternative)

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Halloween Top 5 Playlist.. plus new editions

monster mash

Over the years we come across songs here and there that really defines the Halloween October spirit, these are 5 of my favourites.

No.1 Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo

Originally written for the Back to School soundtrack starring Rodney Dangerfield.  If you ever have the opportunity to see this film, it was one of my childhood favourites, you also get the chance to see a very young Robert Downey Jr.

No.2 Thriller by Michael Jackson

Now I’m the biggest Michael Jackson ‘non’ fan out there, but you can’t steer clear of this song come Halloween.  This video even has lyrics so you can sing along.  You’ wouldn’t believe how many copies of this video is on you tube but blocked so you can’t embed them in other websites and blogs.  Don’t remember but as far as I remember that’s Vincent Price doing the narration.

No.3 Little Shop of Horrors

This was a great film from the 80s, and the music was fantastic.  Not really party music, but I love watching this anyway at this time of year.

No.4 Ghostbusters Theme Song by Ray Parker Jr.

We all loved this song and the movie.  You’re singing along to it now aren’t you.

No.5 Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Cryptkickers

Really can’t leave this out either, saving the most obvious for last.  If you can think of somethig we’re missing, please do leave your suggestion for next year.

New 2010 editions for a new year of Halloween Celebrations…

No.6 Ghost Town by The Specials

The song is currently ranked as the 90th greatest song of all time, as well as the best song of 1981, by Acclaimed Music.  The perfect accompaniment to your Halloween Shindig.

No.7 I’m Your Boogie Man by KC and the Sunshine Band

Not really ‘Boogieman’ in the term of a Halloween monster, but still appropriate nonetheless.

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