Sunday, January 2, 2011

New Years Day 2011 - McCrary family dinner

2011 started off with a New Year's Day dinner with the McCrary side of the family at our house. In attendance were Zac's aunt Marcia, cousin Drew, aunt Susie and her husband Jim, Zac's parents Bill and Martha, and Zac's sister Laura and her boyfriend Will.  Oh, and me, Zac, and Fritz.


Cooking before guests arrive


Dining Room

Kitchen Table


Menu:
Cambodian Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Shrimp (Food and Wine Magazine Recipe, see below)
Stove top Mac and Cheese (Alton Brown Recipe)
Roasted Asparagus and Peppercorn Beef Tenderloin with Bearnaise Sauce
Susie's Squash Casserole
Laura's Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
Martha's Caesar Salad and Tomato, Onion, Cheese Salad
Marcia and Drew's Chocolate Cherry Cake
Strawberry Cake (from Nancy Patterson's in Montgomery)


Cambodian Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Shrimp Recipe
by Ratha Chau


ACTIVE: TOTAL TIME: 40 MIN SERVINGS: 4

FAST,HEALTHY,STAFF-FAVORITE

Ingredients
One 3-pound rotisserie chicken
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1 cup water
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
1 teaspoon honey
1 cup cooked jasmine rice
8 shelled and deveined medium shrimp, halved lengthwise (about 1/4 pound)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped basil
1 Thai chile, thinly sliced
Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

1.Cut the chicken into legs, thighs, breasts and wings. Cut each breast crosswise through the bones into 3 pieces. Remove the thigh bones and cut each thigh in half.

2.In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the ginger and garlic and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the stock, water, fish sauce, honey and rice and bring to a boil. Add the chicken pieces and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and cook just until opaque, about 1 minute. Stir in the lime juice, cilantro, basil and chile and serve right away, passing lime wedges at the table.

2010 comes to an end

Throughout the year I've photographed food, but did not write down the recipe used, the occasion, etc.  So this post is a compilation of random food adventures throughout 2010.  It's been fun looking back!

Pork dish

French toast with sauteed plantains. It was delicious!


First pepper harvest of the year.  We use home-made Earth Boxes to grow our veggies.


On the right - Chicken Milanese with tomato fennel sauce by Giada De Laurentiis.    On the left is a Parmesan pasta with portobello mushrooms. This was my first time working with fennel. It was delicious!  


I made several variations of mango salsa this year.  This dish is a grilled chicken breast with mango salsa, peas, and store-bought Indian naan bread.


Rachael Ray's loaded nachos! This has been a favorite of ours since seeing it on 30-minute meals in college. Yum-o!


Another favorite since college. Cooking Light's blueberry power muffins. They are my favorite blueberry muffins, and very good for you! Great frozen then reheated in the microwave before heading off to work!


I love meatballs. Dish above is home made Italian meatballs with a mozzarella cheese sauce, rosemary roasted potatoes, and salad.

Up next: 2011!