Coconut Rice and Green Sauce

In another cooking experiment I came across a surprising sauce that Ladybug, absolutely adores which is strange since she doesn't really like spicy food.  Rosie isn't fond of it but it is easy enough to serve on the side so I still like to make it.  These 2 recipes are part of the a set of Jamie Oliver 15 minutes meals.  I found the original recipe at Hot Cooking Food Blog,  the whole thing was tasty and delicious, but the rice and the sauce really stand out in my mind.

Coconut Rice

Jamie Oliver, 15 minute Meals

1 can Coconut Milk

300g basmati rice (1 empty coconut milk cans worth)

water

1/2 lemon

This recipe is unique because it uses the can from the coconut milk as the measuring tool.  1 can of coconut milk, 1 can of water and 1 can of rice, Voila!

~To saucepan add coconut milk and 1 can of water.  Rinse 1 can of rice until it runs clear and add to saucepan.  Add lemon.  Bring to the boil, put a lid on the saucepan and turn down the temperature to simmer.  Simmer 10 minutes, test the rice for doneness, remove from the heat.

~Serve.

Chili Miso Green Sauce

Jamie Oliver, 15 minute Meals

1/2 Fresh Red Chili pepper

Thumb sized piece of Ginger, peeled

1 tbsp Miso Paste

1 bunch Cilantro

Juice 1/2 lemon

2-3 tbsp Light Soy Sauce

1 1/2 tsp honey

500g-1kg green veggies such as sugar snap peas, broccoli, asparagus, green beans.  -OR- a mix of veggies

1 Lime

~In a blender add 1/2 of the chili (you can always add more), and everything but the green veggies.  Blend until it is a fine consistency, you can always taste and add more liquid if needed.

~Steam green veggies until tender crisp.

~Serve veggies with sauce either onto or on the side.

~Enjoy!

Banana Bread

I have, on occasion, made a great recipe and lose it.  It is horrible to make something so good and not be able to make it again because I can't for the life of me follow the convoluted way that took me to the recipe.  So I am going to attempt again to start storing my recipes that I make or use and store them in a place that I can easily find.  

This recipe was found via the comments section at the front of the April issue of Canadian Living.  The comments section was filled with rave review of The Ultimate Banana Bread, so I had to try it.  It turned out beautifully crunchy on the outside but soft and tender on the inside.  I did add the chocolate chips because why would you leave them out, so delicious.  

I made this and it was so good that it didn't last long enough to get pictures.  I will post some pictures when I make it again. 

The Ultimate Banana Bread

Recipe from Canadian Living, March 2014

3 ripe Bananas, mashed

1/2 cup Buttermilk*

1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda

2 1/4 cups AP Flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

3/4 cup Butter, softened

1 cup packed Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (Optional, well, sort of :)

~Preheat oven to 350F and line a 9" x 5" loaf pan

~In a small bowl add bananas, buttermilk and baking soda and let sit for 5 minutes. *I used dried buttermilk powder and reconstituted it according to the directions since I never have buttermilk in the house and I am not one to pre plan for the things I want to bake, thusly buttermilk powder*

~In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder and salt.  If adding chocolate chip, and why wouldn't you, this would be the time to add them to the flour mixture.

~In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar.  You can do this with a mixer or a kitchenaid but I was too lazy to haul it out of the cupboard.

~To the butter/sugar mixture add the egg, vanilla and banana mixture.  Once the wet are all combined add the flour and chocolate chip mixture and mixture until just combined.

~Pour into the prepared pan.

~Bake 60 to 70 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan 10-15 minutes and then turn out onto a rack to completely cool.