Kitchen of India Butter Chicken Recipe

On July 15th was one of my bestie's birthday. For the past 12 years I have been blessed with two best friends. I meant Paulina in 9th grade and Stephanie in 10th grade! Hahahaha, I can still remember the classes that I first met them in but I have no idea how from there, we became friends! They are more amazing then I could have ever dreamed of! And, so I wanted to say, Happy Birthday Paulina! I love you and I am glad you are growing old with me ;) Who knew that people you met in high school would be such an important part of your life, a part that makes it that much more happier and that much more complete!

Speaking of great friends. With old friends, also comes new friends. On the same day (I guess it was meant to be a special day)- I hosted a bridal shower luncheon for my one of my labmates and friend. She is my go-to person to eat cupcakes with when we travel to conferences-- even venturing out in the freezing winter of Boston, just so I could try different cupcakeries. She is getting married on August 3rd to the love of her life, which she also met in Texas ;) I am thankful, that we have gotten to know each other well, because it turns out she is awesome and I have found such a great friend in her :) So to her-- Happy Almost Wedding Day Ashley!

I was also very productive, though embarrassingly late in finally getting around to ordering my wedding Thank You's. Yes, I know! I thought it would be better late than never. Right? I have heard from a lot of brides and wedding guests that they never even send out wedding thank you's. Turns out that most people would get busy after the wedding and then are too embarrassed to send them out. Regardless of how embarrassed I was, I wanted to send my sincerest appreciation for their presence, gifts, and thoughts-- even if I was late. Just to let them know it meant a lot to us. And--not only did I order it but I addressed and sent them all out (minus 4 we were missing addresses for). YAY!

I also had to resubmit a grant. Wow, did it take a TON of time, but ::fingers crossed:: It will get funded :) But all throughout I had my sweet hubby and my adorable Ninja face to make me smile :)

Until then, lets enjoy some Indian food. I'd like to think I am a good judge of authentic Indian food. I mean, Sri Lanka is very similar and did grow up on curry. I LOVE it! Well, College Station is limited in its offering of authentic Indian food ingredients, so you have to take what you can get. Plus, curry can sometimes require a lot of ingredients. I decided to try Kitchen of India's Butter Chicken packet. And with some additions and tweaks, I think it came out pretty good! I mean not perfectly authentic, but lets just say, if you have a butter chicken craving and want a simple, easy version without all those ingredients-- this would definitely make you happy!

KITCHEN OF INDIA BUTTER CHICKEN RECIPE

A For the Love of Dessert Original Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp. olive oil
2 large chicken breasts, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 (3.5 oz) packet of Kitchen of India: Butter Chicken
1 c. milk
3 tbsp. butter
1/2 of a 14.5 oz can of green beans
1 9 oz. Green Giant Garden Vegetable Medley (thawed)
squeeze of lemon juice
2 c. cooked rice (for serving)

DIRECTIONS

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add in chicken breasts, sprinkling a little salt and pepper on chicken over chickrn-- sauteing chicken until no longer pink in the middle. Once cooked, raise to medium-high heat and mix in the butter chicken paste found in the Kitchen of India Butter Chicken packet, along with milk and butter. Using a spatula stir together, while also breaking apart the butter chicken paste. This will help the paste dissolve to create a curry with the milk. Bring to a boil-- this will help the paste to break up more quickly as well as the butter to melt. Once the paste has fully dissolved, the curry should appear a dark-orange-brown. Reduce to low heat, add in green beans and vegetable medley-- simmer for 20 minutes. Allow the curry sauce to thicken and veggies to soak in the curry.

Once, the curry has thickened garnish with lemon juice and serve over rice :)

Enjoy,
Chika

Easy Coconut Chicken Curry

I really need to start ranting on For the Love of Dessert more often :) After having my little tirade, my week had an almost instantaneous turn around. I guess everyone needs a time to just rant about thier stressors and just be able to say and share it. There is something so therapeutic about expressing your feelings- even if it is not to who it is directed to. So thank you for that. I just get really annoyed, knowing that I am not being true to myself and what I think. Do not get me wrong- I do not think I perfect-- far far away from that-- but I do think that what I say is worthwhile to at least listen to and I do think that sometimes people are a bit shady but are in positions of power, where you cannot necessarily call them out on it.

So anywhoo...my week had this wonderful turn around :) I do have to admit that many, many hours of sleep were involved. But I felt happy and was actually able to be productive. I am very much looking forward to Thanksgiving this coming week, because I really could use the break. I get to visit my sister in Kansas City and the following week I am going to Columbus to visit my closest cousin. I am so excited! I have already been planning my foodie adventures with them- cookies, cupcakes, sushi....must visit them all in each city! Oh! I also got to spend some outdoor time with my sweet baby Ninja, which was also a nice change of pace.

I loved this recipe for Coconut Chicken Curry. The hubby loves coconut based curry and we have not had curry for awhile- so I knew we were long overdue for some curry. However, being busy on most days- I do not always have time to make the wonderful food that the hubby would like. But this time- I found this pretty awesome recipe for a crockpot Cocnut Chicken Curry. At first I was like, huh- could this be real? Can you really make chicken curry in the crockpot? So I was a bit hesistant but decided to try it out and I am glad I did :) Being Sri Lankan- I can say- I would probably make it more spicy but the hubby cannot handle too spicy, but it was a pretty darn good Coconut Chicken Curry (and super duper easy).



EASY COCONUT CHICKEN CURRY

Adapted from Simple Bites

INGREDIENTS

2 can of coconut milk

2.5 lbs of chicken (diced)

Family Size Green Giant Garden Medley Mix

2 tbsp. garlic

3 tbsp. butter

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. pepper

2 tbsp. curry powder

5 oz. Patak's Original Concentrated Curry paste

2 c. uncooked rice

DIRECTIONS

In the pot of the slow cooker, combine all ingredients except for rice. I first spread out the chicken and vegetables. I then pour the coconut milk over the chicken and vegetables. Last I add all the seasoning ingredients- mixing well into the coconut milk to make sure its evenly distributed. Cook on high for 4 hours. In a rice cooker, cook 2 c. of rice, serve curry over rice.

Enjoy,

Chika