---> Cooking Club is coming up soon, and now that I'm blogging, I want to share these moments but I thought I should play catch-up first. So without further ado, here (and in more posts to come) is what we've been up to. Enjoy!
#3 September: Ingredient Apple
The Menu:
Main Course
Mango Apple Curry
Desserts
Desserts
Spiced Apple Stir-Fry
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| Look at that tasty fall stew. Yum-0 |
Cooking Club is expanding! Our new member is actually Jessica's boyfriend and a fellow co-worker. Welcome, Andrew!
It was Jenny's turn to decide on a theme and she chose apples (because of their abundance lately), which means we must have that ingredient somewhere in our recipe. This month I chose to make Giada's Israeli Couscous with Apples, Cranberries and Herbs and Spiced Apple Stir-Fry (<--- not sure where I found this recipe; it was just on a piece of scrap paper, hiding in my box of to-make-soon dishes). I couldn't decide which one I wanted to make, so I brought both.
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| Check out my new apron! |
You have to make this couscous. Please
make this, you will be so happy you did. Seriously. This was my first
time ever eating this new food, and now I'd eat it every day if I
could. Actually, I enjoyed this recipe so much that I make it about
three times a month. Everyone loved it; so the next time I made it, I
brought it to work to share with my co-workers. A tiny mistake on my part.
They all love it so much, that now if they find out I made some and
didn't bring it in they give me a hard time. It's so good I don't even
want to share. haha. I want to keep it all to myself. And every time I
make this dish, I thank the Lord that Mr. B isn't into trying new foods.
The
funny thing is, my best friend Jessica, not the co-worker and Cooking
Club member, my other Jessica (I know, it's hard to keep up sometimes),
called me up a week after I made this at our meeting. She was going on
and on about this couscous recipe she recently made and just knew that I would love. After she finished describing it, I realized it was the same recipe.
Yes, my friends, it is that good.
It's so good that it's listed on the menu for my last meal ever. (You know, the question: What would you eat if it was your last meal?) Yes, I must have this.
Anyhoo,
having another member in the kitchen was fun and a new learning
experience all over again. I love learning about people and what they
bring to the table, literally. This was another great meeting, and next
to my couscous, Jenny's Braised Pork and Apple Stew was killer. However,
my second dish, Spiced Apple Stir-Fry was quite tasty, and I'd love to
have this every time I eat vanilla ice cream. [Actually, this is fantastic on top of a bowl of plain Greek yogurt and sprinkled with sliced almonds. I think it gives Chobani a run for its money. The perfect healthy dessert.]
Spiced Apple Stir-Fry
Serves 4-5
3 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced (or any favorite apple will work. Also, peeling is optional. I like the texture, so I leave it on.)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger (if you don't have, ground works just as well)
1/3 c sugar <--- taste your apples! I rarely use this much sugar, probably less than half. The apples lend enough sugar themselves.
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
1/3 c apple cider
1 tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp butter <--- I use coconut oil, and I think it's even better, more flavor.
Cut stacked apple slices into fourths; set aside. In a small bowl, mix together sugar and spices; set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk cider with cornstarch; set aside. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add apple slices and ginger and stir-fry, about 2 minutes. Stir in sugar-spice mixture and stir-fry another 2 minutes. Stir in cider mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil and is slightly thickened. Serve warm over vanilla ice cream.
[I apologize for not being able to provide a photo along with this recipe. It was so good, by the time we finished filling our bellies there wasn't any left to photograph.] <--- Feast your eyes on the beautiful caramelization splendor. It tastes just as wonderful as it looks.
*I
hope you enjoyed these Cooking Club snippets. There are many more to
come as I try to play catch-up before this month's meeting. I hope these
themes, and even Cooking Club itself, inspire you to gather with your
friends and family in the kitchen, and make sweet moments (and delicious
food) of your own.
**I've
only included the recipes to the dishes I made. Only because I'm unsure
of where everyone got theirs...and hey, we gotta give credit where
credit is due. If you have any questions about the other dishes, I'll ask the other members where they got their recipes and pass it along!
Check out our previous meetings!Cooking Club #1
Cooking Club #2
[Update: I've included the link to the French Apple Tart, a new photo of the pork stew from last week, which Mr. B devoured with a side of buttered noodles <--- follow the above link for that perfect fall recipe, and some heavenly dessert photos.]
With Love and God Bless,
Brindi
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