Two Recipes, a Funny Hat, a Snooze, and Flowers from Barcelona

A couple of you requested the recipes for the the chicken satay. I've included the noodle recipe as they go well together. These are both from a friend, Jan Rhodehamel, who is a phenom in the kitchen. I've altered them both, however, to suit our tastes.

Beef or Chicken Satay

1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp minced garlic
4 tbs fresh minced ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup soy
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground curry
Put all ingredients in the blender and process. Pour over chicken or beef and marinate at least several hours. I usually marinate overnight.

Sesame Oil Pasta Salad

1 lb rotini pasta, boiled and drained
4 tbs sesame oil (found in the Asian section of the food store-very dark and pungent)
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup corn or canola oil
4 tbs minced ginger*
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp ground white pepper
1 cup green onions, chopped
1/2 tsp Tobasco
1/2 cup peanut butter
Toss the pasta with the sesame oil and set aside. Add all other ingredients EXCEPT the green onions to a blender. Blend well. Pour over warm pasta and top with green onions. Mix well and refrigerate. Bring to room temp a half hour before serving.

* I buy a root of ginger and freeze it. When I want to use it I take it from the freezer and grate it directly into the food. NEVER defrost it. It keeps for about three months in the freezer.



Since TAG at The Amature Gigolo has declared this funny hat day I thought I'd post this:


The baby's other grand mother put her in the high chair and then turned around to fix her food. When she went to feed her, this is what she saw. Sometimes a nap is much more important than a meal!


And finally, I leave you with some flowers. I took this at the market on La Rumba in Barcelona.