Best dish ever

I know...that is a pretty bold statement but I honestly think it is true. I made this last night for my mom's birthday dinner and once again was amazed at how good it is.

This Chicken Tikka Masala recipe is based on one in October 2007 Cook's Illustrated and is quite possibly the best thing I have ever eaten. Literally...the BEST thing. I have made it several times and for many self-proclaimed "I don't like Indian food" dinner guests and each time I smile that all the plates are literally licked clean. No rinsing dishes required after this dinner.

I admit this it probably not a recipe you will whip up after work on a random Tuesday as it does have a few more steps than my usual go-to recipes but it is well worth it for a special or fun weekend dinner. The sauce can actually be made ahead, refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container, then gently reheated before adding chicken.

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Note: The below claims to be for 4-6 people but I always double it after running out the first few times I made it.

1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
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1 cup plain yogurt
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
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3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion , diced
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 fresh serrano or jalepeno chile, seeds and ribs removed then minced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp garam masala (I found at Target)
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
basmati rice
flat bread or pita bread


1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres. Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.

In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.

2. FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. (Oh, I wish you could smell this!)

Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.

3. COOK CHICKEN: Heat grill for the chicken (or you can use your broiler). Dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on grill. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Cook chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots flipping chicken halfway through cooking.

4. Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce). Stir in cilantro (optional - left this out when I couldn't find any) and serve with basmati rice and flat bread.

Be prepared for one of the best things you will have ever eaten.

Give it a try!

Day of Rest?

I remember learning that Sunday was supposed to be the day of rest. That may be true for people who do not have kids in school because if you do, it is anything but rest.

This Sunday, after finishing a gym workout, doing the grocery shopping, and taking the boys to a classmate's birthday party (2nd of 5 we have on next couple weeks), I came home to finish the laundry, start dinner, and sort through the boys' backpacks to start our week.

Below is the list of notes that were in the backpack to be signed up for, permission slipped, planned for, or items that must be brought to school:

4/19: bring 3 recycled items for discussion on Earth week.
4/20: bring an "Earth item" & questionnaire to discuss.
4/20: kids have earned a "Beach Party Day" so send a beach towel and electronic game.
4/22: send candy item to contribute to school carnival.
4/30: "Ice Cream Party" for kids who met their reading goals so send toppings, or other item to contribute.
5/7: field trip to zoo so remember to send sack lunch, sunscreen and permission slip
5/10: Mom's picnic so remember to bring blanket, sack lunches, books.
5/15: Field Day so come in athletic gear and sunscreen.

WHOA! Got all that?

After reading through all the papers, signing what needed to be signed, and gathering what needed to be gathered, all while Luke is doing his reading homework, we loaded his backpack with the following:
1) Friday folder, signed and returned
2) HyVee receipts for fund raiser (remembered from last week)
3) 30 napkins and signed "Ice Cream Party" sheet
4) A dandilion and completed questionnaire about it.
5) A piece of newspaper, yogurt container, and cap from plastic bottle for recycled items for Earth week.
6) Sign up sheet for Mom's picnic. (must remember books, blanket and lunch that day)
7) Signed permission slip for field trip to the zoo.
8) completed reading homework.
...and tomorrow MUST remember to send that beach towel and electronic game.

This was all done while prepping dinner and answering homework questions.

Day of rest? Yeah, right.

I got nothin'

I so want to write yet never seem to find the time. Sigh. I was very inspired after watching "Julie & Julia" this weekend but just couldn't image finding the time to make it happen.

Maybe someday.

Why Twitter? I say: Twi-Not?

I have been using Twitter, both personally and for business, for about a year and a half. A pretty long time for a relatively new technology. I get people who ask why would someone want to Twitter and it got me thinking that most people probably don't fully understand what IT is.

You can see my Twitter feed on my personal website of photo uploads and comments but that by no means WHAT Twitter is.

Not. Even. Close. And I think that is where the confusion is. The REAL value of Twitter is not about telling the world what YOU are doing, it is about CONSUMING.

Imagine if you could make a list of your favorite sports teams, hobbies, cooking, news websites you like to read about every day. Now what if you could get all the newest things posted by ALL of those in one place. THAT is the real power of Twitter. It's like having a personal assistant who constantly scours the Internet and gathers all the stuff you like and puts it all on one website for you to read.

How does it work:
Step 1: Create a Twitter account. It's free and you can do it here.

Step 2: I "follow" (think subscribe) people on Twitter who write about things I like: recipe folks, fitness sites, local weather updates, my grocery stores who publish specials, family members, a whole lot of Twilight site (my private obsession), etc.

Step 3: At any time, I can click on Twitter and see my customized feed about all those things. It's like my own personal news cast about just stuff *I* like! How cool is that? You cannot see this feed, only I can.

Step 4: As a bonus, I can also converse with people (my "followers") on Twitter (sort of like email but in public), upload photos, re-tweet or forward someone else's tweet I liked, and yes, post what I am doing/thinking.

For our business Twitter account, this has been a huge help. I follow industry related experts, customers, would-be customers, competitors, trade associations and industry news. It is great to get the inside scoop on what customers are thinking, what is about to hit the market, etc. It has been an invaluable tool to tune into the market.

The only reason I display my personal Twitter feed on my website is that it's a very easy way to do mobile uploads of photos. I take a pic, open my iPhone twitter app, and press upload. Done. My family can see the cute pic I just took of my kiddos. I think seeing the feed there has thoroughly confused my family members and skewed their understanding of it.

Just know that when you see my Twitter feed online, you are only seeing part of a conversation and a mere fraction what Twitter is. To understand it, take a minute, set up an account and follow a few folks that interest you. You may even like it!

Tweet ya' later!

Joy-less Cooking

It would be true to say that at one time, I LOVED cooking. I loved reading recipes, imagining how I would tweak them, watching cooking shows, browsing cookbooks at the bookstore then taking all that inspiration and making a great meal. Sean and I would come home from work, pour a glass of wine, turn on some music, and cook wonderful dinners. I would go so far as to say it was one of my favorite things to do.

But that was then.

Things change.

That change is having children.

See, now I don't have the luxury of browsing cookbooks to find some great recipe for a culinary experiment or a journey for the palate. Like most mothers, I come home from work to a dark, empty house with hungry kids in tow. Often times having also squeezed in a workout at the gym or a soccer or basketball practice along the way. My goal is to get a healthy dinner on the table and fast. Add to that making sure it won't break the bank, contains no boxed/pre-packaged stuff, and something everyone will eat. We do this every night of the week except our splurge on Friday night when hubby and I get Mexican take-out after the kids are in bed.

Accomplishing this is no small feat and it is stressful. I don't enjoy it. It takes planning and not the it's-3pm-better-start-thinking-about-what-to-make-for-dinner kind of planning. I mean the make-a-menu-and-complete-grocery-list-for-the-week-then-doing-the-shopping-on-the-weekend kind of planning. Not rocket science by any means, just some basic planning.

Do I still watching cooking shows? Of course. And I also follow a lot of great foodies on Twitter. These are the folks that give me inspiration.

But do I love to cook? No, not in years. I am a mother and right now, cooking is a responsibility, not the enjoyable pastime it once was. Hopefully that will change again someday.