Cucumber Ginger Fizzes

http://www.marthastewart.com/343410/cucumber-ginger-fizzes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 cups vodka
  • 2 English cucumbers; 1 peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 left whole
  • 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
  • 2 bottles (750 mL each) sparkling water
  • 1/2 to 1 cup Ginger Simple Syrup
  1. Put vodka and chopped cucumber in a nonreactive container. Refrigerate 1 hour. Strain; discard cucumber. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use, up to 2 days.
  2. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the remaining cucumber lengthwise into wide strips; discard seeds.
  3. Fill eight tumblers with ice. Add 3 cucumber strips and 3 tablespoons infused vodka to each glass. Squeeze, then drop, a lime wedge into each. Top with sparkling water; stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons syrup.

Penne Rigate with Spicy Braised Swordfish

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/penne-rigate-with-spicy-braised-swordfish

1 tablespoon salt­packed capers
3 tablespoons extra­virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 large jalapeños, thinly sliced
6 large anchovy fillets (I used 2 tbs fish sauce), minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
One 28­ounce can whole tomatoes, chopped and juices reserved
1/2 pound penne rigate (spinach)
1/2 pound skinless swordfish steak
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1. In a bowl, cover the capers with warm water. Let stand for 20 minutes; drain.
2. In a skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and jalapeños and cook over moderate heat until the garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Add the anchovies and cook, mashing, until dissolved, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and simmer over moderately high heat for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne until al dente. Drain.
4. Season the fish with salt and pepper and add to the sauce along with the capers. Cover and cook over low heat, turning once, until the fish is just cooked through and can be flaked into large, moist pieces, about 8 minutes. Transfer the fish to a plate. Season the anchovy sauce with salt and pepper. Add the penne to the sauce and simmer over low heat for 1 minute, stirring. Spoon the pasta and sauce into bowls and top with the flaked swordfish. Garnish with the basil and parsley and serve. SUGGESTED PAIRING Fruity Sicilian rosé. 

Chicken Saagwala

chicken saagawalaBritish Indian Style Chicken Saagwala
Prep time:  10 mins
Cook time:  15 mins
Total time:  25 mins
Serves: 3 – 4
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts – See link to pre-cooked chicken above
    • (I used raw chicken thighs)
  • 750ml (3 cups) Curry sauce – I also attached the recipe I used
  • 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste
  • 1 tablespoon cumin powder
  • 1 tablespoon coriander powder
  • 1 tablespoon chilli powder
  • 200g (about two large handfuls of fresh spinach)
    • I used almost 250g
  • 2 fresh green chilies (or more to taste)
  • juice of one lemon
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped coriander leaves
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
Instructions
  1. Start with the spinach. In a food processor, blend the fresh spinach, green chillies and lemon juice together with just enough water or stock from your pre-cooked chicken so that it blends to a smooth paste. Set aside.
  2. Now heat the ghee or oil in a wok or large frying pan.

I just added the ginger, garlic and spices to the curry with the chicken thighs and let it all cook for probably about 2 hours on low then to step 5

  1. Pour in the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the cumin, coriander powder and chilli powder and stir to combine.
  3. When the spices begin to fill the room with their magnificent aroma, pour in the hot curry sauce and chicken pieces. Always add the curry sauce hot.
  4. Allow this to cook for about three to five minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the curry sauce is bubbling nicely.
  5. Now pour in the spinach mixture and stir it in. The red and bright green colours will look amazing together as the spinach and curry sauce blend.
  6. Cook for about another two minutes.
  7. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then check for seasoning. Sprinkle with the chopped coriander and garam masala and serve with white rice or naans.