A Feeling of Accomplishment!!

Some days come to an end and I actually feel like I got something done that day.  It is rare that I get that feeling on a Tuesday being that I only have a few hours after work, but yesterday was one of those days.  It may have been because by the time I went to bed the livingroom was clean, as was the kitchen, or the fact that I did get a chicken stock made and it smelled awesome...  But I think a major part of that feeling was in fact that I finally, successfully made a curry that tastes AWESOME!!  As long as I have been cooking, which is an long as I've been married, I have been trying every recipe I come across that says "curry" and it never has the flavor I grew up on living next to my Indo-Canadian neighbors!  Once you have had authentic curry, you just can't go back to the "canadian" versions...  Plus, my friend Chris' Mom is one of the most AWESOME cooks I know!  She makes pacoras that are so good you will crave them for weeks after!!  MMMM...  But I digress...  Last night I finally found a curry stew that actually has a nice strong curry flavor!!  And I will be making this again and again and again!!  Here is the recipe, I promise, you won't be disappointed!! (i'm already looking forward to eating it for lunch!!)

2 Tbsp Curry Powder
2 Tbsp Water
1 tsp Cumin
3 cloves of Garlic (I buy the garlic from costco pre-minced so I used 1 Tbsp)
1 tsp Tomato Paste
3/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Large Onion (if you shop at costco like I do then 1/2 of their gargantuan onions should do)
1 Apple Grated
1 Cup Carrots, peeled and chopped into about 1/2 - 1 inch pieces
1 Cup Celery, chopped into about 1/2 - 1 inch pieces
3 Red Potatos, peeled and chopped into about 1/2 - 1 inch pieces
1 - 2 Pounds Chicken, Chopped into pieces or strips (your preference)
1 Cup Chicken Stock (In reality I ended up using closer to about 3 cups cause this does take a while for the veggies to cook and I didn't want it getting super dry... So just watch it and if its getting a bit gluey and the veggies aren't tender then add more and stir it in..  Im sure you know what curry is supposed to look like.

1. Combine the first 7 indredients in a bowl, mix together and then set asside
2. In a Med pan add your Olive Oil and Onion.  Saute until soft.  They don't have to be cooked through as you will be continueing to cook everything together
3. Add Chicken and just start to get a bit of color on it.
4. Add Spice Mixture and grated Apple, cooking about 30 seconds (if you find it is starting to stick just add a little of your chicken stock not... just a splash or two.
5. Add your Carrots, Celery and Potatos, coat in spice mixture quickly (really you could add whatever veggies you like, I was thinking peas and cauliflower would have been awesome in this too!)
6. Add Chicken stock and combine well
7. Cover and Simmer until chicken is cooked through and potatos are to desired doneness adding more chicken stock as needed. 
8. Just before serving sprinkle a bit of Lemon Juice over the whole thing.  It just helps to brighten the flavors!
9. Serve over rice with Nann Bread!!  Delish!! 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did, I think I am going to make this again today just to put it in my freezer for one of those curry craving days!  Seriously, Matt loved it so much he said we don't have to buy indian food anymore! Now just to learn how to make pakoras and Nann bread!  And I'll be all set!  Oh and I suppose butter chicken is a staple as well.  Anyone have a good Butter Chicken recipe they want to share?  I'm sure matt would be thrilled!

Another nice thing about last night was I actually relaxed, and I didn't do anything!!  I watched American Idol!!  Well, I was thinking about the stock I had cooking in the other room, but there was nothing I could do about it so I was able to just sit back, chill and enjoy the show!

I'm loving this new attitude I've adopted of being pro-active about my day!  I already have today all planned and I'm looking forward to attacking it with gusto! 

• I'm going to freeze the chicken stock in ice cube trays.  Then I know each cube is 2 Tbsp. (if you've made your own baby food you already know this :D)  it is just so conveinet to be able to reach into a ziplock bag and grab your stock.  Yes, I know, Im a dork, but I love knowing that I'm grabbing reduced sodium chicken stock that has NO MSG!! 
• I'm going to make more curry and freeze it.
• I'm going to shred the chicken I cooked in my stock last night and assemble chipotle chicken pizzas for my feezer, chicken toquitos for the freezer, chicken lasagnia for the freezer!
• I'm going to make more chicken stock.
• I'm going to do 1 - 2 loads of laundry
• And most important, I'm going to chill with my little boy and maybe play trains... or dinosaurs!!  My favorite part of day!

I love knowing that I got things done, but more that that, I love making my little boy feel loved and like he is important in my busy life!  There's nothing that stands out in my mind more than when I would come home from school and my mom had made cookies just for us (being a twin I could never say just for me... :D) or when she would make us playdough and play with us or when she made homemade bubbles and we would try and make bubbles as big as hers!  Somehow our impatient little spirts of blowing always popped the bubbles and mom would have a monster of a bubble!  These memories make me realize it wasn't what we were doing that was important, it was that mom wanted to take the time to do it with us that mattered.  We played bubbles many, many times on our own, but it was always that much better if mom was there to play with us!  So even though that was the last thing on my list, it is the most important thing on my list!!  And I so look forward to playing today :D