Pages
- Home
- Work with Me
- FAQ and Contact Info
- Copyright
- Kitchen Simmer Pantry
- Appetizers
- Breads and Muffins
- Breakfast Dishes
- Condiments, Chutney, Dressings and Sauces
- Curry Dishes
- Desserts
- Drinks
- Holiday Dishes
- How To and Tips
- Kids in the Kitchen Dishes
- Main Dishes
- Pasta Dishes
- Pizza and Meatloaf
- Rice Dishes
- Salads
- Sandwiches/Burgers
- Side Dishes
- Slow Cooker Dishes
- Snacks and Treats
- Soups, Chowders and Chili
- Sri Lankan Favorites
- Stir Fry Dishes and Asian Noodles
- Privacy Policy
Monday, October 19, 2015
Apple Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries
Apples are in season these days and I love buying a big bunch to fill our fruit bowl at home so there is always a healthy quick snack around. I made this apple salad with yummy crunchy walnuts, tart dried cranberries and some canned pineapple because... well I love pineapple. I brought this salad over for a family meal over my sister's house and it was a big hit.
I thought it would make a great light dessert for those of us who don't always want to eat a big slice of cake after dinner. My mother thought the salad was great, but she decided to dig into it with her meal as a side salad. So it's a pretty versatile salad because it can be placed on the main table as a side salad or on the dessert table as a light dessert. Way to go apples!
Apple Salad with Walnuts and Cranberries
Recipe by Ramona from Kitchen Simmer
Ingredients:
10-12 medium apples (any kind)
* Bowl of water and 2 tsp salt to soak apples
1 (8oz) brick of cream cheese softened
1 heaping cup sour cream
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 (20oz) can pineapple chunks or tidbits drained
Directions:
1. Wash and cut apples into small bite size pieces. Note: peeling skin off apples is optional if you prefer. Place cut apples into a solution of salt and water for 5 minutes to prevent browning. Then drain apple pieces on paper towel for a few minutes.
2. In a large bowl, mix softened cream cheese with brown sugar and sour cream until smooth. Then add drained pineapple chunks, drained apples, walnuts and cranberries. Mix well and serve immediately or chill and serve. Enjoy.
Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Labels:
apples,
cranberries,
dessert,
salad,
walnuts
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Salisbury Steak with Mushroom and Onion Gravy
My mother cooked dinner for our family every night, so there was not many frozen meals eaten at our house when I was growing up. However, she sometimes bought little frozen entrees for us to enjoy after school and I always picked the Salisbury steak. Of course, now that I can cook for myself and my family, I love to make Salisbury steak at home. I think the perfect bite is a little bit of Salisbury steak and big dollop of mashed potatoes covered in gravy. Yes, each forkful is pure bliss.
This recipe is a spiced up version with a really flavorful and rich mushroom and onion gravy. To complete the meal I always serve it with some green vegetable like peas, broccoli or green beans. Today I decided to have peas (because it was simple) and some steamed carrots to give a bright orange pop of color to the meal.
I can't express how much my kids (even my daughter who is our occasional vegetarian) loved this meal. They were also excited when I took some of the leftover Salisbury steak, heated it up and sliced it to make sandwiches the next day for their lunch box. Of course my husband loved it so much that he had a Salisbury steak as a midnight snack that very same night! Next time I better double my recipe because I was the only one that didn't get to enjoy the leftovers...not fair for Mommy!
The good news is that this meal comes together pretty quickly and it definitely beats any frozen dinner out there.
Ingredients:
Salisbury Steak:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
1 egg
3/4 cup plain bread crumbs
3 Tbs plain milk
2 Tbs sriracha
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt (more to taste)
3 Tbs grated fresh onion
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
Mushroom and Onion Gravy:
16oz sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 medium onions sliced (use the other half for the grated onion in the steak)
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 cup chicken or beef broth
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
red chili flakes - to taste
1 cup milk
1 heaping Tbs cornstarch
salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
Tip: Mix all the the dry ingredients/seasoning together first and the wet ingredients together first so gets added into the meat at one time and it all mixes evenly. My photo shows it all separate for instructional purposes.
Step 2: Heat 2 Tbs canola oil in a large skillet (big enough to cook the steak and gravy together) and brown the Salisbury steaks on both sides on medium high heat until almost cooked through (about 3 minutes per side). Then remove the browned steaks from pan until later.
Step 3: Make sure there is about 2 Tbs oil in pan and add the sliced mushrooms with a little salt and black pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the mushrooms brown. My mushrooms released some of their juices (this helps make the gravy).
Step 4: Add the sliced onions and and cook with the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes. Then add the poultry seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce and the chicken or beef broth.
Step 5: Add the browned steaks into the gravy and cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes on medium low. You can flip the steaks half way through simmering. Cook until steaks are fully cooked through.
Step 6: Mix the milk and cornstarch together well and pour into the gravy. Increase the heat to medium high and simmer until the gravy thickens. Taste for salt and seasoning and adjust as needed. Serve hot with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Enjoy.
Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless
otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as
Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Labels:
gravy,
mushroom,
onion,
salisbury steak,
steak
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
My family loves homemade ice cream and this Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream was a big hit. I also loved sneaking a healthy ingredient into the ice cream that was a total surprise. After my family each enjoyed a big bowl of ice cream I asked them if they could guess how I made the ice cream green. They all thought it was food coloring or mint leaves. It was fun to tell them that the hidden ingredient was actually fresh spinach
Before you totally dismiss the idea of spinach in ice cream, I have to tell you that both my kids and husband could not even taste it. I simply used it to give a little added nutrients and the lovely green color that we want to see when we think of mint ice cream.
I also used a good quality chocolate bar that I hand chopped so the chocolate was different sizes. It was such a fun surprise to get a big piece of chocolate here and there as you ate your scoop of ice cream.
This ice cream was enjoyed by all and there were even arguments about who would get the last scoop. No worries, this mother can simply whip this ice cream any time so there is no reason to be "green" with envy. My Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream was definitely a home run.
PS.. don't forget to click the "YUM" button to save this recipe in your Yummly recipe box so you can always have it on file. Thanks!
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup regular milk
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 cup or a large handful of fresh baby spinach
1 can (14oz) condense milk
4oz chopped sweetened chocolate (semi-sweet)
Directions:
In a blender, blend together the cream, milk, peppermint extract, condense milk and spinach until smooth, creamy and thick.
Hand chop the chocolate and fold it into the ice cream mixture. Place ice cream into a freezer safe container and freeze overnight. Allow ice cream to sit out for 10-15 minutes before serving for easy scooping. Enjoy.
Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless
otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as
Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Cheesy Broccoli and Sausage Soup
Cheesy Broccoli and Sausage Soup is one satisfying and delicious meal that is perfect for the cooler months of the year.
Welcome to my first official recipe posted here at Kitchen Simmer. Of course I had to start with a recipe that was definitely simmering away in my kitchen. This weekend my soup pot was put to good use because I made this hearty Cheesy Broccoli and Sausage Soup.
My son always loved my Broccoli Cheese Soup, but being the carnivore that he is, he begged me to put some meat into the soup. So that's just what I did by adding some hot Italian sausage. My son loves Italian Sausage so I knew he would be totally excited to dig into a big steaming bowl.
I could not even get the soup simmering on the stove before he was buzzing around the kitchen. He said he could smell the sausage browning while he was in the living room and it was driving him crazy. Then he saw the carrots and celery that I was chopping to go into the soup and mad a face. I told him not to worry... even the carrots and celery (his dreaded veggies) would taste good in this soup.
When it was all done simmering away, I served him a small bowl of the soup so he could try it out. He was asking for seconds before I could even serve my own bowl of soup. This time he said that I better get a bigger bowl and not to hold back on the carrots. Wow, he even loved the carrots and that makes this soup not only delicious... but a bit of a miracle.
This soup is perfect for the cooler months coming up in my part of the world. I have already had my husband and son put in a request for this soup to be made for dinner at least once a week. I guess adding the sausage really made this soup a big hit at my house.
Ingredients:
1lb Hot Italian Sausage (or mild if you prefer)
2 cups thickly sliced carrots
2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cups diced yellow onion
salt and black pepper to taste
2-3 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 tsp freshly grated garlic
8 cups chicken broth/stock
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
red chili powder or cayenne to taste
8oz grated cheddar cheese or melting cheese like Velveeta
1 cup heavy cream (or milk)
Directions:
1. On medium high heat, brown sausage well in a heavy based soup pot. Reserve 2 Tbs oil from sausage and drain extra. I only had about 2 Tbs render from my sausage so I did not need to drain any excess oil).
2. Add the onion, carrots and celery to the sausage and saute with a little salt and black pepper. Then add the grated garlic and saute for another minute.
3. Next add the chopped broccoli and saute for a minute. Then add the red chili powder or cayenne to taste.
4. Add the chicken stock and lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes or until the carrots are fork tender (but not mushy) and the broccoli is cooked.
5. Finally add the cheese and the cream and lower the heat to low and allow everything to melt together for another few minutes. Taste for salt and seasoning and serve hot. Enjoy.
Welcome to my first official recipe posted here at Kitchen Simmer. Of course I had to start with a recipe that was definitely simmering away in my kitchen. This weekend my soup pot was put to good use because I made this hearty Cheesy Broccoli and Sausage Soup.
My son always loved my Broccoli Cheese Soup, but being the carnivore that he is, he begged me to put some meat into the soup. So that's just what I did by adding some hot Italian sausage. My son loves Italian Sausage so I knew he would be totally excited to dig into a big steaming bowl.
I could not even get the soup simmering on the stove before he was buzzing around the kitchen. He said he could smell the sausage browning while he was in the living room and it was driving him crazy. Then he saw the carrots and celery that I was chopping to go into the soup and mad a face. I told him not to worry... even the carrots and celery (his dreaded veggies) would taste good in this soup.
When it was all done simmering away, I served him a small bowl of the soup so he could try it out. He was asking for seconds before I could even serve my own bowl of soup. This time he said that I better get a bigger bowl and not to hold back on the carrots. Wow, he even loved the carrots and that makes this soup not only delicious... but a bit of a miracle.
This soup is perfect for the cooler months coming up in my part of the world. I have already had my husband and son put in a request for this soup to be made for dinner at least once a week. I guess adding the sausage really made this soup a big hit at my house.
Ingredients:
1lb Hot Italian Sausage (or mild if you prefer)
2 cups thickly sliced carrots
2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cups diced yellow onion
salt and black pepper to taste
2-3 cups chopped fresh broccoli
1 tsp freshly grated garlic
8 cups chicken broth/stock
1 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
red chili powder or cayenne to taste
8oz grated cheddar cheese or melting cheese like Velveeta
1 cup heavy cream (or milk)
Directions:
1. On medium high heat, brown sausage well in a heavy based soup pot. Reserve 2 Tbs oil from sausage and drain extra. I only had about 2 Tbs render from my sausage so I did not need to drain any excess oil).
2. Add the onion, carrots and celery to the sausage and saute with a little salt and black pepper. Then add the grated garlic and saute for another minute.
3. Next add the chopped broccoli and saute for a minute. Then add the red chili powder or cayenne to taste.
4. Add the chicken stock and lower heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes or until the carrots are fork tender (but not mushy) and the broccoli is cooked.
5. Finally add the cheese and the cream and lower the heat to low and allow everything to melt together for another few minutes. Taste for salt and seasoning and serve hot. Enjoy.
Copyright: All recipes, content, and images (unless
otherwise stated) are the sole property of Kitchen Simmer formerly known as
Curry and Comfort. Please do not use without prior written consent.
Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Welcome to Kitchen Simmer
Hi Everyone! I have some exiting news…. My blog has a new name! Curry and Comfort has officially changed to Kitchen Simmer.
Don’t worry, you will still find the same simple, creative and spicy recipes that I have shared for the past 4 and half years.
So why the big name change? As much as I loved the name Curry and Comfort, I felt like it didn’t really represent the recipes that I was providing here on the blog on a regular basis. Sure, I will still make curry dishes on this blog. Curry is very special to my heart as well as Sri Lankan home cooking. On the other hand, Kitchen Simmer gives me the ability to just cook everything without limiting myself to just curry or Asian style dishes.
Okay, now you may be asking why I picked the name Kitchen Simmer to be the new blog name that represents my cooking style. Well, I love being in the kitchen with some music playing and pot of something delicious simmering away on the stove. So I took that idea and came up with the two key words: Kitchen and Simmer. I always say that something is simmering in my kitchen… even if it is just my mood.
So what is changing as of today?
Blog name and all links: All links from www.curryandcomfort.com will now be directed to www.kitchensimmer.com. I will also update all my social media channels. So you don’t need to do a thing, just sit back and enjoy the new look, name and the same great recipes. If you are following me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest my new handle will be @KitchenSimmer.
I want to thank you all for all your continuous support! It would be a great help if you see something not working correctly, to let me know so I can try my best to fix it. I have loved my little space on the internet and I can’t wait to grow with my new blog and start cooking! ~ Ramona
Happy cooking and I hope you stop by often here at
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)