Around the World

90555Since this month’s theme is “Pierce my heart to love like You do,” I hope you will be just as excited as I am about this month’s new recipes—focusing on foods from around God’s world! I’m going to give you some GREAT ethnic foods to try in this new year! We’ve got everything from Chinese food to Italian, and I think you’re going to love it! “To love like You do,” includes being open to and seeing the perspectives of others. If we’re open to trying new things, then we will have another opportunity to tell others about Christ. I encourage you to branch out and try some of these great recipes. And while you’re at it, ask someone who is from that country to tell you a little about their culture; they’ll be flattered, and you will probably make a new friend!

Around the World: Cooking Tips and Advice

Recipes always include a list of ingredients, but these questions and answers tell you what you need to have on hand to cook the ethnic foods that you love!

Chinese Cuisine
French Cuisine
Mexican Cuisine
Italian Cuisine

Setting the Mood:
Some fun things that you could do to set the tone for your meal are:

If you’re cooking Chinese:
-you could hang pretty paper lanterns and light candles.
-you could eat with chopsticks.

If you’re cooking French:
-set mood music, like some mellow French jazz

If you’re cooking Mexican:
-put chips and queso (cheese) on the table as a pre-dinner snack.
-play some Spanish music–it’s a really fun addition to the food.

If you’re cooking Italian:
-Make plenty of GARLIC BREAD!! To make cheap and easy garlic bread, put aluminum foil on a pan, add buttered bread, sprinkle garlic powder on top, and place in a preheated 250-degree oven for about ten minutes.

Ethnic meal ideas

Chinese
speedy_ginger-chicken_soup_bowlsSpeedy Ginger-Chicken Soup Bowls
Crispy Won Tons with Oriental Dipping Sauce
Gingered Shrimp with Cashews
Coconut Almond Cookies

French
Caramelized Onion Tart
Classic Potatoes Au Gratin
Quick Pork Cassoulet
Easy Crème Brûlée

Mexican
Ultimate 7-Layer Dip
Chipotle Tomato Soup
Black Bean & Rice Tostada
Creamy Mango Dessert

Italian
Minestrone Soup
Pesto Tortellini with Scallops
Chicken Marsala
Tiramisu Cheesecake

*If anyone has any recipes for Indian (or other) cuisine, please post them in a comment!

By Lexi Hammonds

Comments

  1. We like chicken curry with chapatis–since you were looking for Indian food.

    http://theprudenthomemaker.com/chickencurry.aspx

  2. Jeera Alu (Spicy New potatos)
    2 (16 oz. cans whole new potatos)
    2 tbsp vegetable oil
    1/2 tsp cumin seeds
    1/4 tsp tumeric
    1 tsp salt
    1 tbsn coriander powder
    1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
    1/2 tsp mango powder
    1 tsp Garam Masala

    Drain & rinse potatos. But into 1 in pieces. Heat oil in heavy pan or wok over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and cook until seed turn golden brown, a few seconds. Add potatos, stir to coat.
    Add remaining spices and stir toc ombine. Reduce heat and fry for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Transfer to serving plate.

  3. Samosas
    5 medium potatos
    2 tsp fegetable oil
    1/2 tsp cumin seetds
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
    3/4 c frozen green peas
    2 tsp salt
    1 tablespoon coriander powder
    1 hot green chile, chopped (optional-they are quite flavorful w/o it)
    1 tsp mango powder
    1 tablespoon Garam Masala
    1/4 c water

    Dough
    2 c flour
    1/2 tsp salt
    3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    1/2 c water

    Assembly
    1/4 c water
    Vegetable oil for frying

    To prepare filling: Boil potatos until tender. Remove from water as soon as they are done and cool. Mash potatos.

    In large fry pan, heat oil over medium high heat. When oil is hot, add cumin seeds. Fry until seeds are golden brown, a few seconds. Add ginger and stir. Stir in potatoes and peas.

    Add remaining spices and mix thoroughly. Stir in the water. Cover with a lid, reduce heat and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir and let stand, covered for 5-7 minutes.

    To prepare dough: In a bowl, mix flour, salt and oil. Add water gradually as you mix. Place dough on floured surface and knead for 5 minutes or until smooth and soft. Divide into 10 balls.

    To assemble: Roll out each ball into 5-6 in circle. Cut each in half. Put the 1/4 c water in a small bowl, set aside. Take on half circle dip your finger in the water and run it along the straight edge. Fold in half, joining the straight edges, making a cone. Seal edges tightly. Fill with 2 tablespoons of filling. Dip finger in water and run along the remaining side to seal tighly. Keep filled samosas between towels to avoid drying.

    Heat oil in wok or frying pan over medium-high until hot enough that when you drop a pinch of dough into the oil the dough floats up within seconds. It is important to have the oil the correct temperature. If too hot. they won’t cook inside. If not hot enough, they fall apart or get greasy. Fry 3-5 samosas at a time until light golden brown 4-5 minutes on each side.

    Seve hot with chutney or ketchup. Can be reheated in the oven.

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__m8_T1qXg6c/SKxFhz3Jz-I/AAAAAAAAAdk/QHeeTCjgJvE/s1600-h/sunday+001.jpg
    http://theplacecalledhome.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-on-samosas.html

  4. Murgh Subji Wala (chicken with vegetables)
    Served with rice.
    2 lbs. chicken pieces cubed
    3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    1 tsp cumin powder
    1 medium onion, thinly sliced
    2 garlic cloves, chopped
    1 tsp chopped fresh ginger
    1 large bell pepper, sliced
    2 medium tomatoes, chopped
    3/4 c thinly silced mushrooms (optional)
    1/4 tsp tumeric
    1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
    2 tsp coriander powder
    1 1/2 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp Garam Masala

    Heat oil in heavey pan over mediu high heat. Add the chicken and brown. Remove with slotted spoon onto plate. Add cumin poser, onion, garlic, and ginger. Fry, stirring constantly until onions are golden brown 7-8 min.
    Add the peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms if using, tumeric, cayenne pepper, coriander powder and salt, stir to combine.
    Add the chicken tiring to mix. Heat through, cover with lid and reduce heat. Summer until chicken is tender 20-25 mintus.
    Remove from heat and spinkle with garam masala. Cover with lid and let stand 5 minutes and serve.

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__m8_T1qXg6c/SZGCtctc6kI/AAAAAAAABCQ/rXIUUu0oQQE/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg

  5. You can buy your spices at a larger grocery store, in the ethnic food aisle. Or try Ibuyindian.com. That is where I order all my spices from. They even sell some ready made masalas (sauces) that are easy to brown meat, then add the sauce. Wala! Easy Indian cuisine! 😉 Enjoy!

  6. Ladies, thanks so much for posting those!

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