cooking

Apparently this Christmas was the year of the kitchen.  I received new mixing bowls, two amazing cookbooks, a giant electric frying pan (to replace our 25 year old one!), a huge george forman grill (with removable plates!) and Hubby got a waffle iron.

With all this new gadgetry and information at my fingertips, I’ve just been itching to do some cooking. Real, amazing, food, coming from my kitchen.
I haven’t shared too many recipes with you – partly because I never make up my own.  But this one needs to be shared . . . and it was created by little ol’ me!

A couple of years ago, for Sadie’s Test Kitchen, we made curry. Now, it was yummy, but only my Hubby and I would eat it, and it was fussy, and I’ve just never made it again. A few months ago, I was wanting a new recipe, and wondered if I could make something up. (When you’re obsessed with cooking shows, it’s bound to happen!) I wanted to use up some spices that we never use, and gram masala was first thing I thought of.

I have no clue what gram masala is. If I wasn’t so lazy I’d go look at the jar I think it’s a mixture of Indian spices. But it’s yummy, let’s just say that.  A very sweet, tangy aroma awaits you when you open the jar.  And it was my kicking off point.

Now, obviously, this recipe is up for interpretations. Use what you have! But after several months, and many tries, this is our family’s favorite version.

Gram Masala Chicken Salad

1 can cooked chicken (or use fresh about 1 breast I’d think)
2 cups macaroni noodles
2 slices bacon, cooked and diced (optional)
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
1/4 tsp gram masala
1/4 tsp dried onion
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper (5 or 6 good grinds should work)
Salt to taste
1/4 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Cook pasta according to package directions – making sure you salt the water really well (HUGE difference in final taste!). While that’s cooking, combine chicken, gram masala, onion, garlic, pepper, and salt in a frying pan. Cook until the chicken is dry (not like dehydrator try, but not soupy like it is right out the can.) In a separate bowl, wisk together oil, sugar, and lemon juice.

Drain the noodles. In a large bowl, stir together hot noodles, chicken mixture, bacon and oranges.

Drizzle  oil mixture on top and gently toss to combine.

The bacon addition is what finally made Buddy like this dish.  It’s even better to eat it cold the next day!