My Spicy Peanut Sauce

This was originally published here back in 2007.  Again in 2009.  It’s time for another round of sharing…

It’s summertime which means I’m cooking a lot satay for dinners and parties. It’s one of those dishes that is easy to make, great to take, and always devoured.

First cut chicken or pork into small pieces: 1/4″ by 3″ is a good size to aim for. Marinate these pieces for 4-6 hours in:

1/4 C coconut milk
1/4 C vegetable oil
1 TBS. Thai Kitchen’s red curry paste
1 Tbs. sugar
1 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. fish sauce

Now you can thread these chicken pieces onto skewers (soaked in water), but I find this awkward on my grill. So I just place them on the grill . They are small and cook up quickly! About two minutes per side.

Now the best part: The Spicy Peanut Sauce you serve along with it.

Debra’s Thai Spicy Peanut Sauce.
This is adapted from Barbara Tropp’s The Modern Art of Chinese Cooking.

I LOVE this stuff.. and use it like I used ketchup as a kid (on almost everything!!) It’s fabulous on chicken and pork, but possibly at it’s best on soba noodles or wholewheat pasta.

3-5 cloves ofgarlic (Tropp uses 10… but I found that then I couldn’t taste anything except the garlic. Not the sauce I was going for…). I actually prefer to use roasted garlic, but that means planning ahead.
1/2C Soy Sauce
1/2C all natural peanut butter (it has no transfats… so it’s healthier).
5 TBS. Sugar
1-2 TBS Thai Kitchen Red chili sauce (depending on your tolerance for heat)
1 TBS. vegetable oil
1 TBS. lime juice

Mince the garlic in your food processor or blender. Add the rest of the ingredients, and puree for 1 minute (is you are using a blender, pulse the blend for about 10 second intervals).

Let the flavors blend for at least 2 hours.

Will stay good in your fridge for 2 weeks. If it lasts that long, you mustn’t really like it, so send it to me!!

What’s for Breakfast? Protein Shake

This week’s Morning Protein Shake:

1. two bunches of spinach, slightly chopped
2. 1/4-1/2 an avocado – lots of fiber and healthy fats
3. a handful of walnuts
4. 1 scoop protein powder
5. 1 cup frozen organic blueberries
6. 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
7. flax seed
8. spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom

Mixed up in my Hamilton Beach blender on the Frozen Drink setting.  The color is interesting, and the spices are the key to the flavor.  Heaven in a cup or three.

What Are American’s Eating?

Interesting to look at this pie chart of what the “normal” American eats.  It explains to me why we are an obese nation.

I don’t think my personal diet looks like this.  I’m returning to my “success” way of eating: LOTS of vegetables; protein when I work out; fruit; and limited grains (for me, oatmeal, brown rice, and smaller whole grains.  No wheat.)  I don’t do cow’s milk.

Does this chart represent YOUR diet?  Your families?