Welcome to Spicy Sauce

You might recognize it as Heinz 57 sauce- but at our house for the last, say 14 years- it’s been known as “Spicy Sauce.” M named it- she really- ‘never left home without it’- if eating was involved. She took it with her on overnights along with her favorite stuffed animal. She really only ate chicken and a few vegetables on a regular basis anyway, but if you were hoping for a brave new exploration- you better have spicy sauce on hand to mitigate it.

J- on the other hand was intrigued by lots of different foods- as long as they were all mostly meat, and all mostly covered in mayonnaise. Texture meant everything to him- gastronomically. And even if mentally he was interested in trying something, he wasn’t shy about spitting it out all over the table if it felt too fuzzy or too soggy. There was no cute name for mayonnaise and spit up, however.

L never really liked meat- no matter what sauce you slathered it in. She was a good eater- liked clams, of all things, at fancy restaurants when she was 2- but always chose veggies or fruits, fish or chicken, oh- and sugar! If- it was around… her only weakness. And there we all were:

We had a vegetarian, a ‘meatatarian’ and a ‘spicysauceatarian’ in the house together for quite a few years, and somehow- they all survived (as did we)and now they like and remember similar foods from home. Like them enough to call with queries and suggestions- and share their own household or favorite food recipes with us and others.

Everyone remembers the funny foods our kids liked or didn’t like growing up- like ‘Weenies and Supa’ (hot dogs and ketchup for K) yummy! And /or ‘Tuna and Peas’ or Green mashed Potatoes’ not so yummy! It’s nice to see them all grown or nearly grown and interested in the food that eventually has meant ‘comfort’ and home to them. We all have developed memories and palates- based on vacations or home life patterns or our own new experiences, travels, and interests.

So here’s a new site devoted to our friends and families interest in memories and food- sometimes the pictures relate- sometimes they’re a bit random. I hope you all will join in the process and add photos and recipes to the fray-(once I get tech literate enough to share how???) and please! Don’t stop calling to ask, “What goes into this….” And please, forgive me if the proportions aren’t perfect! I’m counting on you all to fix and experiment.

- C




Wednesday, September 22, 2010

New Papa Pannang Style Curry



Here's a pretty good curry experiment that is  dedicated to my son in law who likes curry and is
proving himself to be way  more than a pretty good new dad.

New Papa Pannang Curry with Shrimp

Chop in a small dice and saute 2 tbls olive oil:
     1 med sweet onion
     1/2 sweet red bell pepper
     1 mild green chili pepper
Meanwhile, combine in a sm. bowl and set aside:
1 cup lite coconut milk
2 heaping tbls globs of peanut butter (about 1/2 cup)
1 tbls fish sauce (soy sauce might work, too)
red curry paste or  store bought red curry dry seasoning, to taste.
 (I used about 2 tbls of a mild curry seasoning- but you should start with a scant tbls and taste)

When the peppers and onions are sweetly fragrant add the following and cook for 5 -10 minutes until
the flavors mingle and the vegetables are just softening:
1 diced large tomato
1 cup or more of chopped broccoli or small florets
6-7 minced cloves of garlic
1 tsp dried basil leaves
2-3 tbl chopped fresh Thai or sweet basil leaves
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbls ketchup

Stir in the coconut milk mixture- heat a bit and then add about 1 1/2 cups of raw, peeled shrimp (or use chicken breast cut to bite size pieces) Cook just until shrimp are pinking - add chicken broth to thin sauce if needed,  add more curry powder or more fish sauce to taste.

I served it with a side salad of chopped garden tomatoes dressed with black sesame seeds and rice vinegar with chopped fresh basil and steamed rice.

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