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Indian Cooking

Over the years I have acquired a taste for anything "Vindaloo"... seriously, my toes could be on fire from the wicked combination of heat and flavor and, well then, goal achieved and I'll keep eating.  Some complain that "hot/spicy" food has no taste, just heat that renders your taste buds unusable for days after the experience.  I beg to differ.  This past Friday evening we had the great luck of enjoying some wonderful Indian fare created by my very good pal, Anj.  Honestly, anyone who can do the kitchen dance with me and not lose an appendage in the process is a rock star in my book AND if their culinary creation is a wonderful, delicious treat both to the eyes and pallet, well then!  Perfection!  



 The food was outstanding and was on parr with the company and conversation.  :o)





That said, Anj has a love of "festivals"... one of her favorites (that I have YET to accompany her too) is "Tomatomania"...  http://tomatomania.com.  She always brings me back new and interesting varieties to grow in my tomato garden and patio pots.  Sometimes they grow super well...



And well, gosh some... not so well.


The latest crop that I plucked from my heat exhausted tomato plants over the weekend were excellent specimens of the fruit.  Yah, you all know that a tomato IS a fruit, right? The best explanation I can come up with is that like the grape, the tomato grows on a vine, and is considered a berry, and berries are fruits.  



So, armed with garden tomatoes I stroll into my fabulous kitchen, thinking that a martini would go very well at 5PM on a glorious Shadow Hills summer afternoon when I hear it... "hey babe, are you hungry?"  In fact, my stomach had been growling since the egg bake I had made for breakfast so I immediately start flipping through the recipe database stored in my head... hmmmmm, tomatoes... FRESH tomatoes at that... what's in the fridge (which was a challenge since the day prior at 3AM some jack-a-moe missed the turn a block from our house and took out several power poles, a traffic light pole and various "Cars for Sale" at the Feed Store on the corner leaving Shadow Hills without power for 9 hours...yes, awesome).  To the freezer I went and found almost thawed ground turkey!  Done!  Turkey Bolognese! 

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 pounds ground turkey
  • 2 onions, minced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup grated carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 2 tablespoons minced jalapeno peppers
  • 1 heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 cups white wine
  • 3/4 cup Sweet Vermouth
  • 6 medium tomatoes, quartered 
  • 4 tablespoons tomato paste
  • salt and pepper to taste

  • In large saucepan heat oil and butter and cook turkey, onion, garlic, carrot, basil, salt, pepper and jalapeno until turkey is brown. Pour in cream, reduce heat to low, and simmer until reduced by one-third. Stir in wine and vermouth and reduce again. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and simmer for an hour more.  Stirring occasionally.


Server over pasta or heck, warm up some crunchy french bread or rosemary foccacia that you have handy (because who doesn't...?) and enjoy with a rich Merlot!   mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...














      

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