Green Chicken Curry and Tornado Recovery

I don't think I can full describe the pain folks are going through down here. Just watching those horrific images on the TV and you wait and listen to the sirens outside is bad enough. Now, that everyone is climbing out of their "holes" and trying to find some normalcy, you hear stories of loss.

One of my co-workers, Melanie, her family lost everything. Home flattened. Another co-worker has a friend that attends the University of Alabama, and she said that the girl's neighbors across the street, all 4 college students, were killed. My other friend, Crystal, mentioned one of her childhood friends. She said it was so odd, the other day she thought of her, and reached out to her on FB. Just a few nights ago, this girl with her 7 week old baby and husband were struck by the tornado in Birmingham. The twister sucked her out of the house. They found her body under rubble, she died. Her husband is in critical condition. The baby, thank God, survived.

Electricity is still out for many, many residents. People are collecting the basic necessities. Even I, who tends to stick to her own little charities, donated a few dollars to the Red Cross.

There is not much more to say. Everyone is a little numb. Too many people died, and the death toll keeps climbing. Parts of my community look like a war zone. It's just too much.

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On a happier note: Yesterday at lunch I was in need of a little fun. I took off for St. Elias Catholic Church for the Lebanese Food & Cultural Festival. Went alone and enjoyed some hummus with flat bread. I bought a Middle Eastern cook book, and chatted with a few people. Afterwards, I went to this wonderful Fair Trade store downtown called - Sojourns. I bought an Acoustic Arabic CD, some bumper stickers (that I hang on my frig) and some wonderful Nubian soap - Goats Milk with Chai (with Rose hips) and Peppermint with Aloe. (I will take pics later.)

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Last night I made an excellent Thai Green Chicken Curry. Recently, I went to "Taste of Thailand" in Hoover/Birmingham and tried my husband's. It was divine. I have a wonderful authentic Thai cookbook - and finally recreated the dish. I must say - it is one of the best I have ever whipped up from my cook books. One of my friends on FB asked for the recipe - so here you go:

Green Chicken Curry

Ingredients:
1 tbsp oil    1 onion, sliced     1 garlic clove, chopped finely    2 - 3 tbsp green curry paste
1 3/4 c coconut milk   2/3 c chicken stock   4 kaffir lime leaves    4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into cubes (I ended up cutting tenderloins)  1 tbsp fish sauce  2 tbsp Thai soy sauce
grate lime and juice of 1/2 a lime
1 tsp soft light brown sugar   4 tbsp chopped cilantro for garnish

Heat oil in wok & stir fry the garlic and onion for 1 - 2 minutes, until it softens
Add curry paste & stir fry for 1-2 minutes more.

Add coconut milk, stock, lime leaves, bring to a boil and add chicken.
Reduce heat and let simmer gently 15 - 20 minutes, until chicken is tender.

Add fish sauce, soy sauce, lime rind & juice, & sugar. Cook 2-3 minutes, until sugar has dissolved. Serve and garnish with cilantro.

That's it!

Have a beautiful Saturday!