48th meeting. Better than Tortilla de patatas

Where? D's
Attendants: Y, Ch, G, D

Menu:
1) Better than tortilla de patatas
2) Salad
3) Blackberry pie

47th meeting. Mardi Gras

Where? G's
Attendants: A, G, L, D, (E) plus guest S

Menu:
1) Jambalaya
2) King Cake
3) Hurricanes

Jambalaya

Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
2 bell peppers (green and yellow), chopped
3 - 6 cloves garlic, minced
3 ribs celery, chopped
1 small can tomato paste
2 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with juice
1 small butternut squash, cubed (roasted in oven for 30 min)
4 cups vegetable stock
Creole seasoning blend to taste
additional cayenne, black pepper, white pepper, oregano, thyme
2 bay leaves
liquid smoke
2.5 cups Uncle Ben's long-grain white rice, uncooked
2 pkgs better than chicken strips

Directions:
Saute onions, peppers and celery in a little olive oil until onions are translucent. Add tomato paste and allow to darken. Add seasoning and rice. Add tomatoes and stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes until broth is absorbed. Saute strips in olive oil and garlic and add to rice. Add squash. Adjust seasonings.

King Cake: see http://kitteekake.blogspot.com/2008/02/king-cake.html

Hurricanes:
4 oz fruit juice (pineapple/orange/guava/papaya/grape/pear)
1 oz dark rum
Splash lime juice
Splash grenadine
Shake over ice

46th meeting. Dal

Where? D's
Attendants: G, D, A, C

Menu:
1) Yellow Split-pea Dal
2) Carrot Cake

Yellow Split-pea Dal

Ingredients:
2 cups of yellow split-peas soaked in water overnight
2 onions
4 garlic cloves
2 tsp ginger
2 potatoes
1 TBS red pepper flakes
1 bag spinach
1 lemon
2 TBS cumin
2 TBS coriander
1 TBS turmeric
salt, pepper, cilantro

Mix peas with 6 cups of water and simmer until it becomes pasty. Meanwhile, sautee onions, red pepper flakes, garlic, and ginger for 15 minutes. Add spices, and cook for 2 more minutes. Add chopped potatoes and 2 cups of water and simmer until potatoes are cooked and water is absorbed. Pour the peas over the potato mixture and add chopped spinach and the juice of 1 lemon. Heat the mixture for 5 more minutes. Serve with chopped cilantro sprinkled on top.

45th meeting. Korean

Where? G's
Attendants: A, Ch, D, E, G, L, Y


Menu:
1) Japchae
Rice noodles with sautéed vegetables consisting of carrot strips, mushrooms, spinach, and green onions, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and toasted sesame seeds.

2) Pajeon
Fried vegetable pancakes made from flour, baking powder, lucky zucchini, carrots, green onions and seasoned with soy sauce and sesame seeds

3) Barbeque tofu
Firm tofu marinated in soy, sugar, garlic, ginger, green onion, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Fried until golden brown

4) Kimchi
Adapted from http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2008/02/a_kimchi_recipe.html

5) Chai-Tea Cake

http://www.grouprecipes.com/70999/vegan-chai-coconut-cake.html