Thai green curry

I'm back. I didn't actually go anywhere, but I have barely posted anything in January and I haven't really read any of your blogs... so I guess that I'll spend the rest of the day doing that, catching up with what has been going on with you in the past three weeks. See, the thing is that I haven't felt very well since the beginning of the month and both cooking and writing about it seemed like a chore instead of the fun activities I've always considered them to be. But I feel better now, and cooking and writing about it once again sound like a great idea. So here's a recipe I've made last week for the first time, although I have eaten it hundred of times at Thai restaurants: green curry with chicken.

THAI GREEN CURRY

1 teaspoon of sesame seed oil
2 onions, sliced
1 zucchini, sliced
3 tablespoons green curry paste
2 pounds chicken breast, cubed
4 tablespoons of shredded fresh basil
2 1/2 cups coconut milk
2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)

Heat up the oil in a wok and saute the onion for a couple of minutes. Add curry paste, stir well and let cook for two more minutes.

Add zucchini, chicken, basil, coconut milk and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Shrimp carpaccio

So the new year is here. I had such high expectations for the beginning of 2011 and, not so oddly, I was bitterly disappointed. I mean, what the hell is wrong with me? Don't I preach every year that I don't care about New Year's Eve ans so on? So why do I end up caring when nothing goes the way it was supposed to? I guess I'm delusional. Or to be a little less tragic, let's call me a dreamer and be done with it.

Anyways, the point is that yesterday was the first day of 2011 that didn't majorly suck —which put me in a great mood I have to say. For the first time in a week I felt healthy enough to leave the house, which did me a world of good since I had spent day after day on the couch with a blanket and a frown on my face. But last night I was and about in Lugano, drinking drinks I don't usually, eating pizza and catching up with old friends. It was a better medicine than any traditional one and totally worth the slight headache I woke up with this morning. 

I have to say that now I have a brighter outlook on the new year, which also translates in the renewed resolution of eating healthy meals and living an altogether healthier life. So here's my first recipe for the new year: butterfly some good size shrimp, season with salt, pepper, and a mixture of evoo and lemon juice. Sprinkle with chives and serve cold as an appetizer. 

Happy 2011!!!

The New Year is here. So happy new year everyone!

2010 wasn't a bad year, but it wasn't great either. It was definitely different and it brought lots of changes in my life, some orchestrated by me, some imposed to me by others. But all in all, because I'm a firm believer that change is always good, 2010 was a fairly good year. 2009 was shitty, 2010 was ok... does this mean that 2011 will be awesome? I sincerely hope so. I could definitely use some awesomeness right now. I'm sure that it will be another year of great changes —after all the future belongs to  those who keep moving— and hopefully it will bring me peace of mind and financial stability, two things I need greatly.