Crock Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

I'm kicking myself for not finding this recipe sooner in life.  If you only need one reason to own a slow cooker, this is it. 

Ingredients:

3-4 pounds boneless chicken cut into pieces

1 onion chopped

5 cloves garlic minced

5 fresh tomatoes, chopped and smashed with your hands 

2 Tablespoons garam masala

1 Tablespoon curry powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

cayenne to taste

2 cups plain yogurt

1cup heavy cream - 1/2 cup for now, 1/2 cup for when it's finished cooking

3 Taespoons arrowroot

Fresh lemon & cilantro

Coat the chicken pieces with the spice mixture, then stir in yogurt to coat.  Cover and refrigerate for a few hours to overnight.

Put into the crock pot with 1/2 cup of the heavy cream.  Stir well and set the temp:

HIGH - 8 hours

LOW - 4 hours

Just before serving, stir the arrowroot into the remaining 1/2 cup of cream, and add to the crock pot stirring to combine.  

Serve over hot basmati rice, top with cilantro and a fresh squeeze of lemon.

Just as good as a fine curry take-out, even better because it's made at home. 

Lemon Cookies (v)

No butter, no eggs, no milk, a perfect little lemon cookie!

Lemon Cookies

In a large bowl, mix tegether:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. fresh lemon zest

In a seperate bowl, mix together:
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. almond extract

Add the liquid mixture to the drys and mix until completely blended into a cohesive dough.
Place by teaspoonful onto oiled cookie sheet, bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

(I used olive oil in my cookies, and they turned out great!  I also added a handful of shredded coconut to the last half of the dough.  delicious!)

Lemonade, two ways (v)

Nothing can satisfy the quench of real lemonade.

Classic Lemonade

Make a simple syrup: 3/4 cup sugar dissolved in 1 cup hot water
Combine with:
4 cups water
1 cup fresh lemon juice
Stir well and chill, serve over ice.
Add crushed raspberries strawberries or blueberries.



Agave Lemonade

Combine:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup agave syrup
3 cups water
Stir well and chill, serve over ice.
Who knew a cactus could be so sweet?!

Give limes a chance! 

Use fresh lime juice in place of the lemon juice using either recipe for refreshing limeade.