Mango Chicken Curry

Lately, Aaron and I have been enjoying foods from around the world - especially curries. While looking for new recipes online, I came across Mango Chicken Curry on the Simply Recipes website. I was really excited to make it... so I did... and it took time... But when it was done, it was sooo good! I served it with Basmati rice. I will definitely be making it again. And the next time I make it I'm going to double the recipe and freeze some for later.

Here's the recipe. Let me know how it tastes if you try!

Mango Chicken Curry
Ingredients

* 3 Tbsp (or more) of vegetable oil
* 1 large onion, chopped (1 1/2 to 2 cups)
* 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 Tbsp fresh minced ginger
* 2 Tbsp yellow curry powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 2 mangos, peeled and diced
* 2 Tbsp cider vinegar or white vinegar
* 1 1/4 cup water
* 1 1/4 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 1/3 cup golden raisins
* 1/2 cup heavy cream (can substitute all or partially with coconut milk)
* Salt and pepper
* Cilantro for garnish

Method

1 Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the red bell pepper and another tablespoon of oil, cook for a couple more minutes. Add the curry powder and cumin, cook for a few more minutes. The spices will absorb some of the oil, so if anything begins to stick too much to the bottom of the pan, add a little more oil to the pan. Add the ginger and garlic, cook for one minute more.

2 Add the vinegar, water, and a 1/2 of the chopped mango to the pan. Increase the heat and bring to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a low simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove pan from heat. Scoop the sauce into a blender. Purée the sauce, pulsing until smooth. Return the sauce to the pan.

3 Add chicken pieces and raisins to the pan. Return to a low simmer. Cover the pan and let cook for 8-10 minutes. Chicken should be just cooked through. Use a knife to cut open the largest piece to check.

4 Add remaining mango pieces to the pan. Stir in the cream. Let cook at a very low temperature for another minute or two, uncovered. Do not let boil! Or the cream may curdle. Adjust seasonings. If a little too sweet, add a little more vinegar. If not sweet enough, you can add a dash of sugar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over rice. Garnish with cilantro. Serves 4.

Cute Stuff

You have to see this book that I bought a while back. Aranzi Cute Stuff by Aranzi Aronzo. It has a few easy patterns and some really adorable but simple shape-made characters that could be used for fabric and paper crafts.

I also bought "Plaid Simply Stencils," which are clear plastic sheets that can be used to make your own stencils. The combination of the book and the stencil paper have proven to be very useful. I trace the pattern on the plastic and make a reusable stencil and the project is only half the effort next time.

Fabric Covered Buttons

I really wanted to make buttons that matched the fabrics I have. I was looking online and found a little tutorial by Villiku on craftster.org, so I thought I'd share it. (I've posted the tutorial info here, but this is the link to the original.)

You will need...

1. Scrap of fabric (enough to cover the button that you will be using)
2. A button with a shank. (Button with a loop on the back. No holes)
3. Scisors
4. Embroidery thread (just 3 ends)
5. Fine needle
6. Ruler
7. Ball point pen



With the ruler measure the distance between the shank and the edge of the button.



With the pen and from the edge of the button, mark onto the fabric the distance that you obtained from measuring the inside of the button.



With the button on the fabric and upside down trace around the button the circumference of the piece of fabric needed to cover the button. Put the button aside and cut the circle.



With the needle and the embroidery thread, stitch a running stitch along the edge of the fabric circle. Make sure to leave a tail of thread long enough to make a couple knots.



Place the button up side down right in the middle of the stitched round piece of fabric.



Pull both ends of thread until the fabric snuggles the button.




Make a couple knots making sure the fabric is tight around the shank of the button.



It should look like this.



There should not be any fabric or thread blocking the button's shank so you can sew your button to your projects.