Inspired Dinner Party
Are you looking for a culinary adventure for your next dinner party? Take your guests on a trip to Thailand with the elegant and exotic flavors of this Southeast Asian cuisine.
Don’t be intimidated by strange ingredients and complicated preparations. This Iowa girl brought a love of Thai food home with me and made it moncler jackets kids accessible to my friends and family. The recipes I’ve adapted for our «Thai Fests» are simple enough for the average cook moncler outlet kids to master and use ingredients that can Discount Moncler Coats be found on the shelves of most grocery stores, yet are not lacking in the flavors you would expect to find in your favorite Thai restaurant. With these recipes and my suggestions for planning your own Thai Fest menu, it will be easy for you and your dinner guests to Thai one on.
For the Love of Thai FoodGrowing up in Iowa, an ethnic culinary experience tended to be nothing more adventurous than Americanized Chinese from a can, served over bland instant rice, and topped with those crunchy little noodles. Who knew chop suey wasn’t even from China? My post graduation move to Chicago, with its multitude of diverse neighborhoods, brought opportunities for gastronomic exploration I never imagined possible during my meat and potatoes filled youth. Authentic Chinese, Indian, and even Ethiopian meals moncler jackets outlet online were available just a short walk or cab ride away. But there was moncler jackets mens none I loved more than Thai food.
I had my first taste of Thai cuisine at the Thai Star Caf in Chicago, a homey little restaurant with Formica tabletops moncler outlet and rickety chairs sporting moncler jackets cheap torn vinyl cushions. Despite surroundings more reminiscent of my grandmother’s kitchen than Bangkok, I was swept away to another world. In this new world, food was cheap moncler elevated to an art form, with harmonious combinations of flavors, textures, and fresh ingredients. It was the most wonderful food I had ever tasted.
moncler outlet sale Thai food quickly became a mainstay of my diet. During many late nights at my large Chicago law firm, my co workers and I would order in from our favorite Thai restaurant and eat together in a conference room. Moncler Jackets Online The long Moncler Factory Outlet work hours became somewhat tolerable when accompanied by fresh spring rolls, curry, tom yum soup, green papaya salad, beef with basil leaves, and the other delicious food moncler jackets on sale we shared.
I also enjoyed sharing the Thai experience with moncler outlet usa guests from out of town. When a group of my Iowa friends came to visit one weekend, I took them to dinner at one of Chicago’s finest Thai restaurants. Although they initially were skeptical of the unfamiliar food, it didn’t take long before they were passing their moncler chicago plates around the table to get a taste of everything.
When I returned to moncler coats for women Iowa in 1994, the thing I missed cheap moncler jackets wholesale most about Chicago was the ready availability of Thai food. Instead of having at least six Thai restaurants within a two block radius of my apartment, there were none within moncler coats outlet an easy drive. While that has changed over moncler coats time and there are now several options nearby, I learned to cook Thai food by necessity.
My first attempt at Thai cuisine was tom yum soup with prawns. One Saturday morning I made my first trip of many to the small Asian market in Cedar Rapids, which was then the only game moncler outlet mall in town. I was delighted to find a large walk in cooler full of fresh Thai ingredients, cheap moncler jackets including lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, everything I needed for tom yum soup. I whipped up a huge pot of extra spicy soup in the tiny kitchen of moncler coats for cheap my apartment, loaded it into the car, and headed over to my sister’s house where I fed it to my brother in law. I’ll never forget his reaction. Sweating from the spicy heat Official Moncler Outlet of the soup, he didn’t stop eating until every drop was gone. I had my first Thai convert.
cheap moncler sale It wasn’t too long after that first attempt at Thai cooking that I instituted the tradition of Thai Fest among my friends and family. Everyone brought a Thai inspired dish or two to share, and the meals stretched over hours. Now, countless Thai Fests later, we are accomplished Thai cooks. Our refrigerators and pantries are kept stocked with everyday moncler jacket online Thai ingredients such as fish sauce and chili garlic sauce. We no longer save our recipes for Thai Fest; dishes such as Pad https://www.moncleroutlett.com Thai have made it into the everyday dinner rotation.
Throwing your own Thai FestFirst, gather as big a group of culinary adventurers as you can manage. One of moncler jackets outlet the best things about Thai food, whether you are ordering it in a restaurant or cooking it at home, is that an everyday meal so easily becomes a festive group event. Thai dishes are meant to be shared. The more diners there are, the greater variety of dishes you can order or prepare.
moncler sale outlet When planning the menu for your Thai Fest, remember that Thai meals do not feature one main dish. Rather, an array of dishes are presented moncler outlet online at the same time. The ideal meal is a harmonious blend of spicy and cool, of sweet and sour, of crunchy and tender. All the senses should be engaged.
Pair a steaming, spicy curry with a cool, crisp salad. Add a soup, a noodle dish, and a side of rice. Have plenty of condiments and sauces on hand (peanut sauce is always a favorite) for additional seasoning to each diner’s individual taste. Serve fresh tropical fruit for dessert.
cheap moncler jackets Don’t forget the cocktails. Fruity tropical drinks like the Mai Tai pair well with spicy food moncler coats sale (and, while not Thai in origin, the name fits). Or serve a Thai beer like Singha or Chang.
moncler outlet store The possibilities are endless. The recipes below will get you started. Gin kow!
buy moncler jackets Glossary of moncler jacket outlet Thai IngredientsBasil, Thai: Also known as holy basil. Believed to be sacred by the Hindus, this variety of basil has purplish stems and serrated edged leaves with a slightly hot, anise flavor. It is commonly used in stir fried meat dishes. Regular sweet discount moncler outlet basil may be substituted.
monlcer down moncler jackets canada jackets Bean sprouts: The tender sprouts moncler outlet online store of green mung beans. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and remove the roots and green hulls before using.
Bean threads: Also known as cellophane noodles, these are thin translucent dried noodles made from the starch of mung beans. Thin rice vermicelli noodles or angel hair pasta may be substituted.
cheap moncler Chili garlic sauce: Also known as chili paste. A fiery hot condiment made from ground red chili peppers and garlic. Use in small quantities to add heat to soups and sauces, or use as moncler coats for men a table condiment.
cheap moncler coats Chilies, Thai: Also known as moncler coats cheap bird peppers. These 1 to 2 inch green and red peppers are moncler jackets men among the hottest varieties in the world. They are sliced thin or pounded and used to spice up soups, salads, curries, and sauces.
cheap moncler outlet Cilantro: Also known as Chinese parsley or coriander leaves. The leaves, stems, roots, and seeds of this member of the carrot family are all used in Thai cooking. The leaves are often used for flavoring and garnishing sauces, soups, and salads. There is no substitute for the distinctive flavor of cilantro, but parsley may be substituted as a garnish.
moncler sale Ginger: This rhizome of the ginger plant resembles a gnarled, tan root. Remove the skin to moncler outlet location reach the peppery and sweet flavored flesh.
moncler mens jackets Fish sauce: Also known buy moncler jackets toronto as nam pla. This is a bottled brown liquid with made from salted fermented fish. It is widely used in Thai cooking and as a condiment to add a pungent aroma and flavor. moncler coats for kids Often used in place of salt.
moncler outlet Kaffir lime leaves: Used to add a delicate floral aroma and flavor to soups and curries. Typically are not eaten, unless sliced into a very fine sliver. Remove before serving, like bay leaves. moncler outlet ny Kaffir lime leaves are available at most Asian markets. If fresh leaves are not available, use dried or frozen leaves.
moncler outlet online Lemongrass: A long grass like herb with a distinctive lemony flavor and aroma. One of the most commonly used herbs in Thai cuisine. The inner core of a lemongrass stalk can be eaten when finely cheap moncler coats for women chopped; larger pieces are used to add flavor moncler outlets usa but are removed before serving. The zest moncler jackets for women of half a lemon may be substituted for one stalk of lemongrass.
Mint leaves: Used in salads, stir fried dishes, and as a garnish. Do not substitute dry mint if fresh leaves are not available.
Rice papers: Round brittle translucent sheets made from rice flour, water, and salt. Rehydrate before moncler outlet canada using as wrappers for spring rolls or summer rolls.
Rice stick noodles: Flat noodles made from rice flour, water, and salt. Available in a variety of widths and sold in folded bundles.
Rice vermicelli moncler jackets noodles: Also known as thin rice noodles. Wiry white noodles made from rice flour. Similar in appearance to bean threads.