Friday Food and Drink Post: A Nice Recipe and a Memory of Good Times

 

I’ve written before, in this series of posts, about my fondness for “hot stuff,” at least in the culinary sense. But I haven’t written much here, other than perhaps in a few comments, about my fondness for Thai food. That’s been a staple ever since my stepson Sam introduced me to it decades ago, and ever since I visited some of Pittsburgh’s Thai restaurants (Thai Me Up, on the South Side Flats, the Spice Island Tea House in Oakland (not CA, but PA), Pad Thai (was that where I enjoyed a delicious lunch with @jamesofengland a few years ago, or do I have that wrong?), and perhaps my favorite of local establishments for SE Asian food, The Golden Pig, just a few miles down the road from me, not far from where those icons of American music, Perry Como and Bobby Vinton, were born. (Funny, that.)

If I hadn’t come by my love of Thai food honestly over the years I’d have fallen for it hard during a visit to the country a couple of years ago, and most especially during the course of a day-long cooking school during which I concocted several authentic dishes with the assistance of an authentic Thai chef. Everything I made that day was delicious, aesthetically appealing, and winsome.

But that wasn’t the sum total of my experience of the country or the food. The tastes of the walk-through markets, the sai oua (northern Thai sausage), the green papaya salad, perhaps the most delicious dish I’ve ever eaten. The pineapples, the bananas, and the mangoes. (Lord. I used to pick mangoes off the trees in northern Nigeria when I was a child. I’d forgotten how absolutely delicious such things are when they come straight off the tree.)

So many lovely things. (WRT the sai oua: working on it. My paternal grandpa was a butcher and sausage maker. I will not be denied. Watch this space.)

Thai Chicken Coconut Curry – An EASY one-skillet curry that’s ready in 20 minutes and is layered with so many fabulous flavors!! Low-cal, low-carb, and HEALTHY but tastes like comfort food!!

Just for today, though, I am happy to recommend this recipe to lovers of “hot stuff” and those who like the flavors of SE Asian food. No idea who “Averie” is, or what other recipes he/she posts. Only know that this one is super-easy, works with chicken or pork, and is lovely whether paired with jasmine rice, quinoa, riced cauliflower, or whatever is your preferred starch if one is necessary for you. WRT the red curry paste, I use this one, purchased from Amazon. I’ve made my own, from the raw ingredients, in the cooking school I mention above (Really. Hard. Work.). And I’ve purchased the fresher version, when I was standing in person across from the vendor in the Chiang Rai “wet market.”

But, in a pinch (which is where I seem to be right now), this one ain’t bad.

Enjoy!

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There are 18 comments.

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  1. JustmeinAZ Member
    JustmeinAZ
    @JustmeinAZ

    I think I will try this soon – my hubby is always asking for Thai and/or curry dishes.

    I don’t know who Averie is either but I did try her banana bread once (advertised as World’s Best). It wasn’t but it was pretty good.

    • #1
  2. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    “Everything…delicious, aesthetically appealing, and winsome”

    A perfect portrait of the post’s author!

    • #2
  3. She Member
    She
    @She

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    I think I will try this soon – my hubby is always asking for Thai and/or curry dishes.

    I don’t know who Averie is either but I did try her banana bread once (advertised as World’s Best). It wasn’t but it was pretty good.

    Please direct your husband here, This is the website of the wonderful lady who taught me how to produce authentic Thai dishes.   As websites go, it’s a bit diffuse, but please investigate the “main dish” and “dessert” recipe tabs.

     

    • #3
  4. JosePluma Coolidge
    JosePluma
    @JosePluma

    There was a (now long gone) Thai restaurant on East Central Ave. in Albuquerque where I grew to love the cuisine. Item 10 on the menu was a spicy coconut soup that became my favorite dish. To this day, I’ll invariably order “Soup No. 10” at a Thai restaurant. 

    with Thai iced tea. 

    • #4
  5. Nohaaj Coolidge
    Nohaaj
    @Nohaaj

    Our favorite Thai in Pittsburgh is the Red Orchid on Babcock Blvd. I would love to host you for dinner some day there. 

     

    • #5
  6. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):
    I don’t know who Averie is either but I did try her banana bread once (advertised as World’s Best). It wasn’t but it was pretty good.

    My daughter makes delicious brownies. The recipe is called, “The Best Brownie Recipe.”

    My godson once ate one, and his face fell. I asked him what was wrong, and he said, very sadly, “I thought I made the best brownies!”

    • #6
  7. She Member
    She
    @She

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    “Everything…delicious, aesthetically appealing, and winsome”

    A perfect portrait of the post’s author!

    Oh, Gary, you . . . kind man . . . you.  You’re making what’s left of me blush. Thank you.

    • #7
  8. She Member
    She
    @She

    Nohaaj (View Comment):

    Our favorite Thai in Pittsburgh is the Red Orchid on Babcock Blvd. I would love to host you for dinner some day there.

    Thank you, what a lovely idea! (The menu looks awesome.)  Let’s make that something to look forward to when life returns to something approaching ‘normal.’ 

    • #8
  9. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    This local company sells curries in the supermarket that are really tasty.

    • #9
  10. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    I tried the coconut curry recipe tonight. It was great. thanks for the recommendation.

    • #10
  11. She Member
    She
    @She

    JoelB (View Comment):

    I tried the coconut curry recipe tonight. It was great. thanks for the recommendation.

    You’re very welcome.  I’m glad it worked out for you.

    • #11
  12. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    • #12
  13. She Member
    She
    @She

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    I know about Jerry’s Pad Thai, which is indeed delicious, especially when Paired with one of his outstanding margaritas.  A bit of cross-cultural dissonance, but both very good!

    • #13
  14. She Member
    She
    @She

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    I know about Jerry’s Pad Thai, which is indeed delicious, especially when Paired with one of his outstanding margaritas.  A bit of cross-cultural dissonance, but both very good!

    • #14
  15. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    She (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    I know about Jerry’s Pad Thai, which is indeed delicious, especially when Paired with one of his outstanding margaritas. A bit of cross-cultural dissonance, but both very good!

    This is in Florida?

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Percival (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    I know about Jerry’s Pad Thai, which is indeed delicious, especially when Paired with one of his outstanding margaritas. A bit of cross-cultural dissonance, but both very good!

    This is in Florida?

    Yeah! Gotta problem widdit?

    • #16
  17. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    She (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):
    Our easy stand-by Thai at home is Pad Thai. Jerry makes a great one; it’s the only time he’ll even come near fish sauce! I do love the green curry dishes. We haven’t located a really good Thai restaurant in this area, but we’d go often if we found one!

    I know about Jerry’s Pad Thai, which is indeed delicious, especially when Paired with one of his outstanding margaritas. A bit of cross-cultural dissonance, but both very good!

    This is in Florida?

    Yeah! Gotta problem widdit?

    The only problem I have is that it’s in Florida and I’m not.

    • #17
  18. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Percival (View Comment):
    The only problem I have is that it’s in Florida and I’m not.

    Stop by any time and we’ll serve up both of them!

    • #18
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