LOST: the final party....

I love Lost. LOVE it. We were all on edge when finale rolled around. And WHAT a finale. 2 hour build up before the show, 2.5 hour show and interviews after that. So, I invited my nearest and dearest to celebrate at my new apartment (fondly called the "man cave").
So, what do you make to feed six people for at least 5-6 hours? And how do you make it seem lost-ish and make enough to last?




I started with some fun decorations to get in the spirit. Then, I thought Mangoes...what could I do with Mangoes? I found a simple salsa with onions, mango, cucumber, spicy peppers (which I left out) and I added fresh corn to thicken it up to serve the number of people. Needless to say it was the simplest dish and I literally had none left over! I also wanted to do something substantial for such a long sitting of TV. I made Mr.Cluck Cluck's chicken nuggets (home made nuggets) served with carrot sticks and Hugo ranch.




I also bought peanut butter filled pretzels for Charlie and Claire PB pretzels (I ran out of time or I would have made PB cookies). Which leads us to my favorite part of any meal - dessert! Really, you can't watch your favorite TV show without sweets. At least that is how we operate in the "Man Cave". It's a rule. So, for our Island theme I made coconut truffles also named "brigadeiros" in Brazilian and Latin American cultures. This slice of heaven is fudge like and rolled in sprinkles, coconut and whatever your little heart desires. I confess for my second dessert dish I have just wanted to make an apple cake. So, I christened it the Adam and Eve Apple cake. It is all kind of moist, cinnamon apple goodness.



Recipes:

Mango Salsa
- 2 mangoes
- 1 ear of corn or one can of corn
- 1 cucumber
- 1 quarter or half a onion
- 2 tablespoons of lime juice
- Handful of chopped cilantro to taste

Add all ingredients and stir. Serve with tortilla chips.

Brigadeiros
*Adapted from Smitten Kitchen and Tribeca Yummy Mummy
- 4 tablespoons of good quality cocoa powder
- 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- Shredded coconut,sprinkles and any other toppings

In a medium sauce pan combine the milks and the cocoa powder over medium heat. Stir until it thickens (about 10 minutes). Let come to room temperature and sit the mixture into the fridge for 20 minutes. Line a plate or pan with parchment paper. Slightly wet your hands and, using a spoon, scoop out segments of chocolate. Roll it into a ball with your moisten hands. Then, in a shallow dish, roll the chocolate into your desired toppings. To make Carmel flavored instead of chocolate, add 2 teaspoons of light corn syrup.



I promise the Apple cake recipe will make an appearance soon. ;)

"Mind the tornado" - White Queen

White King:"What tornado?"
White Queen: "The one that blew me clear up!"

Alice Through the Looking Glass and What She Saw There - Lewis Carroll

There is a certain time in the Southern US (and other areas) that produces storms. In the fall, it's hurricanes and in the lovely months of spring tornadoes. With all the bad weather, I thought why not make my good, old reliable Turkey Chili.



I remember the fall storms in which my particularly Turkey chili was created. Turkey Chili is one of the first few dishes I learned how to cook when browning meat was still "hard" and baking seemed impossible. It's a really colorful chili and it's just light enough. Perfect for stormy springs.



1/2 cup chopped broccolli
1 medium bell pepper
2 medium stalks of celery
1 pound of ground Turkey
14 oz of vegetable stock
1 28 oz can of chopped tomatoes (or the equivalant of fresh tomatoes)
1 regular can of kidney beans
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Cumin
Sage
Pepper
Creole seasoning

Add around a 1/3 a cup of vegetable stock to your pan (Turkey is a poultry and you have to keep it moist at all times).
Very lightly brown your turkey. Add the seasoning.
Add more stock and your kidney beans. Let cook on medium/high heat for a few minutes, 5.
Add the tomatoes and let cook for 5 minutes.
Add the green veggies and more stock and season once again.
Put a lid on your pan and let simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes, while stirring every 10 minutes.
Return lid and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes and serve.
I specifically didn't add measurements for seasoning because that is very subjective to the individual. Enjoy. :)



I would like to take a brief minute to encourage everyone to donate to the American Red Cross to help those in Mississippi affected by the tornados of last week. This is the largest and most damaging storm the state has seen since hurricane Katrina.
Individuals in this area lost everything they own and precious family members. To donate or learn how to get involved:
http://redcrosschat.org/2010/04/24/disaster-alert-tornado-in-yazoo-city