the trials & tribulations of learning how to cook

while you’re cooking in a studio of your apartment building, and your curry is simmering away…and the smoke alarm goes off (and you instinctively assume it’s you), so you wave your arms with magazines frantically in the air under the detector trying to make it stop. and then you walk out on the deck – in your apron (because you know how simmering curry sometimes splashes a bit) – and you realize there are other people out on their decks, and even exiting the building down below. then – the 2 guys living a floor below and diagonally from you look up and see you in your apron and ask if it was me – who set the whole building’s fire alarm off – and then…the fire trucks come.

what to do…

exit the building…and evacuate with everyone else (after taking your red-handed apron off).

consensus of those who love me (probably just to make me feel better): that it wasn’t me, i was just simmering, after all – no smoke, i swear. but..we’ll never know. the firemen never identified it was me…(good thing i took off my apron).

conclusion: a little traumatized

well – on to the yummier side of the story, thai red curry w/ beef & veggies!

• steak, sliced (i used tri tip)
• 1 large shallot, minced
• minced ginger
• thai red curry paste
• 1 can coconut milk
• lime zest & juice
• fish sauce
• veggies: carrots, broccoli, and/or potatoes
• rice

• heat wok to medium high, add oil and sear the beef until browned (a few minutes w/ thin slices). remove beef to separate plate
• return wok, heat oil and saute shallot and ginger a few minutes. stir in curry paste, coconut milk, lime zest, fish sauce and heat
• add veggies and bring to boil, then simmer and cover until veggies are tender. add lime juice and beef, heat. serve over rice.

cheers!