Today's Adventures

[ysabetwordsmith]

We went up to Champaign today for various errands.  We scouted the Indian restaurant Kohinoor.  I went inside to see if they had take-home menus, which they do.  It smelled so good.  But we were already booked to eat somewhere else.  Argh.  We have some other occasions coming up and we'll fit it into one of those.  :D

We stopped at Harvest Market for fresh produce to try a recipe for curried black-eyed peas.  They had Buddha's hand again, this time some very nice ones, so I bought one to try!  :D 3q3q3q!!!  The smell really does cling to your hands.  So later on, we got thin-sliced chicken breasts.  I'm going to zest some of the rind onto the chicken.  I'm thinking I'll probably candy most of it, though.  That'll give me the crystal candy and the syrup, and Trevor makes homemade soda flavors, so we can think up something to do with Buddha syrup.  I may look up other recipes too, though.

For supper we ate at a Chinese restaurant, Rainbow Garden, which was not bad.  I had barbecue pork lo mein, which was tasty if a bit salty, and the crab rangoons were excellent.  I'm curious to try some of their other dishes.  We met with a couple of folks from Enchantment Alley to talk about teaching classes there.  Looks like we're on for a series about different traditions, and one or two standalone classes of mine.    \o/


Buddha's Hand Recipes

Scented Sugar or Salt

Candy

Buddha's Hand Shortbread Cookies

Comments

[technoshaman]

Jealous now with the crab Rangoon. Gonna have to find a source for wonton wrapper (they could be hiding in Safeway's freezer case, or I may have to go to Uwajimaya) and make'em myself. The local teriyaki joint makes, but ironically too MUCH crab; makes the texture all wrong.

Good Indian in that neck of the woods is a treasure, though I imagine in a college town easier found than elsewhere ...

[antisocialite_forum]

Looking forward to hearing how the candied Buddha's Hand turns out. Somebody wanted to do that with one here but it ended up becoming the zest in shortbread cookies instead. Buddha's Hand *soda* sounds amazing.

- Atem

[mercybuckets]

Both my siblings went to preschool in Chinatown, and the teachers used Buddha's Hand like cedar chips in the diaper changing rooms! I like to make marmalade. Most recipes I've seen add meyer lemons too and I like to add five spice or mulling spices for that warming/sour contrast.

I LOVE Indian food. Sadly my local Indian food restaurant is a bit bland (can't blame them, VT isn't exactly known for great 'ethnic' food). The best Indian food I've ever had was from a street cart in London, dosa with channa chaat and toppings. I swear I dream about that dish.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Both my siblings went to preschool in Chinatown, and the teachers used Buddha's Hand like cedar chips in the diaper changing rooms! <<

Wow, that's awesome.

>> I like to make marmalade. Most recipes I've seen add meyer lemons too and I like to add five spice or mulling spices for that warming/sour contrast. <<

*drool, slobber*

>> I LOVE Indian food. Sadly my local Indian food restaurant is a bit bland (can't blame them, VT isn't exactly known for great 'ethnic' food). <<

If they make vindaloo, order that. It's normally so hot that most people don't like it. At a bland restaurant, it should have average to above-average spice levels.

If Indian people work there, you might try explaining the problem to them and ask if they can make something like they would at home. Or if they can add a few more Indian red chiles.

You could also just carry a bottle of Madaras Curry Powder.

[sperrywink]

I've never heard of Buddha's hand. Sounds like some fun cooking can be done with it (if you can make cookies, I am all aboard!)

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Buddha's hand is a weird yellow citrus shaped kind of like fingers. It is intensely fragrant and quite tasty. Today's projects:

Enlightened Chicken

Buddha's Hand Shortbread Cookies