Coconut Curry Soup

The other night I made this lovely Thai-inspired Coconut Curry Soup. My friend Mariel (who we just threw a baby shower for last weekend!) sent me the recipe, saying it tasted just like the Chicken Noodle Bowl from Surin West, which is a popular and favorite restaurant of ours in Birmingham. Not only was it delicious, but very quick and easy to make. You can add shrimp, tofu, or chicken to the dish, if so desired, so I added some lemon and pepper chicken to ours. Even though I didn't get a chance to eat at Surin last weekend while I was in Birmingham, making this definitely satisfied my craving!

I've included the recipe below with some extra comments in purple. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 10 ounces Chinese wheat noodles (mein), or rice noodles
• 1 tablespoon safflower or peanut oil
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Thai yellow curry paste (from one 4-ounce jar or can) Note: I used green curry paste.
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1 can (14 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk
• 1 lemon
• Fresh basil, for garnish
• 1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced, for garnish

Directions

1. Boil noodles according to package directions. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Toss with 1 teaspoon oil.
   
2. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook curry paste, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in stock. Raise heat, and bring to a boil. Whisk in coconut milk. Cook until just simmering (do not boil). Note: Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
3. Cut lemon in half, and squeeze 1 half into saucepan. Cut remaining half into 4 wedges. Divide noodles and soup among 4 bowls. Garnish with basil, cucumber, and lemon wedges. Note: Top with chicken, shrimp, or tofu if so desired.

Nothing Like a Girls' Weekend

My Birmingham girlfriends and I had a great weekend together and got to do all those things that only a group like us could enjoy: lots of walks, great conversation, and most importantly, fall activities! I proudly led Mariel and Lauren through their first corn maze experience (welcome to North Carolina!). While at Phillips Farm for the maze, we also dug into some fresh doughnuts made right before your eyes, loaded with cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar. Lauren also partook in the corn cannon and pumpkin launcher activities (she's such a badass). The maze turns into a haunted one at night, but I'm saving that one as we get closer to Halloween. Oh how I love this time of year. :)

Me, Lauren, and Mariel at Phillip's Corn Maze

Lauren, getting ready to shoot the corn cannon

With Ryan after our maze adventure

The girls also got a full tour of UNC's campus, which is ever so lovely with the autumn temperatures. The Morehead Planetarium's rose garden was in full bloom, the football stadium was open and clear for viewing, the Old Well's water was tasted, and the old cemetery was the perfect setting for a stroll with the upcoming holiday. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast at Elmo's Diner in Carrboro, and dug into a margarita pizza for lunch at Artisan Pizza Kitchen, right on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. For dinner on Saturday night, we met up with my local friends at Sitti, an authentic Lebanese restaurant in downtown Raleigh. Sitti has an extensive menu of hot and cold mezze, multiple entrees, and house-baked flatbreads. In other words, delish!

The girls also got to meet the Moose-man and thoroughly enjoyed his grumpy sensibilities. Actually, he purred the whole time they were there, so really they just enjoyed his grumpy face.