My Fair Lady!? Anyone!?
Whew! Two classes complete. Two to go. One exam on Friday and another on Monday.
Had a delicious EarthFare salad for lunch with my friends.
Let’s see if I can remember….
Greens on the bottom….grapeleaf, garbanzo salad, penne pasta salad, blackberries + pineapple, granola (LOVE their buffet granola!), kale salad, snap peas, kidney beans, corn, blue cheese, a hidden piece of salmon….and a partridge in a pear tree!
Plus a yummy tea
I also brought my crackers to share. Had a few of those as well
I walked to the bathroom at EarthFare and stumbled up on a sampling of chocolate PEANUT BUTTER!!! You bet I ate that whole sample 
It was good, but not as good as Naturally Nutty Chocolate Vanilla Almond Butter. Gotta get me some more of that stuff! [But oh no, I don't see it in the store! I wonder if it's STILL in the trial stage!? The vanilla almond butter is just as good! Like frosting]
*Insert MNT exam here*
Once I got home dinner was almost ready! But I was not ready to eat! EarthFare was filling today.
On the menu: Crockpot Curry Chicken + Fruits
I put two FROZEN Greensbury Market organic chicken breasts in the crockpot this morning with a can of coconut milk and 1 tsp each of cinnamon and red curry powder
I set it to low and came home 6 hours later to find tender cooked chicken….and curdled coconut milk!? Not sure why the milk curdled since I’ve cooked with it many times, but it was still good.
So at 5PM I added a bag of broccoli + cauliflower plus 8 chopped apricots and about a quarter cup of raisins and they cooked for another hour or so. Was going to add eggplant, but I figured there wasn’t enough liquid for both.
Garnished with more cinnamon and greek yogurt. The dish wasn’t perfect, but it tasted AMAZING. The dried fruits were plump and sweet and the chicken shredded-tender. Loved it! Would have been good with some brown rice underneath as well.
I almost forgot – Matt‘s coworker, Kruti, send him home with a special fried dough treat for me to try!! It was awesome – sweet and spicy at the same time. Went well with the curry!
After dinner we watched the movie Chocolat. Loved it!!! I was captivated by the plot the whole movie, and I loved the characters.
Of course, one cannot watch a movie about chocolate and not partake. [If only I had a mug of that rich hot chocolate!]
I give you my Chocolate Chest
It is filled with all kinds of chocolates that I stash away
I even have a Cadbury creme egg from EASTER! I have no idea how I resist this stuff, but I will tell ya that I sneak chocolate from my chest at least once a week and it does not get blogged!! This with wrappers are saved for special occasions, hence the egg.
I made myself a nice tasting plate of chocolaty treats.
A Fleur de del Caramel by Recchiuti from the Foodbuzz Festival, a piece of Curry Vosges from Marathon Val, a bite of Brownie Points from VeggieGirl and some Scharffen Berger semi-sweet, almost from Foodbuzz Fest, which I think is the best chocolate in the world! DROOL!
I ate my chocolates in honor of MICHELLE‘S BIRTHDAY!!
Off to read Wicked!
{ 91 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay, that choco chest just made my night. A cadbury egg–wow–that is impressive!
Hello! Just wondering what the brand of tea was. I saw coconut chai and thought the label might be Zhinki Gypsy Tea. I’m living overseas and my mom sends me awesome care packages – I just have to have the name right so she knows what to look for. Thanks
Amy
Amy,
It’s Zhena Gypsy and its’ great!
http://www.amazon.com/Zhenas-Gypsy-Tea-Organic-Coconut/dp/B001B0Q2XW
Thanks so much!
Hahahaha, a chocolate chest!! I’ve never seen that but it’s fabulous… I guess there’s a 1st for everything
Too funny!!
Hey there Kath – mnowac from CK, not sure if you remember me, I just started my own foodie blog. I freaking love cadbury eggs, LOVE them! I wish you could get them all year round.
Hey Monica!! Congrats on the new blog
what wasn’t perfect about the dinner? looks amazing to me!
thats cute about your chocolate stash.. i have a gummy candy stash!!!
Love salads made with a wide variety of foods! They are so much fun to make! And so tasty too!
Love all the chocolate! Yum!
P.S. I have a Plan a Meal bundle Giveaway on my blog, if you or any of your readers are interested! Thanks!
LOOOVE Vosges chocolate!! And hooray for still having the Brownie Points goodies from me
I have a chocolate drawer… it wasn’t suppose to be a drawer… but somehow it grew!
I absolutely adore Chocolat, its one of my favorite movies. I used to have the north wind theme as my ring tone and I miss it desperately, the music is so pretty.
WOW I really, really want a chocolate chest.
chocolate vanilla almond butter?! They need to release that.
My chocolate is so less organized yet just as highly loved
That chocolate chest is the best idea ever! Love it.
I need a chocolate stash! TOo bad I’d eat it all right away.
Oh myyyy… that chocolate stash is unbelievable! I wish I had your self-control…
That “chocolate chest” is awesome! Need to get me one of those…
Your dinner sounds so good! And chocolate on top of that? Even better!
I didn’t realize that I could put frozen chicken in the crockpot. Definitely good to know.
I am totally jealous of the chocolate chest. My chocolate stash is much smaller. I think I might have to go break into it right now!
Hi Kath, Congratulations on the exam being finished. I have a question about the crockpot. We have had one for a couple of years and I barely use it. I feel as those most recipes I see call for creamy canned soups and other ingredients that I prefer not to use. I can’t figure out how to create my own recipes. I am not a creative cook like you, and feel more comfortable, particularly when I am just learning to cook with certain things, following some sort of a recipe. Do you feel that there are proportions that should be followed when cooking with the crockpot or specific timing for meats, vegetables ….? I would love any advice you can give. Thanks!!!! Elizabeth
Hey Elizabeth,
Good question. I’m very new to crockpotting myself, so I’m not 100% sure on the “rules.” It seems you need to have a liquid of sorts, which can be something like diced tomatoes or broth. So I’ve been sure to have a liquid. Other than that, and making sure the meat is cooked through, it’s just toss in what you like! Very versatile with veggies and things that just need to be cooked until they taste good. The best way to learn is to study other recipes. When I get an idea I go research how other recipes do it and then just change the flavor profile to suit what I’m in the mood for.
yum! that chocolate plate looks delicious!
i hope your exam went well!
earthfare salad and dinner look phenomenal!
love your chocolate stash
jenna
I don’t think it is possible to watch that movie without indulging in some chocolate yourself. Love your little sampler plate!
ahh chocolat is my favorite movie!! i could watch it over and over! and you’ve inspired me to start my own chocolate stash
congrats on finishing your MNT exam and good luck on your upcoming tests!
Be careful with the frozen chicken in the crockpot. I’m not sure about the reasoning behind the notice, but just FYI…
Per the USDA:
Do not cook frozen chicken in the microwave or in a slow cooker. However, chicken can be cooked from the frozen state in the oven or on the stove. The cooking time may be about 50% longer.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Chicken_Food_Safety_Focus/index.asp
Huh. I wondering if it could be done and found tons of recipes that called for it frozen so I assumed it could. I’m assuming it’s a temperature thing, although I thought the whole point of a crockpot was that it kept food above the danger zone for bacteria growth (40-140*). I will ask my foodservice professor!
I don’t know how you keep so much chocolate around without being tempted! What willpower of steel you have Kath
I am always so impressed by your Earthfare salads! Blackberries??? Genius!
I haven’t heard anything about the Chocolat movie yet, so I’m glad to hear it has your approval! I’ll have to rent it sometime myself!
Nothing beats crock pot curry!
P.S. I am doing a Sur la table giveaway to celebrate the launch of my new self hosted site if you are interested!
I just had to say that when I studied abroad in Prague they had hot chocolate there that was NOTHING like American hot chocolate… granted to me the Czech food was always a bit off from the United States, buttttt drinks often outshined… hot chocolate there reminds me of what they have in Chocolat… it’s just like warm melted European chocolate bar– AMAZING! As is there beer and mead! Anyways, sounds like a great day and night of good eats!
I loveeeeee the idea of a chocolate chest! I keep mine in the butter drawer in the fridge because I’ve learned I will not each all of it in one sitting if it’s cold. The chest is much classier though
Crockpot curry seems like the PERFECT cold-weather dish.
Your chocolate chest is a treasure to my eyes! And I don’t much care for chocolate!
I LOVE that meal, holy moly! It sounds perfect!! I love plumped-up dried fruit, I love tender, curried, spiced-up chicken… cinnamon and greek yogurt?! You even have my favorite veggie (broccoli) in there… absolutely genius. And ooh, I’m going to steal that chocolate chest in the middle of the night. Muahaha.
Have a wonderful evening!
I NEED a chocolate chest.
I love My Fair Lady!
And those large salad bowls are awesome.
Chocolat is one of those movies I could watch over and over again! Good thing I own the DVD
After your last few crockpot meals, I’m pretty sure I need to invest in a crockpot now!
Great stash! I love the tasting plate idea for chocolate!
We had the holiday dinner at my school today and there was amazing rich hot chocolate. I had two cups with homemade marshmallows, whipped cream, and peppermint sticks! I wish I could have shared with you!
I wish I could have shared too!
mmmmm chocolate plate! Looks/sounds insane good. Every girl should have a secret chocolate stash
Agh Chocolat is one of my favorite movies of all time! That was when, at the age of, I want to say 11, I fell in love with Johnny Depp. Oh Johnny. I loved you before all my lame friends saw Pirates of the Caribbean.
I have a chocolate stash in my desk drawer (college girl’s gotta eat!) but it’s way less classy than yours!
Kath, do you know if the Scharffen Berger chocolate is available in stores – or does one have to buy them online?
It’s a San Francisco company, so I imagine you can find it on the West Coast. I got mine from BlogHer food’s conference. I would try online
Scharffen Berger was bought by Hershey-the San Fran plant has been closed down-they make it in Mexico now
it can be found in stores here (I’m in CA) but I’ve also seen it in PA (where Hershey is).
I feel like some chocolate now after reading this post! I also love the Chocolat movie, one of my faves! The little girl, Anouck, is so cute!
That salad looks so amazing! I wish I had those ingredients with me right now so I could recreate it for myself. Mmm
I have to admit, I LOVE the Creme eggs. I’d say I have one about every-other Easter. Back in the day (45 lbs ago!) I used to buy a four-pack a week or so. Now that’s an obsession!
Love that movie…
A couple years ago a bunch of my girlfriends got together and had a chocolate themed party and watched that movie…it was a fabulously delicious and entertaining night!
AHHHH!! I just watched My Fair Lady like ten time the other week and I posted about it!!!! LOL!!
http://www.ambersnotebook.com/2009/11/look-of-day-winter-white.html
we have similar musical tastes for sure! I need to try you juice crackers and wow i love the chocalate chest idea, although with my husband around it would always be empty!
You and I are long lost sisters!
I love the idea of a chocolate chest stash! I don’t know how you resisted the Cadbury egg for so long – I love those things!
Slow cookers are god sents! I’ve always been tempted to make desserts in them. I have a slow cooker cookbook the size of me and the rice pudding is calling my name…pumpkin rice pudding perhaps?
The chocolate chest is awesome! I don’t think I’d have the will power to keep one though. Also, Chocolat is an amazing movie. The whole cast is just fantastic.
a chocolate chest is such a wonderful idea. I love that movie, and I imagine it was great to watch it and enjoy all that yummy chocolate.
Hmmmm, I think I need to take a trip to the US if only to pick up an array of the yummy flavored tea bags you guys have!
Happy juicing, too. We juice every day here, so I’ll be interested in the combinations you come up with ~
Emily.
i love dried fruit – i was actually just looking up recipes for fruitcake to make this year. your dinner sounds terrific!
Lots o’ coal makin’ losta heat! Warm face, warm hands, warm feet – ooooo wouldn’t it be loverly?!
I’m a musical geek, too — perhaps even more so than you! LOVE IT!
I have a chocolate chest too! It has heaps of goodies in it (mostly chocolate sent from home by loving friends!), and I sneak a taste of something most nights too
That is surprising about the coconut milk, I have never had it curdle either and I have cooked the crap out of it before.
I was wondering what all the talk on twitter about chocolate was about, now I see!
LOVE Earth Fare. You lunch looks delicious!
Love the chocolate stash!!! I have a little piece of chocolate after every single meal. So my stash tends to dissappear a little quicker
Chocolat is a great movie too. I think the only Johnny Depp movie I like!
Oh I love that plate of chocolates…adorable!
Love the chocolate chest!! I don’t think I could resist, though. I stashed all my leftover Halloween candy at church. Once a week I throw some in my purse.
Your chocolate chest is pure genius! I like that it’s all cute. I may swap out our plain jane bag of chocolate for a chocolate chest!
Awww, I love Chocolat!
The book is great too, if you’re looking for something to read over the holidays.
Your posts always make me miss the Charleston EarthFare. Such a great place.
Good luck on the rest of your exams!
I love the chocolate chest!! If you haven’t tried Ritter Sport or Milka they are both amazing chocolates!!
I’m with you, the vanilla almond from Naturally Nutty is like icing – I asked for a 5lb tub of it for Xmas! But just because I may be getting a 5lb tub doesn’t mean I’ll be sharing…
5 lbs!?!?!?! Didn’t know it came like that!! Hmmm…
I LOVE Chocolat – such a good movie! And Johnny Depp is always nice to see on screen
Chocolat is such a cute movie!!
I love your chocolate stash! I always find random candy in random drawers that I hide from myself! Nice surprise every now and then!
I’m a lerker that’s finally commenting
Not sure if anyone addressed this yet (I didnt get through all the comments
) but the reason it might have curdled is because you used lite coconut milk. Whenever I’ve used lite instead of whole in recipe, it’s curdled without fail.
Love your blog!
That salad looks so good! I want to try that peanut butter…I am going to have to keep an eye out for it. Good luck on your exams!
Love the chocolate trunk, I should make something similar for myself! I like to have a little piece of chocolate a few days a week
I love the idea of a chocolate chest. I should start one for myself
I can’t even imagine the awesome combination of the chocolate peanut butter. Good luck on your exams-you’re going to do awesome!!
It’s best to add products like this during the end of cooking with the crockpot(milk products too), as I have learned that they will curdle otherwise
Also, be careful putting frozen meats directly in the crockpot as when I was doing a lot of food safety research I learned that this can be dangerous as it takes much longer to bring the meat up to a “safe temperature” and may not remain safe to eat :/ Just wanted to let you know! The recipe sounds great though, love the ingredient combinations!!!
Lots of coal makin lots of heat! Yay My Fair Lady and Yay chocolate!
I haven’t seen the movie “Chocolat” yet. I really like Johnny Depp and hope he doesn’t disappoint in that movie since it is next on my “to see” list. My fav. roll for him was in the “Pirate..” movies.
As for your chocolate box…great idea!
I love Chocolat (and chocolate!)… the scene when the mayor (Alfred Molina) goes crazy in the chocolate shop and passes out covered in the stuff in the front window is my absolute favorite scene!
You’ve got to try Chocolove chocolate (if you haven’t already)! It’s AMAZING and would go perfectly with your chocolate box (cutest idea in ever!)
Definitely have to be careful with milks (non dairy or otherwise) in the slow cooker. From everything I’ve read you always want to wait to add them until the end.
I LOVE your chocolate tasting plate!!!!!
And thanks for telling us you sneak at least one piece of choco from that chest a week w/o blogging it!!! =)
I love My Fair Lady! Been years since I watched it, but I used to know all of the songs by heart. Must watch over the holidays…
Every girl needs a chocolate chest or drawer. Otherwise, the men will have not chance of survival.
I love the idea of a chocolate or treats chest! A place to seek solace after a long day
LOL, love the chocolate chest.
Wish we had an EarthFare here, your salads always looks SO good!! I haven’t used my new crock pot yet, I can’t wait. Your dishes make it look so easy.
Jenn
Ah I love that film how much do you wanna work in her chocolate shop, and johnny depp thrown in for good measure bliss! That chocolate looks great, yummy x x
Are you liking Wicked? I love the musical yet couldn’t finish the book myself.
I felt the same about Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister too though. Maybe it’s just his writing that I’m not a fan of. I hate not finishing a book though and was wondering if I should give it another shot.
Is the plate your chocolate is on from CB2? There are some on there that look just like it and I have been wanting to order them.
Yep!