Penelahpe's non holiday dinner party

Ok this past xmas vacation I decided to have a Non-Holiday Brunch.  Smoked Gouda Quiche, stuffed French toast with peaches, marinated kale and frozen swrberries and tequila drink,,,YUummmm!

So one day over margaritas and pizza, my fellow urban epicurean, Shana, and I brainstormed a dinner party. ..,, a non holiday dinner party.  The menu featured Moroccan flavors and whisky.

https://shanawashere.com/ can give you all the delicious details. 

Okay let's talk about one of  my favorite dishes of the night was Thai wheat Clams made with Second Self Thai Wheat, lemongrass broth and green curry paste. Oh yeah it became real in the kitchen.  I tweeted Second Self and asked for a recipe. So I share with you all as well.  

Okay this is the simple version that will still give you a great dish to brag about

6 cups of vegetable broth

2 stalks of lemongrass- bruised and chopped fine

1 knuckle of ginger- peel and small diced

2 carrots- peeled and medium dice 

2 onions- medium dice

1/4 cup cilantro rough chopped

2 heaping  tablespoons of green curry paste - Mae ploy- is my brand of choice

1 can of Thai Wheat Second Self beer - room temperature

3 pounds of clams

1. In a small pot  saute'  in olive oil your carrots,1 of the onions, ginger and lemongrass until carrots and onions are tender

add 6 cups of broth and  bring to a boil then decrease heat to a simmer for 30 min- during the last 10 min of cooking add cilantro

add salt, black pepper and garlic powder to taste

taste the broth- if you want stronger lemongrass simmer longer

2. In the mean time rinse off clams- discard all cracked ones

place  clams in a mixing bowl  with salt and water and allow them to filter out their sediment- ( remove the grit)

okay let's bring it together

3. In a large pot saute add olive oil  add the other onion until caramelized and add 2 heaping tablespoons of the green curry paste

stir constantly and take deep breaths of the magic that is being created

4. strain broth through a fine hole colander into a bowl - measure out four cups then add to your large pot with the green curry and onions

stir, stir, stir, 

add can of Thai Wheat Beer  and simmer for 10 min- taste broth to make sure the beer flavor has cooked out.

drain and wash off clams and add to large pot and cover and wait for the clams to open .

best served with grilled bread or toasted bread in olive oil and  garlic ..... Yum

This was my second favorite item of the night:

 Vegan Chocolate Cake

 with cardamon blue berries and candied ginger

So when I serve this cake I do not tell that this cake is vegan until the cake is gone-- food bias will disappoint.  I want the people to taste the cake and enjoy the cake...... that's it. 

Mind you the rest of the menu was flawlessly delicious the lemongrass salmon and the guest ranted about the chicken dish. 

Trust I was proud that we had a plan to feed people good food and drink and we did. Stay tuned to the next dinner. Peace.