recipe-a-week #16: jamaican chicken curry & some fun mail!

I believe that it is pretty much impossible to take a nice picture of a stew or casserole. It usually ends up looking inedible at best. So here's what was left on my plate after making this delicious recipe, from the May 2009 issue of Everyday Food. Since eating at Curry Village a few weeks ago, I'm still dreaming of that heavenly butter chicken. And I think I'm still tinted yellow.

Jamaican Chicken Curry

Serves 4

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 bone-in, skinless chicken breast halves (10 to 12 ounces each), halved crosswise
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons curry powder (preferably Jamaican)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas, thawed
• Cooked white rice, for serving

Directions

1. In a large Dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Working in two batches, brown chicken, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add onion, garlic, cumin, curry, thyme, and 1/2 cup water and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion has softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Add carrots, coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and chicken with any accumulated juices. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover partially, and cook until chicken is cooked through and carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peas. Serve curry over rice.

Note: I used regular curry powder, and it was delicious.

As part of the bloggy pay-it-forward giveaway that was making the rounds a little while ago, Teresa and I agreed to swap. I won't tell what I sent her, since I'm sure it hasn't arrived yet, (and I'm thinking it's lame in comparison to this!) but here's what was delivered to my door yesterday. It's a beautiful dish that she made, with a white pine imprint. It is so very me! In fact, it's a little bit similar to one I picked up at a yard sale last September. I love it. Thanks so much, Teresa!
Also in the mail, today, was this fun book that I won from the Make & Do blog! I'm planning on sewing up a storm this weekend, and there are a couple of things I would like to whip up, in addition to the travel tote I mentioned before.
Look what Adam bought me for our anniversary! We're also going to be getting a picnic table soon, and probably another chair, so it won't be quite so lonely. But I'm hoping to get in some reading and tea drinking this weekend if the weather is nice enough.

Why do I keep mentioning this weekend, you ask? Because A & P are going to NB, and I'm staying here. An entire long weekend by myself at home. I'm a little bit giddy, but I know that I'll miss them as soon as they're out the door. I have a list as long as my arm of things that I want to do, but maybe I'll just sit and read. Go for a walk on the beach. Have birthday lunch with Ingrid, who has a birthday on Sunday. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Happy Tuesday!