Not at all Wordless Wednesday: Random Bits and Yellow Chicken Curry

Warning: this post contains some political commentary and opinions.  They're mine, and I feel the need to share.

While I'm waiting for my injection class and for my meds to arrive there are a couple of things that I feel like I should touch on:

• The one year anniversary of the Affordable Healthcare Act.  I know that because of my endometriosis I have been extremely careful for my entire adult life to never go without insurance so that I didn't run afoul of the pre-existing conditions clause.  This sometimes meant paying premiums that I couldn't afford, and that made it so that I couldn't afford to actually see the doctor when I needed to - because it had spent all of that money maintaining my insurance coverage.  Also - Check out Foxy's very eloquent post on the same subject.
• I found an excellent IVF resource for people who actually love to geek out on technical details:   http://www.ivf-worldwide.com/  check out the education center, and all of the information and surveys that they have done - I'm still wandering around the site after the better part of a week.
• The new law in South Dakota requiring women who want an abortion to wait 3 days, and to visit a "crisis pregnancy center" for a counseling session.  I'll be honest, I don't much like the idea of abortion, and I would like to see it "Safe, Legal, and Rare" but at the same time, I don't think that forcing women to go for a counseling session where the whole point is to pressure them into changing their minds is a good idea.  And I'm bothered by the idea that not only is there a desire to reduce access to contraception, thereby making abortions more likely, or at least condemning some women to a life of poverty, but there is also a desire to berate them after the fact, and reduce their choices then as well.  It's a slippery slope, and many of the same voices who appose abortion and contraception also oppose ART.  Where do they stop?

And on a final note, is the Yellow Chicken Curry - this is a fast and easy recipe, that can be made quickly on a weeknight, adn very easily falls into the comfort food category.  Maybe not your typical comfort food, but how do you go wrong with a thick creamy sauce and saffron rice?

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Yellow Chicken Curry:

Ingredients:

4 chicken thighs (or breasts - but I'm cheap)

Curry powder

1 onion

1/4 - 1/2 cup Golden raisins

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Mushrooms (optional)

Olive Oil

Sour Cream (16 oz)

Directions:

I sauteed the onions with a bit of olive oil and curry powder, and set them aside  Add salt to taste.  Jakobe doesn't like them, and I thought they'd make an attractive garnish.  

Chop and add the onion to your pan with a generous sprinkling of curry powder, and cook until soft, translucent, and an even yellow color.  Add raisins, and sautee just a bit longer.  Remove to a seperate dish.

Repeat the process with the chicken - you can slice it thinly, like I did here, cut it into chunks, or leave it whole, just remember to salt, pepper, and sprinkle generously with curry powder.  If you're using thighs, you can completely omit the olive oil for this step.  Cook the chicken until it's just done. (This time will vary depending on how large your pieces are.)

Add back the onions and raisins, and then add the sour cream.  Stir together and simmer on low until ready to serve.

Server with regular or Saffron Rice.

Super Simple Saffron Rice:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups brown rice

2 tablespoons olive or canola oil

2 cups chicken broth

a healthy pinch (or two) of saffron

2 cups hot water

Directions:

Add rice and oil to the pot and put on the burner on medium high.  Stirring occasionally, toast the rice until some of the grains are browned, and you get that toasty aroma from the pan.  Meanwhile combine the hot water and saffron and let them sit.  When the rice is toasted add the saffron water and broth, bring it to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to medium low.  Cook until the water is completely absorbed - about 45 minutes.