THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke Cymbidium Orchid ________ CHICKEN SATAY & ASIAN ASPARAGUS ~ Simple supper with fresh asparagus ... a hint of 'spring' (adapted from Foodie Froggy ) ______________ 6 chicken breasts, cut in strips 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil (more if needed) bamboo skewers Marinade: 6 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. Mirin (sweet rice wine), sherry or Marsala coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Satay Sauce: 4 Tbsp. peanut butter 2 Tbsp. chopped garlic 2 tsp. chili oil 3 Tbsp. white rice vinegar 4 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. red pepper flakes Combine soy sauce, Mirin (sherry or Marsala ), salt & pepper. Add chicken strips, toss, and marinate for 20 minutes. Combine ingredients for Satay Sauce in blender. Set aside. Heat wok with 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil until it smokes a little. Add chicken and sauté about 5 minutes (don't overcrowd ... sauté in batches). Lower heat...

"There is not a single colour hidden away in the chalice of a flower ... to which, by some subtle sympathy with the very soul of things, my nature does not answer." ~ Oscar Wilde ~ Garden Gerbera Daisy ______________ HONEY~SESAME GRILLED SHRIMP ~ adapted from razzledazzlerecipes .com ____ 2 1/4-1/2 lbs. peeled, deveined uncooked jumbo shrimp 1/4 cup sesame oil 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds 3 Tbsp. honey 2 cloves minced garlic 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger 1-2 Tbsp. Mongolian Fire Oil (House of Tsang ) 6 chopped scallions Combine sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds, honey, garlic, ginger, fire oil, and 3 chopped scallions. Add shrimp and marinate several hours. Remove shrimp from marinade and thread on wooden skewers. Bring marinade to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until syrupy. Grill shrimp, 2 minutes per side, basting with marinade. Transfer to platter and sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds and scallions. ...

~ELECTION NIGHT SUPPER ~ - adapted from Nantucket Open~House Cookbook (recipe featured in Diary of a Ho-Hum Housewife ) TUNA STEAKS with WASABI BUTTER _ 1/4 cup Hot chili sesame oil (House of Tsang) 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup Seasoned rice vinegar (Nakano - red pepper) 1 Tbsp. brown sugar 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh ginger 3 cloves minced garlic 3 - 3 1/2 pounds (about 1 1/2 inch thick) ahi tuna steaks WASABI BUTTER 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 1/2 tsp. green wasabi paste (or more if you like it hot) 3 Tbsp. chopped fresh coriander Whisk sesame oil, vegetable oil, vinegar, brown sugar and soy together. Stir in ginger and garlic. Pour over tuna steaks. Cover and marinate in refrigerator at least 4 hours, turning occasionally. Bring to room temperature before grilling. Meanwhile, prepare wasabi butter. Beat butter and wasabi paste together. Blend in coriander. Grill steaks over hot coals about 7 minutes total for rare, flipping once. Reduce marinade over high heat and serve s...