Ginger, Basil and Garlic

I love the smell of spices and herbs. When I open my pantry I am greeted by the wonderful aroma of coffee and cardamom, ginger and garlic, and a multitude of other wonderful scents. One of my strongest childhood memories is the smell of my mother's spice cupboard. It makes me happy.

Lately I have been trying to cook a variety of cuisines and types of food. Last night we had scallops with garlic and ginger and stir-fried vegetables. The night before that I made Thai chicken curry with leftover chicken from the night before. We had roast chicken on Sunday with chutney and apple/sundried tomato & bleu cheese salad with arugula. A wide variety of food, lots of flavors and very good leftovers. Lately our favorite dish has been "Karney's Paleo Stuff." (named after my brother in law). I take one pound of grass fed organic free range ground beef (from Eel River) and brown it, then remove it to a covered bowl, then I take about a pound of mushrooms, slice them and brown them in butter, and remove them to the covered bowl, then I chop and brown a whole organic red onion, and remove it to the covered bowl. Next, I take a pre-cooked organic yam or sweet potato and chop it up and brown it in a little butter mixed with olive oil. I add about a cup of fresh basil leaves and an entire package or bunch of organic spinach and let it cook for a bit until everything is nicely wilted. Then I add all the other ingredients back intp the pot and let the ingredients meld for a while--I salt and pepper to taste as I go and the results are really good--it also makes excellent leftovers!! Very good with eggs, or with green salad...