Mussels in White Wine Cream Sauce {Moules Mariniere}

What I used
2 lbs mussels on half-shell (frozen, from New Zealand) $6
1 cup white wine, something light and crisp (I used Naked Grape pinot grigio—California) $6.50
2 TB butter
1 shallot , finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup half-and-half (in place of cream)
lemon (2 wedges)
cilantro

What I did
1. Melt butter in pot on medium heat, add shallot and garlic. Toss until slightly golden.
2. Add room temp wine to pot until simmer.
3. Add all the mussels, meat side up.  Close lid and cook for 3–5 minutes or until all mussels have opened.
4. Open lid, check mussels, pour sauce over mussels to evenly coat them. Add half-and-half.
5. Turn off heat when simmer.

Garnish with cilantro and lemon wedges to serve.

Best way to consume all those delicious sauce: toast some fresh bread, dip in sauce and enjoy!

{Whole dish cost about $10 to make (a fraction of restaurant price), the bonus is I get to drink the remaining wine.}

Thai Green Curry with carrots, chinese radish, beef + then more

What I used
2 packets of Thai green curry paste (purchase by my mom in Thailand, regret not getting a photo of it!)

1 big can coconut milk

2 carrots, cubed
1 chinese radish, cubed
1lb beef ribs, bone in, cut to large pieces
1 packet enoki mushrooms
2 red bell pepper, cut to small pieces
2 cloves garlic


round 2 ingredients
half bag frozen sweet corn
half bag frozen pea
chicken breast, cubed

What I did
1. Prior to cooking, roast pepper pepper at 425ºF in a toaster oven for 15 minutes or unti slightly charred. Turn oven to broil for the final 2 minutes to get the roasted aroma.

2. Heat oil in big pot on medium high, add garlic until golden. Then add mushroom and beef until beef is 80% cooked.

3. Add carrots + radish. Mixed well.

4. Add both packets of green curry. Stir in, mix well until simmer. Add coconut milk + mix well. {Despite sauce looking thick, hold the urge to add more water as the chinese radish releases water upon cooking.}

5. Add roasted red bell pepper. Bring pot to boil, reduce to low heat to simmer. Cook for another 10–15 minutes. Get yourself a beer to to serve with, this curry is hot!

round 2, the next day: my beef was running low. Curry is one of those never-ending dish, so I added corn, peas, and some chicken breast to continue this curry pot. You can add any kind of meat to continue with this curry dish until the sauce is fully used. I added a few mussels on day 1. The sweetness balanced out the heat.