Japanese Curry Rice

The recipe for Japanese Curry Rice comes from Marc Matsumoto of norecipes.com. He says: “ I make almost everything I post without a recipe. I think cooking is most fun and innovative when you just wing it. I do recognize that not everyone is as adventurous as me, so I post the ingredients and method to give you a starting point.”

So in that spirit, substitute okra for the carrots, thinly sliced green beans for the peas, use applesauce instead of the fresh apple, or make any other substitutions that appeal to you.. You could skip the protein and still have a lovely meal.

Apple Chutney

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat; add onion. Saute over heat until translucent and beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Add apples; sauté 4 minutes more. Add vinegar, raisins, ginger, mustard, and cayenne. Stir well to combine; cover. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until apples are very tender but hold their shape, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cool and store in the refrigerator. It should keep for about a month.

Apple, Ham, and Cheddar Melt

I’m looking for a way to use these apples. Some are really the wrong texture for eating out of hand, so I needed inspiration for other uses. Here are two. The first is basically a grilled cheese sandwich fancied up a little by the folks at Martha Stewart with the addition of ham and slices of apple. That’s what I’m having for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I’ll make the apple chutney. I think it would be a great addition to my next apple, ham, cheddar melt.