Fall Harvest Feast

4 bacon slices, chopped

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasthalves, chopped

1 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped carrot
1/4 c. chicken (or vegetable) broth

6 c. chicken (or vegetable) stock
14 oz. can of pure pumpkin (no spices)
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. ground sage

Cook bacon in large saucepan on medium until crisp. Tranfer with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Set aside.

Heat 1 tbsp. drippings in same saucepan on medium-high. Add chicken. Cook for about 8 minutes, stirring often, until browned.

Add next 4 ingredients. Heat and stir for about 5-10 minutes, scraping any brown bits from bottom of pan, until vegetables are softened.

Add remaining 4 ingredients. Stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender. Add bacon. Stir.

Makes about 81/2 cups (2.1L.).
Serves 4

::Curry with Naan Bread & Creamy Curried Veggies::

WE ALL HAVE A MEAL THAT MAKES US WEAK.
ONE WE WANT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
ONE WE BREAK ALL OF OUR DIET RULES FOR...
THIS IS MINE:

::Basic Chicken Curry::
WE ALL HAVE A BELOVED RECIPE. MINE IS A FAMILY RECIPE I THROW TOGETHER FROM MEMORY, SO I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO FIND ONE YOU LOVE.

::Naan Bread::
NAAN IS A MUST-HAVE WITH CURRY. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS FIND IT ON THE MENU AT AN INDIAN RESTAURANT. A FEW YEARS AGO, MOM AND I DECIDED TO TRY IT FROM SCRATCH. WE NAILED IT. I THINK THAT THIS STUFF TASTES JUST LIKE THE REAL THING. LOTS OF WORK, BUT THE MEAL JUST ISN'T THE SAME WITHOUT THIS BUTTERY BREAD.

4 T warm milk
2 t sugar
1- 1/2 t dry yeast/ or 1/2 oz fresh

Warm your milk in a microwave for 20 seconds or so. Add sugar and yeast. Let rest for 10 minutes, until you see that the yeast has begun to create a frothy layer in the bowl.

3 cups + 2 T flour {1 pound}
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

Sift all of these dry ingredients together in a big bowl. Set aside.

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup + 1 T milk
1/2 cup + 1 T yogurt
4 T melted butter, {referred to as "ghee"}

Combine all the above. Combine egg mixture and yeast mixture and add to the dry ingredients. Bring together into a ball. Dump onto a floured surface and knead it for a good long while ie. 5 minutes, {feels like an eternity.} Place in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let it rest in a warm and draft-free spot for about an hour and half. {I heat the oven for a few minutes until it's warm, then turn it off and let my dough rise in there.} It should double in size.

TICK. TOCK. TICK. TOCK.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Punch down the dough and separate into 8 balls. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for another 10 minutes in warmth.
3. Form each ball into elongated ovals. They don't have to be rolled flat. Just aim for that lovely naan shape. Place on one or two baking trays, covered in parchment paper or foil. Butter the tops with ghee. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip over and brush with more ghee. Bake 6 minutes more, or until lightly golden.
Serve warm. The sooner the better. But if you want to make them ahead, the keep beautifully and can be easy reheated. I have even been known to pop them into the toaster!

::Creamy Curried Veggies::
I REMEMBER SHOPPING IN WHOLE FOODS STORE WITH MY MOM WHEN I WAS A GIRL. THE STORE WAS CALLED "HERB & SPICE." WE WOULD BUY THIS BRIGHT YELLOW SALAD, COMPOSED OF JULIENNED CARROTS & TINY FLORETS OF CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI, TOSSED IN A CREAMY CURRY DRESSING. IT TASTED EXOTIC AND REFRESHING. AND IT BELONGS WITH THIS MEAL. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE DRESSING WITHOUT FULLY RE-CAPTURING THE FLAVOUR. BUT THIS IS PRETTY CLOSE...

Curry Dressing
1/3 cup (125 mL) sour cream
1/2 cup (75 mL) mayonnaise
1 tbsp (15 mL) mild curry paste
2 tsp (10 mL) lemon juice
1/2 tsp (2 mL) grated ginger root
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 mL) granulated sugar

Salad
cauliflower, broken into small florets
broccoli, broken into small florets
carrot, julienned

NOTE: Another possible salad combination: shrimp and avocado.