African Peanut Stew and French Bread

So when I signed up for that Thanksgiving Point cooking class this was the soup that I had ZERO interest in. It sounded weird to me but it was amazing. My kids of course did not love it like I did but Fred loved it and is excited to have leftovers for lunch.

African Peanut Stew

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 medium red, orange, or yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons fresh ginger ( I used 1 Tablespoon of the dried ginger)
1 Tablespoon curry powder
1 (14 ounce) diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf ( I didn't use this)
2 cups chicken broth ( 1 can)
1 can coconut milk ( 1 can of chicken broth if you don't want the coconut milk)
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
1 1/2 cup chicken (or shelled edamame)
1/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter or almond butter
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 (5 ounce) bag baby spinach leaves ( I used more)
1/2 tsp salt

Heat olive oil in a 4qt pan. Add onion, bell pepper, carrot and celery. Saute until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, ginger and curry and saute until fragant, about 1 minute; do not brown garlic. Add tomatoes and bay leaf; cook, uncovered, until tomatoes are slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Add broth and sweet potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 8 minutes. Stir in chicken and peanut butter until combined. Cook until thoroughly heated, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro and spincach until spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper. Serve over steamed rice.


Easy French Bread

2 1/2 cups warm water
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons yeast
1 Tablespoon salt
6 cups flour
1/4 cup oil

Stir together warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let the yeast work for about 3-4 minutes. Add salt, oil, and 3 cups flour. Knead in 3 more cups of flour. Let dough rest for 10 minutes. Knead and shape into 2 French loaves. Make little slices in the top of the bread. Let dough rise for 10 more minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.