Oh yeah…back to another great (Easy! Delicious! Satisfying!) new recipe!  AND…a special shout out to my good friend Sara’s new blog, Sixty Seconds with Sara. Welcome to the Blogosphere, my dear!

Sara’s got a wonderful, growing portfolio of recipes and how-to cooking videos.  She’ll show you how just a short amount of prep time in your kitchen will stock your fridge with yummy, portable meals on the go for your busy week ahead!

Now, before I share this recipe, please indulge me in a funny story on how Sara and I met…because frankly the way we met I never thought we would ever be anything close to great friends.  What happened?  She SHOVED ME DOWN ON THE ICE during a hockey game.  Yep, that’s right!  Nearly 10 years ago (man that sounds weird) I took up hockey on a total random whim.  Yes, as in co-ed ice hockey in a local league here in the Seattle area!  My class had 8 weeks of learn-to-play hockey coaching.  And our team was actually formed by splitting up our LTP class into two equally matched teams, and we joined the local league winter season about halfway through in their novice division.  And we were on our way!

But there was a big learning curve still ahead, especially for someone like me who discovered team sports for the first time in her mid-30s.  I was thrilled for the opportunity to push myself physically and mentally, and I also knew I was way, way out of my comfort zone.  What a way to stretch and grow!  It’s one of my proudest achievements of adult life actually (so far!).

So one night my (co-ed) team played an all-women team.  We had played them before and lost horribly (I’m sure some male egos were thoroughly bruised), so we knew it wouldn’t be an easy win.  I wish I could remember exactly what happened, but all I remember is getting shoved down on the ice (and I didn’t have the puck…hello interference anyone?) and looking up and seeing Sara’s eyes glaring at me through her helmet cage.  And I thought man, what a bitch!  What the hell?  Now I laugh about it (and she does too), but at the time I was pissed.  Over time Sara and I got to know each other given we know a ton of people in common, and now she’s one of my dearest friends!

Lamb Coconut Curry – serves 2-4.  Prep time:  45 minutes.

•  1 T coconut oil
•  1 pound ground lamb (or beef, turkey, chicken, whatever you like)
•  1 medium onion, chopped
•  2 cloves garlic. minced
•  1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz)
•  1 can coconut milk
•  1 Serrano chile stem and seeds removed, diced finely OR 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
•  1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
•  1/2 teaspoon curry powder
•  Salt to taste

Heat the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lamb or your meat of choice, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and allow to brown. Add the onion and garlic, saute for 5 minutes to soften the onion. Then add all the other ingredients and bring it up to a bubble. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-30 minutes.

This is great over cauliflower rice (a nice substitute for rice if you are gluten-free) or quinoa (as I did last night)!  The flavors are absolutely incredible, and it’s a snap to prepare!

Coconut oil is a fun change from my usual olive oil ritual, and I highly recommend giving it a try!  My favorite is by Nutiva.

Cheers to hockey, great food and great friendship!