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What's Cookin': What the heck is sambal oelek? Lori explains Sambal oelek. A couple of weeks ago, Gerry and I put in a recipe for Mango Cashew Chicken. One of the ingredients is sambal oelek. Well, apparently we need to go into a little more detail explaining this item! The newspaper came out on Thursday and by noon on Friday, Gerry and I had received no less than six phone calls, asking about it. And if that many people actually called, there must have been more of you who thought about it, but didn't. Even the grocery staff at the Superstore were calling me up in the cooking school, asking me what aisle to find it in because customers were coming in looking for it (the an- 17 Independent & Free Press, Thursday, June 23, 2011 Lori Gysel & Gerry Kentner swer is aisle 5)! Sambal oelek is a chili garlic paste. It is used in many types of cooking to add flavour and heat to the dish-- basically in place of fresh chilies. However, it is extremely hot for those who are not used to it and should be used sparingly. It is Indonesian in origin, but has become a staple in Dutch and Thai recipes for its ease of use-- no worries about running out to the store for fresh chilies! The word sambal just means a chili based sauce that is used primarily as a condiment. The word oelek (also spelled ulek) is Indonesian for the special stoneware dish that the sambal is made in, similar to a mortar and pestle. If we happen to mention something in a recipe that you aren't sure of, feel free to send us a note and we'll answer you back whatscooking@theifp.ca. Have fun and keep cooking! Croissant French Toast Makes 6-8 servings Ingredients · 1/4 cup sugar · 1/2 tsp cinnamon · 6 eggs · 1 1/2 cups light cream or milk (or combination) · 2 tsp vanilla · 6 croissants, sliced in half Method 1. Combine sugar and cinnamon. 2. In a large, flat casserole dish, whisk the eggs, vanilla and cream together. Then add the sugar mixture. 3. Place sliced croissants in the dish, turning them to coat well. Allow the slices to soak at least 30 minutes to a maximum of overnight. 4. Preheat the oven to 375 degress F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 5. Arrange the croissants in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes or until browned and puffed. 6. Serve with bacon, maple syrup, fruit, yogurt or sifted icing sugar. Knitting with the rest of the world Enthusiast local knitters and crocheters recently joined with hundreds of others around the world on the same day-- Worldwide Knit in Public Day on June 11. Knitters, crocheters, spinners and other fibre enthusiasts were welcomed at Georgetown Yarn & Crafts, 170 Guelph St, Georgetown between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. This fun day included demonstrations, games and prizes, knitting and crocheting support and more. Food donations were collected for the local food bank. Unfortunately due to the wet weather, this annual day was moved indoors. Photo by Jon Borgstrom SPECTACULAR SUMMER SAVINGS Visit us now for the best selection and assortment! New Arrivals 10" Hanging Baskets Choose from Geraniums, Dahlias, Petunias and Mixed Varieties 11" Urn Planters New Arrivals SPECIAL PURCHASE 33 2367 ALL Lilacs in stock Including French Hybrids & Standards $ 99 9 33 5840X 1/2 PRICE Emerald Cedars 3 Gal - Fresh Shipment Great for Hedges 1 Gallon Perennials $ 99 33 4907 4 SPECIAL PURCHASE 33 3802 $ 99 6 ALL Purple Leaf Sand Cherry's in stock 33 5811/5852 Mini Roses in full bloom both 4 & 6" size 33 2206/2223 Reg. $26.99 1/2 PRICE SAVE $10 33 7007 $ 16 99 1/2 PRICE Items may not be exactly as illustrated Fresh Shipment of Hydrangeas in bud - many varieties to choose from. 315 Guelph Street, Georgetown CANADIAN TIRE We reserve the right to limit quantities.