An Indonesian extravaganza: Yellow rice on a bed of spinach, covered with vegetables, tofu, and hard boiled eggs. A gingery peanut sauce gets drizzled over the top, and crunchy, flavorful "final toppings" add a delightful finishing touch.
Note: all the ingredients can be prepared in advance and served warm or at room temperature.Gado-Gado:Note: You can vary the vegetables and their amounts. Also, they can be cooked or raw, or some of each. Arrange everything on a platter or on individual plates.1- A bed of
fresh spinach goes on the bottom.
2-
Yellow Rice goes on the spinach. (To make yellow rice, cook 2 cups rice in 3 cups simmering water with 1/2 tsp. tumeric. Add a little extra water toward the end of cooking, if needed until tender.)
3-
An assortment of vegetables goes on rice. Such as broccoli, green beans, red and green cabbage (very finely shredded), thin slices of carrot, mung bean sprouts.
4-
Tofu and hard boiled eggs (sliced or chopped) go on the vegetables
Peanut Sauces:1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 heaping Tbs grated ginger
1 heaping Tbs minced garlic
1 1/2 cups hot water
4 Tbs cider vinegar
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 tsp salt
crushed red pepper to taste
1- Put everything into a blender and puree until smooth. If it is too thick add a little extra water.
2- Transfer to a serving bowl and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve at any temperature, drizzled over Gado Gado. (This makes about 2 cups sauces)
Final Toppings:3 Tbs peanut or canola oil
2 Tbs sliced fresh ginger (VERY thin slices, done with your sharpest paring knife)
1 cup finely chopped onion
12 medium cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
Optional toppings:
shredded, unsweetened coconut, lightly toasted
crushed red pepper
slices of fruit: lemons, limes, oranges, apples, pineapple
1-Heat 1 Tbs oil in small skillet. Add ginger, and saute over medium heat for a minute or so, then transfer to small bowl.
2- Repeat with the onion and garlic, sauteing each separately in 1 Tbs oil for 8 to 10 minutes (onion) and about 20 seconds (garlic). Place each in a small bowl.
3- Place some or all of these toppings on the table with the Gado Gado, so each person can liberally garnish their own portion.
I was a bit hesitant to try this when Christian suggested it as it seemed like a weird combination. It turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. The peanut sauce is very tasty and the recipe allows for a nice combination of veggies, protein and carbohydrates. If you want a vegan option you can leave out the egg. One night we did it with the egg, the other night we did it with tofu and both were delish!
This is the worst winter we have experienced since we have been in Boston. Every week in January we have had at least one big snow storm (6 inches or more). The schools have not had a full week of school since the beginning of December. We have had a few snow days from work and many snow delay days (come in a few hours late). 
We are dealing the best we can with all this snow, but there is no where for it to go on these tiny Boston streets. The snow banks are so high it is difficult to see other cars, pedestrians and bikers. I am amazed to see how many runners still go out in this weather.
This week looks like more of the same; another snow storm Tuesday or Wednesday. Six more inches at least! Oh joy! Yesterday it was nearly 40 degrees and fooled me into thinking Spring was just around the corner, but then I looked around and saw the piles of snow and remembered it was just wishful thinking.
This kid enjoys playing in the snow, only problem is he calls snow "raining". He is SLOWLY learning about ice and how it isn't the friendliest of creatures. He looks at me and says, "I fall."
