How many crumbs does the highest day of sales in Great Harvest Cville history make!?
A LOT!
What an amazing day!! We beat our opening day in sales, and we had so many lovely customers. Hope tomorrow is just as awesome! People are just in bread mode!
I was on my feet for hours and couldn’t wait to put them up and enjoy Act III of Thanksgiving Week.
After a quick stop home and a return to Karen’s house for an amazing Indian dinner prepared by Aneesha, Andrew’s girlfriend. Aneesha is Indian, was raised in Saudi Arabia and met Andrew at Tulane. She made us traditional Chicken Makhani that was incredible!
Act III of wine with dinner as well. I had a little white and then another glass of Karen’s delicious Italian red.
Aneesha and Andrew made the Chicken Makhani along with basmati rice infused with toasted cumin seeds and a traditional cucumber raita slightly tweaked from this recipe.
The chicken dish was absolutely incredible – I’ll have to make this on my own sometime! SO many dimensions of flavor!
Please note this recipe was informally shared and might need some tweaking/guessing to complete.
Aneesha’s Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 bell pepper
- 1/2 onion
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
- ½ cup half and half or heavy cream
- 2 tbsp fresh garlic
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 4 bay leaves
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp cayenne
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in non stick pan on medium heat.
- Add bay leaves, cumin seeds and stir for 1 minute.
- Add peppers and onion.
- Add tomato paste and sauce and cook for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the cream, stirring until mixed with tomato paste.
- Add chicken pieces and ginger garlic, cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Cook on low heat for about 10 minutes.
- Serve with pita bread/rotis/chapattis/parathas.
For sake of time, the naan was store-bought, but delicious nonetheless.
I don’t know if this family will ever make desserts from scratch again – because we do it everyday at the bakery and they are so good! We had a collection of favorites tonight leftover from the past few days – pecan pie, pumpkin oh, broken cookies, day-old brownies. I had a taste of each – too hard to resist!
Up at 7 to head in to the bakery tomorrow – I’m already excited about what the day will bring (hopefully no disasters knockonwood!)
Ellie@fitforthesoul says
wow thank you for sharing that recipe, it looks awesome and I have almost all of the ingredients 😀 WOOT. And I don’t know what it is, maybe your pictures? But the bakery always sounds so exciting and your posts make me want to join in the fun! (errr work) So happy for you guys and your GH!! Have a beautiful evening.
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
“Aneesha is Indian, was raised in Saudi Arabia” <— now that is an amazing heritage and I bet the stories and food she shared were wonderful.
Thanks to her for sharing the chicken recipe that you were able to share…I bet it would be great even as a tofu type sauce/marinade & recipe.
Congrats on your record breaking day! Clearly people aren't at home baking bread for the Holiday…they're buying yours 🙂
Katie @ Raisins&Apples says
A tasting plate for dessert sounds like a marvelous idea 🙂
Kinley @ Better Off Barefoot says
Wow, congrats on the awesome sales today! I know I would buy lots of your good breads for the holiday if I could 🙂 And that dinner looks so pretty!
Jen says
Can I just say that your chef tonight is absolutely gorgeous?! And the food she cooked looks amazing…what a treat!
Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon says
Sounds like a great day on all fronts!
Meredith says
Congrats on the sales! I’m probably going to stop in tomorrow to get something for my Mom’s birthday (also known as Thanksgiving!) 😀
Deva @ Deva by Definition says
The recipe sounds amazing. Definitely bookmarking this one!
Sana says
I <3 Indian food, maybe because I am Indian 🙂
Nina says
Team Onion ftw!
Katie says
Yes, onion!
Nicole @ Yuppie Yogini says
Aneesha is so pretty. I be that dish (minus the chicken) was awesome!
Jen says
Wow Aneesha – impressive! Yum.
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) says
Congrats on the great day of sales… that is awesome! I don’t think I would ever make homemade desserts again either if I was a bakery owner. 🙂 Have a great Thanksgiving, Kath!
Angel7 says
Crumbs are a good thing when profit is involved 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Molly @ RDexposed says
I need to find out if there’s a GH out here for my Thanksgiving bread pudding. And I completely shut down the idea of making homemade naan today. That’s what Trader Joe’s is for!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
That chicken looks delicious! My dad grew up in India and I wish he still cooked the traditional meals like he used to for us when we were kids.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Well dinner looks delicious! Congratulations on the sales. You guys make an incredible team so I had no doubt things would go well!
Diana says
Yay GOOO bakery! Good luck tomorrow as I’m sure you’ll have more hustle & bustle, well-fueled by a delicious dinner!
Clare @ SweetnSimple says
Dinner looks beautiful, and love the idea of a dessert tasting plate 🙂 I mean, who wouldn’t want to taste each and every one of your gorgeous desserts!?
Lauren says
I love chicken makhani. I think I will put this on the menu for next week.
Natasha says
Go Green Wave! I’m an alum as well. Food looks delicious!
Susan (Oliepants) says
I absolutely love chicken makhani! Looks like a great recipe and a great meal!
Alex says
Ya! A picture of me. Kath you take the best pictures! Having you at the bakery today was of course awesome! Tomorrow shall be fun too. I’m very jealous of your dinner. I just enjoyed wings at lazy parrot. See you bright and early.
Health Bee says
Congrats on the success of your bakery!
The chicken makhani looks delicious.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Wow, her cooking looks great!
Congrats on your highest sales day!
Mama Pea says
Congrats on the stellar day! I wish one of my brother’s would start dating Aneesha. Sorry, Andrew.
Meagan says
That chocolate thing in the front looks delicious!
E says
Congratulations on the highest sale day! The Indian meal looks delicious & Andrew’s girlfriend’s background sounds fascinating (and she’s beautiful 🙂 )
Khushboo says
This post makes me proud- Indian food for the win 😀
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
love the post title!!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
glad you made a lot of dough – literally!
Stephanie C says
Okay.. I’ve seen Chicken “Mahkni” and “Mahkani” are there just two spellings or is one wrong?
Either way, that dish is one of my faves and I miss it now that I don’t eat meat!
Have a happy T-day!
Jules says
The correct spelling is “Makhani.”
Jules says
Oh, and if you miss eating Chicken Makhani because you no longer eat meat, you may want to try “Paneer Makhani” which uses the same spices and yields the same type of curry, but using paneer instead of chicken. Paneer is basically a very popular type of cheese in India – can be found in supermarkets as well (usually).
Stephanie C says
Thanks for the help! Makes me wonder about the Indian restaurants I’m going to. Is there any version of Mahkani that is vegan? I wonder if this would work with Tofu…
katie @KatieDid says
I’m sure this whole week will be so busy for you guys… I know we never baked our own bread for holidays and always always picked up fresh rolls and loaves to have on hand. Congrats on such a successful day!
Hillary says
Congrats on the great day of sales! I bet you guys kick that record again closer to Xmas!
And Aneesha can cook for me anytime she likes. That looks AWESOME.
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I knew you’d guys have record sales on holidays! Our local bakeries are always busiest on holidays. It’s like the 80/20 rule; 80% of business, 20% of the time. 🙂
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Thanks for sharing the recipe! I’ve never had Indian food before, but I’ve been interested in trying to cook some dishes myself. This one I’ll definitely have to try!
Congrats on your successful day. 🙂
Heather H says
Looks yummy – the rice looks so perfect sitting on the plate.
Great job on your sales!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
Congrats on the busy day, I’m sure that was fun! And I love Indian food, so jealous!!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
what a fun dinner! i have no idea how to make indian food myself, but do love having it prepared by someone else 🙂
edna valley is our go to white as well!
Laura says
I went to the Great Harvest Columbia, MD this morning to pick up stuffing bread for tomorrow that I learned about from you. My first time shopping @ GH – can’t wait to try it!! 🙂
Kimberly says
I had never heard of Great Harvest before…didn’t know there was one so close to me! (I live in Frederick.)
Amanda says
I love Indian food. And while I don’t eat chicken, the combination of spices sounds absolutely wonderful.
Congratulations on a record sales day at your bakery! Hope today is even better! 🙂
Cait says
congrats on sales!
Karen says
What a lovely chef…Indian flavors are the best!
Hilliary @Happily Ever Healthy says
Your dinner looks delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Mom says
Aneesha, Can’t wait to meet you!
Ya’ll try to get in the mood for my pumpkin chiffon because I am making it soon and it’s a bit of a pain….
Katie says
Pumpkin chiffon delightful! Hopefully the pain is well worth it and the chef get’s to enjoy a slice. I need to get started on my desserts soon, but I need to wait for the kids to help with their requests. Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Mom says
What are you baking? Daughter Laura is trying a pumpkin pie with a chocolate top of some sort or another, which sounds good.
Katie says
Pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting for sure and my daughter and son have maple pumkin pie, pumpkin cream cheese pie, and ginger-streusel pumpkin pie on their short list. We have five birthdays and an anniversary to celebrate so we need lots of pumpkin desserts! Would you mind sharing your recipes? I’m always looking for new ideas.
Mom says
They sounds wonderful!
Here’s the Pumpkin Chiffon:
https://www.katheats.com/finger-oatmeal
It’s good for folks who aren’t deep into strong pumpkin (kids tend to like it.)
Katie says
Thanks for the recipe. I had my eye on a similar recipe so I think you may have me sold on the pumpkin chiffon. I have the gelatin but I think I”ve had it awhile and I don’t see an expiration on the box or packet. Do you think it should be fine to use?
KathEats says
Aneesha will be gone when you get here mom!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Yum! What a great recipe! LOoks great 🙂
Mattie @ Comfy & Confident says
Congrats on a successful day, cheers to many more!
Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Nothing like an ethnic dish cooked by someone who grew up in the culture. Looks delicious!
Katie says
Just a few more comments…
– Love the crumb picture, certainly a sign of a busy, productive and profitable bakery day!
– Please tell Aneesha she is beautiful, as is her food
– The Spinach, Red Pepper & Swiss and Stuffing Bread were great with the our Chicken Spinach Artichoke Lasagna last night and the Pumpkin Swirl was wonderful this morning especially with some pumpkin butter and homemeade chunky applesauce
– My local GH was bustling yesterday and I loved the atmosphere, why do bread and baked goods make everyone so happy?
– You certainly have no reason to bake at home, I would love to bake or cook for a living but then I don’t know if I would do it or enjoy it as much at home
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday Kath! Thanks for including your readers in your holiday festivities. I know your blog always brightens my day. It’s great to hear you say that you are excited for a day at the bakery, it’s wonderful that you love your job so much!
KathEats says
🙂
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
Congrats on a successful day! 🙂 That chicken dish looks incredible!
Dee says
oh em gee. yum, yum, yum!
Lena @Fit on the Rocks says
Ahh so jealous that you have someone to make you homemade Indian food because it’s one of my faves!
Cait's Plate says
Yay for beating your opening day sales!! I’m so excited for you – it seriously just makes me feel so happy for you and Matt that the bakery is doing so well – you guys definitely deserve it for how hard you both work! 🙂
carla says
Enjoy the success! It must feel great! I am so going to try this recipe – it looks delicious.
Cat @Breakfast to Bed says
Holy Cow! I bet you’re quite exhausted. Who doesn’t love bread, though? Especially at Tday!!
Jules @ La Petite Maison Verte says
I’m pinning that recipe for Butter Chicken for sure! Congratulations on the busy business!! So happy for you!
Allison says
Bought two loafs of bread from GH yesterday! Cranberry-orange and stuffing… Can’t wait to have them with our Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow 😀
Jenn says
Hi Kath! I’ve never commented before, but I had to after seeing that lovely bottle of Edna Valley Vineyards wine. Seeing as I live in ‘the happiest place on Earth’….not Disneyland, but San Luis Obispo, Ca!! We are members at Edna Valley, along with a few other fantastic wineries a few miles north in Paso Robles. I have read many times on KERF how much you love Napa and the surrounding areas for the wonderful scenery, wine and beer. Please come visit SLO county one day! You will be blown away at our food and wine culture, our sustainability and our love of all things local. A few things to peek your interest: Firestone Walker Brewery, Tablas Creek winery, Chamisal Vineyards, Artisan restaurant, Novo Bar and Lounge, and our wonderful Thursday Farmer’s Market downtown (one of the first ever Farmer’s markets in California!) Happy Turkey day!
KathEats says
🙂 We love the Edna Valley! Hope I can visit someday 🙂
Jennifer says
That looks amazing!! I can almost smell it through my computer. Aneesha is a good cook, and is stunningly beautiful, mabye she’ll be joining your foodie-family soon???? 😉
Marta says
I’ve been reading your blog for over a year but it’s only been about half that time since I realized my little-little sorority sister Aneesha was dating your brother-in-law!! She’s wonderful both as a cook and a person and I LOVED seeing her on the blog!! I can’t wait to make this butter chicken! Glad you loved it – and congrats on the great sales day!
KathEats says
Aww what a fun connection!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Congrats on the great sales! Fun stuff, no??
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel says
Homecooked Indian food? Lucky lucky girl!!!
Rachel says
Hi Kath
I made this recipe tonight and luckily I am a halfway decent cook and could estimate the instructions despite the fact that it was extremely vague and missing ingredients…can you get a better recipe and update this one? It doesn’t say how to prepare the onions, peppers, garlic, ginger, or chicken and completely leaves out the cumin powder, cayenne and garam masala. It’s frustrating to spend the money to go shopping for a meal only to possibly ruin it because the recipe is incomplete and poorly written. Thanks!
KathEats says
I’m very sorry Rachel. I didn’t write the recipe – only shared it. I’ll add a note that it is an estimate for future users.