Great Thai meal that's easy on fat and calories

Visiting Siam restaurant in Lambertville, NJ is an unbelievable culinary experience for the palate.

They have some of the best Thai food I've ever had.  The outside looks like a really old store from the 1940's that was left for dead.  It seats only 50 people.  The decorations on the wall are sparse and unusual, and haven't changed at all for years.

The menus are yellowed from age, and stained.

The wait staff is great and very friendly.
You don't need reservations, but it wouldn't hurt on Friday and Saturday nights. It is a BYOB which is great because ordering wine in a restaurant is one of the most marked up items on the menu.

Everything we (husband, daughter, friends, sisters) ordered from the pork fried rice to the homemade coconut ice cream was fabulous.

I really wanted to duplicate some of the items from there and cook them at my home.  I figured out the cucumber salad, the pork satay, and the simple white rice recipes.  I nailed it.  It's like sitting at Siam at our own homey table.

The best thing about doing this was I made all of the above items low fat.  That's the problem when you eat out, you have no idea at times how certain foods are prepared, of course, unless you ask.

The following meal will serve 2 adults and one child:
  Cucumber Salad:
1 regular cucumber, peeled and halved, seeds removed or seedless (English) cucumber.
3 to 4 teaspoons Splenda sweetener or regular sugar
Rice wine vinegar OR white vinegar
Water
2 tablespoons Texas onions or yellow onions, diced very fine.
1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed, and sliced

Peel and cut lengthwise cucumber.  Scoop out seeds with spoon, discard seeds. Cut cucumbers into bite size pieces.
Place cucumbers, onions, and jalapeño pepper in small bowl, add sugar, place enough vinegar to cover ingredients completely, and add 2 tablespoons water. Mix well and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours.  This salad tastes better the longer it chills and marinates the flavors.

  Pork Satay:
1/2 pound pork loin, fat trimmed, sliced 1/2 inch thick, about 3-4 inches long
Salt and Pepper
Vegetable oil
Optional: 1 can coconut milk

After slicing pork, sprinkle with salt and pepper and put coconut milk on it, marinade for several hours or overnight (this will soften and moisturize the pork)
If you don't have coconut milk, just sprinkle with salt and pepper and slather with vegetable oil.

Grill or bake methods
Grill:  Thread pork onto skewers, grill each side for 6-8 minutes
Bake: Place pork on baking sheet and cook in 350 degree oven for 12-16 minutes, broil for 3 minutes.

Serve with peanut sauce (The one pictured is very creamy and very spicy), even my 10 year old son likes it!

Last, but not least:
Rice:
1 cup long grain white rice (the cheap store brand is great, I use Shop Rite brand)
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Place water, salt, and oil into saucepan and bring to a boil.
Add rice, stir and bring to a boil again.
Cover and put on low setting for 16 minutes.
Stir and eat immediately.  If you don't, place pan in sink full of rice to stop cooking process.  Heat up later.

This rice does not need anything else.  It is smooth, creamy, and delicious!!!

This whole meal is so satisfying and wonderful, you will get raves, I guarantee it.

Note:  Make sure you measure water for rice EXACTLY, this is key for perfect rice.