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A classic with leftovers
2007-11-25 22:56:00
Yes, like a lot of others who have leftover turkey, I have been trying to find creative ways to use it up. Today, I had some more company, who wanted to try my leftovers. I did need to add some creative touches to make sure that the food was presentable.My turkey this year turned out to be very good. I had brined it and cooked it with stuffed apples. So I was trying to figure out how to use the leftovers without too much fuss. Well, one stopgap in Indian food is the makhani or tikka masala base. Its comforting creamy flavors make it a surefire success with anything you can think of, so why not left over turkey. Here is how I made the sauce,Makhani Sauce for Leftover TurkeyServes 10Ingredients2 tbsp oil1 tsp cumin seeds1/2 tsp carom seeds (ajowan)1 onion finely chopped1 tsp finely grated ginger2 green chillies, minced3 pods garlic, minced1 cup crushed tomatoes3/4 cup sour creamsalt to taste1 tbsp tandoori masala1 tsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)1/2 cup light cream1 tsp gara...
More About: Classic , Leftovers

Roaseted Pepper and Seared Shrimp Salad
2007-11-14 06:16:00
A rather fussy and elaborate salad, good for a light meal, involves several steps, but overall works out pretty well. The key ingredient here is the roasted green peppers. It is amazing how much the flavor of pepper improves with the roasting.Roasted Bell Pepper and Seared Shrimp Salad Serves 3IngredientsFor the Dressing1 cup cider3/4 cup balsamic vinegar1 stick cinnamon1 dried red chilliFor the salad2 green bell peppers2 cups of baby spinach leaves2 oz crumbled goat cheese2 tbsp pine nutsFor the shrimp1/2 lb shrimpjuice of one lime1 tsp ground black pepper1/2 tsp kosher salt2 tbsp olive oil.Method of Preparation1. Mix the cider and vinegar with the chilli and cinnamon. Bring to a boil and cook till 1/3 in volume and cool2. Place the green peppers under the broiler and cook on low broil for 5 minutes on each side.3. Cool, peel and cut into thin slices.4. Mix with the spinach and goat cheese.5. Marinate the shrimp with the lime juice, salt and pepper for 15 minutes.6. Heat a grill pan...

Aloo-Rasledar
2007-10-22 01:44:00
Sometimes when the normal balance of one's life gets shaken, it takes a little bit of time to get things back into sync.This is how I have been feeling the past few weeks, the intensity of things at work have thrown the normal balance of things in my life off kilter.Yes, I have been cooking just not had much time to blog, have not been able to take my usual evening walks which has also been making things a little out of sync for me.I am trying to get back into things with this weekend. To do that once in a which we start with the basics, I almost feel potatoes fall into that very basic and practical category.Here is what I did to dress up this humble tuber.Aloo -RasledarServes 6Ingredients1 lb new baby pototoes1 tbsp tandoori masala1 tsp freshly crushed pepper1/2 cup yogurt1.5 tsp salt1/3 cup oil1 tsp cumin seeds2 tsp curry powder4 tomatoes chopped1 tsp grated ginger3 green chillies finely chopped1/2 cup cottage cheese3-4 tbsp chopped cilantroMethod of Preparation1. Parboil the pot...

Ginger-Turmeric Sallops on a Mango-Corn Salsa
2007-10-22 01:43:00
Saffron-Turmeric Scallops on a Mango -Corn Salsa .IngredientsFor the Salsa4 small ears fresh corn on the cob1 mango2 tbsp chopped cilantro1/2 tsp black salt1/2 tsp brown sugar1 limeFor the scallops1 lb large scallops1/2 tsp turmeric1/2 tsp grated ginger1 tsp soy sauce1/2 tsp sugar3 tbsp oil1 tsp cumin seedsMethod of Preparation1. Cut the corn kernels of the cob into a bowl.2. Peel and grate the mango onto the bowl.3. Mix with the remaining ingredients and set aside to let the flavors blend.4. Mix the scallops with the turmeric, ginger and sugar.5. Heat the oil and add the cumin seeds.6. Sear the scallops till lightly browned on both sides (this takes about 5 minutes on each side).7. To serve, place two tsp of the salsa on the plate, top with a few scallops and serve with any side of your choice.b
More About: Ginger

Not my mother's mac and cheese
2007-10-07 19:24:00
Mac and cheese is a staple in the house. The little ones love it, I usually tend to make different variations of this dish, but from the scratch. No, I do not have a favorite that my mother used to make since my mother really did not make mac and cheese.This Friday at lunch with a couple of colleagues, someone mentioned to me about how their mother used cottage cheese for Mac and Cheese . Now, what a novel idea, cottage cheese is low in fact and can actually contribute to a nice smooth texture.So this is what I did,Mac and Cheese with Shallots, Ham and AsparagusServes 6Ingredients2 cups cooked elbows2 tbsp olive oil3-4 shallots thinly sliced3 cloves garlic grated2 tbsp flour1 quart half and half1 cup coarsely cubed ham1/2 cup finely chopped asparagus2 tbsp chopped chives1.5 cups cottage cheese with pineapple3 tbsp buttersalt to taste1/2 cup grated swiss cheeseMethod of PreparationHeat the oil and brown the shallots and garlic.Add in the flour and mix into the oil.Add in the half and ...

Apple Crisp with almond meal
2007-09-23 15:49:00
Yes! Apple season is here. Today is a lovely fall day, in this neck of the woods. There is a nip in the air, beautiful sunshine and the orange is just begining to peek out from the leaves.I do not often make dessert, simply because when I do, I ending being the person finishing it. Last week was my husband's birthday so I used this excuse for some indulgence.I whipped up a fairly healthy apple crisp and of course served it warm with lots of vanilla ice-cream making sure the calories balanced out the healthy factor. Apples are of course a great fruit, this apple crist actually leaves the skin on, since we tend to give away a lot of the goodness with the skin.The interesting ingredient here was almonds that are one of nature's most nutritious gifts. True they do have a decent amount of fat, but the kind loaded with omega-3 making them really good for children. Lately, I have been working with Almond meal from Trader Joe's trying to stretch the boundaries to see where I can sneak th...
More About: Meal , Cris

Dal and Zucchini Koftas
2007-09-19 05:22:00
This recipe is a variation of the lau or bottle gourd koftas that my mother-in-law makes. It is a classic illustration of pure unudulterated simple Indian vegetarian cooking. She usually cooks without garlic and onion, over time I have learnt the subtle uses of asafetida which is often used in such recipes in lieu of the onion.In this recipe, I use moong flour and grated zucchini for the koftas, the ginger tomato gravy is very true to the original recipe. A perfect dish for the somewhat cooler weather.Dal and Zucchini KoftasServes 6-8IngredientsFor the koftas4 zuchinis grated1 tsp salt1/2 tsp turmeric1.5 cups moong flour1 tsp chilli powder1 tsp cumin-coriander powder1 tsp salt1/3 cup chopped cilantro leaves2-3 green chillies mincedOil for fryingFor the gravy2 tbsp oil2 tsp grated ginger1 tsp cumin-coriander powder1/2 tsp turmeric1/8 tsp asafetidaSalt to taste6 tomatoes blanced and chopped finely1/2 cup yogurt1 tsp garam masala1/2 cup finely chopped coriander leavesMethod of Preparat...

Basil and tomatoes - Fare thee well - Summer 07
2007-09-16 22:41:00
There is a distinct nip in the air, heralding the arrival of fall, this weekend we have had crisp, cool sunny weather. Going to the store however I found these really beautiful baby roma tomatoes. I was thrilled to see them! Of course, nothing better to pair them with other than basil. Made a simple pasta, that was something that the kids loved and made everyone else happy. So here we are,Farfalle with green peppers and roma tomatoes.Serves 4-6Ingredients1 cup dried farfalle3 tbsp extra virgin olive1 green bell pepper thinly sliced1/2 cup homemade or prepared pasta sauce1.5 lbs baby roma tomatoes, halved1/3 coarsely torn basil leavesSalt and freshly ground pepper to tasteMethod of Preparation1. Cook the farfalle according to the directions on the package and drain.2. Heat the oil and add the pepper and saute for 5-7 minutes.3. Add the pasta sauce and the tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes.4. Add the pasta and basil and toss.5. Mix in the basil leaves and the salt and pepper and serve...
More About: Summer , Basil , Tomatoes , Fare , Well

Shrikhand and Chicken for Jane
2007-09-02 02:06:00
Photo Source - WikiAsking me to make Indian food, is nothing out of the way. It happens all the time, I am more than happy to indulge. Jane is my new boss's wife, who has never visited India but loves India in a deep, to the roots wonderful kind of way. She senses the deep simplicity of India, unfortunately, however there are so many layers and versions to India. I understand and feel the warmth she percieves from India, but, have to temper this my telling her the India that features on the business week covers every week, well close enough is different. Well, we asked them to join us at our house a couple of weekends back and among other things, I made an interestingly simple coconut chicken recipe and mango Shrikhand. The Shrikhand, was made from fresh mangoes, something that you can get pretty good ones this time of the year at our local Indian store.By the way, one of the good things about making curry on a weeknight dinner, is that this can actually be made ahead of time, and...
More About: Chicken , D and C

Spicy Chicken Stew with Rosemary
2007-09-01 19:33:00
Last Sunday, we had our neighbours over - Paul and Marylou. They brought over an usual bottle of wine, what was interesting was that she had wrapped the bottle of wine, with a sprig of fresh rosemary. Other than just being decorative, it smelt wonderful. I was wondering how I could use this.Over the week, I put together a simple chicken dish with some soy sauce, honey and balsamic and of course seasoned this with the rosemary. I have to confess, this was new for me, I was however delighted with the results. I served this with brown rice, but, I think the nice rich gravy would work very well with a nice crusty bread.Rosemary Seasoned Chicken StewServes 4-6Ingredients2 lbs. chicken on the bone, skinned1/3 cup soy sauce3 tbsp honey1 tsp prepared chili-garlic spice (such as a chinese paste)1/3 cup balsamic vinegar1/4 cup oil1 large onion, finely chopped3-4 cloves of garlic1 tbsp ginger1 tsp fresh rosemary leaves1 cup sliced white mushrooms1 cup fresh green peas2 cups chopped tomatoesMet...
More About: Spicy

Weekend Musings - Quick tossed Pasta
2007-08-19 06:54:00
Last night we went out to catch up with some friends over dinner. The food was just so ooo good. There was this really wonderful papri chat that my friends mother had made from the scratch, was so good. I was drinking the red wine a fruity California Merlot, I don't know what caused it but boy! did I wake up with an horrid headache this morning. It just refused to go away. I took at least 3-4 tynenols, ironically enough last night we were dicussing about the pros and cons of pain killers last night. Well, then I completed the usual chores for the weekend and managed to get some sleep this afternoon, now, how rare is that.Later, this evening, I fussed around the house. It is mind-boggling just how much junk these kids accumulate. Aug-Oct is birthday season in my kids daycare, this practically takes over our social calendar, and then I am left with all the junk from the goody bags. Well, I filled at least 2 garbage bags of junk and dropped this off in the dumpster on my way for my re...
More About: Musings , Pasta , Weekend , Quick , Toss

Soy-Orange Ginger Fish
2007-08-11 04:35:00
Thinking Quick! Thinking Spicy! Thinking.... Well, you get the drift... As always, trying to whip up dinner, actually to watch with this movie called, "The Holiday." Someone asked me my taste in movies, the answer sounded odd even to me, but I love watching alternate film and good sappy romantic comedies. Yes, the holiday is the later kind, but you know, there is nothing wrong with happily every after.Anyhow, once in a while we do dinner on a plater, wine in a glass and movie on the screen. So here is the "dinner on a plate."Dinner on a PlateServes 4Ingredients1/2 cup soy sauce1 inch piece ginger3 green chillies2 clementines juiced1 small bunch cilantro2 cloves garlic2 tbsp honey1.5 lbs. salmon2 tbsp oilMethod of Preparation1. Add the soy sauce, ginger, chillies, orange juice, cilantro, garlic and honey and blend till smooth.2. Add to the salmon and let this sit for 30 minutes or longer.3. Add the oil on a baking dish and place the salmon in a single layer.4. Turn on the broil and ...
More About: Fish , Orange , Ginger , Range

Chive-Sun Dried Tomato Omelette
2007-08-05 06:15:00
The other morning I had made myself an omelette on a whim, and, my daughter tried it. Well, now she is all into having an omelette usually for breakfast. Well, nothing to inspire your creative juices than your eager 4.5 year old. That (.5) half is especially important, she will make sure that you do not forget it when mentioning it too her. Well, this morning, this is what we had for brunch with a side salad.It also got me to use a new herb, yes, just in time for WHB. This is being hosted by Kalyn at Kalyn's kitchen.For Each OmletteIngredients1 tbsp olive oil1 egg1 tbsp minced onion1 tbsp chopped chivesSalt to taste1 tbsp chopped sun-dried tomatoes2 tbsp goat cheeseFreshly ground black pepperMethod of Preparation1. Heat the oil on skillet or frying pan.2. Beat the egg with the onion, chives and salt and pour on the skillet.3. Quickly top with the sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese.4. Cook for about 5 minutes and sprinkly with the pepper.5. Fold and serve how.My daughter added some...
More About: Tomato , Mele , Hive

Tomatoes and Herbs - Desi Pizza
2007-07-22 20:19:00
One of the bounties of summer is of course, amazing wonderful tomatoes! These are so plentiful, enticing you with their rich beautiful color. I have to confess, I love tomatoes all year round and my friend Bob, complains when I buy fresh tomatoes in winter, pointing out how bad that is for our plannet, since they are being transported at some ridiculous cost to the environment (since it takes energy to do this). Well, this is not an agruement that has an easy ending so, for now, I will continue to eat my fresh tomatoes as long as I can afford them of course.Tomatoes pair beautifully with most herbs, especially in my opinion with basil and cilantro. Here is something interesting that I did with a store-bought un-cooked cheese pizza. I used the "Freschetta" store multi-grain crust.While the oven pre-heated, I chopped two tomatoes into fairly thick slices. Sprinkle the pizza with cumin seeds (1/2 tsp), crush 1/2 dried red chilli pepper, generously add fresh black pepper. Top with the t...
More About: Pizza , Desi , Herbs , Herb

Punida-Lemon Rasam and a meme
2007-07-14 02:36:00
Well without the camera I have lost a little blogging momentum. This week I did make something interesting. That and then I was tagged by Sharmi, for a meme. So I figured, let me just write without having to worry about the uploading, downloading getting the picture just right...What I made earlier in the week was Rasa m, and, on a whim I added some dried mint leaves to it. The results were pretty amazing. The delicately tart and spicy broth tingled on the tongue and was balanced perfectly by the gentle freshness of the mint leaves.Pudina-Lemon RasamServes 4-6Ingredients3 tsp tuvar daal4 cups water1 small can tomato sauce1/2 tsp turmeric1/2 tsp chilli powder1 tsp freshly ground black pepper2 lemons2 tbsp rasam powder2 tsp dried mint leavesSalt to tasteFor the tempering1 tbsp ghee1/2 tsp mustard seeds1/2 tsp cumin seedsA few curry leaves1-2 red chilliesA pinch of asafetida2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leavesMethod of Preparation1. Pressure cook the dal in the water till very soft.2....
More About: Meme

Mussels in a coconut cilantro gravy
2007-06-25 04:07:00
Have been on a blogging break, partly the new job has been keeping me rather busy, also I have somehow managed to damage my camera, so I am trying to figure out how to get it fixed, since it is actually within the warranty period but I have misplaced the notice. So, we shall see, somehow, it is not quite the same to post without pictures, but who knows... maybe, it shall just help me keep things simple.Mussels are something that I have managed to discover and acquire a taste for. This very elegant and quick recipe makes perfect weeknight fare but certainly tastes great. Well, I shall sent this in to my favorite food event, yes, weekend herb blogging, that is being hosted by Kalyn herself.Mussels in a Cilantro -Coconut Gravy Serves 4Ingredients2 tbsp oil1 tsp cumin seeds1 star anise1-2 bay leaves1/4 tsp turmeric1/3 cup very finely grated coconut3 green chillies minced1 onion finely chopped1 cup white wine1 cup brothSalt to taste3 lbs very fresh mussels1/2 cup finely chopped cilantroMet...

Tala Methi Macchi - Pan cooked salmon with cumin and Fenugreek
2007-06-03 19:21:00
Fish is such a salvation for me on weeknights, it allows me to put something together from the scratch on a busy weeknight without much fuss and usually in less than 30 minutes if I am organized. This salmon is not really an exception, a few good ingredients, the interesting taste in this one is from the dried kasuri methi, a simple handy flavorful ingredient. This is the first time I added this to fish, I think this is a keeper. Tala Methi Macchi Serves 3-4 people Ingredients 1 lb salmon fillets1/2 tsp turmeric1 tsp salt1 tsp red chilli powder1 tsp ground cumin-coriander powder1 lime2 tsp dried methi1 tbsp oil1 tsp grated ginger1 tsp cumin seeds Method of Preparation 1. Rub the salmon with the turmeric, salt, chili powder, ground cumin-coriander. 2. Squeeze the juice of the lime and add the methi and set this aside for 10-15 minutes.3. Heat the oil and add the cumin and ginger cook for a few seconds.4. Add in the fish and cook on each side for 10 minutes, till it flakes easily and ...
More About: Cumin

S is for Simla MIrch
2007-06-03 06:53:00
OK, so this has been a crazy week and the time for this entry is a little past. Well, I had thought of the letter "S" when I initially developed this recipe. I had some excess potatoes, and, was wondering how on earth could I boost/add some nutrition into into it. Then my eyes wandered onto these colorful bell peppers.Well thus developed a dish that was rather flavorful, and, absolutely perfect with the luchis (white flour puffed bread) that I fried yesterday. What is amazing is that this recipe is so plain and does, not really photograph well but the aromas were amazing. In fact, this convinced me no matter how hard we try, some aspects of good food need to be savored though eating and absorbing the aromas, the camera does not quite do the needed justice.Shimla Methi AluServes 6-8Ingredients6 russet potatoes4 tbsp oil1/2 tsp turmeric1 tbsp mustard seed1 tbsp cumin seeds1/2 tsp asafetida a few crushed red chilliesa few curry leaves1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri methi)1 cup mu...
More About: Mirc

Andhra Shrimp Curry
2007-05-26 05:44:00
I think we all like noovelty in our life, so my North Indian husband who loves spices (since this is what he has grown up with) expresses his independence by insisting how much he loves South Indian and (yes after marriage) - bengali food. I cook general South Indian food reasonably well, but have never tried my hand with fish and seafood recipes.Well I figured the RCI event which features diverse Indian cuisines, this month featuring Andhra recipes, hosted by Latha.Well, I adapted this recipe from something a friend of mine from Andhra makes. I think it is close, but since I am doing this recipe by instinct, it may not be perfect Andhra Shrimp Curry Serves 4-6 Ingredients Grind to a paste 1 large onion4 cloves garlic1 piece ginger4 green chillies3 red chillies3 tbsp coconut powder Grind to a powder 2 tsp cumin seeds1 tsp coriander seeds2 sticks cinnamon2 cardamoms2-3 cloves1 tsp turmeric 1 lb shrimp1 tsp salt1 lime3 tbsp oil1 small onion chopped For garnishA few curry leaves1 tsp c...

Moong Dal with Dill
2007-05-20 05:08:00
A simple variation of an everyday staple - Moong Dal or Mooger Dal. I do not know how much dill everyone else uses, but I like to get it to add to salads and then I have a lot leftover. While it is gentler than Cilantro, it is an acquired taste in Indian Cuisine. Here I coupled it with garlic for pretty good results. Moong Dal with Dill and GarlicIngredients3/4 cup moong dal1 tsp salt3 cups water1/2 tsp turmeric4 tbsp oil1 tsp cumin seeds2 cloves garlic minced2 tomatoes, finely chopped1/3 cup dill, finely choppedMethod of Preparation1. On a pan, dry roast the moong dal till lightly browned.2. Place into a pot and cook with water, turmeric and salt for 25 minutes.3. Heat the oil and add the cumin seeds, when they sizzle add in th garlic and tomatoes and cook till they are soft and pulpy.4. Add in the dill and gently stir into the cooked lentils.5. Check seasonings and serve with rice or rotis.This is my contribution for WHB which is being hosted right here at home.

P is for Palak Rajma
2007-05-13 05:14:00
I love, love spinach. I can eat it pretty much in any form. It is a regular feature in my cooking. This recipe is a simple creation that works best warm not hot. Several recipes like this frequent my daily table, they are nutritious not terribly fussy and since I do not have to worry too much about the dish getting cold, it fits my life when I am running around with the little ones. Pala k Rajma Serves 3-4 Ingredients 1/2 cup red kidney beans cook till very soft1 tsp salt2 tbsp oil1 tsp jeera1 onion finely chopped1 tsp chopped ginger1 tsp red chilli powder1/2 tsp cumin coriander powder2 small tomatoes diced2 cups baby spinach leaves3 green chillies minced2 limes1/2 tsp garam masala2 tbsp cilantro Method of preparation 1. Drain the bean and mash coarsely with salt.2. Heat the oil and sizzle the cumin seeds.3. Add the onion and ginger and cook for a 2-3 minutes.4. When the onion is translucent add the cumin-coriander and chili powder with the tomatoes.5. When they are soft add in...

O is for Okra - Bhindi Masala
2007-05-06 04:45:00
Ever had to catch a train that left the station. I once had to do this during my commuting days to the city. It took me at least 3-4 tries to get caught up.I have been getting that feeling as I have been following the A-Z of Indian Vegetables on Nupur's blog. Well, tonight might just be the night when I can make it. I made this Bhindi or Okra dish, in a very classic north Indian style. Just did not fry the bhindi though. Bhindi MasalaServes 4 Ingredients1 lb young fresh okra1/2 tsp turmeric1 tsp salt1 lime1/3 cup oil1 tsp whole cumin seeds1 onion finely chopped4 cloves of garlic minced3 tomatoes finely chopped1.5 tsp cumin-coriander powder1/2 tsp red chilli powder1 tsp dried kasuri methiFor the garnish1/2 cup chopped grape tomatoes2 scallions coarsely chopped2 tbsp chopped cilantro2 green chillies mincedMethod of Preparation1. Cut the tops of the Okra and cut lengthwise into 3-4 strips. Smear with turmeric and a little salt. 2. Broil the bhindi on low till crisp and lightly browne...
More About: Hindi

Springy Salad
2007-05-05 05:46:00
Spring has crept up on me as it always does. Especially given the weird weather (at least in NY), it is even harder to discern. One day, I have this balmy weather, the next day snow, then 80F heat. Anyhow, I think we are really into the warmer weather . The flowers are out in my garden, nothing gives me greater joy than the cherry blossom, in full bloom as we speak. It is ironic, let me tell you why, I love flowers. Nothing unusual about that, the first couple of month when I was getting to know my husband he did get me flowers (cut ones), later this slowed down. He informed me being the nature lover that he was, he felt that it was shameful to remove so many flowers of the trees, we should learn to love them in their own environment, etc, etc... Well, when we got married, he did tell me I would not miss flowers but would really not get too many bunches from the shop. True, to his word, I have my favorite seasonal flowers in our garden, through most of the year, and yes, our cherry ...
More About: Salad

Green and Spring
2007-05-01 03:28:00
Not the greatest pictures, the food tasted ok. I am going a little crazy trying to sort out my daughter's birthday pictures so, the food is getting a somewhat shorter shift. I was reading this interesting post on Alana's veggie venture blog that talks about the personal nature of blog-writing. This is so true, when I started this post with a bunch of brocolli rabe or rapini, a highly nutritious green, I had stopped by this spot, where the writer sharp sense of humor with her quick cooking tips makes an interesting read. What I made were green phulkas, but actually used my food processor for a fair amount of the work. Ingredients 1 bunch brocolli rabe3 cups of whole wheat flour or atta2 tbsp oil1 tsp salt3/4 cup warm water to mixGhee Method of Preparation 1. Finely process the greens in the food processor.2. Add the flour, oil and salt and process in the food processor.3. Add in the greens and process for a 2-3 minutes.4. Place in a mixing bowl and knead well with the water (added...
More About: Green , Spring

Crisp Pan fried Halibut
2007-04-30 00:04:00
It really is a challenge, on busy weeks to keep things in balance, the house, the two little one and put a good nutritious dinner on the table at the same time. Fish usually comes to my rescue on such days.Fish cooked simply with some basic flavors usually can be done quickly and tastes just so wonderfully good. I made these halibut fillets coated with a crisp crust and served it with an interesting salad. I will write about the salad shortly.The herb of the week is tested and true cilantro, aka coriander leaves aka chinese parsely. My kitchen home and cooking are just incomplete without this herb. Now for the fish... oh I forgot to mention the other device that I am lost without is a food processor, it truely is a very useful device for Indian cooking and beyond. Cris py Pan-Fried Hali but.Serves 3-4Ingredients1 lb halibut steaks, cut into wedges1 juicy lime or lemon1 tsp turmeric1 tsp chaat masala2 shal...

Carrot and Carrot Greens
2007-04-22 21:00:00
Have been so busy lately. Will be having a party for the kids, that can be quite a chore. The invites, getting gifts for the other kids, of course the food etc. That and switching jobs can keep a girl more than gainfully occupied. Anyhow, I got this bunch of carrots with these beautiful greens. I have used beet greens before but never actually tried carrot greens, so I gave it a shot. Threw it together with some whole wheat spagetti, sun-dried tomatoes in oils, edamame bean, corn and grated carrots. Essentially, I heated a 1 tbsp olive oil, sizzled some garlic and cumin seeds and then cooked the vegetables for about 10 minutes on low with a cover and then added the pasta, sun-dried tomatoes and a little salt and pepper. Added the chopped greens right at the end, the result was a pretty quick and tasty weeknight supper, fairly healthy too for that matter. I spent a little time looking up carrot greens and realized that it is no novelty to be eating these greens anyhow I was glad that...
More About: Carr , Greens , Carrot , Carro

A tymely touch of novelty
2007-04-18 05:05:00
This dish is somewhere between Indian and middle-eastern. I cannot help wondering whether that actually makes it a moghlai dish. I know it is nothing like the food that we know as moghlai, but think about it. The mughals in India were of Persian (middle-eastern) decent and then they came to India and adopted some knowledge of the spices and this became known as Moghlai cuisine - no make that the amazingly popular defination of Indian food moghlai food. Ok, so you say, not quite...I will concede, this is a great dish anyway. Citrus - Thyme Chicken Serves 4-6 Ingredients 3 oranges1 lime or lemon1 tbsp curry powder1 tsp sumac 1.5 tsp dried thyme1/2 inch piece fresh ginger2-3 cloves garlic2 green chillies1 tsp salt10 chicken drumsticks, skinned For the garnish 1 fresh orangeExtra thyme or cilantro Method of Preparation 1. Squeeze the orange and lime juice into a blender.2. Add all the remaining ingredients except the chicken into the blender and grind to a puree.3. Marinate the chicke...
More About: Novelty , Touch , Ouch

Chocolate Cardamom Strawberries
2007-04-02 00:01:00
Last weekend I went to visit my cousin in DC. Actually, I had to attend a conference and Anshul and the kids tagged along. While we did not do a lot, spring had certainly arrived in the capital, and, it was beautiful to get glimpses of the cherry blossoms and daffodils. Here in New York, the weather has improved, we are begining to see little things peeking out of the soil but they are not quite there yet. On Friday evening, I wandered to Whole Foods Market to see what I could get by way of a gift. What caught my eye were these stunning stem strawberries. They were large and just the kind of stuff that make a still life artists day, they were pricey at $7.99 a pound, but, I had never seen such beautiful strawberries before. So, I got myself a pound. Then, I was left with figuring out what to do with them to make them even more special, so, I scrounged around my pantry. We had some white chocolate (that is what I like) and some good dark chocolate (everyone else likes that). And the...
More About: Card , Cardamom , Chocolate , Berries , Cola

Associations and Mis-Associations
2007-03-28 05:51:00
My daughter tends to draw conclusions and extrapolate a lot of things, that make a lot of sense in her 4-year old world but unfortunately do not quite pass muster in a "grown up world". As I muddle though some of her conclusions, I realise that we "grown ups" are guilty of the same thing. For eg. when I tell people I do not watch TV, they assume that I have this amazingly healthy, active, lifestyle. Unfortunately, I am a couch potato too, I just execise my fingers in front of a computer.Well, by the same token, I usually stick to cooking somewhat healthy food, but this does not stop me from indulging on some terribly healthy snacks.Anyhow, I have improved from my grad school days, when my favorite food (actually I still love them was potato chips). This recipe is a relic of those days when almost anything seemed possible and impossible all at once. I had the original of this recipe at my friend grandparents house. Mrs. Beach added pineapples to the tuna salad. I loved the idea and ...
More About: Soci , Association , Associations

Mixed beans in a creamy gujarati style gravy
2007-03-19 01:08:00
Well, here I was browsing through Trupti's,beautiful blog, when I came across her recipe for Makai Chevdo, sweet corn simmered in milk and spices. I usually have more corn than I know what to do with but not last weekend. So, I started looking for what I could substitute, I found green peas, baby lima bean, and white kidney beans. So I figured since I like them all why stop at one of these ingredients. I did add a tomato and some sugar since I figured none of the above had the sweetness that corn had. My kids loved the idea so I also have since made a tofu-corn variation. Try the recipe as is or my variation, this is simple nutritious comfort food at its best.Mixed Bean s in a creamy gujarati style gravyServes 4Ingredients2 tbsp oil1/2 tsp cumin seeds1/2 tsp mustard seeds1/8 tsp asafetida1/2 cup mixed dry baby lima and white kidney beans ( I cook these in a crockpot till soft)1 cup frozen peas2 green chillies finely chopped1 tsp salt1.5 tsp brown sugar1 cup milk1 cup water2 limesTo ...
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