Simmering away on the stovetop, filling the kitchen with aromas from sweet cinnamon, spicy clove and hot chillies, used to be this wozij Chaaman in my Grandma’s home. She is almost 78 now and still feels pleased to cook a meal for all her grand-kids or for anyone visiting her. My Grandmom inspires me. Her story gives me courage and conviction to face life each day. Her deep set eyes, surrounded by wrinkles, light up every time she sees one of her grandkids or their kids. She looks forward to our visits and starts planning for them days in advance …
Borani Banjan – Layered Afghan Eggplant Dish
When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile. ~Author Unknown The sky was overcast like never before in Colorado. And then it started to rain, heavily at first and continuous, light, rhythmic drizzle later on. It appeared to be the perfect time to drink hot chocolate and a curl up with a book. I downloaded “ And the Mountains Echoed”; and started the journey with Pari. I kept reading through the day, glancing outside the window once a while to see if the rain had stopped. It …
Tamatar Chaaman – Paneer with Tomatoes a Kashmiri fusion Recipe
According to wiki, Fusion cuisine is cuisine that combines elements of different culinary traditions. And that is exactly what my mom did when she made the Tamatar Chaaman – paneer with tomatoes, though she did not label it as fusion. She took elements from the Kashmiri Muslim cuisine and elements of the Kashmiri Pandit cuisine and made an extraordinary dish called the tamatar chaman – Paneer with Tomatoes. Use of onions, shallots and garlic is prevalent in the Kashmiri Muslim cuisine, be it the home cooking or the much fabled “Wazwaan”. On the other hand Kashmiri Pandit cuisine is sans onions …
Shrimp with Banana Flowers – Mocha Chingri & A Bengali Love Affair
The early morning breeze from the open window was cool and nurturing, almost like a mother’s touch. The gentle wind was carrying with it a sweet and melodious voice of someone singing. I could not understand the lyrics of the song, yet I felt connected to the music and the voice. It was my first brush with a city named Kolkatta and its people. And on that morning began my life-long love affair for the culture, people and food of West Bengal. My stay in and around Kolkatta was a short one, but I was enriched with music, art …
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Warm Cider Vinaigrette # Ina Fridays
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus As much as one wants to hold on to summer, you can’t help but feel the beauty of fall setting in and enveloping you within. The mornings are slightly crisp and the peppers, squashes, apples are putting up a show at the farm stands and grocery stores. Speaking about squash, the butternut squash is my most favorite one. Usually a butternut squash soup marks the beginning of Autumn in my home, but this year I thought a salad will be apt to reflect how I feel. A …
Turkey Burger with Hatch chilies
The onset of fall and the slight nip in the air at night makes you reach out for that soft cashmere stole. Summer isn’t officially over yet. But it will be soon! And as much as I want to hold on to the last bit of summer sun, I can’t help but wait for Autumn to set in. It is the season of Hatch chilies as my friend Karen, over at Savoury Table, calls it. Her recipe for Green Chile, Cheese and Onion Dip is a smoky goodness. I made a batch and we finished it in no time. So …