Content
All the men in our family cook, not all of them like to cook, but for survival purposes most learned basic things to stay alive. My brother is the exception, he loves to cook. Not only does he love to cook but he often surprises us with unique twists in common recipes we (us girls) would have never tried. He is the quintessential adventurous cook.&nb
In the past I have blogged about cooking with one of my sisters in her home in Wyoming. Sissy is a teacher. Before moving to Wyoming she taught in one of the most remote areas of Arizona, the Navajo Indian Reservation in the north eastern part of the state. Before going to visit her we would call to see if it rained or snowed recently. The roads to Pinon were all dirt a
Chitti Garelu are little snacks or appetizers. Chitti in Telugu means little or small. I have made these with moong dal, a bean native to India. Moong beans are pretty versatile and used in many different cuisines. They can be sprouted (bean sprouts) and added to salads or used in a stir fry. My sister, a teacher in Wyoming, told me that she uses them i
Wishing you all the kind of Christmas memories are made of. Peace to you.
Our little girl had some tummy troubles in her early months. After trying many different remedies we found that the thing that helped her the most was replacing the water mixed in with the formula with oat water. It worked like magic, such a relief for both our colicky little daughter and us. As an added bonus I got the health benefits of eating the oats left afte
Yep, it's the one place I said I would never live and the place I have twice called home, Texas, The Lone Star State. Driving through Texas as a child I could never imagine why anyone would want to live here, it was stinky, nothing anywhere worth seeing and just one more piece of road to endure before getting to grandma's house in Oklahoma. Looking at Texas through gr
May you be blessed with health, peace and prosperity through out the coming year. Happy Diwali!
Hello There :) Just a quick post and picture of a watermelon basket made for one of Vijay's colleagues who is celebrating his 25th anniversary of work. We realized at the last minute (Sunday night) that we needed some food for the pot luck celebration on Monday morning. Here is what we came up with. Super easy, creative and fast. Put your pumpkin carving skil
She has stolen our hearts completely and I can find no words to express the range of emotions felt when we look at her and wonder how we could be so fortunate to have her in our lives. This is our little Ameya. Welcome little girl :)
The Grand Anne, Keokuk, Iowa We love to go to Bed and Breakfasts. Everything about it appeals to us, meeting new people, staying in gorgeous houses, eating new foods. I draw much inspiration from these old homes, you can almost feel the people who were there before you. Sometimes the stories of the families who owned the home way back when are as colorful as the home i
Paneer is a smooth, non-melting farmers cheese made from the curds produced by adding an acid food such as white vinegar or lemon juice to hot milk and also one of my favorite sources of protein. I've tried making paneer a few times in the past, not having had the results I wanted it was always on the top of my list of items to pick up at the Indian Market. I never felt
Good Morning Friends! It's a bit chilly today, but the sun is shining (I'm still missing the snow) and life is good. Today is the day I get back to the blog and some long time waiting, half written posts. Rajma is nothing more than what we know as chili beans in America, with a twist of Indian spice . Super easy to make, packed with nutrition, and most im
Hello to you all. Hope that 2012 is being good to you. We are beginning a new chapter in life this year with a move to Springfield, Illinois. Although it isn't too far from Chicago, it is a move just the same and a very different life style (I think I see a corn field from my window). Be back soon!! :)
Wishing you all the New Year of your dreams, contentment, peace, acceptance and love. Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin Happy 2012!
OK...I know that it sounds superstitious but I make every effort to have black eyed peas on New Years Day. In many places and cultures it is considered good luck to eat black eyed peas on New Years Day and even unlucky if you don't. Of course, I don't really know how true it is. How can one really judge the luckiness or misfortune suffered by the absence of eating a par
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas. May 2012 be full of promise, peace and love. Vijay and Nancy
This is the ever popular Quaker Oatmeal cookie recipe. The only adaptation is the addition of M&M candies and chopped walnuts. A colorful and simple addition to make a plain cookie extra special. 1/2 lb softened butter (2 sticks) 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 2 eggs, room temperature 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 cup
Christkindlmarket is an open air Christmas Festival held yearly at Daley Plaza in the heart of Chicago. It brings a touch of German and European tradition and charm to the city. Complete with old world treasures, food, drink and Santa Claus it is a fun tradition for the whole family. It would be hard to imagine Christmas time in Chicago without a trip to Christkindlmarket
There are few vegetables that I like more than spinach, it is so easily adapted into most any recipe. Spinach is a nutritive wonder, packed with vitamins and anti-oxidants, especially high in iron. Combine this with garlic's healing properties and high vitamin C content (which aids in the absorption of the iron in the spinach) and you have a dish that is fantastically healthy a
Going to Oklahoma during Christmas time was like having a holiday inside a holiday. To me Oklahoma was a magical place with snow and glittering icicles and snow angels (remember I was from Phoenix). Aside from the snow, we got to visit our far away family who we only shared a few days of the year with. So many adventures, real and imagined, started as shared whisper
Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade 2010 Thanksgiving For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. - Ralph Waldo Emerson For each and every one of you we give thanks and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Vijay and Nancy
First of all let me tell you that I seriously have no idea who Mrs. H.L. Stuart was. My Grandmother always made this recipe and it wasn't until after her death that we saw the recipe with her name on it. My Dad says she was a neighbor that Grandma was close to. Whoever Mrs. H.L. Stuart was we thank her and Grandma for this creamy potato recipe that is always a Thanksgivin
This is a pairing made extra special by the cooks, my sisters, Kathleen and Karen. Many wonderful things come out of their kitchens, all cooked with love and served with the promise of warm and fuzzy memories. It is this time of year, with the holidays fast approaching that I remember all these fun times we shared in the kitchen and eagerly look forward to more to come. This r
Karen's Four Fruit Compote is one of the most versatile dessert recipes I've ever prepared. It's a mixture of pineapple, oranges, apples and bananas in a light sauce that can be served alone, with a little whipped cream or used as a topping. It's minimal amount of added sugar also makes it a better choice for those who are health conscious but still wanting a little something
Kansas Corn Scallop has been a regular on Mom's table for many years. The recipe comes from a small community near the Amish town of Yoder, Kansas. Though Mom's not sure if it is actually an Amish recipe, it is entirely possible. Whatever it's origin a few things are certain, Kansas Corn Scallop is a delicious dish, easy to prepare and a crowd pleaser. 1 can (1
Not too long ago I was able to visit my Sister in Wyoming. We had a wonderful visit and as an added bonus our Mom was there too. Together the three of us drove up to Yellowstone (in the rain), saw old faithful (in the rain) and almost ended up in Logan, Utah (much to our mother's dismay) which is not at all close to our final destination. It was the kind o
Not too long ago I was able to visit my Sister in Wyoming. We had a wonderful visit and as an added bonus our Mom was there too. Together the three of us drove up to Yellowstone (in the rain), saw old faithful (in the rain) and almost ended up in Logan, Utah (much to our mother's dismay) which is not at all close to our final destination. It was the kind of trip that memories are
As the weather turns cooler we begin to think of heartier dishes. Moong dal curry is a hearty meal that can be prepared in a very short time, with little preparation. Maybe the best thing is that the ingredients are usually close at hand, no trip to the grocery store at the last minute. Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole green mung dal, cleaned 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 T
As the weather turns cooler we begin to think of heartier dishes. Moong dal curry is a hearty meal that can be prepared in a very short time, with little preparation. Maybe the best thing is that the ingredients are usually close at hand, no trip to the grocery store at the last minute. Ingredients:1/2 cup whole green mung dal, cleaned1/2 tsp turmeric1 Tbsp ginger/garlic pa
My sugar consumption over the period of one week This might be an odd topic for a food blogger who has posted many recipes for cakes, cookies and the like. I am not fanatical about sugar, but have noticed that there seems to be a connection between my physical health, weight and mental well being and excessive sugar intake. There is a lot of controversy over sugar consumption and
My sugar consumption over the period of one weekThis might be an odd topic for a food blogger who has posted many recipes for cakes, cookies and the like. I am not fanatical about sugar, but have noticed that there seems to be a connection between my physical health, weight and mental well being and excessive sugar intake. There is a lot of controversy over sugar consumption and it's effect
This is a quick fix for breakfast using potato curry from the night before. Even though I most often think of an omelette for breakfast this dish is an anytime meal. The potato curry is very simple to prepare and wonderful to serve with fresh rotis as well. Potato Curry 2 Tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp black mustard seeds 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 1 Tbsp urad dal 4 or 5 small red pot
This is a quick fix for breakfast using potato curry from the night before. Even though I most often think of an omelette for breakfast this dish is an anytime meal. The potato curry is very simple to prepare and wonderful to serve with fresh rotis as well. Potato Curry2 Tbsp olive oil1/2 tsp black mustard seeds1/2 tsp cumin seeds1 Tbsp urad dal4 or 5 small red potatoes, peeled an
It is hard to believe it has been ten years since the attacks on September 11th. I can remember exactly what I was doing at that moment. Most Americans can say the same. I find I am unable to accurately describe the disbelief and horror that hung in the air. Could we really be under attack? We watched for days, staring at the destruction on our televisions, pr
It is hard to believe it has been ten years since the attacks on September 11th. I can remember exactly what I was doing at that moment. Most Americans can say the same. I find I am unable to accurately describe the disbelief and horror that hung in the air. Could we really be under attack? We watched for days, staring at the destruction on our televisions, praying fo
Pesara Garelu or Moong Dal Vada are small donut shaped pieces of dough, deep fried until they are a crispy, golden brown. They can be served for breakfast or as a snack. I am intrigued by these little snacks. It had never occurred to me before eating these that something shaped like a donut doesn't necessarily mean it is sweet. Pesara garelu are made o
Pesara Garelu or Moong Dal Vada are small donut shaped pieces of dough, deep fried until they are a crispy, golden brown. They can be served for breakfast or as a snack. I am intrigued by these little snacks. It had never occurred to me before eating these that something shaped like a donut doesn't necessarily mean it is sweet. Pesara garelu are made of moong dal, g
