No Croutons Required - The Winner for July

The challenge for July was to come up with a bread that would pair well with a soup or salad. We received some wonderful entries but the winner this time around is Sunita who baked these lovely and colorful Cheesy Potato and Rosemary Scones. Congratulations to Sunita who has such a lovely blog indeed.

Jacqueline will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. The challenge this month is to come up with a soup or salad featuring carrots.

Vanilla bean macarons with roasted strawberry buttercream

You understand, right? That obsessed people can’t help themselves? There you have it, macarons again. :DI was inspired by Jen’s breathtaking strawberry macarons and being a roasted strawberries addict I ended up adding them to the filling. The shells, on the other hand, have just a hint of vanilla, to let the filling shine through, but their smell while baking was so intense (and good) that even

Choc chip marshmallows

Not only my readers are the sweetest people ever, they also give me wonderful ideas – Barbara left me a comment once about homemade marshmallows she used to order and told me that her favorites were the chocolate chip ones. Hey, that is one marshmallow flavor I hadn’t tried yet! :)So I made choc chip marshmallows, inspired by the lovely Barbara. And for the record, they became my sister’s

Warm Baby Potato and Asparagus Salad

Large beautiful displays of fresh juicy green local asparagus are a sight to which I've become happily accustomed, but my latest trip to the local market left me with a heavy heart as I realized that this wonderful season must soon be coming to an end. Racing off with two bunches — not quite the last I hope? — I set off to make at least one more asparagus creation while I have time.

Always pairing best with simple flavours, I steamed a bunch of asparagus with fresh baby potatoes and tossed the vegetables with a simple but lively balsamic and Dijon mustard dressing. Served right away to enjoy the warmth and tenderness of the potatoes and asparagus, this was an elegant salad that I think you will find inviting at any time of year, even if the produce isn't local. Enjoy!

Warm Baby Potato and Asparagus Salad

Salad:

1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes
1 bunch fresh asparagus
1 shallot, diced
small handful fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing:

2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sea salt
fresh ground black pepper

Steam the potatoes for 20 minutes, or until just tender. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus and cut the spears into 1" to 1 1/2" pieces. Add to the potatoes and steam for five more minutes.

Remove the warm potatoes and asparagus from the steamer and place in a large mixing bowl with the shallot and parsley. Whisk together the dressing ingredients, drizzle over the salad, and toss gently to combine.

Serve warm. Serves 4.

Other potato salads you may enjoy:
Potato Radish Salad
Mexican-Style Potato Salad with Avocado and Jalapeño
Potato Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

On the top of the reading stack: Small Memories by Jose Saramago

Audio Accompaniment: doozer construction and sandblasting

Apple pie cupcakes

I needed inspiration for today’s post and my friend Ana Elisa sent me the link for Serious Eats’ “the best cupcakes in New York City” slideshow.
I took a look but did not feel very inspired – so let’s call it for the day and have some apple pie cupcakes.



Apple pie cupcakes
from Donna Hay magazine

Caramelized apples:
3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter
1/3 cup + ½ tablespoon (73g) caster

Staple Corner: How to Make Your Own Sambar Powder

As I have noted many times in this space, I always do prefer to make my own spice blends, time permitting. Although there are plenty of good ready-made blends to be had from Indian grocery stores, there is just no comparison between the homemade versions. Sambar powder — or sambhar masala — is the base for a wide range of spicy south Indian vegetable or dal curries known as sambars or sambhars, and I prepared this mixture in preparation for a black-eyed pea sambar dish that I made for a dear friend of mine. The addition of chana dal was a welcome addition to the mixture and it thickened it out to suit my preferences. Chana dal as well as the other ingredients in this recipe are easily found in Indian and most Asian grocers.


I am going a bit crazy at the moment, as the city is digging up the street to repair water mains and such right out front of the house. Crash, bang, boom, beep, beep, beep, and they start making racket around 7 in the morning and continue throughout the day. The street is now a mud pit and cars are getting stuck. I don't like noise — my preference being ambient music — but what can I do? Take refuge in the kitchen I guess, despite the heat.

Homemade Sambar Powder

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on July 24, 2010 A hot and fragrant spice blend used as the base for south Indian sambar dishes Print this recipe Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried curry leaves 1/2 cup whole dried red chilies 1/4 cup chana dal 1/4 cup coriander seeds 2 tablespoons cumin seeds 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 2 1-inch sticks cinnamon, broken into bits 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 1 tablespoon sesame oil Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl and toss with the sesame oil. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the spice mixture and roast, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until the spices and chilies darken a few shades. Let the spices cool and then grind in batches into a fine powder using a coffee grinder. Transfer the mixture to tightly-sealed jar and store in a cool place. The sambar powder should keep for a few months. Makes about 2 cups — reduce the quantities to make a smaller amount

Other spice blends from Lisa's Kitchen:
Homemade Massaman Paste
Homemade Harissa
Homemade Chana Masala Powder
Homemade Garam Masala

Lemon cloud tea cookies

Let me tell you a secret: sometimes I feel like one of Mr. Ivan Pavlov’s dogs when I hear (or read, for that matter) the word “lemon”. :)That is why I could not resist this recipe when I saw it on Joy’s blog – and I’m glad I didn’t, because these little cookies are delicious.Lemon cloud tea cookies1 ½ cups (210g) all purpose flour¾ cup cornstarch4 teaspoons baking powder1/8 teaspoon salt113g (8

Old fashioned apple pandowdy

From the food-with-irresistible-names series: pandowdy. :)You already know I choose recipes because of their unusual names, so no secrets here. And just to prove you I’m not that shallow, I can’t wait to try all the other desserts on the link the pandowdy came from. If you want to know more about pandowdies, Elle has a great post here, with a delicious recipe on the side.Old fashioned apple

No Croutons Required - Breads

The challenge for July was to come up with breads that go well with soups and salads. I was excited to see what fellow bloggers would come up with, and I certainly was not disappointed. Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry this month. As usual, I ask that you please vote for your favorite submission in the comment section or via email. Note that neither my entry, nor Jacqueline's is eligible for voting.

Our first entry comes from Akheela of Torviewtoronto. She served up this mouthwatering Coconut Roti consisting of coconut, flour, chili flakes, onion and curry leaves alongside this unique Sweet Semolina Sago Porridge. Akheela suggests that when making the coconut roti to go with this dish that you omit the spices. So many serving possibilities for the roti and I am sure it is especially delicious with any number of curry dishes. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Our next submission comes from my co-host and good friend Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes. These beautiful Yogurt Scones with a Trio of Three Cheeses are made up of Greek yogurt, flour, mustard powder, cayenne pepper, butter, cheddar cheese, feta cheese, Parmesan cheese and one egg. Indeed these would be perfect for dunking into soup, such as this tempting Carrot, Cumin & Yoghurt Soup. (Scotland, UK)

Our next entry comes from Priya. She made this lovely Whole Wheat Multi-Seeds Bread that includes whole wheat flour, a homemade seed mixture of pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds, olive oil, yeast and a wee bit of sugar. I can imagine how wonderful Priya's kitchen smelt as this healthy bread was baking in the oven. Serve with this Velouté De Poireaux (Leeks N Potato Creamy Soup) for an especially comforting meal. (Paris, France)

Janet of Taste Space is up next with this gorgeous Dill and Cheddar Beer Bread that she made without any yeast. Included amongst the ingredients are of course flour, dill, sharp cheddar cheese, beer and you can glaze the top with egg if desired. This rather dense bread is easy to make and best served with a simple soup Janet tells us because of the complexity of the flavours. I am thinking this would be a perfect use of the fresh dill I have growing outside and know I would especially enjoy it with this Roasted Red Pepper and Squash Soup. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Sunita enters this month with these stunning but easy to make Cheesy Potato and Rosemary Scones. Whole wheat flour (atta), mashed potato, fresh rosemary, english mustard, olive oil, Red Leicester cheese (or cheddar), a bit of milk and an egg are combined here to perfection. Certainly these colourful scones would be an ideal accompaniment to this Mixed Beans and Lentils Broth. (UK)

Ashley of Eat me Delicious contributes these oh so tempting Sun Dried Tomato, Feta and Oregano Muffins. Who could resist this combination of flour, freshly ground black pepper, oregano, butter, eggs, milk, feta cheese and a whole cup of sun-dried tomatoes. These scrumptious savory muffins would go very well with this Mediterranean Pepper Salad. (Vancouver, BC, Canada)

Next up is Radhika of Food for 7 Stages of Life with this moist and healthy Carrot Mango Pecan Bread. Delightful mangos, that invoke fond memories of her grandfather, add a nice touch to this bread made with whole wheat flour, carrots, pecans, some sugar, eggs and cinnamon. I am sure this soft bread wouldn't last long, especially if served with Dixie Stampede Homestyle Cream of Vegetable Soup. (New Jersey, United States)

Eleanor from BrownievilleGirl is on a scone mission and she submits this easy, but incredibly tasty, slightly crumbly Honey and Sunflower Ginger Scones recipe. I have a ginger fan in the house who would be sure to enjoy this combination of spelt flour, ground ginger, finely grated carrot, butter, fresh ginger, honey and sunflower seeds. Imagine how delightful these scones would be served with Butternut Squash Coleslaw and a hunk of Dubliner cheese? (Ireland)

Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe digs into her archives and serves up this plump yeast based Zucchini Loaf made up of zucchini, yeast, a bit of honey, bread flour and glazed with some olive oil. This most delightful bread would be wonderful with this Tomato and Lentil Soup. Your dinner guests will be asking for seconds. (Melbourne, Australia).

My submission this month are these Apple Cheddar Scones that I made for friends. Spelt flour, cornmeal, cinnamon, butter, an egg, buttermilk, apple juice, red wine cheddar cheese, dried apple and freshly grated apple make for a most delightful combination. My friends gave them rave reviews. I would suggest serving them with Fresh Fruit and Berry Soup. (London, Ontario, Canada)

Mango Cheeks of Allotment 2 Kitchen offers up these most appetizing Vegan Parsley Shortcakes that she describes as slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Flour, fresh parsley, olive oil, white wine vinegar and soya milk are combined to serve alongside homemade chutney. These would also be a most satisfying side to dip into this Chickpea and Sun-Dried Tomato Soup. (West of Scotland, UK)

Vanessa of Sweet Artichoke experiments for the first time with these cute and appetizing Mini Focaccia. Flour, yeast, a pinch of sugar, some olive oil, fine semolina and olive oil make up these delights that can be garnished with a variety of ingredients, including cherry tomatoes, herbs, Parmesan cheese and olives. These would go well with any Mediterranean dish, such as this Tunisian Salad with Grilled Veggies. (Switzerland)

Sweatha of Tasty Curry Leaf makes her first attempt at a rustic Pane Toscano -Saltless Tuscan Bread and it turned out beautifully. The first step is to make a sponge with flour, water and yeast and then a dough made with more flour, water and yeast. An interesting step in the process is that you spray the baking bread with water to ensure you get a nice hard crust. This bread would certainly go well with Roasted Tomato Soup. (Bangalore, India)

Reshmi of A Feast to the Eyes and Stomach participates in our event for the first time and submits this lovely Potato Bread that she describes as the softest she's ever had. A mixture of flour, mashed potatoes, yeast, chives and dry milk powder are divided into balls and then given an egg wash and garnished with sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Serve this with Red Gram (Red Lentil Soup) and you will have one satisfying and filling dinner. (Germany)

Last, but certainly not least, we have these absolutely gorgeous Cloverleaf Rolls with Honey Lavender Shallot Butter Glaze from Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook. A dough of flour, some sugar, yeast, milk, butter and an egg is left to rise in the fridge for up to 24 hours, then cut into balls, left to rise in a warm place for another 30 minutes and then glazed with butter, poached shallot, lavender flowers and honey. A special benefit for cooks in humid climates is they only take 15 minutes in the oven to bake. How elegant, especially when served with Lima Bean and Artichoke Soup. (New York, USA)

Jacqueline will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the beginning of August for the theme.

Strawberry, pistachio and orange cakes

These little cakes are, to me, essentially friands – ground nuts + egg whites + melted butter – but my favorite magazine website calls them cakes, so cakes they are. :)

They turned out really good – tender and moist – and the roasted strawberries are delicious: I used to say that apples and bananas can benefit (a lot) from some time in the oven and now I have to add strawberries to that list.

Apple Cheddar Scones

Just barely making the deadline for No Croutons Required this month, even though it is my turn to host. The theme this month is breads that go well with soups and salads. A nasty and persistent illness has sent me into Hades. That said, these scones were enjoyed by many friends that have helped me out this month. Thank you all for your support. This creation is inspired by Ashley of Eat Me Delicious. She has such a lovely blog and there is always something she makes to inspire and tempt.

I would also like to encourage my readers to check out my co-host's new blog that highlights various food events, giveaways, and challenges across the blogosphere. No spam, but just plain good support for the food community. Thanks Jackie for your efforts. You are a sweetheart and I don't know how you keep up with such a busy schedule!

Apple Cheddar Scones

1 3/4 cups of unbleached white flour or spelt flour
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
1/2 cup cold buttermilk
1/4 cup cold apple cider or unsweetened apple juice
3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese (I used red wine cheddar cheese)
1/2 cup finely diced dried apples
1/2 of fresh small apple, shredded

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or butter the pan.

Whisk together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the ingredients.

In a smallish bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk and apple cider together until frothy.

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter until the butter resembles small pea bits.

Add the liquid ingredients to the flour mixture, stir until just combined and then fold in the cheese, dried apples and shredded apples.

With floured hands, shape the dough into rounds and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. Take care not to over bake as they will turn into bullets :)

Other quickbreads you are sure to enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Jalapeno Cheddar Scones
Cheddar Parmesan Scones with Dill
Graham Crackers

On the top of the reading stack: Healthy South Indian Cooking

Audio Accompaniment: the terrible racket of the street being torn up in front of the house

Chocolate and cinnamon suspiros

It’s been a month since I last brought you anything chocolate – cocoa doesn’t count – and hope you like these meringues as much as Jessica and I did. :)

I wasn’t really in the mood for meringues but needed to do something with my frozen egg whites (which seem to be suffering from the Gremlin curse, too); what convinced me here was the addition of chocolate and cinnamon.



Chocolate and

Mexican-Style Black Bean and Millet Salad

One of the oldest grains known to be cultivated by humans, millet is a staple food in many parts of Eurasia as well as in Africa where it is thought to have originated thousands of years ago. Although in North America it's primarily grown as livestock fodder, millet is a highly nutritious grain for humans, containing nearly 15% protein, high amounts of fibre, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium minerals, B-complex vitamins including niacin, thiamin, and riboflavin, and the essential amino acid methionine. Non-glutenous and non-acid-forming, millet is also one of the most easily digestible and least allergenic of grains.

But to the modern cook, the main appeals of millet are its warm buttery and slightly nutty taste and a soft porous texture that easily absorbs spicy or astringent flavours. These qualities make it a perfect complement to citrus and fresh tomatoes, and a welcome and healthy addition to zesty summer salads. This simple Mexican-style black bean salad loaded with tomatoes and vegetables and tossed with a spicy lemon-balsamic vinaigrette is a delicious way to incorporate millet into a complete, healthy and colourful summer meal.

Mexican-Style Black Bean and Millet Salad

Salad:

2/3 cup dried black beans
1 cup millet
1 shallot, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 carrot, shredded
1 orange or red bell pepper, seeded and cut into thin strips
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
handful fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing:

juice of 2 lemons
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Rinse the millet under cold running water and place in a medium saucepan. Cover with 2 cups of cold water, and leave to soak overnight. Separately, rinse the beans and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added.

Drain the beans and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are tender but not falling apart.

Meanwhile, bring the millet to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the water has been absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool while the beans are cooking.

Combine the millet, beans, and vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour over the salad. Toss gently to blend.

Serve warm or cold. Serves 4 to 6.

Other millet recipes you may enjoy:
Millet-Quinoa Hash with Peppers and Zucchini on Sautéed Greens
Spicy Indian-Style Millet
Northeast African Millet Patties

On the top of the reading stack: Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron

Audio Accompaniment: Bach

Baked rice pudding with honeyed apples

As you can see, I’m still on comfort food mode on. :)

I remember seeing these apples on the magazine and thinking “wow, they look so good!”, but did not feel as enthusiastic about the porridge; don’t get me wrong, I love oats, but those golden, beautiful apple slices deserved more – so I decided to pair them with rice pudding. And that was absolutely brilliant – modest mode off. :)

Baked rice

Leek and chickpea soup

If someone asked me what I would like to be doing right now, I’d say that I’d like to be on my couch, under the blankets, having this soup for lunch – and Lisa’s cherry peach almond crisp for dessert. :)

Leek and chickpea soup
adapted from Kitchen: The Best of the Best

2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
8 saffron threads
1 large leek, cleaned and finely sliced
grated zest of 1 small lemon
1

Kamut Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

Recently I posted a recipe for a Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing that I adapted from Once Upon a Tart: Soups, Salads, Muffins, and More by Frank Mentesana and Jerome Audureau. I decided to adapt it further and turn it into a pasta sauce. To make this recipe you will need to make some Marinated Sun-Dried Tomatoes. As I noted before, I plan on having a batch of these on hand as a staple ingredient. They are very easy and quick to prepare and keep in the fridge for a few weeks in a covered container. They are absolutely delicious and so much better than the jarred variety. Do take care to purchase sun-dried tomatoes free of salt, sugar and other additives.

I was fortunate enough to have a few dinner guests to share this dish with. I was even told this sauce was probably the best one of my diners had ever tasted. Give it a try and you'll see how rich, luscious and thick it is.

This is also my submission to Presto Pasta nights, a popular event created by Ruth and hosted this week by Pam.

Kamut Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

454 grams / 16 ounces of kamut pasta

For the sauce:

2/3 cup of marinated sun-dried tomatoes
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup of pine nuts
1 - 2 jalapeno peppers or green chilies
1/3 cup of fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
freshly cracked black pepper to taste
1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup of olive oil

crumbled feta for garnishing

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the pot and cook until el dente or to your desired consistency - roughly 10 - 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. In a food processor, combine the marinated sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, pine nuts, hot peppers, parsley, sea salt, black pepper and Parmesan cheese until well blended. With the food processor still running, pour in the olive oil.

Drain the pasta, cover with sauce and crumbled feta.

Serves 4 - 6.

Other pasta dishes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you will be sure to enjoy:
Pasta and Feta Cheese Casserole
Greek Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and Paneer Cheese
Rye Pasta with a Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce and Goat Cheese

On the top of the reading stack: Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness by William Styron

Audio Accompaniment: Laughing Stock by Talk Talk

Little strawberry meringue tarts

The strawberry maniac strikes again – and this time with pies topped with meringue. :)

I know I’ve been carried away by the strawberry season, but tell me: would you resist making such adorable little pies? I’m not that strong. :)



Little strawberry meringue tarts
adapted from Australian Gourmet Traveller

Filling:
400g strawberries, hulled and quartered
½ cup (88g) brown sugar, packed – you

Apricot thumbprint cookies

I’ll be honest with you: I made these cookies to use up the apricot jam in my fridge; after making a tart, some small cakes and these cookies I still have some around – I wonder if someone splashed it with water or fed it after midnight... :)Apricot thumbprint cookiesadapted from here180g unsalted butter, softened1 cup + 1 ½ tablespoons (218g) sugar1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract1 egg2 cups + 2

Vegetarian Three Bean Chili with a Cashew-Pistachio Sauce

Tempted by yet another recipe from 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer, I couldn't resist making this chili from the contemporary curries section on one of the hottest days of the year. This is certainly a recipe I will be revisiting in the future, especially during the colder months, but I will say I very much enjoyed it on a hot and humid day. The nuts provide a wonderful accompaniment to the selection of beans. Mr. Iyer suggests serving this delightful chili with cheese, such as shredded paneer, scallions, sour cream or yogurt or perhaps chopped fresh mango. Packed full of vegetables, legumes and nuts, this is a particularly healthy vegetarian meal, and a most tasty one at that. A big thanks to Mr. Iyer for such a lovely and inspired volume of creative recipes.

Vegetarian Three Bean Chili with a Cashew-Pistachio Sauce

Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from 660 Curries Cuisine: Indian Published on July 8, 2010 An Indian-style vegetarian three bean chili cooked in a creamy and delicious cashew-pistachio sauce Print this recipe Ingredients: 2/3 cup dried pinto beans 2/3 cup dried red kidney beans 2/3 cup dried black beans 1/4 cup olive or sesame oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 sticks celery, diced 1 carrot, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 4 green chilies or jalapeños, seeded and diced 2 large tomatoes, diced 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste 1 teaspoon turmeric 1/3 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped Cashew-pistachio sauce: 1/2 cup pine nuts 1/2 cup raw cashews 1/2 cup pistachios 3 cups water Instructions: Rinse the beans and soak for 8 hours or overnight covered in several inches of water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and rinse, transfer to a large saucepan, and cover with several inches of fresh water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, prepare the cashew-pistachio sauce. Combine the pine nuts, cashews and pistachios in a blender or food processor. Add 1/2 cup of the water and blend until you have a gritty paste. Remove and swirl the remaining 2 1/2 cups of water around in the blender or food processor to obtain the remaining paste. Set aside. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic and chilies or jalapeños and cook, stirring often, until the onions begin to brown. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, cayenne, paprika, cumin, coriander, salt and turmeric. Lover the heat to medium-low and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are softened and begin to thicken. Now add the nut paste to the pan along with the water from the blender or food processor. Stir in the cooked beans and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the ingredients don't stick to the pan. Reduce the heat on the element if necessary or add a bit more water to reach your desired consistency. Garnish with parsley or cilantro and serve hot with fresh cooked rice or your favorite Indian flatbread. Makes 8 servings

Other chili recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you would be sure to enjoy:
Smoky Black Bean Chili
Southwest Vegetarian Chili
Cornmeal Crusted Chili

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio Accompaniment: street construction (blah)

Pear friands

Many of you have asked me if I eat everything I post here – not really, otherwise I’d be the size of a house. :) I do eat a little of each recipe I cook/bake and then decide if it is good enough to be shared with you, but the amounts are very modest: 2-3 cookies, 1 slice of cake, and so on. At first I did not think I’d be able to do that - because I love eating - but so far, so good. :)

These

Passion fruit jelly panna cotta

Blogging has made me change my mind about lots of foods: dishes I did not like, or should I say thought I did not like, have become favorites. And jellies are a good example: I thought they were boring until I tried the ones made with real fruit juice.

This passion fruit jelly is a bit different from the one I made before – the other recipe mixed passion fruit and orange – and goes really well

Lavender chiffon cake with lime curd, cream and lime icing

Certain flavor combinations are wonderful and we already know they work perfectly, while others might seem a bit unusual to some of us. I’d seen lemon + lavender everywhere – in bars, cookies, cakes and frozen yogurt – but hadn’t given it a try yet. After seeing a beautiful cake in an old magazine, I decided to try the combination, using limes instead.

Now this combo can go straight to the all

Chocolate Brownies with Fresh Ginger

My sweetie is a big fan of ginger treats and so I couldn't resist making these chocolate ginger brownies for him. These are super easy to whip up and very moist and flavourful. The recipe is adapted from Martha Stewart's Cookies. I will confess that I am not a huge fan of Ms. Stewart as she is rather fussy for my taste and I don't like to fiddle around with decorations and such. That said, she does have quite an array of tempting recipes and this volume is beautifully presented. The content section at the beginning of the book is stunning. There are small pictures of each recipe, along with page numbers, presented. If you enjoy cookbooks with mouth-watering food images, you will want to check this out. Most of the recipes are accompanied by gorgeous and inspired sizeable photos. If you are a cookie lover, you will want this book. Everything from light and delicate, soft and chewy, crumbly and sandy, chunky and nutty, cakey and tender, crisp and crunchy and rich and dense are showcased.

Chocolate Brownies with Fresh Ginger

1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter + another few teaspoons for buttering the pan
2/3 cup of chocolate (I used a combination of carob and dark chocolate)
1 cup of sugar
2/3 cup of unbleached white flour or spelt flour
1/4 cup of cocoa
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
2/3 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves

Butter an 8 inch square baking dish. Line the bottom with parchment paper, with some overlap on the sides. Butter the bottom of the parchment paper.

In a medium saucepan, over medium - low heat, melt together the chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Remove from the heat and beat in the sugar, flour, cocoa, eggs, fresh ginger, vanilla, nutmeg, ground ginger, sea salt and ground cloves.

Transfer to the prepared pan and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 30- 35 minutes. Let the brownies cool for 10 minutes, lift out with the parchment paper and cool for another 15 minutes on a wire rack. Cut into squares and serve.

More brownie recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Gooey Peanut Butter Brownies with Carob Chips
Chocolate Cocoa Brownies with Dried Cranberries and Chickpea Flour
Peanut Butter Brownies
Brownies with Dried Fruit

On the top of the reading stack: Penguin Classics Three Tales by Flaubert

Audio Accompaniment: Anger Do Not Enter by Beef Terminal