Staple Corner: How to Make Your Own Garam Masala ( Part 2 )

Considering I keep so many staples on hand in my overstuffed kitchen, I was shocked to discover during dinner preparation that I was completely out of garam masala — is a key ingredient in so many Indian dishes. Thankfully, it is easy to make up your own fresh blend, which I have been meaning to do again anyways because the taste is far superior to store-bought blends and it keeps for a few months in a well-sealed jar. This flavorful, dark and rather complex and smoky blend is from my treasured copy of 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer. Inspired Indian cooks will not want to be without this extensive collection of recipes for legumes, grains, spice blends, appetizers and vegetables. Informative, charming and entertaining, you won't be lacking for ideas if you consult Mr. Iyer's cookbook.

More recipes for homemade garam masala can be found here.

Homemade Garam Masala

Recipe by Lisa Turner From 660 Curries Cuisine: Indian Published on April 29, 2011 A dark, robust and smoky version of the famous warming and fragrant Indian garam masala spice blend Print this recipe Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole dried red chillies, crushed generous handful dried curry leaves 2 tablespoons coriander seeds 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds 6 green cardamom pods 2 black cardamom pods 2 whole star anise 2 3-inch sticks cinnamon, broken 1/2 teaspoon ground mace 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida Instructions: In a medium bowl, combine the chilies, curry leaves, coriander seeds, poppy seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, cardamom pods, star anise, cinnamon sticks, mace, and toss with sesame oil. Preheat a frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the spice mixture and stir and fry for 5 minutes or until the spices darken a few shades. Transfer back to the bowl and let cool. Blend the spices in coffee or spice grinder or in a blender until finely ground. Stir in the asafoetida. Store in a tightly-sealed jar away from heat or light for up to 4 months. Makes about 1 cup

Other spice blends you may enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Chat Masala
Sambar Masala
Chana Masala Powder

On the top of the reading stack: Pure and Simple: Homemade Indian Vegetarian Cuisine by Vidhu Mittal

Audio Accompaniment: Markus Guentner

Peanut butter brownies + your comments on a certain post

I’ve been thinking about the comments you left on my post about Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook and thought I might have been misunderstood by some: I agree with the fact that some people are naturally thin and can eat tons of food without gaining 1 single pound – I have cousins and friends that way. Nothing against those people – I wish I were one of them! :D
And I don’t think that one has to be

Guacamole Challenge

To celebrate Cinco De Mayo, a Mexican holiday that is celebrated worldwide, I was recently treated to a lovely package that included some wonderful avocados, a metal bowl, along with other goodies. I was encouraged to come up with a Guacamole recipe to submit to a contest. This is my version of this most popular dip or spread that is not only packed full of nutrients but is just plain tasty. Serve with nacho chips or slices of flatbreads.

Guacamole

2 - 3 Mexican avocados
2 tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 scallions, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped or crushed
juice from 1 lime
3 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
dash of cayenne
1/4 teaspoon of cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon of chili powder
1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Peel and remove the pits from the avocados. Transfer to a medium large bowl and mash. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Season with salt and black pepper. Serve cold or at room temperature.

More dips from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Marinated Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus with Olives
Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
Corn and Pinto Bean Dip
Feta and Olive Salsa

On the top of the reading stack: The Well by Sinclair Ross

Audio accompaniment: Mark Hollis

Nibby financiers

Certain smells, movies, songs – or even certain words – automatically remind us of certain people. In today’s case, it’s food that brings me two lovely friends of mine to mind – it’s impossible for me to bake financiers without thinking of @liliantrigo and Paula. :D



Nibby financiers
adapted from Rose's Heavenly Cakes

2/3 cup (66g) almond meal
1/3 cup + ½ tablespoon (51g) all purpose flour
¾

Mughal Mushroom Curry and a Giveaway

I was recently treated to a lovely package of dried mushrooms, mushroom blends, a quick and easy smoked oyster mushroom chowder that was most satisfying and delicious and some delightful Balsamic Vinaigrette infused with White Truffle which is just perfect for dressings and marinades from FungusAmongus. I am pleased to offer my readers located in the US an opportunity to win some dried organic mushroom medley consisting of porcini, shiitake, crimini, maitake, oyster, and chanterelle as well as a pacific blend of seasoning and rub marinade. The seasoned mixes are a perfect idea to add to cream cheese or yogurt to make a dip that would go along well with veggies or pieces of flatbread. All you need to do is leave a comment for a chance to win. Please do leave your email address if you do not have a blog so I can contact you. The contest runs until May 8th. My Canadian readers will have a chance at winning some of these satisfying staples soon. I also encourage you to check out their facebook page and become a follower. Mushroom lovers such as myself will not be disappointed with these offerings.

I admit I was rather skeptical about serving apples and raisins with mushrooms, but I was pleasantly surprised indeed. Such a delightful blend of flavors - so earthy, and the addition of yogurt tempers the spices. The inclusion of dried mushrooms here adds a slightly chewy texture that is pure joy for mushroom lovers. I have made this dish twice already. The first time around I was foggy headed and missed the yogurt step and used some water instead. Either way, you can't go wrong with a spicy mushroom curry. Serve with rice and an Indian dal for an especially satisfying meal that even your carnivorous friends will enjoy.

I also made a delicious and super simple dip with 4 teaspoons of the Pacific blend of seasoned mushrooms combined with a cup of cream cheese. Just perfect with veggies and peta breads.

Mughal Mushroom Curry

Adapted from Silk Road Cooking by Najmieh Batmanglij

4 tablespoons of butter, ghee, or oil
1/2 cup of raw, unsalted cashews, broken into bits
1/4 cup of raisins
1 green apple, peeled and sliced
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 clove of garlic, minced or crushed
1 teaspoon of coriander seeds
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated
small handful of dried curry leaves
2 - 3 fresh green chilies, seeded and finely chopped
4 - 6 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes and drained
1/4 cup of dried mushrooms, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes and drained (I used the organic mushroom medley)
1 - 2 teaspoons of Pacific blend seasoning
1 pound of fresh mushrooms (I used portobellos)
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 teaspoons of sea salt
freshly cracked black pepper to taste
2 teaspoons of curry powder (or a dash of asafetida, 1/2 teaspoon of ground mustard powder, 1/2 teaspoon of fennel seeds, 1 - 2 green chilies, seeded and finely chopped, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom, a pinch of saffron, freshly cracked black pepper and 3 tablespoons of dried fenugreek leaves)
2 teaspoons of garam masala
1 large tomato, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups of yogurt
2 teaspoons of cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoon of water
fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped, for garnishing

In a wok, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. When hot, add the cashews and stir and fry until browned. Now add the apples and raisins and stir and fry for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

In the same pan, heat another 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat. Toss in the onions and stir and fry until translucent. Now add the garlic, coriander, ginger, curry leaves and chilies. Stir and fry for another minute or so. Add the mushrooms and celery and cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Toss in the salt, mushroom seasoning, black pepper, curry powder, garam masala and tomatoes. Reduce the heat to low and cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Gradually add the yogurt and cornstarch mixture to the mushrooms, stirring constantly. Simmer over very low heat for another 5 minutes. Garnish with the apple mixture, parsley or cilantro and serve warm.

Yields 4 servings.

More mushroom dishes from Lisa's Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Mushroom Curry
Best Ever Mushroom Sauce
Chickpeas with Mushrooms
Shredded Paneer with Tomatoes, Chilies, Mushrooms and Chickpeas

On the top of the reading stack: cookbooks

Audio Accompaniment: Arvo Part

Chocolate lime pie + popsicles on the side

A couple of days after talking to you about intuition I had an insight while making this pie: since the tart pan I was using was a bit smaller than the one called for on the recipe, there was some filling left. I stared at the velvety cream and thought it would taste amazing as some sort of frozen dessert – I immediately poured the cream into my popsicle molds and ended up with totally

Chicken teriyaki

I’ve been cooking for as long as I can remember and in certain periods of my life I did not have much time to spend in the kitchen – I needed delicious yet quick meals for weeknights.
On my days as a single lady I used to make lots of pasta – both my dad and my sister are crazy for it and dinner would be on the table in less than half an hour.

Recently I’ve been trying my hand at Asian

Apple Pie Tart

My sweetie loves pie and when he comes across a recipe that makes his tummy growl, he passes it along. In this case I was intrigued because I have never made a pie without a pie plate before. A cross between a tart and a pie, this pastry filled full of the goodness of apples is baked on a baking sheet. The pastry was easy to work with and any combination of apples can be used, though it is best to use apples that are especially good for baking, such as tart Cortlands, Empires and Granny Smiths, as they tend to soften up better in baked goods without getting mushy. A combination of tart and firm apples works best here.

Thanks to my sweetie for finding and collaborating with me on this delightful idea that encouraged me to use up some extra apples in the crisper. Serve with a scoop of ice cream or if you really want to get decadent, sprinkle the cooked pie with extra old cheddar cheese and broil for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbles. Certainly a fine Easter treat.

Apple Tart

1 cup of spelt flour or unbleached white flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
6 tablespoons of butter, cut into cubes
2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons of cold water

2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

4 apples, cut into slices
1 tablespoon of honey

1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar and butter. Add the water a bit at a time and process until the dough comes together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, peel and slice the apples.

Combine the cinnamon and brown sugar in a small bowl.

Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. The round should be a 12 inch circle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, arrange the chopped apples, leaving an inch or so of the dough to gather up. Sprinkle with honey and the brown sugar and cinnamon mix. The butter pieces are next, and they are distributed over the apples. Fold up the edges of the dough to create a roughly 1 inch border. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven until the pastry is nicely browned and the apples are tender and browned slightly on the edges.

Serves 6.

More delightful pies from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Concord Grape Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Baked Cheese and Tortilla Pie with Jalapeños, Corn and Pinto Beans

On the top of the reading stack: 660 Curries

Audio Accompaniment: Trentemoller

Double chocolate chip cookies - from skinny cooks to skinny cookies

A while ago I was talking to Fezoca (via Twitter) about Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook – I have to say I wasn’t (and still am not) all that excited about it. I think she’s a beautiful woman, can sing really well, but would never make it to my list of favorite actresses – I find her really limited as far as acting is concerned. Anyway, that has nothing to do with the cookbook thing – what doesn’t

Chickpea Salad with Tamarind Dressing

Bean salads loaded with fresh crunchy vegetables are an incredibly easy way to pack plenty of protein, fiber, minerals and vitamins into your diet, and a zesty hot, sweet and sour tamarind dressing make it a delicious choice as well.

This colourful and healthy salad was a last minute inspiration for this month's edition of No Croutons Required hosted by my good friend Jacqueline of Tinned Tomatoes. Being her birthday month (Happy Birthday Month, Jacquie!), she came up with the unusual idea that we cooks come up with a recipe based on a theme from our own birthday month as it appeared in previous years' editions of No Croutons Required. My own birthday being in March, the Chickpea Soup or Salad theme from March of last year happened to coincide nicely with a craving for chickpeas (which is itself a fairly regular occurrence). Last minute, but no less tasty and wholesome for it.

Chickpea Salad with Tamarind Dressing

Salad:

1/2 cup dried chickpeas
1/2 cup diced english cucumber
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 large tomato, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
2 jalapeños, seeded and minced

Garnish:

1 tablespoon dried unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup raw cashews, halved
2 green onions, sliced
small handful fresh torn cilantro leaves

Dressing:

1 teaspoon tamari sauce
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon tamarind paste
juice of 1 lime
1/2-inch piece ginger, minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch cayenne

Rinse the chickpeas under cold running water and soak overnight in a bowl covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added.

Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with fresh cold water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the chickpeas are soft and buttery. Drain and set aside to cool.

Toast the coconut over medium-low heat in a dry pan, tossing frequently, until golden brown. Remove and set aside. Return the pan to the heat and toast the cashews until golden brown, and set aside.

Meanwhile, whisk together the dressing ingredients along with the white parts of the green onions, and let stand.

Combine the chickpeas and salad vegetables in a mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently.

Serve with generous scatterings of toasted coconut, toasted cashews, the green parts of the green onions, and cilantro leaves.

Other salad ideas you may enjoy from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Chickpea and Tomato Salad with Chat Masala
Chickpea, Olive and Feta Cheese Salad
Chickpea and Quinoa Salad with Lemon and Tahini

Vanilla flan with gingerbread crumbs

Those of you who – sometimes – devour lunch with an eye on dessert, please, raise your hand. 0/

I made a beautiful, delicious salad with tuna – from this book – for lunch and, even though I happily savored each bite of it, I was really interested in trying this flan. :)

And since I know you are all so dear and won’t judge me, there goes the recipe. :D



Vanilla flan with gingerbread crumbs

Hummus with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Olives

A perfect appetizer that almost everyone loves. This creamy and flavourful dip is a perfect way to stimulate the appetites of your dinner guests. Just make sure you don't offer up too much before the main entree, as this hummus is most addictive and filling. Serve with fresh chopped vegetables, such as delightful Ontario carrots, and some baked pita breads and / or lavash bread.

This is my contribution to this month's My Legume Love Affair, a popular event started by lovely Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and hosted this month by Jaya of Desi Soccer Mom.

Hummus with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Olives

1 cup of dried chickpeas
5 - 6 sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup of pitted black olives, chopped
a few generous scoops of goat cheese
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt
juice from 2 fresh limes
2 - 3 tablespoons of tahini
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoons of parsley or cilantro, chopped, for garnishing

Soak the chickpeas overnight in enough water to cover. Drain, transfer to a medium saucepan, cover with water, bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover and cook until the beans are soft - roughly 1 hour. Drain and set aside.

Soak the sun-dried tomatoes in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain, reserving the soaking liquid.

In a food processor, combine the cooked chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, garlic, salt, lime juice, tahini, goat cheese, cumin, cayenne, sugar, olive oil, 1/4 cup of the reserved liquid from the sun-dried tomatoes and a bit of parsley or cilantro. Puree until you have a thick paste.

Garnish with the remaining parsley or cilantro.

Serves 4-6.

More hummus recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Marinated Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus with Olives
Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Turkish Yogurt Hummus
Olive Hummus

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio Accompaniment: FLOAT AWAY - Robbie Rivera

Wholemeal apple and marmalade cake

Back in 2009 my dear friend Valentina introduced me to Nigel Slater – it was love at first sight. His delicious recipes, beautiful garden and passionate way of speaking about food – clear without being patronizing – were a perfect combination.

I really do not know why it took me so long to buy one of his books, but I certainly started with a wonderful one. This cake is absurdly tender –

Mini raspberry cheesecakes and trusting your instincts

Something I’ve been trying to do more often is to trust my instincts, but sometimes I fail miserably at doing so – and deeply regret it afterwards.

Take this recipe, for instance: the mini cheesecakes looked adorable on the book, but after reading the recipe I wasn’t so keen on the idea of making the batter using an electric mixer – it would add too much air to the mixture, so a food processor

Rice Croquettes

Rice fans won't want to miss out on this shallowed fried concoction. I typically don't use a lot of oil or butter in my cooking, but there are times when you just want a slightly more decadent treat. An ideal accompaniment to a bean dish, this is surely a healthy meal, so long as you use a good quality cooking oil, such as pure virgin olive oil, sesame oil or peanut oil.

Spicy Rice Croquettes

1 cup of basmati rice
2 tablespoons of butter or oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cups of vegetable broth or water
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon of dried basil
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne
1 teaspoon of paprika
dash of ground coriander
dash of ground cumin
3/4 cup of fresh Parmesan, grated
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
1/2 cup of cornmeal or bread crumbs
oil for frying

Rinse the rice well in a strainer and soak with enough water to cover for at least 20 minutes. Drain and air dry for another 20 minutes.

In a large saucepan, heat the butter or oil over medium heat. When hot, add the onion and stir and fry for 10 minutes. Now add the rice and stir and fry for another few minutes. Stir in the broth or water, along with the parsley and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the water is absorbed - roughly 15 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.

Stir in the beaten egg, basil, cayenne, paprika, coriander, cumin, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Shape into 1/4 cup logs and roll in cornmeal or bread crumbs.

Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a wok or frying pan over medium heat. When hot, fry a few croquettes at a time for 5 - 6 minutes until golden brown, turning often. Drain on paper towels and keep warm in a 200 degree oven until ready to serve.

Serves 4 - 5.

More Rice Recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Baked Italian Brown Rice Balls
Green Bean and Borlotti Bean Risotto
Chickpea and Brown Rice Patties

On the top of the reading stack: multiple cookbooks

Audio Accompaniment: Ben Harper

Pecan, coconut and lemon bars

I’m a creature of habits, and I’m OK with that.

Going through Amanda Hasser’s amazing compilation of recipes, my heart stood still when I read the words “lemon” and “bars”; I immediately thought that you’ve already seen enough lemon bars around here, but I went on and read the recipe anyway. I’m so glad I did: these were not regular lemon bars. These were a match made in heaven of a chewy,

Makki Di Roti (Griddle Cooked Corn Bread)

A staple in Punjab, and often served with Sarso Da Saag, a popular curry made with mustard greens, these spicy flatbreads go well with any Indian dal. These breads are also gluten free if you make sure your corn flour does not contain any wheat. I served them with a Mixed Lentil Indian Dal for a nourishing and filling meal. The time spent in the kitchen is well worth the effort.

I adapted the method suggested by Raghavan Iyer. His 660 Curries cookbook is a treasure for sure. I've yet to try one of his recipes that did not impress me. Lots of traditional and unique ideas for legumes, breads, rice, vegetables, paneer, spice blends and condiments. Not strictly vegetarian, but no matter, as there are lots of tasty options for vegans and vegetarians alike. This book comes highly recommended from Lisa's Kitchen.

Makki Di Roti (Griddle Cooked Corn Bread)

2 cups of yellow corn flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt
2 inch piece of ginger, finely grated
8 green chilies, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 - 2/3 cup of warm water
a few tablespoons of ghee, melted butter, or oil

In a medium bowl, combine the corn flour and salt. Stir in the ginger and chilies. Gradually some of the warm water, stirring as you go. Add enough until the dough comes together. Knead the dough a few times on a floured board until you have a soft dough.

Divide the dough into 10 balls. Cover with plastic wrap to keep the dough moist.

To prepare for the cooking process, you will need a large sheet of aluminum foil folded in half. Also need is one large piece of waxed paper (roughly 12 inches wide) and another 11 sheets, roughly 8 inches wide.

Take a ball of the dough and transfer it to the large piece of waxed paper. Depending on how moist the dough is, you may wish to sprinkle a bit of flour on the sheet. Roll out with a lightly floured rolling pin or stretch the dough out with your hands until it is shaped into a 4 inch round. Gently peel the round off of the waxed paper and transfer to a small piece of waxed paper and cover it with a second sheet. You may want to use a flipper so as not to break up the round. Repeat this process with the rest of the dough.

Brush a small non-stick pan with some ghee, butter or oil and preheat over medium heat. When hot, transfer one of the rounds to the pan, Cook until lightly browned, (roughly 3 - 4 minutes), flip and cook the other side for a few minutes. Flip again, brush with a bit more butter, flip again and then transfer the cooked roti to the folded sheet of foil. Continue until all of the rotis are cooked, brushing the pan with more butter as necessary. Keep warm in a 150 degree oven if desired, though they will keep warm in the foil for a good while.

Yields 10 rotis

More Indian flatbreads from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Paratha with Sweet Potato and Potato Filling
Besan Roti
Savory Rice and Urad Dal Pancakes
Savoury Rice and Split Pea Pancakes with Buttery Green Beans and Tomato-Cilantro Sauce

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio Accompaniment: Shutov Assembly by Brian Eno

Texas sheet cake

Grandma-style-cake again – but this time, there’s chocolate involved. ;)

I needed a large cake – the idea was to share it with 12 of my coworkers – and the Texas sheet cake recipe I found at "Bon Appétit Desserts" seemed perfect [yes, I am obsessed with this book, and I know how understanding you all are]. ;)

Both the cake and the icing were delicious and were wonderful together – a day after

Flourless peanut butter and chocolate chip cookies

Flour – an ingredient always present in my pantry, essential for someone who loves baking like I do. But sometimes we can go on perfectly well without it and it’s not necessary at all – like Renée Zellweger in “Cold Mountain”. :)

My peanut butter cookie recipe hunt started with this amazing book, but I was really after a flourless version, which I found on Epicurious.
The cookies turned out

Creamy Potato and Green Bean Salad

Salads are a frequent addition to my table, no matter the time of year. Though soups are much preferred during the winter months, potato salads are always a comfort food, even if there is a few feet of snow building up outside. Thankfully, most of the snow has melted and the temperature is gradually creeping up into double digits. Serve this hearty salad with your favorite legume soup for an extra dose of nutrients and warmth. Add some biscuits into the mix and your tummy will thank you.

Creamy Potato and Green Bean Salad

Salad:

2 lbs. new potatoes, scrubbed and chopped
1/2 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed and chopped
1 celery stalk, diced
1 large radish, diced
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
2 green onions, sliced
large handful fresh parsley, chopped

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
fresh ground black pepper

Garnish (optional):

1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

Using a steamer, steam the potatoes for 12 minutes or until just tender. Add the green beans and steam for 5 more minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Place the potatoes and green beans in a large mixing bowl and add the celery, radish, jalapeño, green onion and parsley. Whisk together the dressing ingredients, pour over the salad, and gently toss to coat the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Serve cold, with olives scattered over if using.

Serves 6 to 8.

Other potato salads you may enjoy:
Mexican-Style Potato Salad With Avocado and Jalapeño
Potato Radish Salad
Warm Baby Potato and Asparagus Salad

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio Accompaniment: laundry

Lemon molasses marble cake - a cake with a workout

This cake was the first recipe I tried from this book, which is full of amazing recipes and perfect for a sweet tooth like me; lemon cake, no surprise there, but the idea of marbling it with a molasses cake sounded too good not to try.

Indeed the flavor combo is delicious and the cake is very tender; do not be put off by the different steps of preparation – think of them as a great workout,

Poppy Seed Muffins

When the weather is cold outside, what better way to warm up then to bake? These savory muffins are very easy to prepare and simply delightful with some butter. My photos here do not do these muffins justice. Serve for breakfast, as a light lunch or along with dinner in place of rolls. Peace can be found in the kitchen and your tummy won't mind at all. I made these for my darling father-in-law as I certainly enjoy treating him to homemade treats. Light a candle and enjoy.

Poppy Seed Muffins

1 cup of whole milk
1/2 cup of poppy seeds

1/4 cup of butter, softened
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

2 cups of unbleached white flour
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Grease 10 muffin cups.

In a small bowl, combine the milk and poppy seeds. Let sit for 10 - 15 minutes.

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and egg. Stir in the vanilla and poppy seed / milk mixture.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center of the ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Stir with a spatula until just combined.

Divide the mixture evenly into the prepared muffin tins and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes until nicely browned.

Makes 10 muffins

More quick breads from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Buttermilk Cheddar Biscuits
Mixed Berry Cornmeal Muffins
Blueberry Goat Cheese Muffins
Jalapeno Cheddar Scones

On the top of the reading stack: The Well by Sinclair Ross

Audio Accompaniment: Putumayo Presents Yoga

Peaches and cream ice pops - updated

My summer issue of the DH mag has finally arrived, but unfortunately summer is already gone. I could not resist the ice pops spread, though – each and every flavor looked so good I would have to make at least one. :)
My initial idea was making the raspberry yogurt popsicles, but I’d used my raspberries in other recipes. Luckily I still had a couple of peaches – the last ones of the season – and

Mixed Lentil Indian Dal

Spicy, nourishing, easy to prepare and a treat to the palate, this mixed dal recipe, inspired by 660 Curries - one of my favorite Indian cookbooks that I often rave about - goes so well with rice and flatbreads. My dinner guests raved about the combination of this dal served over jasmine rice, and when they requested a second helping some hours later, they also delighted in a homemade roti that is popular in Punjab. I will be sharing the roti recipe with my readers soon.

Any combination of dal can be used in this dish and if I had not been out of toor dal, I would have included that too. Toss in some finely diced carrots with the dal or any other vegetable if desired.

Mixed Lentil Indian Dal

1/2 cup of urad dal, without skins
1/4 cup of split mung dal
1/4 cup of green lentils
1/4 cup of chana dal or yellow split peas
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
4 green chilies, seeded and finely chopped
2 inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated
2 tablespoons of ghee, butter, or oil
2 teaspoons of cumin seeds
small handful of dried curry leaves or a 2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon of asafetida
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons of chopped parsley or cilantro for garnishing

Rinse the dal in a strainer, making sure to remove any debris. Transfer to a medium-large saucepan, along with 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, add the salt, turmeric, chilies and ginger, reduce the heat to medium low and cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until the legumes are tender - roughly 30 minutes.

Puree a portion of the cooked dal in a blender or with an immersion blender. If using a blender, transfer the puree back to the pot.

In a small frying pan, heat the ghee, butter or oil over medium heat. When hot, add the cumin seeds and stir and fry for a minute. Add the asafetida, curry leaves (or bay leaves) and cayenne. Stir and remove from the heat. Transfer to the cooked dal, stir and let sit covered, for five minutes.

Garnish with fresh herbs and serve hot.

Yields 4 servings, along with rice.

More Indian Lentil dishes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you are sure to enjoy:
Spicy Lentil Rasam
Spicy Green Lentils and Yellow Split Peas
Brown Lentils and Moong Dal in a Cashew-Almond Sauce
Savoury Rice and Urad Dal Pancakes

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio Accompaniment: Trentemøller

Rice pudding with rhubarb compote and homemade meringues

Another rhubarb recipe – please, bear with me. :)

The idea for this dessert came from "Jamie at Home" – he uses strawberries for it – the rice pudding is Sophie Dahl’s – have I told how much I love this book? :) – and the rhubarb compote and the meringues are the ones left from the mini pavlovas. Does that sound messy? I bet that not as messy as the dessert itself. Nor as delicious. ;)

I ate

Sweet Potato and Mushroom Quiche Cups

This is a meal suitable for a gathering of friends and family. My house guests raved about this slightly sweet yet spicy baked egg delight and had second helpings later in the evening. Easy to prepare, just fine for breakfast or alongside a meal that requires a bit of filling out. These custard cups are a good way to satisfy any egg craving. To add a bit of spice, include some finely chopped hot green chilies and a sprinkling of cayenne. You can easily craft them to appeal to the savory epicure, as well as the sweet.

Sweet Potato and Mushroom Quiche Cups

1 large sweet potato
1 1/4 cups of ricotta cheese
1/4 - 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 tablespoon of fresh basil
dash of nutmeg
6 large eggs, beaten
4 sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup of dried mushrooms

Grease 12 muffin tins.

Soak the sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms in a small bowl in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain, finely chop and set aside.

In a 425 degree oven, roast the sweet potato until fork tender. Let cool, peel and mash in a large bowl. Stir in the ricotta, Parmesan, salt and nutmeg. Now add the eggs, basil, sun-dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms.

Evenly distribute the mixture to the prepared muffin pan and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Half way through the cooking time, sprinkle some additional Parmesan cheese over each cup. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes or so and carefully remove.

More sweet potato recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Paratha with Sweet Potato and Potato Filling
Caribbean Sweet Potato Soup
Sweet Potato and Apricot Croquettes

On the top of the reading stack: Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya

Audio Accompaniment: relative silence

Brown sugar cake with mixed toffee nuts + a list of hints and tips

I’ve told you before how much I enjoy receiving your comments and emails, I really do - they have brightened some dark days I’ve had. Since some of those emails are packed with questions and doubts I thought a list of hints and tips would be useful – and I’ve added one to the blog menu now.

I don’t mean to sound presumptuous, please – I still have a lot to learn and I do not have any