Vegan Chickpea Curry

Recently I've developed a plethora of food allergies/ intolerances. The doc doesn't know... anyway, this has driven me to be vegan, and gluten free, caffeine free and alcohol free (although I could have wine). I occasionally give into dairy and bread, but I pay for it sorely within hours. So really I never thought I would be on the vegan-gluten free band wagon, but here I am.

My choice to be a vegetarian was mien of course, but all this other stuff, no. I miss bread, and I miss yogurt.

My eating habits have changed, and it's been tough going out to eat. Everything, especially major chain restaurants only has meat, with cheese, and bread. After so many meals out does one want to order a bed of lettuce again with a few tomatoes.

Cooking has been awesome. It's interesting, and exercises the mind and heart. Also since I've been working out A LOT, I crave protein, however I need my balanced meals. In the past I'd go to chipotle and order carnitas with rice and what not. Now I have the joy of enjoying the veggie bowl (no fajita veggies- green pepper allergy). So a quick meal is usually brown rice, both beans, mild sauce, lettuce and guacamole. I was making this amazing garbanzo bean salad, but that got tedious and so I began eating plain chickpeas out of a can. 

However, eating out in general can get expensive, salads get old, and eating chickpeas out of a can, can get bland. Plus the art of cooking is so romantic in a way. So I came up with a recipe... or is it the inert Indian cooking genes in me?

Chickpea Curry Recipe

Ingredients:

1 can garbanzo beans (un-drained)

1 yellow/ sweet onion

1 - 2  cloves garlic (to taste)

1-2 vine tomatoes (or just any frikkin tomato)

1-2 teaspoons cumin seed

1/4th teaspoon turmeric powder

0.5 inch of grates ginger OR 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder

1/4th teaspoon chili powder/ paprika/ cayenne pepper (to taste)

1-2 dried chili peppers

1-2 tablespoons oil (vegetable/ olive)

1/3 cup water

10-15 minutes. Serves 2.

Directions:

1- dice the onion, tomato and garlic, and keep separately

2- heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat/ flame

3- add onions, garlic cumin to hot oil. wait till little golden

4. add tomatoes (beware the splatter)

5- let the tomatoes get a little mushy

6- add all other spices let heat a little longer 5-6 minutes

7- add garbanzo beans with water and let cook covered for a little bit.

8- add salt to your own taste. and a pinch of sugar!

Voila!

drape over some brown rice, or with naan, roti/tortilla, and enjoy.

Samosa Pie

It was my friend Mun's Annual Piefest. It's always in October, although my birthday would be perfect for Pies! Pies on pi day! I had to think of a pie to bring. I always like to make and bake my pie from scratch and try a new pie every time. Last year I took my delectable Beetroot Chocolate Cake Pie! Ok it's a cake but i called it a pie! This year I wanted to make an ethnic pie, its always a sweet European type pie or a baked dish or Chicken pot pie. Are there no pies in the Indian-Asian culture? What could be a pie? Naan pie? Samosa... Pie! Yes!

Ok so I googled and lo-behold there are a number of women who had addressed the "Samosa Pie" in the past. I mish-mashed recipes and I followed my inherent "Indian woman cooking instincts" and voila!

Samosa Pie:
What you will need:

• 3 -4 tbsp olive oil (healthier) or butter or ghee
• 1 onion, finely chopped (if you want, I leave it out cause Ryan doesn't do onions)
• 1 chili, finely chopped (if you like)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)/ roast chicken breast hand chopped and shredded / eliminate for veggie
• Approx 1 tbsp garam masala (or curry powder
• ½ tsp turmeric (Approx)
• salt, to your taste only
• 1½ lbs potato (about 2 medium russets), diced (instinct!)
• 1 - 2 cups water to boil the potatoes in
• 1 cup green peas, frozen or fresh
• minced cilantro Approx 3-4 tablespoons (this little plant is so powerful mmm)
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed (1/2 a 17-oz package) OR homemade single pie crust recipe (Pillsbury has pre-made baking crusts) 1 for top or 2 for base and then top. Will post the home made crust recipe in a different blog! :-P
• Tomatoes (drained of excess water).

What to do

Heat oil or butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onion, chillies, garlic, tomato (without the watery part) and sprinkle a bit of the other spices and cook until golden and caramelized, about 20 minutes.

Stir in ground chicken (if cooking chicken). If not then add garam masala, turmeric, little cumin, paprika, and salt (remember you will be adding salt to the potatoes as well, so split it a bit).

Boil the potatoes in water with little salt; stirring occasionally, about 20-25 minutes until potatoes are tender. Drain excess water. Add potatoes and peas into the chicken/ spice mixture. Wait 5 to ten minutes, check consistency. Taste, and adjust seasoning.

Place the dough as base if you wish. (the pie hold marvelously without the base too! (Just saying). Transfer filling part to a 8-9 inch baking pan. Sprinkle the cilantro on top before rolling out dough on the top. Cut a few steam vents.

Bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Ryan loves it! For the future I've thought of layering it with cheddar cheese, to mix it up!

My silly Vine video on it here!

YUMM!!!!!

Breathe!

Indian Tea Houses

Chai or Tea (commonly made with black tea, milk and spices), is a part of Indian culture, Bengali culture rather,  and diet, as much as rice is. Along with chai or chaa as Bengali's call it, we  have to have some snacks- whether it is chaat, singhara (commonly known as samosa), sweets (rasgola), marie biscuits or and biscuits (known as cookies in America). The biscuit might be a british thing, to dunk it in the tea and eat... mmm.

The Italians have their biscottis (delicious) with coffee, the French have their cafe au lait, the people in Westeros (fictional place in A Song of Ice and Fire) have their meads, ales, and Dornish wines...and the Brits and Indians have biscuits. Well maybe the Brits have tea and crumpets (hehehe!). We all have our drink and a side snack to comfort us at the end of the day. I love the tea and biscuits. I love dipping my biscuit in my tea! Personally I do not like it when the biscuit gets so soggy and breaks off and descend to the bottom of the cup, but some people like it. I do however enjoy the soggy biscuit with the subtle flavor of the tea. The chaa can be black, with or without sugar, with or without milk. It's up to you. If you're drinking it black, you can add some lemon... One thing you must have with tea is "Adda" in bengali that means "chat" or "gossip". Just a light, non-serious form of conversation.

In the west we do a type of "adda" over beer, or drinks. However in India or Bengal, chaa serves as the drink of choice for "adda". Its a social bonding experience, usually done at dusk, in the garden, some cozy spot, or the side of the road by the chaa-waalla (tea trader), or the maidan (field for sports). Did we get this culture from the Brits? or is it Bengali?

The point of the matter is, chaa is a ritual in Kolkata. after lunch, in the evenings before breakfast... In a way India has it's own tea-rituals. India has it's own Tea houses, although not as fancy as the Japanese Tea Houses. India's tea houses are rustic, and can be found in the cart on the road-side. It's truly an experience, and if not experienced an entertaining, and awesome sight to see.

India has been getting the reputation more and more of being the worst country or most dangerous country for women, it always has been. Recently more women are speaking up, and more people are standing up for women. So we are hearing more and more of the horrors. It's not recent, however it seems the violence against women is being aggravated further as more people stand up FOR women. There is many an argument against women and not to mention the sexually repressed nature of the culture, and conservative-ness, and what ever else. I recently came across this article on why and how a woman should travel India. Which is so well written. One line in particular struck me "One reason: No country will fascinate and frustrate you more." It's the small things, and not just in India, but every country. So look for the little tea stalls, and enjoy some chaa and biscuit. Forget starbucks, forget chai tea lattes and have the real thing... I sure miss it!

A chaa stand

The neighborhood chaa waala

There also maybe a chaa lady - Pic by Chirasree Charaborty

the chaa tastes best out of little earthen cups!

You Are What You Eat

I have been studying Yoga for the past 7 months, and there have been a lot of things I've learned and changed in my life. I have changed too: increased patience, calm, understanding... Sometimes I do lapse into old self, but I am working hard to get to my "Ideal Self". That "Ideal Self" keeps changing, and the challenges increase, but I am growing, getting better, and it is full filling.

One of the things which has resurfaced through out my life is: to stop consuming my friends,(a reference from the original Doctor Dolittle musical with Rex Harrison), what most people would call vegetarianism. I was successful for a few years, during my childhood, after watching the butchering of a chicken. It didn't last though. I just don't want to be a part of that cycle of cruelty, and now a days it is the very heart of obesity and other diseases.

As intrigued and curious as I was as a child, I was very aware and in about 6th grade I was headstrong about studying Factory Farming. We are talking about 1995; and the information was very limited to child without internet and the resources available these days. However as I grew and information was available as the industry was slowly exposed, my suspicions were confirmed. How we treat our or other animals defines us as a culture as a species. We are monsters.

Today I stumbled upon this video. It's only 6 minutes long. I don't want to brainwash anyone, eat whatever you want, but be AWARE. I was sitting on the fence for a long time now, and with my whole plan to be more active, healthy and eat healthy, my decision has been made. I will be vegetarian until and unless the event comes to pass, that there is no more vegetarian food and I must scavenge and hunt (ie. a survivalist scenario) for food, I shall. For instance if I go back country backpacking with Ryan, and we get so lost, and don't have food, I will eat and do what needs be done for survival. For now, I quit.

I have always been a lover of animals, being such an empath, as it is how could it be avoided. I was so fond of the original Doctor Dolittle with Rex Harrison, where he spoke to animals and rationalized, do we eat our friends? The book was written in the times when people were becoming aware of Animal Cruelty, same as Black Beauty. I wanted to grow up and work on the Rainbow Warrior, joining Green Peace, PETA etc. And then they went and did some extremist things, and I had to evaluate how I felt about the entire thing. I love animals, but I did not condone their actions. I had to weave my own path. My compassion extended to humans too, so I had to see an all encompassing view of animals and humans. I felt geography and planning was a good option, sadly it's hard to find a job in urban planning where I am. Plus building, planning often is not approached with the perspective of animals and their habitats, but more so politics, economic gain etc. No wonder the PETA people go batty!

That's my decision. I am sorry if the video is shocking, but it is eye opening, and goes full circle. Also in light of the obesity and health care issues in USA, and ALL over the world, we must be even more vigilant, active, aware, and mindful. Next time you order your food think about where it came from. Factory farming... makes me want to go to the farmer's market, but oh the prices. Sometimes it's so hard living in Ohio, the options of places to eat are not enough, especially for vegetarians... but THESE are all excuses for not living healthy, eating healthy, and being mindful and aware. We need to unlearn, unwork and undo these unhealthy lifestyles we've created. Let's make the change!

Like Animals - Doctor Dolittle -1967 - click for more information about the movie
I do not understand the human race.
It has so little love for creatures with a different face.
Treating animals like people is no madness or disgrace.
I do not understand the human race.

I wonder why do we treat animals like animals?
Animals treat us so very well.
The devoted ways they serve us and protect us when we’re nervous –
Oh, they really don’t deserve us, all we give them is hell!

Tell me how else man repays them, do we ever think to praise them?
No we don’t, and this dismays them, you can tell.
They're riddled with ingratitude, we give no love or latitude,
In every way our attitude is, well, like animals.

Why do we treat animals like animals?
How can people be so inhumane?
Cows and chickens work to feed us, dog and horses show they need us
And though cats don’t always heed us, their affection is plain.

What do we do?
We neglect them; we do nothing to protect them;
We reject them, don’t expect them to complain.
We ignore them or we beat them; when we’re hungry, then we eat them.
It’s appalling how we treat them, it’s insane!
Like animals!

We humiliate and murder and confine them.
We create their wretched status, then we use it to malign them.
I mean, why should we say, “preening like a dog”?
Why should we say, “working like a horse”?
Why should we say, “eating like a hog,”
When what we mean is “eating like a man”?!
Don’t we? Of course!

A man of ill repute is called a “weasel” or a “rat,”
A woman you dislike becomes a “vixen” or a “cat.”
A family that is blessed with healthy reproductive habits
Occasions the remark, “Well you know them, they breed like rabbits”!

“He’s as stubborn as a mule!”
“He’s as stupid as an ox”
“He’s as slimy as a snake!”
“He’s as crafty as a fox!”
Remarks like that really get my goat!

Why don’t we say, “noble as a frog”?
Or, why can’t we say, “wealthy as a hen”?
True, we say, “devoted as a dog.”
What we should say is: “chic as a giraffe,” “pretty as a pig, eh?”
That’ll be the big day, won’t it?
But when? But when?!

When will we stop treating them like animals?
Is the human race entirely mad?
Women see a baby goatskin, or a lambskin, or a stoatskin!
And to them it’s just a coatskin –
Oh, it’s terribly sad!

When you dress in suede or leather, or some fancy fur or feather,
Do you stop and wonder whether, for a fad, you have killed some beast or other?
And you’re wearing someone’s brother,
Or perhaps it’s someone’s mother in which you’re clad!

Like animals, like animals, like … animals.
Well, it’s true, we do not live in a zoo.
But man is an animal too.
So why can’t you, like me,
Like animals … animals.



The Vegetarian - Doctor Dolittle -1967   - click for more information about the book

The day that I became a veterinarian
I had a sudden overwhelming wish,
To be a pure and simple vegetarian
And give up eating all that meat and fish.

So now I live on healthy food instead
Like apples cores,
And Parsnip juice
And chunks of plain brown bread.

When I see my fellow men
Consuming sirloin steak,
And I find myself enjoying tea and dundee cake,
There is really only one conclusion I can make
I'm a devoted vegetarian.

When my host at dinner offers
Succulent roast beef,
Proudly I refuse it. People stare in disbelief,
Lost in admiration as I nibble on a leaf,
A very noted vegetarian.

I don't even eat horseradish, in case I upset the horses.

I stay away from deviled ham on principle,
I wouldn't eat roast duckling if I could,
Will power has made me invincible!...
My word, those sausages do look good.

Turnip pie and peanuts-
That's the sort of filth I eat,
Any sort of rubbish
That is wholesome and discrete
Why don't I admit that my hypocrisy's complete?!
If I should live to be a centenarian,
Become our most adored humanitarian?
I'll never make a decent vegetarian-
I'm a cheat
I love meat,
I'm a cheat
Yes I am!
I love red bloodied juicy chunks of meat
Legs of lamb!
Sides of beef 'n' chops 'n' steak 'n' veal
And pork of course - my favorite meal!

And then I hear poor Gubgub squeal!
Oh me, Oh my,
A reluctant, but sincere vegetarian,
Am I.





Breathe

Be Aware

Live And Let Live.

Siblings

Animals are beautiful people too

Action shot! We love to play too! and take jump shots! (thanks to the people who share these lovely pictures online)

We can be friends!

No words for this one... the cuteness has stunned me!

Even cuter... how can I ever think of...

Ahimsa yawl Ahimsa!

Mommy turkey and baby turkey!

turkeys are cute too!

Baby cows cast spell with their big innocent eyes! How can we...?!

The egg came first I tell you!

We are friends, why can't you be my friend too?

Yep they definitely want to be friends and not food!

LOVE and Happiness

cuteness... siblings...

good grief adorable

Children and parents

my childhood friend...

Ohio to Delhi and Madras Coffee to Mocha Latte

Recently my father traveled all over (again) for work, luckily I was left out of the hectic schedule. Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta, Thailand, Malaysia, Thailand, China (and various cities within china), back to Thailand... eventually India. I had to be here at the mothership and send shipments out to reach to those destinations which coincided with their trip for various trials. I digress, but the minute he lands, he finds the lounge for frequent travelers, finds his tea, and starts working. Yeah that's his life. HE sends the entire family this email- My grandad (whom he calls Baba- father), my mom, my uncle Danny, my sister, and who knows who else!

This is his little story... its an ungodly hour at Delhi international airport, he is waiting for his connecting flight to Chennai, and ofcourse it's morning here in USA.

Baba: I just called you, but NO ANSWER !! That means you are in Sangeeta’s home or ghure berachhen ! Roddure soreer kharap hobe.  (Means you are in Sangeeta's house or out wandering somewhere! You will get ill wandering around in the hot sun.)

I am in Delhi airport,

         First had a cup of coffee ! There are 4 coffee shops, but none had MADRAS COFFEE. I asked they said even though they are using coffee beans from Madras, but they must use “Foren names” like Latte, capachino and charge high for attracting clients !
       So, I said “Desi khotom, and Foren ka jamana” –  no place for Gandhiji ! (which means the Indian stuff is over/ended/gone, now it's time for foreign culture/"things" to invade and make money.)

This next part is other stories he has to tell about from the flight...

Some stories from the United flight –

     Good news: flight landed at 8 pm. I was out after customs clearance by 8-20 PM. That is 20 minutes from the Flight to out side after Immigration and customs. That is an “WOW” achievement of efficiency, my walking as well as the airport authorities.

      My row companion, kept his Bag under the center seat (that was empty), did not even make attempt to put above in the storage area. Then I saw he has only one arm !! I said “Sorry” to him for not knowing it before. As it was right arm that is lost, and he was sitting to my right.

I learned – he is “IT specialist for auditing Financial irregularities”. An intelligent young man from Simla, but works from Delhi for a large US based IT company with 300 global offices.

     In front  Row, I had 3 elderly ladies – all wheel chaired. One lady had her Row-companion – a High school grad US girl student, quite tall. Going to Mussourie for college study. Getting very popular amongst US people. This girl impressed every one from start. She was (so naturally & spontaneously) helping two elderly ladies seating in her row, even though these ladies had other Indian people seating in same row. The air-hostess called her the “Angel”.

     There was an old Sardarji couple just behind me – Before departure I spoke to Indira and Pillu in Bangla. Suddenly, this sardarji started talking to me in Bangla. He stayed in Kolkata for 30 years. Now he has green card, and stays with his son in Kansas city for about 5 months in a year.

    Now, I finished my second coffee cup along with two Samosa ( elephant size). This is also Madras Beans but with a “Foren” name.

So there is room for you to start “Swadeshi of gandhiji” movement or you can continue easily with your “Bilati culture”.

I will take morning flight to Chennai, then I come to Kolkata in the evening of 26^th.

Pronam to you and ma

Ashish

(note: I did a lot of work, and now trying to kill my time).

Another email regarding the coffee shop:

Babi,

I am still at Delhi airport. It is 1-40 am, I am having fun in killing my time with you in a productive way.

Now, you know – I can do things for you from any where  and at any time !!! Example,  in India from a coffee shop, around at mid night !! Correct ?

It is full of life here , with fresh dosa, rice, chart, Tea, coffee being made and served …

Body is getting tired, as sitting since yesterday.

Well used to it.

Love.. Babi

My sister replies:

Aha! I bet that's the same coffee shop Chris and I ate at in New Delhi when we first arrived!! 



His next email after multiple replies from Danny, my sis and I:

Now comes the foren English I learned in America, my new Home, and I am an Amrican citizen !!

Ø  I see nothin !
Ø  I don’t see “nothin”
Ø  I cannot do “Nothin’!”
Ø  Are you doin somethin ?

The class is closed now for the day. You will learn more from me as we do more classes.

Love  to you all.

Indian Dinner With Friends and Birthdays

My friend Marina is returning to Russia, so I wanted to see her one last time, so I organized another Indian Dinner outing to the restaurant "Cafe Tandoor". About 21 people showed up. There were a few birthdays that week, so we decided to celebrate it that day. They didn't know so it was a surprise!

My friend Marina smack in the center!

We wish Marina much luck for her future, and we will miss her, however she better be ready for some visitors!

Everyone had a great time, ate heartily, and the birthday people were much surprised! The cake was yummy!

Breathe!

Indian Dinners in Ohio

Cleveland isn't like Chicago, New York, LA, San Fransisco, Austen, Atlanta, Boston... It's one of those quarter-way-there "big" cities. There are a handful of Ethnic Restaurants scattered all across Northeast Ohio, and people aren't exposed to much here compared to NYC. The minorities are minorities, so there isn't much exposure to other cultures, foods, lifestyles, clothes, other than on TV.

A few years ago a 7 year old told me, "I'm sorry you will never be beautiful". This was because she had only ONE idea of beauty which was her "barbie doll"  and Hanna Montana. Sad, I know. When I lived in Michigan (I will leave the city unnamed to not embarrass the fold), people asked me things like "Do you have Elephants as pets in India?" "How do you go to school?" "Is there electricity there?" "Have you ever been to a huge city like Chicago, or even _____ (City Name in Michigan)?"

Some may call this ignorance, I think it's lack of exposure. Most of these people were fairly young too, some were older, having seen a couple of wars, yet didn't know things. Anyway I think people in general are sometime scared to try new things especially if its something they weren't taught to do since childhood. My mom always told us to try everything and she made us like it - we had NO OPTION. So we grew up to be open to everything, and see things from different perspectives.

Here I am in Cleveland, and trying to make best of what diversity is at my disposal, the college campuses are always thriving with diversity, however not the main walks of life, especially not the suburbs (depending on which suburb). A few of my friends from my group of climbing friends asked me what was a good Indian restaurant in these parts. Having the best Indian food served to me at home by my mom, I really don't eat Indian food at restaurants. So I decided to take a tour of Indian restaurants 1-2 times a month all across North East Ohio, maybe even near Columbus, to help friends get comfortable ordering, understanding and eating Indian foods.

Most of the popular Indian food is Dhaba foods - the naans, the dahls, the paneer tikka masala, tandoori, biryani, etc. There is one or two South Indian restaurants, a chaat restaurant, and ok zero bengali, gujarati, etc. restaurants. It's all Delhi/ North Indian food! Anyway it's still yummy, and full of butter and ghee :-P

In some ways authentic/ home made Indian food is way healthier than what is served at restaurants, but it's still probably healthier than pizza, if eaten with roti and not butter naan. Indulge in the raita (yogurt salad eaten with rice), drink the lassi (refreshing milkshake), and taste lots of veggies in curries, the oxidizing spices. In school in Chennai (Southern India), we were always given the most healthiest Indian food to eat. All vegetarian lunch followed by fruit, a snack (egg-less cookie/ biscuit) and fresh lime juice in the morning, and another snack and milk in the evening (ugh the milk was gross though fresh). Lime rice, tamarind rice, pongal rice, bisibela baath (don't ask me to explain that one), sambar rice, rasam rice... Rasam - the best soup ever, it can cure you of any cold!

My home made dal (lentils)! it's actually really good! and healthy!

Masala dosa and coconut chutney

Although the food my friends get to taste is but a small fraction of the foods available in India, it's better than being oblivious to it! I wish I had an elephant to ride to school as a kid, that would have been a tale! Now atleast it is but a Tall-Tale!


Breathe!

Upma, ginger chicken, butter chicken and guacamole (I like to mix it up)

Mother and Daughter Cooking Lessons

I've been spending time with my mother these few days, to keep her company, eat healthy, and relax.
So we are sitting there watching her television shows, and the phone rings.Since it's closer to me I answer it, after seeing that it is my sister calling in the caller ID. I am a punk so I answer in my dad's voice ...
Sis- ded give it to ma
Me- how did you know it was me?
Sis- give it to ma I need to talk to her its urgent.
Me- like an emergency?
Sis- yeah.
Me- she's indisposed at the mo. You can ask me I can be your stand in mother-sister
Sis- no I need her!!!!
 
Worried that it is something serious... like "girl problems" or something, I give the phone to my mom. A long conversation ensues on how my sister is trying to make my mom's delicious cauliflower curry, and my mom giving her instructions while she does it.

15 minutes later still listening to the these two banter. My mom is seriously giving my sis a step by step on the phone cooking lesson, as we hear dishes clang and clash in the background. My mom tells her to heat some oil in the frying pan, and in the mean time get the spices ready, and dice up an onion. Also she must set the potatoes to cook separately, and since she has no pressure cooker, she must boil it. 

My mom tells sis - add 3/4 panch pharang, jeere, and diced onion to the hot oil in the frying pan...
Sis - umm this is a little scary (as the oil splatters a little) 
Mom- ... after lowering the heat of the oil.
Mom - this is such a simple and easy recipe, you can't go wrong with it.
Sis - none of this is easy!
Mom - check to see if the potatoes are cooked simultaneously
Sis- they look done...
Mom- no you need to prick it... don't just "look" at it!
Me- stab it you need to staaaaaab it! (I say in the background, with a stabbing motion).
Mom- (bursts out laughing) You two are too cute, well you are a little insane (pointing at me, and she resumes instructing my sis.


Eventually my sister completes the food, but realizes there's nothing to eat it with ie. Indian food is usually eaten with rice/ roti  or naan (types of Indian Bread). She has no rice, but she does have couscous and quinoa. My mom says either is acceptable. She prepares it and sends us a picture and boy does it look yummy!







Breathe

Chicken Butter Masala

Chicken Butter Masala (Spice)

Servings: makes 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 cloves
• 2 cardamon (crush before adding)
• 1 thingy of garlic chopped finely
• 1 inch of fresh ginger grated
• 1 teaspoon cumin, toasted and ground (Ryan is a cumin fiend. extra cumin so I added 1 tablespoon whole cumin) - Indian store also called Jeera
• 1 teaspoon coriander, toasted and ground - Indian Store also called Dhania
• 1/2 an onion
• 2 cups tomato (freshly diced)
• 3 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste (Or 1-2 whole dried chilli can be got in any ethnic store)
• 3-4 chicken breast cut into bite sized cubes (I like to use the antibiotic/ hormone free chicken which don't have ridiculously abnormal sized breasts)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves - Indian store also called Methi
• 2 tablespoons cashew or almond butter (optional - I couldn't find this)
• 1/2 -1 cup non-fat plain yogurt (this was instead of heavy cream to make it more healthy)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala - Indian store (or I shall post a different recipe on how to make your own, my mom makes her own, and I borrowed some of hers)
• salt to taste
• butter (optional for garnish)
• cilantro (optional for garnish), chopped

Directions

1. Marinate the chicken cubes in the garam masala, honey, fenugreek, almond butter and yogurt, for an 10 minutes to an hour (if you have time at hand, I just did 10 minutes and it was fine).
2. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat.
3. Add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, ginger, garlic, cumin and coriander and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
4. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and cayenne, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce starts to thicken, about 10-15 minutes.
5. Add the chicken, honey, fenugreek, almond butter and yogurt and simmer for another 10-15 minutes.
6. Add salt to taste and remove from heat.
7. Serve over basmati rice garnished with butter and cilantro. Also good with naan, puri, roti etc.

Ginger Pork

Last night I was lonely, and bored, so I cooked Ginger Pork, although I couldn't eat it because I am still on the master cleanse. But it turned out great I shall feast on it tomorrow.

Ingredients:
2 inches fresh ginger (grated)
2 clove garlic (grated)
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sake
1 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 pound thinly sliced pork (or beef, etc)
1 green onion (chopped)
2 tomatoes (chopped)
1 tablespoon Cumin (because Ryan loves cumin and can not get enough of it, also optional)
sesame seeds to taste (optional)

Directions:
1. Mix the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sake in a bowl.
2. Marinate the pork in the mixture for 20 minutes.
3. Heat the oil in a pan.
4. Put the onions, tomatoes, and Cumin in for about 10 minutes while the pork is still marinating.
5. Add the pork and the marinade and saute until the pork is cooked and the marinade has reduced to a sauce.

Ready! Now pair with rice or naan! :-P