These days, Indian food is a significant part of our diet. So much so, that I buy spices in 8 oz and 16 oz quantities – not the average spice bottle. My cupboards are filled with large glass bottles (repurposed from other things) filled with cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, curry powder, chile powder, and mustard seeds. This week, I put them to the test on another favorite of mine: pumpkin.
Garlic: strength, health, protection, and flavor
Garlic has long been my favorite vegetable. I love it so much that, in college, I used to eat raw cloves. My roommate’s mother, a Taiwanese lady who rarely spoke to me when she visited, made a point to call me out on it one day. “You eat garlic like the Red Army. They’re strong, … Continued
Bael Fruit Tea Recipe + the Joys (and how-to’s) of Shopping at Ethnic Food Markets
The first time I walked into an Indian grocery store, I didn’t know coriander from my elbow. It took years of reading, being introduced to ethnic restaurants, and cooking experiments to build up familiarity and confidence with coriander and the multitude of other spices and flavors this world has to offer. Today, I not only … Continued
Sichuan Peppercorns and Nutmeg Make for Amazing Spiced-rubbed Roast Pork
OK, by now, you’re probably thinking, “enough travel photos already, Stormy! Let’s get back to the food.” Well, I have a recipe for you. It’s not my own. But it is pretty delicious and inspired by the Sichuan peppers I ran across in China. Sichuan peppers, if you haven’t had them, are an interesting experience. … Continued
Flavor Bible to the Rescue (AKA Awesome Broccoli Soup)
I teach a class called Friday Night Fridge Finds on ChefHangout.com. The premise behind it is that we – people in general – often wind up at the end of the week without much food in the fridge or motivation to cook, but we can still come up with a healthy, tasty, and easy-to-prepare meal. … Continued
Curried Cashew Salad
Oh boy. Some days, I just need food that satisfies ALL of my taste buds. Today was one of those days. With a handful of cashews, 8 pounds of apples, and some spinach and carrots that needed to be eaten, it sounded like the perfect time to make a curried cashew salad. This yummy dish can be made with chicken, tofu or tempeh.
Drinking Tea
I went to a movie with a friend this afternoon, and came home to an empty house. Something about the quiet and the somber skies made me stop for a minute. I needed warmth – the kind that a scarf and a space heater can’t provide. Becoming warm from the inside out, is a special kind of warmth. My choice for catalyzing it: hot tea.
