[VeganMoFo 2016] Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Recipe

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Tomato season is long gone here in California but I occasionally see a bag of small, cherry tomatoes here in the Farmer's Markets. Whenever I do, I eagerly grab a few. Most of the times, I eat them raw. I have a long commute to work so these serve as a handy, easy to carry snack to curb those 5 pm hunger pangs. But, this time around I put some extra effort to roast these beauties. I saw today's Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes recipe in Heidi Swanson's cookbook and instantly fell in love with its simplicity. You will be surprised on how little there is to do but by the end they are so flavorful that it is hard to stop nibbling on them. I ended munching an entire tray full of roasted tomatoes in one go and had to make an another batch to add to my favorite pasta and my weekly salad. Yumm-ee-dee-dum, I tell ya! 

[VeganMoFo 2016] Spinach and Green Onion Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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I am still in a state of shock after what happened yesterday. How did it happen? How could it happen? I am not an American to understand the nuances of the Electoral Collage system in detail but I do know that Hate Cannot Win! Sadly it did. Way back in July, Michael Moore predicted Trump's win and gave 5 reasons in plain simple english . I happen to read it today and yes, it made perfect sense, though it is too late now. Here's hoping the next 4 years will be remembered for growth, progress and spreading positivity instead of spewing hatred on each other.

Coming to today's recipe, the title says it all - Green Mashed Potatoes! I saw Mark Bittman make this dish with dandelion greens which I conveniently with some spinach and spring onions. Any kind of greens will work and do make this for upcoming Thanksgiving to surprise your family & friends. Bon Appetit. 

[VeganMoFo 2016] Zucchini Carpaccio Recipe

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Day 4 of ongoing VeganMoFo 2016 challenge is here and today I am about share a quick, no-cook Zucchini salad recipe I saw on NYT Cooking. I am also super kicked and doing a happy dance for another reason. Do you know the last time I posted FOUR recipes in a month was way back in 2015. Yep! it is always the case that I start off the month with best of intentions, slowly loose mojo and never share more than a recipe or two. Here's hoping at least this year (unlike 2014), I will successfully finish this VeganMoFo challenge. Read more and get this refreshingly easy recipe for Zucchini Carpaccio.

Sweet Corn and Black Bean Salad Recipe

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You wouldn't believe if I told you that these days I eagerly and often hungrily click on any recipe which has the words: easy | make-ahead | freezable. Balancing work and umpteen number of things I wish to do (like zentangle, reading) AND eating healthy food is becoming increasingly challenging. I stumbled upon today's recipe during one of those Google searches where I was looking for a healthy yet easy salad. 

[Recipe Redux] Zucchini Noodles With Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing Recipe

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Fresh zucchini noodles (zoodles) tossed with lightly sautéed corn, cherry tomatoes and in an easy avocdao-cilantro-lime-chilli dressing. A fun way to incorporate more veggies and also an healthier gluten-free alternative to our traditional noodles/spaghetti pasta.

Mujadara [Mujaddara] | Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions + Spiced Yogurt Recipe

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I forgot the count on how many times I wanted to try making Mujadara at home. All the cookbooks and blog posts I read had the same underlying theme - this dish is the essence of comfort food in the Middle Eastern cuisine. After making it at home, now I know why. There is this deep color and sweetness of caramelized onions tossed simply with rice & lentils, which makes a heady combination of flavors. Some recipes add cumin or allspice but for me just salt & pepper will do. To serve, it needs some heat and the spiced yogurt will provide the dish just enough kick along with some nice creaminess. I can go on and on, on easy it is to make and how this would make an amazing one-pot meal. I will stop here though because I want you to read and then make the recipe at home, to discover & know for yourself that what all I said here is absolutely true. :-)

[Recipe Redux] Tandoori Gobi | Oven-Roasted Cauliflower with Tandoori Masala

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Out of all the vegetables I like, Cauliflower is my most favorite. I sneakily add it to my pastas, stuff into my bread, simply fry it and even use it as a substitute for an authentic meat dish. Today's recipe 'Oven Roasted Cauliflower with Tandoori Masala' too is an adaptation of Melissa Clark's popular recipe which I already made it for the blog. When done right, I believe there is nothing that beats a humble cauliflower dish. So, when the awesome people at Recipe Redux gave 'Spring Cleaning' as a theme for this month, I raided my pantry for a condiment I hardly used before (Tandoori Masala, which I got in the goodie bag of IFBM 2014), grabbed a cauliflower (I always have one in my fridge), tossed everything with good olive oil and let the magic happen. Except for the few stirs in between while the veggies are roasting, there is not much to do for this dish. Yet, when served hot, it will amaze you on how incredibly flavorful it is. :-) 

Oven-Roasted Cauliflower with Tandoori Masala

[Game of Thrones Special Recipe] Harrenhal Vegetable Stew

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"Winter is coming"..

"A Lannister always pays his debts"..

"When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die"..

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As someone who got into a reading habit pretty late (in her 20's), fantasy genre never appealed to me much. I read Harry Potter in parts and never touched The Lord of the Rings!. My natural inclination is towards fiction with either lots of drama (The Notebook) or suspense (The Thirteenth Tale). My book choices are pretty predictable and never-out-of-the-box. Then 3 years ago, I accidentally stumbled upon George R. R Martin's Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice & Fire series). It was an intimidating set of books with 1000+ pages each and very hesitatingly I started reading on my e-reader. The story of GoT, set in medieval times is filled with swords, sex, gothic creatures and characters hungry for power - always. There are too many Houses to remember and worst of all, as soon as you start liking a(ny) character, the author invariably kills it. Ugh. Anyhow, soon I found myself drawn into this fantasy world to such an extent, that it was very hard to get out. Every chapter had a cliff hanger at the end and it was impossible to resist NOT to read the next one. 

Coming to today's recipe - Harrenhal Vegetable Stew, I have to say whether you are a fan of the show or not, it will appeal to all. Just cut the veggies in season, dump everything into a stock pot and let it simmer. Store the rest in refrigerator and enjoy during those crazy weeknight dinners. (If you were me, while watching an episode of GoT). :-)

[Quick Snacks] Crunchy Bagel Chips Recipe

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My breakfast on most of the weekdays is an everything bagel with either cream cheese or an omelette sandwiched in between. Just like in my house, am sure by the end of week, there are a few bagels, more than a day old - just lying around on many kitchen counter tops. They are usually semi-hardened, hard to chew and I just can't bring myself to throw them into the bin. Today's recipe Bagel Chips is one easy idea to turn them into flavorful, healthy snacks. They are unbelievably easy to make and in less 20 minutes you have a jar full of chips to munch on. Whip up a batch of these for your next potluck party and they're oh-so-perfect for scooping with your favorite dip!

[VeganMoFo 2014 Recipe] Crispy Hedgehog Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs

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There are few recipes that you know will be loved so much that you got to make them again and again! It's just that instinct I guess or the sheer simplicity. Today's dish Crispy Hedgehog Potatoes with Garlic and Herbs fits perfectly into such a category. Very similar to hassleback potatoes, this is one other fun way to roast potatoes. It hardly takes any effort for preparation and doesn't need much attention as most of the cooking is done in the oven. If you are short on time and need a quick appetizer for your next house or potluck party, look no further. Hedgehogging spuds is the way to go!

Penne with Harissa Roasted Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Carrot Strips and Capers

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Pasta Lovers, Rejoice. I think today's recipe will make your mouths water (just like mine) and urge you to go for a second serving. I was so mighty happy with the results that I just couldn't wait to share it with you all.

This spicy pasta was made for a long lost childhood friend, whom I was meeting after many years. It was pure fun to catch up what we had missed all this while and a foodie herself, the conversation inadvertently moved on to cuisines we tried, recipes (her latest find - Spaghetti carbonara with Quorn) and favorite restaurants in town etc etc. Out of the blue, she exclaims"Are you still a vegetarian?" quite surprised. Her expression was quite remarkable as if I have had survived through a huge tornedo. "Yes!" I replied firmly, quite annoyed at the stern objectivity of the question.

The tiff between the likes of vegetarians and non vegetarians is age old. The meat lovers wonder what do vegetarians eat and we wonder how can they simply relish food which involves butchering an innocent animal. So many times I have been asked politely and directly if I was a vegetarian by choice or did someone force me into it. I find that question very amusing as I never asked them the same question. It is just the way I am I say to avoid any further inquiries. If they really persist, irritated ofcourse I casually give the blog links of mine and a bunch of others to prove my point that we, vegetarians indeed eat delicious, healthy food with pleasure and relish them without any guilt. :-)

In the beginning of my post, I promised to share my pasta experiment of mine. Haven't I? Without further ranting about veg vs non-veg ( which can just go-on), let just dive into its details, so that you can make some too. Shall we?

Thanksgiving is around the corner. Probably you can make some harissa pasta for your vegetarian friends. The vegetables can be roasted well in advance and stored in refrigerator. On the day, all you have to do is cook pasta, toss these vegetables and capers in olive oil and Serve! Enjoy.

Penne with Harissa Roasted Cauliflower, Tomatoes, Carrot Strips and Capers

Make Time: 45 mins
Serves 3 to 4

Ingredients:

1/2 pound dried penne pasta (or any other pasta)
2 tbsp harissa paste
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
salt - to taste
1-2 tbsp of pickled capers, drained
1 cup cut cauliflower
2 red bell peppers, deseeded and cut into strips
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 carrot, peeled, cut into thin strips
chopped coriander leaves

Preparation:

In a small bowl, whisk together harissa paste, 1/4 cup of olive oil, salt and black pepper powder. Keep aside.

Preheat oven to 180 C or 400 F. On a baking sheet, spread cauliflower florets, bell peppers, carrot strips, chopped tomatoes and corainder leaves. Top with the harissa dressing and toss so that the veggies are evenly coated. Bake for about 25 to 30 mins until they lightly crispy.

Cook pasta in lots of salted boiling water as per package instructions or until al dente.

Heat few tbsp of olive oil in pan and toss together roasted veggies, capers with penne. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. If you want to increase the heat, optionally add little harissa to pasta. Cook for 4 to 5 mins. Serve and garnish with fresh herbs and cheese (if you wish to).

[Updated - 24th November 2103] - On a special request from my little sister, I made a few boxes of this pasta for her family. :-) Tried the same recipe with Farfalle (bow-tie pasta) as well (pic of the left) and it turned out great.

This is Recipe 64 added to 2013 Recipe Archive. Check out the rest of the recipes too.

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[VeganMoFo 2013] Spaghetti with Breadcrumbs, Garlic and Olive Oil

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Today's recipe, my friends is a winsome tribute for a lazy or super-busy days. Cooking pasta is the only time consuming part in this super simple delightful pasta dish. :-)

[VeganMoFo 2013] Brown Rice Ratatouille Salad Recipe

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Bonjour Septembre! 

VeganMoFo (Vegan Month of Food) is here finally. It's a challenge where hundreds of bloggers have pledged to write about and cook only Vegan recipes all month long, and I am one of them.

Indian Style Scrambled Egg (Masala Ande Ki Bhurji) Flatbread Pizza Recipe

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“Those pizzas I ate were for medicinal purposes.”  ~ Amy Neftzger

[Jar Recipes] Eggless Masala Buttermilk Dinner Rolls - Step By Step Recipe

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"Learn how to cook -- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun."  

~ Julia Child

[Jar Recipes] Vegan Carrot Potato Soup Recipe + [Snacks To Munch] Roasted Pinto Beans

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“I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”  ~ Mark Twain, "Tom Sawyer Abroad"

..my ideal travel companions..

Homemade Orecchiette with Roasted Tomato Sauce (Caribbean style Tomato Choka)

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Before you go ahead to read today's post, I would recommend have a look at yesterday's post - a step-by-step recipe on how to make fresh egg pasta. 

How to make Fresh Egg Pasta (Step-by-Step Recipe) + Orecchiette, the easy way

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“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.”  Federico Fellini

..and I wanted to make some of my own pasta for a really long time, though a box of dried penne, spaghetti or farfalle is a beloved staple in my pantry. I love them so much that every time I watch a food or travel-based show based on Italy, I imagine myself rolling out a sheet of dough and making long pasta ribbons out of it. Such was my craziness!

After reading quite a few blog posts on the internet and flipping through Mark Bittman's book - How to Cook Everything Vegetarian cover to cover, last weekend I ventured into the kitchen to make atleast two kinds of fresh pasta. By the end of the day I was super thrilled with the fantastic results. Here I am sharing the first batch of pasta I made - Orecchiette, the easy way.

Enjoy!

{Easy Summer Recipes} Roasted Beet Salad with Yogurt Dressing

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I am a great fan of the juicy, natural sweetness that beets tend to offer. And a drizzle of a super simple yogurt dressing on the top gives a nice summery, cool twist to my favorite vegetable. Now, that's what today's recipe - Roasted Beet Salad with Yogurt Dressing is all about - as easy as simply tossing the beets in an aluminum foil to roast along with a spice marinade, cutting into wedges and serve some dressing on the side. The recipe is adapted from Modern Spice by lovely Monica Bhide. I owned this copy for quite a while and like many others on my cookbook shelf, I didn't get a chance to cook from it. Until today!

A word of caution - the photographs tend to get messier by the end as I couldn't stop myself from tasting the the gorgeous salad. I hope you wouldn't mind. Its definitely one of the quickest photo shoots I ever did for any recipe. :-) Now, You got to see how greedily I ate right? The below photograph is the proof...

Enjoy and make some today!

 Roasted Beets neatly arranged with Yogurt Dressing in the middle

{Recipe} Roasted Beet Salad with Yogurt Dressing

Serves 3-4
Source: Modern Spice by Monica Bhide

Ingredients:

For the beets -

4 medium sized beets, different colors if possible, trimmed. [I used only red beets]
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
2 tbsp olive oil (original recipe suggests vegetable oil)
1 tbsp coriander powder
few curry leaves (my addition)

For the dressing -

3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 220 C or 425 F. Wash the beets and pat them dry.

2. In a bowl, combine black pepper, vegetable oil, salt, coriander powder and curry leaves. Drop the beets and coat them well.

3. Place the beets in aluminium foil and wrap them tightly into individual pouches. (The original recipe suggests to wrap the beets in a large piece of foil as a single layer). Also if you are using different coloured beets, wrap each color individually. Place them in a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until the beets are cooked thoroughly. The beets are cooked when they can be easily pierced with a knife.

I used the remaining marinade as a dip for my bread. It does taste yum with the coriander powder and curry leaves.

4. Take out the beets from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Remove from the foil and the skin should peel off very easily with fingers or a pairing knife. Gently scrape off any spice marinade on parts of beet. Cut them into wedges and arrange on a plate.

5. To make the dressing - Place all the ingredients listed for "dressing" above in bowl and whisk to combine. Add water if you wish to have a thinner consistency but donot add oil.

6. Spoon the dressing on the beets and Serve immediately.

Sometimes messy is so gooooooooooooood!

This is Recipe 25 added to my The 100 Recipe Challenge for Year 2013. Check out the rest of the recipes too!

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{Simple and Easy} Mario Batali's Tortilla Española | Spanish Omelette with Potatoes, Eggs and Spinach | Spanish Tortilla Recipe

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Everybody has a dream.

...and mine is to go on a trip to Europe one day. It is a continent with such diversity in terms of weather, people & their living, architecture and of course food. Just to mention a few, think of a french baguette, italian pasta, neapolitan pizza, polish pierogi or a spanish tapas. yumm! Isn't it. I wish to taste and savor each one of them!

On my bucket list is also to view the magnificent piazzas in Rome, drive through those rustic, country-side roads of Tuscany (Italy), experience a day shopping (if my wallet permits) in fashion capital Paris, catch a glimpse of Eiffel Tower with a stopover at The Louvre, hit the bars in london and end with a quiet Spanish meal with tons of paella and tortillas. The very thought of it is so exhilarating and brings happy thoughts into my mind & tummy.

Do you have a dream too? I would love to know all about it.

I am not sure if this dream of mine will become a reality in near future, so I made myself Mario Batali's Tortilla Española for lunch today. Its basically a spanish omelet with eggs, onions and potatoes. I added some spinach as well. This dish is so easy to put together and the end result is so satisfying and delicious. Not just breakfast, this tortilla can be served as a wholesome lunch, brunch, snack or dinner.

This is indeed the best of all omelets! :-)

Enjoy!

{Recipe} Tortilla Española | Spanish Omelette with Potatoes, Eggs and Spinach

Adapted from Mario Batali's Recipe on Food and Wine
Serves 2-3 

Ingredients:

3 eggs
2 potatoes, washed, peeled and thinly sliced
1 bunch of spinach, washed and chopped
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
salt and pepper - to taste
few red chilli flakes

Preparation:

1. Heat olive oil in a flat bottomed pan and saute onions until they are translucent. Spread potatoes as one layer. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally  until the potatoes and onion are tender but not browned, about 10-15 minutes.

2. Add chopped spinach and lightly season with salt & pepper.

3. In a bowl, lightly beat the eggs and add red chillie flakes, little salt and pepper.

4. Scrape the potato-onion-spinach mixture into the bowl and gently fold in everything.

5. Preheat oven to 180 C or 350 F. Grease a baking pan with some olive oil and evenly spread the egg mixture. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes until the tortilla is set and eggs are completely cooked.

Transfer the spanish omelet onto a plate and cut into wedges. Serve alongside with some bread, ketchup, any spread or enjoy as-is.

Note: The tortilla can stand at room temperature for 3 hours before serving.

This is Recipe 15 added to my 2013 Recipe Archive. Check out the rest of the recipes too!

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