Wednesday, March 26, 2014

alu gobhi

pronunciation key
ah-loo go-bee
etymology
Hindi

alternative spelling
aloo gobi
 a dry Indian dish
made with 
potato
cauliflower
spices

I heard all about it
while tuning in to
the Cooking Channel's
How to Live to 100

host



Jason Wrobel
who with goofy style and wit
had me craving cauliflower
for its flavor
 texture
and
health benefits

by chance
I stumbled onto this program
and quickly tried to write down
the recipes
let me tell ya
these are my kind of recipes
I was so excited!
admittedly slow on the uptake

turns out
this is a whole food
plant based program
although not labelled as such
it is...

trust me.

Way to go Cooking Channel!


There were so many 
great recipes
but since I had everything on hand
to make alu gobhi
aloo gobi it is
or
was
and here it is
for you

Alu Gobhi

Recipe courtesy of Bhojanic
Total Time:
1 hr 5 min
Prep:
30 min
|
Inactive Prep:
--
|
Cook:
35 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons coconut oil (any oil with a high smoke point will do)
  • 1 tablespoon whole cumin seeds
  • 2 tablespoons tomato puree
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 3 teaspoons salt
  • 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into 2-inch florets
  • 2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 to 4 pinches cayenne
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the cumin. As soon as the seeds begin to pop, stir in the tomato puree and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the potatoes and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, until the outer layer of the potato is cooked, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the cauliflower, ginger, coriander, turmeric, cayenne and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and stir it all together without damaging the florets. Cover and cook until the cauliflower is tender, 15 to 20 minutes, adding 1/2 cup of the cilantro during the final minutes of cooking. Serve garnished with the remaining 1/2 cup cilantro.


I served it
right along side  
brown basmati rice

there was heat


tentative with the cayenne
at 2 teaspoons


I don't consider myself
a spice wimp
I boldly add jalapenos
to my sub sandwiches
but 
oh me
oh my oh
dis had my nose running


next time
I will enjoy it
at a 1 alarm temp...
1 teaspoon
maybe starting at 1/2 and building
from there.

Either way
this was worth sharing
and I hope you enjoy.

Check out your local listing
and check out
How to live to 100

as Martha says...
it's a good thing.
as Julia would say...
bon appetit!

Wishing Jason Wrobel much luck
for he has some
large
high heels 
to fill!

Monday, March 24, 2014

big plans

brought down
to size


because 
as much as I would
love
the kitchen from
Practical Magic
It's Complicated
Father of the Bride
it ain't happening 
right now

it's all about
b-a-l-a-n-c-e
and in this case that would be
a balancing of finances
a balancing of 
wants
because
Spring dreaming
has grabbed 
hold


and I am hoping
to accomplish
something along this scale

with that in mind
we can 
make do
with what we have
indoors


rather than
a complete renovation
that quickly
got out of control
with words like
bump-out
bump-in
knock down
tossed around
I needed to re-calculate
re-calibrate

the next morning
after a good night of 
sensible sleep
we decided to
settle


not a bad thing

very
practical magic stuff
requiring
little more than
a brief relocation
of kitchen gadgets
and
a dose of old fashioned
elbow grease


and we are well on our way
to a cleaner
functioning 
kitchen
that won't require a big
reveal party

small changes
with
big impact
for the cook of the house
a-hem
that'd be me
with a long awaited farmhouse back splash
primed
and waiting for paint
sure
 that counter top
screams
80's
dusty rose


but
I choose to call it
retro
makes all the difference
don't ya think?
not to mention
it goes perfect
with my retro appliances

continuing 

patch ceiling and walls
(check)
finish-up with a fresh
coat of
paint

that's our new
improved
plan

until I can decide
if I really want painted cabinets
because
as much as i love
the clean 
bright
cheerful look
I'm not a huge fan of 
maintenance
and other than a good scrubbing
with 
Murphy's Oil Soap
each spring
 wood
requires
little attention
and that's my kind of kitchen
because there's 
a swimming pool
that won't
wait!


Friday, March 21, 2014

~this moment~

a celebration of
Spring


in 
living color

Finding joy
in 
everyday
moments

:)

Thursday, March 20, 2014

it's spring!

It's kind of an
unwritten rule
as a blogger
to post on
this oh
so very
special day


there was a part of me
that wanted to
write about our last day of winter
because
oh, what a winter
it was...
deserving of accolades and praise!

I took this picture one
week ago


here it is today


I know there are parts of the
country that were blessed
yes blessed!
with more snow last night
just this once
we were missed
and we are expecting to see 
50 degrees 
tomorrow

I do however 
take my obligations
as a blogger
very seriously
so today
in keeping with strict guidelines
I will focus on 
the happenings
that reassure
in the promise
of springs arrival


the sweetest little girl
on the planet
celebrates a birthday


snow boards
are collected and put in storage


a non-wearing polish girl
is compelled to buy
the palest of pinks


buds
appear
in response

the sky  
smiles down
bluer than ever


homemade cards with flowers
are displayed
and enjoyed
each time I reach for
my finger-less
 gloves


pretty pink
and new green
combine in a way
that make you
feel hopeful


even mom's sweet 
china string dispenser girl
adorned in a delicate calico dress
adds to the charm
of this corner
like a breath of fresh air


lemons
for fragrance
flavor
and color

happy yellow!


and when the juice is
blended with
confectioners sugar
something
magical happens

and the plate of Norah's Lemon-Lemon Cookies
(thank you, sweet-toothed Isa from PPK)
disappears quickly


since I am thanking...
thank you
Mom
for 


Meyer lemon
fragranced
kitchen hand soap

what a refreshing blast of
springtime
each time I wash my garlic-y fingers

but nothing
no
NOTHING
speaks louder
of the vernal equinox
than


a back deck
free from snow
with access to the grill
and the consideration
of putting shovels
to rest

well...
that
AND

sprouts!

It's there if you look...
spring is sprouting
all around us.

Oh, Happy Day!

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

stirrings


closely linked to one's 
roots

this wasn't part of
the garden tour
at the art museum
but it spoke to me
as I was walking by
and asked to have its
picture taken


on St. Paddy's Day
chores were made joyful
with a Celtic
backdrop


pictures and music
that had me
trying my hand
well...feet
at river dancing

like no one was watching


images of Ireland
and Celtic crosses
seemed to surround
me


wearing mine
right along with
the green


and as it goes
the mind wanders
with a prayer in your heart
that touches the lips


and you find yourself standing
at the spot of another cross
that somehow bid you to 
come.

Stirrings 
that pull at you
draw you to them
and you just know
you must
listen.


Monday, March 17, 2014

roots

I have a saying
words of wisdom
if you will
that I claim ownership of


an observation from
living
life
You cannot travel far from the
way you were 
raised

Oh
I know there are times
you  may want to break free of it
but 
in the end
somehow
you always 
return 
home.

Even where food is concerned.
Comfort foods.
The stuff that mom always
made



closely linked to one's
nationality

As a kid 
whenever I was asked this question
a sense of pride bubbled
as I recited

English, Irish, German, and Scottish.


And today
the Irish is coming out in me


along with green beer
and a bit of a brogue
my taste buds turn to
Jiggs dinners
Reuben sandwiches
and a pot of Irish Stew


with
potato biscuits
browning nicely


like the pot o' gold
at the end
of the rainbow


a special dish like this
is deserving of
a fancy
bowl

I can look at that bowl
and feel a wee bit of
departure from my roots
for
rather than beef there is
seitan and beans
a plant-based stew
made hearty and flavorful with
a good stout beer
which poured a plenty
in the days of ol'
back at the homestead

served alongside
corn on the cob?
that I couldn't pass up
when I spotted it at Costco
and 
for some strange reason
sounded like the perfect
accompaniment
to the stew
and then it hit me

the story of my birth

a hot August day
a day
that my mom
had her mom
making food to satisfy an
odd and unusual
craving 

Can you guess what it was?

Stew with Corn on the Cob
and no
I am not making this up!

The sad ending to this little tale...
mom went into labor
and was rushed to
the hospital
without
enjoying the wondrous meal
prepared for her.

But ah...
the story remains
it grows and transforms
and makes one wonder...
did the craving come from the 
mother
or the
babe?

This is the stuff
Irish folktale...
legends
are made of.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Now
go make some
mom food.

love ya
 mamai!
(that's Gaelic for mommy)
xo


Saturday, March 15, 2014

fast week


It felt like I went to bed 
Sunday night
and woke up
Saturday morning.

That kinda fast.

It all started when I bumped
into my brother
Tim
at the local grocery
and he began talking about 
the Snowy Owls
let me back up a bit to explain
that bird watching
is his newest passion
and he can't help himself
but every conversation
comes back to birds
I don't care if you're talking about
the fact that he has never
tried the
Starbucks at Kroger
gasp!
somehow it will remind him
of the Colombian cockatoo
or whatever...
it is so much fun to watch
and learn.
So
 when he invited
or did I
insinuate myself?
whatever!
to go on a hunt for
the Snowy Owl
before
they head north
I was all in
with James of course
so we could call it a field trip!


we saw the 
Horned Larks
American Kestrels
Red Tailed Hawks
Turkey Vultures


a critter or two


and there he is
the Snowy Owl
if you click on the pic
it will enlarge the image
good thing Tim was there
because I would have driven right on by
without noticing
it's like he has a
birdey (like Spidey) sense or something
and in a snap of his camera
he captured the moment
for James and myself
known as
a life bird
marking the first time
we viewed a Snowy Owl in his
natural habitat

so very cool

Thank you Tim for sharing
your passion
and those amazing pictures.

Then we got slammed
like the rest of the 
Midwest
by 
not just any snowstorm
but
I can't remember its name
maybe
Vulcan
or something
very scary like that!


sends shivers
up and down the spine.

But wait!
I skipped right over
field trip number 2
The Walk in the Garden
before 
Vulcan hit.


the sun was shining
people were out and about
in short sleeves no less!


beauty at 
every turn


there was a small sailboat race
planned
and I was able to capture
the colors of the sails
as they
danced on the breeze


then turning my camera
to sepia
I focused
my lens on the images
around me


yes

all the beautiful images...
he was a given


she was quite 
majestic
as well.

Ah yes
 it was a resplendent day
yet these are but mere photos
of the originals
as we walked
the Louvre's
Tuileries Garden


right here
in Toledo, Ohio


they allowed me to take 
these sans flash






Once I get started
it's hard to
reel me back in

which is why
Joe and James
were so very happy that
the museum
was about to close

I did manage a quick picture of
the Cloister



thanks to Sue and Mom
for joining us
next time 
we will make a full day of it
with lunch at 
The Beirut
and we will leave those brats
(I think its terrible when adults speak
of their kids in such a manner!)
at home!

Then scary storm Vulture hit


with a Level 3 shutdown
and cancellations of just about
everything
except
television watching!

Thank God!

Oh yeah,
throw in work
and a little girl turning 5
and
sister Mary coming into town...

like a whirlwind
I tell
ya.
Feeling a little breathless
as I sip my morning brew
and
peruse Isa'a cookbook
for my next
exotic food journey
from 
Milan to Minsk
(I know, I'm weird)


Leaving me dizzy
but then again,
depending on who you ask
that's the 
way I roll.

Enjoy your weekend
cuz i'm gonna!

:)