From the Ottolenghi cookbook - awesomely insightful recipe : Very unusual combinations, but they all make a lot of sense when you eat it. And we made it on the stovetop too - no oven hassle either.
I'll save the typing effort by just linking to : http://gourmettraveller.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/ottolenghi-baked-eggs/
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Jamie Oliver's Caponata
Made this caponata earlier this week - also from "Jamie's Italy" - see a trend ?
https://www.jamieoliver.com/us/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/incredible-sicilian-aubergine-stew-capon_1
It was really good, though a good bit of work for the delivered quantity, and probably dominated by the Pasta Alla Norma recipe as a use for eggplant. Recording it anyway.
https://www.jamieoliver.com/us/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/incredible-sicilian-aubergine-stew-capon_1
It was really good, though a good bit of work for the delivered quantity, and probably dominated by the Pasta Alla Norma recipe as a use for eggplant. Recording it anyway.
Jamie Oliver's Pasta Alla Norma
We made this recipe from Jamie's cookbook for the 2nd time today, and it is really good.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pasta-alla-Norma-240254
One of the best uses possible for Eggplant.
Very Sicilian, not that I know what scilian really is :)
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pasta-alla-Norma-240254
One of the best uses possible for Eggplant.
Very Sicilian, not that I know what scilian really is :)
Monday, August 1, 2011
Barcelona Provence Trip Notes
7/16, Saturday
- flight from SF starting in the evening. Much delayed.
7/17, Sunday
- Stopover in Frankfurt - just 10 mins to reach our connection. Run.Run.Run.
- Made it somehow (yay for gym!).
- Not too hard to reach Anna Bellini's place following directions.
- Warm welcome. Very well-done house!
- Dinner with flight leftovers plus PB&B plus some stuff from the fridge etc.
7/18, Monday
- got up late, and went to Parc Guell first (walking from Anna's place).
- spent lots of time in Parc Guell photographing.
- Went to Placa Catalunya for lunch using bus 24(?)
- lunch at Biocenter. Great food. Salad bar was very nice. Catalonian maccherone with sauce was awesome. Apple carrot onion house dressing was a hit. Waitress with Bindi!
- Customary trip to El Corte Ingles to pick up supplies.
- Went to Sagrada Familia. Got in after 1/2 hour in line.
- Shockingly pretty inside, compared to the outside.
- Decided to go up the lift, but tickets were sold out. Lift girl let us go up anyway, for no particular reason.
- Walked down by the staircase. Pretty exciting.
- Dinner at home composed by Arpi (tomato peach spinach almond olive salad + etc)
7/19, Tue
- Left Anna's place late (11am)
- barcelona yahoo visit
- Arpi's lunch with office folks
- My lunch in mall.
- Conf / Office work
- Dinner in El Born Xocoa + Llavor dels origines.
7/20, Wed
- good breakfast
- conf
- lunch at Cafe de L'Academia.
- tried bomboneria near Jaume I again - looked good as usual, but food was pedestrian again - don't forget !!
- conf
- Dinner at Organic. Ate a lot, including desserts.
- hyper empty - hippy girl with bindi + wierd hippy-desi music.
- Fellow from Pakistan in the kitchen. Pretty helpful.
7/21, Thu
- Arpi's talk
- lunch at Cuines de Santa Caterina
- Shock of realising that car rental is actually in Mataro, not next door.
- dinner (tapas) - El Xampanyet + Taller de Tapas
- Nice woman took a great picture of us!
7/22, Fri
- get to Mataro by tram + train.
- drive to Orange.
- directions at hotel (nous ici, avignon la, todou todou todou)
- Avignon in the evening.
- very happening
- dinner at Little Italy, sitting outside in the square.
- Pizza Error. Nice Kir.
7/23, Sat
- Lavender day!
- good breakfast with cake + choc-bread + muesli.
- Travelled all the lavender routes in the morning. Lavender AWOL.
- Stopped in St-Saturnin-les-Apts. Very Cute. Very Sleepy. Boulangerie closed for lunch.
- Apt : visited E.Leclerc to get knife+etc. Lunch in car. Salad with arugula and tomatoes. Spanish bread w/ spanish cheese.
- Took D30 towards Sault. The road that was not supposed to have any lavender had all the lavender.
- Lots of lavender stops.
- Patisserie in Sault. Flaky french stuff. Yummy.
- Great views from top of Sault to L. fields below.
- Great drive back - Gorges and nice drive till Vaison La Romaine.
- Dinner at Le Tournesol. Forgettable. Free Kir thanks to Rick Steves. Bad Dinner thanks to Rick Steves.
7/24, Sun
- To Market, To Market!
- We went to the Market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, called the "grand-daddy" of all the Luberon Markets by Rick Steves.
- After some trouble finding parking, managed to get ourselves to the Market by following the crowds.
- The Market was huge and hyper happening.
- Arpi took lots of pictures.
- Tons of stalls of all types, fresh food, prepared food, non-food...
- Bought olives, potatoes provencal, chantal cheese
- Found a great bakery next to the Market - macarons, pastries, fougasse, sesame baguette
- It was really windy.
- After another picnic lunch in the car, we headed out to Roussillon.
- Almost gave up on Roussillon after parking was too hard to find. Finally lucked out and got some free parking.
- Took the ochre walk in Roussillon. Pretty Interesting. Found a great us-picture location.
- Roamed about Roussillon. Very cutesy.
- Saw a nice art gallery.
- Headed out.
- Went to Gordes for dinner.
- Found a viewing spot with great views of Gordes and parked our car there for a Gordes sunset.
- Nice walk down alongside.
- Had dinner in the car, seeing the light change over Gordes. Awesome!!
- Drove through Gordes and then back to hotel.
7/25, Mon
- Birthday !!!
- b'day card surprise for Arpi!!
- Lots of cake at breakfast.
- Decided to drive around the countryside ... headed for RickSteves' wine country circuit.
- Lots of wine-ography stops walking into the vineyards.
- Lots of cigalous! National obsession with Cigalous! "Don't be a Cigalou!"
- Vaison La Romaine for Boulangerie-Patisserie checkout.
- Good Patisserie : got some nougat / meringues.
- Maison-le-sage : Great Patisserie : got macarons and tomato-cheese-tart and vegetables on puff pastry - looked great and was yummy - lunch!
- Drove to Seguret.
- Great lunch in car.
- Roamed around town. Okay.
- Went to Gigondas : roamed around there too. Okay.
- Went back to Orange. Checked out the Amphitheater.
- Arpi fell asleep on the seats listening to history lesson :)
- Break at hotel.
- Avignon for dinner - lots of trouble finding parking.
- L'Epice and Love for dinner. Very nice. Got street seating. Great weather day.
- Free Lollipop !!
- Fun stroll till Palais du Papes.- Amazing street performer dancing with a transparent globe, making it look like it had a life of it's own.
- Sitting at the square.
- Back to hotel.
7/26, Tue
- Drive back day
- picked up food from the drive from the boulangerie.
- Nice picnic lunch on the way near some Chateau.
- Car drop off at Mataro.
- Train to hotel Porta Fira.
- Very cool hotel. Awesome white & red room - free upgrade!
- Went back to Ramblas for Dinner.
- Lots of hanging out / exploring.
- Finally ate at Maoz - very tasty.
7/27, Wed
- Fly back home!
- flight from SF starting in the evening. Much delayed.
7/17, Sunday
- Stopover in Frankfurt - just 10 mins to reach our connection. Run.Run.Run.
- Made it somehow (yay for gym!).
- Not too hard to reach Anna Bellini's place following directions.
- Warm welcome. Very well-done house!
- Dinner with flight leftovers plus PB&B plus some stuff from the fridge etc.
7/18, Monday
- got up late, and went to Parc Guell first (walking from Anna's place).
- spent lots of time in Parc Guell photographing.
- Went to Placa Catalunya for lunch using bus 24(?)
- lunch at Biocenter. Great food. Salad bar was very nice. Catalonian maccherone with sauce was awesome. Apple carrot onion house dressing was a hit. Waitress with Bindi!
- Customary trip to El Corte Ingles to pick up supplies.
- Went to Sagrada Familia. Got in after 1/2 hour in line.
- Shockingly pretty inside, compared to the outside.
- Decided to go up the lift, but tickets were sold out. Lift girl let us go up anyway, for no particular reason.
- Walked down by the staircase. Pretty exciting.
- Dinner at home composed by Arpi (tomato peach spinach almond olive salad + etc)
7/19, Tue
- Left Anna's place late (11am)
- barcelona yahoo visit
- Arpi's lunch with office folks
- My lunch in mall.
- Conf / Office work
- Dinner in El Born Xocoa + Llavor dels origines.
7/20, Wed
- good breakfast
- conf
- lunch at Cafe de L'Academia.
- tried bomboneria near Jaume I again - looked good as usual, but food was pedestrian again - don't forget !!
- conf
- Dinner at Organic. Ate a lot, including desserts.
- hyper empty - hippy girl with bindi + wierd hippy-desi music.
- Fellow from Pakistan in the kitchen. Pretty helpful.
7/21, Thu
- Arpi's talk
- lunch at Cuines de Santa Caterina
- Shock of realising that car rental is actually in Mataro, not next door.
- dinner (tapas) - El Xampanyet + Taller de Tapas
- Nice woman took a great picture of us!
7/22, Fri
- get to Mataro by tram + train.
- drive to Orange.
- directions at hotel (nous ici, avignon la, todou todou todou)
- Avignon in the evening.
- very happening
- dinner at Little Italy, sitting outside in the square.
- Pizza Error. Nice Kir.
7/23, Sat
- Lavender day!
- good breakfast with cake + choc-bread + muesli.
- Travelled all the lavender routes in the morning. Lavender AWOL.
- Stopped in St-Saturnin-les-Apts. Very Cute. Very Sleepy. Boulangerie closed for lunch.
- Apt : visited E.Leclerc to get knife+etc. Lunch in car. Salad with arugula and tomatoes. Spanish bread w/ spanish cheese.
- Took D30 towards Sault. The road that was not supposed to have any lavender had all the lavender.
- Lots of lavender stops.
- Patisserie in Sault. Flaky french stuff. Yummy.
- Great views from top of Sault to L. fields below.
- Great drive back - Gorges and nice drive till Vaison La Romaine.
- Dinner at Le Tournesol. Forgettable. Free Kir thanks to Rick Steves. Bad Dinner thanks to Rick Steves.
7/24, Sun
- To Market, To Market!
- We went to the Market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, called the "grand-daddy" of all the Luberon Markets by Rick Steves.
- After some trouble finding parking, managed to get ourselves to the Market by following the crowds.
- The Market was huge and hyper happening.
- Arpi took lots of pictures.
- Tons of stalls of all types, fresh food, prepared food, non-food...
- Bought olives, potatoes provencal, chantal cheese
- Found a great bakery next to the Market - macarons, pastries, fougasse, sesame baguette
- It was really windy.
- After another picnic lunch in the car, we headed out to Roussillon.
- Almost gave up on Roussillon after parking was too hard to find. Finally lucked out and got some free parking.
- Took the ochre walk in Roussillon. Pretty Interesting. Found a great us-picture location.
- Roamed about Roussillon. Very cutesy.
- Saw a nice art gallery.
- Headed out.
- Went to Gordes for dinner.
- Found a viewing spot with great views of Gordes and parked our car there for a Gordes sunset.
- Nice walk down alongside.
- Had dinner in the car, seeing the light change over Gordes. Awesome!!
- Drove through Gordes and then back to hotel.
7/25, Mon
- Birthday !!!
- b'day card surprise for Arpi!!
- Lots of cake at breakfast.
- Decided to drive around the countryside ... headed for RickSteves' wine country circuit.
- Lots of wine-ography stops walking into the vineyards.
- Lots of cigalous! National obsession with Cigalous! "Don't be a Cigalou!"
- Vaison La Romaine for Boulangerie-Patisserie checkout.
- Good Patisserie : got some nougat / meringues.
- Maison-le-sage : Great Patisserie : got macarons and tomato-cheese-tart and vegetables on puff pastry - looked great and was yummy - lunch!
- Drove to Seguret.
- Great lunch in car.
- Roamed around town. Okay.
- Went to Gigondas : roamed around there too. Okay.
- Went back to Orange. Checked out the Amphitheater.
- Arpi fell asleep on the seats listening to history lesson :)
- Break at hotel.
- Avignon for dinner - lots of trouble finding parking.
- L'Epice and Love for dinner. Very nice. Got street seating. Great weather day.
- Free Lollipop !!
- Fun stroll till Palais du Papes.- Amazing street performer dancing with a transparent globe, making it look like it had a life of it's own.
- Sitting at the square.
- Back to hotel.
7/26, Tue
- Drive back day
- picked up food from the drive from the boulangerie.
- Nice picnic lunch on the way near some Chateau.
- Car drop off at Mataro.
- Train to hotel Porta Fira.
- Very cool hotel. Awesome white & red room - free upgrade!
- Went back to Ramblas for Dinner.
- Lots of hanging out / exploring.
- Finally ate at Maoz - very tasty.
7/27, Wed
- Fly back home!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
banana cake
We made this banana custard pudding and spread it on a sponge flan base from MPM and will add some fruits to it soon. Really tasty!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/banana-custard-pudding/Detail.aspxhttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/banana-custard-pudding/Detail.aspx
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/banana-custard-pudding/Detail.aspxhttp://allrecipes.com/Recipe/banana-custard-pudding/Detail.aspx
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Sambar
http://www.cookingandme.com/2008/02/chow-chow-sambhar-with-curd-rice.html
Made this sambar today with Doodhi/Lauki. Pretty easy and worked out quite well.
Acc to the wife : "bloody awesome" :D
Made this sambar today with Doodhi/Lauki. Pretty easy and worked out quite well.
Acc to the wife : "bloody awesome" :D
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Mor Kuzhumbu (South Indian Kadi)
I made this today since Arpi was at the dance class. Since it was really popular, I am going to record exactly what I did :
http://www.sailajakitchen.com/2009/11/more-kuzhambuiyengar-style.html
For reference, I think this dish is called Challa Pulusu in Telugu.
- Soak the rice first :)
- Prep and microwave the white bhopla / white pumpkin
- Soak chana dal, toor dal, jeera (1 tbsp + 1tbsp + 1tsp)
- Add 1/4 cup coconut and 1/2 inch ginger
- Blend it all together into a chutney.
- Fry red chili + jeera + (6-7) curry leaves
- Add the fried stuff to the chutney and blend that in as well.
- Pour out some curd into the pot and thin it a little bit with some water.
- Add the chutney.
- Add salt and haldi.
- Add the pumpkin
- Heat it through (don't boil or anything).
http://www.sailajakitchen.com/2009/11/more-kuzhambuiyengar-style.html
For reference, I think this dish is called Challa Pulusu in Telugu.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 !!
Highlights of the past year :
- Ethnic Dance Festival auditions in SF, accompanied by macaron-ing. Followed by discussion group. (Jan)
- Arpi's first FI session (with Richard Urrutia) (Jan)
- Arpi started the Kuchips class (Feb)
- Zakir Hussain concert and dinner at Flour+Water (March)
- Springflowers trip to SLO (achoo!) (March)
- Italy trip - venice, ischia, amalfi, pompeii, rome, tomatoes, mozzarella (June)
- Switzerland + Germany trip - berner oberland, turkish food in dusseldorf (Sept)
- Summer Picnics - farmers market + MPM sandwiches in mitchell park (Oct)
- Zion Fall colors trip (Nov)
- Wicked the musical ! (Aug)
- Russell Peters show - hp pavilion (Nov)
- Sathe's surprise (special delivery - 2 in number) (Oct)
- Tavya's attempted surprise (July)
- Odissi show + switch from Kuchips to Odissi (Oct - Dec)
- SF Theater festival in Yerba Buena
- Puff pastry!! (Dec)
- And much much more...
Switzerland (& Germany) Trip Notes
Wed 9/8 :
Thu 9/9 :
- Start from SF
Thu 9/9 :
- Arrive in Dusseldorf
- Quick flight to Zurich
- Train from Zurich to Interlaken with change at Bern.
- Double Rainbow!!
- Slight rain as we walked to our hotel - Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof.
- Really smart hostel.
- Towels and sheets
- Went looking for Thai place, but couldn't find it.
- Found Coop Pronto, and got food from there.
- Ate pasta with sauce and olives.
- Train to Grindelwald.
- Went to Grundt and took the cable car to Mannlichen.
- Awesome cowbells sound all over the valley.
- Awesome views from there.
- There was some desi movie shooting in progress too.
- Great walk from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Lots of pictures.
- Took the train back down to Grindelwald.
- Walked to Cable car for First.
- Picked up some snacks on the way - appelstrudel, ?
- Reached first via a super-long cable car ride.
- Turned out that Bachalpsee was too far to reach and come back in time for the last cable car.
- So, just took some pictures at First, and came back.
- Back in Grindelwald, ate Fondue.
- Back to Interlaken
- Dinner :
- Day of the Marathon.
- Train was super-crowded.
- Went to Kleine Scheidegg, started hike down to Wengen.
- Gave up around Wengenalp, took the train down instead.
- Took cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen.
- Hiked to Mannlichen Gipfel.
- Panorama pics, and many other pics from top.
- Back down to Wengen, (and down to Lauterbrunnen.?)
- Took cable car + train to Murren.
- Took Funicular to Alpen???
- Started Northface hike.
- Lots of cows at the start.
- Long long hike, with awesome awesome views.
- Back to Murren.
- Back to ??
- Interlaken
- 29k steps - totally screwed.
- Did laundry ?
- Dinner
- Easy bus ride + etc up to Schynige Platte
- Down to Wilderswil.
- Off to Grindelwald, and from there to Kleine Scheidegg
- Amazing views from near Alpiglen as the clouds rolled in.
- Went off to Jungfaurjoch.
- Super-cold.
- Clouds rolled in pretty soon.
- Back to Interlaken through Grindelwald.
- Dinner
- Off to Lauterbrunnen.
- Saw Staubbach Falls.
- Quick lunch in Coop
- Awesome chocolate croissants + yogurt drink.
- Back to Interlaken
- Train to Basel.
- Flight to Dusseldorf.
- Cab to hotel was a Mercedes!
- Dinner at Weise - pasta and lentil Soup.
- Conference.
- Lunch at Thai Place - pad thai and Bitburger.
- Walked along Konigstrasse.
- Dinner at Moroccan place - Schwarzes Meer!
- Sam walked around Dusseldorf in the afternoon.
- Old town highlight - whole shop to sell just potatoes.
- Dinner at Weise - mushroom + lentil soup
- Arpi got out early.
- Off to Cologne.
- Photographed ze Cathedral.
- Dinner at Schwarzes Meer. Again!
- Back to SF.
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