tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51566542013-05-16T07:53:53.604-06:00Indian Food Rocks is a personal journey through life spiced by Indian food and anecdotes.Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.comBlogger407125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-73552535291850129572013-05-05T17:10:00.000-06:002013-05-06T12:45:12.565-06:002013-05-06T12:45:12.565-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br> Spring has been a mixed bag this year, flip-flopping between summer and winter. <br> <br> I made coconut milk at home using frozen shredded coconut and I&#39;m never going back to canned coconut milk! Read my column on <b>Whole Foods Market Cooking</b> on <a href="http://wholefoodsmarketcooking.com/blog/7084_indian_food_rocks">How to Make Coconut Milk</a>. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8711155565/" title="DIY Coconut Milk by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="DIY Coconut Milk" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8411/8711155565_e1f6e428c0_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i><a href="http://wholefoodsmarketcooking.com/blog/7084_indian_food_rocks">How to Make Coconut Milk at home</a> (Whole Foods Market Cooking)</i></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/05/sunday-snapshots-coconut-milk-owlets-spring.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=MvewZHsW4IY:yGPZoo13Zvg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/MvewZHsW4IY" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com4http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/05/sunday-snapshots-coconut-milk-owlets-spring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-65100642088420200922013-04-30T17:00:00.000-06:002013-04-30T18:39:37.672-06:002013-04-30T18:39:37.672-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> So much happened in April. <i>So much. </i>I decided to focus on all the good things, mostly family, friends and celebrations.<br> <br> We kicked off April with <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2009/03/dal-matters-whole-moong-dal.html">Holi</a> celebrations at Boulder Balvihar. Not my favorite festival but I do enjoy taking pictures of everyone else, especially the little ones.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8687685002/" title="HoliTriptych-1 by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="HoliTriptych-1" height="319" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8687685002_7ce8b7f6fc_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Happy kiddos at Holi!</i></div> <br> I have never made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puran_Poli">puran poli</a>, the sweet treat that is traditionally made for Holi. I wanted to but since my plate spilleth over, I put it on the back-burner yet again. I didn&#39;t make <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/03/celebrating-spring-with-colors.html">thandai</a> either, even though we had really enjoyed it last year at this time. And, you know what? It didn&#39;t matter. That&#39;s not to undermine the importance of food during festivities and the stories that go hand-in-hand; instead it&#39;s more like celebrating on our terms rather than doing all the right things and being miserable as well as stressed at the same time. The special Holi prasad at Boulder Balvihar more than made up for all the fun treats that I did not make.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8687684784/" title="Holi 2013 by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Holi 2013" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8537/8687684784_57be309c7e_z.jpg" width="458"></a><br> <i>Some of my friends really get into the act!</i></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/04/cashew-carrot-salad.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=JYC0xWOy3N0:C6-_PtdWGTE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/JYC0xWOy3N0" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com10http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/04/cashew-carrot-salad.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-80916455906706871242013-04-05T16:30:00.000-06:002013-04-10T14:40:02.372-06:002013-04-10T14:40:02.372-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">April 1 may not have been the best day to close my pressure cooker giveaway! But, I promise you that it was not an April Fool&#39;s joke.<br> <br> Thank you all for your wonderful comments. I loved reading more about all of you.<br> <br> To all my readers who delurked: I am indeed humbled that so many of you have been reading along for almost as many years as I have been blogging. You have helped me grow.<br> <br> To all my regular commenters: you know I think you are awesome! Some of our conversations border on insane and that is what keeps me going and encourages me to share some of the randomness in my life.<br> <br> And I was very tickled that all of you appreciated not having to go blab to the world on social networks about this giveaway. While I get the need for that kind of marketing, it&#39;s not what this blog is about. I much prefer organic growth to in-your-face marketing. My content remains driven by my thoughts and my experiences rather than what drives these networks.<br> <br> Here&#39;s how I chose the winner for the giveaway. I asked for three numbers between 1 and 1000 on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/indianfoodrocks/posts/552800541426389">Facebook page</a>, added them up, calculated the mod with the divisor set to the number of participants (67) and matched up the answer to the comment number that I assigned in ascending order. That&#39;s random enough, right? <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8577120702/" title="A Pressure Cooker GIveaway by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="A Pressure Cooker GIveaway" height="360" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8577120702_7157703218.jpg" width="450"></a><br> <i>SO WHO WON THE PRESSURE COOKER?!</i></div><br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/04/brinji.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=fvzGrsvgxH0:9RxXxYBL6JY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/fvzGrsvgxH0" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com14http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/04/brinji.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-65820473311029726352013-03-22T14:15:00.000-06:002013-04-05T16:39:15.690-06:002013-04-05T16:39:15.690-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You know you&#39;re lucky when you look out at your driveway in the middle of a snowstorm to see your neighbor&#39;s kid shoveling the snow that you were doing your best to ignore.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8577111666/" title="Shoveling snow by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Shoveling snow" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8577111666_6e964267c7_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>a welcome sight</i></div><br> You know you&#39;re lucky when a package arrives all the way from the <a href="http://elaichietcetera.wordpress.com/">upper mid-west</a> with home-made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocino">nocino</a>, Indian pickles and Kashmiri veri masala.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8347988313/" title="Grateful for good friends by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Grateful for good friends" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8347988313_010e90d3d6_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>Hot and boozy gifts</i></div><br> You know you&#39;re lucky when <a href="http://www.aayisrecipes.com/">Shilpa</a> sends you fragrant organic tirphal, along with mace, nutmeg, kokum from her father&#39;s property near Bangalore and two very special pickles made by her mother: kochle nonche and ambli pickle.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8485336416/" title="Fragrant Tirphal by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Fragrant Tirphal" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8485336416_957ced0b18_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Fragrant and relatively rare spice: tirphal</i></div><br> You know you&#39;re lucky when <a href="http://mydiversekitchen.com/">Aparna</a> sends you flavors of your childhood with more kokum and tirphal, dagadphool, dried red chiles, vanilla pods and famous Goan cured pork sausages.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8577113632/" title="A gift from Aparna by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="A gift from Aparna" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8577113632_5d6c7cb078_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Gifts that remind me of my childhood</i></div><br> You know you&#39;re lucky when there are so many things to be grateful for, on a daily basis. <i>I know I am.</i><br> From the magnificent beauty of where we live to the supportive neighborhood where we make our home to the friends and family in our lives.<br> <br> I also know I&#39;m incredibly lucky when I look back at the ten years that I have been blogging and realize that I have met some of my best friends through my blog. My very first post was on March 12, 2003. It was as clueless as I was about blogging, but I was also very clearly testing the Blogger platform, then owned by Pyra Labs. I was never a prolific blogger nor do I intend to be. I blog at my own pace, on my own terms and without succumbing to the pressures of the blogosphere, especially the food blogging community.<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/03/pressure-cooker-giveaway.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=M6wILrOT7M0:Le0G7c9sgAs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/M6wILrOT7M0" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com79http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/03/pressure-cooker-giveaway.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-28382368188190737772013-02-28T23:59:00.000-07:002013-03-13T00:29:33.423-06:002013-03-13T00:29:33.423-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <b>Pressure cooking</b> is suddenly in the limelight again. It looks like it&#39;s the next new wave after slow cooking in the crockpot. If you grew up like me -- in a home where beans, legumes and pulses were eaten on a daily basis -- you&#39;re probably grateful that an efficient and effective cooking method is finally being recognized, and you&#39;re possibly also quite aghast at the various myths that are being repeated ad nauseam, especially the one that pressure cookers are dangerous because they explode in your face.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8517239255/" title="Indian pressure cooker by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Indian pressure cooker" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8517239255_0af2e0948e_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>releasing pressure</i></div> <br> There&#39;s no doubt that they <i>used to</i> explode and there were two reasons for that: poor manufacturing and user error (which, unfortunately, continues even today). Modern pressure cookers, especially the kind that don&#39;t open until the pressure has subsided, are much safer but so are the old-style ones with a weighted pressure-release, if used properly. If you continue to hear stories about how they explode, then more often than not, it is <b>user error</b>.<br> <br> This reminds me of the recent article that said that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/dining/immersion-blenders-can-be-a-danger-in-disguise.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0">immersion or hand blenders are dangerous</a> because many people have almost lost their fingers to the blade. Well, it&#39;s only common sense that if the appliance is not unplugged, a blade that is jammed will start spinning as soon as the obstruction has been removed. But, since common sense is rather rare, it is easier to tarnish the appliance with the label: Dangerous.<br> <br> I am still wondering why the author of that particular article was using an immersion blender for butter that was meant to go into chocolate chip cookies, and how an article of that kind made it into The New York Times. And, if she will ever be able to live it down.<br> <br> I must say that I am rather surprised that such people still drive cars.<br> <br> Or use a knife.<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/whole-red-lentil-curry.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=qZfwCXhWhrg:aEQF4eJU0fA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/qZfwCXhWhrg" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com25http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/whole-red-lentil-curry.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-62795496984532063232013-02-12T22:02:00.000-07:002013-02-12T23:08:40.173-07:002013-02-12T23:08:40.173-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">You know how folks say &quot;My Grandma taught me and I do it the same way she did,&quot; implying that Grandma always knew best. Well, maybe not. At least not when it came to prepping <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/banana-blossom-sunday-snapshots.html">banana blossom</a>. <br> <br> Everyone I talked to told me that banana blossoms are a pain to prep and clean. That the sap stains everything it touches, and blackened fingers are an indication of a family satiated on banana blossoms. To avoid these stains, they said, you must rub oil all over your hands before you touch a banana blossom. Or, in modern times, the suggestion is to wear thin food-safe gloves. <br> <br> The very first time I prepped banana blossom, I rubbed a little bit of oil on my finger tips, but only because I didn&#39;t know what to expect. The next few times I knew what I had to do and didn&#39;t bother with any oil. <i>Yes, it&#39;s true; you don&#39;t need to oil your hands or wear gloves when you&#39;re prepping banana blossoms. </i><br> <br> All you need is the following: a sharp knife, and a medium pot half-filled with water and the juice of half a lemon. <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/banana-blossom-bhaji.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=bt9EZykVCi8:ME7HT2mQSYA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/bt9EZykVCi8" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com16http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/banana-blossom-bhaji.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-42489720559215697792013-02-03T18:15:00.000-07:002013-02-13T00:03:33.097-07:002013-02-13T00:03:33.097-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> What?! Are Sunday Snapshots back?! I hope so, my friend, I hope so! <br> <br> Banana blossoms are considered to be exotic in the US. They shouldn&#39;t be as the banana plant is one of the oldest plants known to man and the banana fruit one of the most common fruits. The banana plant makes pretensions to be a tree when, in fact, it is the largest flowering herbaceous plant. If you haven&#39;t seen a banana blossom before, then these Sunday Snapshots might interest you.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8442220517/" title="Banana blossom by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Banana blossom" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8054/8442220517_e661b14b25_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>Purple red blossom</i></div> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8442226791/" title="Banana blossom by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Banana blossom" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8324/8442226791_114c1070d9_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Always intriguing</i></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/banana-blossom-sunday-snapshots.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=O5rUkpq7a0Y:7ktVjYjwj7c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/O5rUkpq7a0Y" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com11http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/02/banana-blossom-sunday-snapshots.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-557051971952689162013-01-30T14:45:00.000-07:002013-01-30T14:45:00.696-07:002013-01-30T14:45:00.696-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">It snowed. <br> <br> And, unlike on the East Coast, we welcome it with open arms; even when it brings with it a fair amount of squelchy and slushy before it turns into familiar powder. Like it did yesterday. The morning commute into Boulder also becomes that much more spectacular and slippery. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8426367641/" title="How Boulder of you! by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="How Boulder of you!" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8426367641_e0f00e74e9_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>It was 20F</i></div><br> While Boulderites were out jogging and riding their bikes, I couldn&#39;t wait to cup my hands around a hot mug of <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2010/09/drop-tea-its-already-there-in-your-chai.html">chai</a> and dig into some cookies in lieu of breakfast. Yes, cookies! I don&#39;t have much of a sweet tooth but there are some cookies that I simply adore.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8427155949/" title="Tea time cookies by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Tea time cookies" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8372/8427155949_702e6c738a_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>Chewy cookies and tea</i></div><br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/01/meyer-lemon-ginger-cookies.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=15OQ7xTIflY:GjCOZnfxWMI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/15OQ7xTIflY" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com11http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/01/meyer-lemon-ginger-cookies.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-31001645028824422882013-01-11T21:04:00.000-07:002013-01-12T21:13:31.244-07:002013-01-12T21:13:31.244-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So much has happened in the first ten days of the new year that I feel that things can only get better from here on. We&#39;ve been sick, with Medha being the worse of the two of us. Add to it the sadness of having to put down our kitty-by-proxy when her humans were away on vacation. She was about 20 years old and she went into a sudden decline. It is the hardest thing to have to do, more so when it is someone else&#39;s pet. Luckily, we were all in agreement and the vet had kind soulful eyes that filled with tears as he spoke about options. Very sad. So I thought I&#39;d bring out a pet peeve to cheer us all up!<br> <br> <b>&lt;pet peeve&gt;</b><br> <i>Curry leaves are an essential ingredient in an Indian curry.</i><br> <i>Curry leaves <a href="http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2012/12/27/55-secrets-of-the-best-chefs/">impart a genuine curry flavor</a> to Indian food.</i><br> <br> <b>Dear God! Please! No!</b><br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/01/a-pet-peeve-and-handy-tip.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=JfjUgU6Ropo:VB2yA-1vusg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/JfjUgU6Ropo" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com20http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2013/01/a-pet-peeve-and-handy-tip.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-37179847320651605452012-12-31T02:44:00.003-07:002012-12-31T03:24:46.366-07:002012-12-31T03:24:46.366-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I couldn&#39;t let 2012 fade away without a recipe! But, first, let me wish you all <b>a very Happy New Year!</b><br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8326272371/" title="Happy New Year by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Happy New Year" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8326272371_b1d3c42d3c_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>May good health, happiness, success and joy be yours in 2013!</i></div></div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/12/ring-it-in-with-some-spice.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=5J5qRQVTQgw:4PqQrKPSdSo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/5J5qRQVTQgw" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com13http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/12/ring-it-in-with-some-spice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-40246825357820917372012-11-13T20:10:00.000-07:002012-11-13T20:11:09.825-07:002012-11-13T20:11:09.825-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> It&#39;s my favorite time of the year! It&#39;s <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/search/label/Diwali">Diwali</a>!<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8183959474/" title="2012113-Diwali-7245 by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="2012113-Diwali-7245" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8183959474_1c818d517d_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>दिवाळीचा पहिला दिवा लागता दारी,<br> सुखाचे किरण येती घरी,<br> पुर्ण होवोत तुमच्या सर्व ईच्छा,<br> आमच्याकडुन दिवाळीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा!</i></div> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b>Happy Diwali to you and yours!</b></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/11/happy-diwali.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=AQRl9JdmGk4:8P_DCgWjIGg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/AQRl9JdmGk4" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com10http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/11/happy-diwali.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-2972627170274524792012-10-01T04:56:00.000-06:002012-10-03T01:03:39.405-06:002012-10-03T01:03:39.405-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br> Dearest <a href="http://madteaparty.wordpress.com/">Anita</a>,<br> <br> Every year, you call on us to celebrate your blog with a <b>Mad Tea Party</b> of our own. I tried my best to celebrate in the month of August and in the month of September but I just could not make it happen. Until last night. It all came together. And how! <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8042897444/" title="A Mad Tea Party by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="A Mad Tea Party" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8035/8042897444_b224fd520f_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Four mad hatters: me, me, me and me</i></div></div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/10/eat-me-said-cardamom-cake.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=k5PTttpLGks:7pxaiQcOynM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/k5PTttpLGks" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com21http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/10/eat-me-said-cardamom-cake.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-91977868774249131552012-09-19T20:05:00.000-06:002012-09-19T20:39:35.382-06:002012-09-19T20:39:35.382-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">And so it&#39;s here again. That 10 day festival to celebrate my favorite God. Yes, it&#39;s <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/search/label/Ganesh%20Chaturthi">Ganesh Chaturthi</a>! <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/8004802885/" title="Ganpati Bappa Morya! by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Ganpati Bappa Morya!" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/8004802885_601be0bebc_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>Jai Ganesh!</i></div></div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/09/ganesh-chaturthi.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=1wjtTh_yHkU:RQrwH4s694g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/1wjtTh_yHkU" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com11http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/09/ganesh-chaturthi.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-5192499118171151152012-09-14T19:00:00.000-06:002012-09-17T17:57:43.571-06:002012-09-17T17:57:43.571-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> It&#39;s the last week of peaches and if you&#39;re looking for something to make with them where the overwhelming after-taste is not sugary, then give this chutney a try. It is based on my <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/in-chutney-with-apricots.html">apricot chutney</a> but I think I might like this better and I&#39;ll tell you why: the crabapples are so tart that I didn&#39;t need to use as much vinegar as was called for in the apricot chutney. The vinegar therefore takes a back-seat in this chutney!<br> <br> I made this chutney in August when crabapples first appeared on the trees in our Open Spaces. I was far more bold this year than I was last year about &quot;stealing&quot; fruit from these trees. Labor Day last year saw me and my friend Lisa picking fruit from the crabapple trees at one of our several neighborhood annual picnics in a local park. I&#39;m ashamed to say that I was not able to do much with them as I was slammed by work soon thereafter. I vowed that things would be different this year. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7986790631/" title="Crabapples by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Crabapples" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/7986790631_6db705ef91_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>foraged crabapples</i></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/09/crabapple-peach-chutney.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=MGsfbK0YoZY:ejV6DRaOshs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/MGsfbK0YoZY" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com14http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/09/crabapple-peach-chutney.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-64528701871550585532012-08-30T01:05:00.000-06:002012-08-30T14:02:32.148-06:002012-08-30T14:02:32.148-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <b>Happy Onam!</b> And, thank you for the great feedback and comments on <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/in-kitchen-with-vinita-part-1-of-2.html">In The Kitchen With Vinita, Part 1</a>!<br> <br> One of the things I really like about Vinita is that she&#39;s always ready for a cup of chai no matter how hot it is, indoors or outdoors. Yes, rather like me! <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7889810256/" title="chai in the making by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="chai in the making" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/7889810256_7ec80cd3fd_z.jpg" width="640"></a><i>breaking bread</i></div> <br> Vinita was brought up in the steel city of Jamshedpur but her roots go back to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palakkad_District">Palakkad District</a> of Kerala. The traditional ishtu or stew from this region is a simpler version of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7517641558/">Kerala Ishtu</a> that <a href="http://cardamomhill.net/">Asha Gomez</a> had made at my workshop, <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/culinary-india-two-day-workshop-in.html">Culinary India</a>, in June. This Palakkad ishtu is one of Vinita&#39;s father&#39;s favorite dishes, she explained as she quickly peeled the boiled potatoes. Onam <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadya">sadya</a> was considered incomplete without this vegetarian potato stew.<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/in-kitchen-with-vinita-part-2-of-2.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=8J278KDU7Fw:TjHPYuRFYcg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/8J278KDU7Fw" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com21http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/in-kitchen-with-vinita-part-2-of-2.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-89123357313812456992012-08-28T20:11:00.000-06:002012-08-30T02:01:21.051-06:002012-08-30T02:01:21.051-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7800209602/" title="Vinita, the mastermind behind Thing with a Zing by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Vinita, the mastermind behind Thing with a Zing" height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7800209602_e5b70be87b_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>You have to smile right back!</i></div> <br> Vinita has an infectious smile and a charming extroverted personality. I am lucky to be able to call her a dear friend. Not just because she personifies exuberance but because she&#39;s beyond amazing. Vinita is an audiologist by profession but a food entrepreneur by choice. She is the mastermind behind <a href="http://www.thingwithazing.com/">Thing with a Zing</a>, where she creates, bottles and sells Indian chutneys. These are not anything like British chutneys in which vinegar plays a key role in the flavor profile. As she puts it, her chutneys are <i>a bold flavor for your senses</i> in the true sense of the word. Her chutneys can be <a href="http://www.thingwithazing.com/OurProducts.html">found in several stores</a> in the Denver-Boulder area, like Whole Foods, Alfalfa&#39;s, and a couple of other natural grocery stores. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7800205656/" title="Sneak taste preview of Mango Pineapple Chutney by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Sneak taste preview of Mango Pineapple Chutney" height="425" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8308/7800205656_0845f31a56_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Under development</i></div> <br> One of the privileges of having a friend who jars tradition with a unique twist into an edible treat, is being able to taste her creations before they hit the market. I love pineapple, I love mango, I love the combination of spices in this chutney and now, I have a problem. I don&#39;t know which of her chutneys I like best. This will be her third chutney, the second one being <i>That Sweet Zing</i> which is a cranberry-ginger chutney. All of them are truly excellent. Furthermore, since Vinita adheres to food safety guidelines, I never have to worry about the quality of her product, including the seal on her chutney jars. <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/in-kitchen-with-vinita-part-1-of-2.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=bCoInYrd8Ks:6y-D46j8dhw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/bCoInYrd8Ks" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com10http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/in-kitchen-with-vinita-part-1-of-2.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-759340201276083082012-08-20T01:41:00.000-06:002012-08-20T01:41:13.572-06:002012-08-20T01:41:13.572-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This weekend our friend&#39;s 15-year-old daughter gave a private two-hour <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharata_Natyam">Bharat Natyam</a> recital at their home. Her performance was beyond brilliant as she wove stories through her graceful movements, gestures and expressions. The light was difficult and I wish I had the patience to energize the two doors in the background into oblivion using Photoshop. But I will not complain because this was a performance to be cherished.<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/sunday-snapshots-bharat-natyam-recital.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=KHI4VwaimPE:OYtq-sIkCQU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/KHI4VwaimPE" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com14http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/sunday-snapshots-bharat-natyam-recital.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-15670586341817086812012-08-06T00:23:00.000-06:002012-08-12T16:22:17.288-06:002012-08-12T16:22:17.288-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> It&#39;s been a rough three weeks. <br> <br> My carpool buddy developed sepsis from an undiagnosed infection and is in her third week of hospitalization. She is recovering but it will be a while before she can return home.<br> <br> People went to watch the premier of a movie in Aurora not knowing that their lives would change drastically. <br> <br> This morning a Sikh temple was the target for reasons beyond comprehension.<br> <br> Life changes in an instant. We&#39;re here now. Make the most of every moment. Keep your loved ones close, enjoy your friends and reject all forms of negative energy.<br> <br> I went to another <a href="http://www.milehighswappers.com/Mile_High_Swappers/Blog/Entries/2012/8/12_Back_to_the_Farm_for_Some_Summer_Swapping.html">Mile High Food Swap</a> today, a welcome distraction. It was hosted by <a href="http://www.isabellefarm.com/">Isabelle Farm</a>, an organic farm in neighboring Lafayette. Isabelle Farm leases the Thomas Open Space from the City of Lafayette where they grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, squash, okra and many other vegetables. The farm also has a CSA that runs for 20 weeks between June and October. Tiffany Carpenter gave us a tour of the farm and explained how the people of Lafayette had voted for an organic farm instead of yet another golf course. <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/sunday-snapshots-isabelle-farm.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=KjgSicP8Yw4:AZ52yZXEnek:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/KjgSicP8Yw4" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com6http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/08/sunday-snapshots-isabelle-farm.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-75948716992831434502012-07-19T19:30:00.000-06:002012-08-09T18:27:49.074-06:002012-08-09T18:27:49.074-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> It&#39;s been raining apricots around here. Literally, so. It&#39;s a hazard to walk into some of my neighbors&#39; yards. Or it might just be me that those trees are aiming for, as I have been the target of many an apricot in free fall. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7605194530/" title="Organic apricots by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Organic apricots" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7140/7605194530_7655d2c44a_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Organic apricots from my neighbor&#39;s tree</i></div> <br> These aren&#39;t your regular supermarket apricots. They are much smaller, less than two inches in diameter, and very sweet. When firm, they are quite tart and ripen quickly to near-mush, if not eaten immediately. I picked slightly firm apricots from the stash that was given to me and roasted them, strawberry-style. While that was tasty, roasted apricots weren&#39;t as popular with my family as <a href="http://whiteonricecouple.com/recipes/roasted-strawberry-wheat-muffins/" title="On Epicurious">balsamic roasted strawberries</a> always are. I should have tried one of <a href="http://suvir.com/">Suvir</a>&#39;s suggestions at <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/culinary-india-dream-come-true.html">Culinary India</a>: add a smidge of black pepper or hot green chiles to bring out the natural sweetness of a fruit. He recommends trying it while making roasted strawberries, to cut down on the amount of sugar one would normally add to sweeten them. <br> <br> Apart from tearing the fruit apart and feasting on the ripe apricots, I made <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2010/06/even-more-unusual.html#apricot-chicken">apricot chicken</a> with a batch that I picked from my neighbor&#39;s tree. It&#39;s not your usual chicken curry and is sweet, sour and spicy, all at the same time. That set the tone for what I wanted to do with yet another batch of apricots that were delivered to my doorstep by another neighbor. Something spicy. A jelly or a jam would not do; it had to be a chutney of sorts—fruit and sugar cooked down in vinegar to a reduction. Anita&#39;s <a href="http://madteaparty.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/green-mangoes/">mango relish</a> had triggered memories of <i>gulchaat</i>—green mangoes cooked with jaggery and spices—so I knew that I was going to use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaggery">jaggery</a> instead of sugar. But I had no recipe! <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/in-chutney-with-apricots.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=WmkgRsK1D34:1sZsfTUqxc0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/WmkgRsK1D34" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com14http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/in-chutney-with-apricots.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-9172849768983811542012-07-06T23:09:00.000-06:002012-07-09T11:12:41.595-06:002012-07-09T11:12:41.595-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><blockquote><br> <br> Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.<br> <br> <b>~ Henry Ford</b><br> <br> <br> </blockquote><br> It wasn&#39;t just the synergies and camaraderie between <a href="http://suvir.com">Suvir Saran</a>, <a href="http://peppertrail.com">Ammini Ramachandran</a>, <a href="http://cardamomhill.net">Asha Gomez</a> and myself that propelled this workshop towards success. We couldn&#39;t have done it without the foresight and vision of Ellie Scott and Ken Hause of <a href="http://www.escoffier.edu/locations/boulder">Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, Colorado</a>. <br> <br> It began with a heartfelt plea from me to Ammini to come to Colorado to teach Kerala cuisine. She and Asha had just completed a cooking tour of several Texan cities through <a href="http://www.centralmarket.com/Cooking-School.aspx/">Central Market Cooking School</a>. Not one to pass up the magic of cooking with feisty women, Suvir insisted he wanted to be a part of the team. Who can resist Suvir&#39;s charm? Not that we would have said no to such a celebrated chef! <br> <br> It finally came to fruition on a hot weekend in June, when the temperatures soared to over 95F in Boulder. Not many of the workshop participants noticed as they sat enthralled by stories that included memories, traditions, and regional diversity while we showed them, again and again, that Indian food is not exotic but very accessible. We cooked with as many local ingredients as we could. Dan Hayward of <a href="http://savoryspiceshop.com/">Savory Spice Shop</a> sponsored all the spices we used for Culinary India, again underscoring the accessibility factor. And, contrary to what several cooking channels will have you believe, we did not use &quot;curry powder&quot; and used very little garam masala. Imagine that! Yes, it&#39;s true, we cooked Indian food without either of these two &quot;essentials.&quot; <a href="http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/chefs/kelsey-nixon/index.html">Kelsey Nixon</a> of Cooking Channel might have even learned a thing or three if she had attended Culinary India.<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/culinary-india-dream-come-true.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=yuiiDgv3pSU:_UvkZqAC6rU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/yuiiDgv3pSU" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com19http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/07/culinary-india-dream-come-true.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-52067643998987822502012-06-08T15:25:00.000-06:002012-07-17T21:30:00.045-06:002012-07-17T21:30:00.045-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br> As most of you know, I have been busy with menu planning and other details for my <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/culinary-india-two-day-workshop-in.html">Culinary India workshop</a>, to be held June 16-17, 2012 from 10am to 2pm on both days. <br> <br> Escoffier Culinary School of Arts, Boulder, is offering a special discount for IFR readers, making this workshop even more attractive. <br> <br> <blockquote><br> <a href="http://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0006-0006-4101a273124a490daa0ca9ec6023bc80">Sign up online</a> <i>before end of day</i> <b>Wednesday June 13th</b>, enter the code <b>MANISHA</b> and pay <b><i>only $400</i></b> for the workshop.<br> <br> Or call Ellie Scott of Escoffier at 720-204-3492 and mention this offer. <br> <br> </blockquote>How awesome is that?!<br> <br> This workshop makes for a perfect Father&#39;s Day gift, too. At the workshop, we will explore the cuisine of India by learning techniques and recipes from Top Chef Master Suvir Saran, food historian and researcher Ammini Ramachandran, restaurateur Asha Gomez, and your favorite Indian food blogger — me, of course! <br> <br> Also included are signed copies of Ammini&#39;s cookbook and my vegetarian Bible, <i>Grains, Greens and Grated Coconuts</i>, as well as Suvir&#39;s latest cookbook, <i>Masala Farm</i>.<br> <br> <a href="http://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0006-0006-4101a273124a490daa0ca9ec6023bc80">Do it, I say!</a> (and don&#39;t forget the super-special code MANISHA)<br> <br> Please feel free to share this fabulous offer with friends and family in the Denver/Boulder area who have an interest in Indian cooking. Looking forward to seeing you there!<br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/06/culinary-india-special-discount-for-ifr.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=wiExFhaBsuM:vLlukZhWa_s:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/wiExFhaBsuM" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com5http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/06/culinary-india-special-discount-for-ifr.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-77693760708695575142012-05-23T13:57:00.000-06:002012-05-23T14:08:45.080-06:002012-05-23T14:08:45.080-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you&#39;ve been a reader for even a little while, you know how I feel about the Indian food served by Indian restaurants that dot the US restaurant scene. Both you and I know that the essence of Indian cooking has been lost in cream-laden curries that masquerade as Indian food. Say it with me: <i>There is more to Indian cooking than chicken tikka masala, saag paneer and naan.</i> There! I feel so much better already!<br> <br> It has been, and continues to be, my passion to bring home-style Indian food to a wider audience, first by writing this blog, and subsequently, through a series of demos and workshops — the first of which is here: <b>Culinary India</b>.<br> <br> <b>Culinary India</b>, hosted by <a href="http://www.escoffier.edu/locations/boulder">Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Boulder</a>, is a workshop steeped in the traditions of India, using as much local produce as possible. Joining me as instructors are three of the very best chefs, instructors and food enthusiasts I know:<br> <br> <div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5Mv6fRmRjE/T703bPgyStI/AAAAAAAAHXo/07zayNeiXIo/s1600/image007.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5Mv6fRmRjE/T703bPgyStI/AAAAAAAAHXo/07zayNeiXIo/s400/image007.png" width="199"></a></div><a href="http://www.suvir.com/">Suvir Saran</a>, who made waves with a grand exit last summer on <b>Bravo TV&#39;s Top Chef Masters</b>, needs no introduction! His cookbooks have brought Indian cooking within reach of anyone interested in the flavors of Indian cooking, without overwhelming the cook or the palate. His cooking embodies his lifelong passion for the traditional flavors of Indian cooking and that resonates very strongly with me. I am particularly in love with his <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2010/10/more-than-liitle-creeped-out.html#lamb-kababs">lamb kababs</a> and <a href="http://boulder.wholefoodsmarketcooking.com/blog/3979_indian_food_rocks">cardamom roasted cauliflower</a> (recipe on Cooking Boulder). Suvir has written several cookbooks, the latest of which —Masala Farm — is about Suvir&#39;s life as an organic farmer, punctuated by recipes that are <i>light on the fuss and big on the flavor, using Indian techniques and flavors that bring an exciting freshness to the table. </i>Suvir travels extensively to teach audiences, ranging from home cooks and fellow chefs to physicians and nutritionists. Don&#39;t miss this opportunity to learn from a witty and accomplished chef!<br> <br> <div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lr-laPOee70/T701sirgSJI/AAAAAAAAHXc/LxJ-ZP6cbn8/s1600/Ammini-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lr-laPOee70/T701sirgSJI/AAAAAAAAHXc/LxJ-ZP6cbn8/s200/Ammini-1.jpg" width="199"></a></div><a href="http://www.peppertrail.com/">Ammini Ramachandran</a> is rather well-known <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/search/label/Ammini%20Ramachandran">on this blog</a> and for good reason! She is the author of Grains, Greens and Grated Coconuts, that weaves history with the traditions and culture in which it is rooted. It is my favorite Indian vegetarian cookbook and it was among the four self-published cookbooks that ranked #76 in Saveur&#39;s Tenth Annual 100 List in 2008. It&#39;s very difficult for me to pick my favorite recipes from this cookbook as everything I have cooked has been exemplary, but I am partial to her <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2007/03/amminis-okra-kichadi.html">okra kichadi</a> and <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2007/03/amminis-thakkali-tomato-chutney.html">tomato chutney</a>. A former financial analyst, Ammini is a prolific writer and her work has been published in The Flavors of Asia by the Culinary Institute of America, Flavor &amp; Fortune, Storied Dishes and Cultural Encyclopedia of Vegetarianism. She is also a regular contributor to <a href="http://www.Zesterdaily.com/">Zester Daily</a>, an award-winning online publication produced by an international collection of experienced journalists, food writers and wine experts. Ammini teaches Indian cooking classes at Central Market Cooking Schools in Texas and the Institute of Culinary Education, New York. Don&#39;t miss this opportunity to learn from a food historian and meticulous cook!<br> <br> <div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSisV_D2_R0/T700a48SCZI/AAAAAAAAHXU/bONUZ8Er6ag/s1600/CulinaryIndia-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sSisV_D2_R0/T700a48SCZI/AAAAAAAAHXU/bONUZ8Er6ag/s200/CulinaryIndia-01.jpg" width="200"></a></div><a href="http://www.cardamomhill.net./">Asha Gomez</a> has taken the Atlanta food scene by storm, not once but twice. She was the mastermind behind Spice Route Supper Club, an underground supper club, where she explored the breadth of India’s culinary traditions by serving five-course meals with themes that focused on a region or an ingredient. After a successful year of home entertaining through her Supper Club, Asha opened her own Indian restaurant, Cardamom Hill in Atlanta. Don&#39;t miss this opportunity to learn from a supper club enthusiast who is now a respected chef in Atlanta!<br> <br> <br> This interactive cooking demonstration will explore and explain eight recipes each day using as much local produce as possible. Saturday’s workshop will be entirely dedicated to vegetarian recipes while Sunday&#39;s menu will include meat and seafood. There are limited seats so be sure to sign up as soon as possible so that you don&#39;t miss out on this unique experience!<br> <br> <b>Join us!</b><br> Saturday &amp; Sunday, June 16th - 17th <br> Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on both days<br> <br> <a href="http://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0006-0006-4101a273124a490daa0ca9ec6023bc80">Register for Culinary India</a><br> <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/culinary-india-two-day-workshop-in.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=qqr4s_9NwyE:nt08jAYQYmw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/qqr4s_9NwyE" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com11http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/culinary-india-two-day-workshop-in.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-30795274847135725152012-05-08T12:55:00.000-06:002012-05-08T18:54:21.573-06:002012-05-08T18:54:21.573-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> After two consecutive hot and dry months, we gladly take precipitation in any form. The clouds opened up yesterday to shower us with rain and by the time I arrived at my friend Dawn&#39;s house in Boulder, the tiny hail bouncing off my car quickly turned into a snow shower.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7156497206/" title="Snow in May brings... by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Snow in May brings..." height="640" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7156497206_650c9b0a34_z.jpg" width="425"></a><br> <i>Snow in May, not unusual. And we like it!</i></div> <br> There was no better day to fry some pakodas, soak them in steaming hot kadhi and warm our insides as we watched the snow come down steadily for a couple of hours. The snow did not stick — which is a good thing — as the parched ground, too, got its fix. <br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7156647426/" title="chopped by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="chopped" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7241/7156647426_5b2f48a418_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>chopped ginger and serranos</i></div> <br> My friend, Dawn, learned this kadhi from her husband, who in turn was trained by his mother. Her in-laws hail from a small village called Shergarh in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. <br> <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/in-kitchen-with-dawn.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=Mwz8iTJ6Kmo:HZH24gx-gEQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/Mwz8iTJ6Kmo" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com28http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/05/in-kitchen-with-dawn.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-2943393045912367722012-04-16T15:45:00.000-06:002012-04-16T15:46:58.325-06:002012-04-16T15:46:58.325-06:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> The end of the first quarter of the year is always a busy time. It&#39;s also spring break. Unfortunately for me, spring break is slowly becoming synonymous with poor health. Last year, I was hit by shingles; this year, it was a tryst with the dreaded flu. It was, therefore, a good thing that our spring ski getaway was canceled, albeit for completely unrelated reasons. Not only was there mainly slush on the slopes due to unseasonably warm temperatures, but March also proved to be one of the driest months for the mountains, instead of the snowiest.<br> <br> I&#39;ve been busy. That&#39;s always good, especially in these trying times.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/6938973464/" title="Green Beans Koshimbir by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Green Beans Koshimbir" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/6938973464_b150cfded6_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Green beans koshimbir</i></div> <br> The only recipe I have for you in this post is my <a href="http://boulder.wholefoodsmarketcooking.com/blog/4213_indian_food_rocks">Green Beans Koshimbir</a>, written for my <b>Cooking Boulder</b> column. Take a look and let me know what you think, if you try it.<br> <br> I do have more to food-related stuff to share though! I went to my first food swap yesterday. It was organized by the <a href="http://www.milehighswappers.com/">Mile High Swappers</a>, a community that I have been following since it was launched a little less than a year ago. I tried to make it to a swap in Boulder in March but that was doomed from the start so I decided that the April swap would have to be it. I roped in my friends, Lisa and Zara. Zara convinced her sister, Tarahta, to join us. We gave her only about 15 minutes notice, as long as it took for us to drive to her house to pick her up on our way to the swap, hosted by Stonebridge Farm in Lyons.<br> <br> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarmate/7084953485/" title="Idyllic by .Manisha., on Flickr"><img alt="Idyllic" height="425" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/7084953485_b47b2869c0_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>The ubiquitous red barn, at Stonebridge Farm</i></div> <br> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/04/my-first-mile-high-swap.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=6KpM2Tf7bI0:l14Rvi7sDF8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/6KpM2Tf7bI0" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com11http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/04/my-first-mile-high-swap.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156654.post-46057291149318703672012-03-08T00:45:00.000-07:002012-03-08T17:04:38.654-07:002012-03-08T17:04:38.654-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> If you&#39;ve been reading my blog for a while then you probably know that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi">Holi</a> is not one of my favorite festivals. While I never cared much for celebrating with color and the liberal dousing with water as part of the <i>Rangapanchami</i> or <i>Dhulivandan</i> celebrations, I did enjoy the <a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2009/03/dal-matters-whole-moong-dal.html">real Holi</a> a great deal. <br> <br> Apart from puran poli, masala milk or thandai is a milky treat that is always served on Holi. <br> <br> I have never attempted making puran poli and when my friend from grad school asked me if I had a recipe for thandai, it occurred to me that I hadn&#39;t made that either. My excuse for not making puran poli is that it is daunting, especially the way my mother used to make it. Helping was always easier. As for thandai or masala milk? Well, we are all lactose intolerant. But that also meant that Medha has never had thandai and I felt the need to fix that.<br> <br> <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1tohtBg7_k/T1hG0hmhZHI/AAAAAAAAHB8/1HsNo7sxC98/s1600/Thandai-1297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A1tohtBg7_k/T1hG0hmhZHI/AAAAAAAAHB8/1HsNo7sxC98/s640/Thandai-1297.jpg" width="640"></a><br> <i>Happy Holi!</i></div> </div><a href="http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/03/celebrating-spring-with-colors.html#more">Read on...</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Contents & images copyright © 2003 - 2013<br /> Indian Food Rocks<br /> http://www.indianfoodrocks.com</div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?a=WezoECo4HMk:pBoE2Q_2EaE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/IndianFoodRocks?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/IndianFoodRocks/~4/WezoECo4HMk" height="1" width="1"/>Manisha Pandithttps://plus.google.com/109439220446024348061noreply@blogger.com23http://www.indianfoodrocks.com/2012/03/celebrating-spring-with-colors.html