York University's teaching assistants have been on strike since November 6th, 2008. According to much of the local media outlets it looks like there isn't a near end in sight. I've been trying my best to stay occupied by getting ahead on my readings for school but to no avail. That's not to say I'm not getting anything done.
Today I played with Potato as awful lot. She's a cat that's a dog and loves to play fetch with Matt and I. I also painted some bland looking picture frames which I used to hang some postcards up in the bedroom. I also made a mixed cd for a friend all the way in Hawkstone (which is essentially Oro if you know the local geography of Simcoe County).
Yes, I am getting some "stuff" done.
I am also piling into my belly all kinds of yummy food. I've been making delicious breakfast for myself, since I now have the time to make myself something healthful. I have also had the chance to eat a fantastic brunch at Easy Restaurant located in Parkdale on the corner of Queen St. W. and Roncesvales.
My friend Mandy (who also has time off due to the strike) decided to grab some brunch and discuss upcoming school projects. However, all we ended up talking about was how delicious the food was and other random brunch topics. I had the huevos divorciados and my gosh was it ever good. Perfectly fried sunnyside up eggs on a corn tortilla. Topped with black beans and two types of salsa. On the side, slices of garlic toasts, chipotle jam, and crisp rosemary homefries. I couldn't have asked for a more delicious and filling meal. Yet I did not feel overstuffed. I wasn't left feeling parched either. Everything was literally perfect. I'd definitely recommend it.
So as you can tell, despite the strike I am in being fully productive and getting things done!
Maybe I'll get another brunch date soon. This strike already feels like it's gone on forever.
11.19.2008
11.11.2008
11.02.2008
Fall, Fall, It's a Magical Time!
So the thing about fall is that, well, is that it's the best season of all! I love the cardigans, the scarves and mittens. I also love the soups and roasting of vegetables. Aaand I especially love the way the kitchen gets so warm and filled with yummy smells when I bake cookies and breads. I never even need to turn the heat on in the apartment in the fall as long as I bake frequently.
I rarely bake non-vegan cookies these days. I'm not vegan myself although I often aim to be. I still eat cheese in insane quantities and love a nice bowl of chocolate ice cream from time to time. But when I bake, I always make enough for friends. I tend to associate baked goods with enjoying eating them with my friends. And as it happens a lot of my friends are vegan. I also find that there are a multitude of vegan cookie recipes out there in the world of er, recipes.
One cookbook that I find myself relying on the most is Dreena Burton's Vive le Vegan. Her recipes are easy, healthful and they are perfect especially for anyone who thinks that all vegans eat are tofu, nuts and water.
Now, my most favourite recipe in her cookbook is Burton's Maple Walnut cookie recipe. Very few ingredients are needed and it takes no more than 25 mins to complete.
And one of the best parts of this vegan cookie recipe is that they stay MOIST! Any vegan cookie recipe I have ever made before this one, despite it's deliciousness, tend to be crisp. And I do like a crisp cookie from time to time, but sometimes I just like to cuddle into a fleecy throw blanket, turn on a movie and eat soft chewy cookies. Such as the ones above. So there. Look up Dreena Burton's cookbook and find her recipe for Maple Walnut cookies. They are just scumptious.
Oh, and I suppose that I should mention that I ran out of walnuts a while back so I just used pecans instead. Still amazingly yummy.
I think a warm kitchen with a batch of cookies cooling on the counter is basically one of my major symbols of fall. I'll be enjoying these last few weeks before I have to start lacing up the boots and putting on the parka. You should be too!
I rarely bake non-vegan cookies these days. I'm not vegan myself although I often aim to be. I still eat cheese in insane quantities and love a nice bowl of chocolate ice cream from time to time. But when I bake, I always make enough for friends. I tend to associate baked goods with enjoying eating them with my friends. And as it happens a lot of my friends are vegan. I also find that there are a multitude of vegan cookie recipes out there in the world of er, recipes.
One cookbook that I find myself relying on the most is Dreena Burton's Vive le Vegan. Her recipes are easy, healthful and they are perfect especially for anyone who thinks that all vegans eat are tofu, nuts and water.
Now, my most favourite recipe in her cookbook is Burton's Maple Walnut cookie recipe. Very few ingredients are needed and it takes no more than 25 mins to complete.
And one of the best parts of this vegan cookie recipe is that they stay MOIST! Any vegan cookie recipe I have ever made before this one, despite it's deliciousness, tend to be crisp. And I do like a crisp cookie from time to time, but sometimes I just like to cuddle into a fleecy throw blanket, turn on a movie and eat soft chewy cookies. Such as the ones above. So there. Look up Dreena Burton's cookbook and find her recipe for Maple Walnut cookies. They are just scumptious.Oh, and I suppose that I should mention that I ran out of walnuts a while back so I just used pecans instead. Still amazingly yummy.
I think a warm kitchen with a batch of cookies cooling on the counter is basically one of my major symbols of fall. I'll be enjoying these last few weeks before I have to start lacing up the boots and putting on the parka. You should be too!
10.15.2008
Slightly Sick and Being at School
I am such an awful blogger. I know! But I have a very good excuse you see. I am now back at school working on finishing my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at York University. See, it is a very good excuse.
Anyway, I won't be writing much today. I'm feeling like I have a tad bit of a cold. I've drinking lots of honey lemon tea, and hopefully the next time I have a break between readings and studying, I will be able to post a proper blog and regale you with stories of eating yummy food!
Until then, eat well and enjoy my most favourite season of all, FALL!!
Anyway, I won't be writing much today. I'm feeling like I have a tad bit of a cold. I've drinking lots of honey lemon tea, and hopefully the next time I have a break between readings and studying, I will be able to post a proper blog and regale you with stories of eating yummy food!
Until then, eat well and enjoy my most favourite season of all, FALL!!
9.01.2008
The Time To Reflect
So it's been basically a month since I last posted, and because of that I apologize profusely. I especially apologize to my two readers because I doubt anyone else ever comes on here just because it's me. :)
Anyhow, it has been a very busy few weeks. I start back at school for the first time in three years since I dropped out of university. I start in a matter of days in fact! I've spent the last three weeks filling out OSAP forms, signing OSAP forms, and mailing out OSAP forms. I've also spent a lot of time making sure I've gathered up all of my school supplies. I finally bought my very first flashdrive. I hope I don't lose that tiny thing!
I'm also trying to think of what on earth I can take to school with me for snacks and lunches and even dinners, as I'll end up on campus until 9pm. As a student I really don't have the funds to buy snacks and meals every time I'm on campus far from home. So far I'm stuck on banana bread. It's so easy to bake and transport. I've never been much of a sandwich person, but I think I'm going to have to start to. Although there are microwaves for public use on site, I'm thinking that I'm going to get annoyed with my Tupperware clunking around in my bag all day. I think I'm also going to have to give in to convienence foods. Not microwave dinner style convienence foods but maybe some yogurt cups or all-natural granola bars here and there. Meag, you're always coming up with good ideas, give me a recipe or two!
I won't have to worry too much about this for the first month of school though. The month of Ramadan starts tomorrow, which means I'll be refraining from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. Muslim all over the world will be doing the same as myself. Waking themselves up at dawn to have a nice breakfast and making an intention to keep their fast for the entirerity of the day and then some, like myself will go back to bed to squeeze in a couple more hours of sleep. Then after as the sun sets they will break their fast with a glass of water and a sweet date. For me, like other Muslims, this is a time for spiritual reflection. I think about what I eat, how I eat it and where it came from. I think about those who have no choice but to fast all of the time. Giving what little food they have to feed their children or to their ailing parents. Those who have no choice but to walk miles on end just to find themselves and their families clean drinking water. I think of how I live my life on a daily basis. I reflect on the good and the bad aspects of it. What in my life can be improved...
Some people think that Ramadan and fasting must be so painstaking. But the amount of time one has to fast is merely a matter of hours. In all honesty, the first few days for me are hard. It takes a day or two for me to find a rhythm and a routine. But as long as I keep myself busy, reflect and do all the things that need to get done, the month of Ramadan passes by sometimes too quickly.
Anyhow, wish me luck in school and I hope you're enjoying the last dyas of the summer!
Anyhow, it has been a very busy few weeks. I start back at school for the first time in three years since I dropped out of university. I start in a matter of days in fact! I've spent the last three weeks filling out OSAP forms, signing OSAP forms, and mailing out OSAP forms. I've also spent a lot of time making sure I've gathered up all of my school supplies. I finally bought my very first flashdrive. I hope I don't lose that tiny thing!
I'm also trying to think of what on earth I can take to school with me for snacks and lunches and even dinners, as I'll end up on campus until 9pm. As a student I really don't have the funds to buy snacks and meals every time I'm on campus far from home. So far I'm stuck on banana bread. It's so easy to bake and transport. I've never been much of a sandwich person, but I think I'm going to have to start to. Although there are microwaves for public use on site, I'm thinking that I'm going to get annoyed with my Tupperware clunking around in my bag all day. I think I'm also going to have to give in to convienence foods. Not microwave dinner style convienence foods but maybe some yogurt cups or all-natural granola bars here and there. Meag, you're always coming up with good ideas, give me a recipe or two!
I won't have to worry too much about this for the first month of school though. The month of Ramadan starts tomorrow, which means I'll be refraining from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. Muslim all over the world will be doing the same as myself. Waking themselves up at dawn to have a nice breakfast and making an intention to keep their fast for the entirerity of the day and then some, like myself will go back to bed to squeeze in a couple more hours of sleep. Then after as the sun sets they will break their fast with a glass of water and a sweet date. For me, like other Muslims, this is a time for spiritual reflection. I think about what I eat, how I eat it and where it came from. I think about those who have no choice but to fast all of the time. Giving what little food they have to feed their children or to their ailing parents. Those who have no choice but to walk miles on end just to find themselves and their families clean drinking water. I think of how I live my life on a daily basis. I reflect on the good and the bad aspects of it. What in my life can be improved...
Some people think that Ramadan and fasting must be so painstaking. But the amount of time one has to fast is merely a matter of hours. In all honesty, the first few days for me are hard. It takes a day or two for me to find a rhythm and a routine. But as long as I keep myself busy, reflect and do all the things that need to get done, the month of Ramadan passes by sometimes too quickly.
Anyhow, wish me luck in school and I hope you're enjoying the last dyas of the summer!
8.05.2008
My Attempt At Being Self-Sustaining
I recently finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. It's a fantastic book, that's kind of a memoir, but also provides a lot of useful information about eating seasonally and locally. After finishing the book a few weeks ago I've been inspired to try my best to eat as locally and as seasonally as possible. This provided me with a bit of a problem as well. You see, I live in a city. A city that is mainly concrete. So yes, I'm sure you can see how this could be problematic. Kingsolver herself lives on a farm with a reasonably large plot of land where she grows many varieties of many different vegetables, along with fruit trees and her own heritage breed turkeys. Being ever so crafty, I've managed to grow a tomato plant, some sweet peas, some peppers, herbs and carrots on my tiny little balcony. I've been eating and enjoying my very minimal bounty over the past few weeks as well. Of course this is not remotely enough food to sustain me over the months so I must head to the Liberty Village farmer's market every Sunday morning. This month I've been loading up on breads, tomatoes, broccoli, potatoes, okra and onions among other in season foods.
Come winter I'm thinking I'll probably have to do what I usually do most winters. Which is to go to the chain grocery store and buy veggies and fruit that have travelled a gazillion miles in order to get to the store and to my canvas sac. But Kingsolver says that it does not have to be that it just doesn't have to be that way, even if, like me, you live in a city of concrete where as soon as fall ends, the farmer's market closes up. Canning, freezing and dehydrating are all great ways to save all your farmer's market bounty.
So, I gave it a try. My good friend Evan, who when it comes to cooking, is one of the best I know, gave me a recipe to try. Sun-dried tomatoes! Now let me tell you, I just love sun-dried tomatoes. Being the weirdo I am, I have been known to eat store bought sun-dried tomatoes straight out of the bag, as a snack! So when Evan gave me the recipe I knew it was one I couldn't just push aside.
His recipe called for roma tomatoes, cut into thirds lengthwise with the seeds and juices removed. Toss the thirds with some olive oil, fresh rosemary, minced garlic, salt, sugar and pepper. Then throw them in a single layer on parchment paper lined sheet pans and into the oven at 200 or the lowest setting and let them hang out in there for about 7 hours or until dehydrated completely.
I adapted the recipe a little bit to suit my needs. The farmer's market lacked roma tomatoes so I made do with some bright red, and very sweet, medium sized ones. And as I had for the first time in many years ran out of garlic, I made do with out those as well.
In my oven, it took about 8 hours for the tomatoes to dehydrate the way I was happy, but man was it ever worth the wait. And all over again, I am eating them straight out of the mason jar! There is just the right amount of balance between the sweetness and the saltiness. And the rosemary gives it a beautiful hit of extra flavour and fragrance.
Although this is one recipe that will help me preserve my food over the winter in my effort to eat locally, I am a bit worried. These tomatoes are freaking delicious and I am going to go through every batch I make in a matter of days I am sure. And like I said, it's only one... But I suppose it's a start!
Take care!
Come winter I'm thinking I'll probably have to do what I usually do most winters. Which is to go to the chain grocery store and buy veggies and fruit that have travelled a gazillion miles in order to get to the store and to my canvas sac. But Kingsolver says that it does not have to be that it just doesn't have to be that way, even if, like me, you live in a city of concrete where as soon as fall ends, the farmer's market closes up. Canning, freezing and dehydrating are all great ways to save all your farmer's market bounty.
So, I gave it a try. My good friend Evan, who when it comes to cooking, is one of the best I know, gave me a recipe to try. Sun-dried tomatoes! Now let me tell you, I just love sun-dried tomatoes. Being the weirdo I am, I have been known to eat store bought sun-dried tomatoes straight out of the bag, as a snack! So when Evan gave me the recipe I knew it was one I couldn't just push aside.
His recipe called for roma tomatoes, cut into thirds lengthwise with the seeds and juices removed. Toss the thirds with some olive oil, fresh rosemary, minced garlic, salt, sugar and pepper. Then throw them in a single layer on parchment paper lined sheet pans and into the oven at 200 or the lowest setting and let them hang out in there for about 7 hours or until dehydrated completely.
I adapted the recipe a little bit to suit my needs. The farmer's market lacked roma tomatoes so I made do with some bright red, and very sweet, medium sized ones. And as I had for the first time in many years ran out of garlic, I made do with out those as well.
In my oven, it took about 8 hours for the tomatoes to dehydrate the way I was happy, but man was it ever worth the wait. And all over again, I am eating them straight out of the mason jar! There is just the right amount of balance between the sweetness and the saltiness. And the rosemary gives it a beautiful hit of extra flavour and fragrance.
Although this is one recipe that will help me preserve my food over the winter in my effort to eat locally, I am a bit worried. These tomatoes are freaking delicious and I am going to go through every batch I make in a matter of days I am sure. And like I said, it's only one... But I suppose it's a start!
Take care!
7.21.2008
Rainy Weekend
I vowed this past Friday that it would be a good weekend. The meteorologist had been calling for rain over the weekend and boy was he right. It rained and it rained and it rained basically all weekend. But like I said, I vowed that it would be a good weekend. Even though Matt and I both worked on the Saturday, I just knew it would be a good weekend.
And it was.
We were lazy all Friday and Saturday night and ate lazy food because even though there was rain, it was hot. And rain + heat = gross, sticky weather that sucks for standing in front of a stove and cooking.
We ate yummy take out from Ali's Roti on the Friday. Going to Ali's is always a bit of an adventure. I say this because Ali's is located right in the heart of Parkdale. And if you're not familiar with the Parkdale neighbourhood, well, some parts, at certain parts of the day are a slight bit "sketchy". The majority of the the folk in this part of town are fantastic, but there are a few people who are best described as a little "off". So it really wasn't too much of a surprise when Matt and I made it to Ali's Friday evening to find a younger lady in a belly-dancing style bikini with tassles and dangley things causing a bit of a ruckus with the order takers. Interesting beginning to the weekend to say the least.
But really, of all the days in the weekend, Sunday took the cake. It rained all day and all afternoon. But didn't stop us from heading to Liberty Village at 9:30am in the pouring rain to the MyMarket farmer's market. Ridiculous amounts from heirloom tomatoes were purchased, along with baby red potatoes, purple beans, cauliflower, broccoli, Monckton twelve grain bread, and Monforte Dairy cheddar that has little bits of garlic scape embedded with in. We got soaking wet in the process but when I got home to make breakfast I had a breakfast of a champion! My version anyhow:
Toasted 12 grain with garlic scape cheddar. Topped with a perfectly cooked poached egg and with a side of rosemary baby red potato homefries. Mmmm.
There's a new coffee shop that recently opened by the farmer's market. I've been meaning to check it out for some time and with the rainy, soggy weather and seeing as how Matt nor I had our customary Sunday morning coffee we couldn't think of any reason not to go. The coffee shop is called Balzac Coffee, and it's actually the coffee used in the local Mill St. microbrewery's coffee porter. All of the coffee is fair trade as well which is always a big plus. The shop itself is very welcoming. Bar tables are found all along the huge windows and tables can be shared near the far end of the cafe. It was really nice just sitting at the window bar watching the rain fall onto the pot holey roads with a cup of dark coffee.
To end out our Sunday afternoon, with the best possible bang, Matt and I walked to the nearest Cineplex Theatre (in the rain of course) to see BATMAN: THE DARK NIGHT in IMAX!!!! Oh boy, I need to tell you, it is seriously a must see. Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger totally stole to show. To be honest I was more excited during the movie when their characters were on the screen than when Batman was. *sigh*... So good!
The weekend was all I could've hoped for. Great food, delicious coffee, walks through the city and Batman. Rainy weather used to be such a thorn in my side. But really, it just meant that by the end of the weekend, the weather cooled down a little, and my patio garden got a well deserved drink!
Now to just get through another work week.
And it was.
We were lazy all Friday and Saturday night and ate lazy food because even though there was rain, it was hot. And rain + heat = gross, sticky weather that sucks for standing in front of a stove and cooking.
We ate yummy take out from Ali's Roti on the Friday. Going to Ali's is always a bit of an adventure. I say this because Ali's is located right in the heart of Parkdale. And if you're not familiar with the Parkdale neighbourhood, well, some parts, at certain parts of the day are a slight bit "sketchy". The majority of the the folk in this part of town are fantastic, but there are a few people who are best described as a little "off". So it really wasn't too much of a surprise when Matt and I made it to Ali's Friday evening to find a younger lady in a belly-dancing style bikini with tassles and dangley things causing a bit of a ruckus with the order takers. Interesting beginning to the weekend to say the least.
But really, of all the days in the weekend, Sunday took the cake. It rained all day and all afternoon. But didn't stop us from heading to Liberty Village at 9:30am in the pouring rain to the MyMarket farmer's market. Ridiculous amounts from heirloom tomatoes were purchased, along with baby red potatoes, purple beans, cauliflower, broccoli, Monckton twelve grain bread, and Monforte Dairy cheddar that has little bits of garlic scape embedded with in. We got soaking wet in the process but when I got home to make breakfast I had a breakfast of a champion! My version anyhow:
Toasted 12 grain with garlic scape cheddar. Topped with a perfectly cooked poached egg and with a side of rosemary baby red potato homefries. Mmmm.
There's a new coffee shop that recently opened by the farmer's market. I've been meaning to check it out for some time and with the rainy, soggy weather and seeing as how Matt nor I had our customary Sunday morning coffee we couldn't think of any reason not to go. The coffee shop is called Balzac Coffee, and it's actually the coffee used in the local Mill St. microbrewery's coffee porter. All of the coffee is fair trade as well which is always a big plus. The shop itself is very welcoming. Bar tables are found all along the huge windows and tables can be shared near the far end of the cafe. It was really nice just sitting at the window bar watching the rain fall onto the pot holey roads with a cup of dark coffee.
To end out our Sunday afternoon, with the best possible bang, Matt and I walked to the nearest Cineplex Theatre (in the rain of course) to see BATMAN: THE DARK NIGHT in IMAX!!!! Oh boy, I need to tell you, it is seriously a must see. Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger totally stole to show. To be honest I was more excited during the movie when their characters were on the screen than when Batman was. *sigh*... So good!
The weekend was all I could've hoped for. Great food, delicious coffee, walks through the city and Batman. Rainy weather used to be such a thorn in my side. But really, it just meant that by the end of the weekend, the weather cooled down a little, and my patio garden got a well deserved drink!
Now to just get through another work week.
7.08.2008
I slack and I eat.
I have indeed been slacking for the past two weeks, but I should mention that it is because I have been busy eating delicious food.
I am still slacking today, so will not be elaborating much on the matter.
I swear I will be writing something remotely interesting in the very near future. Possibly about the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich I had at Brazen Head Irish Pub this weekend... Or maybe about the soft, sweet roasted beets I cooked last week. Whatever it is I write it will certainly be about something yummy!
Until then, eat well and be merry!
I am still slacking today, so will not be elaborating much on the matter.
I swear I will be writing something remotely interesting in the very near future. Possibly about the most amazing grilled cheese sandwich I had at Brazen Head Irish Pub this weekend... Or maybe about the soft, sweet roasted beets I cooked last week. Whatever it is I write it will certainly be about something yummy!
Until then, eat well and be merry!
7.01.2008
Happy Canada Day!
Happy Canada Day to all. Our country has now turned 141 years old!
I am quite happy to have a day off in the middle of the week. Although, to be honest, I would have much preferred a three day weekend. Damn you calendar!
None the less, a day off in the middle of the week is always welcome and the morning was spent garage sale-ing with my boyfriend Matt and dear friend Meag. Matt managed to find 16 comic books for $6 which really is quite a score if you know comic books but unfortunately Meag and I found absolutely nothing. So we just went into some our favourite stores in Roncesvalles Village near Meag's place which is not far from our Parkdale apartment. She and I both found two fantastic cookbooks at Another Story Bookshop.
Mine, called Calcutta Kitchen is a beautiful cookbook featuring all Bengali recipes (both Muslim and Hindu) from the bustling city. There are elegant photos on almost every page, with many recipes evoking childhood memories from living with my parents and visiting their homeland. I called my parents at home in Barrie, Ontario as soon I as got back to the apartment describing the different recipes found in the book.
The thing about having a day off on a holiday, especially in the middle of the week is that the majority of the stores in Ontario are closed. Banks, government buildings and grocery stores are all closed. And on a random weekday, well, there isn't always much to do. But that is where spontaneity comes into play!
We decided to have a nice little lunch together. Matt and I had already gone to the farmer's market over the weekend so we certainly had vegetables to spare. And Meag's papa had just given her some leftover vegetarian chili he had made for the baseball team he coaches. We popped over to Meag's and picked up the chili, some smoked cheddar and strawberries and then made our way back to my apartment.
I dressed some asparagus with olive oil, salt and black pepper and shoved it into the oven. We reheated the Papa Chili and with in a few minutes we had a ridiculously filling lunch. Of course this didn't stop us from eating some of the smoked cheddar, a pint of Ontario strawberries, vegetable crackers with store bought roasted red hummus and artichoke and asiago tapenade . Matt made us some coffee and we sunk into reading through our new found comic and cookbooks. All the while Potato bellowing out to be let out onto the porch.
The next thing we knew, it was six o'clock and we were still sitting at the kitchen table reading, drinking, eating. So now, as it slowly turns eight o'clock, with Meag sitting across from my going through my cookbooks and writing down recipes, and Matt doing whatever he's doing in the livingroom, I'm deciding what to cook us for dinner.
Eight-twenty.
Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) is what has been decided and it is now cooking away in the wok. In a few minutes I'll be adding some spices and giving it a few quick turnovers.
And that's that. That is my Canada Day. My entire day full of walks, finds, books, loved ones and of course, food. And soon we'll be finishing it all off with some bowlfuls of golden spiced cauliflower and potatoes topped with squeezes of fresh lime juice and springs of cilantro!
I think that is what Canada has always been about too right? Being spontaneous. Spending time with close friends and family, relaxing, eating, and enjoying the one of the few days of sunny weather we get in our short summer months.
I am quite happy to have a day off in the middle of the week. Although, to be honest, I would have much preferred a three day weekend. Damn you calendar!
None the less, a day off in the middle of the week is always welcome and the morning was spent garage sale-ing with my boyfriend Matt and dear friend Meag. Matt managed to find 16 comic books for $6 which really is quite a score if you know comic books but unfortunately Meag and I found absolutely nothing. So we just went into some our favourite stores in Roncesvalles Village near Meag's place which is not far from our Parkdale apartment. She and I both found two fantastic cookbooks at Another Story Bookshop.
Mine, called Calcutta Kitchen is a beautiful cookbook featuring all Bengali recipes (both Muslim and Hindu) from the bustling city. There are elegant photos on almost every page, with many recipes evoking childhood memories from living with my parents and visiting their homeland. I called my parents at home in Barrie, Ontario as soon I as got back to the apartment describing the different recipes found in the book.
The thing about having a day off on a holiday, especially in the middle of the week is that the majority of the stores in Ontario are closed. Banks, government buildings and grocery stores are all closed. And on a random weekday, well, there isn't always much to do. But that is where spontaneity comes into play!
We decided to have a nice little lunch together. Matt and I had already gone to the farmer's market over the weekend so we certainly had vegetables to spare. And Meag's papa had just given her some leftover vegetarian chili he had made for the baseball team he coaches. We popped over to Meag's and picked up the chili, some smoked cheddar and strawberries and then made our way back to my apartment.
I dressed some asparagus with olive oil, salt and black pepper and shoved it into the oven. We reheated the Papa Chili and with in a few minutes we had a ridiculously filling lunch. Of course this didn't stop us from eating some of the smoked cheddar, a pint of Ontario strawberries, vegetable crackers with store bought roasted red hummus and artichoke and asiago tapenade . Matt made us some coffee and we sunk into reading through our new found comic and cookbooks. All the while Potato bellowing out to be let out onto the porch.
The next thing we knew, it was six o'clock and we were still sitting at the kitchen table reading, drinking, eating. So now, as it slowly turns eight o'clock, with Meag sitting across from my going through my cookbooks and writing down recipes, and Matt doing whatever he's doing in the livingroom, I'm deciding what to cook us for dinner.
Eight-twenty.
Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) is what has been decided and it is now cooking away in the wok. In a few minutes I'll be adding some spices and giving it a few quick turnovers.
And that's that. That is my Canada Day. My entire day full of walks, finds, books, loved ones and of course, food. And soon we'll be finishing it all off with some bowlfuls of golden spiced cauliflower and potatoes topped with squeezes of fresh lime juice and springs of cilantro!
I think that is what Canada has always been about too right? Being spontaneous. Spending time with close friends and family, relaxing, eating, and enjoying the one of the few days of sunny weather we get in our short summer months.
6.30.2008
My Mom's Tamarind Sauce
I spent a couple of hours yesterday evening working on a recipe I got from my mom over the phone.
Tamarind sauce or in Bangla (my family background) tetul sauce.
I remember it being around the house often as a child. It was always served during dinner parties or with savory Bengali snacks. Often it was store bought, but there were certainly times when my mom would take the time to make it herself as it really isn't too strenuous of a task.
You can buy tamarind from any South Asian grocery store or specialty food store. It usually comes in 230 gram blocks made up of the pulp from the fruit. It is quite tart as is, but makes a great base for a sauce perfect for dipping samosas or dressing up a simple dish.
My mom told be to use half of the block and soak it in water for about an hour.
I kind of broke it up in the water and left it to sit.
Then as I waited for the tamarind to soften, I dry roasted about a tablespoon each of cumin seeds and coriander seeds and 4 dried red chili peppers my cast iron pan. Once they started to pop and change colour I transfered it all into a coffee grinder and pulsed until it was a fine powder.
My tamarind was soon soft to work with and I put a mesh sieve that fit nicely over a bowl. I mashed up the tamarind in the original bowl until it was kind of mushy and then dumped it into the strainer. I pushed it around in the sieve to get all the liquid and pulp into the bowl and keep the seeds and skins back. Then I scraped all the leftovers back into the original soaking bowl and added half a cup of water. I repeated the whole mashing, straining, pushing around bit once more to make sure I got every little bit of pulp.
Next you need to heat about 4-5 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a medium sauce pan. I added half of my spices and cooked them for 2 minutes on medium heat and then added the liquid tamarind. A few pinches of salt and half a cup of sugar were added next, stirred and cooked through. After about ten minutes of stirring often I lowered the heat and tasted. This is the point where you decide how sweet or spicy you want the sauce. I went ahead and added another half a cup of sugar to cut down even further on the tartness of the tamarind and the rest of the spices to give it that earthy spiciness I love.
Cook it until it's at the consistency you like and pour in into a clean jar and stow it away in the fridge!
I was fairly impressed with my first try. I made the mistake of putting too much oil in my saucepan and had to drain the majority of it off the top of my final product. Otherwise the sauce turned out thick, rich and flavourful!
I've always thought my mom to be an amazing cook. Not just because most children say that about the the primary cook who fed them, but because she actually is. Everything she learned has been passed down to her from the women in her family. Rarely have I seen her look at a recipe. Generally it's always been a pinch of this, and pinch of that. Tasting and adding until she gets it right. And once it's perfected she somehow seems to remember the recipe for future use. It's always something that's impressed me about her. She makes a recipe she heard from someone else, and if she likes how it turns out, she'll remember it and make it again.
She makes the best samosas. Which the above sauce goes spectacularly with. She'll have to teach me how to make those next.
Tamarind sauce or in Bangla (my family background) tetul sauce.
I remember it being around the house often as a child. It was always served during dinner parties or with savory Bengali snacks. Often it was store bought, but there were certainly times when my mom would take the time to make it herself as it really isn't too strenuous of a task.
You can buy tamarind from any South Asian grocery store or specialty food store. It usually comes in 230 gram blocks made up of the pulp from the fruit. It is quite tart as is, but makes a great base for a sauce perfect for dipping samosas or dressing up a simple dish.
My mom told be to use half of the block and soak it in water for about an hour.
I kind of broke it up in the water and left it to sit.
Then as I waited for the tamarind to soften, I dry roasted about a tablespoon each of cumin seeds and coriander seeds and 4 dried red chili peppers my cast iron pan. Once they started to pop and change colour I transfered it all into a coffee grinder and pulsed until it was a fine powder.
My tamarind was soon soft to work with and I put a mesh sieve that fit nicely over a bowl. I mashed up the tamarind in the original bowl until it was kind of mushy and then dumped it into the strainer. I pushed it around in the sieve to get all the liquid and pulp into the bowl and keep the seeds and skins back. Then I scraped all the leftovers back into the original soaking bowl and added half a cup of water. I repeated the whole mashing, straining, pushing around bit once more to make sure I got every little bit of pulp.
Next you need to heat about 4-5 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a medium sauce pan. I added half of my spices and cooked them for 2 minutes on medium heat and then added the liquid tamarind. A few pinches of salt and half a cup of sugar were added next, stirred and cooked through. After about ten minutes of stirring often I lowered the heat and tasted. This is the point where you decide how sweet or spicy you want the sauce. I went ahead and added another half a cup of sugar to cut down even further on the tartness of the tamarind and the rest of the spices to give it that earthy spiciness I love.
Cook it until it's at the consistency you like and pour in into a clean jar and stow it away in the fridge!
I was fairly impressed with my first try. I made the mistake of putting too much oil in my saucepan and had to drain the majority of it off the top of my final product. Otherwise the sauce turned out thick, rich and flavourful!
I've always thought my mom to be an amazing cook. Not just because most children say that about the the primary cook who fed them, but because she actually is. Everything she learned has been passed down to her from the women in her family. Rarely have I seen her look at a recipe. Generally it's always been a pinch of this, and pinch of that. Tasting and adding until she gets it right. And once it's perfected she somehow seems to remember the recipe for future use. It's always something that's impressed me about her. She makes a recipe she heard from someone else, and if she likes how it turns out, she'll remember it and make it again.
She makes the best samosas. Which the above sauce goes spectacularly with. She'll have to teach me how to make those next.
6.29.2008
The First One
Other than some random ramblings on Myspace a few years back, I have to say the blogging world is still a little new for me. Or at least it feels that way. Perhaps it's because it's been so long since I've even written anything publicly. So bear with me as I try and get some footing.
I decided to call my blog "Potato and Chickpeas" for two simple reasons:
1. I eat both regularly. They are two of the most versatile foods. With chickpeas, you can make flour, hummus, curries, falafels, etc.. With potatoes not only are there many, many varieties but there are a multitude of ways to cook them as well. Both are so easy to cook and both are absolutely delicious!
2. My cat is named Potato. Mostly likely named as such because of reason no. 1 and how much I love them. You'll probably find notes and anecdotes about her peppered through out.
I suppose the main thing I'll be writing about is how much I love to eat. I really do. It's probably my most favourite thing to do. I love going to the farmer's market with my boyfriend every Sunday and buying the freshest foods, grown in the nearest of locations. I love bringing it all back to our apartment and deciding how to cook it. And once prepared and cooked, sitting down and taking the first bite.
There really is such a difference in flavour when you're growing your own foods or buying from a local farmer's market. It is simply so fresh. And with freshness, I always find, comes flavour.
I'm making an attempt to grow a few things on my humble Toronto balcony this summer. Tomatoes, heirloom carrots, sweet peas, jalepeno peppers, red cayenne peppers, rosemary, cilantro and basil. Some are flourishing, while others are admittedly stunted and well, not doing so great. So far I've only managed to make use of the rosemary and cilantro. The first time I tried either I was amazed at how little I actually needed. Whenever I've bought cilantro at the local No Frills grocery store I found I needed a lot more than a few sprigs I need from my garden cilantro. The stuff from the grocery stores travels all the way up from Mexico or California and by the time it gets to my fridge, it's flavourless.
So, I'll leave it at that for my first entry. I hope I'll make the time to come back regularly and write about the new food I've tried, made or bought. I'll also probably talk about some of the local cheese shops, bakeries and farmer's markets in my neighbourhood too. And I will more than likely talk about my beautiful and oh so lovable cat, Potato.
I decided to call my blog "Potato and Chickpeas" for two simple reasons:
1. I eat both regularly. They are two of the most versatile foods. With chickpeas, you can make flour, hummus, curries, falafels, etc.. With potatoes not only are there many, many varieties but there are a multitude of ways to cook them as well. Both are so easy to cook and both are absolutely delicious!
2. My cat is named Potato. Mostly likely named as such because of reason no. 1 and how much I love them. You'll probably find notes and anecdotes about her peppered through out.
I suppose the main thing I'll be writing about is how much I love to eat. I really do. It's probably my most favourite thing to do. I love going to the farmer's market with my boyfriend every Sunday and buying the freshest foods, grown in the nearest of locations. I love bringing it all back to our apartment and deciding how to cook it. And once prepared and cooked, sitting down and taking the first bite.
There really is such a difference in flavour when you're growing your own foods or buying from a local farmer's market. It is simply so fresh. And with freshness, I always find, comes flavour.
I'm making an attempt to grow a few things on my humble Toronto balcony this summer. Tomatoes, heirloom carrots, sweet peas, jalepeno peppers, red cayenne peppers, rosemary, cilantro and basil. Some are flourishing, while others are admittedly stunted and well, not doing so great. So far I've only managed to make use of the rosemary and cilantro. The first time I tried either I was amazed at how little I actually needed. Whenever I've bought cilantro at the local No Frills grocery store I found I needed a lot more than a few sprigs I need from my garden cilantro. The stuff from the grocery stores travels all the way up from Mexico or California and by the time it gets to my fridge, it's flavourless.
So, I'll leave it at that for my first entry. I hope I'll make the time to come back regularly and write about the new food I've tried, made or bought. I'll also probably talk about some of the local cheese shops, bakeries and farmer's markets in my neighbourhood too. And I will more than likely talk about my beautiful and oh so lovable cat, Potato.
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