Improvisation!

I take the pains to read recipes. Then I shop accordingly. Someone put a lot of soul into the recipe, I should respect that. I get home, wash up and then the improvisation starts. the funny thing i shop by recipe. So i have EVERYTHING I need and still, I see these delicious things I bought in an inspired moment of unthinking indulgence. Some have never been used and are sitting on the shelf saying 'pick me'. And I do. So what started out as a Peach and walnut sundae became a fresh mango and chocolate fudge ice cream drizzled with rich caramel served with fresh pound cake from the bakery near my house.

I think its safe to say it wasn't at all the delicate balance of flavour that a peach and walnut sundae made  with roasted almond vanilla ice cream would have been, but it was an explosion of colour and flavour. I didn't have blueberries or red berries which would have added a certain tartness to cut the overwhelming sweetness of all the ingredients.

I sat in my balcony and ate it while the rain came down in heavy sheets.

Today I shall make some cottage cheese with leeks - shall i yahoo???

Sunday's Dip is Monday's Dressing

So I threw together a salad and dressed it with some green garlic dip from the day before. A little salt and lime and honey mustard to cut the tartiness. Okay this was in order to make myself feel better about the icecream I ordered for my sundaes. I made the hot caramel dip yesterday. But instead of adding pecans to the vanilla I used roast almond praline with warm caramel. So good that I think I will keep the calories forever more! *sigh*

Tonight Fresh Peach Sundae with Walnuts. Shall I stick to Plain Vanilla or try Butterscotch? Decisions, decisions!

Salad Siren

I have started to enjoy my greenish thumb! Sprouted Mung was sauteed with garam masala and salt etc, then chopped tomatoes, cucumber, green chutney and chaat masala.... Its SO quick, sooo healthy and perfect to fill the tummy before you eat. It is also a great way to offset the disaster mea that follows. For once it wasnt one I had cooked.

On a separate note, I have decided to run the half marathon this year - next year - well jan 2011. Galvanising it to have momentum of its own is hard, but tomorrow we start running in anticipation. Run rq Run - its the onyl way the cooking calories will ever crawl off!!!

Today I am making Spinach soup. I am very confused about the cold milk being poured in just before serving. Will post tom.

The art of underwhelming

I hate planning for a dish before I actually have to cook it. Like a day ahead. I got so involved in the damn apple sweetness in my spagetti that I have
Now added half a green apple to my aragula, peppers and cheese salad. Fresh lime and salt and pepper is going to have to suffice as I am not too anxious to even put balsamic vinegar!

The brilliance of the monthly menu

So I have the menu. It's fabulous. And it gives me a jolt in the right directtion every now and then, and nudges me towards the warmth of my eggshell kitchen. In my menu there is balance of the RDBS (roti, dal, bhaat shaak) for the non-Mongias and some mixes of different cuisine. Some of which HAS to be done by me.

To this end I searched and found a most interesting child friendly recipe of spagetti bolognaise. On Annabell Karmel. With a bit of apple to add a slight sweetness to it, that children supposedly love. I am not totally sold on the apple, but will be substituting the meatballs for me and trying it tomorrow evening.

Right now, I have it easy. it's almost impossible to go wrong with a feta salad!

Bon appetite et Bon nuit!

It is surely time to stir up some trouble

I am enjoying not cooking but I am missing it. A Summer spent on the tennis court making a fool of myself and in the pool, I have decided to cool again. Monsoon compels me to try some soups! Any suggestions?