Russia ~ Beetroot Celery Salad

Grated Beetroot and Celery Salad

Beetroot really is a tasty vegetable. I hope that after reading my post Beet Root, Are you Scared? that you will have a new respect for this often misunderstood and possibly feared veggie. 

My camera was about out of batteries when I decided to take a picture of it, bathed in the glow of the dinning room energy saving light bulb. This was the best shot, and it tastes far better then my shabby picture of it hints to. 

I seem to be getting closer and closer to the food when I am taking pictures here lately. Two reasons, I am tired of looking at the same tired plates in every shot, and I am trying to be more artistic. So if you have never been that up close and personal into your food like that, well here it is in all its Beety Goodness!

Beetroot ~ Are you Scared?

 

Do You Fear the Beet?

How many of you eat Beetroot? Go on I will wait while you either count on one hand the number of dishes that you prepare each month using Beets or search through your childhood memories to try and bring up what it even tastes like. Oh don't worry, I am not about to say anything as I honestly don't remember using it in many dishes myself. I think in a way I feared it. Sure it is one thing in a can, already peeled, sitting in its own processed juices surrounded by metal and placed on a shelf for far longer then is natural for any fruit or vegetable. Even then, in a setting that is familiar, especially for Americans who enjoy the ease and convenience of prepackaged food products, the beet rarely made it onto my monthly meal planner. My childhood memories were of these red vegetables being dumped into a pot, heated and served with whatever protein my mom cooked that night. 

Russia ~ Kartoshka s Gribami

Kartoshka s Gribami

Or, Potatoes and Wild Mushrooms *If you use store bought cheap mushrooms I wonder if you can still call it that* 

Many of you *do many of you even read my blog?* may be wondering where in the heck I ran off too! I mean no new recipes! No new photos! Did this month scare me off? 

The answer is NO, this month did not scare me off :) 

I have been a horrible Blogger, not updating, not adding new content and even though I have made a few more things, I have neglected to sit down and share it with the rest of you. Booooo,.. I know. So lets remedy that shall we?

India ~ Dinner ~ Beetroot Broccoli Curry

Beetroot Broccoli Curry

I had purchased a few Beetroots for a dish I had found online that looked interesting yet when I got around to actually using them, I could not find the recipe for the life of me! A desperate search for any recipe with Beets that could be used with India month led me to very few choices indeed. The recipe I found and used is on a site that does not really provide anything I could copy and paste so I will give you the link to check it out yourself.

India ~ Dinner ~ Aloo Gobi

Aloo Gobi

When I first found this recipe I was slightly turned off of the idea of cauliflower and potatoes, I mean come on, MORE potatoes?! The kids were hungry though and I had purchased cauliflower that was now staring me down every time I opened the fridge looking for something, anything else to make. It mocked me, reminding me that it would sit there and spoil soon if I did not give in and use it already. 

To make a long story short, or at least shorter, I gave in and made Aloo Gobi.

Without ruining the ending too much, I Loved It! Oh wait, I guess that ruined the ending quite well didn't it. So much for suspense. Let's get to the recipe then the review.

India ~ Dinner ~ Cabbage Kofta

 

Cabbage Kofta

So tonight I was going to make an eggplant dish however, my eggplant *sadly pushed to the back of the fridge* did not last until I could get to it :( 

So, I quickly recovered and found a recipe to use the cabbage I had bought. Not Only That! I found a great new website!! Perhaps to many, the discovery of a new website is mundane, nothing really to blog about, but it is entirely too exciting to me! The only thing more exciting to happen these last few days is finding a small spice jar of mustard seeds at my local corner store. o.O

But enough of my life *or lack thereof* Lets get this recipe up so that all of you can try it out! 

India ~ Dinner ~ Dahi Wale Aloo

 Dahi Wale Aloo

I am actually eating this as I write today's blog! It was wonderful when I made it last night and it is just as yummy today for leftovers!

I will have to say that when I began this month, I was easily frustrated with the difficulty of some of the recipes, the time required prepping, cooking and most of all cleaning up afterwards. I was in awe of the women *and men* who cook these traditional meals on a daily basis and I have renewed respect for the rich culture and traditions of India.

That said, on to the recipe!

India ~ Soup ~ Gujarati Kadhi

Gujarati Kadhi

I am still finding it difficult to find all the ingredients needed for most of the meals I am making at the local grocery store, so I will continue making substitutions as I need to. I hate to do it, as one ingredient can change the taste of the meal but I know many of you may be facing the same difficulties and it may turn some of you away from international cooking, and that would be a tragedy.

Alright so Kadhi is a hot yogurt soup. It can be made many ways depending on the region it is cooked in. The version we are making is Gujarati Kadhi.

Don't be intimidated by the names of the dishes, or the fact that in many recipes for Indian dishes have ingredient names that I have no idea how to find. I am learning quickly what some are and once you learn that, reading a great new recipe will be much easier. I will make a post of common things you will see listed for ingredients as we go. Remember that I have never cooked authentic or even close to authentic Indian food so we are truly learning together in this.

So on to the recipe

India ~ Breakfast ~ Masala Aloo

Masala Aloo

Original Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 4

3 large potatoes

1/2 medium red onion chopped

2 green chillies, seeded and chopped

I medium tomato

1/2 teaspoon garlic paste

1/2 teaspoon ginger paste

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder 

to taste salt 

1 teaspoon Mustard seeds

8-10 curry leaves (fresh or dry)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

Preparation 

prep time 10 mins/cook time 10 mins

1. Peel and cube the potatoes into roughly half inch cubes. Cover with water and cook in Microwave for 5-6 mins. Drain.

2. Heat oil in a pan, When oil is smoking add mustard seeds and allow to splatter. (keep covered) Then add chopped onions, chillies and coriander leaves. Fry till onions turn transparent. Add ginger and garlic paste, turmeric and stir for 1-2 mins. Add potatoes and salt to taste. Cover and cook for 5-6 mins, stirring once or twice. Add tomatoes and peas and cook for a few more minutes until peas are soft. Mix well.

3. Serve hot with chapatis/parathas or other flat bread.

Don't Panic if you don't have all the ingredients!