Creamy, garlicky mushroom soup drizzled with lots of hot oil…spicy, warm and irresistible when the temperature takes a plunge.
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(A little update here:  Since this post has been in my draft, I had to add this before I posted.. for I am thrilled today. Michelle picked my Blueberry Gelato for the Host Award, DMBLGIT September 2009. Yaaaa:-D)

I waited all summer very very patiently, but at last my dreams came true.

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A plain old lentil soup, can bring immense comfort sometimes.

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Ladenia is a local taste of Kimolos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea; “volcanic, mountainous island with white cliffs and roads is a perfect getaway for those who want some peace and quiet…. The food served on Kimolos is traditional Greek. You’ll find the taverns in Chora or the harbour, and the island’s speciality is a kind of pizza called Ladenia“.”Lathenia” (also called Ladenia) is  Greek word for Pizza. Ladenia is like a pizza but without cheese, more like a bread dough topped with fresh tomatoes, onions, and olive oil”(from which it gets its name: “ladi” means “oil” in Greek)”, and baked until the edges are crunchy from the olive oil and the onions caramelized.

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This Fried Chickpeas or Ceci Frito, is a classic Italian fried chickpea appetizer. I have to say, these  are seriously good munchies, very addictive – especially when they are served crisp warm from the skillet. Fried they are, but not deep fried. They are actually sauteed in oil/Olive oil at high heat. Ceci Frito is a close relative to the Indian Sundals (Sundals are beans or lentils stir fried quickly with spices – mostly in the southern parts of India) – the process of cooking being the same but done with different flavors.

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Pasta meals are easy, quick & easily adaptable the way we want & with whatever we have at hand. Pasta, esp. spaghetti please my kids very easily & have become a thing to turn to quite often during the weeknights. I never buy store bought pasta sauce. It might take me extra 10 -15 minutes to make the sauce at home, but it is really worth it. The best thing about pasta is that they can be the delish all inclusive one pot meals, which means I do not have to cook anything else, other than may be a side salad.

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We have a very dear friend who has helped me invigorate my kitchen with a very steady supply of Rosemary. He owns two big bushes, & all I have to do is call him to get a bagful of fresh Rosemary. Who can resist cooking with fresh herbs as aromatic as Rosemary?

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Update: (June 13th, 2009) – This was one of the winner recipes in the Pasta Sauce contest sponsored by Foodbuzz & Buitoni! (Read about it).

Thanks to the Foodbuzz’s Tastemaker program that I got these awesome Buitoni’s Wild Mushroom Agnolotti delivered to me.  These are “generously filled with fresh portobello & crimini mushrooms, imported Grana Padana & Parmesan Cheeses & fresh roasted garlic.” Actually I cannot wait to buy more of these! I am not usually a big fan of filled pastas, but this did beat anything around. These were just delightful, bursting with the earthy tones of mushrooms & garlic. The mushrooms  & the roasted garlic were really some serious business here, &  unbelievably delicious. I could just eat them boiled.

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It is a hilarious time on the dining table when the little children are eating spaghetti. Funny & messy too, but once in a while I let my kids have that messy time while they eat, for they do enjoy the spaghetti while they are having fun.  Those long unmanageable strings hanging down from the fork & then from their mouth and the intentionally “ZOOOOP”, when they all disappear inside at one shot behind that gleeful smile. For some reason when it is spaghetti, they always want to feed themselves. The twinkling mischievious looks, the sauce studded mouth & a full tummy.. well it is worth it.

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Colors & Zest! I do need both now. I have replaced my regular lunch with salad with whatever vegetables are available in the market, some protein like nuts or tofu or beans and no carb. atleast for a few weeks now till I get myself back to shape. I have tried before to starve myself to lose weight, but that only works for a while, for all the temptations around & the hungry stomach do not make a very good combination. I love salad, its refreshing, gives me energy, its filling and easy to make… and everyone know how good they are for you.

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