Aloo (Potato) and Gobi (Cauliflower): Aloo and Gobi are cooked with myriad of spices. A staple in most Indian restaurants, the name “Aloo gobi” generally refers to this aromatic combination of cauliflower and potato usually cooked in the Northern parts of India, esp. in Punjab. This ever popular dry vegetarian curry has been brought to worldwide fame in Gurindar Chaddha’s Bend it Like Beckham. If you haven’t seen the movie, you have got to see it; no not because of its association with “Aloo Gobi” .

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Tofu and vegetables are cooked in the aromatic Asian sesame oil and creamy peanut butter. This is a spicy, crunchy, healthy stir fry done in a few minutes time.

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Late afternoon – a few jingle of the  Ghungroo/Ghungur ( Images of  Ghungroo) & a holler ” Garam Chanachur” (Hot Spicy Mix) ,would draw all the kids in the neighborhood out of their front door to the iron grilled entrance gates of their houses, the little ones clamoring & climbing over the horizontal bars of the gates for a better view.

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The other day we went out for dinner with a family who had a question about Indian Culture. They wanted to know why Indian Women wear the “DOT” on their forehead. Well I think that the subject is worth exploring. Why do you think Indian Women wear Bindi? I know it is not just the women, or just the married women, who wear the bindi, or tika, or the tilak. One theory I heard which I never came across is that the point between the forehead is a good accupressure point for expecting women, hence married women wear the so called “dot”. Please let me know your views…

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I still haven’t got used to this crazy Texas weather. It was 65 degrees yesterday, and today its freezing 25 degrees. The kids have started the winter holidays. During these chilly winter evenings all I want to do is curl up at the corner of the couch with my cozy slipper socks, a throw and a good book.  The dinner can wait, but can it really? Well this is what happened…. Some parathas, some really hot stuffed jalapenos on the side & a bowl of yogurt. Quick & Simple.

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Harissa is a traditional side with Moroccan and North African food. It is a potently spicy sauce, with the main ingredient being a lot of Hot Peppers. I make this very often for quite a few reasons. It is very easy to make, & the Harissa added to about anything charges up the taste. Add it to rice, salads, dips, couscous or any other sauce or sides and you have a tongue tickling sensational taste.

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Tangy Hot Oil

This Oil is similar to what we are accustomed to getting in most Chinese Restaurants. Our family, all of us being spice eaters:-) always take a few extra of these ‘Hot Oils’ whenever we are eating Chinese. This Tangy Hot Oil is something which I experimented at home, by adding a few more things to the basic oil and crushed red peppers. The result was pretty well accepted and I have also used the oil to cook some other dishes with it for extra spicy flavor.

Ingredients: 

1. 1/2 cup  Oil
2. 2 cloves of garlic
3. 1 tablespoon of vinegar
4. 2 tablespoon of ginger juice (grate fresh ginger and strain out the juice)
5. 2 tablespoons of crushed dry red pepper
6. 3 hot green chili pepper ( numbers may be adjusted to taste)
7. 1 tablespoon ketchup
8. 1 tablespoon any red hot sauce

Preparation:

Chop and mash 1 clove of garlic. In a bowl mix together  garlic, ginger juice, ketchup, hot sauce, vinegar and slit green hot peppers.

Heat Oil to smoking hot. Add 1 clove of garlic in the oil. Add the red pepper flakes  till they start sizzling. Add the mixture in the bowl to this hot oil and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve with Fried Rice or even use it as spiced cooking oil.