Recent Comments
Category Archives: Spices
Red, White and Grape: From Jumping Genes to Wrapping Leaves for Dolma
Red or White? Even King Tutankhamun (1332-1322 B.C.) prudently stashed away amphorae of both red and white wines to enjoy in the afterlife. Biochemically, a single class of pigments found in grape skin, the anthocyanins, separates the red from white. White … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Garden, Middle Eastern, science, Spices, Vegetarian
Tagged anthocyanins, dolma, grape leaves, Greek, jumping gene, rice stuffing
2 Comments
Springing into Green: Collards and Chard
There is a brief window in spring when my Maryland garden is lushly verdant. When the so-called lawn springs joyously forth, requiring Benny and his boys to mow maniacally over it every five days. When the bunnies boldly brave the … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Garden, Indian food, Spices, Vegetarian
Tagged collard greens, dal and greens, David Austen roses, Maryland garden, spring garden, Swiss chard
10 Comments
Test Driving a Tagine
Tagine. The very word conjured up a magical mirage of Marrakesh and Casablanca, dashing Berbers and belly dancers, hookahs and saffron-laced spicy stews. I gazed at the overpriced albeit charming hand painted glazed clay artifact in the Williams Sonoma store, … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Garden, Moroccan cooking, Spices, Vegetarian
Tagged spices, spring, tagine
2 Comments
Strawberry Scones and Civili-Tea: A Pragmatist’s Valentine
Ours is a pragmatic partnership. A marriage made by matchmakers. Social, economic and educational equity? Check. Common Genetic Pool? Yes, his grandmother and mine are cousins once removed. Horoscopes matched? Expeditiously ignored, unless the meeting does not go well in … Continue reading
Posted in Baking, Family Life, FOOD, Humor, Spices, Vegetarian
Tagged masala chai, spice tea, strawberry scones, Valentine's Day
18 Comments
From Protein Folding to Punjabi Pea Paneer
Making fresh Indian cheese, or paneer, used to be a bit of a production in my home. My mother would start with not-so-fresh milk (why “waste” good milk, was her reasoning), bring it to a boil and then add lemon … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Humor, Indian food, Matar Paneer, science, Spices
Tagged Mattar paneer, paneer, protein, vegan curry, vegan gravy
11 Comments
A Double Dose of Dosas: Two Southern Indian Crepes
The gum-chewing, bored looking US customs officer gave me an expert once-over as I dragged my world weary rag tag family towards the airport exit. “Any mangoes, miss?” I have a theory that men in uniform have been trained to … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Humor, Indian food, Spices
Tagged Adai, Cabbage, Coriander Chutney, Crepes, Dosa, Masala dosa
15 Comments
Practically Perfect Pilaf
When my children were little, of an age that believed that mothers had eyes in the back of their heads, I was (like Mary Poppins) “practically perfect in every way”. While those days have passed forever, there are still some … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, FOOD, Humor, Indian food, Spices
Tagged Basmati rice, pilaf, practically perfect in every way, pulao
17 Comments
Of Hartford and Homemade Red Rooster Sauce
“Do you take Hartford?” The elegant sari-clad matriarch nodded kindly in my direction as I filled my plate at one of those pot luck events that brighten the dim memories of my postdoctoral tenure. I puzzled over the query for … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Humor, science, Spices
6 Comments
Chickpeas for Comfort: Spicy Channa Masala
Have you ever been transported back in space and time, to a place now lost to you forever, by a jog to the senses: word, a sight or taste? For me, a simple Channa Masala brings back memories of chilly … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, FOOD, Indian food, Spices
Tagged channa masala, Chickpeas, chole, Dehradun, potatoes
5 Comments
Bitter is Better: Fabulous Fenugreek Leaves
Triumphantly, I produced my find of the day, Trigonella foenum-graecum, much like a conjurer hopes to elicit oohs and ahhs for pulling the proverbial rabbit out of a hat. It was a perfect specimen, clover –like leaves of pale green, … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life, FOOD, Herbs, Humor, Indian food, science, Spices
Tagged Alu Methi, bitter greens, Fenugreek leaves, potatoes and fenugreek, Trigonella
10 Comments
madame scientist's not-so-mad musings 