Lisa's Kitchen

Valentine Day Ideas for your Sweet

Published on 2012-02-12 19:32:00

Valentine's Day isn't something that I observe myself even though I do have a very special person in my life. I show and tell my husband each and every day how much I love him and value him, and I certainly don't relish occasions that make people feel compelled to dash off to the store to purchase things that aren't really needed and spend an excess of money at expensive and crowded restaurants and for overpriced roses. My husband is very fortunate to get special meals and treats on a regular ba

Curry-Laced Potato, Carrot and Broccoli Soup

Published on 2012-02-11 14:28:00

As careful as I ordinarily am to to provide a balance of proteins, fats and other nutrients into my dinners, there are times when I just crave a little comfort food and a blissful indifference to the rest. Not that it's difficult to balance the essential nutrients, and after years of healthy vegetarian living I can do this pretty much automatically, but still… It may just be the time of year when it seems like spring really ought to be right around the corner, but it's not and we're all s

Bengali-Style Potatoes in a Seasoned Yogurt-Pistachio Crust

Published on 2012-02-08 11:02:00

These potatoes are marinated in a fragrant seasoned yogurt blend before they are fried to create a fragrant golden-brown spice crust with delicate aromatic flavours and just enough spicy heat. They're a wonderful accompaniment to almost any northern Indian style meal — or any other meal or just snacking for that matter. As an added benefit, the easy preparation required is done hours before a meal, making the actual cooking a simple process during which other dishes can be attended to.This r

Puy Lentil Soup with Spinach

Published on 2012-02-06 14:05:00

Soups are perfect anytime of year, but especially during the winter months. I adapted this from River Cottage Veg Everyday. We all need more vegetables in our diet and the recipes from this beautiful and innovative book will certainly be gracing my kitchen table time and time again. Easy to cook up and a pleasure to the tummy, you won't be disappointed with this nourishing soup. Consider adding more spices, such as cayenne and cumin along with the tomatoes and hot peppers for an extra kick.This

Zahtar (Dukkah)

Published on 2012-02-03 12:14:00

In preparation for a black-eyed pea dish that I'll be featuring soon, I made this Middle Eastern spice blend. I am running out of room for all the homemade spice blends that I make, but I can never resist in any case. Widely used in the Middle East and North Africa, zahtar is a wonderfully tangy, zesty and salty blend of herbs, spices, seeds and nuts that's surprisingly hearty on its own. Often served for breakfast with bread after dipped in olive oil, this delicious blend can be enjoyed for a

A Celebration of Indian Food and a Giveaway - Part Two

Published on 2012-02-01 14:14:00

A few months back, I invited my readers to submit one of their favorite Indian vegetarian recipes. I have decided to offer lovers of Indian food a second chance to participate in a roundup because I received so many tempting recipes the last time around. This time, participants will have a chance to win a copy of Sukham Ayu by Jigyasa Giri and Pratibha Jain. I will choose a random winner and ship this incredible book at my own expense to any location in the world.This cookbook is full of informa

Chickpea Flour Dumplings Simmered in a Spicy Yogurt Sauce

Published on 2012-01-31 14:48:00

A few of my friends recently noted that I have toned down the spice lately. Well, this recipe will please those that like Indian hot like I do. When I have dinner guests, I understand that not everyone can handle the heat like I can, but this time around I was up to the challenge and this is one spicy dish. My husband and dear friend Basil are used to my spicy touch and so they got what they asked for. I recommend that you eat it slowly along with your rice or Indian flatbread and serve some yog

No Croutons Required - The Winner for January

Published on 2012-01-30 15:08:00

The challenge for January was to come up with a soup or salad featuring black-eyed peas. All of the entries are tempting and I can't wait to try them all. The choice was surely a tough one, but the most popular entry this month was lovely Susan's stunning Turkish Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Pomegranate, Walnuts and Zahtar Dressing. I have already made it, with a few minor adaptions. I will post about it soon. Be sure to visit her blog for delicious recipes and gorgeous photos. Congratulations to S

Buckwheat and Molasses Pancakes

Published on 2012-01-28 11:45:00

The strong and distinctive nutty taste of buckwheat flour is always a treat in buckwheat pancakes, but using the cracked whole "grain" in addition to the flour adds an extra toothsome chewiness to this breakfast classic. Available from Bob's Red Mill at most major US and Canadian supermarkets, cracked buckwheat is also a delicious and fast hot breakfast cereal by itself — and if you can't find it, these rich and filling buckwheat and molasses pancakes are just as delicious if increasing the a

Indian-Style Yellow Split Pea Curry (Matar Dal)

Published on 2012-01-25 15:19:00

Split peas — or matar dal — are not the most frequently used legume in Indian dal curries, but their rich, earthy taste and hearty, chewy texture contrast beautifully with the hot and tart and tangy flavours for which Indian cooking is so famous, and make a wonderful change of pace on occasion. This simple and colourful curry takes abundant advantage of these natural combinations of Indian flavours with the humble split pea, and takes no more than 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of