Get your own Bowl !

My Bowl stories begin more than five decades ago in Kolkata, India. Mom would pick me up from school and we would have lunch together . The lunch would be traditional India...curried lentils, rice, vegetables, pickle and relish but the special item would be the bowl! Medium large brass metal bowls. Very wide and shallow, almost like the pasta bowl. I guess many , many years later the bowl has resurfaced in my life with so much more than childhood memories! Cupping the bowl of food in my hands gets me connected to the food. This food will nourish my mind, my body and my spirit!! It helps me honor the fact that the Universe and I are One ! And so I see The Universe in my bowl !!

I started my Sunday by talking to my Mum and got Bowled over. So the pasta got Bowled and spice whispered!! Enjoy the idea!

The pasta = penne pasta with a Kumato pesto The cauliflower = cauliflower in a lemon, garlic and black pepper broth The carrots, crimini mushrooms and green bell pepper = olive oil and bishop weed ( ajwain ) The fresh tomatoes= fresh tomatoes, feta and will be adding some fresh tarragon!!

The best idea of the bowl is that one can create their own special pasta bowl !!

Lavender kissed chocolate balls !!

 

The idea of creating these chocolate balls came from several sources. Lavender is in full bloom. In India there is a popular milk based dessert called "peda". And then there is dark chocolate!

So these delicious lavender kissed chocolate balls take shape.

Intuitive recipe

1 # fresh ricotta or homemade paneer ( Indian pot cheese) 6-7 ounces 70% dark chocolate Organic and Fair Trade preferred 1 1/2 cups almond meal 1/3 cup organic, raw sugar 1/2 teaspoon crushed lavender

1. Place ricotta in a heavy bottomed pan. On medium heat cook the ricotta for a few minutes. Add the sugar and keep cooking till the mixture thickens and begins to pull in from the sides of the pan. 2. Add the chocolate in small chunks. Keep stirring till the chocolate has melted and mixed evenly. 3. Add the lavender . Shut the heat and mix thoroughly. 4. Cool the mixture. Form into balls and refrigerate.

This makes about 20-24 balls.

Enjoy !

Beat the heat !!

Namaste Hello All! Nostalgic food! When the heat hits !  I crave for the salted lassi ! So, while I am walking down memory lane, I am also walking in my backyard gathering a few mint leaves .

This was my lassi today !

2 cups plain, low fat yogurt

5 cups water

2 cups ice cubes

10-12 large leaves mint

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground, toasted cumin seeds

Blend all ingredients . Enjoy !!

Tea Time at Memory Lane !!

This post is inspired by the love of sisters!! Many moons ago Punita ( my sister) and Vinita took a Teapot Trail in the UK. It was about the Tea, the Teapots, the scones, dainty cucumber sandwiches and Love !! Love that creates memories of a lifetime ! Punita is an amazing person. She inspires me with her intensity! I miss her terribly and these scones have all the love of the Tea pot Trails and more.

Inspired Scones !

Makes 8 scones

2    cups whole wheat pastry flour

1    tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ,  cinnamon powder

2/3 of a medium size banana, mashed

1/8 teaspoon salt

5   Tablespoons butter, chilled, cubed

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

1/4 cup chia seeds

1/4 cup hemp seeds

1/2 cup milk, low fat

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F!

• In a food processor, add flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon powder. Pulse a few seconds to mix the dry ingredients.
• Add butter, a few chunks at a time and pulse till the mixture resembles cornmeal.
• Add  banana and pulse about 4-5 times.
• Add the chia and hemp seeds and lemon zest and pulse a few more times.
• Add milk in a few batches, and pulse a few times.
• Transfer the almost ball of dough to a floured surface.
• Push it together and form a disk! Flatten it to about 1 1/2 inch thickness.
• Cut disk into 8 pieces. Lay them in a sheet pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15-18 minutes

Enjoy!!

Notes:

If you do not want to use a food processor, you can work the butter into the flour with fingertips or pastry blender.