Monday Meals

We had a brilliant weekend. We spent good time with friends and family, did things we needed to do and things we enjoy and we COOKED!!!

Saturday, we took the recipes Holly friend pirated out of a library book called Savoring the Spice Coast of India. We made spiced dhal and Spinach with Coconut and some rice seasoned with turmeric and salt. This was a very pretty and very yummy meal. Our first try at Indian food. Luckily, Holly knows the ropes.

Saturday, Matt and I made a light summery sort of meal, including our first souffle. Here's the menu:
* cheese souffle
* French Cut Green Beans with Dill Butter
* Wine Sorbet (we used a nice shiraz in ours)

To cap of a lovely weekend, last night, I caught the only episode of Grey's Anatomy that I hadn't seen. Yea!! Continue reading “Monday Meals”

Cheese Souffle

from: Food Network

Ingredients
Butter, room temperature, for greasing the souffle
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/3 cups milk, hot
4 large egg yolks (2 1/2 ounces by weight)
6 ounces sharp Cheddar
5 egg whites plus 1 tablespoon water (5 1/2 ounces by weight plus 1/2 ounce water)
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter

Directions
Use room temperature butter to grease an 8-inch souffle mold. Add the grated Parmesan and roll around the mold to cover the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the freezer for 5 minutes.
Preheat over to 375 degrees F.
In a small saucepan, heat the butter. Allow all of the water to cook out.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Whisk this mixture into the melted butter. Cook for 2 minutes.
Whisk in the hot milk and turn the heat to high. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove fro mthe heat.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks to a creamy consistency. Temper the yolks into the milk mixture constantly whisking. Remove from the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until incorporated. In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until glossy and firm. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the base. Continue to add the whites by thirds, folding very gently. Pour the mixture into the souffle. Fill the souffle to 1/2 inch from the top. Place on an aluminum pie pan. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

Spinach with Coconut

from: Donna Hay Magazine March/April 2005

Ingredients
6.5 oz butter, softened
1 c caster sugar (superfine)
4 eggs
2 1/2 c almond meal, sifted
1 c all-purpose flour, sifted
1 t baking powder, sifted
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2.5 c frozen raspberries

Directions
Heat oven to 320. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 min or until light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Fold mixture through the almond meal, flour and baking powder. Spoon the mixture into a 9×12 baking pan lined with parchment paper and greased with cooking spray. Top with raspberries and sifted powdered sugar. Cook for 1 hour, 15 minutes

This may be served with whipped cream but is just as good alone.

from: Savoring the Spice Coast of India

Ingredients
1 C thoor dhal, masoor dhal, or yellow split peas
2 T vegetable oil
1/2 t mustard seeds
1 dried red chili
10 fresh curry leaves (optional)
1/2 C chopped onion
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t ground turmeric
1/8 t ground cayenne pepper
1 t salt
1 t fresh lemon juice
1 t ghee

Directions
In a large bowl, wash the dhal in several changes of water; drain. Place the dhal and 2.5 C water in a 2-qt saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes (45 minutes for yellow split peas) or until the water is absorbed and the peas break up under pressure from the back of a spoon. Check to make sure it doesn't boil over.

When the dhal has finished cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard seeds to the oil and heat until they pop. When the popping subsides, toss in the dried red chili and curry leaves . After a few seconds, add the onion and fr y until light brown. Put in the garlic and fry for one minute. Next, add the ground cumin, turmeric and cayenne and fry for a minute more. Stir this mixture into the dhal along with 1/2 cup water and the salt. Partially ocver and continue simmering another 10 minutes, adding more water if the mixture is too thick. It should be the consistency of thick pea soup. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the lemon juice and ghee to taste.

from: Everyday Food

Ingredients
2 T butter
1 pound french-cut green beans
1 T chopped fresh dill, or 1/4 t dried

Directions
To prepare beans, trim both ends with a paring knife or snap off. Cut beans in half into approximately equal size pieces, then carefully split each bean in half length-wise. Or just skip this and buy frozen beans already prepared for you.

Bring 1 T butter and 1/2 C water to a boil in a large skillet. Add beans. Cover; cook over med-low heat until tender, about 16-20 min (or much less if you used frozen beans).

Toss with remaining butter a nd dill. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
86 cals; 5.9 g fat; 2.1 g protein; 8.1 g carbs; 2 g fiber

from: Food Network

Ingredients
6 ounces water
4 ounces sugar
10 to 12 ounces wine

Directions
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan and cook over low heat. When the sugar is dissolved, add the wine and remove from the heat. Cool and freeze in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions.

from: Savoring the Spice Coast of India

Ingredients
28 oz fresh spinach or 2 10 oz. packages, frozen
1/4 C grated unsweetened coconut
1/2 t ground cumin
1/8 t cayenne
1/8 t ground turmeric
1 t salt
1 fresh green chili (serrano or Thai), split lengthwise
2 T vegetable oil
1 t mustard seeds
2 dried red chilies
10-12 fresh curry leaves (optional)
1 cup finely chopped shallots or onion

Directions
Wash and dry spinach and chop finely or drain the thawed spinach and set aside.

In a bowl, combine coconut, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, salt and green chili with enough water (approx 1/4 cup) to make a thick paste. Set aside.

In a wok or large skillet heat the oil over med-high heat. Add the mustard seeds and when they begin to pop, toss in the dried chilies, curry leaves, and shallots and fry for 2 minutes or until the shallots begin to soften, but not brown. Add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly until spinach is tender. Remove from heat and taste for salt. This curry is something like a moist stir-fry.

Basic Wine Sorbet

from: Donna Hay Magazine March/April 2005

Ingredients
6.5 oz butter, softened
1 c caster sugar (superfine)
4 eggs
2 1/2 c almond meal, sifted
1 c all-purpose flour, sifted
1 t baking powder, sifted
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2.5 c frozen raspberries

Directions
Heat oven to 320. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 min or until light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Fold mixture through the almond meal, flour and baking powder. Spoon the mixture into a 9×12 baking pan lined with parchment paper and greased with cooking spray. Top with raspberries and sifted powdered sugar. Cook for 1 hour, 15 minutes

This may be served with whipped cream but is just as good alone.

from: Savoring the Spice Coast of India

Ingredients
1 C thoor dhal, masoor dhal, or yellow split peas
2 T vegetable oil
1/2 t mustard seeds
1 dried red chili
10 fresh curry leaves (optional)
1/2 C chopped onion
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t ground turmeric
1/8 t ground cayenne pepper
1 t salt
1 t fresh lemon juice
1 t ghee

Directions
In a large bowl, wash the dhal in several changes of water; drain. Place the dhal and 2.5 C water in a 2-qt saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes (45 minutes for yellow split peas) or until the water is absorbed and the peas break up under pressure from the back of a spoon. Check to make sure it doesn't boil over.

When the dhal has finished cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard seeds to the oil and heat until they pop. When the popping subsides, toss in the dried red chili and curry leaves . After a few seconds, add the onion and fr y until light brown. Put in the garlic and fry for one minute. Next, add the ground cumin, turmeric and cayenne and fry for a minute more. Stir this mixture into the dhal along with 1/2 cup water and the salt. Partially ocver and continue simmering another 10 minutes, adding more water if the mixture is too thick. It should be the consistency of thick pea soup. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the lemon juice and ghee to taste.

from: Everyday Food

Ingredients
2 T butter
1 pound french-cut green beans
1 T chopped fresh dill, or 1/4 t dried

Directions
To prepare beans, trim both ends with a paring knife or snap off. Cut beans in half into approximately equal size pieces, then carefully split each bean in half length-wise. Or just skip this and buy frozen beans already prepared for you.

Bring 1 T butter and 1/2 C water to a boil in a large skillet. Add beans. Cover; cook over med-low heat until tender, about 16-20 min (or much less if you used frozen beans).

Toss with remaining butter a nd dill. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
86 cals; 5.9 g fat; 2.1 g protein; 8.1 g carbs; 2 g fiber

from: Food Network

Ingredients
6 ounces water
4 ounces sugar
10 to 12 ounces wine

Directions
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan and cook over low heat. When the sugar is dissolved, add the wine and remove from the heat. Cool and freeze in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions.

French Cut Green Beans with Dill Butter

from: Donna Hay Magazine March/April 2005

Ingredients
6.5 oz butter, softened
1 c caster sugar (superfine)
4 eggs
2 1/2 c almond meal, sifted
1 c all-purpose flour, sifted
1 t baking powder, sifted
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2.5 c frozen raspberries

Directions
Heat oven to 320. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 min or until light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Fold mixture through the almond meal, flour and baking powder. Spoon the mixture into a 9×12 baking pan lined with parchment paper and greased with cooking spray. Top with raspberries and sifted powdered sugar. Cook for 1 hour, 15 minutes

This may be served with whipped cream but is just as good alone.

from: Savoring the Spice Coast of India

Ingredients
1 C thoor dhal, masoor dhal, or yellow split peas
2 T vegetable oil
1/2 t mustard seeds
1 dried red chili
10 fresh curry leaves (optional)
1/2 C chopped onion
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t ground turmeric
1/8 t ground cayenne pepper
1 t salt
1 t fresh lemon juice
1 t ghee

Directions
In a large bowl, wash the dhal in several changes of water; drain. Place the dhal and 2.5 C water in a 2-qt saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes (45 minutes for yellow split peas) or until the water is absorbed and the peas break up under pressure from the back of a spoon. Check to make sure it doesn't boil over.

When the dhal has finished cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard seeds to the oil and heat until they pop. When the popping subsides, toss in the dried red chili and curry leaves . After a few seconds, add the onion and fr y until light brown. Put in the garlic and fry for one minute. Next, add the ground cumin, turmeric and cayenne and fry for a minute more. Stir this mixture into the dhal along with 1/2 cup water and the salt. Partially ocver and continue simmering another 10 minutes, adding more water if the mixture is too thick. It should be the consistency of thick pea soup. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the lemon juice and ghee to taste.

from: Everyday Food

Ingredients
2 T butter
1 pound french-cut green beans
1 T chopped fresh dill, or 1/4 t dried

Directions
To prepare beans, trim both ends with a paring knife or snap off. Cut beans in half into approximately equal size pieces, then carefully split each bean in half length-wise. Or just skip this and buy frozen beans already prepared for you.

Bring 1 T butter and 1/2 C water to a boil in a large skillet. Add beans. Cover; cook over med-low heat until tender, about 16-20 min (or much less if you used frozen beans).

Toss with remaining butter a nd dill. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Nutritional Info (1/4 recipe(
86 cals; 5.9 g fat; 2.1 g protein; 8.1 g carbs; 2 g fiber

Seasoned Dahl

from: Donna Hay Magazine March/April 2005

Ingredients
6.5 oz butter, softened
1 c caster sugar (superfine)
4 eggs
2 1/2 c almond meal, sifted
1 c all-purpose flour, sifted
1 t baking powder, sifted
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2.5 c frozen raspberries

Directions
Heat oven to 320. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 8-10 min or until light and creamy. Gradually add the eggs and beat well. Fold mixture through the almond meal, flour and baking powder. Spoon the mixture into a 9×12 baking pan lined with parchment paper and greased with cooking spray. Top with raspberries and sifted powdered sugar. Cook for 1 hour, 15 minutes

This may be served with whipped cream but is just as good alone.

from: Savoring the Spice Coast of India

Ingredients
1 C thoor dhal, masoor dhal, or yellow split peas
2 T vegetable oil
1/2 t mustard seeds
1 dried red chili
10 fresh curry leaves (optional)
1/2 C chopped onion
1 t minced garlic
1/2 t ground cumin
1/4 t ground turmeric
1/8 t ground cayenne pepper
1 t salt
1 t fresh lemon juice
1 t ghee

Directions
In a large bowl, wash the dhal in several changes of water; drain. Place the dhal and 2.5 C water in a 2-qt saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes (45 minutes for yellow split peas) or until the water is absorbed and the peas break up under pressure from the back of a spoon. Check to make sure it doesn't boil over.

When the dhal has finished cooking, heat the oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard seeds to the oil and heat until they pop. When the popping subsides, toss in the dried red chili and curry leaves . After a few seconds, add the onion and fr y until light brown. Put in the garlic and fry for one minute. Next, add the ground cumin, turmeric and cayenne and fry for a minute more. Stir this mixture into the dhal along with 1/2 cup water and the salt. Partially ocver and continue simmering another 10 minutes, adding more water if the mixture is too thick. It should be the consistency of thick pea soup. Remove from the heat.

Stir in the lemon juice and ghee to taste.

101 in 1001


Yesterday, Matt and I started a new project. A very large-scale project: 101 in 1001. The jist of it is that you do 101 pre-set tasks in the time-span of 1001 days, approximately 2.75 years. We have both made lists – though they do overlap quite a bit and we will be posting them and keeping up on our progress. One of my first tasks is to make some pages on this site to track our 101 tasks, and I'm getting close to being done. I know Matt and I are both very excited about this project. Continue reading “101 in 1001”

Patio Furniture!!


After Matt wrote about our new patio furnture, Ani asked to see pictures. There's this one adn if you look off to the left, you'll notice another one. That's of our grill.

Colorado summers are the absolute best. We get nice warm days (with a few thermometer busters in there) and glorious, glorious nights. They're the perfect temperature and no humidity. We've been really enjoying being out-of-doors and Loki loves the new patio stuff too. He sat on the table under the umbrella when it rained and got on top of the grill during the party to see inside. Continue reading “Patio Furniture!!”

Open (Adoption) Season

Since we adopted Loki at the end of March, both my sister and Matt's have adopted animals from shelters. My little sister brought home Hop and Bun-Bun yesterday (not the infamous Commander Bun-Bun, but another Bun-Bun) and Hop. Hop is black, with huuuuge ears and Bun-Bun is white with red eyes and teeny tiny ears. She may be renaming them. I'm pulling for Commander Bun-Bun, Lt. Hop, and then she'll be Captain (or maybe Admiral?) Kelly. We'll call their cage the USS Litterbox. Or maybe I'm taking this navy thing a bit too far? I'm going to hound my sis to send me a few pics of the bunnies to add.


Anyhoo, Matt's little sister, Theresa, and her boyfriend, Brian, adopted a Lab/Rottweiler mix from the pound in Nashville. She's very little still, only 8 weeks old and they named her Pontiac … Ponnie for short. They estimate her final size to be between 90 and 112 lbs. Yikes! Continue reading “Open (Adoption) Season”

3-Day Weekends

3-day weekends are a great idea. In theory. The thing about them is if you feel like you've got all this time, you schedule more. And then any extra time you had is gone, plus some more usually. And that, is how our weekend went. We went to a graduation party on Friday. One of the “kids” I used to babysit for graduated from high school. On Saturday, we divided our time between helping Kelly search for her new pets (2 bunnies she's picking up today) and preparing for our own graduation party (Kelly's). Sunday was still more preparation and then the party itself, plus some clean-up. Monday we recovered from the party I felt absolutely awful (despite having had nothing to drink – I think it had to do with sinuses) and spent most of the day in bed. Yesterday evening, we went to my parents house to celebrate my paternal grandmother's 92nd birthday. And that, my friends, is my weekend. Busy beyond belief and totally exhausting. But lovely and oh so much fun.

And now, I will share a new recipe or two with you that we used for desserts at Kelly's graduation party. Continue reading “3-Day Weekends”