Getting excited about SPICE!

I love cooking - when I am stressed I cook, when I am bored I cook, when I am happy I cook and I love cooking for others! Oh, and I love to eat even more :-)

Therefore it is only logical that finding good ingredients make me happy. While I try to grind and put together a lot of spices myself (once you use fresh ground pepper you will never touch that pre-ground stuff again - I use a dedicated coffee mill BTW) - sometimes a good spice bought at a store is great as well.

This week I was going home from work and decided to go through Grand Central market - and came across the spice market "Spices and Tease". As I love all kinds of Curry I decided to give their Garam Massala (Moroccan coriander, cardamom from Tamil Nadu, India, Bay Leaves Tellicherry pepper, cinnamon, caraway, Zanzibar cloves, China #1 ginger and nutmeg) and Massale (coriander, turmeric, black pepper, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, hot pepper and fenug) a try.

Yummy - spruced up some veggies I had left over with the Garam Massala which is on spicier side. Next day used the Massale for making curried rice - it added such a nice warmth to the dish and went perfectly with the chicken.

Next on plan for this week marinated chicken using with Garam Massala and a veggie stew with Massale.

I felt that the spices were fresh and like that you can buy them in small units and best of all "Spices and Tease" also have a Website where you can find their offerings online (they also carry tea and sugar... I will be busy this year cooking myself through their options!).

Will report back with recipes using more spices!

Quick and simple Raspberry Jam

I went to Whole Food Market and saw some really yummy Raspberries and also picked up some Raisin-Challah.

So when I got home I felt like making a quick home-made raspberry jam to enjoy with my Challah:

1 Pint of Raspberries

1 Apple peeled and cubed (I used Granny Smith for pectin)

1/2 cup of fine sugar

1/4 cup of water

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup good Orange Liqueur

Combine Raspberries, apple, sugar and water, bring to boil and then reduce to simmer for 10mins. After that time add lemon zest and juice and simmer for another 10 minutes. Take off heat and add orange liqueur.

If desired puree with immersion blender and fill in clean jars and store in refrigerator.

Enjoy with Challah or another bread of your choice!

Happy 2012

Wishing you all a very Happy & Healthy New Year!

I am not into resolutions as they just make you feel bad as soon as you break them (which is usually on about Jan 02nd).

What I like to try this year though is to send a postcard to a friend or family member each month (birthday cards not included - and yes, I usually still write hand-written cards :-)) and post on my blog once a week.

That's all and take life easy - in the end all will work out in magical ways anyway!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all out there and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate that very Holiday.


Here is to hoping that everybody whether celebrating or not, with or without family has a wonderful relaxing time.


Cheers!

Quick Nibble - Take One

Want a superfast quick nibble from items in your pantry?

Try Baked Spicy Chickpeas with Thyme - so easy it does not even count as a recipe...

1 can a chickpeas (drained and dried)
2 tbs of oil (any veggie oil will do)
2 tsp of Thyme
good pinch of crushed peppers
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt (and a good pinch to sprinkle over ones baked but this is optional if you are concerned about salt in-take)
1 tbs of flour

Mix all ingredients and distribute in single layer on baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven @ 400 F for 20 -25 minutes, turning ones (time may vary due to oven - mine are perfectly crunchy @ 21 mins). Take out and immediately sprinkle with a generous pinch of sea salt.
Enjoy!

Future colour inspiration...

Visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Friend and I went to see Stieglitz and His Artists: Matisse to O'Keeffe yesterday and I highly recommend this exhibition.

Stieglitz was not only a master photographer but also a fierce supporter of American and European modernists when they were not popular or the latter even known state-side. The exhibition shows a wide range of pieces from his collection plus some photography of his.
I enjoyed the way of presentation and the background that was given - I must admit that I was not familar with the works of Marin so that was very interesting to me.

The exhibition is only on display until Jan 02, 2012 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art so you better hurry if you are interested.