As I ponder what to give people for gifts, since gifts have become such a large part of this season of cheer, I wonder if there is any gift that I can give, that can keep giving forever. I realize that a cookbook has such power. And perhaps can give in ways the giver may never grasp at that time. And the giftee will use long after being gifted it. And so, I share here, some of my favorites, that I hope can inspire you to cook, share and live in a way you may have never thought of.
Here are some images of dishes we at during lunch one afternoon in Delhi. This was an afternoon where we had told mom not to go out of town. Above you can see a photograph of the Arbi Ki Sabzi. Simple stir fry that is sour, spicy, crispy and comforting, all at once. Arbi is the tuber of the colocasia (taro) plant. A plant whose leaves resemble the large leafed Elephant Ear Plant.
Above is the glamorous (who are they fooling/charming?) fountain at the National Museum in Delhi. The capital museum of the capital city of India, dedicated to antiquity. But alas, if you come wanting to see pride in the over-the-top-rich heritage and national treasures of India, you will be coming to the wrong place. This could easily be the center for the study of dust, junk and incompatibility.
My brother Samir has a friend Deborah visiting from Wales.
To show her very quickly some of the many craft traditions of India,
Charlie and I decided that given the time we had available, Dilli Haat
would be a safe and smart bet.
What I love most about Delhi in the winter, is the weather, and the vegetables. Our family is lucky to have Panditji, and of course, life would not be the same without this wonderful dish that he prepares. Green peas, in their shell, cooked with a laga-lipta masala, a sauce that smothers the whole peas, and transports you to heaven.
Visiting Delhi, and more particularly my ancestral home, Charlie finds a new love for the Chrysanthemum flowers he finds in my mothers garden, and also around some other homes, and gardens we visit or drive or walk by. This saddens him, for he is one who is not moved by mums back home in the US, and her, he can now like me wax poetic about their beauty.
Taking its name from the heritage apple from Upstate NY, Northern Spy celebrates locally sourced fare, used in a menu that is small, approachable and mostly wonderful. And for those locals that care to buy artisanal and local groceries, at Northern Spy, you can buy them and take them home after enjoying a nice meal. The owners have made eating and shopping local very easy.
Since Cornell Dining brought me in to open American Masala at their Trillium location, my visits to Ithaca have been monthly, sometimes even more often, and of course when we opened, I spent more time in Ithaca, than at home. Luckily, the colors of fall, and the people that I have met at Cornell, have enriched my life in a myriad ways.
CCE Washington County That is how we refer to Cornell University, Cooperative Extension for Washington County. These extension offices help people improve their lives through the collective experience and knowledge of their community. It is a wonderful resource for newbies to come to, to learn about the soil, water, agricultural heritage and most any local issues involving farming, living and community. They also help keep the
local 4H program active, informative and meaningful (above you can see
the 4H milkshake and ice cream stand at the county fair).
Our community is wonderful. Salem, Hebron, Cambridge, Granville, Greenwich, Rupert (VT) and West Pawlet (VT) are some of the towns that co-mingle and coexist. We all have one thing in common, our agrarian lives, our wealth of great farm land. And our rollings hills, beautiful valleys and honest simple people.
Recent Comments