tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54020994854492934452012-02-17T09:49:01.573+01:00Smultron SoulSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.comBlogger791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-85559675121460414212012-02-16T15:01:00.005+01:002012-02-16T16:55:37.824+01:00Chole or Chana Masala
Chole means chickpeas in Hindi, but it is also the name of the very popular chickpea stew that is served all over India. Some people also call it 'chana masala'.
The way my mom has always made it is with a lot of tomatoes, more than one would find in restaurants. And we just love it that way. My sister even adds tomato paste, and I must say I love hers the best. It's a family favorite, this one.Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-41766053736462335192012-02-07T10:09:00.004+01:002012-02-08T14:30:17.759+01:00Multigrain Sourdough
Whenever I slice into a newly baked loaf, I am filled with utter satisfaction and joy that my husband or I baked this. There is just something so beautiful about baking your own bread and then eating it. The bread is a nurturer, in some strange way, the most basic food.
We have baked with sourdough consistently for about 2 years now. While we were away in India, our sourdough starter passed Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-24310586234640495422012-02-04T13:36:00.003+01:002012-02-04T13:52:31.106+01:00Burger buns
Last night I spent 3 1/2 hours making burger buns, burgers, sweet potato fries and mayonnaise, and I thought it was a very satisfying thing to do on a Friday night while my husband was at a work party.
5:00pm - started the buns
6:30pm - shaped the buns and let them rise for 40 minutes
6:40pm - started the veggie burgers
7:10pm - put the buns in the oven
7:15pm - peeled and chopped the sweet Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-31936758270197275322012-02-04T12:33:00.002+01:002012-02-04T12:44:28.260+01:00Milk mayonnaise
We eat a lot of veggie burgers here in Stockholm, and for a while, mayonnaise was absent from our condiments. Since we are not big consumers of it, I decided it would be best to make a small batch just for our burger needs. While I've made the traditional mayonnaise with egg yolk, sometimes I feel really grossed out by the smell of eggs and one is always taking a risk with raw eggs unless you Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-91328481599460223532012-02-02T16:39:00.003+01:002012-02-13T15:35:02.367+01:00Chocolate milkshake
Sometimes you just want a chocolate milkshake. Thick, chocolatey goodness. And I've found a way to drink it without the guilt of ice cream, truly! One could drink this everyday, if one wanted. What with chocolate having antioxidants and vitamin B12 from the milk (although you could use almond or soy milk), and potassium from banana, try telling me it's unhealthy!
Yes, I did say banana, and I Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-36742289679406771292012-01-27T15:39:00.003+01:002012-02-02T17:20:57.238+01:00Chocolate tartlettes
This is one of those pastries that, if eaten thoughtfully, can make everything stop and force you to revel in the moment. It's vanilla-scented tender with a dark truffle center that when bit into, fudgy at first, melts slowly and gracefully into your mouth. It requires nothing else, no ice cream, no cream, no coffee. It is perfect alone. It is perfect for dinner parties or on a tough day, or on Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-68872590294586826662012-01-24T15:00:00.002+01:002012-01-24T17:02:47.407+01:00Arepas
Especially on the weekends, I get numerous photographs from my sister about what she's made for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Last week, it was arepas, and that was it for me, what a great idea -- I had to make them for brunch too.
I already had fine cornmeal (it's a staple in my pantry), cheese (Sweden has some amazing cheddar-like cheeses), milk (we put it in our porridge for B12). And the Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-62067397332062001722012-01-14T17:41:00.000+01:002012-01-14T17:41:34.079+01:00Spinach salad with grilled portobellos and fried goat cheese
I rarely crave salads in the winter because I prefer something warm and comforting. But this salad is an exception because it has so many delicious components that make it filling and satisfying.
I first ate a version of this salad out with my dear friend Julie and decided that I could make it better. And then it became an obsession. Julie and I would work on our community garden plot and Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-79663892193507438632012-01-14T17:01:00.001+01:002012-01-14T17:02:29.291+01:00Goan egg curry
On Thursday I made a delicious Goan egg curry following the instructions on my sister's blog My Tangerine Dream. I had never eaten proper Goan curry before since it's usually with meat. I loved the taste of fennel in it -- it wasn't at all overpowering, but just right. And my sister used fresh coconut instead of heavy coconut milk, for a lighter coconut taste. The mustard seeds add a southern Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-61846803969844952692012-01-08T22:01:00.001+01:002012-01-09T11:46:24.936+01:00Stroganoff!
A lot of people think that we vegetarians miss out on a lot of foods. I don't think that's true -- if one thinks creatively, one can cook most anything without the meat. Even before I became vegetarian, almost 15 years ago, it was all about the spices and seasonings. So now as I venture deeper into cooking, I experiment using the same seasonings from the dishes from my past, but without the Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-34883457030797673842011-12-13T18:11:00.004+01:002011-12-14T17:26:38.619+01:00Butter pecan crescents
I just couldn't resist making these pecan cookies that are floating all over the internet under other names like Russian tea cakes or Mexican wedding cookies. After having eaten my share of Häagen Daas's butter pecan ice cream in my past life, I know the flavors of butter and pecan are simply perfect together. I have to say I am eternally grateful that their butter pecan ice cream isn't Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-23669880345719201812011-12-10T14:33:00.005+01:002012-01-10T15:27:24.084+01:00Keema
An all-time favorite dish of mine is keema -- a spicy soya granule stew made in the same way as my family has always made it, except without the real mince meat. It's smokey, spicy, slightly tart, and offers texture to vegetarian cuisine. Once you know how to properly cook keema, you can make shepherds pie, hand pies, use them in spaghetti sauce, a chili, or enjoy it traditionally with Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-29294738362057805392011-12-07T11:16:00.001+01:002011-12-07T11:22:34.142+01:00Pepparkakor
It's that time of year when everyone's talking about baking cookies and I want to bake all kinds of cookies -- shortbreads, Mexican wedding cookies, pumpkin cookies, chocolate chip cookies, ginger cookies, jam thumbprints... But alas, there's the fat to consider. So we'll just go step by step, maybe one cookie recipe per month?
I found the perfect excuse to bake: It's one of my dearest friend'sSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-44447359251274433472011-11-19T17:19:00.002+01:002011-11-19T17:25:18.299+01:00Pressing tofuMost people use tofu simply by adding it to sauce or salad. This is fine, but it doesn't really have a chance to absorb any flavor, and the texture and taste is kind of boring. I've found the following method to greatly enhance the nature of tofu and elevate it to a supreme level.
I usually buy firm or extra firm tofu packed in liquid. When I get it home, I open the package and empty out all theSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-56078210790765684312011-11-16T15:10:00.004+01:002011-11-17T13:44:31.465+01:00Portable quiche
I am always looking for different snacks to make for those inbetween hours -- after breakfast and before lunch and inbetween lunch and dinner. I wanted something more substantial than just fruit and yogurt...
Vegetarians who are not careful can become deficient in B12 vitamins. The sources for B12 are eggs, milk, yogurt and cheese. The body needs 2mg of B12 every day. One egg contains .9mg, 1 Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-81931605132037072422011-10-29T09:55:00.010+02:002011-11-10T17:07:30.015+01:00Basic Daal
This daal, or lentil soup, is the most basic meal that I can whip up in a flash.
At its simplest, it's lentils, water, ginger, turmeric and mustard seeds. After that point, one can add anything to suit taste or what's available: play around with using a combination of lentils, different seeds, like cumin or nigella, different sour notes like tamarind, lemon/lime, kokum, tomatoes, tomatillos...Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-31230864025265330622011-10-10T11:04:00.002+02:002011-10-10T11:20:08.565+02:00Rum cake
Every time my sister went to Jamaica, she would bring back Tortuga rum cake for me in a golden hexagonal cardboard box. The cake was always moist and damp, fragrant of butter and rum, and studded with walnuts. Yum -- definitely one of my favorite cakes ever.
There were times when I tried to recreate this cake at home, using a regular sponge cake with a rum syrup poured on, but it just didn't Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-81353158101373628472011-10-04T11:15:00.002+02:002011-10-04T11:44:28.114+02:00Gnocchi - a labor of love
Gnocchi comes from Italy and are potato dumplings that melt in your mouth. They take some time to make but are a special treat that I like to share with my husband.
When I worked at Sattva bakery here in Stockholm, I asked my Italian colleague if she knew how to make gnocchi. She learnt it from her mother and offered to teach me. I jumped at the opportunity, of course! I was surprised how Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-58805457761786469532011-09-20T16:58:00.007+02:002011-10-10T10:00:05.507+02:00Tamales with tomatillo sauce
If there's one thing I love as much as tomatoes, it's tomatillos. They are like a tomato but green and with a delicate papery skin and taste deliciously sour. Tomatillos, most common in Mexico, will be the first thing I grow when I have a garden. And I know they can grow in Stockholm because I luckily bought organic tomatillos from the farmer's market!!! The farmer was quite eager to sell them Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-83712440818588146792011-09-08T22:19:00.008+02:002011-10-05T15:29:40.897+02:00Cinnamon buns
I don't know how my latest obsession took so much time to come around. I've been in Stockholm for over 2 years and I discover kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) now? The best ones I've eaten are of course homemade -- my husband's sister and grandmother both bake excellent kanelbullar. Nowadays I examine every bakery to see how the cinnamon bun looks, because not all are created equal -- I've tried someSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-65280433495149105942011-08-03T14:39:00.003+02:002011-10-06T14:23:09.901+02:00Huevos Rancheros
The thing I miss most about New York is brunch with friends. Over the weekend, we'd look up new places or revisit old ones and spend hours catching up and indulging in iced coffee (a must on a hot summer's day), some kind of egg dish, and a sweet finish of cake or pie that we would share. And we did just that when I went back to visit a few weeks ago with my friend Julie. She suggested CookshopSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-14267898816887202172011-07-27T11:07:00.002+02:002011-07-27T11:30:54.506+02:00My grandmother's chutney
My grandmother was famous for her chutney. Because it was bright green, fresh, tangy, sour, slightly sweet, spicy with a note of nutty. She always had it in a steel box in the fridge, waiting to be slathered onto a buttery sandwich, tikki or pappar. Whenever I would go back to India to the beloved kitchen, we would make the chutney together. She would always sit on her chair and trim the Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-45943017649654537762011-05-02T17:09:00.001+02:002011-05-02T17:14:50.035+02:00Baked sweet potato fries
For something so healthy, it is a wonder that I find myself craving it so often! Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A, C, manganese, beta carotene and antioxidants. Sure, if you steam them, these nutrients are at their highest, but baked is more enjoyable because it's chewy and tender and slightly crispy around the edges.
For years and years I tried to make 'crispy' sweet potato fries in the Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-67567608426170164932011-04-28T20:27:00.001+02:002011-04-28T20:31:22.174+02:00Emerald pasta
When it comes to quick cooking, don't look at me. I've learned to cook the Indian way, which means pottering around the kitchen for about 45 minutes, at least. So when we needed to eat something quick, my fiance came up with the idea for this pasta, which is so delicious that I am even make it when he isn't home to eat it!
While the pasta water is boiling, all the sauce preparations are alreadySmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-87721342324851712192011-04-28T18:18:00.001+02:002011-04-28T18:23:12.368+02:00Malai Kofta
Malai kofta is a rich northern Indian dish. 'Malai' means cream or butter, and 'koftas' are a patty of sorts. The koftas consist of paneer, potatoes, dried fruits and nuts, and the sauce is a buttery, tomatoey, spicy and often creamy gravy. Often times the gravy is without tomatoes, but to me, a dish without tomatoes is often lacking -- at least for malai kofta. I love this dish because the Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-23041171002023529302011-03-09T15:00:00.004+01:002011-03-09T15:11:08.268+01:00Paris
We took a short trip to Paris with a long food adventure. The most special thing about Paris are the farmers' markets. There are numerous in all areas of Paris on every day of the week (what a dream!). We went to about five this time and our favorite one was the Bastille (on Boulevard Richard Lenior between rue Amelot and St. Sabin. Metro: Bastille). Something for everyone there since it is verySmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-75879415551754416512011-02-25T11:50:00.007+01:002011-02-28T22:07:17.315+01:00JaggeryTea time all started at a very young age. I would spend most of my afternoons with my grandparents. We would eat a scrumptious meal at 1, licking my plate clear every time because that is just how amazing my grandmother's food is. By 2 we would get ready for our afternoon nap because the sizzling Bombay sun demanded it. All the shops were closed and there would be no chance to buy anything until Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-81951142443740906622011-02-18T20:38:00.007+01:002011-02-28T22:16:15.495+01:00Enchilada sauceMy fiance loves Mexican food, so I wanted to make him enchiladas. In America I always relied on canned enchilada sauce, as well as canned chipotles in adobo. But here in Stockholm, it has been difficult to find those special ingredients. Thus I ventured to make my own.
I found dried chipotle chilies at the supermarket -- it only says "dried chilies" but they look like chipotles. The bag always Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-52177955543253722312011-02-10T14:29:00.036+01:002011-11-19T17:22:55.553+01:00Fiery heat with a bright tangI felt that it was time to make something new and exciting, so I opted to make Jamaican jerk tofu with pigeon peas rice, as seen on Nigella Kitchen. And then I went a-hunting for the ingredients. I have not found a Caribbean store in Stockholm, but usually the Indian store has a variety of ingredients, so there I went! I was disappointed that among the plethora of lentils and pulses, no where in Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-26548264934002013352011-02-07T11:24:00.004+01:002011-03-01T10:26:05.546+01:00Sourdough bread obsession
I have been making sourdough bread pretty much every week for the last few months. I felt encouraged especially after I went to a dietitian who said that eating sourdough bread helps the body absorb more nutrients and is generally healthier than regular bread.
grilled cheese on crusty homemade sourdough
My favorite go-to bread recipe is Norwich Sourdough from the Wild Yeast blog. It's quickerSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-38446003001859240852011-01-05T14:25:00.007+01:002012-02-07T10:24:22.386+01:00Sourdough starter how-toLast autumn we made our own sourdough starter with whole rye flour, and it made the perfect sourdough bread. We were simply delighted that on our first try our bread was such a success. Since then that sourdough starter passed away, but I have successfully made a new one that gives us amazing sourdough bread every time.
I did a lot of research since I had some failures along the way. A weighing Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-47592330049438056182010-12-30T17:47:00.006+01:002011-03-09T15:08:32.875+01:00Tofu and mixed vegetables in a black bean sauceOne of my recent favorite comfort foods is a tofu stir-fry with a fermented black bean sauce. It's bursting with flavor and very quick to put together. I use Lee Kum Kee's Garlic black bean sauce, which my mom also uses over in America, so perhaps it's easy to find at Asian Markets globally.
The tofu is delightfully deep-fried. I can't get myself to deep-fry and luckily I can purchase it alreadySmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-48529608777985781222010-12-20T11:59:00.001+01:002010-12-20T12:01:09.486+01:00Indian shortbread
Naankatai is a buttery cardamom scented cookie that melts in your mouth. It is addictive to eat and quite a treat. My aunt Kusum demonstrated how to make them on my last visit to India. I'm eternally grateful for her recipes, especially this one.
When Kusum used to make these for us in Bombay, she would have to rent an oven in town because my grandparents didn't have one. So, she would make theSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-55112434230554548602010-12-07T10:10:00.002+01:002010-12-07T10:21:45.061+01:00MillesgårdenMy favorite garden in Stockholm is Millesgården. Carl Milles made his famous sculptors back in the early 1900s. He traveled all over to find inspiration and tried to bring it back into his home and garden. His large garden has his sculptors dotted all over, along with lemon trees and lavender. It also has Italianesque topiaries and large steps leading upward. It is a stunning place and the views Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-5521111613463089962010-12-01T21:17:00.008+01:002010-12-07T10:13:50.690+01:00ThanksgivingThe one American holiday we always celebrate is Thanksgiving. My dear friend Erin would invite me to her home in Miami to celebrate with her and it was really great because we had many vegetarian options (since we are both vegetarians) and didn't feel excluded. I also enjoyed delicious Thanksgivings with Laila and her Middle Eastern-inspired table, never without tabuleh and hummus.
When we movedSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-44302395949107183182010-11-11T11:57:00.009+01:002010-12-01T21:56:36.417+01:00Sundkhand - a fragrant confectionIt is thought that sundkhand originates in Sind, Pakistan, where my grandparents were brought up. When they moved to India, they took with them the recipes of the region and continued to pass them down through generations. My parent's generation knows how to make sundkhand and I am the first of the new generation to learn, thanks to my mom constantly nagging me to make it for her.
"Sund" means Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-15431809161631174612010-10-31T11:41:00.003+01:002010-10-31T11:55:30.583+01:00Swedish pancakesFor our Sunday breakfast my fiance surprised me with an Ockelbo cheese (Ockelbo lies in the center of Sweden and the cheese is cheddar like, but with a more pronounced buttery taste - it's my favorite cheese for the moment) omlette and Swedish pancakes with cloudberry jam. Swedish pancakes are thicker than crepes but much thinner than American pancakes. How perfectly tender, thin and absolutely Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-20224457223073486562010-10-15T17:35:00.007+02:002010-10-29T18:25:29.142+02:00Black Daal
Black daal is a hearty, smokey lentil stew that is popular in northern Indian cuisine. My family never made it at home for some reason, so it was always a treat to eat it at restaurants. It often has a lot of butter and cream, perhaps that was the reason! Since I moved to Sweden and started to really appreciate these dishes, my aunt Kusum from Ahmedabad sent me a recipe for many things, one Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-64673548815555799822010-10-15T16:54:00.002+02:002010-10-15T22:35:00.412+02:00What my mom would makeEarlier this week I was studying for my Swedish exam and had to make something quick, comforting and flavorful for lunch. My mom makes this braise of tomatoes and potatoes very often, and it is best with her fresh garden heirloom tomatoes. Even though many Indian recipes involve browning onion, this one doesn't and therefore cooks much faster. Especially if you have a pressure cooker!
Tomato Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-8243643510462222132010-10-12T14:19:00.001+02:002010-10-15T17:04:03.940+02:00My birthday treats!
I had a very special birthday! My man gave me our traditional half cake with delicious berries and cream, which he baked at 5am! Along with the cake, he served me breakfast in bed. I was showered with presents and flowers and for lunch, we ate the most delicious chanterelle sushi! Only in Sweden! For dinner he served whole artichokes with lemon butter and pasta. It was perfect.
For the birthday Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-62962269644088030532010-10-05T18:17:00.002+02:002010-10-05T18:24:10.512+02:00Zucchini BlossomsOne of the best things I ever bought from the farmer's market was zucchini blossoms. You must go there early for them, as soon as they open, because they're rare and delicate and should be eaten the very same day they are picked.
It was a great summer day when I bought them and when we all gathered to see how it would turn out. Our friends from Paris were visiting and we all took turns frying Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-47281816727180579542010-10-05T17:48:00.000+02:002010-10-05T17:48:35.814+02:00For your dog
My fiance's mom celebrates her birthday on her dog Frasse's birthday and requests only presents for the dog. Since Frasse the poodle must have many toys, we decided to bake him cookies. That's right! It was so easy, why not! He LOVED them and everyone was impressed. My fiance shaped them into doggy bones and dogs and looked adorable doing it.
Please make these for your doggies, so long as they Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-41186726317960467182010-09-07T22:22:00.005+02:002011-02-10T15:34:59.906+01:00Jamaican patties
Living in Miami meant that one was exposed to more than just Latin cuisine. My mom and I would go to the Caribbean Market off US1 south to buy golden Jamaican patties - they were filled with a spicy mixture of potatoes, carrots and peas, and we would enjoy them with tea.
I think Jamaican patties can be that just perfect snack between lunch and dinner, with a cup of tea or coffee. I added some Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-43927061954598175002010-08-27T10:34:00.002+02:002010-08-27T10:41:18.019+02:00Sweet sand
Whether it is someone's birthday, a death anniversary or a religious holiday, people in my part of India - Bombay - distribute 'prasad' or offering for the occasion after a ceremony of singing holy songs. The treats vary from fresh fruits, samosas to cardamom cookies (naankhatai), but the most common is Satnaryanaan kutti wrapped in newspaper.
I grew up pretty ignorant of the religious aspect Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-84933547788402719022010-08-15T14:23:00.003+02:002010-08-22T16:20:27.491+02:00The best of summer: tomatoesStockholm's SoFo area has an organic farmer's market every Saturday in the summer and it is my favorite place to be on Saturday mornings. The farmers carry a variety of vegetables - golden beets to nettles, breads, corn and handi-craft stands. The place gets ridiculously packed because well, who doesn't want freshly grown vegetables?
Tomatoes are especially special in summer because they are Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-66747929395838326052010-08-10T22:50:00.001+02:002010-08-10T22:54:13.975+02:00A quick wholesome lunch
When I'm in a hurry, I turn to this Indian breakfast dish called ukma or uppma - made from semolina, mustard seeds and yogurt. It's deliciously tart and satisfying and one can add whatever vegetables that one has on hand. In the south, peanuts are also added, which I highly recommend as they taste great and are a good source of protein.
Since I avoid eating too much wheat, I prefer to use Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-75846655228991879872010-08-10T22:22:00.005+02:002010-12-01T20:34:10.568+01:00Cranberry ChutneyThe first time I tasted cranberries were in juice form, and really, all I tasted was sugar. But as my mom became obsessed with cranberries and asked me to bake with them, I tasted and found that they were rather tart, which contrasts well in baked goods. But what else to use them in? Chutney!
I do believe cranberries should be eaten more often than they are. They have a lot of vitamin C, fiber,Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-50711735897801203972010-08-05T12:57:00.005+02:002010-08-18T12:00:05.924+02:00The PERFECT tea-fika time treat
I LOVE baklava, it's my favorite treat with tea or coffee. It's gooey, sticky, syrupy-sweet, smooth, delicious, crunchy, buttery and chewy all at the same time. When biting into it, it is like the world stops and you revel in the moment.
So when we ate it every single day while we were in Istanbul, well, you can imagine how wonderful that was.
Regular diamond-shaped baklava takes time, not Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-25961597226424968202010-08-02T18:49:00.004+02:002010-08-06T09:32:05.439+02:00GözlemeGözleme's are a part of our weekly breakfast because they are so easy to make and so delightful to eat. They work really well as a quick snack or an appetizer as well. Yufka dough, a thicker version of phyllo dough, becomes crispy when pan-fried. It is commonly filled with wholesome spinach or swiss chard, or even mashed potatoes.
Luckily Stockholm has a lot of Middle Eastern grocery stores. I Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-72852001134154603492010-07-29T10:08:00.011+02:002010-07-29T16:46:45.804+02:00Country Sweden
On the very day we returned from Istanbul, we were delighted to see that our sweet peas had bloomed! They smelled so sweetly fragrant.
That very day we sluggishly left home for the south of Sweden, to the Skåne countryhouse. It's beautiful and peaceful there with rolling hills and cows and sheep grazing on lush grass. It reminded me very much of the English countryside. It's one lane roads Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-83868130299625393212010-07-27T14:32:00.008+02:002010-08-03T10:21:58.127+02:00Turquoise TurkeyWe have long since returned from beautiful Istanbul but it's still brightly in our thoughts. We have been mesmerized by it, everything from the food to the stunning mosques and the colorful tropical-esque plants and its haunting history.
I miss fika hour when we had a Turkish coffee and baklava every day, and of course other pastries that we had never eaten before. I prefer my Turkish coffee "Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-16117520935623527832010-07-07T14:13:00.003+02:002010-08-06T09:36:23.521+02:00Pink Hibiscus Pavlova
The day before I left New York for Sweden, Julie and I went to East Village and browsed one of the Indian stores there. We were on the hunt for simply anything, and there I found dried hibiscus flowers (and she found romantic lavender). I didn't know then what I would do with them, but I wanted them.
The first thing I did with the hibiscus was to make a drink with vodka, which was nice, but Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-86079199378544368462010-07-01T13:13:00.005+02:002011-11-16T16:25:31.264+01:00Walnut ring cookies
I think that the flavors of baklava are forever embedded in me because I crave it so often. So this time instead of a cake, I wanted a cookie that was reminiscent of it.
Ma'mouls are a sort of Middle Eastern cookie that have a stuffing of either nuts or dates and they were my inspiration. I've never had ma'mouls but I will in 8 days when we go to Turkey.
As usual, this is a rather less-guilty Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-90047059418421665542010-06-30T15:27:00.002+02:002012-01-16T16:47:59.332+01:00Lemon Yogurt Cake
As a special Saturday morning treat, I wanted to make a quick no-fuss cake, and I found inspiration from Chocolate and Zucchini.
I followed Clotilde's recipe but changed a few things - I added butter instead of oil and lemon zest to make it lemony, and cranberries because I'm a sucker for its tart flavor.
The cake came out really moist, light and delicious, so we made another one for some Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-88681931163736283662010-06-30T15:16:00.001+02:002010-07-28T10:11:56.235+02:00Laila's tabuleh
The way I discovered Middle Eastern food was through my good friend Laila in Miami. She makes the best tabuleh and hummus. On hot Miami afternoons we would make tabuleh and hummus and eat it with fresh pita bread from the store Daily Bread. Her tabuleh was always juicy, lemony, and full of tomato flavor. That's the big difference because her recipe comes from her grandfather, who was from Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-5129423928756267172010-06-24T12:09:00.000+02:002010-06-24T12:09:56.154+02:00In the spirit of MidsummerTomorrow is midsummer and we are mulling over what we should make. We will be taking with us rhubarb schnapps to the fest, that's for sure. Dancing, Singing and drinking are a big part of this pagan event. It's going to be very exciting!Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-88413793211151858242010-06-23T22:50:00.007+02:002010-09-09T16:51:59.271+02:00Tea and crumpetsI've been to England about 5 times but I never tried the crumpet there! I always wondered what it was, was it just a saying? But then an Anglophile from Sweden went to London recently and brought us back a pack of Waitrose crumpets. These are the kinds of gifts I love, because what better way to explore and understand the world than with food?
The Waitrose crumpets looked delicious. They had manySmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-88263062815074469552010-06-15T07:59:00.010+02:002011-10-12T21:16:00.870+02:00Puff pastry-like flatbreadThe only meat-free thing I could ever eat at the Malaysian restaurant Penang in New Jersey was the Malaysian naan, and it was worth going there just for it. It is a buttery rich, flakey flatbread that my brother and I love. My mom would stock up on the frozen version for us from the Indian store and I would eat it when I had been good (it is rather fattening to eat every day!). I've always wantedSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-19241074785320897432010-06-11T14:23:00.007+02:002010-06-23T23:58:21.802+02:00Authentic Moroccan
I study Swedish at SFI (Swedish for Immigrants) every day and get to know people from all over the world. Since I am so eager about food, one of my classmates Hayat was kind enough to demonstrate her recipe for Moroccan Couscous with Seven Vegetables for me. She learnt it from her mom in Morocco, who learnt it from her mom.
I didn't realize how fortunate I was until I saw Hayat preparing Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-64163988016613776022010-06-08T09:12:00.003+02:002010-06-24T00:06:03.276+02:00New breakfast idea - tiki
Or a snack or appetizer. Tiki is the most common appetizer in Bombay, at least. If you go to someone's house, after 20 minutes you get served hot steaming tikkis whether you ask for it or not. It's just a potato cakes (kind of like a potato burger, if you will) fried until crisp and seasoned with fresh cilantro and chilies.
But then there's the tiki man in Bombay! Almost every other Sunday my Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-33257392916583828792010-06-06T09:25:00.005+02:002010-06-24T00:00:34.646+02:00Ketchup!
I didn't realize the significance of ketchup until I got to Sweden. In India, it's quite popular - local restaurants put moderately sweetened ketchup (instead of tomato sauce) on bread and douse it with green peppers, onion and cheese and call it pizza - it is delicious. Then I have a very fond memory of being in my grandparent's kitchen helping my mom's sister make real ketchup at home. I Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-5130492673747790922010-06-02T12:35:00.003+02:002010-07-08T22:49:57.891+02:00Sweet milk pudding
If there is one dessert that means love to me, it would have to be Rubree - my grandmother's laboriously made pudding out of simply milk and sugar. She would always stand over the stove for an hour, stirring her metal pot every so often, tasting it now and then, and patiently. That in itself is comforting from a parent, because milk has been that, at least for my grandmother, and somehow I've Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-56129562591406779682010-05-29T13:13:00.010+02:002011-07-27T16:43:52.324+02:00A cloud pillow of dreams
It is just the most sublime experience to bite into a pillowy vanilla-scented beignet and then sip coffee right after. It is like the world stops and everything is peace and pleasure.
I had never tasted a beignet before but the idea of it has intrigued me for a few months -- I've been staring at pictures of it. I tasted merveilles at Prune in New York 3 months ago, and though they were Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-1843247409727484342010-05-16T20:12:00.002+02:002010-05-29T13:22:31.428+02:00Flora and faunaStockholm is in full bloom and it is delightful.
This is taken at one of the colony plots in our neighborhood. You can see Ballerina Tulips to the left, they are red and orange, and I'm not sure about the other varieties but they are lovely.
They look like little peas! I love that they grow in the tiniest nooks.
These could have the word snake in their name because the petals resemble snakeSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-76186697320413986492010-05-16T19:55:00.010+02:002011-11-19T21:38:43.033+01:00Pecan pie
Pecan pie -- a classic American dessert. When I lived in America, I didn't eat it so much. But now that I'm away, I'm celebrating the things about America I didn't even know I loved.
A good pecan pie should have a lovely tender flakey crust, and the filling should be nutty from the buttery pecans, and not cloyingly sweet. Just the perfect balance: tender crust, goey pudding-y filling and just Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-42376003714341575412010-05-08T17:40:00.002+02:002011-02-22T11:15:15.862+01:00Rarebit or Rabbit?
During my stay in Lancashire County in England a few years ago, my English aunt introduced me to Welsh rarebit. It was a late cold evening when she made it, it was so unexpected that bread, cheese and tomatoes could taste so good. She used delicious chewy bread, Lancashire cheese (one of my top 3 favorite cheeses!) to make a béchamel sauce, and sliced tomatoes.
Last night I tried to re-createSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-17280512020019719622010-05-08T17:21:00.005+02:002011-02-08T13:19:59.099+01:00Long term plans - schnapps!
Nigella Lawson presented an alluring picture of rhubarb schnapps in her book and since it's rhubarb season and since we will celebrate Midsummer in Sweden in June, there's no reason not to make rhubarb schnapps!
Rhubarb Schnapps
1/2kg chopped rhubarb
2/3 cup sugar
A small bottle of vodka
Add rhubarb to a sterilized jar and then add sugar and vodka, enough vodka to cover the fruit. Close jarSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-36859135613356399132010-05-05T09:54:00.003+02:002011-11-16T16:23:01.129+01:00Piping Rosettes
One of the cookies I'm nostalgic about are the assorted Danish butter cookies that come in a blue tin. When I was little my dad used to buy them from America and bring them to us in India and we relished them, especially the piped butter cookies - they were always the first to go. When I moved to America, I was too weight-conscious to continue eating them. But now I wanted to pipe and eat Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-58370803985341065732010-05-04T22:41:00.003+02:002010-05-05T10:00:57.463+02:00Sea of bluebellsOn our Sunday walk we found a sea of bluebells outside Maria Magdalena church. A gasp of color, a spring welcome.
In Swedish these are called "Blåklocka" or blue clocks. I'm not sure if bluebells is the correct translation.Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-72384589400681015852010-04-26T14:04:00.004+02:002010-06-23T23:59:45.374+02:00Cozy for a long Sunday supper: biryani
Biryani is a common rice dish found in Northern India consisting of meat and vegetables. It's India's 'fried rice,' lets say, but it is a little more wet than fried rice and more substantial on its own.
I follow my mom's recipe - her trademark is the dijon mustard - it adds a different level of tartness and spice that's essential, I think. She also adds yogurt, which makes it tart (along Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-36407705076044965552010-04-20T18:03:00.003+02:002010-04-20T18:12:00.437+02:00To Grandmother's House We Go!
Last Saturday we went to Grandmother Tura's house in Uppsala for a 'spring buffet.' I was mesmerized by the feast of things to eat, it was quite delicious and we were in a delightful food coma for a while. On her own, this 88 year old woman made spinach pie with a flakey crust, potato gratin, the softest monkey bread, a green salad, meatballs and chicken for the meat eaters, pea soup with Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-88714889244853023552010-04-20T17:37:00.001+02:002010-04-20T17:47:30.423+02:00Tendrils to climb upward
In just a week all of our sweet peas have grown enormously! The tallest one has tendrils, so it will need to be planted outside soon. Also, its roots are breaking through the container.
The others will be planted into bigger containers indoors. Cross your fingers...
Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-45316286526370960442010-04-13T17:32:00.005+02:002011-11-16T16:21:35.532+01:00Afternoon delight
My mom has two sisters who love to cook and bake as much as I do and we all learnt from my grandmother (their mother). My aunt Kusum who lives in Gujarat would come to visit and we would spend all our time in my grandmother's kitchen. My oldest memory is of her making her own ketchup and absolutely relishing it with samosa and bread. I also remember that even though she made 2 bottles of them, Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-47868467103067277502010-04-13T16:52:00.003+02:002010-04-13T17:00:54.438+02:00Sweet peas climbing fast
As a way to share why planting from seeds is so magical, and partly my own selfish desire, I bought sweet pea seeds as part of his birthday present and he planted them 2 Sundays ago. I suggested cardboard egg cartons because it's a good way to reuse them, especially since sweet peas will inevitably need transplanting in a few weeks into a larger container. We used regular potting soil insteadSmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-25674212747837243202010-04-08T15:48:00.012+02:002012-02-16T15:04:03.737+01:00Pav Bhaji (Mixed vegetables served with a buttery bun)
Pav bhaji is one of the most popular street foods in Bombay. You'll find industrial-sized woks of this on the street side, with an iron pan beside it for the bread to toast drenched in butter. The key to this meal is BUTTER. And a soft bun. It is always eaten with white bread, and for the sake of authenticity for someone who has never eaten it before, we did the same. I promise that next time Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-78046274568431494822010-04-08T14:44:00.018+02:002011-02-18T20:53:48.368+01:00Walnut honey cakesLast October we went to the Mediterranean museum for lunch, because we were curious, starving and happened to pass by it. We ate a giant sandwich with feta and some eggplant and salad greens, and saw some beautiful works of art, but the star of the show were the honey-soaked baby cakes glittering in the display case. They were some Egyptian pastry made with semolina and had crushed pistachios on Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-67290328493074377492010-04-07T09:53:00.014+02:002010-06-23T23:49:53.018+02:00The best pizza yet
As with all meals in our Stockholm kitchen, even my pizza recipe, which I've been editing for years, magically became perfect. In the past my pizzas have been tasty, but they always turn limp when you pick them up.
This one that we made on Sunday, however, was ridiculous. It was so crusty and when you took a bite, you heard a crunch. It had a chewy texture also. I would have paid a lot of moneySmultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-13731474965479342852010-03-31T11:21:00.006+02:002010-06-24T00:02:48.003+02:00Welcome spring with a half moon cakeIt was on Day 1 of my visit to Stockholm that I was promised a birthday cake, so when the time came, he delivered. It was in the shape of a half moon and frosted with whipped cream and our very own hand-picked ligonberries and blueberries. The cake was airy and spongy and as it sat, the blueberry juices seeped into the sponge and tainted the cream purple. It is the best birthday cake I have ever Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5402099485449293445.post-67461472081178426192009-02-17T00:31:00.011+01:002010-06-23T23:53:51.546+02:00Fenugreek
Fenugreek, (aka 'methi' in Hindi) which has numerous health benefits, requires some patience when using in its fresh form, though when used dried, can also enhance dishes with a distinct leafy flavor. The fresh leaves are slightly bitter, and its yellow flowers are bitter still, but when cooked with ingredients like milk and tomatoes, the bitterness is neutralized.
When cleaning fenugreek, Smultron Soulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17622955502831261559noreply@blogger.com0