Must be spring or something...

Fist I chopped the ice off the sidewalk. And I got my hair permed. And I found myself actually considering wearing makeup - which I haven't done for twenty years!

Yep, that means it's spring, at least in my head.

My latest adventure is cooking up a storm. I have an e-book: The Indian Family Kitchen. (Oh, and I don't recommend trying to follow recipies on e-books, by the way! Invariably the list of ingredients is two pages back from the instructions!)

But it appears I've become jaded with my normal staples. Spaghetti. Lasagna (which is just a different kind of spaghetti, in my current frame of mind.) Caesar salad, chicken caesar salad. Salad. Potatoes. Ground beef in any form. Pork chops. Pork roast. Roast beef. Chicken.

My tastebuds are going "bleah."

So I opened up my Indian Family Kitchen, and I've been knocking myself out in the kitchen this past week and weekend.

The goal was to get some leftovers I could bring to work, but that's not what happened - yet. The first batch of Dhal, not from that cookbook but off the internet, went down very well and I did get one lunch out of it.

Yesterday's recipe of Tadja Dhal received a less-than-enthusiastic reception from the two Men. Hubby dipped his nan bread in it, and when the bread was gone he handed over the bowl to me. Boyfriend nobly had a second bowl, but I think it was more from hunger than from enjoyment.

However, I thought it was the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted! So there's none left, and I had to start over today if I hoped for leftovers.

For the first time in my life I'm actually tasting the different spices within Indian cooking - mostly because the dishes are NOT super-spicy. Once my tongue is burning, I can't taste anything! But these dishes are amazing!

Today's adventure were two dishes, called "One-pot Chicken with Smoked Spices" and "Chai Chickpeas." Chai chickpeas is cooked in TEA for gosh sakes! It's almost suppertime now and I can't wait to dig in!

Did you know that cardamom comes in a) pods, b) seeds, and c) ground? Did you know it comes in two different colors? And the different colors taste different!

The other day I made some potato pancakes, I think they were called "Tikki Aloo," but don't quote me! When you boil potatoes for mashing, try adding a tablespoon of ground turmeric and the rinds of a lemon! They turn wonderfully golden and you can taste the lemon!

Well, I don't know what the reaction from the Men will be tonight - hopefully slightly more enthusiastic than last night, so just in case, I made fudge.

That'll put a smile on their (diabetic) faces!