Mango Margatini

SPOILER ALERT: Indian people (myself included) love spice. So much so that we will find something that already goes burning down your throat, like say liquor, and then add a couple of chili flakes, chili peppers, and chili powder to it.

Jokes aside, a little spice does go a long way with many drinks, whether it's a dash of cayenne in lemonade or a thai green chili in a Mai Tai. It's this thought that inspired my Mango Margatini, a mango martini with a kick of cayenne and a hint of ginger.

For Recipe (Click Read More)

Dinner for Dos

Growing up I used to volunteer at the soup kitchen. After my less than pleasant first encounter with a knife, I was demoted from sous-chef to "master of garlic bread". Even though I used about 10 bags of rolls, it never seemed like it would be enough to serve 100 grown men. Yet, every time, we inevitably were left with a whole tray of sad and soggy uneaten rolls. You would think 7 years of soup kitchening later, I would have learned to be a portion control pro in my own life. Sadly, no.

Whether it's at home or at a restaurant, I over-order and subsequently overeat. So, today I decided to challenge myself to cook enough for just two people.

This is a recipe for tandoori-style salmon skewers served on a bed of wilted fennel spinach and potatoes. Perfect for date night or just enough for ONE day of leftovers.

For Recipe (Click Read More)

Cha Cha Chana

You can't really understand Indian street food until you experience it. I would liken it somewhat to your first slice of $1 jumbo New York pizza in the middle of Times Square...

And if you're traveling India the right way, you really can't avoid street food because not only does it travel in street carts but also on top of people's heads.
I remember during the summer of my freshman year of college, I traveled to India for a research project. Without my overprotective parents around, I was free to roam around in autos, erra buses (also known as non-AC city buses in Hyderabad), and my own two feet. I met amazing people, occasionally was scared for my life, but most of all had the best street food ever: from street-side chai and mysore bondas on my way home to fresh coconut juice that I could buy straight from my bus window.

Today I've decided to take on a healthier version of a street-food favorite: Chana jor garam.

Chana jor garam is a popular Indian street food that's usually made with packaged, flattened, fried black lentils. I am deathly afraid of the savory snacks aisle of the Indian store, so I try to avoid it if I can. My version is made with roast whole garbanzos and very low fat. So, put those kale chips away because healthy snacking can also taste good once again!

For Recipe (Click Read More)