Honey-Jalapeno Soba Noodles

12 ounces soba noodles or green tea noodles (found at Japanese grocery stores)
2-3 jalapenos, seeds removed
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 to 3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 package firm tofu sliced into long thin pieces
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 cup chopped scallions, green part only
2 tablespoons pickled ginger

Directions:
Cook soba noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside (or refrigerate until later in the week).

In a food processor, combine jalapenos, honey, cilantro, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and black pepper and puree until smooth. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to the mixture until all ingredients are relatively smooth and equal in consistency. Pour the 2 teaspoons of olive oil into a preheated skillet. Add the tofu first, saute for a while until becomes more firm, and then add blended sauce and cook until heated through.

In a medium bowl, combine cooked soba noodles, soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions, and pickled ginger. Toss and then transfer to serving bowl. Pour heated tofu and sauce over noodles. Serve!

Recipe adapted from Ai Hirashiki. She makes it with shredded chicken or seitan instead of tofu.

Amma's Egg Curry

6 Boiled eggs (remove the shell)

1 Large Potato (cooked and cubed)

5 curry leaves

1 Onion (thinly sliced)

1/2'' piece of Ginger--sliced thin 

1 green chili

1 tbs. coriander powder

1/2 tsp (or as much as you'd like) Chili Powder or red pepper powder

1/8 tsp turmeric powder

1/2 tsp ground cloves, cardamom & cinnamon ( altogether1/2 tsp)
Salt to taste

2 cups water

1 cup coconut milk

Soak coriander, chili, and turmeric powder in a little vinegar (just so they are all soaked). Saute curry leaves, onion, ginger & chili till the onion get golden brown. Then add the soaked masala & fry for few minutes, to that add the ground cloves, cinnamon and cardamom. add 2 cups of water to the mixture and boil. Then add the cubed potato. When it is cooked add  1 cup of  coconut milk . Let it boil once.  Salt to taste, then halve or scour the eggs and pour curry over eggs. (This is Sheeba's grandmother's recipe - a dish from Kerala I love!)

Beet-Potato Cutlets

2 large beets (shredded)

2 large potatoes (there should be more potatoes than beets)

2 handfuls of frozen peas (optional)

1 tbsp salt

1 tbsp garam masala

1 tsp red chili powder

breadcrumbs

oil

Boil or steam potatoes, then peel. While they are cooking defrost peas and place with shredded beets into a large mixing bowl. Add peeled potatoes, chili powder, garam masala, and salt (add more masalas and salt to desired taste), and mash altogether. Form patties and cover with breadcrumbs. The pan fry on both sides and serve with coriander-chili-mint chutney!

This is Netra's mom's recipe :)

Makai na Chino

2 16 oz packets of frozen corn, defrosted
3-4 green chilies (more or less depending on spice tolerance level)
2 tbsp water
2 tsp. mustard seed
1 tsp. asafoetida (hing)*** optional
2 tsp. ground coriander/cumin mix
4 tbsp. shredded coconut
enough milk to submerge most of the corn
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp salt

Cut off stems from green chilies, add it with water to food processor, set aside.
When corn is completely defrosted, blend or food process 3/4 of corn separately, and in batches to make it easier. Add oil to large pan, and then hing. When it starts to simmer, add mustard seeds. When it starts to pop, add corn. Stir a few times to get mustard seed throughout, and then add milk (I would say 1-2 cups, but I'm not sure - submerge most of the corn, but not completely). Let corn reduce in milk - stir occasionally. After much of the milk has evaporated, add the rest of the ingredients (chili liquid, coriander/cumin, salt, and coconut) and stir thoroughly. Keep stirring so it doesn't stick to bottom of pan, and serve. Makes 8 servings.

Kale (or Spinach) and Quinoa pilaf

• 2 cups water with some salt added
• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 1 bunch kale or spinach, washed and chopped
  
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 scallions, minced
• 1 tablespoon toasted walnut oil or olive oil
  
• 3 tablespoons salted sunflower seeds (or walnuts)
  
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese
• handful of raisins (or dried cranberries)
  
• salt and pepper

1. Bring the water to a boil in a covered pot. Add the quinoa, cover, and lower the heat until it is just enough to maintain a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes, then top with the kale/spinach and re-cover. Simmer another 5 minutes, then turn off the heat, add the raisins scallions and allow to steam for 5 more minutes. Ask a question about this step.
2. While the quinoa is cooking, take a large serving bowl and combine half of the lemon juice (reserving the other half), all of the lemon zest, oil, seeds, and goat cheese. Ask a question about this step.
3. Check the quinoa the cooking time has completed -- the water should have absorbed, and the quinoa will be tender but firm, and the kale tender and bright green. Fluff the pilaf, and tip it into the waiting bowl with the remaining ingredients. Toss to combine, seasoning with salt and pepper, and the remaining lemon juice if needed.

Favorite Pistachio Pizza

2 Handfuls of sundried tomatoes, cut
Pizza dough (if making from scratch, add fresh tarragon leaves)
chopped pistachio (lots)
some balsamic vinegar
mascarpone cheese
mozzarella cheese
fresh basil leaves (also cut)
black pepper to taste

Cook pizza crust about half-way. Flip over, let cool, then spread mascarpone cheese on the bottom of the crust, spread cut sundried tomatoes, chopped pistachios, and then add mozzarella cheese on top. Put in oven, and then when you take it out, add fresh basil leaves, balsamic vinegar (very little) and if it seems dry at all, a little of the olive oil that the sundried tomato came in. Also add fresh black pepper.

Enjoy! This is Tushar's recipe/idea, Sheeba's pic, Smita's adaptation.

Katha Mitha Beingan (Stuffed eggplant)

3 tbsp. sesame seeds
3 in. piece of coconut
a fistful of peanuts
2 tbsp. fennel seeds
Tiny eggplants (enough to cover the bottom of your pan)
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp garam masala powder
1 tbsp red pepper powder
1 tbsp turmeric powder
1 tbsp mustard seed
1 tbsp oil
pinch of asofeitada (hing) powder
2 tsp of tamarind chutney

Blend the first 4 ingredients in a blender or food processor. Then add salt, sugar, garam masala, red pepper, turmeric, and stir until it's all one powder. Cut the eggplants down to the stem (in four parts) and stuff with powder. Lightly coat a pan with oil and add hing, then mustard seeds. Wait until they pop and then add the eggplant to the bottom of the pan (they should be in only one layer). Once they are all in, add water so that half of the eggplants are submerged. Cover for 10 minutes. Add tamarind chutney to the water and let cook for 5 more minutes.