Toor Dahl

Obtain Toor Dahl (non-oily) from Indian market. 

1 cup dahl, rinsed
2 clove garlic, sliced
4 cups water

Boil water with garlic and dahl, then simmer for about an hour or until 
desired consistency.  Water should be in a ratio of at least 4:1 with
the dahl, or more if water gets all absorbed too quickly.

Skim the surface of  periodically to keep clear. 

Spices: In a frying pan with oil toast about 1 tbsp cumin seeds until they begin to pop.

Add: 1 onion, choppped
     1 tomato, diced
     ginger, diced

     ground spices:
       3/4 tsp ground coriander
       1/2 tsp ground cumin
       pinch ground cayenne
       pinch "hing"
       1/4 tsp turmeric

Fry spices until cooked, add to pot of dahl. Add salt if needed.

In a separate plate cut fresh cilantro, onion, and lime wedges, serve with
the dahl over basmati rice or with nan.


(sort of curried) Lentil Soup

3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 ginger slice about diameter of a quarter 
1/2 small onion, chopped

Fry these up with some oil

Wash and drain lentils

Add onion/garlic mixture, cover with water, boil until lentils start to
get tender

Add some water, and diced potatoes and carrots

1/2 tbsp Garam Masala
pinch of cayenne pepper
salt to taste
1 tsp sugar 

2 1/2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp vinegar
little ground coriander (redundant with garam masala)

Add water to keep it stew consistency, not too thin or thick

Eat with freshly baked french bread to dip!


Indian Cauliflower & Potatoes

I head of cauliflower, cut in flowerets medium size.
3 medium size potatoes peeled, cut and quartered.
1 small onion chopped finely
In inch ginger root finely chooped
1/4 spoon of cumin seeds
1/4 spoon of mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 tsp red chilies
1/2 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
green corriander for garnish
2-3 tbsp oil

Heat oil in skillet add cumin and mustard seeds till
roasted put onion and saute 1 minute but don't brown.
Add potato pieces and satue for 3 (seemed low) minutes
till brownish. Add cauliflower flowerets and stir from
bottom to top so potatoes come up and cauliflower goes
down into the pan. Saute for 3 minutes (again seemed
too low an estimate of the actual time required to
brown everything to home fry consistency) on medium
heat, add ground spices except garam masala . Add
salt.  When things are nicely browned, add ~ 1/8 - 1/4
cup water. Cover well and cook in the steam. Check in
a few inutes if the potatoes are tender and flowerets
done. If not add one tablespoon water cover and cook.
At the end uncover and let water vaporize. Put in
garam masala and mix being careful not to crush the
flowerets. Garnish with chopped fresh corriander and
green chilies (optional). I also add some chopped
tomato or red bell pepper during the stir frying phase
just for colour.


PANCAKES, GRIDDLECAKES, OR BATTERCAKES

Makes about fourteen 4-inch cakes

Sift before measuring:


1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Resift with :


1 teaspoon salt 
3 tablespoons sugar 
1 3/4 teaspoons double-acting baking powder
Combine:


1 or 2 slightly beaten whole eggs 
3 Tablespoons melted butter or 2 tablespoons oil
1 to 1 1/2 cups milk
Mix the liquid ingredients quickly into the dry ingredients.


Wonderful Cookie Recipes To Bake With A Child
(you bake with a child helping, not as an ingedient)

Cookie Fun : Judy Bastyra
Synopsis
An easy-to-make recipe for basic drop-cookie can lead to such wonderful treats as jeweled butterflies and sunshine duck cookies. Full-color photos and step-by-step instruction provide all the information young cooks need to get started. Full color.


Best White Icing Ever (from allrecipes.com)
This icing recipe is #1! It's quick and easy to make, 
   bright white for cake decorating, and you can easily change 
   it's consistency! This is the most important icing recipe 
   you'll ever have. It's so basic, it makes the hassle of cake 
   decorating so much easier! If you wish, use half shortening and 
   half unsalted butter. Makes 4 to 5 cups (20 servings). 
   Printed from Allrecipes, Submitted by Meghan Rey 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup shortening
 2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 

Directions
1 In a large bowl, combine sugar, shortening, water and 
   vanilla. Beat on low speed to combine, then beat on medium 
   speed for a full five minutes. It won't look like Icing at 
   first, but keep the mixer going for a full five minutes, and 
   then you're done!
2 Note: If you're not using this for decorating, but just 
   for icing the cake, thin the icing by adding 3 tbs. of 
   corn syrup, or water to the icing. 
 
 

  
Gingerbread Cookies (from christmas.allrecipes.com)
This is a very tasty Christmas dessert. This recipe is 
   very nice for Christmas parties as it makes 2 1/2 dozen 2 
   1/2 inch cookies. Makes 2 1/2 dozen (30 servings). 
   Printed from Allrecipes, Submitted by Heather 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-1/2 cups dark molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cold water
1/3 cup shortening
7 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
 1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (16 ounce) package 
   chocolate frosting
 

Directions
1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
   Lightly grease one cookie sheet.
2 Mix together the molasses, brown sugar, water and shortening.
3 Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, 
   ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Add to sugar mixture and mix 
   well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
4 Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured board. Cut with 
   floured gingerbread cutter. Place about 2 inches apart on 
   cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool and decorate with frosting.

 
 

Capitol Navy Bean Soup http://www.soupsong.com/rsenate.html 1 pound dry white beans, soaked overnight (or quick soaked) 1 meaty ham bone or 2 smoked ham hocks 3 quarts water 3 onions, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 4 stalks celery, with leaves, finely chopped 1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped [Senate version: add 1 cup cooked mashed potatoes] salt and pepper to taste Garnish: minced parsley or chives Strain the water from the soaked beans and put in a big pot with 3 quarts of water and the ham bone or ham hocks. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours. Stir the chopped vegetables and herbs into the pot--and also the mashed potatoes if you're cooking the Senate version--and cook over low heat for another hour--until the beans are nicely tender. Remove the bones from the pot--cut off the meat into small bits and return the meat to the pot, discarding the bones. When ready to serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with pinches of herbs. For "U.S. House of Representative Bean Soup" authenticity, crush a few of the beans in each bowl to thicken the broth and make it slightly opaque.