The App That Fed India

Social media may have many negatives but it also has many pluses. It can reconnect
 disconnected families, It can bring groups together such as the #MeToo. It can promote businesses and offer  knowledge. This is what happened with the messaging platform What's App and India. The two meshed perfectly, connecting home chefs, cooks and farmers.

Regular contributor and food writer, Priya Krishna wrote about this happening in yesterday's New York Times Food section.The app , What's App was able to connect a wide network of different food related groups all over the subcontinent. The Indians have Prime Minister Narenda Modi who  started Digital India, an initiative to increase internet connectivity across the country. It would connect urban areas to rural ones. Whats App, owned by Facebook is the medium of choice, It is free and only requires an internet connection. Most new phones already have it installed.As a result over 200 million (!) or one in six Indians have it, more than any other country. Some have misused it, spreading false news, inciting mob violence and even manipulating votes during elections in India and other countries. Yet it also has done a lot of good too, especially those who farm, cook or care about food. India is a country whose culinary traditions are orally passed down, not written on cards or in notebooks. Whats App allows them to share and arrange knowledge and skills.Some have even made a profit from this.

Whats App has affected all corners of India/Aysha Tanya, a founder of the food and culture publication, The Goya Journal uses it to get recipes from her mother . Saee Koranne-Khandekar uses her WhatsApp created a group with just her family. She even created a cookbook of their recipe  messages and pictures in 2014. Older Indian home chefs tend to be secretive with their family''s recipes, guarding them as if they were gold. Whats App has loosened them up and they're posting all sorts of dishes. .For mango farmer, Noshiran Mistry, Whats App is a godsend. He is able to get an internet connection five kilometers outside his town so he uses the application to send photos of the fruit  as they're growing to vendors all over the country. He also uses it to  pass along lore  about the fruit, preferring to writing a blog.He feels that more will read his messages than that.India's restaurant industry has also benefited. Chef Thomas Zacharias, the executive chef and and partner in the Mumbai restaurant, Bombay Canteen belongs to more than twenty Whats App groups . He uses groups to train employees on the menu and devise dishes, along with motivating the staff.

What's App is  connecting the food world of India. Recipes will not be lost. Farmers will prosper as will restaurants. Best of all people will come together and share their love of food.

A Vegan Stew ; When Comfort Meets Healthy

Anything vegan and dairy free is good, especially when you have to cook for a die hard vegan. A recipe in today's New York Times Food section caught my eye. Weekly contributor Allison Roman created a  chickpea stew with coconut milk and turmeric checked all my culinary boxes- meat free, no eggs or butter, full of flavor and  color. Perfect/

These are the star players

The highlighters are the coconut milk and chickpeas, along with the greens. Ms. Roman recommended Swiss chard or kale.I went with a mix of baby spinach and kale.

It's first cutting up the onion.Use a yellow one as Ms. Roman recommends.It does impart a sweeter flavor than the white ones,

Then an inch of finely chopped ginger (mine was a tad too chunky, which kind of is a jolt when you get  it in a spoonful.

Turmeric gives it an Indian vibe.One and a half teaspoons were needed but I felt it was just a little too bland so I amped it up to two teaspoons for a real impact.

Along with hot pepper flakes about one teaspoon, but I love heat, especially on a cold night so another teaspoon was added.

Two cans of chickpeas drained. Remember to save the aquafaba (for cocoa dusted meringues!)

Fry all of these in a large pot using a half cup of olive oil. (it originally was a 1/4 cup but I felt it wan't enough.)

Add the garlic, onion, spices and chickpeas and fry until chickpeas are crispy and brown.

Then add two cans of full fat coconut milk. I used Goya.

and two cups of vegetable broth I used Swanson's.

Onto the greens. My pick - Stop & Shop mix of kale and baby spinach.

This is the stew before.

And after.

It was delicious with naan, with a variety of different flavors melding together. It was a burst of sunny heat on a chilly night. I have a lot left over and it will be even better reheated over rice.

The Elegant Table

A holiday table is just that,  a dining room table festooned with pretty plates and interesting settings.  Think classy. Think magazine elegant. It's just putting something that's Instagrammable and awe inspiring together to impress family and guests.

An elegant table starts with elegant table linens.Years ago, almost every household had hand embroidered or hand crocheted tablecloths. You can still buy them , namely at craft sites as Herrschner's and Mary Maxim's . I like both these sites because they do offer a wide variety of tablecloths and matching napkins that you can either cross stitch, embroider or both. The two companies sell very beautiful Christmas patterns that would make any table shine. Keep in mind that it does take time to embroider tablecloths, but it's a great way to relax  after a busy day . As far as crochet patterns your best bet is Etsy. This everything craftsy website has many lovely vintage patterns from the classic pineapple designs to the lacy snowflake ones.  Crochet thread can be bought at Herrschner's and Mary Maxim however they only sell white or ecru colored thread, which does make for a simple but tasteful table. Etsy has more colors, and you can easily crochet in Christmas colors.If you're all thumbs with a needle and a hook, then again look to Etsy  for some beautifully handcrafted table linens They also sell matching table runners and place mats too.

Of course a holiday table is not complete without holiday plates. If you haven't bought them by now, then do so. Kohl's has the dainty and famed Pfaltzgraff plates that feature a holly sprigged design. It's a great buy right now at $39.00 for a set of four, Macy's has the beloved Spode Christmas ware and again theirs is a good price: $38.00 for a set that includes matching wine goblets and coffee cups. Bed Bath  & Beyond has the very sweet looking red and white holiday plates. For a set that takes you beyond the holiday, think Waterford. Their patterns are 19th Century sophisticated , with simple and stark lines. Of course with an elegant table must come elegant flatware, Think purity of line, with sleek designs. Crate and Barrel is known for this kind of forks and knives, however Kohl's has less expensive variations. such as several patterns like the sophisticated Joanne and Bordeaux patterns. They also have beautiful sets from Cambridge such as Rosemary and Everdine. What about  stemware? Possibly the chicest comes from the Irish company Waterford. Their patterns and craftsmanship suggest richness and style. Much cheaper are the ones sold at Kohl's, namely Mikasa (you can also go the Mikasa site too). Their balloon glasses are the perfect accompaniment to timeless  dinner and flat ware.

A holiday table should be an elegant one. Think classic and chic as you place timeless recipes on timeless designs. It  will be a table that will be the envy of any holiday host.

Cyber Foraging

This  being Cyber Monday, it's easy to turn to the Internet for Christmas shopping and even food shopping. To be honest, you can always find what you want on the Web  as opposed to an actual bricks and mortar store. It's a lot easier , and it does free you up for doing other things. There's also no long lines at the checkout or a dent waiting to happen in the parking lot.

One of the best places to shop for cooking implements and even ingredients is the giant Amazon.It does have everything that a home chef and gift giver want. I've used it for most of my baking needs, from my cake tester to madeliene and cake pans. It has every color of sanding sugar there is where some grocery stores only have one or two colors.Type in"sprinkles" and every color and shape  pops up. Plug in Instant Pot and every kind shows up.The site , is also well known for its' vast array of  cookbooks and there is literally every kind , from the classic Fannie Farmer to Tibetan cooking with every other cuisine in between. Unfortunately Amazon is also a conglomerate and many are turned off by that and rightly so. There are smaller websites that you can buy from. One that stands out is King Arthur Flour. Home bakers may be familiar with their variety of different flours found in their grocery's baking aisle. Yet their website offers a wider choice of all sorts of baking. They have boiled apple cider which give more flavor to apple pies , doughnuts and tarts. There are also stollen kits for ambitious bakers as well as vintage style mixing bowls and cookie cutters. The site also offers Breville toaster ovens along with bread machines and mixers.

It's a well known fact that some of the greatest kitchen bargains come from Kohl's and Target.One of my best buys ever, my Kitchen Aid electric mixer came from there. The price was slashed in half thanks to my Kohl's Dollars and discounts. It works perfectly and I can't even imagine not mixing without it. They also have Instant Pot and you can probably get it cheaper here than on Amazon.The store also has the air fryers which cook and  crisp foods with out having to deep fry them.Another plus with Kohl's is that they have elegant dinnerware and utensils, Need a new set for the holidays? Then go on line and order, and again use discounts and coupons. I did when I ordered a simply classic Cambridge twenty piece flatware set for only $17.00 with coupons. (that/s a little over a dollar a piece!) Target is another great online store for all things kitchen and entertaining. Again there's a 5  per cent discount for Red Card holders. Their gadgets are fun and affordable. I am a big fan of their kitchen ware. I bought their Kitchen Air immersion blender , getting a good price on it, The store also  carries choppers and sous vides. Target also has a huge variety of smaller tools like hasps for grating and strainers for draining pastas. Of course there is Wal-Mart that has everything and bargains galore. Their Pioneer Woman Denim Dinner set is almost half off right now as with  their Baker Eze pan set..

You can do cyber foraging and come up with some great buys and finds. It's just foraging for what you want and compare prices. Take advantage of online shopping .It;s a hassle free way of stocking up the kitchen.

A Cookbook For Instant Pot Lovers

The Instant Pot is more than just a fad.Home chefs have taken it to heart, using it for everything from roasts to desserts. However there are very few cookbooks that focus on cooking with it. A new recipe book is going to change that. it is chock full of delicious dishes along with advice.

Marilyn Haugen, author of 150 Best  Spiralizer Recipes and 175 Instant Pot Recipes has written The 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Cookbook (Robert Rose Publishers 2018) Most of them do have five ingredients which makes for easy prep and cooking for busy home chefs. This is a great accompaniment to the cooker itself. The book is not overwhelming and has some great advice for Instant Pot novices. Ms. Hauger shows how to make tent style packets for streaming veggies. She also goes into great detail about the gadget's uses and functions.Her section  on one of the functions, pressure cooking is explained in great detail, dissecting the High and Low Pressure options. Another plus is her list of staples such as grains and different oils for the Instant Pot Pantry. I like the fact she includes all sorts of flavor base mixes such as the famed French,  mirepoix and the Cajun holy trinity of onion, celery and green  peppers. She also has the Italian battuto, mirepoix with fennel,parsley and garlic added   and the Spanish sofrito of  onions, bell peppers and tomatoes.These are vital for successfully recreating some of the savory  dishes. Even more important are the recommended accessories.along with ending the book with  an extensive  table  if cooking times for meats, veggies, legumes and fruits.

The recipes are satisfying and varied.Breakfast and Instant Pot lovers will enjoy Ms. Haugen recipe for classic old fashioned oatmeal and the spin, peanut butter banana. Egg stuffed bell pepper boats.spiked with Parmesan cheese and fresh cut basil will be a brunch classic.For sweet lovers there's the streusel coffee cake made with Biscuit flour. She divides the meat dishes into sections. Poultry lovers will make the Almost Rotisserie Chicken an instant favorite It's steamed in chicken stock and  butter, and seasoned with paprika, salt and pepper. A hearty dish is the beef stroganoff, cooked with spices and sour cream. Pork has many flavorful dishes too such as the tangy  pulled pork sandwich along with a fragrant rosemary and apple roast. Fish lovers will enjoy the summery tasting tomato halibut.Another plus is that she includes bone broths which are perfect bases for other soups. The Instant Pot is great for rice and pasta, and yes, there are many recipes for them. Mac n cheese lovers will appreciate the simple but delicious recipe while grain and veggie  lovers will enjoy the lemony bulgar tabbbouleh and quinoa stuffed peppers along with the beet salad with Dijon  vinaigrette and chevre. The dessert recipes are fun from the old fashioned bread pudding made with egg breads to the lush  Decadent Creme Brulee and Molten Chocolate Cakes.If they're too much , try the yogurt recipe for a cleansing bite.

The 5 Ingredient Instant Pot Cookbook is the best gift for Instant Pot lovers. The recipes are delicious,, the ingredients simple. Home chefs can have fun experimenting with them as they cook a wide variety of dishes and desserts.

The Day After

The day after Thanksgiving is one filled with leftovers, from turkey to stuffing  to sides, There's always the same old recipes from turkey tetrazzini to cranberry sauce paninis. Put a different spin on them. Have them the Filipino way for breakfast.

This is an eye opening twist that food writer, Priya  Krishna wrote bout n Wednesday's New York Times  Food section. Instead of saving the thighs and stuffing for a reheated lunch or dinner , think about it as ingredients in a large breakfast. She interviewed Filipino- American brothers  Chase and Chad Valencia  who own the popular LASA  Restaurant in Los Angeles. They have the top modern Pinoy cooking in the States yet it's their mother's recipes that are made with the Thanksgiving Day leftovers. Mrs. Valencia comes from Pampamga , the culinary capital of the Philippines ,  and her influence is felt both in their eatery and home. She whipped up huge breakfasts of longazina, a type of sweet sausage, silog or garlic rice with eggs, fried eggs and pan de sal, a sweet yeast roll.One of their first Filioino-American hybrid meals was incorporating leftovers with familiar standards.It had to be a big do. They always have more than twenty people to feed and it always held in a different relative's house.

What are the culinary mixes? There are traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as honey baked ham, turkey cranberry sauce and stuffing sharing a table with sopas ,a creamy chicken soup, rice and pan de sal. The brothers add their slant  with the addition of asado, a salty, sour complex dish of pork shoulder cooked in tomato sauce, garlic, bay leaf, and calamansi , a lime like citrus fruit of Southeast Asia. The best part comes the morning after. Guests are treated to sandwiches stuffed with their choice of asado, ham or turkey and silog topped with turkey and gravy. This idea solely belongs to the brothers. As Chase put it. it was a tradition born from laziness. "We were stoners' " he admitted and wanted to create a quick breakfast.Chad spotted a pot of asado on the stove - and voila - a new dish was born. Now it's an assembly line of them and hungry friends and relatives who put together reheated asado (made richer by mellowing overnight), eggs and a nutty tasting Filipino cheese all sandwiched between pan de sal. There's also their take on silog with  turkey and gravy.It's more like the super hearty Hawaiian surfer breakfast loco moco, stuffing people  before they go off on Black Friday forays.

Leftovers can be used for lunch and dinner but why?Refashion them into a hearty breakfast like the Valencia brothers cook. It's a great way to clean the fridge and eat heartily for this weekend of shopping and traveling.

Thanks And Remembrance

The holidays do not get easy with each passing year, no matter how much you're told they do. It is tough going through a holiday without my Mom, even more so this year with my friends losing their beloved mother and our friend. We have to be there for them, guiding them through the tricky waters of sadness and anger to some kind of safe harbor. Food helps. The foods and traditions that our mothers gave to us help. Memories of tasty dishes help.Yet it's not as good as having them there.

For us and many it i a day more of remembrance than of thanks.For those who have their parents and loved ones still at their tables give thanks.