A Tasty Twist On Macaroons

Passover may be three weeks away but it's always good to think about what to serve ahead of time. One of the most traditional American foods is the coconut macaroon. This flourless treat has been gracing tables for decades. Now there's a new twist on this much beloved cookie.

Coconut macaroons are always a treat  and now Manischewitz has two new flavors, Cold Brew Earl Grey and Birthday Cake.

I like these new flavors.

The Earl Gray one has a delicate flavor - not overpowering and perfect for after dinner or a snack with  - what else - a  steamy cup of Earl Gray.

I also like the birthday cake.It has more of an almond-y flavor with the surprise of multicolored sprinkles inside. It was a bit sweeter than the Earl Gray flavor but not too sugary sweet.

Both are perfect as desserts for the seder and for gift giving. Manischewitz also has other updated flavors such as red velvet, chocolate chip mint, carrot cake and hazelnut chocolate chip. There are also the traditional flavors too such as almond, coconut, chocolate and chocolate chip.

This is the time to start thinking about hope and Spring holidays such as Passover. Think about the addition of Manischewitz's latest flavors, Cold Brew Earl Gray and Birthday Cake to your holiday table. They're a fun  delicious treat, perfect for family and guests.

My Take On Keema

Yesterday I wrote about Tejal Rao's variety of Indian dishes she had published in The New York Times Food section. One stood out to me -keema, spiced meat. I had to try it but I added my own spin on it.

Ms. Rao's recipe called for a variety of spices including garam masala and chopped ginger. i modified it to just curry powder, cumin and chili powder.

As far as adding onions, they're really not liked in my house  so I subbed in chopped scallions.

These were cooked with olive oil and the spices. I used four Better Boy tomatoes instead of the called for Roma kind.

The recipe calls for pureeing these ingredients in the blender after cooking for a few minutes. I felt it would be too soupy so I just mashed everything with a potato masher which worked nicely.

I used only two cloves of garlic instead of the recommended five, finely mincing them.

Then it was adding 13 ounces of Gardein'

s meat crumbles and a cup of water. More curry, chili and cumin were added along with a good dash of salt and freshly ground pepper. Ms. Rao recommends

serving it with rolls or the Indian bread roti. I made brown rice which worked with it.

I would make this again , possibly using the Hyperabadi recipe that calls for peas along with adding the fresh ginger for heat. Maybe I'd also add potatoes and lentils too. You can also sub in ground beef, turkey, chicken or lamb for a more traditional taste.

Keema or spiced meat is a great way to introduce yourself and your family to Indian cooking. It's tasty and can be adapted to your tastes and likes. Try it today.

The Many Dishes Of India

Indian cuisine is having a moment right now thanks to Holi, the Spring festival along with the Trumps' trip to the subcontinent. Then there's the question of India's true identity with powerful waves of Hindu nationalism . Even though Islam is also a part of the history, it and its' culture are being suppressed almost to the point of eradication. Yet nothing can hurt its' multifaceted cuisine. Indian regional cooking is as strong as ever.

Tejal  Rao, a regular contributor wrote about this and offered a variety of recipes in today's New York Times Food section. Ms. Rao herself has Gujarati and Konkani roots,  her family coming from India's west coast. She has created a good array of recipes representing all of the country and recipes garnered from home chefs outside her family. What is great about her selection is that they are welcoming to the home chef new to Indian cuisine. They're great for anyone who loves all aspects of the cooking as well as looking for something unique to cook. You may have to find some of the ingredients at Indian groceries but the trip is worth it because it will help broaden culinary knowledge. Ms. Rao does include some family recipes such as keema or spiced ground meat. This is an interesting easy dish made with ground beef, red onions and ground Roma tomatoes (I plan on making this tomorrow so it will be the subject of tomorrow's entry).It has a fiery mix of serrano chilies, cayenne pepper and garam masala. It's served with Indian bread roti but you can also use naan to sop up the gravy

The other dishes Ms. Rao provides are representative of all the different states of India. There is toor dal Gujarati style made with split yellow pigeon peas with Roma tomatoes and peanuts. The tempering or sauce is made from ghee, an Indian staple of clarified butter, fresh curry leaves, and cinnamon, Chilies  and mustard seed also give it flavor along with a pinch of asafoetida a resinous gum.Lamb biryani is included and this is a dish most restaurants make.It is part of India's Muslim heritage, a richly spiced dish of lamb, bombarded with spices served with onions over basmati rice. Lamb chops or a shoulder of lamb is used , cut into pieces and marinaded with finger chiles, garlic and ginger.Onions and tomatoes are added to this. Yogurt spiked with mint, cilantro, coriander, cumin and chili powder is then added to the mix and the lamb is marinaded overnight in the fridge. There is also saffron milk, an easy blend of whole milk, saffron threads and cilantro layered onto the meat and rice.The southwestern area of Karnataka gives us carrot salad or gojjara kosambari. It's sweetened with coconut and sugar and fired up with serrano chile along with cumin, white sesame and black mustard seeds.Moong dal or cooked lentils can be added too.Ms. Rao also adds a roti recipe too, perfect of any of these recipes.

India is having a moment right now with Hindu nationalism and warring with its' Muslim heritage as well. These recipes help to unite in a way as well as introduce people to the cuisine. It represents every aspect of the pluralism of Indian life and its' heritage.

Holi Cooking

It's the middle of Holi, the fun Indian festival where Hindus celebrate the  coming of Spring. It is also a festival of delicious tasty savory and sweet dishes. You too, can celebrate, with easy dishes that will definitely make you smile.

Indian food has many benefits especially now. There are recipes chock full of turmeric - which is used as an anti- inflammatory remedy along with cumin  an immunity booster which helps in destroying powerful germs. It is also a tasty cuisine, full of fire at times and spice. Holi has some of the best and most flavorful dishes. Remember if you can't buy some of the ingredients at your local grocery , then definitely visit an Indian grocery. Try making the crunchy and fiery dal kachori, fried puffs of dough wrapped around a mix of dal, or ground lentils, chilis and garam masala. This last can be found in your grocery's spice section and can be used for other dishes such as grilled chicken or  sprinkled on veggies. The balls are then fried in vegetable oil. I guess you could use an air fryer in this for less oil and more crunch. An easy no cook one is papadi chaat, popular in northern India. The dish starts out with the Indian bread papi, small Indian breads that can be bought at any Indian grocery story and even Wal-mart. They're similar to pita bread and layered with cooked potatoes and chickpeas. Curd is layered on top of this, You can make curd  at home or sub in plain Greek yogurt, Top with green mint mixed with coriander along with cumin and chili powder.

Sweet treats and drinks are also a big part of Holi. You can try rice pudding or kheer that has the added flavor of ground almonds and cardamon.  Add stevia instead of sugar if you want it a bit healthier and top with cinnamon . Another sugary treat are the filled pastries called gujiya. They're filled with dried fruit and khoya  - a kind of cooked milk.  You can also give them an American twist by stuffing them with dark and white chocolate or apples and cinnamon. Some Indian families fill them with anjeer or figs along with coconut and pineapple. The dough is a simple one made with water and flour along with ghee , clarified melted butter. These can be washed down with thandai, a sweet,creamy drink made with  boiled milk mixed with sugar. A ground to a powder mix of white peppercorns, fennel seeds, melon seeds and cardamon pods is blended in for flavor and fire. Rose petals are added for more sweetness. The boiled mix is put into the fridge for two to three hours before serving.  You can also have a sip of the traditional lassi. It's kind of like a milkshake, made with milk, honey and yogurt. Sugar, honey and some kind of fruit such as mango or strawberry is swirled in along with ice for a cool treat.

Celebrate Holi with home cooked and home made Indian food and drinks. It's time to enjoy the happiness of this colorful holiday with friends and family. Do so with a wide array of spicy and sweet treats .

Comfort Food For Now

With all hell breaking loose around us, it's the best time to cook and bake those dishes and treats near and dear to our stomachs and hearts. It is definitely time for a slice of meat loaf or a big chocolate chip cookie. Indulge in what you want.

Luckily most of our comfort foods can be home made. There's no need to go out to restaurants and fast food joints. It's easy to make your version of Quarter Pounders and Whoppers at home. You can use Beyond Burgers for a healthier spin. Load it up with slices of onions, pickles and an easy to make version of special sauce.This is a mishmosh of mayo, French dressing and ketchup spiked up with white vinegar and dill pickle relish, Your side? Air fried French fries.  Get a few Idaho or Russet potatoes for the crispiest and meatiest. For real comfort, think Tater tots wrapped in bacon. You can also air fry these to get rid of all that bacon grease. Of course most people turn to meat loaf and mashed potatoes for their comfort foodsThink about amping it up some with the addition of sliced portabella mushrooms and wrapping it in bacon for a truly flavorful bite. Add a rich mushroom gravy spiked with with cremini or baby bella mushrooms and a good  jigger of sherry. To add to this try cream cheese mashed potatoes. These are the same recipe as basic mashed potatoes but have the added creaminess and cheesiness of the cream cheese. There's also garlic powder for more flavor. Spoon tons of gravy over them or just plop scoops of butter on top.

Of course comfort foods also mean sweets too.  Giant chocolate chip cookies are the perfect bake and comfort food. They have the perfect combination of butter, chocolate and brown sugar. You can add walnuts along with pecans too. Another comfort bake are M&M cookies. These are great made with the dark chocolate M&Ms. Whip up a batch  and enjoy them with a good book and a cup of your favorite tea.Another great comfort cookie? Peanut butter. Again, it's a fabulous mix of peanut butter, butter and brown sugar. Dip baked ones in melted dark chocolate for the ultimate peanut butter cup taste. Of course nothing beats cupcakes,You can have fun with these too. Imagine devil's food ones piled high with a minty buttercream, then topped with chocolate sprinkles. Or bake butter cake ones frosted with mounds of fudge frosting. Cupcakes are great to bake and ice during a quarantine because they are labor intensive and can help you pass the time when cabin fever sets in. Ice cream , for some is another sweet comfort food. A scoop is nice but jazz it up with some hot fudge and whipped cream.Create a tin roof sundae with a layer of Spanish peanuts and a few maraschino cherries. You could also throw all of this in a waffle cone for some fun.

Yes, you should eat healthy during these stressful times but also treat yourself to some really good comfort food. Have a dinner of burger and fries. Bake those cupcakes and cookies. Indulge yourself. Think of it as a remedy for these anxiety filled days.

Fourteen Days In

There's so much talk of quarantine and basically life shutting down these days. It brings the question - what do you do for those two weeks - especially if you have kids? It boils down to  eating healthy and  creatin enough projects to keep everyone relatively happy.

The Coronavirus is part of the common cold family. It is stronger and deadlier yet it can be buffered by having a boosted immune system. Think of the cold diet, foods that can help alleviate the ailment. Try to have plenty of colorful veggies such as tomatoes, peppers and different kinds of squash. Onions and garlic are also must haves. Make a big pan of ratatouille which can be made in double batches for freezing and later eating. Another healthy dish is crockpot tomato sauce, made with fresh tomatoes and garlic, the last the more the better. Serve with whole wheat pasta for a different healthier spin. Since you may be stuck in with kids of all ages, you may want to have some fun food plans in place.Spaghetti is one dish.Pizza is another. It's so easy to create a healthy pie.Use liberal amounts of olive oil as a first layer before you put on any sauce. It's good for colds and sore throats so you may want to incorporate more into your cooking. A pizza needs a good sauce. You can buy the already made ones or make it on your own. Add a healthy array of toppings, from slices peppers to roasted garlic. Mexican food is another healthy cuisine. Make sure you add potassium rich avocados which help in boosting the immune system along with tomatoes and a variety of beans.

Besides cooking healthy foods , a quarantine period can mean time to clean the kitchen if you're up to it. Cleaning the fridge helps. You can finally throw out those moldy cheeses and salads that you though the family would finish but didn't. It's also time to take stock of what you have and what you need for a healthier household. Make sure you have plenty of fruit  - actually more of that than cookies for the kids. We all know that oranges are great for colds and flu. They're rich in  Vitamin C and all those antioxidants. However apples are also good for treating all sorts of sicknesses. They're rich in flavonoids - which treat inflammatory problems. Another plus is that there are so many different kinds, from the sweet Mount Fuji to the deliciously tart Granny Smiths. Kids will love dipping apple slices in almond or peanut butter. These butters can be made at home for a fun family project. Both taste better homemade and it gives the kids a lesson in creating organic.Keep sweets at a limit. If the kids want to bake cookies, then stick to all organic recipes, one that call for whole wheat or nut flours and all natural sugars. As for candy - think healthy nut clusters loaded with raisins and dark chocolate chips. These are easy to make and they'll have fun making them.

Get ready for quarantines and having the kids on a full time basis. It means staying at home and eating healthy.  It means fun and nutritious projects with the kids.  Learn from this time together.

Stockpiling Your Kitchen

There's all sorts of strange stories out there concerning the Corona virus. One odd one is about stockpiling various food stuffs in case there are shortages. That's the strange part - what shortages, especially here in the States. Is this some kind of media made panic or should we be worried? Then there's the other question, if this is true - what do we stockpile?

There's some small buzz in grocery stores in the New York City area. I heard today that water and salt are being grabbed off the shelves at local Wal-marts in the Northern New Jersey area. Storing water is kind of strange. It's not as if our supply or local reservoirs are being threatened with bio-warfare or they're compromised. The salt makes sense, People are being told to gargle, presumably by their healthcare providers. Doing such will kill some of the virus bacteria and it will also bring the bacteria to the surface of gums, tongue and teeth. It's then should be washed out with a strong mouth wash.As far as other foods, milk and eggs are also at the top of the list. It's sort of similar to what people buy before a big blizzard with the exception of bread.The United Kingdom has a bad case of stockpile fever. Brits are clearing the shelves of their local supermarkets, fighting over pasta, rice and long life milk according to the BBC.It is obviously worse in Hong Kong where life - and trade has ground to a halt.

It hopefully isn't that bad here. We may have problems with hand sanitizer and liquid hand soap. Again, that' s understandable. Yet if we do have shortages, what do we buy to survive? The best bet is all canned foods such as canned veggies and fruits. These are versatile to use in a variety of different dishes, from omelets to stews. Despite what you've heard from some natural food advocates canned  produce can be just as nutritious and vitamin packed as their fresh versions. However, try to eat as much of the fresh stuff while you can. If you do feel a bit panicky about shortages, then freeze fresh fruit and veggies.Don't worry about it losing its' nutritional value. Fruits and veggies start breaking down after a whole year in the freezer.  Your grapes and broccoli are still OK for a week in the deep freeze. Meats are another foodstuff that can be frozen for a year or two. Cereals last six to eight months while oatmeal lasts a year and a half if you want to stockpile on them. If you're in a warm weather zone, then consider starting a veggie garden. You'll always have fresh produce which helps in fighting any illness. Also buy and plant melon seeds and berry plants.

Should we listen to the crazy rumors and start stockpiling? That's up to you. If you feel better then get a few extra cans now and then. Just don't go wild and and into a frenzy of over buying.