tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106116092024-03-18T14:40:44.652-05:00One Hot StoveA Celebration of Home CookingNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.comBlogger787125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-63818289719115606562024-03-03T16:21:00.003-06:002024-03-04T16:11:17.888-06:00A Sunday Afternoon Cooking SpreeFor most of my cooking life, I've not really been one to meal prep, preferring to cook a meal most evenings. Lately, though, evening activities and scheduling have made it so that it is nice to have pre-made food on hand, especially on Mondays and Tuesdays. When I get around to making 3-4 dishes on Sunday afternoon, the week gets off to a more peaceful start. Today, I managed to do that withNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-84973787390047937692024-02-14T16:30:00.001-06:002024-02-14T16:51:07.257-06:00A onesie cake, and chutney sandwichesWe're almost halfway through February! It has been a busy month full of fun and not-fun things so far. But just life, ya know, and it is all good. I had the opportunity to teach an Indian cooking class at a very cool local cooking establishment that is a combo gourmet cookware store, plus has a beautiful cooking school set-up, and employs a professional chef for their in-house cafe and Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-87398056716732628692024-01-29T06:30:00.014-06:002024-01-29T10:52:40.571-06:00A homestyle bell pepper stir-fryIn over two decades of cooking, and even more decades of eating, so many recipes have come in and out of my life. Sometimes I will forget about a dish for months and years, and when I make it again, it is a joyful little reunion. That's what happened with a three-pack of green bell peppers this weekend that I rescued from the clearance produce rack of the supermarket. I do buy green bell Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-77980837581286839902024-01-14T10:00:00.002-06:002024-01-14T10:56:34.535-06:00Lentil Pasta Sauce, and my First 10K RaceWe're almost halfway through January and baby, it is cold outside. Easy comfort food is on the dinner menu these days. I have 47 pasta recipes pinned in my Pasta and Italian-ish recipes Pinterest folder, and decided to try one of them- the lentil bolognese from the beautiful vegan food blog, Rainbow Plant Life. The recipe uses pantry ingredients, and is fun to make. I followed the recipe Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-30907998326078892142024-01-01T05:00:00.001-06:002024-01-01T05:07:47.506-06:00Happy 2024, and a book summary- Four Thousand WeeksHappy 2024! I started the last year by sharing my personal word of the year and listing a few things I hoped to do. It was a very helpful exercise and I do believe it guided me through the year. So here I am doing it again. My word for 2024 is STRETCH. It is an overarching theme that I hope will guide me all year and coax me to be slightly braver and a little more comfortable with discomfortNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-90451433397050002742023-12-28T14:00:00.001-06:002023-12-28T14:23:00.408-06:00Five Cookies and a CakeAll month long, I've been looking at pics of Christmas cookie boxes and holiday cookie assortments being posted on the baking subreddit. Examples: one, two, three. It got me into an intense cookie-baking mood, and in particular, I wanted to try a few new recipes. First, I made these sprinkles cookies. They are fun to make and look festive in cookie boxes, but taste quite dry and boring.Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-39244931948801018102023-12-23T15:00:00.003-06:002023-12-24T14:08:44.936-06:00Christmas Tree Cupcakes & BrowniesI want to thank everyone for the kind comments and condolences you left on my last post- I read every single one. We are trying to adjust to our Dunkie-less life. I am left with profound gratitude that this sweet, giant dog bounded into our lives and filled our home and our days. He taught me a lot about having an open heart, being kind and tolerant, and taking each day- each minute- as it comes,Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-56833602369278110402023-12-19T05:12:00.000-06:002023-12-19T05:12:13.763-06:00Duncan is no moreDuncan passed away peacefully yesterday.“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”― A.A. Milne, The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-PoohNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-56436586623695502652023-12-09T05:03:00.020-06:002023-12-09T06:00:28.198-06:00Kale Salad and WrapsFor the last several months, I buy a bunch of kale every time I am at the grocery store. I make one and only one thing with it- kale salad. My daughter eats this salad by the bowlful. She cannot get enough of it. I certainly do not eat it by the bowlful but have loved it as an addition to all sorts of meals. This is one salad where you use the best kitchen tools in the world- your own two Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-20380488881256953942023-11-24T13:00:00.011-06:002023-11-25T05:56:23.857-06:00Thanksgiving 2023, with Calico Cat CookiesThanksgiving 2023 dawned as a freezing cold, yet beautiful and sunny day here in Northeast Georgia. My sister and nephew were visiting for a few days. I started the morning by running my first 8K race. (Only the third time that I have run this distance of 8 kilometers/ 5 miles). I finished it in decent time. Thanksgiving runs are very popular and now I see why! There were people running in turkeyNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-16344819762676143692023-11-16T15:00:00.000-06:002023-11-16T15:20:46.824-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 16: SweaterMy friend Cathy taught me to knit in 2008 and what a gift it has been in my life- it has brought me endless joy even though I don't have a project on the needles at all times. Cathy started as a food blog friend and became a real life friend- we've stayed in each other's homes and everything. Just one example of how food blogging has enriched my life in tangible and intangible ways, giving me Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-74789015723954618622023-11-15T18:13:00.002-06:002023-11-15T18:13:42.967-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 15: OutsideMany years ago, when I was a few weeks away from delivering my daughter, V and I sat in her prospective pediatrician's office for a meet and greet. We liked him right away- he told me, your daughter is not born but I am her doctor already and you can call me anytime. He said to us, "As parents, you should focus on providing four things to your child: nutritious food, good sleep habits, fresh air Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-21186037064728469292023-11-14T17:00:00.002-06:002023-11-14T17:07:44.026-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 14: QuesadillaLast night I found myself picking up my son from school and back home around 5 PM with no plans for the dinner meal whatsoever. That meant it was time for a "fridge-cleaning dinner"- pulling out all odds and ends and putting them together creatively. (These often end up being my favorite meals, better than the planned ones.) Roz Chast, one of my favorite cartoonists and writers, wrote a Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-67750605404960166142023-11-13T19:00:00.005-06:002023-11-13T19:15:04.469-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 13: GamesI'm a huge fan of word games. If I have people around to play with (does not happen often), then Codenames and Scrabble are my favorites. But typically it is solitary word games that keep me engaged on a daily basis. Every so often, a new game comes on the scene and one that really created a splash during the pandemic was Wordle, now with its umpteen versions like Quordle and Octordle. I Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-84748926369950858692023-11-12T11:10:00.002-06:002023-11-12T11:10:40.249-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 12: Diwali Festive wishes to all who are celebrating today!Recipe for coconut burfi here. The bottom layer is pistachio with a drop of green food coloring, and the top layer is flavored with rose water and edible rose petals with a drop of red food coloring. May your year be filled with goodness and light. Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-15967495067029664472023-11-11T11:46:00.001-06:002023-11-11T11:46:40.472-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 11: LattesMy daughter started middle school this year, a time of great change and growing freedom for the kids. The school is in a busy urban area and packs of kids walk about in the shopping center after school, saving a few bucks to buy a treat here and a cold drink there. There is a fascination with brands and trends which I am trying my best to place reasonable restrictions on. For her birthday, Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-18209593712790773822023-11-10T06:30:00.001-06:002023-11-10T08:47:04.684-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 10: QuoteOne of my favorite quotes of all time is by the poet Mary Oliver on the value of small contributions.Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-31296314025053523452023-11-09T07:00:00.002-06:002023-11-09T12:47:41.278-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 9: SpiceDinner last night was inspired by an unopened packet of MTR Bisibele Masala powder in my spice cabinet. Bisibele bhaath is a Kannada Kannadiga (i.e., from the Southern Indian state of Karnataka) version of the khichdi or rice-lentil stew that is made in many divinely comforting versions all over India. Suma of Veggie Platter has a very informative post on this excellent dish, including a recipe Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-54054624183396309382023-11-08T06:30:00.001-06:002023-11-08T09:16:20.802-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 8: StacksThe public library is my happy place. We are lucky to live about 2 miles from a great one. Apart from endless stacks of books, the library has a welcoming teen section where middle schoolers can hang out safely after school until parents finish out their workdays, homework help for kids, summer reading challenges for kids and adults, story time and free crafts, free concerts, semi-annual used Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-52429004697463816922023-11-07T07:00:00.019-06:002023-11-07T07:42:26.797-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 7: SaladWith the apple glut that I mentioned yesterday, I poked through my Pinterest folder to look for apple recipes to try. Most were cakes and sweets but I found a Waldorf salad recipe that I was excited for. The original Waldorf salad is an American classic, invented at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in the 1890s. This variation is light, crisp and refreshing, and one for the recipe binder. I always like Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-64285986224813875062023-11-06T06:30:00.001-06:002023-11-06T09:17:18.789-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 6: ApplesApple season is here! Apples are a year-round staple for us but they really shine in Fall. Our high school advertised a fundraiser for locally grown apples, and I bought and paid for a half-bushel of the Gala variety- a crisp and mild snacking apple. The day the apples were delivered to my front door, I looked at the gigantic box (50 lbs) and thought, no way that's a half-bushel. I emailed the Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-89550552713450945472023-11-05T10:30:00.002-06:002023-11-05T11:47:18.328-06:00NaBloPoMo Day 5: RunThe clocks fell back today, in that annoying twice-yearly time switch ritual. I am with the majority of Americans who would like to end this whole business of switching clocks. The problem is that people cannot agree on which to make permanent- standard time or daylight savings time. Most politicians favor daylight savings time because it is better for the economy- more daylight in the evenings Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-17287146117676443862023-11-04T13:00:00.001-05:002023-11-04T13:08:24.499-05:00NaBloPoMo Day 4: HaulThe seasons are changing and I am swapping out clothes in the kids' closets and mine. I had two bags of outgrown clothes and assorted stuff to give away, and stopped by the thrift store. Only to be greeted by a sign that said, "No donations today; we are full". I went in to browse anyway. I can never resist digging for those thrift store finds, my favorites being the toy and game shelves forNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-16997573927439855072023-11-03T06:30:00.000-05:002023-11-03T08:52:36.040-05:00NaBloPoMo Day 3: SnacksWelcome to day 3 of the blogging marathon. Hamsini requested an update on the After-School Snacks for All post that I wrote almost exactly 11 years ago. After 18 years (!!!) of blogging, I do not remember most of the posts I've written, so I had to go dig this one up. It was fun re-reading it. How things change over the years, though. Snacks are now a very minor part of my diet. I've gone Nupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10611609.post-62082837500529413112023-11-02T06:30:00.002-05:002023-11-02T11:18:00.472-05:00NaBloPoMo Day 2: MindWe're two months away from the end of 2023 but I am confident that this book will be my favorite read of the year: How to Change Your Mind- Michael Pollan. It came out 5 years ago to rave reviews and has been on my TBR (to be read) list ever since. The subtitle of the book is What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.It isNupurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03890441057480820053noreply@blogger.com12