Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Maria Winslow <maria.winslow AT dexxtra.com>]

Beth and all,
I got into Indian food a while back and learned to cook some things. Now all 
the Indian
restaurants seem so terrible (I know - fodder for another discussion). Here 
are my cookbook
recommendations:

First, to get a handle on some basics, "India, the Vegetarian Table" by 
Yamuna Devi is an
excellent introduction. This book discusses technique and has lots of 
pictures, which
really helps when you aren't sure what the end result should look like. I 
recommend the
Gujarati wilted cabbage salad, the Bengali sweet and sour chana dal, the 
black eyed peas
with roasted peppers, and especially the chili-mashed potatoes with fried 
ginger. And the
Gujarati vegetables with lime and cilantro will never be found in a local 
restaurant, stir
fried with lime, cilantro, and a touch of sugar at the end. YUM.

Yamuna Devi also has a book called "The Art of Vegetarian Cooking", which is 
much more
comprehensive. No pictures, but a great resource after you master the basic 
ideas. The
toovar dal with chopped spinach is one of my favorite dishes in the whole 
world.

Hungry for meat? "Classic Indian Cooking" by Julie Sahni is another big book 
(but without
pictures). I have had good success with the stuffed cabbage in gingered 
tomato sauce, and
the vindaloo (made properly with pork) is well worth the trouble.

On a final note, there are three things for which there is no substitute in 
Indian cooking:
ghee, fresh curry leaves, and asetafida powder. Fortunately, they are easily 
obtained. The
source I know of is Patel Brothers, up on the hill behind Crabtree Mall. The 
curry leaves
will keep for a long time in the fridge. You can make your own ghee, but the 
stuff in the
jar is good. And the asetafida powder is just not like anything else. When I 
have some
time, I will type up a couple of recipes.

Now I'm hungry...

Maria

Beth Ellison wrote:

> >but i mean *really* what the hell has been going
> >on? anyone with blood still pumping thru their veins?? (as opposed to
> >TCP/IP).
>
> Aside from shivering at some of the *features* of the latest Red Hat public
> beta, I went to Boston for the first time last week. Faboo town. Also been
> listening to lots of punk (NOFX, AFI, The Explosion), reading a G-R-R-EAT
> book called *High Bonnet* (if you're a lover of fine food and wine, check
> it), and seeking good Thai and Indian recipes (inspired by a gift of a fully
> loaded fresh spice set from a pal), particularly sauces.
>
> My true motive here is to ask for above said recipes, seeing as how you all
> come across as a pretty diverse bunch of people and may well do things like
> COOK sometimes. Anyone have any good ones? Send them off-list if you want.
>
> Thanks. Here's to eating.
>
> beth
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
>
> ---
> Come and play at the InterNetWorkers Web site!  
> http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> You are currently subscribed to internetworkers as: 
> maria.winslow AT dexxtra.com
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to $subst('Email.Unsub')

--
Maria Winslow
maria.winslow AT dexxtra.com
919-968-7802 tel
919-968-7803 fax

http://www.dexxtra.com
Java training and courseware