I am a firm believer of meal planning. So much so, that every weekend I take a few hours to carefully plan our meals for the coming week. I grab a handful of cookbooks from my ever increasing library, a couple of sticky page tabs, my favourite pen and meal planning notebook (yes, I keep a notebook!), and get down to work.

First, I skim through the pages of various cookbooks for inspiration and ideas. Then I make a list of what I think we’d like to eat that week. I then go about designating a theme for each day of the week. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate, I’m not one to cook a 4-course dinner everyday! Usually my themes would look something like this:

Monday: Chicken
Tuesday: Pasta Night
Wednesday: Dal, Roti, Sabzi
Thursday: Soup & Sandwich
Friday: Movie & Munchie Night

Having set themes for each night of the week makes it easier for me to decide and plan a meal, ensuring I maintain a good balance between protein, carbs and vegetables. I usually leave weekends free which allows us play it by ear. After all, it’s good to some amount of spontaneity thrown in!

Once my meals have been decided upon (after due consulting with Hubby Dear on whether he promises to eat the Bok choy I have planned for one day), I create my grocery list. Now, as much as this may make me seem a very organized person, I assure you that it’s not always the case. There are often days when I don’t feel like keeping with the plan, when I absolutely refuse to have a cous cous salad for dinner, or days when all we want is some take-out pizza. It’s especially when days like those happen, that my so-called organization gets thrown out the window.

Today was one such particular day. I had a lovely looking mango sitting lonely in my fridge since I had a mango salsa planned sometime during last week. Well, that didn’t quite work out, so the darned fruit was shoved into this week’s menu. As I sat to plan my meals for this week, I realized I felt a little adventurous and wanted to take a new recipe for a test drive. And thus this Mango Chicken was born. All I have to say about it though, is that if Hubby Dear comes home even a tad bit late tonight, I can’t promise he’ll have any left for him. I’m starving already, and the dish bubbling away seems to be calling my name. Oh how will I ever resist!

MANGO CHICKEN WITH RED PEPPERS
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 20 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 large boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 large mangoes, diced into cubes
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 medium-sized onion, sliced
1-2 red chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1/4 cup chicken stock/water
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
2 tbsp light cooking oil
salt, to taste
fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish

Directions:

Heat oil in a large non-stick wok and saute chopped chillies, ginger-garlic paste and onions till lightly browned.

Add in chicken pieces, peppers and spices, and stir-fry till chicken is cooked through. Stir in chicken stock and mango, and allow to simmer for a few minutes.

Season with salt, and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

It had come to my notice a few days ago that I was spending a lot more time cooking than actually eating. This is not to say that I have been burdening myself with tedious and slow-cooking meals. In fact, it was quite the contrary. While my meals have been loaded with quick and simple salads, soups and the occasional sandwich, it seemed strange to me that I was eating in less than half the time I took to prepare the meal at hand.

I have recently begun to have lunch at my desk, if only to try and get as much work done as I possibly could cram into my day. With my food sitting on my right and my laptop on the left, it’s almost impossible for me to sit back and actually take a moment to even look at my plate, let alone enjoy it. And this, my dear friends has been bugging me since the time I started doing it.

There are piles of emails flagged for responses, a ton of article ideas bookmarked for research, a growing tower of books (which I now use as a side table to hold my morning cup of coffee) for review, and the odd request or two for help with a menu plan, that are all screaming for my undivided attention. Well, what can I say but that it’s hard trying to balance your work and hobby at the same time. Even harder when they both are interlinked, like in my case. That was until I found Rachael Ray.

I was first introduced to the great RR a few years ago with her show 30-Minute Meals. Like many, I thought she was too perky to be sane. I thought it was crazy of her to bang pots and pans to flatten meat, and create acronyms like EVOO and GB (which I must add is a wonderful trick I learnt from her!). But what I did admire was her penchant to get real creative in the kitchen and make everyday food seem exotic and exciting.

A few days ago, as I got ready to take my lunch into my home office, I had the sudden urge to stop and see what was on TV. A quick scan and I found myself taking a seat with The Rachael Ray Show. She was just as I remembered her: quirky, overly excited and bubbly. But even then, I found myself grinning at her silly jokes. She passed around the ’snack of the day’ to her audience as I took the first bite of my lunch. By the end of the episode, I had polished my plate, relishing every bite and enjoying what I ate. I tried doing the same the next day. And the day after. And the day after that.

It’s been more than a week since, and my lunches, though take hardly any time to cook, seem to take a whole hour to be eaten. And not to mention, enjoyed. All thanks to the Queen of Quick!

CURRY NOODLE BOWL
Prep time: 15 min | Cooking time: 15 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 lb noodles of choice
1 cup boneless cubed chicken/cubed tofu
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped bok choy
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 tbsp crushed garlic
1 tbsp curry paste (red or yellow)
1 stalk lemon grass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup coconut milk 
3 cups chicken/vegetable stock
1 tbsp light cooking oil
salt & pepper, to taste
fresh coriander leaves, chopped chillies and lemon wedges, for garnish

Directions:

Heat oil in a deep pan, and saute garlic and curry paste till fragrant. Add in onions and chicken/tofu, and saute till lightly brown.

Add in coconut milk, stock and lemon grass, and let it come to a boil on low heat. Add in musrooms and noodles, and cook covered till noodles are tender and done. Stir in bok choy, and cover cook for 5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper, add garnish with coriander leaves, chillies and a dash of lemon juice. Ladle in large bowls and serve piping hot.

Okay. I know. It’s been long. Oh so long!

I won’t bore you with the details of my long disappearance, except to say that we were on a wonderfully long vacation, and then back to the dreadful weather here which kind of took me off guard and made me sick to my core. And while the recovery has been slow, I kept my bored self busy by coming up with some creative ideas for HoH. I hope to share some fantastic news with you soon, so stay tuned!

The past few weeks have been, to put it straight, simply dreadful! The snow just keeps accumulating and I shudder to think of what one more snow fall would bring. We’ve tried to keep ourselves warm by cranking up the heat inside, and not to mention, eating lots of warm soothing comfort food. Aah food. There’s always a good time for food.

It’s funny to note that I may have made more soups and stews over the past two weeks than I would’ve made all of last year. And yet, when I think back, none of them seemed extraordinary enough to pass on to you. Most of my soups are made with whatever I have in the fridge, and so it’s very rare that I’m able to replicate the flavours exactly the next time I attempt to. And maybe that’s just how I like it to be. Nothing beats throwing a bunch of things into a big pot and watching it simmer into a bowl full of delicious goodness.

One dish I did most enjoy recently, was this spicy lamb creation. It started out like most of my dinner rush meals. I open up the fridge, stare into it for a long couple of minutes, and then start mixing and matching flavours into a pot. I would suggest saving this for a sunny winter Sunday afternoon, when all you want to do is cuddle up with a good book while your stove slowly hums the sweet music of lunch in the making. Or maybe save it for that special dinner by the fireplace with a soft serenade in the background. No matter how and when you decide to try it, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. But may I insist you tackle it when the temperatures are low into its negatives. ‘Coz that maybe the only way I can defend it’s heat level.

BLACK PEPPER LAMB
Prep time: 15 min | Cooking time: 45 min | Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1 lb lean boneless lamb, cubed
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
5-6 curry leaves
1 tbsp garlic, finely crushed
1 tbsp black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 cup plain yoghurt, beaten
1 tbsp light cooking oil
salt, to taste
fresh coriander leaves and lemon wedges, for garnish
water, as needed

Directions:

Marinate lamb in yogurt and garlic for atleast two hours.

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, and add cumin, coriander and fennel seeds along with curry leaves, allowing them to sizzle. Add in onions and saute till brown. Add in black pepper and marinated lamb along with any remaining marinade. Cook covered on low heat for 45 minutes or till lamb is tender and cooked through, stirring occasionally and adding little water if it begins to stick to bottom of the pan.

Season with salt, add in green peppers and cook covered for another 5-10 minutes.

Garnish with coriander leaves and a sprinkle of lemon juice. Serve warm with fresh pitas.

It seems strange to wake up and finally realize as I turn to my planner, that we are finally in 2008. Over the past few weeks, I have been juggling around dinner parties, last-minute deadlines, surprise holiday guests, and not to mention shopping for gifts for family and friends! As I sit back now, a steaming cup of hot coaco in hand, it suddenly dawned on me that I had quite an eventful and experimental year in 2007 in relation to food. And otherwise also.

Here are some of my favourite picks from the year just past. If you haven’t tried them as yet, then I’d truly suggest you head on and get started, else you may not be able to catch up. Because, seeing as how tremendous 2007 turned out, I have an strong inkling that 2008 will bring with it many, many more delicious treats from my kitchen to yours!

And finally, a few of my 2008 resolutions for hookedonheat.com:

1. More original South Asian fusion recipes.
2. Introducing new features, as well as continuing old favourites including Indian Cooking 101, Interviews and Cookbook Reviews.
3. A proper printable compilation of all the recipes and food photographs of hookedonheat.com.

So, what are your food resolutions for 2008?

Thanks so much for everyone who took the time to send me emails and leave such lovely comments on my blog. It’s been such a great trun out and I’ve had so much fun reading your feedback, that I think I should have these giveaways more often! It’s been a long wait, but we finally have our lucky winners!

Each of these lucky winners get a copy of the cookbook listed by their names:

Nigella Express, by Nigella Lawson: Jackie, who said, “I’ve tried many of your recipes and enjoyed everyone! I started visiting your site a year ago, and have been stopping by each week since then. Keep up the great work!”

Curries & Kebabs, by Madhur Jaffrey: Susie, who Said, “If there was one thing I would suggest, then it would only be to post more often. Your writing has got me hooked and I can’t help wanting to read more of what you have to say. You have one of the best food blogs I’ve come across.”

Adventures of an Italian Food Lover, by Faith Willinger: Tina, who said, “I love the way you write! I’ve tried some of your recipes and have simply loved each and everyone of them. Thanks a ton!”

Dish Entertains, by Trish Magwood: Danielle, who said, “Heya! Well, as you probably know, I love your recipes, your photography, and the way your personality comes through in your writing. There’s nothing I don’t like! As for the months ahead, although I’m not one to talk, the only thing I could dream of asking for is for you to post more often.”

Barefoot Contessa at Home, by Ina Garten: Anita, who said, “Ohh!! What a lovely way to get us lurkers out of hiding and finally saying hello! I love your writing style and your recipes have always worked out amazing for me. I look forward to many more insightful posts and delicious recipes in the future. Keep up the great work!”

Indian Everyday, by Anjum Anand: Kimmie, who said, “You have way with words, it’s almost as if I’m right there listening to you as you speak. And your food makes it even better!”

Each of these lucky winners get a prize hamper with six spice bottles each, from The Spice Depot:

Dawn, who said, “Yippee! Happy Holidays! I’ve been an avid lurker for a bit of time now. Your posts always inspire me to get out of my “Italian” comfort zone and try something new. So, win or lose, just wanted to send a heartfelt THANK YOU!”

Jamie, who said, “I love this blog! The food always looks delicious and is often either already vegan or is easily veganizable. I love how even the simplest recipes always come out delicious. Please, keep blogging for ages to come!”

Marn, who said, “I’ve loved Indian cooking since my university days in Ottawa over 30 years ago. Stumbling into your blog and finding recipes that I can make myself has been fabulous. I’ve been exploring the blogs you link to, and one of the frustrations for someone such as me who isn’t from India is that many Indian terms are used for spices, terms we don’t use in Canada. I would be eternally grateful if you could create a glossary of sorts for those of us who don’t know these words. As well, because I live in rural Quebec, some of the ingredients are impossible for me to find. If there are equivalents I could substitute for certain dals, I would love to know that. Thank you for this great resource. There’s nothing more comforting on a cold evening than a bowl of savoury dhal.”

Tiana, who said, “My favorite thing about HOH is that it’s obvious you have tried the recipes and adjusted them to perfection. Your tips make it really easy to learn to cook this cuisine and the way you write your posts is entertaining and also very accessible. As far as what I don’t like…not much! I’m a vegetarian so I’d like to see more meet-free recipes but there are plenty of those already. Happy Holidays!”

Congrats everyone! Each of your prizes are on their way to your day as you read this!

Here’s wishing all of you out there, a wonderfully faboulous Holiday Season! See you in the New Year!

When I started blogging a little over two years ago, little did I know how my life would change. These wonderful two years has brought me so much joy in ways I had’nt dreamt possible. It continues to be an enriching journey for me and I owe it most to all of my dedicated readers. As a big THANK YOU to all the wonderful readers of my blog and for all the people who send lovely e-mail my way, I’d like to do something special.

I have a few fabulous prizes up for grabs that I would really love for each of you to have. But as luck would have it, I have limited resources. So I leave it up to you to shake your dice and throw it my way. And what is it that’s up for grabs you ask? Well, look no further…

Books, Books & lots more Books!

Nigella Express has been generously donated by Knopf Canada, and the sweet Trish Magwood has donated a copy of Dish Entertains. The rest are all courtesy of me. If you know me well, you know how much I love books, so what better way to make you all feel special than by sending you my personal favourite reads!

And what kind of a spice lover would I be if I couldn’t sprinkle some flavour you way?

The Spice Depot has generously offered four prize hampers, with six spice bottles each. and what’s even better is that they’ve included my favourites, Garlic Pepper and Spicy Sea Salt in the collection! I know you’re not gonna wanna miss this one!!

Like any fun game where prizes are at stake, this one too has certain rules you’ll need to follow in order to increase you chances of winning! From now, until December 15th, which is this coming Saturday, all you have to do is drop me a comment telling me what you like about HoH, what you don’t, and what you would like to see in the months ahead. Be sure to leave your name and a vaild email address so that I can get back to you if you’ve been chosen at a winner. Anonymous and spam comments will be deleted. At the end of the week I will add all the names into a hat, or maybe a cookie jar, and pick out the 10 winning names. So come on people, what are you waiting for!

I wish you all a very happy and festive Holiday season!

As a child, I remember giving out handmade gifts often. Be it friends or family, I almost always had something made out of my own creativity to hand out to them on their special day. I especially remember making gigantic heart-shaped cardboard cut-out greeting card smothered with glitter and little silver star stickers, to give to my teacher when I was in the 3^rd grade. I could swear her face lit up with joy, or maybe it was from the sheer pleasure of seeing one of her favourite students suck up to her. That moment stayed with me in my memories and I began making a point to always create something to gift as often as I could.

Even after all these years I still try and continue to keep up with the practice I started eons ago. A few weeks ago, I had a gang of girls over from our book club meet. I always look forward to these all-girl meetings, especially when it’s my turn to host. I get to experiment with fun menus and love the fact that we girls can totally agree on chocolate cake as a filling dinner option.

For the past few months I’ve been toying with the idea of throwing an appetizer sampler party. According to me, it’s probably the best party you could get invited to, second of course only to a chocolate themed night. This book meet was the perfect setting for what I had in mind. We were meeting to discuss the book, ‘Cooking for Mr. Latte’, and though I enjoyed the read, I knew that planning the party was going to be even more fun.

It was obvious that I was going to serve tiny bites and mini morsels of divine finger food, in all shapes, sizes and forms. My centerpiece comprised of a huge platter flavoured oven-roasted pita chips and deep bowl overflowing with cool creamy hummus. It was to be the decoy for those health conscious skinny ones. Neatly arranged around that were the actual sinners. Melt-in-your mouth Tandoori wings, my simply-to-die-for Ginger-Chilli Shrimp, and to mention petite little squares of a rich dark chocolate almond fudge cake that I had baked for the first time in my life, among many other delicious treats.

The cake was delicious, to say the very least, and if I were locked alone in a room with it, you’d probably find me digging into it with my bare hands and stuffing large chunks of it into my face. I also made sure I catered to every palate by dishing out a variety of sweet and savoury treats, including, mini quiches, spiced potato wedges, and spiked hot chocolate in mini espresso cups for that something extra after dinner. But the highlight of my evening had to be the warm crisp rolls that simply had me wishing I were in the Orient somewhere, digging into a bowl full of slurpy noodles to go with it – tiny little spring rolls.

HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN SPRING ROLLS
Prep time: 15 min | Cooking time: 15 min | Makes: 24 mini spring rolls

Ingredients:

24 small spring rolls wrappers
1 chicken breast, finely chopped into tiny pieces
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
1 tbsp garlic, finely crushed
1 tsp black pepper powder
1/2 tsp white pepper powder
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp honey-garlic sauce
1 tbsp light cooking oil
salt, to taste
oil, for deep frying
water, as needed

Directions:

Marinate chicken, onions, green pepper and crushed garlic with honey-garlic sauce and pepper powder for at least an hour.

Heat sesame oil and a tbsp of cooking oil in a non-stick wok and stir-fry marinated ingredients with any leftover marinade over high heat till chicken is cooked through. Remember to stir and mix continuously, so as not to let it burn. Season with salt, and set aside to cool.

Once the filling is cooled, begin rolling out the spring rolls. Start with placing a spring roll wrapper on a cool flat working surface. Place about 2-3 tbsp of the filling to one corner of the wrapper. Fold over that corner and roll up half way, tucking in the open side corners. Seal edges with a bit of water and set the spring roll aside on a cool plate. Continue to roll out remaining cigars, making sure to cover them with a slightly damp towel so that they don’t dry out.

Deep fry in hot oil till golden and crisp.

I’m almost embarrassed to say what I’m going to say: I LOVE winter! Yes, I really, really, do. I love everything about it: the snow covered roof tops, cashmere sweaters and scarfs, hot chocolate dunked biscotti, Hubby Dear moaning while scraping ice off his windshield… Okay, scratch that, maybe I don’t truly enjoy watching him do that, but it’s just a part of the season I’ve come to reckon with, like baking cookies. Yes, quite like that, except not so rewarding. Well, you get what I mean!The reason for my embarrassment is because I seem to invite such odd looks from people when I say it. They all look at me in a ‘are-you-serious-or-just-plain-crazy’ kinda way. But I beg to differ! I mean, wouldn’t you prefer engulfing yourself in soft warm fabrics and eating rich stews as opposed to sweating through the day? I do at least.

Which brings me back to my favourite season: the Holidays! With the lighting of the city Christmas tree last weekend in Toronto, the official holiday season has begun. The lights have gone up, and huge cuddly Santas can be seen around town taking letters from little kids. Which also means, it’s about time I get into my Holiday skin. And to kick things off, I thought, what better than to start here. Yes, right here! On this blog. The one place I seem to spend most of my waking time at.

So I gathered all my little elves, in my case that would simply mean my brain cells, and put together a fabulous treat for you all. There will be some wonderful new features on the blog, a fantabulous Holiday Gift Guide for food lovers of all kinds, and a bunch of bewitching prizes to be won! And need I mention, a load of delicious holiday recipes to lure your friends and family with. So watch this space in the coming week when I’ll dig into my goody bag and throw a celebration your way. Until then, there’s always lamb…

LAMB WITH GREEN PEPPERS
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 45 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless lamb, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, finely sliced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp nigella seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp cooking oil
fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish
water, as needed
salt, to taste

Directions:

Marinate lamb for at least an hour in a blend of yogurt and ginger-garlic paste.

Heat oil in a deep pan and add nigella and cumin seeds. Once they start to sizzle, add in sliced onions and fry till lightly browned.

Stir in spices and tomato paste, and add in the marinated lamb along with the yogurt.

Cook covered on low heat for 35-40 minutes till lamb is tender, adding water in between if it starts to dry up and stick to the pan. Season with salt and add in chopped peppers, letting it cook for another 5-10 minutes.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve warm.

You know how there is always this ONE recipe that no matter how hard you try to replicate, you never seem to be able to hit it just right? Somehow, the taste of when you first devoured the dish still lingers on your palate, and even after a dozen of your experimented versions later, you still know that it’s not quite as close to the original. Well for me, I have one too many of those!

There’s the PERFECT Mee Goreng served by the street hawker down the lane from my Grandma’s house in Malaysia, the spicy Chole garnished with fresh chopped onions and served with giant-sized crisp Bhaturas in Delhi and the most amazingly luscious melt-in-your-mouth Tiramisu served at a corner cafe by the Colosseum in Rome, to name just a few! But of all of them, the ONE recipe that has me searching non-stop for a close flavour duplicate would definitely have to be of Dal Makhani from a little nondescript restaurant in Kuwait.

Growing up, I remember eating off the restaurant’s classic menu once too often. They were especially known for their fantastic and lip-smacking combination of Chicken Tikka, Dal Makhani and Puris. But for me, a die-hard Chicken Tikka devotee, it was always their Dal Makhani that did the deed. It’s thick, warm and creamy texture was everything I craved for anytime of the year.

Ever since I moved away from home, I have always been on a search for a Dal Makhani that would come close to my childhood indulgence. But alas, none came even near an inch to tasting anything like it. I went high and low, to some of the most fabulous Indian restaurants as well as the local take-out favourites, but none of them could win me over. I had almost given up ordering the dreaded dish until one day my Mom decided to come to my rescue. She played and she toiled a few recipes, added this and subtracted that from the ingredients, and simplified the method to suit her needs, and Voila! What can I say? Now whenever I crave some lip-smacking comfort food, all I do is enter my kitchen. It’s a perfect go-to recipe this time of year, and I need I add, an absolute hit at my Diwali bash last weekend!

DAL MAKHANI (CREAMY BLACK LENTILS)
Prep time: 10 min | Cooking time: 30 min | Serves: 4
Special Cooking Equipment: Pressure Cooker

Ingredients:

1/2 cup whole black lentils and a handful of dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium-sized tomato, finely chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
1 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp red chili powder
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp cooking oil
fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish
water, as needed
salt, to taste

Directions:

Heat oil in a pressure cooker and saute onions till lightly browned. Stir in salt, chilli powder, ginger-garlic paste, and tomato paste and fry for a few seconds.

Add in the chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes to combine well. Add lentils and beans, and enough water to cover them. Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes till lentils are soft and done. Stir in milk and let it come to a boil.

In a separate pan, make a tempering by heating butter and whole garlic cloves slit in the middle. Stir the tempering into the lentils and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Serve warm with soft, fluffy Naans.

I first  got a chance to read Erin Ergenbright’s writing when I got my hands on this delightful read. Her voice was an instant hit with me. A while later, I was able to get hold of her ‘The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook’, a fun book with recipes gathered from, you guessed right, ex-boyfriends! I simply couldn’t pass up a chance for a tete-a-tete with her, and just had to take a peek into her kitchen habits.

What did you eat today?

Scrambled farm eggs with spinach and garlic, a banana, a tuna sandwich, part of a lemon bar from the Farmer’s Market (they never taste quite as good as they look, but I’m always tempted), a lovely caprese salad made by my friend Natalie, and, I’m more slightly ashamed to admit this because it’s a rare event (honestly) but it was late and I was hungry and there wasn’t much else in the cupboard: Annie’s macaroni and cheese (made with fresh, creamy milk from a local farm, pepper and ketchup).

What do most enjoy cooking?

I love making my mother’s picadillo recipe—it’s actually in The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook, and attributed to someone named Phil, who, in reality, didn’t cook for me. He would have, maybe, but we lived in a dormitory. And we were eighteen. Anyway, the picadillo tastes amazing, and it somehow soothes me to prepare it: it has the perfect amount of chopping and mixing and savory smells.

In your fridge, we can always find…

Farm eggs, milk, spinach, peanut butter, a variety of soft and hard cheeses, and Castelvetrano olives—these buttery olives are nearly round and the most gorgeous shade of green imaginable.

Your most cherished kitchen tool?

Not counting the coffee maker, I’d say my melon baller. Not the most used instrument in the drawer, but the most cherished, as it was my grandma’s.

The last cookbook you enjoyed?

Mangoes and Curry Leaves: Culinary Travels through the Great Subcontinent, by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. It’s part coffee table book, cookbook and travel journal, and is completely riveting.

Where does your love for food come from?

My mom is a wonderful cook—growing up we ate dinner together every night, so good food has always seemed both important and, well, “normal.”

When was the last time you cooked for a loved one? What did you make?

Apparently it wasn’t recently, since I’m having struggling to remember–ah yes: it was a sort of a summer salad medley. Curried chicken and rice salad; cucumber, red onions, tomatoes and rice wine vinegar salad, and spinach salad with strawberries and balsamic.

What is your guilty food pleasure?

Peanut butter. I eat far, far too much peanut butter.

What according to you is the one dish that everyone must try at least once?

Brussel sprouts prepared with a lot of butter and coarse ground mustard. I thought I hated brussel sprouts, but I’d like to do my part to redeem this much maligned vegetable.