Melon Balls in Rose Syrup
Mango Ice Cream
Fruit Custard
Sweetened Carrots
Chocolate and Coconut Covered Cherries
Eat Where Your Food Lives
I had the pleasure of meeting Shubhra Ramineni at an event at my restaurant that the Bellaire, TX mothers group got together. For the last six years, I have been giving talks, cooking demonstrations and interactive cooking experiences in the hopes of spreading the word on our philosophy of eat where your food lives." This mantra has a double meaning for me: 1) obviously buy, cook, and eat local food and 2) eat food that is truly alive in flavor and nutritional density. Shubhra immediately connected with the kind of food we made and mentioned she had a cookbook so we planned to do a cooking class together, using her book and our kitchen space. Shubhra has since done two classes with us and has hosted three more events, sharing her love and knowledge of Indian cooking and more and more incorporating the local pantry
and her garden.
As we both have young daughters and are passionate about good food, we have bonded on every family's effort to keep bringing our families to the dinner table. I have had over the years many wonderful Indian cooking mentors. My first real culinary exploration was with making my own curry powder and garam masala (roasted spice mix). Having traveled extensively and also going to cooking school in London, England, it has exposed me to more diverse and wonderful ethnic foods. My hope for my own daughter is that she will be fearless in the food world and be comfortable at any dinner table in the world, eating the rich food traditions wherever she happens to land.
Shubhra's hope with this book is to encourage people to eat more healthy vegetarian foods using easy to find Indian spices to make the dishes delicious. She encourages people to shop at local farmers markets, supporting their community and local farmers that grow responsibly with organic and sustainable methods that are good for us and for the earth. Right now at the local farmers markets, we have wonderful daikon, Swiss chard, and Japanese eggplants! I love to run into people from different parts of the world and ask them what they're going to make with what they find!
Shubhra has met some wonderful farmers like Stacey Roussel from All We Need Farms and has gone to visit her farm with her daughter. Stacey is a very special mom, wife, and farmer who puts into her farm all the love and goodness she can. For me, Stacey has been a wonderful partner in growing inspiring food like fresh chickpeas, baby kale, and sweet potato vines that will easily find their way into Shubhra's recipes I'm sure!
If I had to label" my food, I would call it global comfort food with local ingredients" and I believe Shubhra's book will encourage people to discover new vegetables and fruits at the market and use her easy recipes to enjoy them. People don't always know what to do with the fresh fruits and veggies, or aren't inspired, but Shubhra's easy recipes give an option to enjoy them with easy to find Indian spices.
I've enjoyed cooking and sharing techniques and sources with Shubhra and I'm sure you will too! Enjoy her latest book and get into fruits and veggies and share with your family!
Sincerely,
Monica Pope
Dear Readers,
While working on my first cookbook, Entice with Spice, Easy Indian Recipes for Busy People, I knew my next book would be a healthy vegetarian cookbook. I have always had a great appreciation for a meatless diet because of its many health benefits. Having recently become a new mom, I am even more interested and encouraged to cook healthy dishes using fresh produce for my family. For two years I've been creating, cooking, and tasting recipes, and now I'm happy to share my collection of quick and easy, healthy, flavorful, and satisfying vegetarian recipes here.
This cookbook has a wide variety of recipes prepared from fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, lentils, legumes, tofu, and paneer (Indian homemade cheese) inspired by Indian cooking styles and flavors that I learned from my mother. My mom is not only a dietician but a fabulous gardener and a good cook as well. I am simply amazed at how she can prepare a nutritious and delicious dinner by picking vegetables grown in her own back yard and cooking them with Indian spices that have natural health benefits and healing properties.
As we continue to seek out healthier and sustainable lifestyles we have greater knowledge of our food sources and its implications and are leaning towards eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. However, many people may not have an idea of how to prepare and cook these fruits and vegetables. My recipes will enable you to cook scrumptious vegetarian and vegan dishes so you can enjoy incorporating fruits and vegetables into a healthy, balanced and wholesome diet.
I also wanted to share my experiences in shopping for, storing, and cutting up the fruits and vegetables you can find in your grocers, co-ops, farmers markets, and CSA's. I have included time-saving tips so you can cook and prepare ahead of time.
I am certain that after cooking with this book, you will see fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains, lentils, legumes, tofu, and paneer in a different light. You will realize the fun, ease, and simplicity of cooking with them and will appreciate how nutritious, delectable, and environmentally friendly they can be. Even my three-year-old daughter enjoys eating her fruits and vegetables when I use them in these Indian-inspired recipes. I hope you will too!
Enjoy!
Shubhra Ramineni
Enjoying Nature's Bounty
I grew up on a predominantly vegetarian diet, and appreciate the freshness, health benefits, taste, and variety of meatless dishes that can be easily made. After having my daughter, I have become more aware of our food and the ingredients on food labels. I want to ensure that my family eats wholesome, natural foods. My daughter's love of vegetables led to my creating recipes to incorporate her favorite veggies, such as adding broccoli to my original Vegetable Rice Pilaf (page 65) dish.
Like my mother, one of my most enjoyable hobbies is gardening, and my daughter is following in my footsteps. I have learned some great growing tips from my mom for a bountiful garden full of tomatoes, opo squash, eggplants, and okra. It is so fun and rewarding to plant fruits and vegetables,
