Vanilla-Date Swirl Ice Cream

This is really light ice cream, as I made it with whole milk and not cream. (It also contains sugar and vanilla extract, as well as date syrup). After the vanilla ice cream was in the freezer for an hour, I took it out and tried to swirl in some date syrup. It didn't work quite as I'd planned; the ice cream wasn't frozen enough. However, the taste was just what I wanted. I almost think that date syrup on ice cream is better than chocolate syrup. 

Chettinad Style Tomato Vermicelli 

This recipe was from Archana's Kitchen. This is like a Pulao, but made with seviyan instead of rice. Seviyan are vermicelli, but these noodles are very small and also broken into fairly small pieces. I used a vermicelli from a Middle Eastern grocery store, similar to the vermicelli from the Indian grocery store. The dish also included mustard and fennel seeds, fresh ginger, cilantro, turmeric, and a cinnamon stick. This result was colorful and yummy, as well as simple, and helped me use up some leftover canned tomatoes. So, win-win all around! 

Archana's Kitchen Website, Chettinad Style Tomato Vermicelli

Baked Pancakes

The idea for baking pancakes in a muffin tin came from Kitchen @ Hoskins and their recipe for Pumpkin Streusel Pancake Cups. As I didn't have any pumpkin, I decided to use the basic pancake recipe from Lauren Chattman's Mom's Big Book of Baking, instead. Of course, these are different kinds of pancakes, and I ended up having to bake mine for longer than the new recipe. I think next time I make it like this, I'll try baking it at a higher temperature (maybe 375 F). 

These pancakes were fun to eat, drizzled with honey, and sprinkled with cinnamon. They contained a little sugar, but weren't too sweet. I actually had them sometimes with a savory meal. Perhaps next time, I'll leave out the sugar. Or not. 😊 Baking pancakes like this is a great idea!

Kitchen @ Hoskins Website, Pumpkin Streusel Pancake Cups

Pulao (Indian Rice Pilaf), 

with store-bought 

Bombay Bhel Mix (crunchy Indian snack mix)

The Pulao includes frozen peas-and-carrots, and is fairly simple in terms of seasonings: cumin seeds, turmeric, and salt. This makes a nice light meal, with whole-milk yogurt. 

Ramen/Chuka Soba Noodles 

with Pizza Sauce

One time, a few weeks ago, I just wanted something simple for dinner. I really like these noodles, which are basically just plain ramen noodles (not fried, no flavor packet), and cook just as quickly (about 3 minutes). Once they were cooked, I mixed in some store-bought pizza sauce, and cooked it all together a little. This is the result. You can add your favorite veggies or proteins to make a meal.

"'Ramen' or 'Chuka Soba,' That is the question!" on Medium.com

Rizogalo 

(Greek Rice Pudding) 

Ice Cream

The Rizogalo recipe is courtesy Kouzounas Kitchen, and makes more than enough to freeze for later. Now, I really like rice puddings that have been frozen and then thawed in the fridge; maybe it makes them seem creamier? This time, I thought, why not try rice pudding as ice cream, and eat it while it's still frozen? It made for a very nice ice cream!

Kouzounas Kitchen Facebook 

Kouzounas Kitchen Website, Traditional Rizogalo Recipe (Greek Rice Pudding)

Kouzounas Kitchen Website, Rizogalo (Greek Rice Pudding) [vegan, with coconut milk]

Kouzounas Kitchen Website, Instant Pot Rizogalo Recipe

Aloo Palak Dal 

(Spiced Potato Spinach Lentils)

This is based on the recipe of Vegan Richa. This was the first dish (vs individual veggies) that I made in the Instant Pot.

I left out the garlic and green chili, and used red lentils/masoor dal. I made the lentils first; when they were done, I stirred them, and they completely fell apart. (This was based on the advice that Vegan Richa had kindly given me.) While they were cooking, I cooked, on the stove, some canned tomatoes with spices, and I also cut up potatoes. (I included an extra potato.) I had thawed some pureed spinach which I'd frozen before.

Eventually, everything was added to the Instant Pot, and cooked according to the recipe. I did add a bit too much water, I think. However, the results were very warm, homey, and comforting in the cold weather, accompanied by a toasted half-pita bread.

Vegan Richa Facebook

Vegan Richa Website, Instant Pot Aloo Palak Dal