Pav Bhaji Masala Dosa

This recipe is based on a Cook Like Priya recipe from last October. I remembered that I had this masala, and really wanted to make the dosas to go with it. Finally, the other day, 2 days in a row, I made them. These are nowhere near as elegant as Priya's, but they came out very crispy and tasty. As soon as I would make one, I would eat it up. I was so happy, as a) somehow the dosas ended up nice and crispy, and b) these were the first edible dosas I ever made! I couldn't believe it. 

I think part of it was, that I left the batter to ferment on the counter for almost a day (about 21 hours), until there were little bubbles and a bit of a sour smell. Not that the batter doubled in size, but it seemed to have fermented enough for what I needed. Now that I have made successful dosas once (so tasty with the pav bhaji masala), I feel encouraged to continue on, to try to eventually make dosas that look as elegant as Priya's. 

Cook Like Priya: Pav Bhaji Masala Dosa

Tomato Thokku (South Indian Tomato Pickle)

This was from the recipe of Hebbar's Kitchen from a few days ago. There are often items that I don't have at home, or have to be careful about eating, so I'm always having to modify recipes. The original recipe calls for tamarind and jaggery, which I didn't have, so I used lemon juice and brown sugar. I can't eat things that might be too sour, so I added just a little extra sugar, and too bad that I also had to leave out the chilies. However, it was so very delicious, and so easy! I was inspired to make it by the 3 fresh tomatoes I had leftover after using the others for pizza. I'm sure I'll be making it again, hopefully some time soon 

Hebbar's Kitchen Website, Tomato Thokku Recipe

Simla Mirch-Aloo (Green Bell Pepper & Potato)

The vegetables are combined with a little oil, cumin seeds, turmeric, and salt. I learned this simple yet tasty dish from a friend long ago. She used to call it "Capsicum," and would make it whenever she wanted a quick and easy dish. She also added ground red chili pepper (which I have to avoid for the time being), but perhaps some sambhar powder might also be nice. I was inspired to make this the other day, from the 2 very large peppers I found at the store, as well as the last few small potatoes I had left. Mild or extra-spicy, it adds some delicious color to the day.

Buttermilk Pancakes with Wild-Blueberry Fruit Spread

I served the pancakes with the fruit spread, as I'd already used up the last of the maple syrup. The recipe for the pancakes was from Lauren Chattman's Mom's Big Book of Baking. Accompanying them is some creamy whole-milk yogurt that reminds me of the homemade yogurt I've had at friends' houses before. The yogurt combined with the blueberry spread, is like blueberries and cream. 

One Minute Cinnamon Roll in a Mug

This recipe is from A Virtual Vegan's recipe. Although I think I made the dough a little too wet, it all worked out and cooked through in the end. I filled it with brown sugar and cinnamon; as I had some homemade sweetened condensed milk available, I used some of that in place of the frosting. Yay for cinnamon rolls! 

A Virtual Vegan Website, One Minute Cinnamon Roll in a Mug

Oven-Baked Tofu

#tbt : Oven-baked Tofu, from December. I briefly marinated it in a sauce I put together quickly, and after baking it, I salted it. Although I couldn't get it crispy this time, and the sauce wasn't as thick as I usually like on tofu, I still ate up enough of it with my dinner that day. Some of the rest went into a ramen noodle soup, and everything else was eaten to accompany various meals. I like to bake it on a parchment-lined baking sheet, as it always seems to stick to foil when I try that.

Pizza with Fresh Sliced Tomatoes & Tomato Sauce

I've thought for a while that it might be nice to try topping pizza with sliced tomatoes, instead of just sauce. When I found some nice tomatoes on sale at the store the other day, I decided it was time to try it out. I baked the pizza at 450 F for about 24 minutes. I really enjoyed the result! The next day, when I reheated a piece in the toaster oven, I topped it with some mozzarella cheese. Yummy both ways!