A lot of the furnishings in my home have been cobbled together from various hand me downs from family members. Recently, John and I decided that we needed a different approach to the girls’ bedrooms, so we made a trip to IKEA. While we were there, we also started thinking about my cookbook problem collection.
Indian Style Wok Cooked Shrimp Curry (Kadhai Jhinga)
I hope I translated the name of this dish accurately! It is from a pretty intimidating cookbook that John got me, called Prashad-Cooking with Indian Masters, by J Inder Singh Kalra, who is (was?) an Indian food writer. First published in 1986, the book is intended for an international audience, but either because it is…
Curried Fish Chowder
I have never eaten chowder before. (I’ll wait a moment and let that sink in.) I realize this is weird given that A. I love soup; B. I lived in Boston for 2 years as an adult and C. I pride myself on my wide palate. But creamy soups are not always my favorite and…
Shrimp with Grapes, Citrus & Rum
I did promise you more shrimp. This is a great recipe for this time of year, if, like me, you are looking for fast and easy and if you are also excited about the return of grapes to the supermarket shelves.
Shrimp with Watermelon, Tomatoes & Feta: Beach Nostalgia
I might as well warn you now that The Spiced Life has been pretty shrimp crazy lately. I think this is a result of 2 factors: shrimp are super easy, super fast and super light in this hot weather and also I think I am having beach nostalgia. As much as I have gone on…
Mahi Mahi & Rice Noodles in Curried Coconut Broth
I attended my 20th high school reunion this past Friday night. In typical fashion for my class, we skipped all the official stuff and met on our own for dinner and drinks instead. It was the first reunion I’ve attended and it was great fun. So I’ve had high school on the brain, high school,…
World Kitchen Paella
“Paella is a dish of poverty… If you have only a bit of leftover chicken and other odds and ends, you can make paella….” -Jose Puig, via Seductions of Rice, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid I love this quote. This elasticity in the approach to paella
Moroccan Cod Smothered In Sweet Onions: Exploring the Creek
Those of you who have been reading my blog since its inception might be tired of creek photos. Every spring and summer, the girls and I go out and marvel again at the fact that we own a creek.
An Indian Feast: Yogurt Curried Fish and Orange Scented Cauliflowers & Potatoes
My mom observed to me the other day that my posts had been shorter this winter. And it is true, because I seem to be perennially behind. I make a particular dish or dessert, and I fall asleep composing various observations about it in my head–but then I don’t sit down to write the actual…