Simple Pasta with Garlic & Olive Oil by John Spottiswood

This is a classic recipe that is so simple to make but always delicious. You can serve this as a side dish to any grilled meat or vegetable entree. It can also stand on it's own or be paired with a salad for a light lunch or dinner. It's a great, easy recipe to add to your list of staples. Using a good olive oil is key here. I…

Sicilian Eggplant & Ricotta Pasta by John Spottiswood

This is yet another wonderful Italian recipe that I've adapted from Marcella Hazan's classic "Essentials of Italian Cooking". This one is good enough that my wife put a little smily face in the upper corner of the recipe and wrote "It's a keeper!". I think you'll feel the same way. We served this for friends with a wonderful citrus…

Yellow Split Peas with Vegetables (Dal Takari) by John Spottiswood

Wow, this is such a wonderful dish and so easy to cook! The keys to this dish are the yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and cumin seed. You can change out the other vegetables (spinach is a nice addition as it adds to the creaminess of the dish). Make sure you fry the cumin seed and potatoes over sufficiently high heat that the cumin…

Mee Siam Kuah/Gravy (Vegetarian) by Navaneetham Krishnan

spicy, salty and tangy and a simplified version.

Ricotta and Greens or Spinach Pasta by John Spottiswood

This is another excellent dish that takes advantage of delicious and healthy greens. This is a Sicilian dish that I absolutely love. Our kids all went back for seconds. It's also quite beautiful...the lousy picture I took does not do it justice. A healthy and yummy treat! This is also adapted from Red White and Greens by Faith…

5 Vegie Carbonara by Brett Ede

Sambar ( Indian Dhal Curry) by Navaneetham Krishnan

Dhal with radish and profusely scented with curry leaves and coriander leaves.

AUSHAK - AFGHAN RAVIOLI by Linda Tay Esposito

I first tasted Aushak at the Salang Pass restaurant in Fremont, a city where a lot of Afghan immigrants have settled. Aushak is proof that Marco Polo made his way through that part of the world (I mean through the Hindu Kush, not Fremont!) enroute back from China. Aushak is traditionally made with beef - it's the Afghan version of…

Dhal (Lentil) Rice by Navaneetham Krishnan

Rice and dhal scented with ghee and spices.

Mee Rebus (Vegetarian) by Navaneetham Krishnan

Oozing spiciness; assembled with yellow noodles, spicy gravy, bean sprouts, fried fritters, green chillies etc etc.

Creamed Spinach by Brett Ede

Pachai Payaru Kulambu (Green Moong Dal Curry) by Navaneetham Krishnan

Thick creamy aromatic curry; scented with curry leaves and ghee.

Orange perfumed risotto by Alida

A very straightforward dish. A light risotto with a delicate aroma of orange. You will use the zest as well as the juice so it would be best to use an organic orange.

Nasi Pudina (Mint Rice) by Navaneetham Krishnan

A refreshing rice dish: minty aroma and creamy indication.

Vegetable Curry With Cashews by Brett Ede