Biryani

I was on top of the world all week because of the many current news items on No Child Left Behind. Sounds like there are going to be some major changes. Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, is being interviewed by everyone and he seems to have some grand ideas. Now, I don't agree with all he's saying - that stuff about linking teacher quality to test performance, and raising standards so that every child graduates from high school being college ready, etc - hmmm(!) - but, I'm glad education and the NCLB Act is on the table for discussion. I'm such an optimist that any hint of change cheers me up.

Well, I needed to say that before getting to the main topic with food as the focus.


I've been going a bit mushroom crazy in the last couple weeks. Because of the terrific rain we've been having, the chanterrelles - my favorite mushroom - this year are plentiful. Glynis, my sister-in-law visiting from England, and I have been going to the Saturday morning farmer's market downtown where I load up on chanterrelles. The great thing about these extremely flavorful 'shrooms is that they are so easy to prepare. Sauteed in grapeseed oil, and seasoned with thyme, salt, and black pepper, they are superb. I've also been getting other mushrooms - oysters, shitake, and portabellas - about once a week. These I prepare with Indian spices - masala, cumin, and freshly ground coriander. They make a great stuffing for roti wraps.

Last night we had some friends over for dinner. I served up an elaborate vegetable biryani and dhal. Great comfort food on a chilly, wintry evening. You can make biryani by simply adding the special spices to vegetables and rice and stirring it all together in a pan, or you could go the route that requires many steps. I sometimes yearn for the food my mum cooked so I thought I would try for her style of biryani. Before embarking on this ambitious feat you need to make sure your playlist includes your favorite music. I listen to opera - Puccini, never Wagner - when making biryani. I ought to be listening to Ravi Shankar, I guess, but - oh well ....

The basic ingredients are a selection of vegetables, Basmati rice, French green lentils, spices, and yogurt. The spices include cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds. These have to be roasted, then ground fine. For veggies I used carrots, cauliflower, peas, and a few types of mushrooms. I lightly sauteed the mushrooms and steamed the carrots and tossed these in a big bowl. The cauliflower had to be in small pieces and added to the bowl. Then came the following: a big scoop of plain yogurt, chopped garlic, grated ginger, chopped fresh green chili, chopped cilantro (fresh coriander), juice from a couple lemons, some tumeric, the mixture of roasted, ground spices, and salt. Toss everything in the bowl together. (I'm now in instructor mode). Next, boil the rice, but only until it is nearly fully cooked. Boil the lentils. Now it's time to layer the dish. I used a large, ceramic roasting pan to assemble the ingredients. Put a third of the rice at the bottom, add a third of the lentils. Toss half the vegetable mixture over this. Add the rest of the rice and lentils to the bowl of vegetables. Pour in some Canola oil to the mixture, then add it to the big roasting pan. Sautee an onion in a skillet until it is golden brown. Layer this over the rice mixture. Cover with a sheet of foil and put in a moderately preheated oven for an hour.
I served this biryani with dhal. I boiled yellow split peas in my pressure cook for 15 minutes. To give it it's distinctive 'dhal' flavor you do the following:
Sautee half an onion in hot oil. Add mustards seeds, cumin seeds, and red chili flakes. Stir this mixture into the boiled split peas (which should be mushy). Add veg broth to get the right consistency. Let this simmer for a few minutes. Add some crushed garlic and few lumps of butter or ghee or something of that ilk (I'm refering to noncholesterol, healthy stuff - not lard, or margarine, or nasty chemicals that look like butter!).

Well, needless to say, everyone was quite complimentary. Personally, I felt I hadn't added enough spices and the mixture should have been more moist. But, I certainly enjoyed my day.

It's Sunday evening and the work week looms ahead.

Cuisine from South Africa

Yesterday I bought a pressure cooker - quite impulsively. Well, I mean it's shocking that I hadn't owned one before, I know, with the type of healthy cooking I do, etc., but somehow I've always been intimidated by something that could blow your head off. Yesterday, after 5 days of heavy downpours, the sun shone brightly in the sky and I was blipping around doing Saturday morning chores and feeling generally good about things. I didn't read the newspapers much this week, you see, so the Supreme Court decision about campaign financing, and the disaster in Haiti and in Massachusetts, and the Health Care bill, etc. - none of that made it to my consciousness. So I was in a good mood. Lots of rain in January usually has that effect on me. So I popped into Bed, Bath, and Beyond for some linen and noticed the pressure cooker. I eyeballed the options - aluminium, stainless steel, 6 qt, 8, qt - and settled for the 6qt stainless steel. It cost $69.99. I don't usually buy anything that's over $50 if it isn't on sale, but I just felt a sudden urgency to possess a pressure cooker, so I bought it.

We were having guests over for dinner. I decided to make a South African dish - samp. Samp is made from dried up corn kernels whch are cracked into smaller pieces. You boil it and then try to do something exciting with it to make it edible. This dish is a staple among the Xhosa and Zulu people of South Africa, but is very much enjoyed by everyone. In the US you can find hominy which is made from the same basic ingredient - dried corn kernels.
A quick Internet search for samp brought up some fairly bland recipes. Basically beans, samp, onions, oil, and salt. So, I thought, why not make it like a chili? So this is what I did:

I used my new pressure cooker to boil the samp (purchased last week by my friend, Premi, from a South African store in LA) and some red beans. I chopped up an onion and using a big saucepan, sauteed it in sunflower oil ( high smoking point). Next I added carrots, and a few minutes later, some portabella mushrooms, and chopped garlic. The seasonings were added at this point - cumin, coriander, and cayenne. After a few minutes I threw in some tomatoes. In summer I would choose fresh tomatoes and chop them in a medium sized cuisinart. Since it's winter I used canned tomatoes, finely chopped up. When the samp and beans were done - half an hour later - I added them to the sauce I'd made and let all of this simmer together for a few minutes. Then I added salt and freshly grated ginger. The dish was very close to being ready. At this point I threw in broccoli to brighten things up. It was time to look at the consistency. For this I opened up a box of Trader Joe's vegetable broth and poured it into the pan. Just before serving time I added chopped green onions and cilantro and green chilis that were minced together. I did the taste test and found I needed more salt. The very last last thing I did was to drizzle canola oil over the dish. I have to say, this hearty meal was thoroughly enjoyed!!

Food For Thought

Since I'm not traveling, or writing, or doing anything stupendously exciting at this point in my life, keeping my blog entertaining isn't easy. So at midnight on Dec 31 I made my new year's resolution. My blogs will now have a new focus: FOOD. Heck, recently it's just about the only topic on which I can make intelligent comments. As you all know by now I was in Australia over Christmas holidays. You probably also know that every second while I was there I was stuffing myself with something par excellence - both in liquid and solid form. My brother, Max, loves the fine things in life. In fact, back when we were in our teens I remember him saying, "When I start working I want to be able to buy whatever I want without looking at the price tag." Suffice it to say our family was very working class. Max has always had expensive taste - way before he actually possessed a wallet (that's another story!). Anyway, now that Max is this bigwig financial advisor with posh offices on Oxford Street in Paddington and lives in this stunning apartment near Darling Harbor with expansive views from every window, he is more or less living his dream.
In preparation for the Moodley diaspora over the holidays (the whole family from various parts of the globe descended upon him) he stocked up his liquor cabinet with the finest Australian wines, French champagne, single malts, vintage port, etc., etc. Every evening Max opened up a full bodied smooth red and poured it into an elegant crystal decanter, regailing us with the virtues of that particular wine. Sipping fine wine on the terrace with its amazing views made for an altogether special experience. With water all around us you could easily imagine you were on a huge boat.

Max isn't skilled in the art of cooking, nor is his gorgeous and gracious partner, Julia. So, meal prep fell upon my mum, my sister, and myself. We all love good food and with all the great produce available, we were quite happy to be in charge of feeding everyone. So, as I've decided that the primary focus of my blogs for now will be food, I'll cut out the backstory and get to my real topic.

For the big Christmas lunch, consumed on a blistering hot midsummer day in Sydney, I made the dessert. We had originally planned to have pavlova, but because of a lack of enthusiasm for this idea, we agreed on trifle. Now, everyone who has grown up in an English speaking country, is very familiar with this dessert and its evolution from humble beginnings into the oh so trendy kinds we find on dessert menus in posh restaurants. Americans, however, have no clue. So when I describe how I made my very special Christmas trifle, the full implication is completely lost on them, poor souls, Oh well, I'll leave it at that.

So, here's how I made the trifle that wowed the socks out of every frickin person who had it:

First I went to Paddy's market in Sydney and bought a whole lot of fruit. A big part of a good, modern day trifle is a fresh fruit salad. I got mangoes, bananas, papaya, passion fruit, kiwi, and peaches. Back home, I prepared the fruit - cutting them into little chunks and tossed them together in a bowl.
Using the biggest bowl I could find I got to work on the layering. First, a sponge cake (pound cake, for my American followers) from a gourmet bakery. In other words sugar was not the first ingredient listed. Pure ingredients: butter, sugar, free range eggs, and unbleached flour - that's important. If I'd had time I would have made my own sponge cake.
I cut the cake into little squares and arranged them in a layer. Then I poured some port over the cake to moisten it. You could use fruit juice for this if you don't like alcohol. I would have preferred to use sherry or brandy, but Max hadn't had any, so I had to use his vintage port. Next, I arranged half the fruit salad over the cake. Next came a layer of custard (best if it's homemade with eggs and cream). Apart from the US, you can buy ready made pouring custard from a grocery store in the milk section. Do read the labels. I was shocked at how hard it was to find pure custard without preservatives. In England M&S have the best custard. The final layer is thick, fresh cream. Double cream is best - that's what I used.
Repeat the layers, ending with cream on the top. I crumbled up a Cadbury's flake and sprinkled it over the cream at the insistence of my mum. The trifle had to be made on Christmas Eve so that it could set overnight.
The next day - Christmas Day - I was shocked to see the enormous trifle dwindling and then disappearing in front of my very eyes! I swear to god. Doesn't anyone care about cholesterol any more?

Since my decision to focus on food I have encountered so many writable food stories. So, I am sure my next blog will be appearing really soon.

Christmas 2009

We're in Sydney, Australia at my brother's place in Darling Harbor. Gorgeous views from his place of harbor and the Harbor Bridge. When it comes to being trendy Max and Julia have it down to a science. Two nephews and a niece - ages 3, 6, and 9 are jumping around with excitement. Santa gave them exactly what they wanted - some weird electronic toys that I've never heard off. A huge platter of fresh fruit, toast, marmalade, mango juice and coffee was spread out for us. We'll be having lunch at the home of our cousin Sylvie who lives near the Blue Mountains. She's preparing biryani which will be served with an assortment of salads. For dessert - trifle with fresh tropical fruit soaked in port.
We've been having a fab time in Australia. The drive down from Brisbane was a great way to see a bit of Australia. Beautiful coast and beaches along the way. We spent a couple of nights in Coffs Harbor which is small and quaint. It's surrounded by tiny beach towns. Paths parallel to the beach provide excellent views. Nearby, in Dorrigo, we hiked through a rainforest. Amazing vegetation and birdlife. There are large banana plantations in Coffs and many farmstands along the highway from where to buy them. So many varieties to choose from - and all of them freshly harvested and full of flavor.

After Coffs we drove on to Nelson Bay - another quaint coastal town. The beaches here are picture perfect because of the protected bay. Excellent swimming - very reminiscent of the French Riviera without the crowds and traffic.
The weather the whole time was perfect. Well, I lie. The day we left Brisbane it rained and rained. Luckily we spent most of the day driving so it was fine. Much preferable to driving with the sun high in the sky.

We arrived in Sydney two days before Christmas and we went into a bit of culture shock. Big city and Christmas festivities in full blast. Some frantic food shopping and last minute purchase of gifts. The kids tracking Santa's route on Google map, etc. We had a fab meal on Christmas Eve. Mum went to the fish market where she bought prawns and salmon. So she prepared a fine prawn dish. I made a pasta sauce with fresh basil tomatoes, garlic and olive oil. Max served French Champagne for an aperitif and a robust red with our main meal. We had mince pies and Christmas pudding served with cistard for dessert washed down with a smooth port.

There was a live concert at the domain in Sydney which we watched on telly. Silly us. We should have carried a picnic and sat on the grass and watched it live. Well, you can't do it all.

So, everyone, all the best for the last days of 2009.

Brisbane

They say Brisbane is subtropical, but everywhere you look you're reminded of the tropics - fragrant plumeria, palms swaying among jacarandas (in full bloom right now) and gum trees, the fruit - mangoes, numerous types of bananas, pineapples, passion fruit, and the exotic birds - ibis, parrots, and of course, kookaburras. It's warm and humid and the atmosphere is full of summertime stuff. Hard to believe Christmas is a week from today. The festive spirit is so subdued - I love it. Even when you walk into shops you don't hear those annoying Christmas songs. I haven't seen a huge amount of decorations and lights and things. But there is a large Christmas tree in the square in front of the City Hall. It's beautifully trimmed and the lights are solar powered.

The Brisbane River meanders through the city center and on either side there are beautiful gardens, cafes, etc. Walking and cycling paths allow you to stroll alongside for miles and miles. Ferries get people to the suburbs lining the river.

Yesterday evening Daryl and I strolled along the river, starting at Riverside. This is an area of enormous, shiny skyscrapers. Gourmet restuarants and atmospheric bars out here provide gorgeous views of the river and its bridges. We walked to the Botanical Gardens which has some amazing trees and a few unusual pines and came to a very interesting mangrove swamp. There's a walkway that allows you to cross this swamp. We then went across a pedestrian bridge to the south side of the river. Here there are stunning landscaped gardens which lead to a beach area. An artificial lagoon filled with turquoise water and around it, fine beach sand, makes for a terrific place to cool down and hang out. Kids splash about in the water and adults relax on the beaches. What a concept - right in the city center.
We then strolled along a road running parallel to the river - Little Stanley Road - in search of beer. Didn't have to work very hard to find a place that suited out mood, of course.

We went back to our apartment for dinner. There was a fantastic farmer's market earlier in the day where I bought fruit and veggies, excellent multigrain bread, and some tapenades. So we ate well.

Tonight we'll be at the math conference dinner at the University of Queensland. So, I'm off to catch the train.

December in Oz

After a frantic week (icy cold weather didn't help!) I'm finally sitting back and absorbing the charms of tropical Brisbane. Flew V-Australia - a new airline of the Virgin family - and what a smooth flight it was. Landed in Brisbane early in the morning and stepped out of the airport to humid, sultry weather. Our dear friend Stefan was there to fetch me, and take me to his lovely, spacious apartment where I peeled off my winter clothes and showered. Then I got into shorts and sandals and sat down to a sumptuous breakfast. Strong coffee, pain au chocolate from a French bakery, and sweet, juicy Queensland pineapple. Wow! Later in the morning Stephan, his wife Brangwyn, their one year old, Jasper, another friend Joseph (Daryl was his PhD adviser)and I strolled out to the shops. I was so excited to see heavenly Queensland summer fruit - fat mangoes, papayas, bananas, etc.
By the time Daryl arrived we had a big bowl of fruit salad ready for lunch.
We're staying in South Brisbane near a very lively part of town called South Bank.

In the afternoon we took the train to my cousin's place which is just outside the city in a sort of countryside setting. Here, my mum and my sister, Pam, and her kids were eagerly waiting for us. They had arrived from Sydney the day before.
Daryl got into a bathing suit and joined 7 little kids (from three different continents) in the pool. I sat down with an icy cold beer and chatted with everyone. It felt like midsummer - which, of course, it is, right here in the land down under!
I'm not rubbing it in - sheesh, no need to be so grumpy about huddling by the fire, y'know. I mean warm weather isn't all it's cracked up to be. All that sunscreen and wrinkled skin from being in the pool too long and the need for gelatos in the afternoon and stuff!
Anyway, for dinner everyone had chicken grilled on the barbie and many types of salads (it being summer and all that produce available - ffs, I'm not rubbing it in!). Daryl and I had pasta tossed in a sundried tomato pesto sauce.
For dessert we had the yummiest tiramisu in the entire universe. Claudia, my cousin in law, makes the best desserts ever, and her tiramisu - let me put it this way, it is worth flying half way around the world for a taste of it. I swear to god.

And so our first day came to an end. We went to sleep like contended pigs.

Day 2 was Daryl's big day. He gave a public lecture for a series called BriScience. This was held at Brisbane's very ornate city hall and over two hundred people attended. Daryl gave his dynamite hour long talk on infinity to reg'lar folks and they were a great audience. Afterwards there was a cheese and wine mingle sort of thing and then we were taken out to dinner by the organizers - a pair of dynamic, handsome, intelligent, young scientists.
Earlier in the day I explored Brisbane with my family, so it was a rather, long tiring day.
Today, Day 3, while Daryl is at his math conference, I'm hanging out with my 70 year old mother at my cousin's countryside home. We're alone. Everyone else took off for some amazing beach on some amazing island where the big activities are snorkelling feeding dolphins. I'm happy to be able to just relax and catch up with Mum.

Adieu Summer!

Well, I resign myself to the arrival of a season whose beauty I simply cannot or perhaps will not see. I mean come on, what can be beautiful about shorter days and chilly mornings and those godawful colors - yellow, orange, brown? Not to mention fall's real purpose - ushering in winter?? So daylight savings ends tonight, and little goblins and ghosts and a few Michael Jacksons will come begging for candy. The farm stands are no longer selling heirloom tomatoes. My basil in the garden is shrinking. The hammock's been put away, the down comforter is out. Gotta get out my sweaters. Oh, what a drag.
But, the good news is that we'll be doing a southern hemisphere winter vacation this year. Thank goodness for rellies south of the equator! Mum turns 70 and we're getting her to her son in Sydney where we'll all converge for a huge celebration. Yippee!

Been a busy beginning of the school year, but things have settled down a lot. Enjoying my students - all 27 of them. Got a system in place to try to reach them all and make them enjoy their 3rd grade learning experience. Pleased that I have some sharp writers.

We managed to do a few fun things in the last couple months. We saw a terrific production of THE RAMAYANA, performed by a local group called Boxtales. They did a terrific job of presenting the story clearly, using a combination of straightforward dialogue as well as creative movement - dancing, acrobatics, etc. They were quite inventive using actors in acrobatic positions for stage props (like a chair). This story is quite a riveting one, you know. I remember hearing it all through my childhood. Seeing a stage production took me right back to the time when Mum used to tell us stories while ironing our clothes.

Another fun thing was my cousin, Jaya, from South Africa, visiting me for a week. Enjoyed showing her SB and LA. Made me realize what a long way I've come from that Ladysmith bumpkin I used to be as a kid. Apart from a vacation in Mauritius, Jaya hadn't done any traveling to speak of. Her timidity to explore new places was apparent, as would be expected from a novice. The two of us grew up together and were at uni at the same time. It was so much fun to catch up on our lives at delightful places like The Beach Cafe, sipping beer and watching the surfers, and The Coffee Bean beside a fire on the day it rained. The week went too fast. C'est dommage!

And now a frantic few weeks at school getting ready for parent teacher conferences and holiday projects. Then .... summer again - first in Brisbane, then Sydney.