Grilled Coconut Kale
This another recipe from Vij’s Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine by Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala which Michelle shared in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.
We started off grilling the Coconut Kale but the kitchen became too smokey and we ended with baking it in the oven.
Ingredients
- 1 pound kale with stem.
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Source: this recipe is adapted from Vij’s Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine by Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala
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Beet and Daikon Salsa
With the Vaisakhi around the corner, Michelle was inspired to prepare an Indian theme lunch at the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.
Here is an excerpt which Michelle shared in the kitchen about Vaisakhi.
For many thousands of years, Vaisakhi has been the time when farmers have put their sickles to harvest and celebrated the coming of a new year. Since 1699, the Sikhs have had a further reason to celebrate at this time of the year. Now Vaisakhi is celebrated with even more energy, pomp and fanfare. It has become a holy day to mark the birth of the Khalsa fraternity. And so 300+ years on, this tradition continues with much gaeity, vigour and enthusiasm, Sikhs worldwide will spend much time remembering this most important day in their religious calendar – the day the Khalsa was created.
If we take ourselves back to 1699 and the birth place of the Khalsa perhaps the real significance of Vaisakhi for the Sikh people can be comprehended. During the period around 1650, the country around Punjab was in turmoil; the rulers were corrupt; there was no rule of law; the rights of the common people were non-existent; justice did not prevail. The strong imposed their will and their way without question; the weak suffered constantly and quietly; there was misery everywhere. It was under these circumstances that Guru Cobind Singh rose to the occasion and chose to create the Khalsa. The Guru was looking for people within the community who would take on the challenge and rise above the weakness; to be strong and fearless; to be prepared to face these challenges without reservation and to uphold justice; to be fair and even handed at all times; to be prepared to die for the truth.
This Vaisakhi inspired dish is from Vij’s Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine by Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala. Although this Beet and Daikon Salsa calls for finely dicing the beets and daikon, you could grate or process the veggies to speed thins up.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 beets, peeled and finely diced (or grated)
- 4 oz daikon, peeled and finely diced (or grated)
- 1 large, firm tomato, finely diced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper and salt
- juice from 1/2 to 1 lemon, or to taste
Source: Vij’s Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine by Vikram Vij & Meeru Dhalwala
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Weekend Musings: Weirdest Home Remedies
Here is another interesting email from a friend. Have a nice weekend.
Yogurt cures bad breath
Studies have shown that live bacteria in sugar free yogurt can suppress levels of bad breath causing bacteria. If the bad bacteria can’t survive, your breath smells sweeter.
Olive oil cures Eczema
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, so it’s a great skin moisturizer. Apply extra virgin, unrefined olive oil to your skin after showering, while your skin is still damp. The olive oil seals in moisture and helps sooth painful Eczema flair-ups.
Sugar stops the hiccups
Hiccups are annoying, but now you can stop them within one minute simply by swallowing a teaspoon full of dry sugar. Experts believe that the sudden sweetness on the tongue overloads the nerve endings in the mouth and stops the hiccup spasm.
Chewing peppermint or cinnamon gum eases commuting stress
Studies have shown that chewing peppermint or cinnamon gum increases awareness and reduces fatigue by as much as 20%. Test subjects reported 25% less frustration and 30% increased alertness. The drive also seemed 30% shorter for those who chewed the gum, versus those who did not. More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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Li’s China Grill on Kingsway, Vancouver
Li’s China Grill reminded me of the grilled fish that I had in Beijing.
There are two similar restaurants on this stretch of Kingsway which serve similar cuisine. We picked Li’s China Grill as it looks nicer from the outside.
I like the hardwood floor and the table lined with red table cloth.
We ordered 4 skewers of grilled lamb while waiting for our main dish. The lamb skewer was good; 99 cents each. More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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Wah Yuen Noodle House in Yaohan Food Court, Richmond
Ben and I were at the Yaohan Foodcourt looking for breakfast.
We settled with Wah Yuen Noodle House for some Hong Kong style breakfast.
Ben had a multi meatballs noodle soup for $6. It came with some seedweed too.
I had a Beef and Tendon dry mix noodle. It is also $6. More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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Fu Yuan Fast Food at Richmond Public Market
Ben and I were at the Richmond Public Market shopping for ingredients to make Bak Kut Teh for his office potluck. We decided to grab a bite at the food court.
Fu Yuan Fast Food is one store that decorated the store front with color photos of it’s menu. I think this is a great way to advertise and attract customers.
Ben ordered a Spicy Wonton for snacking. It is $5.50.
The wonton is small with lots of wonton skin to absorb the lightly vinegarish chili oil. More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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Weekend Musings: The Benefit of Pineapple
I would like to share more about pineapple here. It’s from an email I received from a friend.
- The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family.
- It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today.
- It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual floweret’s that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.
- Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked.
- No special way of storing them will help ripen them further.
- Colour is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness.
- Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit.
- The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste.
- After you cut off the top, you can plant it.
- It should grow much like a sweet potato will.
- This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health. Pineapple is a remarkable fruit.
- We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available today.
- If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis.
- The juice has an anthelmintic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms. More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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Fruit Pizza
Michelle shared her mon’s Fruit Pizza recipe in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.
This recipe is a great way to encourage kids to get involved in the food preparation as they can help to decorate it. Michelle’s kids have lots of fun doing it.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 8oz cream cheese (light or regular), room temperature
- 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, or less
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Peel and slice a variety of colourful fruit; strawberries, grapes, blueberries, canteloupe, mandarin oranges, etc
More on following page. Click here to continue reading.
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