Sushi and sake

Wasabi's a small Japanese sushi house in Roanoke, Virginia. Chef Cruz shows his skills right in front of his patron's table. Each meal aesthetically put together, we ordered a tuna and salmon sushi with rice. The wasabi paste and the teriyaki dip complimented the fish very well. The dish came adorned with brightly coluored tuna eggs and sumptuously spiced ginger.

We also ordered Sake, mine was cold and unfiltered (i could see rice starch floating around) tasted a bit like vodka and rum mix but not that potent. S got a hot and clear Sake, more stronger and pungent than mine. We also enjoyed teriyaki chicken on screwer's to begin our meals with. The ambient music comprising of Japanese drums and bamboo flute added to the mellowed and comforting atmosphere. A memorable experience yet again.

Sauce-oholic

The Chinese cuisine that we are all fond of in India has it's roots from Calcutta. Do visit a Chinese restaurant in Calcutta, the most authentic Indo-Chinese you can ever get. China town in Calcutta is a place for gastronomical delight, I haven't had the opportunity to visit the place but I have used locally made sauce and noodles in China town. Recently I saw my aunt make green chili sauce China town style at home and it turned out to be surprisingly close to all the bottled chili sauce I bought from Calcutta... addictive beyond belief.

GREEN CHILI SAUCE
You need:
3-4 medium size potatoes
150 grams of fresh green chili
1⁄4 cup White Vinegar
1-2 clove of garlic
salt to taste

Boil the peeled potatoes, chili and garlic in a large sauce pan, add 3⁄4 cup water for boiling, stain excess water away , in a blender blend the boiled potatoes and chilies. Add salt to taste, keep adding vinegar at regular intervals while blending to get the desired consistency.
Cool and refrigerate.

Comments: Do taste while blending vinegar to get the right amount of tart/sourness.

Name: Potatoes and cottage cheese with dill

Description: Oven cooked potatoes with a delectable cottage cheese and dill topping.

Accomplice: Bread

Home made panner/cottage cheese works best.

Sometimes in extreme summer the milk get spoiled even if it's in your refrigerator, do not trash it just add juice of 1 lime in the milk and heat, when the water totally separates rest it for some time, strain all the excess water, let it cool and refrigerate.

Recipe: A conventional oven is ideal for the preparation but you can also use a convection microwave.
Take 2-3 potatoes, few garlic cloves one small onion do not take off their skin, sprinkle pinch of salt and pepper and coat them with butter or olive oil. Place it in a foil and cover up cook it in the oven for 15 min at 300 temp. Check the potatoes by pricking it with a tooth pick.
Remove the skin of the potato, garlic and onion and do not throw away the juices and mash them up all together.
Now in a bowl mix cottage cheese, finely chopped dill, green chili and salt, beat them together in a grainy mixture. Grease an oven proof bowl and layer it with mash potatoes add diced tomatoes or pureed tomatoes (optional)
spread the cottage cheese mix and repeat the layer of mashed potato with tomatoes and finally the cottage cheese mix.
Bake it for 20 min at 330 degree temperature.
Watch it disappear!


Comments: You can also buy fresh panner crumble and use. Add blanched spinach or baby spinach before baking if you wish.

Name: Chili pork with Noodles


Description: Hot and Spicy pork with egg noddles


Accomplice: Cold beverage.(you might need it!)

A simple variation of shrimp in noodle soup.

Recipe: Marinate boneless pork pieces in soy sauce, ginger and garlic (paste or finely chopped) rub salt and red chili powder and keep it aside for 2 hours. Chop some green onion and mushrooms or any vegetable of your choice try tofu or broccoli. Blanch broccoli before if not tender.
Boil the noodles in plenty of water and drain the excess water arrange it in serving dish.
Heat oil in a wok add some sesame seeds and fresh basil leaves add the marinated pork, stir fry in high heat, add a dash of chili vinegar paste and let the pork cook completely .Now add vegetables ( young spinach leaves can also be added) toss till pork is done and the sauce coats the vegetables.
Add salt and pepper to taste and pour the stir fried vegetables over the noodles garnish with lemon ring.

Comments: You can make the sauce thicker by adding Corn flour paste or make the sauce sour by adding 4-5 table spoon of orange juice and bring it to a quick boil.

10 things I cannot do without in my Kitchen

a) Mushrooms : they go with almost everything... bake them, stir fry or just eat raw... try raw mushrooms with cheese dip....yummy.

b) Pickled Chilies: take some sugar, salt, vinegar and add freshly chopped peppers/ whole fresh chili and store use them in sandwiches, or even cook with them. Try fruit vinegar or balsamic vinegar.

c) Chicken Broth: It comes very handy all the time whenever I buy chicken i boil it in enough water store away the stock and use boneless chicken which is ready to be used!

d) Yeast: A very handy item makes quick bread and adds variety. Make kamiri roti or pizza.

e) Tomatoes: I love them simply adore everything about them!

f) Greens: baby spinach, salad leaves, coriander, methi leaves, dill...all bring flavor and goodness to the table.

g) Garlic and ginger: this duo is everywhere, ginger in my tea and some garlic in my bread!

h) Yogurt: it does to me what chocolate do for others.

i) Sauces, dips and dressings: soy sauce, salad dressings and the like...I am always on a look out for them. Most of the dips and sauces can be home made and they taste twice as fresh, the old school way of pickle making is a great saver of energy and time... just bunch up together at your friends kitchen and make sauces in bulk!

J) Noodles: I cannot have enough of this, the most versatile of all staples, the variety is amazing and it make a perfect meal any time.