If you are looking for fun, sparkling, white, lively and Italian, look no further! And I don’t mean myself either!! What I am talking about is a great new wine I discovered at Trader Joe’s this morning, which I will now add to my very short list of favorites. You see, when it comes to wine, less is more for me. Less alcohol, less heavy, less intoxicating, you get my drift. I don’t want to drink a glass and feel like I need to take a nap…

Oh, and did I mention that this sparkling Pinot Grigio sells for just $4.99 a bottle? What is there not to love with such an inexpensive price tag to boot?!

So, during the hot summer months, when only a fresh salad of ripe tomatoes with a little Bufala mozzarella will do for dinner, twist off the top of a Contadino Vivace - no, there is no cork and yes, that is an added bonus for me! - and enjoy ‘The Lively Farmer’, as the name literally translates to in Italian.

What is more wonderful than a dosa at any time of the day? Well maybe a dosa served with an extra serving of Indian cinema to wash it down!
That’s just what you will get if you visit the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles - affectionately known as IFFLA - today and tomorrow. On Friday and Saturday the Dosa Truck, run by ex New Yorker and street food aficionada Leena Deneroff, will be parked in front of the Arclight theater on Sunset, until 11 P.M. Trust me, it doesn’t get much better than that!

For more about IFFLA check out the recent comprehensive guide to the festival I posted on the AVS TV blog. For more on the Dosa Truck and their ever-changing locations around LA, click on their name.

Images courtesy of DosaTruck.com

I just tried Ciao Bella’s Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip gelato and it’s divine! Truly the taste of mint leaves from a bunch picked up fresh from the Farmer’s Market, mixed with some high quality dark bittersweet chocolate, which in my book is the stuff dreams are made of. Instead of going on and on about this, I simply will point you to the Ciao Bella website and you can take it from there. But don’t expect a wintergreen chewing gum mint taste, this is like having a mint salad ice cream, without the chewy leaves of course, much lovelier and sweeter.

If you live in the New York area then you’re in luck, since Key Food Supermarket is running a Buy One GetOne Free promotion for Ciao Bella gelato this week, which works out to paying $2.50 a pint. And I highly recommend their Malted Milk Balls flavor or their Chocolate Hazelnut to go along with your Fresh Mint. But don’t wait too long, this will all be gone come next Friday. I braved a blizzard for my gelato today. Not asking for a medal, eating it will be reward enough…

Of course, if chocolate in your ice cream is not your cup of tea, you can pick any of Ciao Bella’s delicious sorbets or fresh fruit gelato. I have a friend who swears by their Coconut, but the new Key Lime Pie concoction can’t be anything less than fabulous… Enjoy the snow and eat more ice cream. It’s good for you… Or rather, your mood.

Images courtesy of Ciao Bella

Before you go on thinking that I am referring to some odd sex game and start feeling all titillated about it, I mean the kind of dates that grow on palms (yes, I almost wrote ‘trees’ but corrected myself at the last minute?!) and are found in the desert… NOT the tall, charming and handsome kind that come to pick me up at the door and take me to some fab restaurants for wonderful nights out on the town. We’ll get back to that discussion, another place another time…

On a recent episode of ‘Inside the Middle East’ on CNN - hosted by the glamorous and intelligently gorgeous Hala Gorani, who has become one of my favorite women on TV - Gorani herself stopped by a gourmet date shop in a Dubai Mall. She was offered a taste of each treat in the shop, and between her delighted exultations and my overactive imagination, I’ve spent every night since then dreaming about those little pearls of deliciousness that Middle Eastern dates can be. She tried them stuffed with nuts and caramel, rolled in coconut and covered in chocolate and I tell you, I haven’t been able to think of anything else since. Forget the typical - read: BORING! - Valentine chocolate, I’m ordering a variety pack of gourmet dates for the upcoming holiday and have just the perfect places in mind for you to do the same.

While the fabulous Kanwal Ullah - check out her food column this week, it’s all chocolate and Valentine inspired for the occasion - suggested making a batch of chocolate covered dates and dropping then by my apartment (she is my idea of a FABULOUS woman, both generous and talented!) I really wanted to find a variety of flavors and a place that would deliver. Lucky for me - and The Ajnabee readers of course - Sphinx Ranch in Arizona has just what I craved. The Royal Red Gift Box 2 Layer Medjool Dates Varieties is exactly what I had in mind: partly nutty, partly coconutty, partly chocolate covered, all delicious dates and only $36 plus shipping! Oh, and lets not forget that these dates don’t require conversation at dinner OR shaving my legs for the occasion…

Of course, now that I’m into the fruity date - but of course have not given up on the manly kind - I am coming across loads of great resources. I remembered visiting a date farm near Palm Desert in California with my Dad, back in the days, and have found their website - Oasis Date Garden. Their product is divine, so am a bit torn about ordering from California or Arizona… Hum. The Oasis’ 3-pound Treasure Box for $54 plus shipping is tempting me. Oh, what the hey! I’ll order from both. After all, dates are high in fiber and very, very yummy. And that’s good enough for me, until the real thing comes along…

Images courtesy of Oasis Date Garden, Sphinx Ranch and CNN

With the holidays literally right around the corner, you don’t need to worry about blowing your journey to a healthy lifestyle away! I’d like to give you a few of my healthy Turkey Day tips so you can eat whatever you want and still not go overboard. Also, an added bonus: healthy, low cal butternut squash gratin recipe!
When getting your turkey fix, try to opt for white meat
Try not to eat the skin of the turkey, this can add over 10 grams of fat!
Watch out for portion distortion - don’t deprive yourself, but eat a LITTLE bit of everything
Do not starve yourself all day, thinking you are banking your calories for the big dinner; you will most probably be so hungry by dinner time, that you will overeat. Instead, snack on fruit and veggies throughout the day.
Eat a bowl or two or broth based soup before the big meal. This will fill you up without adding a lot of calories.
After eating such a heavy meal, try not to dent up your couch. Instead, get some fresh air and go for a family walk a few times around the block.
Going over to someone’s house for Turkey Day?…why not make a healthy side dish for all to try (a perfect segway to my butternut squash gratin recipe)

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRATIN

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 pounds butternut squash, diced (you can find this in the freezer aisle

PREPARATION

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place butternut squash cubes and olive oil in large bowl; sprinkle with salt pepper and toss to coat. 

Place squash on a baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes.  

Melt the yogurt butter in heavy medium skillet over low heat. Add sliced leeks, salt and rosemary. Sauté until leeks are tender, about 15 minutes. 

In a baking dish, spread half of leek mixture over bottom of prepared baking dish. Add half of the roasted squash, and then top with half of the goat cheese. Repeat layering with leeks, squash, and cheese. 

Pour milk evenly over gratin. Top with toasted walnuts.

Bake the gratin for 35-40 minutes, or until the milk is bubbling.

Allow to cool, and enjoy a wonderful serving!

For more on Kanwal, check out her blog by clicking HERE.

Let’s talk Kashmir. Sure, we always talk about India or Pakistan…but what about Kashmir? Unless it’s talked about in the context of whether it is India’s or Pakistan’s land, we really don’t hear much about this wonderful place. What do I think about when I hear Kashmir? I think about Kashmiri Chai, commonly known as Sabaz Chai. This beautiful rose colored tea is best consumed steaming hot with a dash of salt. Yes, you read right, salt! The chai, made of green tea leaves, has a wonderfully earthy flavor and goes perfectly with a cool fall night. The secret ingredient that turns this chai into a deep eggplant color is the pinch of baking soda that is added. Adding about a 1/4 cup of whole milk turns this into a beautiful pink pastel color!

Make your own Sabaz Chai by following the instructions below!

INGREDIENTS

• 1TB. of Kashmiri green tea
• 1/2c of very cold water
• 1 pinch of baking soda
• 1c of very, very cold water
• 1/4c of whole milk
• 1/2tsp. of salt, add more if needed

STEPS

1.  In a small pot, add the 1/2c of water and 1TB of green tea.

2.  Bring this to a boil.  Once this has reduced to 1/4c of water, aerate the pot by swirling the tea.  Continue to do this until your left with 1/8c of water.

3.  Add the pinch of baking soda and continue to aerate for another minute ( at this point the tea should turn into deep eggplant color).

4.  Add the additional 1c of water and bring to a boil.

5.  Add the milk.

6.  Pour the steaming hot chai in a mug and add the salt.

7.  Stir and enjoy!

***This recipe makes one cup.  To make and an even more decadent chai, add 1 TB of crushed pistachios to your mug.

ABOUT KANWAL

My name is Kanwal Ullah. I am a 27 year old IT Professional living in good old Jersey City, NJ. As some of you may know, I have a deep passion for healthy living. Most importantly, healthy living starts with what you put in your body. Therefore, my passion also exists in healthy cooking. When I’m not in the kitchen working on healthy recipes, you can find me at the gym or roaming the streets of NYC for great food finds. Born as the daughter of two wonderful Pakistani parents, I particularly crave the culture and food from my ancestors. However, I do not like the fat and calories that have crossed continents to get to me! My passion has developed into revamping our South Asian Cuisine to make it more heart healthy and figure friendly! Bon Appetit!

Alright, so I wrote a whole guide to FNO the other day, then these two fantastic events happened upon my inbox, so I am creating an addendum… And suggesting that they simply cannot be missed. Ports 1961 was a personal favorite at this past Fall Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC and Cesare Paciotti’s name is synonymous with great shoes.

Oh, and to add to the fabulousness of this particular FNO event, the rockin’ band Red Baraat will be playing at the store to entertain the guests throughout the evening! They provided the live music as the FW fashion show I loved so much and truly, they blew me away! Fashion, fun and filmi music all in the same place, what more could a girl ask for?! The event will be held at Ports 1961 stylish Meatpacking District shop and will include shopping and an art exhibit as well…

And for more info on the Cesare Paciotti event, check out the previous post with the complete guide to the must-see of the evening. N-joy!!

Top image courtesy of Ports 1961 and bottom image courtesy of Cesare Paciotti

I would like to welcome the fabulous Kanwal Ullah to The Ajnabee. Lets all give her a round of applause, audible around the globe, for making delicious South Asian food without the fat and calories which traditionally go with it. These recipes, which will be filling your cooking vocabularies and delighting the pages of this blog, are all easy and healthy. So prepare away and eat up. But first, a short bio of Kanwal.

My name is Kanwal Ullah. I am a 27 year old IT Professional living in good old Jersey City, NJ. As some of you may know, I have a deep passion for healthy living. Most importantly, healthy living starts with what you put in your body. Therefore, my passion also exists in healthy cooking. When I’m not in the kitchen working on healthy recipes, you can find me at the gym or roaming the streets of NYC for great food finds. Born as the daughter of two wonderful Pakistani parents, I particularly crave the culture and food from my ancestors. However, I do not like the fat and calories that have crossed continents to get to me! My passion has developed into revamping our South Asian Cuisine to make it more heart healthy and figure friendly! Bon Appetit!

KANWAL’S DRY VEGETABLE CURRY

What do I love the most about Indian food? The earthy flavor and simplicity of the food. How ordinary bland vegetables can be transformed into a mouthful of flavor enhanced with cumin, mustard seeds and a touch of garam masala. Hearty vegetable dishes can often be overlooked by heavy sauce laden dishes. With summer coming to an end, now is a great time to take advantage of the fresh, earthy vegetables that Mother Nature has to offer and create a wonderful light meal. Not only do you get the added nutritional benefits of the veggies, but you are also aiding digestion by increasing your fiber intake. Women need 25-30 grams of fiber per day, and men need 30-35 grams. Enjoy my recipe below for a hearty, dry vegetable curry dish.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large onion, cut into sixths
• 1 hot pepper, sliced
• 4 carrots, washed and cut about 1 inch thick cubes
• 8 baby eggplants, cut in half
• ½ pint of button mushrooms, halved
• 2 zucchini, sliced into 1 inch thick cubes
• ½ pound of string beans, cut in half
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
• 1 TB. of canola oil
• 3 TB. of cumin seeds
• 2 TB. of mustard seeds
• 4 cloves of garlic, sliced in half
• 1 TB. of freshly grated ginger
• 2 tsp. of turmeric
• 1TB. of garam masala
• Salt/Pepper to taste

PREPARATION

Place a large pan on your stove, and set the heat to medium. Add the oil to the pan.

Once the oil has heated, add the onions, garlic, salt and mustard seeds, sauté  this for 5 minutes, letting the onions become translucent and the cumin and mustard seeds toast up.

Add the sliced hot pepper and grated ginger, sauté for another two minutes and then add the turmeric.

Add the carrots and eggplant, sauté for another 5 minutes.

Add the mushrooms, zucchini, string beans, bell pepper and garam masala.

Stir so all ingredients are covered with the spices.

Cover your pan and allow to cook on low heat for 20 minutes, until the vegetables have tenderized.

Serve hot with roti or naan and cool yogurt on the side.

Enjoy!!

Images courtesy of Kanwal Ullah

These days, those deliciously mysterious tamarind pods are being sold in my neighborhood’s Latin supermarket! Short of fresh chocolatey carob, which is nearly impossible to find in the US and becoming increasingly scarce in Italy, tamarind is my favorite pod treat. It may not look all that appealing, but trust me, it’s delicious and relatively low in calories too. Probably because by the time you get all the pulp out, discard the pod, remove the inner fibers that hold it together and spit out the seeds, you might be in need a nap…

If you have never seen a tamarind pod, here is a lovely picture of nature’s perfection above left, right on the tree. There are various usages and recipes for the sweet and sour tamarind and its use varies with each cuisine and region. The Chinese and Indian make a sweet paste with it and eat it as candy. The Mexicans make a drink of it by boiling the chewy pulp with sugar and water and then serving it cold over ice. In East Asia — the current crop in stores right now is a product of Thailand — the fruit works its way into pork dishes and curries, acting as a meat tenderizer.

But without getting too technical, take your closest subway/train/bus to your local Chinatown and look for the exciting, exotic pods. Try to pick ones where the shell isn’t cracked — obvious cleanliness issues — and nice heavy ones, which tend to have more pulp inside. For the truly adventurous, here is a lovely alcoholic drink recipe featuring tamarind water, courtesy of the Chicagoist.com:

Spring Thyme

2.5 oz 10-cane rum
1/2 oz lime juice
1/4 oz tamarind water (see below)
1/2 oz rosemary syrup (see below)
2 dashes angostura bitters
candied thyme (see below)

Rosemary Syrup
Steep several sprigs of fresh rosemary in a container (up to 1 liter) of simple syrup for at least 20 minutes.

Tamarind Water
Steep tamarind pulp (removed from it’s shell) in 1 liter of hot water for 20 min; filter.

Optional:
Candied Thyme
Briefly fry whole stems of thyme in 300 degree oil and let dry on paper towels. Dip in caramelized sugar and let cool on a silicone baking sheet.

Combine all ingredients in a shaker over ice. Shake, strain and serve, garnished with a sprig of candied thyme.

Spring Thyme recipe and image courtesy of the Chicagoist.Com

Would you think of meeting your stylish friends at McDonald’s? I wouldn’t. But the word Starbucks rolls easily off my tongue when I want to set an appointment with a girlfriend, work contact or out-of-town acquaintance. Well, maybe just maybe, all that’s about to change.

During NY Fashion Week, those of us attending the shows inside the tents have been treated to lattes, cappuccinos and espressos - con crema! - courtesy of McDonald’s new concept coffee shops, the McCafé. For this die-hard Starbucks fan it’s been a bitter pill - or over-roasted espresso bean - to swallow and I’ll explain why.

In my world, Starbucks represents an oasis of great coffee smell, large spaces and relaxed atmosphere. I love the efficient service, I like all the extra perks and - because I use it sparingly and only for those moments when I need to go and relax inside the closest thing to a Florentine café there is this side of the Atlantic - I really don’t mind the extra expense. It has been called all kinds of names and a personal favorite is “the Evil Corporation” but ultimately, Starbucks has got what I want. And I stand by my choice.

Mickey D, on the other hand, is a place that is built on the concept of fast everything. Fast food, of course, fast service, fast turnover. I read someplace that even their choice of music and decor is so that people will take the least amount of time consuming their meals. That all amounts to the very opposite of what my Italian background stands for. As an example, they had to eliminate seating at some outdoors café in Naples, because customers would simply sit there, all day, drinking one tiny, cheap espresso. My people linger, it’s in our blood. Stuffing our faces, or downing a coffee in ten minutes is just an alien thought to us. Which is not to say that you won’t find me occasionally at my favorite McDonald’s consuming their amazing french fries with extra red ketchup!

So, the final verdict on the McCafé idea? I’m fifty/fifty on it. It seems to have worked really well in Australia and it is moving, slowly but surely, into your neighborhoods. I like the fact that gourmet coffee drinking is no longer an elitist sport. I mean, we all deserve a good cup of coffee and Maxwell House ain’t it. But will this new coffee concept be a best seller with me? I think I’ll stick with the naked green mermaid for now, if you don’t mind…