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February 16, 2011
Did you know that both Punjabis and Italians love lemon pickle, "sunshine in a jar"? (See photo below.) Decided to experiment with this Punjabi standby that I usually pair with paurantha, whole wheat flatbreads, or saag, stewed mixed greens, in Menus and Memories. Gave it an Italian setting in honor of the newest member of our extended family, Milo Umberto, born this week in Florence, Italy. It's a perky, fast and flavorful pasta dish. You may “doctor” it in so many ways. Punjabi/Italian fusion at it's best. “Sunshine” Pasta (vegan) Yield: 4 servings 8 oz. spaghetti 1 tablespoon salt ¼ cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 cup green peas or edamame, lightly cooked or ¼ cup sliced black olives ¼ cup slivered lemon pickle nimboo achaar 1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley of cilantro, finely sliced
1 teaspoon achaar masala (optional) Freshly ground black pepper, salt to taste Grated Pecorino or Parmesan (optional)
Bring water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the spaghetti and salt. Give a stir and continue boiling for about 8 minutes. Reserve a ¼ cup of pasta water and drain the rest in a colander.
In the empty pot heat the olive oil and the garlic and pepper flakes. Sauté for about a minute but do not brown. Add the peas and lemon pickle and cook for another minute. Add the parsley or cilantro. Toss in the spaghetti and the reserved pasta water. Add pepper and salt to taste. Reheat slightly if necessary. Toss in the cheese, if using.
Posted by Veronica Sidhu.
February 5, 2011
Being a closet historian, I loved writing Menus and Memories because it gave me an opportunity to showcase the origins of the great dishes of Punjab, one of the most complex cuisines in the world. This is not by accident. Punjab has been a crossroad of many cultures throughout history--the Ayurvedic tradition, and the armies of Alexander, the Scythians, the Afghans and Moghuls --all have left distinct threads of flavors and cooking styles. From the village, we get the emphasis on health... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu.
January 30, 2011
The snow is falling but I have a little taste of sunshine in a jar, my homemade lemon pickle. It is SO easy to make. Just lemons and salt (with a secret method you'll find on page 55 of M and M). It's great with my ultimate comfort food, subzi parauntha, a delectable vegetable-filled flat-bread. That recipe is on this blog. Get cozy and get some sunshine! 
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Recipes
January 28, 2011
An apple--in the right
hands, it's a recipe, or a meditation. My deep little friend Sophia,
just 7 years old, sent me her lovely poem: APPLE
Our class is a whole big apple.
And in it is the star. And in it are the seeds.
And we are the seeds.
We make miracles grow for each other.
And each new year we make a new tree grow.
Happy New Year! Make it happen!
Love, Rani
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : For the Soul
January 26, 2011
On the ninth anniversary of our dear grandson Bennett's passing, we were pleased to present the Bennett Brand Memorial Scholarship to the first recipient of 2011. Candice Baker is a remarkable young woman who has much to teach Congresswoman Giffords about the fight ahead of her. Candice was shot in the head (two bullets) and was paralyzed. She is now walking with the help of braces (no easy feat) and is working full time as a receptionist. This former student of mine, a graduate of Dunellen H... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : For the Soul
January 16, 2011
Is it because the holidays are over and the doldrums have set in that I have the urge to develop more recipes for you ? I love summer for the roasted veggies on the grill. But why not use the oven to roast them in winter? So I roasted a mixture of veggies that I've stewed before during other winter months. The roasting not only deepened the flavors, but kept the okra from becoming (there is no nice way to say this) slimy. You may use hot or mild peppers, seeding them is optional. Great with... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Recipes
November 16, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! A grateful heart is a happy heart, and my wish for each of you is a grateful heart. Thanks so much for your past support of Menus and Memories from Punjab. Village kids are counting on your continued support. All profits from the book go to them. Be generous, please share this site with all your friends and family. You never know how many potential Indian food lovers there are! Remember that Menus and Memories makes a great gift that keeps on giving in so many way... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Recipes
October 23, 2010
Open your mouth wide and gup, gup! Crunch down with one bite on these round balls: hence the name in Punjabi, Gole Guppay. My husband and his college buddies would buy these refreshing and unusual snacks from the street vendor in Ludhiana who would break them open with his thumb, fill them with a savory stuffing and then carefully and quickly pour cold Zeera Masala Pani into the crispy puffs at the last minute. Our guests at the cooking class found them to be great fun as well as delicious. A... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Recipes
September 24, 2010
With just a few tweaks, you can sometimes make a very different recipe! Take the fabulous Gajjerella--Carrot Halva recipe from my book, for example. There is so much "wow" factor in serving this beautiful, healthy dish to your guests. I had plenty of fresh, sweet carrots from our CSA, but my daughter, Raji, insisted that I make "finger-food" desserts for her party. So decided to make Gajjer Burfee--Carrot Fudge. "Why reinvent the wheel?" says I. "Let's tweak the halva recipe!" You can see the... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Recipes
August 2, 2010
I've been trying to catch up with myself! Here is something I've wanted you to see for awhile now, an article that appeared in the Alternative Press of New Providence, NJ after a talk I gave at the library there. It was quite an honor to be the first speaker invited by the Diversity Council. If I don't appreciate diversity, no one will! In a time when most people married within their culture and religion, my grandparents did not. Nor did I, nor my sister, nor my brother, nor many of my cousin... Continue reading...
Posted by Veronica Sidhu. Posted In : Updates
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