Indian food:An amateur with a view

So, I know very little about Indian food. It's really a damn shame. My first experience with Indian food only happened a couple of years ago and I've LOVED it ever since!

Don't know the different plates other than tandoori, masala, and curry...oh and naan. I don't consider myself an expert on Indian food but I do consider myself an expert eater...or as I like to say a whore for food. Let's face it friends...I am. For some unknown reason people love feeding me. I don't know why. Could it be that I'll try anything? Or eat anything? Maybe. I'd like to think that I make an excellent companion at the dinner table. Talking about world issues, and down economics...ok, maybe not those things. More like the unreal reality shows we watch to make us feel better about ourselves. And of course sexual innuendos I murder with each "normal" conversation. Am I really that shallow? I'm working on it!

Yet another wonderful dinner party at Howie's. This time the cooks were Jenne and Howie the dynamic duo that brought us Big Night:Timpano Extravaganza. I am the silent partner, or so I'd like to think. For one, any idea we have about food, they're always game. So, we cook it out and BAM dinner. Okay, maybe I don't "help" with the cooking. I'm the silent partner because I just shut up and eat.

This night the players were Todd, Greg, Miko, Jenne, Howie and well me:). Miko and Todd brought mango lassi. Miko's was homemade and delicious. Todd's was store bought but also a delicious substitute. Now, onto the food.

The menu:

Lamb in Yogurt Cardamom sauce

Cornish Hens in Apricot sauce

Saag(Greens with cubes of cheese)

Buttered smothered cabbage and cauliflower

Sour Mango relish

Paratha(flatbread)

Raita(yummy yogurt dip)

Jasmine rice

Yeah dude. That's what I said!

We sat down at the large dinning room table and began to dig in to the different plates all over the place. The foundation of rice, set up for me to add all the goodies. The Lamb in Yogurt Cardamom sauce was so delicious. The hens were just fallin' off the bone. I mean EVERYthing was spectacular. This night was awesome. AMAZING food.

We sat around picking here and there. Couldn't quite put the forks down. We talked about accents, and languages...one of my favorite subjects. Got good laughs at those who could do all the different ones in the US well. I think Todd won that contest. That's what dinners should be about. The rituals of eating. Great food+Great conversation. My life doesn't suck. It actually rocks.

Black Eyed Peas:Ate some luck for the New Year

I'm a little behind in the food adventures. Mind you, I have had some the best food EVER these past months!

My amigo Howie had invited me to a New Years black eyed peas celebration. Black eye peas for the new year brings you luck, so I ate a whole truck load! The aforementioned festivities where at our friend Cauleen's lovely home. We arrive as the sun went down, so the air was thick with anticipation, as the purple haze of mystery followed our steps as we arrived at our final destination. I, didn't know what to expect.

We step into the cozy home and are greeted warmly with hugs and my favorite thing...food. A beautiful table set up with elegant colors from the citrus salad. Deepest of reds...grapefruits, blood oranges and if memory serves, sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. Love anything that involves citrus. Our host guides us to the kitchen which is a field of pots staring at us, waiting for the harvest. I have a smile from ear to ear, because I know, that good food comes from pots. We dig into the collard greens(Veggie and meat options), Hoppin' Johns(also Veg and Meat options), pot of white rice(my heroin), mac'n'cheese, stuffing, corn bread, and pulled pork. Honestly, one of the best pulled pork situations I have ever had. It was spiced just right and boy was it just melting in your mouth. Man, that was delicious. The Hoppin Johns(Black eyed peas dish) were fantastic and went excellently well with the white rice...I love things that go well with white rice or rice period. Collard greens were mopped with goodness and fresh. The mac'n'cheese was one of the best I've had. Everything hands down was excellent.

After getting seconds, so much for the New Year resolutions, we sat around and conversed about all the madnesses of the world. Ate cookies, and bread and drank wine and whatever else was around. Fat and stupid from the amazing food, it was time to go. Feeling a since of 'We just conquered something' we stepped proudly into the night. Beast wanting more. That dinner was intoxicating. Very grateful for the awesome food and wonderful host. Boy are we lucky. Next time I'm getting thirds.