The shortest month of the year...

"The Spices Are So Sensuous"

Dear friends,

February may have been the shortest month of the year but here at Usha’s Very Own, I have been very busy. 

I was lucky to have my favourite couple (my son, Girish, and daughter-in-law, Alexandra) spend a few weeks with me (after complying with quarantine requirements). They were the perfect diners to try my recipes on – thank you guys! 

“So what did they enjoy?” I hear you ask…

Girish loved paranthas as a child so I created a number of different types of gluten-free and non-gluten-free paranthas to complement the Gobi paranthas added to the website in January.  These included Methi (fenugreek), Aloo (potato) and Mooli (long white radish) paranthas. They more than passed the test with Girish!

Vegan friends of ours came across a Kaju (cashew nut) barfi which they adored and asked me to recreate.  Cashew nuts are a good source of fibre, heart healthy fats (which increase good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol), plant protein and minerals such as copper, magnesium, manganese which are important for brain and bone health, immunity and energy production.  Here is my version:

In terms of curries, new curries, I added one of my all time favourites, Mutter Paneer together with a vegan version using tofu.  I also cooked up Kala Chana, a delicious nutty dish made from dark brown/black chickpeas. They are an excellent source of protein, fibre and iron and have a low glycemic index.

As well as dishes from my Indian heritage, I have also been experimenting with a vegan and gluten-free bread, my Vegan Date and Nut Loaf.  Enjoy a buttered slice with your cup of chai or with that lunchtime soup.

As promised in the last newsletter, I finally nailed the gluten free samosa pockets and finalised the recipe with illustrations created by Chantal.

A busy month for me and loads more for you to add to your repertoire. I’d love to see photos of whatever you’ve made.

And finally, a quote from the lead singer of Aerosmith Joe Perry:

“I love Indian food – it’s my favourite cuisine.

 I love the mixture of spices and the subtle flavours.

 It’s really erotic; the spices are so sensuous”

Until next time, happy cooking! 

In the meantime, please share my Instagram, Facebook and website with others, thank you. 

Love,