Indian Spiced Cauliflower and Potatoes with Cucumber Raita

I really liked the flavor in this dish. Oliver and Simon gobbled up the raita (I added more cucumber than it called for). The girls just gobbled up the naan. (The naan from Target's bakery section is pretty good.)

Indian Spiced Cauliflower and Potatoes
Gourmet, February 2004
1 (1 3/4-lb) head cauliflower, cut into 3/4-inch-wide florets
1 1/4 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño, including seeds
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 cup water
Accompaniment: lemon wedges

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and place a shallow baking pan on rack. Preheat oven to 475°F.
Toss cauliflower and potatoes together in a bowl with 3 tablespoons oil, cumin seeds, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread in hot baking pan and roast, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender and browned in spots and potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes.

While vegetables are roasting, cook onion, garlic, jalapeño, and ginger in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until very soft and beginning to turn golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Stir in water, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet, then stir in roasted vegetables. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

Makes 4 side-dish servings.

Cucumber Scallion Raita
1/4 cup finely chopped English (seedless cucumber)
1 thinly sliced scallion
3/4 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix!

Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

Dressing:
5 T. fresh lime juice
1t. salt
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1 t. cumin
1/3 c. olive oil
1/2 t. pepper

Salad:
1 1/2 c. quinoa (uncooked)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c. corn
1 chopped red or yellow bell pepper
1 minced jalapeno
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 c. chopped green onion

Dressing: 
Combine all ingredients in blender and set aside.

Salad:
Wash quinoa and cook according to package directions, I pretty much cook mine like rice.  Boil water in medium saucepan (2 water to 1 quinoa) and add quinoa.  Cook on medium for fifteen minutes with lid on then remove from heat, fluff, replace lid and let sit for 15 min.

Combine the rest of the salad ingredients in a bowl then add quinoa.  Toss gently with the dressing and serve.  Tastes even better the next day.

This is my variation on a recipe I found on the Tasty Kitchen blog.

Spicy Citrus Black Beans

Ingredients:
1 (28 oz.) can black beans
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
pepper, chopped or minced (bell, Anaheim or jalapeno depending on your taste)
½-1 cup reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
1½ tsp. dried oregano
2 bay leaves
½ tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tsp. pureed chipotles in adobo
1½ tsp. ground cumin
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Juice of 2 limes (added lime zest - optional)
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
Chopped fresh cilantro, to taste, plus more for garnish

Directions:
Place the beans in a colander and rinse throughly. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion and pepper until tender, about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the beans. Mix in broth (more or less depending on how much liquid you would like) and bring to a simmer. Mix in the oregano, bay leaves, salt, chipotle puree, cumin, orange juice, lime juice and vinegar. Once simmering, reduce to medium-low or low and let simmer, covered, 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, stir in chopped fresh cilantro to taste and serve.

Source: Annie's Eats
Note: I did not use the chipotle's when I made this, still a little gun shy when it comes to those. Also I used fresh oregano which was tasty.

Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

I found this recipe on recipezaar and have made it a few times now. It sounds more time consuming than it really is and don't be scared away by the eggs.

8 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 t. sea salt
pepper to taste
1/2 c. butter (I've used less and still have good results)
3/4 c. milk (use less milk if potatoes are small, maybe start with 1/2 c. and go from there)
1/2 c. sour cream
2 eggs

1 - In a large pan, boil potatoes until tender, 15-20 min.
2- Drain water, and add remaining ingredients.
3- Mash until smooth, with a potato masher. I've never before made mashed potatoes with a potato masher and was surprised at how fast it was. Don't use a mixer, they'll be gooey if you do.

Mediterranean Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. Sweet Potatoes
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 c. Soymilk, unflavored
1 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon, ground
1/4 tsp. Ginger, ground
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg, ground

Preheat oven to 400. Clean sweet potatoes and pierce them in several places with a fork. Roast them in the oven for 50-60 minutes until very tender. Remove and allow to cool.

Reduce temperature to 375. Coat 1-quart baking dish with olive oil.

Scoop "meat" of potatoes out of skin. Mash in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Spoon entire mixture into the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

Serve warm. Great side dish for chicken recipes.

For a treat or an appetizer, you can scoop the mixture into individual pastry shells and bake.

Lemon Red Potatoes

Ingredients
10-20 small Red Potatoes
2 Tbsp. Chives
1 tsp. Nutmeg
1/4 c. Butter, melted
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Sea salt
2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

Steam potatoes until soft. Mix remaining ingredients. Pour sauce over steamed potatoes.

Serve warm.