Basmati-Rice Salad with Cauliflower and Potatoes

Inspiration:
The Amazing Race's stop in New Delhi, India
as well as garlic and potatoes from our CSA
and this recipe from Food & Wine


Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 onions, sliced thin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into small florets
• 1 pound baking potatoes (about 2), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 3 tablespoons raisins
• 3 to 4 tablespoons cider or wine vinegar
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 4 scallions including green tops, chopped

Recipe Notes: "Garlic, fresh ginger, mustard, and a medley of spices spark the hallowed Indian combination--cauliflower, potatoes, and rice. Serve it at room temperature, either alone or with a simple side of sliced tomatoes."

Food & Wine's suggested beverage: "Basmati's spice and jasmine aromas suggest a floral Vouvray from France's Loire Valley. You'll need a demi-sec to stand up to the spices here."


My Notes: I really enjoy rice salads. This recipe was ok, it kind of grew on me while I was eating it. I loved the fresh ginger but thought the other spices weren't very prominent. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but I should be posting more regularly in the future.

Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: TBD

"Next week" on The Amazing Race: Old Delhi

Zucchini Muffins

Inspiration:
The Simple Recipes blog
as well as a large zucchini from our CSA

....AND this lovely new kitchen tool. Thanks, Mom!
Ingredients:

• 3 cups grated fresh zucchini
• 2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• Pinch salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup walnuts (optional)
• 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the grated zucchini and then the melted butter. Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add these dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture. Fold in the walnuts and dried raisins or cranberries if using.
2. Coat each muffin cup in your muffin pan with a little butter or vegetable oil spray. Use a spoon to distribute the muffin dough equally among the cups, filling the cups up completely. Bake on the middle rack until muffins are golden brown, and the top of the muffins bounce back when you press on them, about 25 to 30 minutes. Test with a long toothpick or a thin bamboo skewer to make sure the center of the muffins are done. Set on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the tin let cool another 20 minutes.

Recipe Notes:

• Much like the banana bread, these zucchini muffins are insanely good and insanely easy to make. No mixer, wooden spoon only, and two bowls, though you could really even make the batter in one bowl. Very moist. Just sweet enough.
  

• You don't need a mixer for this recipe.
• If you are including walnuts and dried fruit, you will likely have more batter than is needed for 12 muffins. I got about 14 muffins from this batch, and that included filling the muffin cups up as far as they could possibly go (above the surface of the muffin tin).
• For those of you who prefer to use oil over butter, be my guest (use 1 cup vegetable oil instead of the butter) but I have to tell you, I've made these both ways, and the butter version just tastes better.
  
  

My Notes:
These are really good! I wish it used up more zucchini than it did-- I got 4.5 cups shredded zucchini from one medium-large zucchini. I froze the remaining cup and a half. I still have three large zucchini left, and more coming next Thursday! I have added a zucchini tag to this blog to help other people with lots of it!

Liz's Rating: 9/10
Tim's Rating: 9/10

Raisin Bran Muffins

Inspiration:
Everyday Food

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil, plus more for tin
• 1 1/2 cups raisin bran cereal
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400. Lightly oil a 6-cup standard muffin tin. In a medium bowl, combine cereal and milk; let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. In a small bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
2. Stir oil, egg, and sugar into cereal mixture. Fold in flour mixture. Divide batter among cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in tin 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack; let cool completely, or serve warm. Store up to 5 days at room temperature in a resealable plastic bag.

Notes: I think that they're good, and healthier than most muffins, but they don't really taste very much like raisin bran. I think I will add more raisins next time!

Suggested beverage: hot black tea

Tim's Rating: 9/10 ("These were supposed to be raisin? I don't think I had raisins in mine.")
Liz's Rating: 8/10