Amma's Mixed Vegetable Sambar

1/3c. toor dal
2c. mixed vegetables, chopped (potato, carrot, onion, tomato, beans)
1 ping pong ball sized piece of tamarind (soak it in 1c. water)
1/2 Tbsp. sambar powder (grand snacks is best brand)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
sesame oil
pinch asafoetida
curry leaves
coriander
salt to taste (approx 1 tsp)

Soak 1/3 c. toor dal in 1c. water for about 10 mins, then drain.  Soak tamarind in 1c. water. Combine mixed vegetables, toor dal, and 1c. water.  Cook in small pressure cooker for 3 whistles.

In a separate pot, splutter mustard seeds and asafoetida.  Add tamarind, sambar powder and salt.  Boil for 10 mins until it starts to thicken.  Add the vegetables and dal from pressure cooker and stir. Add curry leaves and coriander. Bring it to a boil and turn off.  Add more salt if needed.  Serve with white rice.

Good sides: potato curry, beans curry, okra curry, cauliflower curry, potato chips
Can also serve sambar as a side dish with idli or dosa.

Cheesy Chili Mac

Love this recipe from Budget Bytes.  Roshen ate the whole bowl, and Sahana even ate 3 bites!

Cheesy Vegetarian Chili Mac

Castella (Katusera) Cake

Castella cake

I followed the recipe exactly (including weighing the ingredients).  It took forever, but the results were amazing!

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

I used a little less powdered sugar than the recipe called for, and everyone loved it on cupcakes.

Misir Wot

Misir Wot (Medium-Hot)

1 yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
1c. red lentils
2 Tb. berbere (workinesh spice blends- hot)
4 Tb. veg oil
1 tsp salt
4c. water

Heat pot on high, add the onion and garlic and dry cook for 2 mins.  Add oil and cook another 2 mins.  Add 1/2c. water and cook 2 mins until onions are golden.  Add berbere, 2c. water and cook for 2-3 more mins, then add lentils, salt, and 2c. water and boil on high for 5 mins.  Then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 mins.

Recipe is from the following YouTube video: Misir Wot

Sambar

Sambar

1/2 c. cooked toor dal (pressure cook 1/4c dal for 5 mins with 3/4c. water and salt)

Combine the following ingredients and boil until veggies are cooked (20 mins or so)
assorted diced veggies (1/2 large tomato, 1/2 large onion, 1 small potato)
2-3 c. water
1 heaping Tbsp sambar powder
2 T. tamarind paste
pinch turmeric
salt

Once veggies are cooked, stir in the dal and boil for a few mins.  Finish with the tempering.

Tempering-

sesame oil
mustard seeds
urad dal
curry leaves
asafoetida

Sambar Powder

Dry roast then powder the following ingredients:

large handful of coriander seeds

handful chana dal

1 tsp peppercorns

1 Tb. urad dal

1 Tb. cumin seeds
1 tsp fenugreek

4 red chilis