I scanned the menu of the dimly lit Thai restaurant where we had chosen to have lunch. It was really breakfast, being our first meal of the day. It was still only 11:30 in the morning.

My tongue ruminated on memories of peanut sauce and bean sprouts, quickly tasting each dish with which it was presented and re-shelving the phantom platter for a later craving. When my eyes came to rest on the Spicy Green Curry, I knew my mouth had found what it wanted.

Something in me was telling me that this was the dish I should order, despite the warning label under the menu description advertising this as a “very spicy dish.” Or maybe precisely because of that label.

As I barreled my way through that burning sensation that was my breakfast, I wondered why on Earth I was doing this to myself. There was so much spice that I could barely taste anything else. There were hints of coconut milk here, and eggplant there, but mostly my mouth was a wasteland of curry on fire.

That got me thinking about my whole relationship with spicy food. I can’t say that I really like how it tastes. So why do I love eating it? Read More »

Who doesn’t love Indian food? If you don’t—well, then, I guess this isn’t a post you really want to be reading. For all of you with sound taste buds, though, please read on.

If you would like to make an awesome curry in your own kitchen with simple ingredients that tastes just like it came from the masala lunch buffet, then look no further. Bread, main dish, AND drink are all outlined here for you—so break out your notepads and get ready!

Chapatis

There’s nothing better to eat with a curry than chapatis, those delicious little flatbreads that you can use like spoons to scoop up large amounts of what you’re eating. For a great recipe, go here. Even though it seems completely bizarre to fry something in a skillet that has no oil or butter in it, it works like a dream for these breads.

Added tip: if you stack them up nicely and wrap them in foil, chapatis can be reheated and eaten again for up to two days after you make them.

Cauliflower Curry

One of my proudest strokes of culinary genius was devising this curry. I feel like I could eat it every day and STILL love every bite. It makes a lot (4-5 medium-sized servings), so have a party when you make it. Read More »

I’m probably one of the hardest gals to please when it comes down to what’s for lunch.

I love flavor, I need my food to be moderately healthy, not too expensive, and easy to make. I do love cooking elaborate meals, but not in the middle of the day when I’m consumed with everything else I’m doing.

So over time, a few simple lunches have worked their way into my mental cookbook, simple lunches that I’m now going to share with you! Here are four options that are delicious, easy, and relatively cheap to make, as well as healthy for you…well, healthier than Wendy’s…that’s for sure.

1. Toast whole wheat bread. Spread your favorite hummus across both pieces of the bread (I prefer using the really spicy stuff). Then add turkey or your favorite lunch meat.

2. Stuff a whole wheat wrap with avocado slices, tomato slices, and mozzarella cheese. This is AWESOME, trust me! Read More »