daal recipe, flower show, and ski weekend shots

Daal Recipe

Daal is an almost perfect dish: easy, versatile, cheap and nutritious

Daal is a vegetarian/vegan staple. I practically lived on this unctuous, stewy dish while in India and Nepal. It's usually served over basmati rice and/or veggies, or is sopped up with bread. It's a great source of fiber, protein, calcium and iron, plus it's extremely economical and a snap to throw together. There are as many daal versions as there are cooks, so it's also a great base for improvisation; you can easily tailor daal recipes to match your taste and the contents of your pantry.

The word "daal" comes from the Sanskrit root "dal," which aptly means "to split." Daal is usually made from gorgeous little polka dots of split legumes such as red and black split lentils and yellow and red split peas.

Massor Daal

Masoor Daal (Red Lentils) with Leeks

Daal:

• 1 cup massor daal (small, split red lentils)
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups veggie broth
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Pinch of asafoetida (optional, but wonderful)

Topping:

• 2 T canola or peanut oil
• 1 inch piece of ginger, minched
• 3 leeks, washed well and sliced thinly. (Include most of the greens; reserve a handful for garnish)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 T mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garam masala

Garnish:

• 3 T chopped fresh coriander for garnish
• Handful of thinly sliced leeks

Serves 4

1. Bring broth to a gentle boil. Add lentils and all other daal ingredients, lower to a simmer and cook, mostly covered, stirring occasionally, for about 1 hour or until soupy.
2. Meanwhile, start the topping. In a skillet, heat oil over medium. Saute ginger, leeks, and garlic until soft, fragrant and transparent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Raise the heat to high, and add the spices. Saute for about 20 seconds, then turn off the heat and add to the cooked lentil pot.
3. Serve over cooked vegetables and/or brown rice. Or serve with rotis or other Indian-style flatbread.

Philadelphia Flower Show
Every year, I attend the Philadelphia Show to get an early taste of spring. Philly's flower show is the country's oldest and largest. This year's theme was "Passport to the World." It was truly spectacular, with plenty of traditional floral artistry and much more conceptual work than in previous years.

Uber arrangement


Balloon decorated entirely with flowers
Installation of hanging glass vases: my favorite piece

Minimal yet maximal

Ski Weekend
Can you believe I grew up in the mountains and had never been skiing until a few weeks ago? Dr X and I drove up to Elk Mountain, and while he took a telemark workshop, I plodded through my first lesson. After 2 full days of skiing, I'm pretty much hooked.

Our room in a quaint B & B.

Barn behind the inn.