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Rava Dosas with Potato Chickpea Masala

Recipe here.*

Yum, yum, yummity yum yum yum.

This is the first thing that I’ve made in a while (other than spring rolls) that the whole family has agreed upon.  Usually, I’ll make a vegetarian dish that Boy won’t enjoy because it isn’t satisfying enough for him, or I’ll make a meat dish and two hearty side dishes, hoping that Girl can make a meal out of just the sides, and then she won’t feel like she’s really eaten a “meal,” but rather just snacked on sides.

This is spicy and warm and filling enough to be satisfying for all but the most stalwart carnivores and is definitely healthy and wholesome enough to satisfy any vegetarian.  This definitely “feels” like a main course.

I, of course, made a few VERY slight modifications to the original recipe:

I used russet potatoes because I couldn’t find organic Yukon Golds and didn’t want to use “pesticide” potatoes, but I discovered that russets take a bit more time and liquid to cook than gold potatoes, so be aware of that if you decide to change up your potatoes, too.

I added another cup of chickpeas that I had leftover, just to bulk up the protein quotient for Vegetarian Girl.

I added just a bit of garam masala when I added the curry-ginger-garlic mixture, just to add a bit more flavor and some brightness (a few of the epicurious reviewers mentioned that the masala was a little bland.)

I also sauteed the onions in the pan BEFORE adding the curry-ginger-garlic mixture because I am personally not wild about onions that are not thoroughly cooked.  The only raw onions that I can tolerate are red onions or green ones; white or yellow ones must be thoroughly cooked and softened for me.

I also added a bit more water to the dosa batter, because several epicurious reviewers had mentioned that the batter, as specified, was a bit too thick.  I agree and think the extra water is crucial.  Getting the hang of making the dosas is a little bit tricky (I had to throw the first one away,) but keep experimenting (make another batch of batter, if you need to,) and you’ll get it.  I think if I hadn’t needed to throw the first one away, and if I hadn’t added extra water, then the batter probably would have made four dosas, but I ended up with 5 (made 6 and threw one away.

* This recipe is originally from November 2009 Gourmet magazine.  There is a new issue out called Gourmet Quick Kitchen that has recently reprinted it.

Chicken Spaghetti for 25

This recipe has been in my family for so long, I don’t remember which cookbook it came from, originally.  It was one of those civic/charity league cookbooks, I think…Junior League of Tyler, perhaps?  My mom gave it to me MANY moons ago and we’ve served it for quite a few “Help!  I need to feed a crowd!” occasions since, including Hubby’s graduation from the police academy and Girl’s christening, although I haven’t made it in a VERY long time.  I’ve adapted it significantly enough from the original version that I feel that I can now call it my own.  This is a real winner of a recipe, since it can be prepared ahead of time and only takes 20 minutes in the oven before serving.  It is very rich and creamy…not a “healthy” recipe, by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s pretty universally appealing (all but the most finicky kids seem to like it and the mushrooms are big enough to pick out, if anyone objects to them) and hearty enough to not need a lot of side dishes.  We’re having a small crowd over for dinner tomorrow night, so I think it’s time to dust this one off again…

Chicken Spaghetti for 25

12 skinless, bone-in chicken breasts

1 white onion, sliced

4 celery ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces

2 bay leaves

2 whole peppercorns

one bunch of Italian flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

2 carrots,  cut into 2-inch pieces (or about 8 baby carrots, cut in half)

4  1/2 cups white wine, divided (you’ll need a little more than one bottle and can save the remainder of the second bottle to drink with the completed spaghetti – remember:  don’t ever cook with a bottle that you wouldn’t drink)

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup flour

2 cups half and half

4 1/2 cups sour cream

3 4-ounce jars of chopped pimientos

3 8-ounce jars mushroom pieces (or 2 1-pound boxes of fresh, sliced mushrooms, sauteed until golden browned and softened)

juice of 3 lemons

2 T Worcestershire sauce

dash cayenne pepper

salt and white pepper to taste

3 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 pounds spaghetti noodles

1 package Pepperidge Farms pastry shells, baked according to package directions

Place chicken, onion, celery, bay leaves, peppercorns, parsley stems (not the leaves), thyme and carrots in a large, covered stockpot.  Add 3 cups of wine and enough water to cover and simmer until chicken is thoroughly cooked, but still tender.  Strain and reserve chicken stock.  Remove chicken meat from bones and dice it.

Melt butter in a large saucepan and add flour; cook for 1 minute.  Add half-and-half, sour cream and 3 cups of the reserved chicken stock; blend well.  Add pimientos, mushrooms, lemon juice, Worcestershire, cayenne, salt, pepper, 3/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese and the chicken.

Unbaked casseroles, ready to go in the oven (or freezer.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook spaghetti in the remaining reserved chicken stock and remaining 1 and 1/2 cups wine according to the package directions (maybe undercook it just a TINY bit, because it will absorb more liquid as it bakes later), adding more water, if necessary, and drain.  Divide the spaghetti evenly among three 8-inch X 12-inch or 9-inch X 13-inch Pyrex-type (oven-safe) baking dishes.  Cover each with equal amounts of the chicken sauce.  Top with remaining Parmesan cheese.  Crumble pastry shells on top of each dish.  If desired, casserole can be frozen, at this point. (cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil.  Thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking.)

Bake casseroles, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly.  Remove from oven and top with finely chopped parsley leaves for garnish (I forgot to do this last night.)

Ranch Dip for Veggies

Recipe here.

Another tray that I made for Girl’s birthday party.  This is great as a salad dressing or a dip and is vastly better, despite what The Pioneer Woman says, than the stuff in the green and white package.  Sorry I don’t have a better photo of the dip, itself, but I was taking these photos as 11 hungry girls were standing by, eager to dig in.

I’ve added the gluten free tag to this post, but, be sure that your ingredients (sour cream, mayo, etc.) don’t have any starch wheat-based additives or thickeners.  If you make this with all-natural (sour cream is supposed to be just dairy, and mayo is supposed to be just eggs and oil, maybe a little lemon juice) ingredients, it will be gluten-free.