Perhaps because I am on the small side of the weight spectrum, or maybe because I adore small things and small meals, little bites of goodness often make their way to my dining table and I never seem to tire of such delights. Whether it be grain patties, legume cakes or koftas, or — in this instance — a savory fried goat cheese round, it's my idea of comfort food. Serve these soft creamy and tangy goat cheese cakes with a golden brown crispy outside as an appetizer or even as a side alongside dinner. For a light dinner, I served them up with marinated mushrooms. You might also consider making up a salsa sauce to go with them or this spicy sun-dried tomato paste.

Read this recipe »

My husband adores my Thai-style soups and curries nearly as much as he enjoys my Indian creations. I made this just as I was coming down with a cold (which I am still fighting) and it was just what I needed. The soup was soothing on the throat, warming and packed full of vital nutrients. Once everything is prepped, it comes together in no time at all and fills the kitchen with the lovely aroma of Thai flavors. The addition of coconut milk lends a delightful creaminess to the soup and surely adds to the elegance.

Read this recipe »

I was never really crazy about eggplant until a few years ago, but now I often find myself drawn to recipes that showcase this versatile vegetable. Although it doesn't have much flavor in itself, it becomes spongy when cooked and beautifully absorbs fragrant spices and melds well with the other components it's combined with. Those that think they don't like eggplant are very likely to change their mind after feasting on this casserole.

Essentially a vegetarian version of "Country Captain", a popular curried dish in the Southern states that usually contains chicken and is served with rice, eggplant is here used in place of the chicken. The Indian influence is obvious. How could I resist spiced up eggplant with loads of vegetables and chickpeas? Often made on the stovetop, this one is baked. As this is one of the coldest winters I can remember, I have been looking for lots of excuses to turn on the oven these days.

Read this recipe »

My Legume Love Affair - #68

I am pleased to be hosting My Legume Love Affair this month here on this space. As many readers will know, this long running event is the creation of lovely Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook. It's been a popular destination for lovers of all things legumes since 2008. For a year now, I have been the "legume mistress" and will continue as coordinator. Already I have hosts booked up until July and a list of those who have expressed an interest. I will be sorting out that list soon and hopefully filling in the remaining spots for 2014. A special thanks to Susan for her gorgeous logos each month and also for sponsoring a prize. I hope that this event will continue to be a popular spot to share your treasured bean creations.

Now unto the details...

What you need to know to participate:

I own and maintain a vegetarian cooking site, so only entries that are free of meat, fowl and seafood will be accepted. Please only one submission per blogger. Recipes from your archives will be accepted if reposted and updated. You may submit your recipe to other events.

For your dish to be included in the roundup, it must contain more than just a few tablespoons of legumes. The slight exception to this are legumes such as fenugreek or tamarind that typically are used in smaller quantities. Fresh or dried beans, lentils, pulses, and the sometimes edible pods that contain these seeds, carob, peanuts and derivative products like tofu or besan are all acceptable. Please ensure that your shining ingredient is in fact a member of the legume family. All types of cuisines and courses are welcome, so long as the mighty legume is the key ingredient.

Simply showcase your legume-centric dish on your blog by the end of February,
link to this announcement and the ongoing MLLA page. Kindly send a nod to Susan, our beloved creator of MLLA. Use of the logo is optional but appreciated.

Email the following information to legume.lisa AT gmail DOT com:

1. Your name
2. Name of your blog
3. Title and url of your post
4. A photo (320 px wide or larger) - this is optional, but helpful
5. Location, for prize purposes

Prize information:

1) Susan is generously sponsoring a prize that she will ship worldwide, at her own expense. This month she is offering a silicone gel non-stick multi-purpose mould.

2) Hurst Beans continues as a sponsor meaning US residents have a chance to win a 6-pack assortment of products by the N.K. Hurst Company. Due to shipping restrictions, this prize is restricted to residents of the US.

If the random winner is a resident of the US, they will win both the Hurst Bean Prize and Susan's offering - otherwise a second draw will take place for the Hurst prize from the pool of US residents.

The winner or winners will be contacted via email once a random draw has taken place.

*Note: my immediate family and friends are ineligible to win a prize. Links to products are for non-commercial purposes and intended as prize descriptions. Neither Susan nor myself are receiving monetary or product compensation.