Esha-Chhabra, Author at The Rambling Epicure

Simple Sustenance: Healthy and Easy Bell Pepper, Garbanzo Bean, and Bulgur Salad

Published by Esha-Chhabra + Monday, March 12, 2012 Permalink 0

“Cookery is not chemistry. It is an art. It requires instinct and taste rather than exact measurements.” — Marcel Boulestin

Healthy and easy might not sound very complicated, but I’m not talking about a cup of yogurt or a bowl of fruit. I am thinking of something hearty and flavorful with a farm-fresh bite. When the vegetable drawer in the fridge is begging for a visit to the produce market, it can become challenging to bring farm-fresh bite to the plate. This was the dilemma I was facing last night.

When I opened my fridge, I found just a couple bell peppers and a bunch of parsley were keeping each other company in the vegetable drawer. While I was wondering how to make the most of what was available, I found two slender carrots and a lemon hidden in a corner of the drawer. I was hoping to come up with something that would satisfy my appetite. A look in the pantry to find some bulgur and a can of garbanzo beans completed the recipe — a well balanced meal of vegetables, whole grains, and protein. It seemed like another victory over a culinary battle!

Simple Sustenance: Lemon Thyme-Flavored Spaghetti Squash with Green Olives

Published by Esha-Chhabra + Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Permalink 0

by Renu Chhabra

“I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.” Madame Benoît

Flavor Combination Discoveries

Around this time of the year, our love for squash grows. I’m part of that “our.” I love their oddball shapes, different textures, and sweet flesh. I always find myself admiring them in grocery stores, as if they were art objects, each one unique in its color and shape. And since coming to the States, I have discovered more “oddballs” than ever to fall in love with. What can I say? They intrigue me. In fact, I’ve been writing about them consistently on my new blog, Simple Sustenance for Us, with great enthusiasm.

Thankful Moments — Honey-Ginger and Pomegranate Salad

Published by Esha-Chhabra + Tuesday, November 29, 2011 Permalink 0

by Renu Chhabra

“For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last Sunday, I went for a walk with my daughter in our neighborhood. It was a lovely autumn afternoon, and sunshine was gracing the landscape with its golden rays. Everywhere we looked, the view was stunning with trees dressed in red, green and golden tones. “Look at that red tree – it looks so majestic. Let’s take a picture of it,” I said. “And what about that wall covered with golden leaves? That’s very charming too,” she pointed out with excitement. Enjoying these simple moments was worth treasuring. We clicked several pictures of this beautiful scenery.

Simple Sustenance: Cumin-Lime Pumpkin Mash

Published by Esha-Chhabra + Thursday, November 17, 2011 Permalink 0

by Renu Chhabra

Savoring Fall

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.–George Eliot

Fall is a perhaps the earthiest of seasons. Crisp air, fallen leaves, and trees changing hues make it a season to savor before winter sets in. For me, it’s a pleasant reminder of the holiday season ahead. But most of all, fall brings us an abundance of harvest.

The first thing that comes to my mind is pumpkin – the good old orange ball, greeting us at farm stands and grocery stores. Big, small, mini, round, and some not so round — they all whisper, “Take me home with you!” How can you ignore these scrumptious beauties? Even though they are not the easiest of fruits to peel, if you can win that battle, there are endless ways to enjoy them, sweet or savory.