Recipes by Aruni J

I'm not a good cook and I don't have much time to cook anyway, which is usually a bad combination. But here are a couple of recipes that are difficult to ruin. Aruni.

Cucumber-Yoghurt Soup

Great on a summer's day.

1 cup green seedless grapes
3 cups diced cucumber, seeded and skinned
4 scallions, minced (Editor's note: I think this is foreign for "spring onions")
1 small red onion, diced finely
1/4 cup fresh dill
2 tbsp tarragon
1 clove garlic
1 1/2 cups plain yoghurt
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp lime juice
Salt and pepper

Blend all ingredients except the red onion together in a food processor or blender. Season and stir in the onion asa garnish. Chill for about 6 or 7 hours. Correct the seasoning, then serve.

Mango Spinach Salad

6 cups torn fresh spinach
3 cups torn Boston lettuce
1 cup cubed mangoes
1 tbsp poppy seeds
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tsp coarse-grain mustard
pinch of ground black pepper
pinch of ground cardamom

Self-evident: combine spinach, lettuce, mangoes, poppy seeds. In a separate bowl, mix balsamic vinegar, rice wine vinegar, honey, mustard, pepper, cardamom. Pour over salad and toss to mix well. Garnish with avacado slices (mmmm). You can try strawberries if you can't get a mango.

Sweet and Sour Tofu

12oz firm tofu, squeezed dry b/w paper towels
1 tbsp peanut oil
1 head broccoli, separated into florets
2 cups sliced yellow peppers
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp teriyaki sauce
1 1/2 tsp honey
1 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp water
1 1/2 cups canned pineapple chunks, drained

Cut tofu into 1 inch cubes; warm oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add tofu, cook for 5 minutes untilk golden. Remove from pan.

Add broccoli, peppers and garlic to the pan. Stir-fry until tender (5+ minutes). Stir in the stock , tomato paste, vinegar, teriyaki sauce, and honey.

In a cup, dissolve corn starch n water. Add to the pan, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in tofu and pineapple. Cook whilst stirring (to coat the tofu evenly) for 5 minutes.

Lyrics:

It's the kitchen that frightens me most
My mistakes, and your ghost hanging around
Don't think I don't know what you're doing
Let's drink to all the recipes I've ever ruined
(the Lucksmiths)