end of the garden chole, hot from the stove
Once more I am lagging in my blogging and blog-hopping.
It comes as something of a shock, how much I miss it.
I miss “making the rounds” and I can see by the few glances I have had over the past day or two, that I am missing ALOT of treats. I also miss the comment conversations; hopefully I will be back to something more like a routine soon.
When I pass quickly by your kitchens, I feel rather wistful; as if I have waved in passing to so many dear friends I can’t wait to meet up with again 
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End of the garden chole. Is it chole? Is it channa masala? I don’t know what its name should be, I just know it was delicious. I had a mess of late-season tomatoes, ripe and semi-ripe, and a couple of precious brinjals looking for attention. For those who didn’t know my nana, “a mess” was her phrase for a bunch of veggies from one picking.
We never cooked a pot of anything, but we cooked “a mess” of swiss chard quite often when I was growing up. Nana would often pick “a mess” of rhubarb for sauce. Isn’t it amazing how something so simple as a word or two connects us to our yesteryears.
a “mess” of juicy tomatoes and fresh brinjals, from the end of the garden
This recipe is mostly from Sri’s Chole Masala.
Wherever you are, Sri dear, I wish to thank you!
(Fairly) Quick End of the Garden Chole
ingredients flexible and approximate — adjust to taste
note: I used semi-ripe green tomatoes and they provided the tartness in this dish. Lacking these, you can use dried amla as Sri calls for…
For seasoning:
1 tsp canola oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 small red onion, chopped
1 healthy TB ginger-garlic paste
2-3 green chiles, slit
1/2 – 1 tsp kashmiri chile powder
pinch turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 TB cumin-coriander powder
(yes, I love cumin)
pinch black salt (optional — I liked it the first time, omitted it the second)
In a small frying pan, heat oil and sizzle the cumin seeds. Add chopped onion, fry until golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chiles, saute a few minutes then add powders and 1-2 TB water to prevent burning the spices. Stir well to blend — when fragrant, remove from heat and set aside.
For the chole:
2 small cans chole/chickpeas, rinsed well and drained
(or soak 3/4 cup dried the night before)
1/2 tsp turmeric
few drops of canola oil
Pressure cook until soft but not mushy. Let pressure drop under cold running water. When safe, open the pan and add the seasoning above along with the following veggies, cut into small dice:
2 juicy ripe red tomatoes
2 semi-ripe green tomatoes
2 long brinjals
Stir everything together along with 1 c water. Seal the pressure cooker again and cook 10-15 minutes (I don’t know how many whistles ’cause I am still in search of a whistling pressure cooker here in Boston area — if anyone knows where I can get one… please do tell! )
Let the pressure fall on its own this time, and when safe to open, add a lump of jaggery and mix well to dissolve.
Add salt to taste and serve hot. Better yet, serve this the next day for even more delightful flavor. Actually the third day was the BEST. I don’t always pay attention to letting a dish sit for a day or two for improved flavor — now I shall.
end of the garden chole — doesn’t it look better the third day? 
Lovely and talented Richa of the delicious As Dear As Salt has tagged me for this Fantastic Four Meme. Little did she know I was just in the mood to yak on and on about myself today! Thanks Richa
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Four places I’ve lived:
Cape Cod
Greater Boston
New York state
Michigan
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Four jobs I’ve had:
Domestic Engineer — when I was a younger stay-at-home mom, I took college classes part time. On the first evening of any given class, the professor would inevitably say, “Let’s go around the room. Introduce yourselves and tell us what you do for a living”. I was a little embarassed to be a stay-at-home mom without a career, amongst all the professionals. I always said I was a domestic engineer. That made them stop and think
Nurse — well, not in the professional sense! But I can draw up meds and give shots without a second thought, this from the person who used to be sick at the sight of a hospital. I can also calm the school nurse when my daughter is in her office with a high or low blood sugar! I wish I could cure those around me and quit this particular job.
Restaurant manager — the job I had before I quit school and had kids.
Travel consultant — what I do in real life
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Four favorite places I’ve holidayed:
Upper peninsula of Michigan
Lower peninsula of Michigan
Colorado Rockies
Did I mention Michigan?
I’ve been to numerous Caribbean islands, Canada, Chicago, DC, New Orleans, NYC etc., and many places in between… but never overseas.
East or west home is best… Michigan for me any chance I get!
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Four favorite foods —
I second Richa here, only four, not fair!!!
Sambhar made with ISG’s magic sambhar powder — any variety you can think of. Right now mine is simmering on the stove, with sambhar onions as the featured veggie. Thanks once more, ISG!
Genuine U.P. pasties (say pass-tees).
I have been fortunate to make them with the expert!
My mom’s apple crisp — none of that healthy oatmeal topping, oh no. Pure butter, sugar and tiny bit of flour. Heaven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
My uncle’s quahog chowder (or chowdah, as we say here in New England). Nobody can make as he did. I miss the chowder on July 4, but I miss him more
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Four places I would rather be — other than right here with my kids, they are as follows:
canoeing: paddling outside traverse city
watching birds: spectacular scarlet tanager,
preening springtime plumes in northern michigan
watching gulls and kittiwakes, swimming in vast Lake Superior
sitting on the Keweenaw Peninsula,
looking out on Lake Superior
In other words, home in Michigan!
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Four bloggers I would like to tag:
Forgive me here, as I have no idea who has already been tagged for this meme. If you’ve already played or don’t care to, please don’t worry! All in fun
Shammi of Food In The Main
Latha of Masala Magic
(yes girls, your friendship starter IS forthcoming!)
Nabeela of Trial and Error — one of my first blog-friends
and since my meme was mostly about Michigan, my one-day will-be next-door neighbor from Wisconsin, Pel of Elaichi et Cetera
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And last but certainly not least, look how well FAHC has done — surpassed their “Subscribe to Smiles” goal long before the deadline! Thanks again to dedicated kind souls VKN and Indira, et al… I am humbled by your efforts on behalf of children in need and happy to have had the opportunity to take part.
