Food For Thought

I intentionally used a larger than normal photograph for this post, because I wanted you all to be able to see just how beautiful these spices, herbs, roots, nuts, vegetables and beans look. The ambiance of this marketplace, from its rug-covered earthen floor, to the atrium lighting by the windows overhead, caught and held my attention. I am always on the lookout for beautiful scenery, especially when it includes food.

Now I myself have never been to a market such as this one. I do recall my late Father carrying me through a marketplace in New York City, but I was four years old. Mostly I remember our walking through different sections, and that there was sawdust covering all of the floor area, except that sometimes there would be hard dark brown earth or even concrete. I remember the slice of pizza and Pepsi Cola, which I got to share. Mm it was the best pizza. Do you have memories of when you were a child and got to go to market, too?

If I were able to transport myself to this particular market I would be thrilled. Imagine the heady aromas and the feel of those mounds of colorful foods. I can actually close my eyes and touch in my mind the smoothness of the chestnuts and the rough bark of the cinnamon sticks. Food does that to me. It takes me away from the humdrum day and charges my imagination with delightful dishes I can prepare for my loved ones. Does the idea of different foods from around the world give you pause to dream about cooking or baking?

Here at Half Hour Meals, we are very fortunate to have: blogger, chefs, home-cooks and authors who have shared recipes from their homelands. If you searched through the thousands available here, it would take you a while to decide which to choose. I have tried many of them already and the great thing is it provides me with relief from the sameness of my everyday routine. Half Hour Meals members are really good at what they do. So many times you get to peek into their worlds, their kitchens. Some of them travel and write about what they found to bring back and try at home. They’ve learned to bake a deep-dish pie, or use a particular barbecue sauce or dry rub for  meat dishes. It is a fine place to pick and choose your next meal to prepare and wow your family.

Since I do not know much about Indian Cuisine, I intend to visit the Indian Food Market in my area and try some spices I have seen in many recipes here. I think I shall be opening up a whole new world of flavor and by the time November and December roll around I will be proficient enough to spice it up for the holidays. This could be a fun thing for you to try, too. Then we could share what we learned and link to the member recipe here on Half Hour Meals. Send me a shout to let me know if you, too, would like to spice it up for the holidays and try something new. Look for an authentic Indian store near you.