Avoid the Nightmare Remodel

Kathy's Remodeling Blog (formerly the LA Times' Pardon Our Dust) has an article on The Nightmare Remodel: How it goes wrong and how to make it go right that every homeowner who is contemplating a remodel should read.

Comments by readers there (including me) are also insightful.

Peggy

Pineapple Rasam

Being a pineapple lover, I wonder how I missed making this rasam all these days. I took the recipe from Chithra Viswanathan's page. It was very delicious. Here is the recipe..

Ingredients:
Finely chopped pineapple-1/2 cup
Tomatoes-2
Green chilli-1
Cooked thur dal-2 tbsp
Rasam powder-1.5-2 tsp(depending on how spicy your powder is)
Hing-a pinch
Salt
Curry leaves-a few
Coriander leaves-for garnishing
Lime juice- from 1 or 2 limes(depending on sourness)
To tamper:
Ghee-1 tsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Jeera-1/2 tsp

To decorate-extra pineapple pieces

Method:
Cook together tomatoes, pineapple pieces, a few coriander leaves, curry leaves with 1/2 cup water till they turn soft(6-7 min) and blend the mixture using a hand blender to a smooth paste.
To this add green chilli, rasam powder, salt, hing and cooked dal mixed with 3 cups of water.
Boil the mixture on medium heat till the raw smell of rasam powder goes off(15 min).
Switch off the gas, tamper and add lime juice.
Top with finely chopped coriander leaves & pineapple pieces.

NPR's Susan Stamberg Hosts The Kitchen Sisters in Washington, D.C.

NPR's Susan Stamberg will be interviewing The Kitchen Sisters on stage tonight at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. for a night of radio, readings, and Hidden Kitchen conversation.