I’ve been a sorry excuse for a half-Indian woman because I just started making dal for the first time in my many years on this earth. I’ve eaten a lot of dal, but it’s just not something I’ve ever tried to cook until this year.

"This is you, in a recipe!"

That's what my friend Lauren said when I told her about this idea to infuse the most old-school Minnesotan of recipes (hotdish, i.e. casserole) with Indian flavors. And she's right.

It me.

I don’t want to hype this recipe up too much, but you’re going to wanna make it… like, today. And tomorrow. And the next day for three meals a day forever and ever.

I’d like to talk about the Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi. Yes, THE cauliflower gnocchi.

Thank you for joining me here today—I’m back again with another episode of crispy chicken thighs (this one inspired by anchovy lobbyist Alison Roman).

The meals I make most often are usually the ones I forget to document for Worthy Pause. I’ve made this sausage skillet thing many, many times, but it never even crossed my mind that it might be a good recipe to share here until the other day when my daughter was scarfing it down like she hadn’t eaten all day (note: she hadn’t eaten all day because she had refused all the other foods).

Comfort food, Indian-style.

These kinds of easy grilling meals are my favorite because I never do the actual grilling. Seriously, I will prep all the food and then just hand it over to whoever is within arm’s reach at the time and be like, “Good luck and godspeed.”

Kerala Fried Chicken, inspired by Asha Gomez and the fried chicken episode of Ugly Delicious—well-worth the terror that is deep-frying at home!

How did the name of this recipe get so long? All those words seemed relevant at the time... and still do, I guess. The recipe itself, however, is extremely short. It's only two steps and three ingredients—can't beat that. 

A nod to my newly discovered viking great-grandparent.

It's for when you want buffalo chicken wings, but in a socially-acceptable-at-lunch sort of way.