Are you in the mood for some comfort food? Of course you are; it's January. In the interest of resolutions and energy, you might, however, be leaning towards something with vegetables — perhaps even a vegetarian dish? I have a proposal for you: Fresh baby spinach and chickpeas seared with ginger, garlic, and onion in a creamy coconut milk sauce, finished off with a healthy dash of lemon.

But it doesn't stop there. No — this spicy, tangy dish of greens was designed to be served over a sweet potato. Want to see how it looks when all put together? Here you go... More

We just whipped up a batch of chai concentrate intended for holiday gifts. Only problem: the mix is so delectable that we want to devour it ourselves! Fortunately, it is very easy to make. More

Garam masala is a classic spice mix in Indian cooking, but this mix of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and other spices also includes the warm and cozy flavors we usually associate with the holidays. This year I've pushed aside my bottle of pumpkin pie spice and am experimenting with the comforting but slightly more exotic taste of garam masala. More

Okra is in abundance this time of year and we're often at a loss for what to do with all of it. There's only so much roasted, fried, and pickled okra a person can take. So what of the rest (short of giving it away)? Make Bharvaan Bhindi, an Indian dish of stuffed okra. More

One of my favorite ways to dress up vanilla ice cream is with a big spoonful of bright orange mango puree. Sold in big cans at Indian markets, the sweetened fruit sauce turns a simple scoop into a tropical sundae. More

We've all probably tried a mango lassi at our favorite Indian restaurant, but have you ever tasted a papaya lassi? Full of sweetness and tang, this dreamy drink will cool you off and transport you to the subcontinent. Acha! (Hindi for 'All right!'). More

Spicy green chili pickles. Mango pickles infused with fenugreek and cardamom. Bright yellow cauliflower pickles with turmeric. Indian achars are almost too good to be called condiments. More

Q: I'm throwing an India-themed party this summer. To keep the beverages simple, I plan to have nonalcoholic punch, wine, beer, and something alcoholic that can prepared in pitchers (so I don't get stuck mixing drinks all night).

Any ideas?

Sent by Rebecca More

Vikram Vij and his wife, Meeru Dhalwala, own maybe the most splendid Indian restaurant I've ever eaten at: Vij's, in Vancouver, BC. It has many unique facets: A women-only kitchen, run by Meeru; a warm, welcoming environment dim and flickering with candles, presided over by Vikram; an incredibly fragrant, fresh interpretation of Indian dishes that each take your breath away. These two passionate and ambitious restauranteurs also have a home life infused with the good food they share at their two restaurants. But until just a few years ago, they didn't have a proper dining room. The journey to creating a dining room, and cooking at home more often, is detailed in their new cookbook: Vij's at Home: Relax, Honey. More

Meatballs! At big dinner parties and potlucks, meatballs seem to cause a stampede like nothing else. They're crowd-friendly, kid-friendly — and so convenient. Many of you ask frequently about meals to make ahead and freeze, and honestly, meatballs are at the top of my list. These meatballs are my all-time favorite: Warmly spiced with garam masala, fragrant with onion, ginger, and garlic, and so tender and juicy. More