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Hi, where can I get authentic Sri Lanka spices/foods in the city? I have heard Staten Island has a knot of Sri Lankan grocery stores, has anyone tried them? Kalustyans has nothing hoppers and podi related. Many thanks.

well, i was all set to try faith's chorizo and chickpea stew recipe, but i'm in tennessee, and it's 70 degrees and sunny out.

so what else could i do with this chorizo i have?

Liz,

If I were anywhere near 70 degree weather I’d drag out the grill and barby the bangers. I’d grill the chorizo together with halved fennel bulbs. Then i'd slice em all up and combine into a salad dressed with a little tahini.

Anyone have advice for someone just diagnosed with food allergies? Just found out I shouldn't eat eggs, dairy (cow only, apparently goat is ok), and baker's yeast (as opposed to brewer's yeast). Any suggestions for cookbooks or websites maybe? I love to cook, I'm just a little numb with the diagnosis and having to toss out so much of my kitchen staples (luckily friends at work were happy to take them).

Thanks!

libby, i bet there are some great resources in the vegan community for egg and dairy substitutes. i like soy milk, and you can replace butter with other greases like oil, earth balance spread, bacon drippings, etc.

i don't regularly use any egg substitutes, but i think you can buy it at a vegan/health food grocery market. a google search for "egg substitute" would probably turn up some good options.

i don't know of any yeast substitutes, but there are always quickbreads and muffins!

Thanks, Liz! I picked up the organic earth balabce spread at Trader Joe's & it's pretty good! I live in Seattle and am already realizing a lot of places to buy these new choices in food. I'm hoping the egg replacers I locate will provide the same binding properties as regular eggs - we'll see!

oh Liz, you should definitely try this salad: very easy and great for sunny days. Slice up the chorizo (about 1/2 in.) and brown it in a pan (and you can drain off a lot of fat, bonus). Take a can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed) and mix with the chorizo, a thinly sliced red onion, chopped cilantro, and balsamic vinegar to taste. Salt, pepper, fantastic. If you want, you can toss in some olive oil, but the chorizo is plenty rich.

Recipe actually comes from a deli I used to work at--this was one of my favorites. I could eat some right now.

i've just gone off dairy myself; there's tons of great vegan recipes out there.

(you should also find out if nutritional yeast is okay for you or not; vegan cooking uses it a little)

my new cookbooks that I love:

vegan with a vengeance
vegan cupcakes take over the world
real food daily
vegan lunch box

plus i have some vegan recipes on my new blog.

you're not the only one out there! (i'm lactose intolerant)

Libby - I don't think you have to "go vegan"

I've found that mediterranean cooking involves little dairy or eggs. (other than those delectable cheese plates that they often have at restaurants). I'd get yourself a great spanish/greek/italian cookbook.

Japanese, Thai, and Chinese food are also quite low in dairy and egg (which is easily substituted in all but chawan mushi and egg drop soup).

renata: that sounds PERFECT!

Glad to hear--hope you like it.

Hello, all - I've got some ground lamb to cook up tonight, and I have a few thoughts about how to prepare it, but I'd love any input you may have. Care to share your favorite ground lamb recipe? Many thanks!