Challenge Day 1 What's in my pantry?

It's freezing outside this morning! Beautiful sunshine but it's 6 degrees with a wind chill below zero. Brrrrr!! Don't like thinking about going out to muck stalls, so I'll think about something else for a little while....

I took another look at my pantry this morning so I can start thinking about a plan. Here is part of what I have to work with:

• several kinds of dried beans, mostly a cup or less of each
• dried soybeans (for making tofu)
• several cans of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
• box of quinoa
• a box of penne and chreese
• couple of cans of cooked beans - pinto and garbanzos
• 2 cans vegetarian baked beans
• a cup or so of red lentils
• about a cup of french lentils
  
• 1/2 bag of brown basmati rice
• bag of white basmati
• small amount of TVP
• a few soy curls
• box of dosai mix
• box of sambhar mix
• several bags of whole wheat pasta
• box of pad thai noodles
• 2 cans coconut milk
• 1/2 bag of white whole wheat flour and 1/2 bag of all-purpose flour
• a variety of oils, spices, and condiments
• vital gluten
• nutritional yeast
• 5 lb russet potatoes

I'm thinking Indian today, so maybe the sambhar and dosai. They're easy and the sambhar is spicy and yummy for such a cold day. I buy these mixes at the local international market and try to keep a couple on hand for nights when I need something quick. And I have some leftover samosa filling that will be tasty with the dosai. If you have never made dosai before, leave yourself some extra time. You have to start with a cold pan for each pancake.

The dosai turned out crispy and delicious.



For the sambhar, I followed the directions on the package with a few exceptions. After adding water to the mix, I added the following:

• 14.5 oz can of crushed tomatoes
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp ground mustard
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 3 smallish potatoes, cut into small cubes
• 3 tbs french lentils

The end result was spicy and sour and a bit sweet. And completely delicious!