South Indian Spicy Nut and Puffed Rice Snack (Chudwa)

Chudwa, sometimes called chevda, is for South Indians what trail-mix is for us. It's a blend of nuts, dried fruit, puffed rice and various typical Indian spices.

It's very easy to make, but like eggrolls, it's time-consuming. It's a big production. One of my sisters-in-law is in charge of assembling the ingredients. My mother-in-law is the one frying the puffed rice flakes. One other sister's job is to sprinkle the spices as soon as the ingredients are out of the oil. My job is to toss the whole thing and, last but not least, the other 2 younger sisters' job is to taste.  It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

Vegetarian Thai Tofu Satay with Peanut Sauce

In my quest to "share" as many meals as possible with my husband, I always try to make a vegetarian equivalent for him. I've done this successfully several times, like when I made curry tofu pot pie. Today, I created a veggie meal inspired by chicken satay.

The texture is pretty similar to that of the original, and the sauce is just as flavorful. Unseasoned tofu is a very bland ingredient, but it acts as a sponge and absorbs all the strong flavors of the sauce. If you've been scared to try tofu, this is a great place to start.