What’s In a Recipe?
I often think about how lucky some people are to have been brought up in, say, a strictly Italian family, where they had heaps of recipes passed down from generation to generation. Where they can look back at their great-grandparents and admire how they made pasta from scratch—using the same recipe still being followed today. Me? I wasn’t brought up in that kind of environment. I’m not saying I don’t have any recipes passed down from the generations before me, but the ones I do have are few and far between.
When I first met Dil, I was so impressed that his parents made traditional Indian recipes I could barely pronounce. Paneer Tikka Masala, Chole Bhature, Aloo Gobi, chaats and samosas—pardon my French, but what the actual fuck are those?! Of course, I fell in love with all of them, but I was surprised to feel a sense of longing for what they had that I lacked—a rich and deep culture reflected in everything from their food to their home decor, traditions, and religion. I mean, I did have my Irish Catholic upbringing, Christmas traditions, and a love for potatoes in any form, so I had something, but it still felt like it wasn’t enough.
It wasn’t until I immersed myself in learning to cook Indian dishes that I realized I didn’t need a deep connection to my past to bring something special to the table. Where my in-laws have slow-cooked Palak Paneer, I have Creamed Potatoes. Where they serve rich, delicious Kheer, I have my Grama’s sinfully good Carrot Cake. Over time, I came to realize that a recipe is simply a vehicle to bring people together and create lasting memories. That’s when I had, as Oprah would say, an “Aha!” moment.
Years from now, my children, grandchildren, and generations beyond will look back at the recipes I’ve created and have a beautiful collection of diverse dishes to try. Sure, they won’t all be Indian or Irish, Italian or French, but they’ll come directly from my kitchen to theirs. More importantly, I hope my recipes help them create memories with the people around their table. That’s what a great recipe does—it’s the gift that keeps on giving. And while I’m sitting up on a cloud, sipping an ice-cold cocktail with no chance of a hangover (heaven must be that good!), I’ll look down on them and think, "What a damn good choice it was to serve my Baked Polenta with Lemon and Parmesan alongside my Slow Roasted Salmon with Herby Chimichurri." And I promise you, if they’re not enjoying My Favorite Martini beforehand, you better believe I’ll be haunting their asses!
Cheers to recipes old and new!
grama’s famous carrot cake
My Grama, one of the greatest loves of my life, made this cake for countless family gatherings. It’s one of those recipes that instantly transports me back to those cherished moments. I believe she used to serve it with frosting, though I haven’t been able to track down her exact recipe. My recommendation? Pair it with a rich, buttery buttercream. And of course, no dessert would ever meet my Grama’s standards without a generous scoop of ice cream on the side!
slow roasted salmon with herby chimichurri
I absolutely love this recipe! It’s incredibly easy to make and endlessly versatile. You can experiment with any seasonings you like, but the combination of fresh herbs with the rich flavor of the salmon is simply outstanding!
baked polenta with lemon and parmesan
I find myself coming back to this recipe again and again! It’s so easy to make and always shines as a standout side dish. With its richness, I love pairing it with a light piece of fish and a simple salad for a perfectly balanced meal.
rani’s spicy apple and mint chutney
What I love about Indian food is the incredible variety of flavors packed into a single dish, and this chutney is no exception! Whenever I visit Dil’s family, his parents always cook traditional Indian meals—some of which need a bright, zesty sauce to balance the richness of the other dishes. This chutney was the very first thing I asked Dil’s mom, Rani, to teach me. It’s unbelievably simple and takes less than 10 minutes to make. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll want to put it on everything!
