Peanut Stew

adapted from : http://theveganstoner.blogspot.com/2011/07/peanut-stew.html#comment-form

1 small onion or 1/2 large onion
1 can crushed or stewed tomatoes
1/2 can garbanzo beans
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 potato
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp minced/crushed garlic

Peel and chop the potato and microwave for at least 3 minutes (4-5 probably better). Chop onion and cook in a medium sauce pan for a few minutes. Add crushed garlic and sautee for a minute or two longer. Add the tomatoes, peanut butter, and half can of garbanzo beans. Add potato and thyme. Bring to a boil then turn heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

verdict: pretty good. I only microwaved the potato for 3 minutes and ended up having to simmer for at least 25 minutes because it wasn't cooked. So I would microwave the potato longer next time.

note: I ended up buying stewed tomatoes, and had to add it after the onion but before everything else and mashed it since it had whole tomatoes. I would recommend getting crushed tomatoes.

Chana Masala

http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/02/chana-masala/

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 medium onions, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 fresh, hot green chili pepper, minced (I used a jalapeno)
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (I used a quarter of this because my cayenne is extremely hot)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and ground (I left them whole)
1 tablespoon amchoor powder (see note)
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon garam masala
2 cups tomatoes, chopped small or 1 15-ounce can of whole tomatoes with their juices, chopped small
2/3 cup water
4 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 lemon (juiced) (see note; I used a whole lemon to swap for the amchoor powder)


Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onion, garlic, ginger and pepper and sauté over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes. Turn heat down to medium-low and add the coriander, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, cumin seeds, amchoor (if using it), paprika and garam masala. Cook onion mixture with spiced for a minute or two, then add the tomatoes and any accumulated juices, scraping up any bits that have stuck to the pan. Add the water and chickpeas. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, then stir in salt and lemon juice.


Eat up or put a lid on it and reheat it when needed. Curries such as this reheat very well, later or or in the days that follow, should it last that long.


verdict:
Came out very well. Can't really complain about anything. Could probably have added a little more cayenne as it had only a tiny kick to it.