I like Indian food.

I have been in a food rut. Nothing excites me lately. I am never in the mood for anything. At lunch, I am bored with my choice of either salad or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and vegetable soup, but then can't figure out what else I would want. I have been reading a lot of food magazines and web sites, but none have motivated me to try something new. On the weekends, Dan and I usually go out to eat, and even coming up with a restaurant has become a chore.

My friend Anjali has talked about hosting an Indian food night for about a year. I don't really like Indian food. Any time I have had it, I found it too fragrant and saucy and thick. However, I was really excited about Anjali's Indian food night because it would be homemade and when it's authentic, that usually means it will be good. It was also a chance to catch up with my old-coworkers, Anjali, Kim, Elizabeth, and Dani, who I don't see so often anymore. Indian night kept getting scheduled and cancelled, but it finally happened this week.


Here's Anjali, the chef.


I don't have a picture of everything Anjali made, but here is some of it. White rice, chicken so tender it was falling off the bone, lentils in a lovely brown sauce, a vegetable casserole and a tomato and cucumber salad. Pitas and yogurt were served on the side. I loved everything and wanted all the recipes. It was just the flavor change I needed.


We all cleaned our plates that evening--even Dani. She doesn't usually like Indian either.

I am a convert.