| Hi there! Welcome to the refreshed format of the Kitchenpostcards Newsletter. This month we talk about Chai! We have moved to Substack and hope that you will continue to enjoy our monthly newsletter in its new avatar. And, if you enjoy reading it, please share the Kitchenpostcards Newsletter with others. It would mean the world to us. – Kanika and Sakshi |
The new year always begins with the lingering high of NYE celebrations until January starts to feel endless and rolls into February, and before you know March is here. In those long wintry days, at least in the northern hemisphere, sometimes the thought of cooking yet another meal can be both daunting and exhausting. That is when having a few tricks in your back pocket for quick and easy comfort meals goes a long way.
Slipping into cozy with ease
All this winter, from December 2023 until recently, I have craved the sense of “hygge” but without the effort that might go into creating a cozy experience. Yes, I can wrap myself in throws and make cups of hot cocoa and tea, but I haven’t always found the same motivation to cook a full meal. On those nights the freezer serves as a good stand in, invariably providing at least one ingredient – fully or partially cooked – that I can use as a mainstay to anchor a meal.
Quick meals from the freezer
More often than not that one ingredient has been either Trader Joe’s chicken or pork gyoza potstickers. Funnily, the packaging of these freezer aisle staples carry a further description emphasizing they are dumplings in case that wasn’t clear already. This is a common aspect of cross cultural food nomenclaure: they go the extra mile to clarify what an item is. Such as the now well known chai tea latte courtesy of Starbucks which essentially means tea-tea latte. No such thing exists! Anyway, I digress.
Since mid January I’ve used my stock of these dumplings, alternating between pork and chicken, at least once a week to make a large leafy salad with a spicy dressing incorporating another item that’s become a staple in my fridge.
