Cambridge: Helmand

Location:

143 1st Street Cambridge, MA

Finally! Something tasty in this city!

I've never tried Afghan cuisine, but it certainly has very distinct flavours. Mint to coriander to pumpkin to cardamom. Curries and rices but crispy pastries and soft breads.

We ordered Bowlawni, the pastries filled with veggies, the Qoremay Ma-He, sea bass that's pan fried and sauteed, and served with rice. Absolutely delicious! The vegetarian special which includes baked pumpkin (out of this world!) eggplant, spinach, okra, and rice.

The cardamom cake (called "our cake" on their menu) is a must try. I make a cardamom cake, too, although this was much more moist and soaked in the essence. Mine is more of a tea cake (also a must try!)

It was also fairly busy even on a weeknight, but the service was still attentive and beyond wonderful.

I can't recommend this place more!

Recipe: Cake Pops

My sister and I (more her) made cake pops recently for a cookie swap we were invited to. She was telling me about these cake pop machines you can buy, but you really don't have to

if you can do the following.

My sister made the mix, I rolled the balls and stuck the sticks into them, sis dipped and dunked.

Et Voila! They were a huge hit at the cookie swap! (My sis also made Snowball cookies, recipe to come, soon!)

You can coat them however you like, which would make them wonderful little Holiday presents.

Recipe: Cardamom Cake

This is one of my favourite cake recipes handed down to me from my Mother.

It's the Elachi (Cardamom) cake...a spongy cake that's great for tea parties or rainy days.

Ingredients:

2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Tsp Cardamom crushed
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg crushed
1/4 Tsp Salt
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Butter (softened)
4 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla Essence
1 Cup Milk

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees F.

I like to use fresh nutmeg and cardamom pods and crush them instead of powders which I don't find as aromatic. Remove the shells of the nutmeg and cardamom and crush into a powder.

Combine the softened butter and sugar together in a big bowl. Add eggs and blend together.

Combine the flour with the crushed cardamon, nutmeg, salt and baking powder together in separate bowl.

Pour the milk and flour into the butter/sugar mixture and blend until smooth.

Grease and lightly flour a loaf pan and pour the batter (should be smooth and creamy).

Bake for 1 hour at 350F

Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar if desired.

Serve with piping hot chai (tea)!