I have bought a couple of indian cookbooks over the years, but I've found that the recipes often call for things that aren't available or contain steps like "take the unpasteurized milk and make your own raw cheese and hang for a week to dry." or even just, "now simmer for 24 hours." Gee, thanks, I'll get right on that. I have devised several easier-to-make versions of some Indian dishes, the one that has turned out the best is a version of what restaurants call either Saag Paneer or Palak Paneer. The recipe is: 16oz frozen chopped spinach 1 cup water 4 tbsp Pataks mild curry paste 1 stick butter 1 tbsp mint chutney 1 tbsp sweet mango chutney 4 oz feta cheese (cut into ½ inch cubes) Put spinach and water in large pot, heat uncovered over medium heat until spinach is thawed and simmering. Add butter, curry paste, mint chutney and mango chutney, continue to stir and simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat, add feta cubes, stir thoroughly and serve with basmati rice and/or lightly toasted pita bread. Also when I make basmati rice to accompany Indian food I'll usually add about 1 tsp of tumeric, 8 to 10 whole cloves and a bay leaf to the 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water

I tried the Chicken Tikka Masala on my last trip and have to say it was pretty darned tasty! I will be stocking up on that next trip. The pumpkin ice cream is really, really good but we bought the decadent chocolate ice cream....*swoon*. I enjoy a lot of their seasonal products and wish some of them would be regulars (that's right....put those truffles out all year round!!). My list of likes at TJ is pretty long (and some of it is on that Chowhound link). I only buy their frozen veggies any more (mostly haricort verts, roasted sweet corn, brocolli) and various frozen stuff (mushroom turnovers!!). There are definately some misses as well but I won't go into that here. Tastes are very personal.

Good question sayhellonow. Funny how we try to save on somethings, and then just blow it on something else. I try to save on gas for my car, but then drive all over town going to nurseries for plants! I also have energy saving light bulbs in the house, but then water my lawn and plants! I love having my coffee early in the morning, two cups, then I am set for the day. My regular coffee is a mixture of Yuban and a bit of Vanilla Nut. Every once in a long while when I meet a friend for lunch or dinner, I might have a cup of coffee, but only if I know for sure it is good coffee.

Amck, I drink PG Tips decaf. I just opened a box of Typhoo decaf. Both are very good. My only complaint, and that's too strong a word, is the bags don't have strings so I have to dirty a spoon just to fish it out of the mug. I don't use milk or sugar or squeeze the bag so I don't need a spoon. I've been keeping a box of frilly topped toothpicks next to the teas so I can use one of those instead of a spoon. Somehow, in my odd logic, I don't mind throwing out a little toothpick but I do mind dirtying a spoon. Last December, I really liked Candy Cane Lane by Celestial Seasonings. I had one last week and it wasn't as good as I remembered it. Thinking maybe it was just too early for that taste, I bought a box of something pumpkin spiced. The sample was a caffeinated tea and was very good but I have to severely limit by caffeine. I threw caution to the wind a bought a decaf without sampling it. It's fine, not quite as good as the sample, and I'll use up the box but I wouldn't buy it again. Also last year, I had a very nice chai, one that didn't have the medicinal taste so many have. When I returned to buy another box, they didn't carry that flavor anymore! Eighteen other flavors by that brand but not that particular chai. I'm hoping it's a winter flavor that they'll release again. I'm going to add it to my shopping list right now, I hope I recognize the box. I already have a shelf full of 'meh, okay but not exactly right' boxes.