Nut and Raisin Protein Bliss Balls

If you're looking for nothing more than calories to start the day, then boxed breakfast cereals have just what you want, but maybe not a whole lot more except for the vitamins with which they're often fortified — many of these boxed cereals could just as well be stocked in the candy section. But if you're looking for a good morning helping of protein, fiber and essential minerals — the kinds of food values that give you long-lasting energy and health — then homemade nut, fruit and seed treats like these protein bliss balls are just as easy to grab for breakfasts or snacks, and taste better and more wholesome besides. Best of all, these raw nut and raisin bliss balls don't need any cooking and can be whipped up in just 15 minutes to make enough to keep you going for as many or more days than a box of cereal.

Black Chickpeas in a Tamarind Mustard Sauce

One of my go-to simple meals when I don't wish to spend much time thinking about what to make is chana masala, the classic Indian spiced chickpea and tomato curry that I've made and enjoyed probably hundreds of times over the years. This dish started out just with that idea, but after deciding to cook the curry with black chickpeas instead, I ended up creating something altogether different and wonderfully rich and robust after a little added thought.

Indian Rice with Roasted Pumpkin

This year I've been taking full advantage of the local pumpkin season to make nourishing and hearty bean and vegetable dishes. The sweet flavor of fresh cooked pumpkin is a treat on its own, and it adds wonderful depth and substance to soups, stews and curries — and, of course, there's no finer snack than fresh roasted pumpkin seeds as an additional bonus. In this recipe, tender pieces of fresh roasted pumpkin fill out a simple rice dish with fragrant Indian seasonings including panch phoran — Bengali five-spice — for an easy, attractive and delicious side.