Baby Potatoes in a tomato sauce

Whatever my parents did or did not do, they did do one thing definitely right. Never was I made to feel in words or action that there was something I could not do because I was female. DH of course has his opinions on many other things they did wrong but we won't go there now. They pretty much let me do most reasonable things I wanted to. I know for sure not everyone was that lucky. A few incidents now and then will pique my interest in the subject and make me think of my upbringing.

When Larry Summers made the infamous speech about the inability of women to excel in science and math, naturally I was turned off but started to wonder if there was any truth to it. If indeed this was probably true, a smart thing for me would be not to drive DDs to excel in math or science. Why fight something that was never intended to be. Often repeated statements like "she reads and writes so well, but of course she is a girl, they are very good at that" and "he is so quick in math and can fix anything, see he is a boy" while stereotypical have programmed parents to parent a girl and boy in certain ways, though I would suspect mostly unconsciously. I have no way of testing for myself I only have 2 of the same kind but those who have a boy and girl may be you can do a test on yourself to find out.

When I came across a review for the book Pink Brain Blue Brain by Lise Eliot in Newsweek I was intrigued enough to buy it. It is not a fun book to read but was well worth the time spent. It offers enough scientific basis to dispel myths about the innate differences between boys and girls. Nurture more than nature plays a very important role in determining outcomes. The male and female brain do not come programmed with any predetermined behaviors. Most of it learned. We all know that culture, family circumstances, expectations all play a role in determining what becomes of those pink and blue babies. Also it is easy to forget the difficulties that parents whose babies do not fall into these neat stereotypes face everyday.

Parents would do better by encouraging pink babies to excel in math and science, be active and do intricate fixing with their hands. They sure can do it. As for the blue babies reading and talking to them as much as possible while encouraging them to read, write and draw will do a world of good. These sure are skills that they can learn and excel just like their pink counterparts have learned to do skillfully.

Moving on to the recipe,

If I come across a recipe with potatoes I never bookmark them, I try them out almost immediately and that is what I did when I saw this recipe. Looked fantastic and as for the recipe nothing can be simpler than that.

Did you know that star anise is the main ingredient in tamiflu? My mother gave me a recipe and mentioned the fact. The last few days the fever has been doing the rounds in our house. So the addition of star anise in this recipe is because of that but it did give a very pleasant aroma and added to the taste.

Baby Potatoes in tomato sauce
Ingredients
1. 15 baby potatoes scrubbed cleaned, boiled, peeled, pricked with a fork and set aside
2. 3 roma tomatoes chopped roughly - 1 1/2 cups worth
3. 2 tbsp red onion chopped fine
4. 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
5. seasonings : cumin seeds, curry leaves
6. 1/2 tamarind pulp from a small lime sized tamarind
7. 4 garlic cloves toasted slightly in oil
8. salt to taste
9. 2 tsp oil

To blend
1. 1/2 tbsp coriander seeds
2. 2 tsp cumin seeds
3. 1 star anise

Powder the above first and then add the toasted garlic cloves and chopped tomatoes and make a smooth paste.

Method
1. In a wide mouthed pan heat oil and add the cumin seeds and curry leaves
2. Add the onion and saute till they are brown.
3. Add the tomato mixture, tamarind pulp and let it cook for 10-15 minutes till the raw smell from the tomatoes is completely gone.
4. Now add the potatoes, salt and coriander leaves and mix so they are well coated and let cook for 5-8 minutes.

Serve with chapatis or rice.