"Food for the modern cook" and memories of a grand occasion

We have a cookbook in our shelves that is full of turned pages, printouts, food stains, etc. You know it's a good one. I reached for it today, as I've been feeling a little uninspired lately, even amidst the seasonal abundance of lovely food in our fridge. The name of the book is New Wok: simple stylish food for the modern cook, by Sunil Vijayakar, and it is one of the best things we have ever purchased. It appears to be out of print, but there seem to be several used options on Amazon. The recipes are Chinese, Indian, Southeast Asian, and they are incredibly creative and flavorful. The best part of opening this book today was the menu I found from a holiday party we hosted back in 2005. It has been safely tucked away here, even after we've revisited the book many times since. Many of the recipes in this book greatly inspired one of the most exciting food parties we've ever had. And my dear husband was the grand cook for it all.

As I read over the list of what Nalin cooked that night — papaya salad, okra-coconut stir fry, parchment wrapped prawns, fried tofu, tandoori chicken with mint chutney, beef kabobs, pea/potato pakoras, salmon/sesame fish cakes, spiced lamb poppadoms with mango chutney, carrot and raisin halva, etc. — I am filled with the greatest of taste memories. It was quite a spread, to say the least. Even now, I can picture Nalin slumped on a stool in the kitchen with wine in hand for most of the remaining party, truly exhausted, if not at least a little exhilarated. Of course those were the days before kids, so spending two or three days shopping, planning, and cooking for a party was a bit more feasible. Many of the recipes in this book that inspired some of the dishes Nalin made, however, do not require endless hours or too many complex ingredients. Which is why I reach for it today. There is something valuable in a thing that meets our needs in diverse circumstances.

And as I now become more inspired about the options awaiting me with the vegetables gleaned from this hot and wicked summer, I'm reminded of a poem by the great poet and organic farmer, Wendell Berry, whom my father introduced me to years ago when I was young and could not yet fathom its intent and relevance to the life I lead now:

The Arrival
Like a tide it comes in,
wave after wave of foliage and fruit,
the nurtured and the wild,
out of the light to this shore.
In its extravagance we shape
the strenuous outline of enough.

 May we all eat well and enough this night and always.