Feeling a bit under the weather tonight and as such I'm choosing to have a quiet night in. "Quiet nights in" always involve baking. Tonight, I had some strawberries and mangos that were getting dangerously ripe, so, voila - Strawberry Mango Oat Bars! I promised my friend Louise I would post this recipe if they turned out.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup margarine (I used Earth Balance, suppose you could use butter if you were so inclined)

2 ripe mangos, mushed

3 cups ripe strawberries, casually chopped

2 packets Splenda (OK, go ahead and use real sugar if you must - that'll be about 1 tbsp)

1 tbsp cornstarch

Squirt of lemon juice

Instructions

1. Throw the flour, rolled oats, sugar and margarine in a bowl and mix (with your fingers preferably) well until the ingredients are fine and crumbly.

2. Reserve 1 cup of crumbly stuff and then press the rest into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan so it forms a hard crust. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 F.

3. Mix the mango, strawberries, cornstarch, Splenda and lemon juice.

Mixing the fruit.

4. Pour on top of the baked crumbly crust and then sprinkle the reserved cup of crumbly stuff on top.

Ready to go in the oven!

5. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 F.

My sous-chef wasn't willing to wait.

6. Wait until cool to slice. Makes 8 bars.

Et voila! Think these might be good with a little coconut "ice cream."

I'm recovering from both pneumonia and the flu - both contracted as a result of working too hard, and not being home to cook properly. So, I'm making an effort - even if I come home late, even if I'm tired - I. Must. Cook. I just stay healthier that way. Anyways, last night I finished work around 8 p.m., and threw this together using the contents of my fridge. It's an easier version of this dish than my customary

Dani Gobi

(which is also very good if you have the time).

Lazy Aloo Gobi

Ingredients:

- 1 chopped onion

- a thumb-size piece of ginger, grated

- olive oil

- garlic cloves

- "Dani Masala" to taste - this is my cheap, what's-in-the-cupboard version of Garam Masala, a random mix of cumin, cayenne, turmeric, salt, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander. Make it up, it's more fun that way.

- 1 potato, cubed

- 1/2 a head of cauliflower, chopped up

- handful of peas (frozen will do)

- cilantro to garnish

How-To:

Fry the onions, ginger and garlic in a saucepan in a splash of olive oil. Add the Dani Masala, and cook for another few minutes. Add 1/2 cup of water to the saucepan, and the potato, stir, cover, and cook for about 12 minutes on medium heat. Add the cauliflower and cook for another 12 minutes or so. Throw in the peas. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice or naan. YUM!