1 (1 3/4-lb) head cauliflower, cut into 3/4-inch-wide florets
1 1/4 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño, including seeds
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 cup water

Accompaniment: lemon wedges

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and place a shallow baking pan on rack. Preheat oven to 475°F.

Toss cauliflower and potatoes together in a bowl with 3 tablespoons oil, cumin seeds, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Spread in hot baking pan and roast, stirring occasionally, until cauliflower is tender and browned in spots and potatoes are just tender, about 20 minutes.

While vegetables are roasting, cook onion, garlic, jalapeño, and ginger in remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until very soft and beginning to turn golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, cayenne, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Stir in water, scraping up any brown bits from bottom of skillet, then stir in roasted vegetables. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.

Makes 4 side-dish servings.

Cucumber Scallion Raita

1/4 cup finely chopped English (seedless cucumber)
1 thinly sliced scallion
3/4 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix!

with whitney houston's recent passing and her "coming home" memorial service this weekend, many have honored and remembered her with the song she's most known for. from the grammys to glee, i will always love you has been sung as a tribute to whitney. as i was surfing through some blogs today, i came across a performance that i wasn't expecting.  chris cornell, front man of soundgarden, audioslave and temple of the dog, played a solo show fundraiser for president obama in san francisco a couple nights ago.   and as an encore, he played i will always love you - which he only just learned. check out the video of his live performance.

"maybe [today's generation of young girls are] thinking they aren't good enough. i think whitney would tell you: guard your bodies. guard the precious miracle of your life. then sing your hearts out, knowing that there's a lady in heaven who's making God himself wonder how he created something so perfect. So off you go, Whitney. Off you go, escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly father. and when you sing before him, don't you worry. you'll be good enough." - kevin costner