I fell in love with Indian food by encountering it in little hole-in-the-wall places – first at the eatery at Union Station in D.C., and again at a surprisingly wonderful strip-mall restaurant near my home. I was very happy when my local grocery chain started selling packaged, boil-in-bag versions of various Dal, Chana Masala, and other items. They weren’t like restaurant fare, just pretty good when I needed a fast Indian Flavor Fix. But they are so expensive! so I recently decided to strike out on my own and try to make some of these things at home. My...