Blog Feed: A diary of my experiments in vegetarian cuisine and baking
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Taco Salad
Published on 2012-05-23 05:42:00
The last two posts dealt with Mexican cuisine,so I thought why not make it three in a row. Hence here I am with a simple taco salad. Now what is a taco salad?. Again there are two types of taco salads both involving fried tortillas or hard shell tacos. > read more
Baked Taco Shells
Published on 2012-05-20 05:33:00
Tacos are actually tortillas stuffed with vegetables. Now you may feel then what is a burrito or what is the difference between taco and burrito? Both enclose a filling.And burritos are actually tacos and are known as tacos de harina as traditionally they > read more
Flour Tortillas
Published on 2012-05-17 05:32:00
Tortillas have become a common feature here as well. I too love > read more
Mango Lassi - Indian Mango Smoothie
Published on 2012-05-12 04:57:00
When I first heard the term smoothie, I wondered was it not same as lassi?. You blend fruit and yogurt with occasional milk and make lassi. The same goes for smoothie ofcourse, which makes them same.What you call smoothie in US and other parts,its called lassi here in India. Anyways come mango season, we get to see the mango lassies or smoothies or whatever you call. Its typically a part of North Indian and Punjabi culture (FYI, Punjab is a state in North West India). South India has more savour [..] > read more
Spicy Churmuri -Puffed Rice Snack
Published on 2012-05-09 07:44:00
I love chaats and can enjoy them an time of the day. But if you think chaats are a speciality of North India, then you are wrong. South India also makes several chaats or mixtures or whatever name we call them. Though roasted peanuts are traditionally found in every South Indian states during evenings especially beaches and such places, puffed rice also remains a traditional favourite and seconds peanuts. > read more
Spicy Churmuri -Puffed Rice Snack
Published on 2012-05-09 07:44:00
I love chaats and can enjoy them an time of the day. But if you think chaats are a speciality of North India, then you are wrong. South India also makes several chaats or mixtures or whatever name we call them. Though roasted peanuts are traditionally found in every South Indian states during evenings especially beaches and such places, puffed rice also remains a traditional favourite and seconds peanuts. > read more
Mexican Paletas for a Cool Summer
Published on 2012-05-05 09:49:00
Paletas are nothing but simple ice pops made using fruit juice. You freeze the fruit juice in appropriate molds and you get an easy summer dessert. You can even add dairy ingredients to obtain creamier paletas. Most of the paletas or ice pops are sweet except for the cucumber paleta or the pepino con chile y limon which has the heat of the fresh green chilly in it. I have tried my hand to make the spicy cucumber paleta and the sweeter rose paleta (using rose syrup).Recipe is based on this post i [..] > read more
Mexican Paletas for a Cool Summer
Published on 2012-05-05 09:49:00
Paletas are nothing but simple ice pops made using fruit juice. You freeze the fruit juice in appropriate molds and you get an easy summer dessert. You can even add dairy ingredients to obtain creamier paletas. Most of the paletas or ice pops are sweet except for the cucumber paleta or the pepino con chile y limon which has the heat of the fresh green chilly in it. I have tried my hand to make the spicy cucumber paleta and the sweeter rose paleta (using rose syrup).Recipe is based on this post i [..] > read more
Pasta with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers & Bread Crumbs
Published on 2012-05-04 11:37:00
Sometimes a little twist here and there in a recipe gives you good results. This is exactly what I got when a simple garnish of bread crumbs was added to tomatoey pasta which was our lunch one hot day. I had used the recipe from NYTimes and the dish was quick to put together.Simple and fuss free Ingredients: Spaghetti : 1/2 packet or as needed Olive Oil: 1-2 tbsp Garlic: 3 small cloves: 2sliced , 1 minced Tomatoes: 3 big juicy ones : almost 1 cup + when chopped Olives: handful Capers: 1/2-1 tb [..] > read more
Pasta with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers & Bread Crumbs
Published on 2012-05-04 11:37:00
Sometimes a little twist here and there in a recipe gives you good results. This is exactly what I got when a simple garnish of bread crumbs was added to tomatoey pasta which was our lunch one hot day. I had used the recipe from NYTimes and the dish was quick to put together.Simple and fuss freeIngredients:Spaghetti : 1/2 packet or as neededOlive Oil: 1-2 tbspGarlic: 3 small cloves: 2sliced , 1 mincedTomatoes: 3 big juicy ones : almost 1 cup + when choppedOlives: handfulCapers: 1/2-1 tbsp depend [..] > read more
Shrikhand
Published on 2012-05-03 11:22:00
Shrikhand is a traditional Indian sweet made using hung yogurt or yogurt cheese. It is originally from Gujarathi and Marathi (Western Indian) cuisine but its equally popular in other states as well. There are several variations or flavours available these days and the one I made is traditional. Shrikhand is also eaten as a side dish with rotis and puris similar to shrikarani, but is actually thicker than the latter.In fact the mango version in Maharashtra is called Amrakhand. Shrikhand is also c [..] > read more
Shrikhand
Published on 2012-05-03 11:22:00
Shrikhand is a traditional Indian sweet made using hung yogurt or yogurt cheese. It is originally from Gujarathi and Marathi (Western Indian) cuisine but its equally popular in other states as well. There are several variations or flavours available these days and the one I made is traditional. Shrikhand is also eaten as a side dish with rotis and puris similar to shrikarani, but is actually thicker than the latter.In fact the mango version in Maharashtra is called Amrakhand. Shrikhand is also c [..] > read more
The Island, Bangalore
Published on 2012-05-01 01:56:00
Passing through the hot dusty lanes of Indiranagar, if you come across a nice,cool inviting green place, be sure you are at the right place, The Island, the newest casual dining lounge in Bangalore. Few days back I had the opportunity to dine there thanks to Avian Media. It was a wonderful experience and I also got to catch up with fellow bloggers Suma Rowjee and Aliena Varghese. > read more
The Island, Bangalore
Published on 2012-05-01 01:56:00
Passing through the hot dusty lanes of Indiranagar, if you come across a nice,cool inviting green place, be sure you are at the right place, The Island, the newest casual dining lounge in Bangalore. Few days back I had the opportunity to dine there thanks to Avian Media. It was a wonderful experience and I also got to catch up with fellow bloggers Suma Rowjee and Aliena Varghese. > read more
Tangy Summer Coolers - Indian & Mexican
Published on 2012-04-20 09:52:00
Now that summer is its full fury and cola and juice companies are making merry, its time that we make old fashioned summer coolers with an ingredient that is regularly available in majority of > read more
Tangy Summer Coolers - Indian & Mexican
Published on 2012-04-20 09:52:00
Now that summer is its full fury and cola and juice companies are making merry, its time that we make old fashioned summer coolers with an ingredient that is regularly available in majority of > read more
Spinach & Cottage Cheese Rice - Palak Paneer Rice
Published on 2012-04-17 02:25:00
What to do when you are too lazy to cook an elaborate dinner ,but want ot make use of spinach (palak) and few cubes or pieces of cottage cheese (paneer) waiting to be used up. Simple, you end up making this rice. This is just an improvisation on palak paneer gravy that you must have seen in many blogs except here :). There are dozen ways of making this rice as well ,but this is just my version with few changes here and there to suit my palate. The estimates are actually guesstimates. I just coo [..] > read more
Spinach & Cottage Cheese Rice - Palak Paneer Rice
Published on 2012-04-17 02:25:00
What to do when you are too lazy to cook an elaborate dinner ,but want ot make use of spinach (palak) and few cubes or pieces of cottage cheese (paneer) waiting to be used up. Simple, you end up making this rice. This is just an improvisation on palak paneer gravy that you must have seen in many blogs except here :). There are dozen ways of making this rice as well ,but this is just my version with few changes here and there to suit my palate.The estimates are actually guesstimates. I just cooke [..] > read more
Britannia 50-50 Snackuits - Very Very Tasty Tasty
Published on 2012-04-16 03:28:00
Have you ever imagined the day to day life of a homemaker? Early morning making breakfast,getting kids ready for school and the cooking lunch/snacks for kids/husband tension, supervising the maids, rushing to the gym (optional), > read more
Britannia 50-50 Snackuits - Very Very Tasty Tasty
Published on 2012-04-16 03:28:00
Have you ever imagined the day to day life of a homemaker? Early morning making breakfast,getting kids ready for school and the cooking lunch/snacks for kids/husband tension, supervising the maids, rushing to the gym (optional), > read more
Caramel Cookies
Published on 2012-04-10 06:23:00
There are times when I feel like baking cookies more and more. But I have bookmarked lots of them and going > read more
Caramel Cookies
Published on 2012-04-10 06:23:00
There are times when I feel like baking cookies more and more. But I have bookmarked lots of them and going > read more
Oven Roasted Chickpeas with Sophie Kinsella
Published on 2012-03-29 01:49:00
For March, the Bookclub > read more
Oven Roasted Chickpeas with Sophie Kinsella
Published on 2012-03-29 01:49:00
For March, the Bookclub > read more
Banana & Lentil Dessert - Kellya Ambat
Published on 2012-03-24 07:33:00
Yesterday was Ugadi or Yugadi .A festival usually celebrated in few regions of India as the beginning of a new Year or Yuga(year) aadi(beginning).Normally festivals means lots of food and food and food... This was also not so different. You take oil bath,do the pooja as per your traditions and rituals and sit down for a very traditional lunch. Traditionally on Ugadi day, Konkanis serve a variety of food and one most prominent combo is that of Hittu/Khotte and Kellya Ambat. The former is a bre [..] > read more
Spiced Couscous with Roasted Carrots
Published on 2012-03-22 11:00:00
Sometimes when I come across a recipe and plan to try it out, it feels incomplete. Means, either it requires something else with it as an accompaniment, or more ingredients etc... Like when I saw this recipe by Nigella Lawson in her Nigella Christmas cookook titled Party Poussins with Festive couscous, obviously I liked the couscous part, but to serve it with a suitable vegetarian accompaniment was the problem. Also I wanted something healthy and easy to make. So I sort of slept on the recipe an [..] > read more
Aloo Matar ki Taharee .. Potato & Peas Rice
Published on 2012-03-19 07:14:00
There are different types or styles of cooking rice in India. There are several types of cuisine and each cuisine has its own way of cooking. Tahari or Taharee or Tahiri or Tehri is supposed to be a type/style of Biryani and is popular in Uttar Pradesh and nearby areas which were courtyards of > read more
Figs& Banana Smoothie
Published on 2012-03-17 02:42:00
This is a simple smoothie recipe that I had seen in Tarla Dalal Food magazine. My daughter loved it and hence I thought I would post it here. Its pretty simple and uses dry figs though fresh figs would also work fine. Fresh figs are more preferable to me than dry figs, but the former is very seasonal and expensive and the latter or the dry ones are avaialable anytime of the year. > read more
Printen Cookies
Published on 2012-03-14 11:51:00
Aachener Printen > read more
Dates & Sesame Poli
Published on 2012-03-13 00:50:00
I rarely try out traditional festive dishes. I am not so confident in these. I might make these tasty. But always compare them to my mom's and feel inferior. But sometimes I feel I should make some of these atleast so that I might make these festivals memorable to my daughter. And almost all festivals have more food associated with them than rituals. Last week was Holi the festival of colours. People colour each others and obviously enjoy food and drinks like Thandaai. More than being a partic [..] > read more
Green Beans with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
Published on 2012-03-07 10:18:00
This is a simple side that is well liked in my home and is easy to prepare. Everytime I prepare this, I forget to take pics and postpone it to next time. Well, somehow this time I made sure I clicked and hence I am posting this. Its very straight forward recipe which I sourced from Allrecipes. Ingredients: Green Beans: about 1-1.5 cup or so halved or chopped into bite sized pieces Water: just enough for blanching the beans Butter: 1.5 tbsp Fresh Basil Leaves: few Garlic Salt: 1/4 tsp or 1-2 cl [..] > read more
Smoky Beet Tomato Soup
Published on 2012-03-05 10:31:00
It seems to be the last few days of winter here.The sun has started showing its fury and I have started keeping bottles of water in the fridge to chill and also double tray of ice cubes.Plans are on for the types of iced desserts to make and the air conditioner has already been turned on.Appetites are less and we prefer liquids or something light -light on stomach and something easy to cook to avoid the heat. But sometimes the weather changes back to a lazy climate where you feel like not ent [..] > read more
Socca - Rustic French Chickpea flour Crepe
Published on 2012-03-02 18:30:00
Chickpea is one flour that I do not love working with. I feel nauseated by the smell or aroma as some might call it. But I love all the pakoras and dhoklas where it is a main ingredient and even kadhis and other gravies where it is used as a thickener. Everything except the pancakes or .My mom used to talk about hot besan pancakes that my grandma used to make. But the reluctance with which I tried them made sure they were a flop. So I had given up on such quick breakfasts when I chanced upon t [..] > read more
Roasted Fennel with Chilli Aioli
Published on 2012-02-29 10:37:00
Fennel is a plant or herb that I have rarely worked with. I have used it with other veggies n soups, gratin etc, but fennel as a main ingredient in a dish was a big' NO'. But recently I decided to take the risk and tried the simple roasted fennel from Simply Recipes. And I paired it with a spicy herbed aioli to be precise. Ingredients: Fennel : one bulb atleast with the stalks cut and the bulb sliced lengthwise into bite sized pieces. You can use the stalk in soups or stocks etc. Salt, [..] > read more
Baked Pears
Published on 2012-02-24 08:31:00
This is again a recipe I tried recently along with Roasted Pears. I have always been awed with the poached pears and have bookmarked several delectable or unique ones. Though any pear can be technically poached, realistically only Bosc or Anjou ones give a pe(a)rfect result. Other types might simply fall apart. Not one to take risks, I decided to bake the Asian pears I had with me based on this recipe and with the addition of choco chips and you have an easy healthy delectable dessert ready. [..] > read more
Strawberries & Cream
Published on 2012-02-22 02:05:00
There was a time when I wanted so badly to be a tennis player. I wanted to go out there and be a champion. But uh, uh they were just dreams. I realized verrry late that you need to work on them to make them true. These days I have started playing badminton though and am enjoying that too. Coming back to tennis, the month of June was the time for Wimbledon Tennis Championship and also ....... Strawberries and Cream. There was atleast one mention everyday on the strawberries and cream consumed in [..] > read more
Chocolate Valentine Cookies
Published on 2012-02-14 10:35:00
I am not a person who celebrate Valentine's Day. Ofcourse its nice in its own way, but I would like to steer clear of the marketing gimmicks and wholly commercialized plot. But then I could not resist these Valentine Cookies that I had bookmarked from the Pioneer Woman. I had followed the recipe part though not the decoration part as I didn't have the required stencils. Ingredients: All Purpose Flour: 2 and 1/4 cup Cinnamon: 1/2 tsp Baking Powder: 1 tsp Salt: 1/4 tsp Cocoa Powder: 4 [..] > read more
Tandoori Subz Shaslik
Published on 2012-02-10 08:01:00
Shashklik refers to the skewering and grilling of meat (veggies as well!) and traces its origin to Eastern Europe -Russia, Persia etc. This is also known as Kabab/kebab. The word 'shashlik' is from Russian. Originally meat -lamb, pork etc were skewered along with choice of fruits and vegetables. These days only veg kababs / shashliks are also available and we can use the Indian oven or Tandoor for grilling the items. I have made a pineapple and veggie shashlik from Sanjeev Kapoors Tandoori Cook [..] > read more
Baked Potato Fingers
Published on 2012-02-08 03:32:00
Most of you know that the pud is my favourite vegetable and though these days I am trying to avoid it as it shows on you.Okay, its another way of telling that I am fat!. But I could not resist the very easy and baked potato fingers which I had seen in Veenas Veg Junction, who is my partner this month for Blog Hop Wednesdays, by Radhika.The recipe had cooked mashed potato and I used instant potato flakes(Aloo Mash) available here to make my mashed potato. Ingredients: Boiled, Peeled and Mashed [..] > read more
Smoky Pineapple Salsa
Published on 2012-02-02 02:19:00
Pineapple is one such fruit that is constantly used in savoury items as wells. The tartness of the pineapple makes it perfect for savoury dishes as well. I have always loved grilling or caramelizing pineapple and this time I made a tart spicy salsa by combining it with fiery red chillies. I have adapted the recipe from here and I have adapted the recipe by adjusting the ingredients slightly. Ingredients: Pineapple: peeled,cored and cubed/quartered : about 1-1.5 cups Onion: 1 small quartered [..] > read more
Roasted Pears with Strawberries
Published on 2012-01-30 06:30:00
I know everybody loves to consume fruits raw or as such. But I love to try them differently as well. I know that we can use them in crumbles,crisps etc but I prefer something quickie and different. So easiest way is roasting and baking. And roasting is preferred first as it takes few minutes only. This time also with pears I tried roasting and was happy with the result. I tried the recipe from USA Pears Ingredients: Pears: atleast 1 halved lengthwise and cored Melted Butter: 1-2 tbsp Strawber [..] > read more
Sri Lankan Green Beans &Potato Curry - Bonchi Curry
Published on 2012-01-25 03:23:00
This is again a delicious Sri Lankan stew or curry that I had adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian. The dish makes use of a Sri Lankan raw curry powder which is again a fragrant mix of spices that I have made use of in my Lankan Dal. The curry is supposedly to be used as a side with rice and pickles. I found that the taste is similar to the stew that is made in Kerala to be served with appams. I loved it with rice and rotis. So suit yourself when to serve this.:) Ingredients [..] > read more
Healthy Pear Smoothie
Published on 2012-01-23 02:36:00
This is the easiest and the first dish I made with my bag of pears. The recipe is adapted from USA Pears and is perfectly vegan. We can also play with this and add our choice of spices and fruits. Perfectly simple and filling. Ingredients: Pear: 1 peeled and cubed Banana: 1 medium size Orange: 1/2 of an orange or 1 small Soy milk: 1 cup Sugar/ Honey/Your choice of sweetner: 2 tbsp +as per taste Orange Zest : for garnish (optional) Preparation: Blend together all the ingredients except the z [..] > read more
Money Salad
Published on 2012-01-19 08:16:00
It is said that black eyed peas is lucky for you if taken at the start of the year and brings you wealth,luck and overall prosperity. I had tried my luck first time at the end of last year with my Hoppin John and to accelerate the Good Luck I decided to try my bookmarked salad from Food Network. This is Sunny Andersons Money Salad and I remember watching the episode which was a part of Christmas Celebrations in 2008. It was the first time I had seen black eyed peas in a salad and also heard it [..] > read more
'Pear' -adise @ Tasty Tangles
Published on 2012-01-18 11:09:00
Know your Pear - Pears are available year round and in different varieties. You definitely must have tasted several as well. But how well you know the fruit? They are actually related to apple family and like the latter have few seeds in the core. :) Did You know that Pear was described as a gift of Gods ? Greek Poet Homer in his Odyssey described it thus. At that time it was considered as a luxury though nowadays several varieties are available even local ones. The world's largest suppli [..] > read more
Britannia NutriChoice Multigrain Thins -a Snexy Review
Published on 2012-01-12 11:42:00
A few days back a group of us friends met for the usual chitchat and gossip session and I tagged along with me the healthy Britannia Multigrain Thins - the classic Indian spice one or the Masala Thins and the Herbed tomato thins.I was supposed to review the them and what more better than to get opinion from foodie friends while enjoying a hot cuppa. Most of us are fans of fried snacks. We love our puris,vadas and jalebis for breakfast, pakoda kadhi and fried starters for lunch and pakoras/bhaj [..] > read more
Celebrate the Rains with Shiro
Published on 2011-07-04 11:50:00
Wanna make the most this monsoon? Check out the exciting monsoon spread at Shiro, UB City Mall, Bangalore? The menu which runs till July 12, 2011 is designed to tantalize your taste buds and introduce you to the exotic Oriental taste especially Japa > read more
Caramelized Onion, Rosemary and Tomato Flatizza
Published on 2011-07-01 12:00:00
This is actually the first recipe that I am trying out from Cajun Chef Emeril Lagasse and totally loved it. While the original from FoodNetwork went for round mini pizzas I went for a single rectangular thin crust one. I have recently started a love > read more
Apple Buttermilk Coffee Cake
Published on 2011-06-30 10:49:00
A Coffee Cake is either a cake flavoured with coffee or cakes preferred with morning/evening coffee.In case of latter, it is usually a cake made with spices,fruits or nuts. I usually prefer such type of cakes especially as a warm dessert for rainy ev > read more
Teppal & Chinese Five Spice Powder
Published on 2011-06-28 12:49:00
Before I started blogging, I thought I had a fair knowledge of my own cuisine ie Konkani cuisine or 'amchi' cooking. The upkaris,ghasshis, ambats, ummans, pathrodoes, etc . But slowly realisation dawned on me, that I know just a small part of i > read more
Geelrys - South African Yellow Rice
Published on 2011-06-25 11:49:00
I have grown up familiar with the varieties of rice -both South Indian and North Indian style. The colour yellow is something I always associate with Pongal or tangy lemon rice spiced to perfection. So I was surprised to see a South African Yellow ri > read more
Orange Scented Choco Chip Cookies
Published on 2011-06-23 03:17:00
I love chocochip cookies and recently was thinking of making a few to share with my friends as well. We are a nice gang here and one of them had passed me warm, sweet and ghee laden malpuas (taking care to burn her hands while frying -all in the name > read more
Grilled Tomato, Cashew & Rosemary Soup
Published on 2011-06-20 11:32:00
This is a herby twist I made with the usual hearty tomato soup. I grilled the tomatoes stovetop and then used cashews as a healthy thickner and seasoned it with fresh rosemary which is fast becoming my favourite. Ingredients: Tomatoes: 3-4 big/sliced > read more
Rosemary Roasted Baby Potatoes
Published on 2011-06-17 10:27:00
I had a small bag of new potatoes or baby potatoes with me and also a pack of inviting fresh looking rosemary. So I tried this simple recipe from foodnetwork by Rachel Ray. It was definitely done within 30 minutes,and over within 10 minutes. For a lo > read more
Shakalaka - Its Chakalaka !
Published on 2011-06-15 01:03:00
Chakalaka is a South African spicy vegetarian gravy made with onion,tomatos,peppers and beans. It can be a side dish or a sauce or whatever way you like it. For me it is a side dish to be served with rice/breads and also as a soup in itself. You can > read more
Garam Masala Crackers
Published on 2011-06-13 09:04:00
These are simple and savoury cookies made with garam masala. These are named crackers because of their crispness and the savouriness. I have adapted a recipe seen in the book - Everybody's Book for Eggless baking by Indira Kakati.The original recipe > read more
Spicy Onion Pinwheels
Published on 2011-06-10 01:39:00
Monsoon is here and we can verify it from the sizzling of oil and wafting aroma of pakodas/fritters and obviously the rain. Though rain is still like an unwanted guest here in Bangalore - coming and going whenever it wants(thanks to the high winds)- > read more
Chocolate Chili
Published on 2011-06-06 11:05:00
I love chili and can have it anytime of the day. I try out different versions as well.You can see two versions already posted here and here and few else are in queue waiting for their turn. Long time back I have heard about the use of cho > read more
Whole Wheat Tortilla - Mexican Cousin of Indian Rotis?
Published on 2011-06-03 11:16:00
Tortilla ( spelt tor-thee-ah), meaning "little cake (torta) in Spanish is a general term for a variety of foods and also refer to corn or wheat based flatbreads in Mexico and other Latin countries. Depending on the flour used to make them, the > read more
Neapolitan Cupcakes- Ringing in the 4th BirthDay of TastyCurryLeaf
Published on 2011-05-31 07:03:00
Dear TastyCurryLeaf , I know you are angry with me for neglecting you these days. This being the month of May I am savouring the last of the summer school break before the school reopens on June 1. I know you are now thinking "she is always li > read more
Tzatziki- Greek Yogurt & Cucumber Dip
Published on 2011-05-27 10:27:00
Tzatziki is a Greek strained yogurt and cucumber dip which is served also as a sauce with appropriate main course. I had tried tzatziki while in US using thick Greek Yogurt but somehow found that it was very liquidy or watery (similar to no > read more
Watermelon Gazpacho
Published on 2011-05-24 10:15:00
Watermelon for me is always sweet.I go for pops or juices or sorbets but enjoys it as such most of the times. I never experiment with watermelon despite being inspired by several savoury recipes that I see in blogosphere. But this summer I thou > read more
Aam Panna -Cooling Indian Raw Mango Drink
Published on 2011-05-10 12:42:00
As I had mentioned in several previous posts, I am not a great fan of ripe juicy mangoes.Of course I use them, but has not great affection for the supposed king of fruits. Instead it is the tangy or sour raw mango that excites me. You can have them a > read more
Strawberry Short(Cup)Cakes with Paneer-Almond Cream
Published on 2011-05-06 10:26:00
A Shortcake is a crumbly biscuit made with baking soda or baking powder which is then halved and filled with whipped cream and sweetened fruit like strawberries,peach, blue berries etc. Strawberry shortcake is a popular one.Scones or corn muffi > read more
Mango Shrikarani
Published on 2011-05-04 12:08:00
I usually go for spicy side dishes with either rice and rotis or atleast sweet and spicy. But last year while on a vacation,I was surprised to see puris being served with thick mango juice and since I had heard of puri halwa combo in the Northern par > read more
Tomato Mozarella Tartlets
Published on 2011-04-30 21:30:00
I am a bit scared of tarts.Somehow I have this belief that mine won't turn out nice.Somehow or rather MM:Topless Tarts by CookSister, tempted me to try them and this simple tomato one adapted from David Lebovitz did not let me down..I halved the orig > read more
Chilled Cinnamon Horchata
Published on 2011-04-29 10:30:00
Horchata is a general name for Spanish or Mexican beverages made traditionally rice,barley,almonds etc.There are regional variations and some countries go for a thick milky drink whereas other may like thinned down version.In Mexico, the rice i > read more
Minty Green Apple Sorbet
Published on 2011-04-28 12:27:00
This is a simple yet scrumptious Green apple sorbet. As mentioned in my previous post,I have been to an apple cooking demo by Chef Vicky Ratnani organized by Washington Apple Corporation. We all have been given baskets of different types of app > read more
Washington Apple Cooking Demo by Vicky Ratnani
Published on 2011-04-27 01:27:00
A few days back I had a great opportunity to attend an apple cooking demo by Chef Vicky Ratnani.It was also another chance to meet fellow bloggers as well. The demo was organized by SCS group,as a part of creating awareness about the different types > read more
Strawberry Almond Crumble
Published on 2011-04-22 02:17:00
Crumble is an English dessert that has stewed fruits and crumbly topping made with flour,oats etc. It is similar to fruit crisps popular in US. I love trying out different crumbles/crisps as they are easy to make and we can finish off any fruit that > read more
Verdant Salad with a Hint of Red
Published on 2011-04-20 02:23:00
This is a healthy cabbage,bell pepper and bean coleslaw with a healthy avocado dressing. A much better dressing than the fat laden mayo. I have seen this verdant (green) salad at Nupur's place and have adapted it with almost no change.An easy to make > read more
"Forget Me Not" Sambusik Cookies
Published on 2011-04-18 09:44:00
I am a little late for this post actually. Last months BookClub choice was "The Language of Baklava" by Diana AbuJaber. An engaging story that tells you about a migrant Jordanian father and an American mother and the family they have raised by fusing > read more
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Published on 2011-04-15 10:00:00
These are simple muffins that I made from " The Joy of Vegan Baking" by Colleen Patrick Goudreau. I made almost no changes as the recipe was by default egg free and dairy free except the use of chocolate chips which were not vegan.I also halved the r > read more
Strawberry Phirni
Published on 2011-04-12 09:17:00
A phirni or firni is an Indian dessert similar to sweetened rice pudding.It differs from kheer/payas/payasam in that it uses coarse/broken rice paste or rice flour paste that sets into a creamy pudding.We can say it is a variant of kheer. > read more
Pasta alla Genovese-Pasta with Potatoes and Green Beans in Pesto Sauce
Published on 2011-04-10 05:10:00
Pestosauce actually originated from Genoa, the capital of Liguria region in Italy. The word pesto is coined from Genovese "pestu" or Italian "pestare" which means to pound or crush with a mortar and pestle.The sauce as you all know includ > read more
Quick Orange Ice Cream
Published on 2011-04-07 09:42:00
This is a simple no churn orange icecream I adapted from Nigella Lawson. This is not ice cream in the traditional sense,but definitely a life saver in hot summer afternoons.You can use orange in combination with lemon juice or simply bitter seville o > read more
Brownie Squares with Praline Topping
Published on 2011-04-05 12:09:00
Brownies are an indulgence,especially ooey gooey fudgy brownies. No matter how many times you make them you want more and more.With or without icecream they are dessert or anytime snack for me. I adapted these delicious fudgy brownies from here and t > read more
No-Knead Crusty Sandwich Rolls
Published on 2011-04-01 09:38:00
I am a 'dough- kneading' person. Kneading is therapeutic and has worked well for me. Ofcourse some of the bread went straight to the garbage, but I definitely believe that kneading is good. Its like bonding with the food you are making, adding love & > read more
Shahi Tukre - Indian Bread Pudding
Published on 2011-03-30 12:03:00
Shahi tukre (Shahi tukday) is a rich bread pudding spiced with cardamom. Bread pieces are deep fried in ghee/clarified butter and then served dipped in thick creamy rich milk cream or Rabri. Its is a gourmets delight but a weight watchers nightmare. > read more
Easy Chana Chaat -Black Chickpeas in an Indian Style Salad
Published on 2011-03-30 09:10:00
This is a simple and easy chana chaat or Black Chickpeas Salad Indian Style. Chaat is a street food and is a favourite of mine. There are different versions of chaat with varying ingredients and condiments like chutneys,spices, chaat masala etc. This > read more
Tava Pulao
Published on 2011-03-30 00:29:00
This is a hearty and spicy rice dish and is a popular street food. Basically it is rice and veggies spiced with pav bhaji masala and I presume it is the pav bhaji vendor who sells it along with the pav bhaji. I have tried and tasted this rice from ot > read more
Strawberry Fool
Published on 2011-03-28 07:52:00
A Fruit Fool is a simple English dessert where the fruit puree is mixed with whipped cream,sugar and optionally rosewater. I made a simple strawberry fool and here it is in all its pink splendour.I have referenced several recipes for the fool and hav > read more
Strawberry Pannacotta with Strawberry Coulis& Toasted Nuts
Published on 2011-03-24 08:41:00
'Tis just the beginning of summer and already I feel I am living inside a boiler. 'Tis the season of vacations, picnics, and cool desserts. The king of fruits mango is starting his grand and expensive entry whereas the queen berry from foreign > read more
Cold Roasted Mung Broth - Uppa Hesaru
Published on 2011-03-18 10:30:00
This is gain a simple recipe from the book "How the Banana goes to Heaven" by Ratna Rajaiah. The author, who is from Karnataka, talks of this recipe as a variation of the normal traditional dal. The recipe and the style are very new to me. I have mad > read more
Peanuts & Cilantro Chutney (Spread)
Published on 2011-03-18 01:55:00
As I have written in a previous peanut post,I am no lover of peanuts.Only recently I have started using them in the normal daily cooking as my family loves it. After the hit sundal this is a simple chutney I have tried with peanuts and coriander/cila > read more
Barley Breakfast Cereal
Published on 2011-03-15 07:36:00
This is a simple cereal or porridge that I made using barley,milk and apples. Its just like an oatmeal breakfast except that oats is replaced with the more healthier barley. Normally I am not a barley person and barley always brings to my mind the b > read more
Zucchini Yoghurt Salad -Turkish style Raitha
Published on 2011-03-11 23:30:00
The heat during day time is so intense that we need cold raithas or desserts.Rather than spring I feel summer is fast approaching.So rather than going for elaborate meals raithas are more preferable for me.Ofcourse I make other sides for rice/breads > read more
Apple Dumplings
Published on 2011-03-10 23:41:00
Last month the book club chose Tender at the Bone ,another book by Ruth Reichl after Garlic and Sapphires. Having missed the latter I wanted to do this and was intrigued to know that this one was the story or an account of the author's childhood > read more
Sweet Potato Chili
Published on 2011-03-07 11:01:00
These days the weather is such that you feel like putting your head in the fridge in the afternoon,but come night,its chilly weather. Such fluctuations does call for soups -they can be cooked fast or atleast I feel so and provide war > read more
Simple Guacamole with Potato Pancakes
Published on 2011-03-03 08:22:00
Guacamole is a simple avocado based dip from Mexico. You mash avocado in a mortar and pestle with little salt and lemonjuice along with optional additions like chillies,tomato etc. There are several versions with different ingredients, and this is a > read more
Orange Posset with Orange Shortbread Cookies
Published on 2011-02-28 11:00:00
A posset (spelled poshot) is a medieval English dessert of curdled hot milk or cream with wine traditionally,but also with lemon juice.The recipe is super simple,only setting takes time and patience.But the waiting time is worth the taste of the deli > read more
Oyster Bay: A Lunch Date with Food & Foodies
Published on 2011-02-25 02:25:00
What does a seafood multicuisine restaurant bring to your mind? For me,its an aquarium,walls and ceilings of octopus,lobsters,crab etc,raw fish smells but never vegetarian. So while walking into Oyster Bay,Koramangala, for a lunch date with Bangalore > read more
French Style Country Bread
Published on 2011-02-24 03:06:00
This is a simple french style rustic bread which I had made from King Arthur. I rarely work with breads that require a starter. I do not have that much patience to make the starter the previous day,then work on it the next day and so. I halved > read more
Pesto Roasted Tomatoes & Roasted Caprese Salad
Published on 2011-02-22 09:03:00
As I had already mentioned at several places, tomato is one of favourites. I love it in different ways and recently tried roasting it again in two ways, first marinating it in pesto and second by just using balsamic vinegar as seen in Kevin' s p > read more
Golden Broth
Published on 2011-02-19 11:21:00
You think of soup mostly when you are going through a cold-recovery cycle.Especially soups which are quick and easy to prepare with available ingredients. I saw this golden broth from Tarla Dalal's Soups and Salads, remember I talked about it in > read more
Zucchini & Chickpeas Moussaka
Published on 2011-02-17 01:52:00
Moussaka is a casserole dish which is associated to Mediterraenean cuisine and is common to few Middle eastern and European countries. The word moussaka comes from Arabic 'Musaqqa' meaning 'chilled',but other names also exist and it is > read more
Roasted Soybean Salad
Published on 2011-02-15 05:03:00
Growing up a simple tomato salad was my staple. I hated the normal koshimbirs/kosumbari/kachumbers made using carrots,cucumbers or radish.I preferred the addition of curd/yoghurt and extra seasonings which made it a raitha.But generally I p > read more
Scottish Oat Cakes
Published on 2011-02-10 10:02:00
Oatcakes are a mix or cross between crackers(cookies) or pancake and as the name suggests made usually of oats alone or with flour thrown in. There are different types of oatcakes like Scottish oatcakes baked in oven or griddle,yeasted oatcakes from > read more
Fresh Ginger Cake with Citrusy Stewed Prunes
Published on 2011-02-08 08:59:00
When BookClub chose A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg, to be honest, I never expected to fall in love with it. To begin with I was happy that it had recipes,but as I started reading it, I found myself drawn to it. The author,also blogger at&nbs > read more
Simple Nutella Pudding
Published on 2011-02-05 10:40:00
This is a simple pudding that I made with Nutella. Today Feb 5th is World Nutella Day. I love nutella and every year I would think of posting,but would miss out. But this year I was prepared for it.So here is the simple pudding which I adapted f > read more
Creamy Cauliflower Walnut Soup
Published on 2011-02-03 23:43:00
The winter always brings in its own vegetables and herbs. The last month of the year always brings in fenugreek leaves and assorted herbs and greens,cauliflowers, capsicum(bell peppers),carrots,brussel sprouts,leeks etc. I know these are availab > read more
Raisin,Apple & Oat Muffins
Published on 2011-02-02 08:45:00
These are rustic looking yet hearty muffins made from oats and the normal APF along with apples and raisins. I found the recipe on the back cover of raisins or currants -Sunmaid one for sure.I had just cut out the recipe while discarding the empty bo > read more
Eggplant Salad from Romania - Salata de Vinete
Published on 2011-01-31 10:45:00
Eggplant has been popular in almost all the cuisines around the world.You roast it,make gravies or fritters or stirfries,it enhances the dish. Roasted eggplant especially has found various uses across cuisines.Be it the Indian Baingan bharta where it > read more
Yakh-dar-Behesht : Ice in Heaven
Published on 2011-01-29 23:53:00
This is a quick fix pudding from Iranian which is actually prepared during summer to beat the sweltering and yes, its name literally means "Ice in Heaven" and it truly takes you to heaven. It is similar to firni/phirni or fereni in Iranian as like fi > read more
Iranian style Kidney Beans
Published on 2011-01-27 05:50:00
This is a simple gravy of Kidney beans which is supposed to be Persian style and is adapted from Mollie Katzen's Vegetable Heaven.I have adapted this from this site. The recipe is pretty much easy where cooked beans is added to a tangy gravy and is c > read more
Sabzi Polo - Iranian Herb Rice
Published on 2011-01-24 10:06:00
Sabzi Polo is a wonderful polow /pilaf/pulao dish from Iran made using mixed fresh herbs. It is usually served with grilled white fish during the Norouz or Iranian New Year. I found an excellent recipe from here and made accordingly.The main thing to > read more
Thai inspired Pumpkin,Rice & Coconut Milk Soup
Published on 2011-01-20 08:57:00
This is a simple soup which goes thai way with the addition of lemongrass,ginger and chillies. I had seen several Thai style pumpkin soups and even Jamie Oliver's Pumpkin Laksa with rice.Though I wanted to try them, I did not have kaffir li > read more
Peanut Butter Pasta
Published on 2011-01-19 11:50:00
I never ever thought I would combine PB and pasta. The idea was put to me when dear Madhuram mentioned it in one of her posts. Still,I was wondering how the sweetness or peanutty taste will work for me when I came across this recipe in Eat me d > read more
Bademjan Pollo & Mast o' Khiar - Persian Eggplant Rice & Cucumber Dip
Published on 2011-01-18 01:45:00
Persian cuisine or Iranian cuisine is diverse like the Indian cuisine.Each province has its own way or style of cooking and there are a variety of herbs and rices and other side dishes most of which are with meat.I have read that Iran is a non f > read more
Shanghai Bok Choy Stir Fry
Published on 2011-01-16 03:03:00
Bok Choy or pak choi as it is also known is a Chinese vegetable belonging to the cabbage family. Along with napa cabbage, bokchoy -literally known as small white vegetable with it white stems and green leaf reminiscent of celery rather than the tradi > read more
Winter Warmer from Miss Masala
Published on 2011-01-13 01:05:00
Days are hotting up but chill is still there. The weather makes you feel lazy and want to curl upwith a nice book and optionally munch on something that you obviously had not cooked.Aha,its a wish. Apart from such wishes we still feel the need for ho > read more
Waldorf Salad
Published on 2011-01-11 01:31:00
Waldorf salad is a simple salad of apple,celery and walnuts with mayonnaise or thick yogurt. The salad was first made at the Waldorf Hotel in the 1890's and is quiet popular. It is usually served an a light meal or appetizer. I have adapted the salad > read more
Pain d'Epices - French Spice Bread for Spicy 2011
Published on 2011-01-07 08:12:00
Pain d'epices or literally Spice bread is a cakey quick bread from France and is also known aas French Gingerbread or Honey spice cake. The traditional spice bread is made using rye flour ,honey and spices like aniseed. But modern spice bread makes u > read more