There is a reason Diwali is the most loved and most celebrated festival for all Hindus – it is a festival that spans 5 days! No wonder everyone loves it! In India kids get extended holidays during Diwali season and most offices are also closed for all the key Diwali days. Alas no such luck […]
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Flattened Rice savory snack (Poha Chivda)
Diwali is just around the corner and so Diwali snacks and sweets need to be made! Well I ‘like’ to make them at home although nowadays everything is available at the store. But for me nothing can beat ‘home-made’! As kids we always loved Diwali – while most other kids loved the fire crackers more than […]
Some Fall clicks and an ‘Apple Walnut Cake with a caramel drizzle’
Fall is so beautiful. I love this time of the year with the vibrant colors, the cool breezes and the fallen leaves. It is as if nature is asking us to pause and slow down from our hectic lives and take a look around us and appreciate the beauty. I love going on scenic drives […]
Chicken in an almond yoghurt sauce (Moghlai Chicken)
Imagine the goodness of almonds in your curry. Now add the most flavorful blend of spices to it. And then imagine ‘marinated in yoghurt’, tender, juicy, falling off the bone chicken pieces in this gravy. That my dear would be your Moghlai Chicken – A curry that originated in the Moghul era and was cooked for […]
Mango Shrikhand with Pooris (Aamrakhand)
Shrikhand is nothing but thick sweetened yoghurt which is a traditional sweet dish that seemed to have originated in the western part of India since it is popular in both Maharashtrian and Gujarati cuisine. Aamrakhand is when shrikhand is combined with mango pulp. Shrikhand I love love love. But with a caveat – it has […]
Chocolate Nutella Butterscotch Cake
You are thinking ….what in the world is that, right? 🙂 OK so my princess (of course you can no longer say that to her!) turned 8 and I wanted to bake a special cake. Of course it had to be chocolate but then I thought what could I do to make it ‘extra special’ for […]
A very summery quinoa salad (Citrus and mint quinoa salad)
Quinoa is so versatile. You can do pretty much anything with it – make quinoa upma, use in salads or even soups and also use to make burgers.! Truly versatile. Plus so healthy for you. Hence I always have a stock of quinoa on hand in my pantry. It’s one of my favorite and ‘easy […]
Rice noodle pudding (Paal Ada Paayasam)
Paal Payasam (Rice and Milk pudding) or Parippu payasam (lentil and coconut pudding) ? When asked to choose between these two at a sadya (a traditional Keralan feast) usually as part of a wedding or during Onam, my unhesitant answer would always be be ‘paal payasam’. Of course! The caramelized sugar mixed with the milk and […]
Peppery Lobster/Crab Stir Fry
Last month towards the fag end of school vacation, we decided to getaway last minute to the Cape for a couple days. Oh boy were we glad to do that! The gorgeous white sandy beaches and the blue waters proved to be just what we all needed for rejuvenating our mind and bodies. The kids […]
Baked Spicy Coconut Shrimp
Anytime I am bored with the weeknight simple dinner of rice and dal(lentils), I reach out for that shrimp in my freezer! Just do a quick marinade with red chili, turmeric,salt and coconut oil and then shallow fry them in a pan. Now that certainly makes my normally ‘oh so fussy’, ultra slow and picky eater of […]
Onam Special: Lentil and Coconut Pudding (Parippu Paayasam)
A hearty and Happy Onam to all those who celebrate! To all us ‘Mallus’, Onam equates to ‘pigging out’ as that’s one festival (although not much unlike most other festivals! 🙂 ) where ‘food’ is the main attraction. And Onam sadya or the feast takes center stage. My childhood Onam memories are that of my […]
Green Beans with coconut (Beans thoran)
It never ceases to surprise me that the simplest of recipes sometimes are the most loved and relished! And I am often asked for the exact recipe. Many of my friends love this simple vegetable side dish of green beans with coconut.As in most Kerala dishes, coconut oil and coconut are the key ingredients in […]