Vegetarian recipes, desserts, indian recipes and health & fitness articles
Baked sweet potatoes, with chopped pecans, crumbled cheese and spiced herbs Sweet Potatoes are one of my favorite veggies. I love their sweet flavor, and how versatile they are in terms of pairing them with other ingredients to make sweet or savory recipes. However, they are great to enjoy all by themselves too. When I was growing up, my mum used to fry small chunks of sweet potatoes, then … [Read more...]
Spinach and Split Peas (Moong Dal) soup flavored with garam masala and mint Spinach is not called a superfood without a reason! Loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidants, it is a very nutritious ingredient that does not have a very distinct taste, and hence can easily be added to several of your favorite recipes without altering their taste too much, like these Super Moist Spinach Banana Muffins. … [Read more...]
Two days ago we observed a sudden change in the weather, and from warm and humid days, it suddenly became dark and gloomy, and the sky was overcast with clouds the whole day, as if officially announcing the end of Summer in the Bay Area! And today, as I celebrate Labor Day with my family and friends, I know this is probably going to be one of the last summer garden parties until next year! But … [Read more...]
Cabbage Thoran, a Kerala-style recipe that resembles a stir-fry Indian cuisine is so versatile and diverse, and yet food that comes from every part of the country bears its own mark, in terms of ingredients, flavors, cooking methods, and recipes. A dish that represents the state of Gujarat will be totally different from that which stands for Punjab, which in turn is in stark contrast to a … [Read more...]
Cucumber Cream Cheese & Pesto Sandwiches Spring is in the air, and I am sure as the days get warmer, a lot of us plan small parties and get-togethers to enjoy a bit of the sun in our backyards or patios. That's what happened a couple weeks ago when group of friends gathered in my house for a cup of fresh Strawberry Lemonade, some mini Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches, and a lot of idle … [Read more...]
Khandvi - Rolls Made With Chickpea Flour And Tempered with Spices Khandvi is an extremely popular Gujarati Snack made with Besan flour, and though it looks like a lot of work, it is actually very simple to make, and totally worth the effort! Besan is mixed with very sour buttermilk to create a lump-free blend, which is then heated, either on stove-top, or more conveniently in a Microwave, keeping … [Read more...]
Christmas is just around the corner, and this time, though we have baked a batch of cookies to lure Santa to our house, I am also going to serve him these cute and delicious Strawberry Santa Hats, which I am sure he will not be bale to resist. In fact, he might just be so happy that he may leave a gift or two extra for the home-chef who made his day! So how did this recipe find its place in our … [Read more...]
Bruschetta with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes Lima Beans and Goat CheeseBruschetta is a favorite Italian appetizer made with tomatoes, basil and parmesan cheese. But today, the chefs from Indian Harvest give it a healthy and flavorful twist by pairing slow-roasted Tomatoes with garlic, basil, Lima beans and Feta cheese to make these scintillating version of Bruschetta, which will surely impress your … [Read more...]
Cheese Pumpkin Appetizers This year, we are inviting a few friends over for Trick-or-Treat, and I was getting anxious about finalizing some simple Halloween Recipes that are easy to make yet dazzling enough to impress our guests. I already knew what I would serve for dessert, but it was the appetizer that needed some thought. I do not like to serve, nor eat seriously spooky or gory-looking … [Read more...]
Indian-Style Jalapeno PoppersIts raining like cats and dogs since past 4 days, and when you see the dark gloomy clouds looming over your kitchen, you suddenly lose the enthusiasm to cook any elaborate meals. Funny how weather affects your cooking plans, or maybe I just blamed the weather for an excuse to give myself a break from any heavy cooking!However, whenever it rains in India, people rush … [Read more...]
In India, Summer is synchronous with Mangoes - yes, you will find markets and homes flooded with this sweet juicy colorful fruit, which is known as King of Fruits for a valid reason! There are several varieties of Mangoes available in India, but Kesar and Alphonso are among the most famous ones. The former has a more elongated shape with a pointed tip, and is more sweeter than Alphonso, which is more rounded, fleshy, and has a nice sweet-tart flavor. Up until a couple years ago, these varieties were not imported to US, but now that Indian stores carry these Mangoes, I am thrilled, because it means we can savor the memories that we have grown … [Read More...]
Spring and summer are prime allergy season in most parts of the US. Between the pollen from plants, animal dander, and the molds caused by spring rains, this time of year could have your entire family begging for relief. Even if you have a prescription for allergy medication, there are probably times where it does not seem to make a dent. This could be because the allergens are actually stuck to your nasal membranes. Most allergy medicines get rid of histamines, chemicals in your blood that cause many of the classing allergy symptoms, but they can’t flush allergens out of your sinuses. Some nasal sprays can, but if you also have severe … [Read More...]
Healthy Black Bean Burgers Mother's Day is just around the corner, and I am sure most of you have a grilling BBQ party planned for the same, especially as it falls on a Sunday! Or if you are fishing for BBQ recipes for Memorial Day, especially a healthy vegetarian Burger recipe, then this nutritious and extremely delicious Black Bean Burger is perfect for your menu. Inspired by Divya's Bean Burger, I decided to give this a try. The use of leftover cooked rice gives it a nice dense texture, as well as acts as a binding agent. The soaked black beans mixed with onions and garlic help create a flavorful burger patty, which will leave … [Read More...]
Last week I told you guys about the latest project that I am working on - sprucing up my backyard on a very low budget! It wasn't much about creating a new look outside, but sometimes, small changes can make things more meaningful. I wanted to work on the patio since some time now, especially as the weather is getting nice and warm outside. The garden looks beautiful, with flowers blooming all around, and thought it would be good to spend some more time outside. I did not want to spend big bucks on a new garden set, so I decided to just re-use some of the existing furniture, move it around, and create a space outside where we could sit, chat … [Read More...]
Summer is slowly starting to show its colors, as the days get longer and brighter down here in Northern California! The garden is blooming, and we've already had glimpses of hot sunny days when sipping a cold coffee or eating an ice cream out in the backyard has become a favorite family activity. So to celebrate the weather outside, we tried a new recipe last week. Frozen Avocado SemiFreddo. Yes, I agree the name sounds a bit confusing, but the recipe is a mix between ice cream and frozen yogurt, so I couldn't think of a better name than SemiFreddo. And Avocado does not seem to be a great pick for a frozen dessert, but when it's accentuated … [Read More...]
