Vegetarian recipes, desserts, indian recipes and health & fitness articles
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, … [Read more...]
Who doesn't like chocolate Cake, especially when its homemade, and has rich layers of creamy chocolate butter-cream frosting, and a moist dark chocolate cake center that melts in your mouth! Its no wonder that Layered Chocolate Cake still remains to be at the top of the Perfect Birthday Cake list! Inspired by Dorie Greenspan's Layered Birthday Cake in her prestigious cookbook Baking: From My Home … [Read more...]
Berry Tartlettes with Rosewater & Lavender Mascarpone Cream, made using Puff Pastry sheets This Saturday, the temperature shot into upper 90's and we had to turn the air-conditioners on in full blast! Looks like Summer is finally showing its true colors, and while we crave to keep it pleasantly cool in the household, there's one place that's burning with heat, yes, my kitchen! The oven is … [Read more...]
Salted Caramel & Chocolate Turtles (Candies) When it comes to making Caramel, I tend to shy away from the process, not because its tedious, but because I don’t have much preference for the gooey-chewy caramel that adheres to my teeth. But, my husband and two-year old love Caramel, so what’s a Mum to do, except learn to live with it, or at least master the process to produce treats on … [Read more...]
There was a time when I used to turn to Google Search when I needed to find a recipe. But now, times have changed, and my best resource for online recipes is the world of fellow food bloggers! I know I can rely on these recipes because they have been tried, tested and certified by my friends, and will most likely not let me down. Plus, if I run into issues, I can always email them and be rest … [Read more...]
Super Soft Cranberry Orange & Coconut Cookies Last weekend, I saw some tangerines that were lying on my kitchen counter waiting to be eaten, but my daughter seemed to have had her share of oranges for a while, and I was in a mood to bake something that's quick and delectable, so I settled on baking some Cranberry Orange cookies. I like my cookies to be soft and chewy, so they melt in your … [Read more...]
Rose Firni with Mixed Berry Sauce I have made Phirni before, and everyone in our family enjoys this rich and creamy Rice pudding, However, when I first came across Jagruti's version in her post about Father's Day, I was intrigued by the flavor combination and decided to give it a try. Firni is a kind of Rice Pudding, made with Powdered Rice. It is similar to what we call Kheer or Payasam in … [Read more...]
Summer sun is shining in full glory up here in Northern California, and everyone is out in their backyards or in a park, enjoying the warm weather and sunshine. We too, celebrated Mother's Day with a fun BBQ in our backyard, and I am sure many of you are already shaping up your plans for the Memorial Day, Father's Day or July 4th weekend! No matter what the occasion, firing up the grill to cook some of your favorite food is a great way to entertain friends and family, without a huge budget. We had a potluck-sort-of BBQ, with a variety of food to be grilled. Tofu Wraps, Veggie Burgers, Corn-on-the-cob with a spicy chutney, paneer tikka, … [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...]
