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10 Simple Healthy Eating Habits for Weight Loss and Management
2008-02-28 19:42:00
Lots of my readers have requested that I write articles about Fitness and Diet from time to time, and I have been pondering on that thought for quite some time now. Eating Healthy should be one of our primary objectives in life, and though we all know about the importance of watching what we eat and going to the gym regularly, we tend to neglect these things, thanks to our busy lifestyles! But managing your weight and staying healthy is not as hard as you think. With just a little more... Please Click the Title for the Full Post
More About: Weight Loss , Weight , Management , Habits , Loss

Spicy Vegetarian Potato Croquettes (Cutlets)
2008-02-27 15:26:00
Potatoes are the most universally accepted spuds in any style or type of cooking. Come to think of it, they pair so well with most other vegetables, herbs, meat and the spices, that they would be a great addition to a large number of meals, without forgetting how they can be an entire meal themselves, even when simply baked and drizzled with salt, pepper, sour cream and chives! Potatoes hold an even higher reverence in Indian cooking, especially vegetarian recipes, and most of the kids grow up... Please Click the Title for the Full Post
More About: Vegetarian , Potato , Spicy

Eggless Cranberry Walnut Scones (Healthy Breakfast)
2008-02-25 18:53:00
It's always great to have a "sweet start" to a day, and as breakfast is the first important meal of the day, having something sweet in the morning balances your caffeine and also gives you the instant energy to kick-start your day. But at the same time, it's not a good practise to go for a high-calorie, high-fat sugar-packed meal, so opt for something lighter and healthier, like these wonderful Eggless Cranberry-Walnut Breakfast Scones . Low in fat, these semi-sweet scones are packed with the... Please Click the Title for the Full Post
More About: Fruits , Desserts

Temptations Restaurant and Bar (Indian Chinese Fusion), Mountain View Cali
2008-02-24 06:29:00
Anyone who has walked down the Castro street in the quaint Mountain View downtown knows that there are several interesting restaurants and cafes here that serve delectable cuisines! This area is a food-lover's paradise, and to sustain a restaurant in this highly competitive place, you need to provide something unique to the foodie's palette. Temptations seems to be holding its ground by providing Indian -Chinese fusion food, basically, authentic indian food prepared with asian/chinese spices and... Please Click the Title for the Full Post
More About: Restaurant , Fusion

Colorful Spring Salad with Cranberries and Home-Made Bleu Cheese Dressing
2008-02-22 01:31:00
Remember those evenings when you have had a rough day at work, end up coming late at home, and have nothing to cook except some cheese and a bag of salad greens gawking at you from your fridge!! believe it or not, I have had more than my share of such evenings, especially when it gets really late and I am determined to go to gym that day at any cost. For days like these, salads can act as a welcome retreat. And yet, using the same store-bought salad dressing every time can get kind of boring.... Please Click the Title for the Full Post
More About: Fruits , Home , Spring , Cheese , Salad

Mix-Vegetable and Coconut Milk Soup (Healthy and Wholesome)
2008-02-20 19:13:00
When it comes to soup recipes, we tend to go after the tried and tested combinations more often than not. Even I used to do the same, because some recipes and flavors just stick with us and we don't feel the urge to try something new. But this time around, as I mulled over the idea of a wholesome vegetarian soup, there were quite a few ideas that played in my head. I wanted it to be thick and creamy, yet without all the fat that heavy cream brings with it, and I wanted it to be flavorful as well as healthy. So guess what! I decided to try a mix-vegetable soup (a nice way to throw in all the veggies that you love!:)) combined with coconut milk. To give it that distinct flavor, I decided to roast/saute the ingredients and flavor them with spices which infused a higher taste and aroma. The boiled and cooked veggies also leave water which eliminates the need to add artificial broth, and the addition of coconut milk gave it the thick texture and consistency that I was looking for!I have...
More About: Milk , Coconut , Appetizers , Soup , Vegetable

Nigella Lawson - A biography of The Domestic Goddess
2008-02-19 20:43:00
The lady who has made a name for herself as a prominent chef and a TV celebrity, Nigella Lawson is popularly known as The Domestic Goddess , after her cookbook about the art of baking and comfort food. In her own words, "I am not a chef. I am not even a trained or professional cook. My qualification is as an eater." So she is basically a foodie like all of us, but she went one step further and her tie-up with Food Network made her a culinary celebrity and a name known in most households! Writer and TV cook Nigella Lawson is beautiful, talented, and has a way with food. Here I present some less-known facts about her and a writeup on what lies behind the famous personality.Image: Nigella with her Daughter Cosina (courtesy of cookiemag)Snapshot:Birth Date: January 6th, 1960Homebase: London, UKFamily: Husband-Charles Saatchi, Kids-Cosima and BrunoFamous Cookbooks: How To eat, How to be a Domestic Goddess, Feast: Food to Celebrate LifeFamous Shows: Nigella Bites, Nigella feasts, Forever S...
More About: Biography

Cardamom-Flavored Plum Compote (With Walnuts and Raisins)
2008-02-18 19:15:00
Seasonal Fruits and vegetables are a cook's best friends, as you can be sure they are not artificially grown or flavored and also because they bring a lot of variety to the table every changing season! We all know how important it is to include fruits in our diet, and the markets in California are flooded with dark and juicy Plum s. They have been one of my preferred fruits right from childhood, and I love their juicy fibrous texture and their sweet and tart flavor. There are so many things you can do with plums, but jams, jellies and preserves are the best way to capture their essence so you can enjoy them even after the seaosn is gone! I decided to go for the Plum Compote, which is similar to a jelly, just with a few chunks rather than a puree.A fruit compote is traditionally made of whole or pieces of fruit simmered in a sugar syrup, simmered over gentle heat. To add flavor, it can be seasoned with vanilla, lemon or orange peel, cinnamon, cloves, ground almonds, grated coconut, c...
More About: Cardamom , Desserts , Nuts

La Fondue - The Best Romantic Restaurant in South Bay
2008-02-17 20:18:00
When we choose a restaurant to have dinner, we are mostly craving some good food, but when this combines with an almost-perfect ambience, you surely have a winner! La Fondue in Saratoga (South San Jose) is one such gem that is sure to capture your attention. It offers a unique fonsu experience, serving more than 50 different types of fondue varieties. People have called it "Magical", "Indulgent", and some have even gone as far as saying that "It is the best place to have a kiss!!" Now that speaks volumes, right?! All I can say is that words would not describe the grandeur of this restaurant. As its said, some things are best experienced than learnt!Located right in the center of Saratoga downtown, this is aptly termed as the most romantic restaurant in Northern California. The restaurant is dimly lit and the decor is very enchanting. La Fondue is an ideal place for a date, where couples get cozy in big comfortable chairs, under a ceiling that is appropriately adorned with star-and-...
More About: Romantic , Restaurant , South Bay

The Lazy Teapot - Stylish and a Blessing for the Disabled and Elderly
2008-02-15 17:00:00
It's true that the entire gadget craze is aimed at making us lazy, but it's better to go with the pretense that they make life more simple! At least my hubby would agree with this theory, and so would many others in this world. You have to admit that some of these design innovations are not the same for all. What might be a lame device for someone, could actually be a blessing for someone else. And this Lazy Teapot seems to fit the bill! It's a classic teapot that relieves you of that cumbersome and backbreaking chore of actually picking up a teapot and pouring its contents into a cup. And there's a little more! (img source)Designed by Lotte Alpert, this concept is both stylish, elegant, and could actually come in handy. Most of the cool gadgets simply sell on a style appeal, and the few that work towards making lives simpler, are an instant hit! This elegant porcelain teapot, available in classic white, comes with a matching silver docking base, which allows you to pour your co...
More About: Stylish , Disabled , Elderly , Blessing

Strawberry Margarita with an Orange Twist
2008-02-13 19:14:00
"Margarita", the classic cocktail drink happens to be one of the cherished favorites for a lot of us. It is basically a combination of three main ingredients - tequila, orange liqueur and lime juice - and as fruity flavors go well with mixed drinks, you can add whichever fruit you like the best. The punch in this drink lies in the tequila, so make sure you use a good one:) And of course, the most crucial step is creating an ice and salt or ice and sugar rim around your serving glasses to induce that extra flavor! I had a handful of large california oranges at hand, and also some leftover strawberry syrup from my valentine cake, so I put them to good use by making this Strawberry Margarita, which has an intoxicating citrus flavor blended with the sweet strawberries and the salted glass rim! Of course, you can easily make this a Virgin drink by omitting the liquor, but believe me, it tastes way more better with it!Its already Valentine's Day in some parts of the world, and I wish all...
More About: Orange , Twist

Liquer Infused Heart-Shaped Chocolate Cake
2008-02-11 19:04:00
Love is in the air, and it's time to woo your loved ones with sweet delicacies, chocolate taking the center stage. Its traditional to present a heart to your valentine on v-day, and though until now I'd prefer that to be store-bought, now that I've proved myself to be a cook, I know my hubby would not accept anything but a home-made one! It also gives me a chance to practise my hand at a little culinary art, so I decided I'll make an edible heart this time. So this year, my romantic mantra is this: "Every Kiss begins with Cake ", and I am counting on my dearest hubby taking a trip to Jared (yeah, I'm getting influenced by all those "He went to Jared" ads:)!) after tasting this delicious heart-shaped chocolate cake, infused with bourbon liquer and layered with dark chocolate sauce and some fresh strawberry sauce! You could even garnish these with some ice cream or whipped cream. These individual dessert cakes are perfect for a romantic evening, anniversary, engagement celebration...
More About: Fruits , Desserts , Chocolate , Heart

A List of Best Aphrodisiac Foods for Valentine's Day
2008-02-10 22:31:00
Celebrated as the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day brings with it flowers, candies, cookies, chocolates, cupid, candlelight and love. Our romantic fantasies may begin with Cupid and Roses, but somehow they always seem to end with luscious food, because no celebration is complete without delicious food, and perhaps some alcohol! It is probably a universal belief that certain food and beverages can act as strong aphrodisiacs due to certain chemicals they release in our bodies, as chocolate has been proven to do. But most of the times they excite many of our senses through a combination of taste, texture and appearance. The shape of some foods is highly associated with arousal in humans. But whatever may be the reason, it's always a good idea to familiarize yourself with some foods that can act as aphrodisiacs, and as Valentine's Day is around the corner, whether you are planning a romantic dinner or looking for gift ideas, here's something that will keep you right on...
More About: List , Aphrodisiac , Foods , Entertaining , A list

Stir-Fried Okra (Bhindi Masala) with Peanuts and Coconut
2008-02-07 10:07:00
One of the most challenging yet interesting part of being a chef is that you often get an opportunity to turn something ordinary into extraordinary, and that's the part I really like! Experimenting with flavors and spices is what makes a cook's life exciting, not always succesful, but definitely exciting. Luckily for all of you, I only share my successful endeavors with you:) And the vegetable that steals the show today is nothing but the simple Okra (Ladyfinger), or "Bhindi", as it's known in India. The trouble we all face while cookng okra is that it can get to be a really "sticky affair", literally. So it helps to fry, or in this case, stir-fry it a little to get rid of that stickiness. But the twist that transforms this simple Bhindi Masala into a delicious and unique okra curry is the addition of peanuts, onions, bread crumbs and some coconut!The key to making tasty okra is to choose the tender variety, with a thinner skin and as less seeds as possible. This will give them a ...
More About: Coconut , Curries , Fried , Peanuts

Spruce Up your Kitchen with Innovative Snap Cups or Tableware!!
2008-02-05 19:28:00
If you are a fun-loving person who loves to cook and spends above average time in the kitchen, Angela Schwab has something for you that is sure to blow you away! The colorful, vibrant and retro collection of cups and tableware from a Denver-based ceramic production studio not only adds a splash of color to your table, but also an intriguing sculptural element. These are no ordinary cups, in fact they are an innovative design invention that is a perfect balance of features, functionality and creativity. So if you are ready to add some spice to your kitchen, check these out! I'm sure you'll be attracted to these beautiful creations.Featured above (the pic on the right) are Stalactite cups, which is basically a set of chain-link magnetic cups. Perfectly sized for a couple shots of espresso, champagne, or some tea, these small ceramic cups come with magnets embedded in either side, so you can hang them off your refrigerator, or link them together to add a fun and interesting arrangeme...
More About: Kitchen , Snap , Tableware , Cups , Innovative

Molten Chocolate Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling - Preparing for Valentine'
2008-02-04 17:40:00
The second month of this New Year has kicked in, and we all know that February is the month to celebrate love, as people all around the world have begun to plan for the Valentin e 's Day. Love and chocolate go hand in hand, so its natural that I decided to practise my hand at some chocolate art to prepare for my valentine. I always wanted to make Molten Cupcakes, those sweet delights with a gooey chocalatey center that melts in your mouth! But as I was ready to go all out, I went for combining some raspberry sauce alongwith the chocolate sauce, and also try a hand at making some patterns with white chocolate. The result was this decadent dessert where the sweet chocolate was balanced perfectly by the tartness of the raspberries, giving a spoonful of heaven in every bite!Ingredients3/4 cup semisweet dark chocolate chips1/4 cup white chocolate chips1/2 cup butter1/2 cup milk1/2 cup brown sugar2 tbsp oil3 eggs1 cup chocolate cake or brownie mix8-10 tbsp raspberry sauceMethodPreheat oven...
More About: Raspberry , Chocolate

The Myth Restaurant and Lounge (French California Cuisine) - San Francisco
2008-02-02 18:47:00
A restaurant that wants to hold its ground in the competitive town of San Francisco needs to be something different, and Myth seems to be just that. It features eclectic French /California cuisine served in casual yet elegant surroundings. Located at 470 Pacific Avenue in San Francisco's Historic Jackson Square area, it provides a dining experience inside a landmark building constructed more than 120 years ago, and is conveniently situated next to the Financial District, North Beach and Chinatown. The landmark space has been transformed into a contemporary yet inviting space containing several dining rooms, including a special eight-person chefs table, a bar and lounge areas. Chef Sean O'Brien puts his years of training at Gary Danko to good use, crafting a menu with an upscale pedigree but with a more casual sensibility.The restaurant can be described as homey but stylish, with a hip-elegant 60-seat interior. At the entrance diners are greet by a host stand in front of wooden shel...
More About: Restaurant , Lounge

Game Night Party Recipes - The Roundup!
2008-02-01 19:12:00
This was a really fun event to host, and I'm so happy I did it because it gave me so many new ideas for easy, quick and tasty recipes that are not just great for a game night, but for any night that you need to cook something delicious in a jiffy! This roundup is a great compilation of finger-foods, and as the delicacies come from many regions in the world, most of them are fusion dishes, which makes it even more worthwhile! An extra thanks to all the meat-lovers who made something vegetarian specially for this event:) I know Super Bowl is incomplete without beer and beef, but I'm sure some of the samplers in this roundup will be a great addition to any party! So, let the games begin!!I'm simply posting the recipes in the order that I received the entries!Eggplant Rolls - Kopiaste (Ivy)Veg Pizza on a Pita with Cilantro Hummus - Fun and Food (Mansi)Vegetarian Quesadillas - Archana's Kitchen(Archana)Santa-Fe Wraps and Bruschetta - Finger Licking Food (Namratha)Tea-Tinged Truffles ...
More About: Recipes , Party , Roundup , Night , Game

BestPartyEver - An online tool for Event Management
2008-01-31 19:25:00
Parties and Event s bring excitement to one's life, and also makes one feel valued and appreciated. I, for one, am a huge advocate of parties and gatherings. I love to plan surprises for my friends and family (maybe I'd be better off as an Event Manager:)) In my hunt for party ideas, I was referred to this wonderful site called Best Party Ever, which is like a social network that helps people find and share ideas on Event Planning, Vendors, Recipes, party tips and more, so I thought I'd share my find with you. And if you run out of ideas or have something in mind but don't know how to execute it, this site is something that will set you on a roll. Online Party Planning Tool s make it easy to setup an event, manage vendors to hire, monitor a budget, create invite RSVP lists, and create and manage task lists for the upcoming event. Check out the cool features that this new site offers!!Before I go into the site details, I'd like to say that this is a brand new site and they have ju...
More About: Management , Entertaining

Panchvati Garlic Dal (Mixed Lentil Soup) - A Healthier Choice
2008-01-30 19:05:00
"Dal", or Lentils, are a part of the staple food for Indians, and hence it gets tricky to come up with different variations that can make this daily bowl of soup/dal more interesting. Almost every one has a tried-and-tested dal recipe, and it's a challenge to drift away from that and try something new! especially when that's a main course deal you are counting one:) But bored with the regular style of Dal we eat every time with rice, I decied it was time to try something new. So i made this Panchvati Dal (totally a name I concocted!) which combines 5 different types of lentils cooked together, and flavored with garlic, spices, ghee, green chilies and quite a bit of cilantro. The mixture of dals gives this a nice thick texture, and the aroma of ghee (clarified butter) makes it a treat to consume even by itself, perhaps as a lentil soup! For the Indian palette, combine it with parathas or plain Jeera Rice, and you are all set for a delicious meal!IngredientsI used 5 kinds of lentils...
More About: Garlic , Appetizers , Soup , Soups , Choice

Doodhi/Lauki Kofta Curry (BottleGourd Dumplings) in Almond and Cream Gravy
2008-01-28 20:04:00
Kofta Curry is a very famous Indian curry, and goes through endless variations. Though paneer, cheese and vegetables seem to be the favorites, I also like the simple koftas made from lauki, called bottle-gourd in English. This elongated gourd vegetale is quite nutritious too, especially good for your eyes and skin, and due to the rich water content, it can add to the softness in the koftas. This one is a very low-fuss recipe that comes from my mom's kitchen, and unlike the restaurant-style Malai Koftas, these dudhi koftas require minimal preparation and cooking time, and yet can make any meal special. I modified my mom's recipe to pair almonds with bottle-gourd, and also make the curry more richer by using almond and cream in the gravy. The result was delicious, and I urge you to try this bottlegourd kofta curry to serve with your parthas or simple jeera rice!Ingredients1/2 mid-sized bottlegourd1 cup besan (chickpea flour)1/2 cup blanched almondsslivered almonds - for garnish1 med...
More About: Almond , Cream , Gravy

Tips to host the Perfect Super Bowl Party
2008-01-27 20:42:00
Super Bowl is around the corner, and with just about a week to go, I'm sure everyone is on a planning spree! Whether you are throwing a party at your place, or have been invited to one at a friend's place, deciding on the menu and organizing everything so you are enjoying the game rather than stressing yourself out at the last minute is always a good idea. Super Bowl is not a formal party event; it's just a bunch of sports-lovers getting together, cheering their favorites, jeering at the losers, and having fun together. So don't stress yourself out and try to be more relaxed about. I scoured the net and magazines for some fun ideas and thought it would be great to share these with you. Basically, a big-screen TV, lots of finger food, chips and salsa, and chilled frozen beers would do the trick! But if you want to play the perfect host, here are some additional tips!:)Invite Friends and FamilyDuh!! That's so obvious:) but still, no game night party can be fun when there's just ...
More About: Party , Super Bowl , Tips , Super , Host

Plan a Day Trip to Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California
2008-01-26 23:18:00
As the weekend approaches, we look forward to the beautiful summer weather, and I have a perfect place in mind to escape the heat (or enjoy the sun!) and relax in the golden solitude of mother nature. I'm talking about the Pfeiffer Big Sur State park, located 26 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1. There are plenty of places to see in Northern CA, and most of them are great for day trips. But some of these places can get real chilly and windy, so it's always good to carry your coat! Pfeiffer is a beautiful beach, with a lot of scenic beauty and clean sparkling blue water, cliffs and trees. So I thought I'd share my experience with you, in case you ever decide to visit this lovely place.It is believed that the name "Big Sur" is derived from the original Spanish-language "el sur grande", which translates as "the big south", and the entire coastal region between the San Francisco Bay area and the Los Angeles area comes under Big Sur Region. But the major attraction has always been th...
More About: Travel , California , Beach , Trip , Plan

Raspberry Jelly (Swiss) Roll Cake
2008-01-24 19:20:00
I have had a fascination for anything sweet, and especially cakes right from when I was a kid! And I had this extra-special affection for swiss rolls, those colorful, spiral cakes that tasted like heaven, and even with the minimal frosting and decoration, they always attracted the attention of dessert-lovers, including me!! I harbor this fascination even today, and the first thing I notice in a pastry shop has to be a swiss roll cake (my hubby can vouch for it:)) Swiss roll is a type of sponge cake baked in a very shallow rectangular baking tray, and then filled, rolled up, and served in circular slices. So did these beauties originate from Swiss?? Not really; although the origins of this cake are unclear, wikipedia says that these are certainly not widely eaten in Switzerland, where they are known as "Biscuitrolle" or "Roulade" . Every country has it's own version, and it is popular in US as the Jelly Roll. It finds a place at many christmas dinner tables shaped like a Yule Log, b...
More About: Christmas , Fruits , Raspberry , Desserts , Cake

Lachha Paratha (Layered Flatbread) with Potato and Peas Curry
2008-01-23 19:40:00
Indian breads are a delight to eat with any kind of curries, and adding spices and stuffings like garlic, potatoes, paneer, onions or other veggies, not only makes them tasty, but wholesome and nutritious too. Wheat flatbreads, popularly known as "Chapatis" or "Phulkas" are light and fluffy, while Paratha s are more heavier and come in various shapes and flavors. One such simple variation that uses all-purpose flour is the "Lachha or Layered Paratha". Originated from the northern provinces of India, this is a very simple bread, with no spices except salt, but the beauty lies in the crust and crisp flakiness of the bread. It has several layers and is made by folding the rolled bread over and over again for a few times. It does take some time and patience to make these parathas, but they are an absolute joy to eat when they are served hot with delicious curries! Some people also have it for breakfast with their tea in the morning. Not a bad start of a new day, I must say:) These parath...
More About: Curry , Potato , Peas

Egg-Cracker - No more messy egg cracking for you!!
2008-01-22 19:33:00
As a person who bakes quite often, I am pathetic at cracking eggs! Seriously, I marvel when I see chefs on TV cracking eggs in a whack without any mess, in fact, with great style! Alas, though I'm a good cook, I'm not a good egg-cracker:) But now I've found this perfect solution to my problem. A kitchen gadget that makes cracking eggs so easy it's like a dream come true. I'm sure many of you must have experienced similar problems while baking. With the recipe book open at one end, and your hand stirring the mixture in the bowl, it's convenient to crack the egg on the rim of the bowl, until you see the egg white dripping from your fingers and some small flecks of shell that conveniently find their way into the batter! You can only sigh and try to remove them with a spoon, creating even more mess than you earlier imagined. So in my quest to be "stress-free" and make my baking a little "mess-free", I found this cute little Egg-cracker which does the job perfectly. I know it's no...
More About: Cracking , Cracker , Mess

Almond Mocha Iced Coffee (Frappucino)
2008-01-21 18:01:00
Simple pleasures in life often come in small packages, and this is something that we experienced last night. Dinner was done, we were playing cards with friends, and suddenly all of us had this huge urge for something sweet. Coffee was another unanimous choice as we had a long night ahead (full of poker can cards:)), and I for once was not in the mood to spend more than 10 minutes in the kitchen. So we settled for some simple Cold Coffee. Ideally, that would be paired with ice cream, but as our fridge did not hold any, I had no choice but to settle for a simpler version. As luck would have it, I had some almond essence, hersheys chocolate syrup, and whip cream! Yes, the result couldn't have been any better at 11 pm at night!! The Almond -flavored chocolate-coffee frappucino was a perfect dessert for our midnight craving!:)Ingredients2 cups milk5-6 ice cubes2 tbsp Hersheys chocolate syrup2 tsp almond essence (optional)2-3 tbsp instant coffee powderWhip Cream - for toppingcherriies - ...
More About: Chocolate , Mocha , Nuts

C&O Cucina Italian Restaurant- Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles
2008-01-20 20:28:00
Italian restaurants have a feel of their own, with loads of family photos adorning the walls, the wift of garlic and herbs trickling through the air while the soft romantic music plays in the backgrund! As I see it, italian restaurants are always very lively, and I love the atmosphere as much as the food. One such jewel for Italian-food lovers resides almost on the Venice beach, right in Marina Del Rey in the vibrant city of Los Angeles . C&O Trattoria, the original restaurant (just across from the Cucina) has always been a great hit with the people, but when it became too popular to cater to the growing throngs of hungry foodies, C&O Cucina came to the rescue. This place is much better and livelier than the older one, and you really have to go there to relish the tantalizing food that gells so well with the soothing ocean breeze in the air!Nestled on Washington Blvd (cross street Lincoln blvd), this fine restaurant is walking distance from the Marina, and has a sufficiently ...
More About: Restaurant , Italian

Vaghareli Khichdi and Gujarati Kadhhi - A Simple and Satisfying Meal
2008-01-18 17:17:00
As the culinary field transcends across geographical barriers, international cooking has taken a huge leap, and its fascinating to try new dishes that a fusion of tastes, cultures, and origins! But sometimes, getting back to your roots is also a satisfying experience. Comfort food will often be the food you have grown up eating, as it is filled with happy memories, your mom cooking in the kitchen, the whole family sitting and chatting at dinner, and the sense of familiar spices and surroundings....That is precisely what I revisted last night. A simple traditional Gujarati (gujarat is a state in western India) meal, comprising of "Vaghareli Khichdi and Kaddhi" Khichdi is just rice cooked with some spices and optional vegetables, while Kadhhi is like a curry made of buttermilk and besan (chickpea flour) This has been a staple food for a lot of gujaratis, but I am sure you would enjoy this too, irrepective of where you hail from!IngredientsFor Khichdi3 cups moong dal2 cup basmati or pl...
More About: Simple , Meal

Coconut and Poppy Seed Cake
2008-01-17 20:17:00
We all know how colorful and pretty the Poppy Flowers are! But few of us know about poppy seeds, the tiny nutty-tasting, bluegray seeds inside capsules of the flowers. They are generally used to flavor breads, cakes, rolls, and cookies in European and Middle Eastern cooking. In Turkey, they are often ground and used in desserts. In India, the seeds are ground and used to thicken sauces. The seeds are also used in noodle, fish, and vegetable dishes in Jewish, German, and Slavic cooking. I for one, had my first poppy seed exposure on a tasty coffee cake in a cafe, and I liked the crunch it provided in every bite. I have had it in bagels too, but I prefer the pairing with desserts:) They also lend a wonderful aroma to baked goodies. So I tried making this very simple yet rich-looking cake flavored with vanilla, shredded coconut and poppy seeds. I think the combination works very well, and this can serve to be a very light dessert cake, particularly to be savored with your tea or coffee...
More About: Fruits , Desserts , Coconut , Cake , Seed