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Tropical Fruit Punch Lemonade
2008-01-15 22:20:00
Some things in life are just too complicated, and decision-making can drain you of all your energy!! But luckily for us, there are some things in life which are extremely simple and beautiful, and they compell us to enjoy that most-coveted moment of simplicity. Here' a simple Tropical Fruit Punch for your game nights and parties, or for a silent and relaxing afternoon. Ingrained with the goodness of oranges, pineapples and papaya, this drink is full of Vitamin-C, and can do a lot of good to your immune system. The vibrant yet refreshing color soothes your eyes, just as the tropical flavors liven up your spirits and tingle your tastebuds. Add in some champagne for a cocktail recipe, or enjoy the classic virgin fruit punch. Any way you choose it, you are bound to be lucky! Let's celebrate simplicity with a stress-free energizer punch!Ingredients1 cup orange juice1 cup pineapple juice1 cup papaya juice2 tbsp fresh lime juicesugar (optional, adjust to taste)a dash of champagne (option...
More About: Lemonade , Mona

What is LDL and HDL? What Daily Foods Can Help you Lower your Cholesterol?
2008-01-15 19:23:00
The human life tends to get busier da by day, and the stress that surrounds us is increasing by leaps and bounds. We all know what harm stress can do to our body, including rising our blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This in turn leads to incresed risk of heart attacks, obesity and osteoporosis, to name a few! So its extremely essential that we take charge of our lives, and do whatever is in our hand to keep our cholesterol levels under control right from the beginning. It gets more and more difficult to do this as you age, so start right now! Exercise and a check on your daily diet can help lower your bad cholesterol. Though there are several medications now prescribed for the same, there are also a lot of natural food options, and incorporating these in our diet can make it much easier for you or your family member to keep the "High-Cholesterol " fever at bay. So what exactly is "LDL and HDL", and what foods can you take to help fight against the demon named cholesterol?What is ...
More About: Daily , Foods , Lower

Savoury Muffins with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Cottage Cheese(Paneer)
2008-01-14 16:22:00
When we think about comfort foods, we tend to give in a bit more towards chocolate or desserts, but for some of us, savoury dishes go more towards comforting our palettes than sweet ones. I am one of those with a huge sweet tooth, and almost always give in to my dessert temptations; but lately, I'm trying to extend my skills by experimenting a lot more with new spices and herbs, and combining classic ingredients in a contemporary style to create a savoury tantalizing dish. This weekend, I decided to realize one of my whims - I'm a huge fan of muffins, and so I thought why not make a Savoury Muffin! when Indians think of comfort food, 9 people out of 10 zero in on "Paneer ", or Cottage -cheese. So I too chose paneer as my main ingredient, then started adding other stuff, some inspired by my sense of taste and smell, some purely by instinct, and some simply because they are favorites!:) So what things finally made it into my muffins?? well, it was mainly Sun-dried tomatoes, cottage-ch...
More About: Muffins , Cheese , Tomatoes

Amber India Restauarant - San Jose, CA
2008-01-13 02:42:00
Located in San Jose ?s swanky Santana Row area, this upscale restaurant called Amber India serves traditional and contemporary Indian cuisine prepared by award winning chefs. Swathed in eclectic artwork with a refined but definite Southeast Asian bent, Amber India is a chic dining venue, and its exotic cocktail menu gets extra points for creativity and flair while pairing perfectly with the cuisine. It represents an inviting atmosphere of modern elegance, comfort and sophistication, and provides a wonderful reprieve to the avid shoppers and night-life lovers on the street!As you enter the doors, you are drawn to the modern bold shades of blue and green on the walls, showcasing artworks that seem to convey a message. The top of the ceiling is painted deep dark blue, interspersed with yellow twinkling stars! Now if that's not dreamy, what is!!:) Its colorful yet soothing at the same time. The borders on the walls are marked with Sanskrit shlokas, and their english translations, repres...

Veg Pizza on a Pita with Cilantro Hummus - A Quick-Fix Meal
2008-01-10 20:15:00
It's been raining heavily in California since 2 weeks now, and people are already praying that it stops over the weekend. But frankly, though I detest driving to work in this rain and not having a chance to go out during weekend because it is pouring out there, it is good that we received all this rain because it was badly needed! Now you know what rain does to your tastebuds, right? You are suddenly attacked by a bout of those "Give me something hot and tasty now" food cravings, and that is precisely what we felt 2 days ago. But it was late when we got home from work, and though I wanted something tasty, I was in no mood for an elaborate meal. I saw a packet of pita bread and some hummus in my fridge. So did I make pita?? Nope, I decided to go for the Pizza version of the Pita. I had some Pizza Sauce on hand, and I modified the hummus by adding some cilantro and green chillies to add some kick, then we layered the vegggies, sauce, hummus and cheese on the pita breads and tossed th...
More About: Quick , Meal , Cilantro

Announcing an Event - Game Night Party Recipes - And Celebrating a Victory!
2008-01-09 20:35:00
Hi everyone! The holidays are over, and the New year has begun, so it's time to start with some more fun! Have you seen people discussing and planning to buy HDTV's (High-Definition TV) lately, and switching from Dish or Cable to DirecTV?? Well, that's because it's the sporty time of the year, and the biggest event in United States is around the corner - YES, the mighty NFL Super Bowl to be played on Feb 3rd 2008 in Arizona!! I will admit it upfront, I'm not a huge fan of NFL, simply because I think it's too violent:) But I do like the strategy part in the game, and believe it or not, when you have a group of friends and enthusiasts surrounding you in your room, rooting at every shot, you are sure to get carried away by the excitement in the atmosphere! So, before you start thinking why I'm blabbbering about Super Bowl on my Food Blog, let me tell you about my intention to host a "Game Night Party " event. Even in India and Australia, Cricket is on in full-swing, and for most ...
More About: Victory , Event , Recipes

Warm Chocolate Muffins with Chocolate Sauce and Fresh Strawberries
2008-01-08 20:36:00
As life gets busier and work get more demanding day by day, its easy to resort to "semi-homemade" and "30-minute" meals for preparing our dinners. A full-time engineer myself, I know how difficult it can get at times when you have to sacrifice a gym session just because you still have to cook, and its inviting to gather the semi-cooked ingredients and spend less time cooking, at the same time still winning loads of compliments for your culinary skills(yeah, who knows I used something right off the shelf!:)) But as a cook, I can say that most of the joy and satisfaction that I derive from cooking is in the actual process, making something from scratch, trying out variations and methods, the smells and flavors that fill up my kitchen, getting involved as the delicacy takes shape, form, color and texture in the oven or on the stove, and finally, taking that extra step to make my meal more attractive and appealing! The joy of these small wonders can't compare to the packaged food! Yest...
More About: Fruits , Desserts , Muffins , Chocolate , Fresh

Asian-style Spaghetti with Garlic and Cilantro
2008-01-07 19:23:00
Pasta or Noodles are the most-favored quick-fix meals in a lot of families. But the recipes we use can tend to get fairly monotonous, and we start craving for a change of taste pretty soon! A few variations would be choosing different styles of pasta, changing the sauces, and adding thai or asian spices to it. But I had tried almost all possible variations, and it was time to try something new, a fusion between the cuisines I enjoyed, a hand at pairing up some unique flavors! So I decided to combine two of my favorite dishes, the Veg Hakka noodles and the Garlic Spaghetti Pasta. I too the basic pasta, and instead of opting for tomato-basil or cream sauce, I went for the asian soy sauce. Fo the flavor, I used garlic and Cilantro, a pretty unique blend to noodles, but try it before you feel it's not a good choice! I aslo added some sweet chilli sauce for the thai influence, basic veggies and some chopped green onions. The result, a totally scintillating plate of noodles, with all the...
More About: Snacks , Style , Asian

Baked Family-size Banana and Walnut Pancake - An ideal weekend breakfast or
2008-01-06 22:59:00
In the everyday din and bustle of a hectic life, families hardly get time to reconnect. Weekends or holidays are the most cherished times when parents and kids are together. But what's a better way to start the day than by gathering around the table for morning breakfast, right? And here's a perfect family-sized jumbo pancake, which is actually like a cake, so that you don't have to make separate servings for everyone. Instead, just bake a large pancake for the entire family, then slice and serve so everyone enjoys it together! I use bananas and walnuts, as they are my best toppings, besides strawberries and chocolate chips:) But you are free to use any other seasonal fruits like peaches, apples, blueberries or raspberries. Just make sure you use firm fruits rather than the canned syrupy ones because you are going to pop this into the oven, not roast it on the griddle. Serve with a delicious topping of powdered sugar or whipped cream, and a large pitcher of orange juice, or fresh...
More About: Family , Fruits , Baked , Breakfast , Pancake

Cranberry-Soy Milk and Green Tea Smoothie
2008-01-04 19:59:00
It is a well-known fact that breakfast is by far, the most important meal of the day. Consume a healthy and filling breakfast and it'll keep you on your toes for a significant part of the day. It not only kickstarts your body processes, but also fuels your nerve cells to prepare you for an action-packed morning! So it's imperative to include as many nutrients as you can in your early morning meal. The importance of cranberries for its anti-oxidant properties is known to most of us. Same is the case with green tea, but some of us find it hard to take in the herb tea by itself. So I decided to combine it in a smoothie. I love my smoothies to be milk-based or creamy, and given a choice I would happily add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to my concoctions:) but as we are trying to target a healthy meal, I opted for the soy-milk, which is way more easier to digest, is full of calcium and protein, and less in calorie content. Add a bit of honey and banana and you are all set for a hale and...
More About: Fruits , Drinks , Green , Milk , Green Tea

Teatro ZinZanni - The Ultimate in Dining Experience
2008-01-04 10:47:00
When we think of splurging a fortune for food, lights and dazzle, we think of Las Vegas. The spectacular shows and the electrifying atmosphere that this city offers is truly amazing. But what if I tell you that now you can experience these at a place closer to you, and without spending a whole lot of fortune? That will get you interested, right! Welcome to the world of Teatro ZinZanni and prepare to be enchanted! A world where dreams and reality converge, magic and mystery are believable, and all your senses are bound to be satiated in a period of 3-4 hours!! Launched in 1998 by One Reel's Norman Lagill, Teatro ZinZanni now has 2 permanent locations, Seattle's historic Belltown District and the Waterfront location of Pier 39 off Embarcadero in the glittering city of San Francisco. Choose either of these, and you are promised an evening of adventure, sensuality, european cabaret, cirque and excitement, all under a large and gorgeous Belgian "Spiegeltent", and served with a sumptous...
More About: Experience , Ultimate , Dining

Roasted Cauliflower and Bell Pepper Soup
2008-01-02 19:34:00
I think the major reason people flock to the western coasts of California is the beautiful weather that we are blessed with. But looks like mother nature is playing games with this blessing that we have started taking for granted. It's been record lows this winter, and we have to turn on the heater every night! Well, not that I should complain a lot though, because a lot of my friends in the east coast have a way more hard time shovelling their driveways and uncovering their snow-clad cars in the morning, layered themselves in jerseys and overcoats. Anyways, one of the ways I think we can comfort ourselves against the cold is fuel our bodies with something hot, healthy and delicious. Yes, you guessed it right - Soup s! Generally when we think about making soups, we go with chosen favorites like tomatoes, pumpkins, mushrooms, chicken or veggies in a creamy broth. But recently I came across a cauliflower soup recipe on Southern Living, and it caught my eye. I had also seen a tomato-be...
More About: Appetizers , Soups , Pepper , Cauliflower

Palak(Spinach) and Corn Pulao
2008-01-01 19:28:00
Christmas and New Year have been heavy for me, and I mean "literally heavy", as I feel having gained a pound or two, so it's time to shift gears and turn towards some veggies and grains, giving a hiatus to the loaded desserts that I have so enjoyed making and consuming:) But with the sweet tooth that I have, there's not much time before I get back to my baking, so while I still have the enthusiasm and dedication to eat "a bit healthier and low-calorie diet", I'm going to grab on the opportunity! And when I think healthy, spinach is always at the top of my list. So, rather than the traditional Palak Paneer, I thought I'd use spinach puree in my Rice to make this delcious and pretty-looking Palak and Corn Pula o . It's basically similar to Fried rice, but just with indian flavors instead of asian spices. And to get that balance of crunch with a bit of sweetness, I added the corn kernels. It was very wholesome, and you could add a whole lot of other veggies like brocolli or potatoes...
More About: Curries , Spinach

Best of 2007 - A Year-end reflection as we prepare to welcome 2008!!
2007-12-30 21:09:00
2007 has indeed been a tremendously important year for me, both on personal and professional fronts. Personally, my parents and my in-laws were with us for almost half of the year, and there were a lot of fun-filled times, family trips, a time for bonding as well as nurturing relationships. Professionally, besides getting a promotion and accolades for my hard work, I also discovered an outlet for my love of food and cooking by means of this blog. Fun and Food started as a single page filled with a few of my favourite recipes, a page that was created solely due to my husband's encouragement, and the thought that this way I could document some of my culinary experiments. Slowly, the nice people in the blogosphere trickled over and left me some comments, some even emailed me saying I have a nice space here, and maybe I should expand it as they'd love to read more of my posts! Then there were my friends and family who left me some pointers about how I could make this blog look more pr...
More About: Reflection , Year , 2008 , Pare , Prep

Almond and Pistachio Ice Cream Pie
2007-12-29 06:40:00
We are nearing the end of the year, and there's already been a lot of parties and food indulgence. But the New Year's Eve is is still a couple days ahead, so there's one more reason to make some desserts! I've had enough of my holiday baking, so when I was looking out for something simple to transform into a sweet delight, I came across mini pie crusts is Safeway. These things were so cute, I simply had to pick them up. And though I initially intended to make fruit tarts, once I got home and saw a bag of pistachios gawking out of my kitchen cabinets, my plans had changed. I craved for some nuts and ice cream, so naturally, I decided to go for these no-maintenance,extremely simple yet delicious Ice Cream pie topped with almonds, pistachios and chocolate sauce.The best thing about these pies is that they can be made a few hours before serving time, and there are a hundred ways to impprovise them to suit your tastebuds. Just follow my recipe or substitute it with flavors you like.I...
More About: Fruits , Desserts , Almond , Nuts

Mixed Berry and White Chocolate Bread Pudding
2007-12-27 18:46:00
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and enjoyed it with their friends and family. But the holidays are still on in full swing, and so is the cooking and baking spree. After taking a 3-day well-deserved skiing break, I got back to my oven to make this Mixed Berry and White Chocolate Bread pudding. Lots of desserts and delicacies fall under the "Pudding " umbrella, like gellos, panna cotta, mousse, gooey cakes and more. But the most widely-known form of pudding is the bread pudding. As the name suggests, you make layers of milk or cream-soaked bread and top it with fruits, nuts, chocolate or anything that your heart desires:) freeze it for some hours, then toss it in the oven to make it warm and gooey, and reslish it with your favorite toppings. An exquisite dessert that can range from simple to elaborate and classic. There are tonnes of ways to experiment with this, but here's my version full of berries, raisins, chocolate and bread!I'm not a huge fan of white chocolate, and don't...

Old-fashioned Cuban Mojito with Lime and Mint
2007-12-26 16:45:00
A mojito (pronounced mo-hee-to), is the same drink that we saw James Bond (i.e. the handsome Pierce Brosnan) sipping in Cuba, for the movie Die Another Day. This is one of Cuba?s oldest cocktails, and comes from the African word mojo, which means "to place a little spell".Legend traces its roots to 1586, when Francis Drake and his pirates tried to sack Havana for its gold. While the invasion was unsuccessful, Drake?s associate, Richard Drake, was said to have invented a mojito-like cocktail known as El Draque made with aguardiente (similar to rum), sugar, lime and mint. Early on, it was consumed for medicinal purposes. But somewhere around the mid-1800s, the recipe was altered and gained in popularity as the original Bacardi Company was established. The new version became famous as the Mojito we all know. So here's the traditional cocktail recipe. This is a very sparkling and refreshing drink, perfect for cocktail parties or dinner events. In fact, due to the presence of lime and m...
More About: Drinks , Mint , Lime , Cuban , Old Fashioned

Bombay Chinese - Dallas, TX
2007-12-26 03:55:00
Fusion between authentic cuisines has been experimented successfully since quite some time now, and has led to discverey of many retro cuisines, one such being "Indian-Chinese ", chinese food prepared with indian spices. It's a trend that began in the Western part of India and is said to be most popular with younger Indian folk. This type f food caters to a large variety of people, and ranges from mild to hot and spicy. I've always been a fan of a restaurant in Dallas which was my first exposure to this type of food in USA, and I think I can definitely say that Bombay Chinese is the only restaurant in Dallas to serve the best indian-chinese food! If you are in or around the area, be sure to try it.Located in Richardson Heights, a small food-mall area with a range of eating places, Bombay Chinese is holding its ground since a long long time. The decor of the place is simple, with standard wooden chairs and tables adorned with red tablecloths and placemats. The walls show photographs...
More About: Alla

Cucumber and Cilantro Dip
2007-12-25 03:39:00
Chips and Dip are a favorite finger food for most of us, and with a wide variety of dips available in the markets, there's no end to the choices we have. But there's nothing that comes close to a fresh dip made at home! Plus, these are the best ways to make use of veggies and ingredients we have in our pantry. The possibilities are numerous, and you can actually enjoy dips with a lot of food like your raw veggies, as a salad topping, ot with your tortilla chips! Here's a simple yet tasty and nutritious Cilantro and Cucumber dip made with light sour cream. I add some mint and green chillies for the fresh taste and a spice kick, and the resultant dip is sure to make a lovely addition to your dinner table.Ingredients1 cup of low-fat (light) sour cream1 fresh cucumbera fistful of cilantro - finely chopped6-7 mint leaves1-2 tbsp lemon juicesalt - to taste3 green chillies (choose the spicy ones)MethodMince the green chillies, cilantro, mint leaves and cucumber in a blender with one spo...
More About: Sauces

Persimmon and Chocolate Spiced Walnut Cake
2007-12-21 19:24:00
Lately, I've seen so many spice cake recipes, I was tempted to try my hand at one of these myself. Baking is one of my favorite passtimes, and when my sister-in-law gave me a bag-ful of persimmons, I knew there had to be a better way to put them to good use rather than just eating them raw. For some time now, I had my eyes on Meeta's Persimmon Pudding, and combined with my longing to bake a spice cake, it came to me as no surprise when I just decided to throw in all of my favorite ingredients into a cake batter to make this luscious and aromatic Persimmon and Chocolate Spiced Walnut cake. Yeah, I'm a huge fan of walnuts and chocolate, and since I craved for a lovely dark brown color, I opted for adding some cocoa powder to my recipe. Walnuts were the obvious and easy choice to add the crunch in every bite. As forthe spices, we add them everyday to our morning tea, so I was sure about the flavor they would add to my cake! Overall, it was a successful experiment, and here are the r...
More About: Desserts , Cake , Nuts

Choosing and Pairing the Best Wine with your Food
2007-12-20 18:21:00
Whether its a festive holiday, or a simple dinner with friends, when you are hosting an event, it is always special. Entertaining can be really fun and satisfying when you know what you are serving, and that you have done your best to make great food and serve the best drinks! Holidays are a time to be a bit more extravagant and indulge yourself in a few luxuries. So naturally, there is bound to be some Wine and Champagne at the table. A meal will always be more enjoyable if paired with a great tasting wine. You can go and pick out a good-looking affordable wine for your guests, but unless you are a vintner, how do you choose what wine will go best with the food that you are serving? And what should be the criteria for choosing your wines, besides the price, of course?? Luckily for all of us, here are some simple points to consider that would make your food and wine pairing process, a bit less intimidating.Wine comes in three basic forms: red, white and sparkling. Sparkling white wi...
More About: Food , With You

Gingerbread Latte - A Christmas Tradition
2007-12-20 09:14:00
People say that there's always a first time to everything, and though you pretty much govern whether you want to do something or not, there are times when you just get carried away by the flow and end up trying something you might have had some reservations about. One such thing that happened to me after coming to US was tasting different coffee flavors, and I must say, it was the best thing ever! I love flavored lattes, hazelnut and tiramisu being my all-time favorites. But this holiday season, my friend at work made me taste the traditional gingerbread latte. She took me to Starbucks and paid for my coffee just so I would get to know and taste the wild and spicy flavor that is zipped up in this one amazing drink! This seasonal favorite will surely make you feel warm and cozy, and ignite fond memories of the gingerbread man and the spirit of christmas!Gingerbread has its roots in Europe, mainly Germany. In Medieval England gingerbread simply meant "preserved ginger", and was tradi...
More About: Christmas , Drinks , Tradition , Latte

Marbled Cream Cheese Brownie - Sheer Chocolate Indulgence
2007-12-18 19:14:00
The holiday season is in its full swing, and believe it or not, as soon as I step out of my house, I am filled with the aroma of baking emanating from houses all around me!! All homes are adorned with twinkling christmas lights, and fabulous decorations in the front yards, with Santa, and his sledge of reindeers, giant snowman, lighted christmas trees, and sometimes even tiny replicas of Bethlehem, and as if that is not enough to remind me of the festival, my nose keeps tingling at the smells of spices, cookies, savoury treats and other holiday baking that is intoxicating, and in my case, highly addictive, as I'm tempted to turn on my oven!! Here are some semi-homemade brownies, with all the goodness of chocolate combined with creamcheese for that marbled effect. All that fudgy chocolate is so inviting, there's no way you can resist eating it!! And as it uses some ready-made items, it doesn't even take much time to dish out these lovely beauties!Ingredients1 packet of ready-made ...
More About: Desserts , Chocolate , Cheese , Cream , Brownie

Simple Chickpea and Mung Salad - A bowl full of Protein
2007-12-17 22:31:00
There are days when you feel like eating the most simple and nutritious things in life, and naturally, the first thing that comes to your mind is a Salad . There are loads of salad dressings available in the market these days, but if you closely look at the labels on them, you'll find they are not always less in calories. It's best to stick to simple and traditional home-dressings when you are trying to fill yourself up with something nutritious. Here's my favorite salad, which I call a bowlful of protein, as it's made of lentils, spinach and peppers, no fancy dressing, no additional pizzazz, just plain old simple Indian salad!Ingredients2 cups of washed fresh spinach leaves2 cans of boiled chickpeas (garbanzo beans)2 cups of boiled green mung beans1 green or yellow bell pepper1 small onion - chopped finely1 green cucumber - diced1/2 cup of lemon juice1 firm tomato - chopped finelysalt and pepper - to tastechaat masala - to sprinkle on the topa handful of coriander leaves - chopp...
More About: Sauces , Protein , Simple , Full

Spinach Onion and Cheese Souffle
2007-12-14 19:31:00
Cooking is all about flavors, aroma, tastes, and a whole lot of imagination! It's great to experiment with different ingredients and imagine how they would pair with each other, whether they compliment one another, or result in a stark contrasting taste. Sometimes these culinary concoctions can go awry, but most of the times it's fun, and results into something that leaves a tasty impression. Luckily for us, there are some things that just "click together", like chocolate and cookies, pasta and bread, my husband and me:), or in this case, spinach and cheese!! You can hardly go wrong with Spinach and Cheese , so for my first souffle recipe, I decided to go for a safer bet. I added two of my favorite ingredients, garlic and onions, threw in a pinch of nutmeg, and we had a luscious, good-looking and healthy Spinach Onion and Cheese Souffle for our dinner. People do get intimidated sometimes at the thought of making a souffle or casserole, including me, but it's not that tough, and ac...
More About: Snacks , Nach

Say NO to Sodas, and YES to Fresh Juices - Drink your way to a Slimmer and
2007-12-13 22:05:00
I know a lot of us rely on sodas to quench our thirst during the day, but the more I look at those soda cans, the more revolted I feel, and wish they would all be replaced by fresh fruit or vegetable juices! The world would be a much more healthier place if only we understood the importance of water and juices. Sodas have incredibly little nutritional value and in addition to that they have huge amounts of sugar, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors that do no good to your body. The sugar will give you a major energy spike, but that will soon wear off, leaving you more tired than you were prior to drinking the soda. This is due to your body burning some of your energy reserves during the spike, without having them properly replenished.Fresh juice (that which comes straight out of a juicer), on the other hand, has large quantity of nutrients, minerals and vitamins, something that your body really needs, and can absorb very easily as they are easy to digest. The water content ...
More About: Drink

Peppermint and Vanilla Butter Cookies (Inspired by Candy Canes for Christma
2007-12-12 18:58:00
Just as wreaths, stockings and mistletoes signify the spirit of christmas, cookies and cakes do their part in spreading the joy all around. As the festival of christmas is just a few days away, people have started baking goodies and packing them in decorative tin boxes and wrapping papers, shipping them across to their loved ones and friends, wishing them joy and success in the days to come. Some flavors and smells reign the kitchens in these festive days, including, but not limited to chocolate, peppermint, vanilla, and of course, gingerbread! Joining in the fun and having found a reason to bake more often, I decided to go for a batch of these beautiful pink and white Swirl Cookies flavored with peppermint and vanilla. I love the candy canes and the beautiful ribbon patterns that they form, but I can't take too much of peppermint in one go. So here's the perfect solution, these basic sugar cookies, with a hint of peppermint and all the goodness of the lovely colors.Ingredients1 c...
More About: Desserts , Candy , Butter , Inspired

Green Pea and Mint Soup - Tastes as Good as it Looks!!
2007-12-10 19:51:00
I had loads of mint leaves at home after I used barely some from the large bunch I bought at the Farmer's market, and as they don't stay fresh for a long time, I knew I had to put them to good use. I searched around for some simple recipes, and finally decided to try it for a delicious soup, combined with peas, just perfect for detoxifying the system and enjoying the warmth of the soup in this winter chill. I have to admit I was a bit hesitant in trying the soup, but what is a chef who doesn't experiment, so I took the leap of faith and jumped right in! The result, a beautiful green-colored Pea and Mint soup, flavored mildly with onion, garlic, fennel and black pepper, and a little bit of fresh cream adding a bit to the indulgence. It serves to be a very healthy and wholesome entree on cold winter nights, and definitely puts all that extra mint to good use!!Ingredients1 tbsp olive oil1 small onion - chopped3 garlic cloves - minced1 tbsp fennel seeds powder - roasted (optional)6 c...
More About: Green , Soup , Good , Looks

How to choose the Best Espresso Machine and Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee
2007-12-08 17:53:00
Ask any true coffee-lover worldwide about the best cup of coffee and you'd most likely get an answer "The Espresso !" This one tiny shot of pure coffee adorned with foam at the top gives a kickstart to many of us, awakening our minds and bodies and making us fit to survive through the rest of the day. Most people who haven't had a good cup of espresso typically say they don't like it because it is bitter. If espresso is bitter, it most likely hasn't been made properly as it is supposed to taste like a cup of molten bitersweet chocolate. It doesn't need sugar; it is naturally sweet. This belief is true at least for US, while in UK and India, the opposite might be true. In any case, so many of us depend on Barista, Starbucks or Peet's and other cafes for our daily dose of caffeine, that it's easier to invest in a high-quality espresso machine and brew your own cup, which I'm sure would not only save you a lot of "moolah", but also give you immense satisfaction! The million-doll...
More About: Coffee , Machine , Perfect , Choose

Badam Halwa (Sheero) with a Toor Dal Twist - A Healthy Fusion!!
2007-12-06 21:17:00
Some days you just feel like indulging in something sweet, and that too without a fuss! Of course, you can buy chocolates and cakes from outside, but there's an entirely different pleasure in making something sweet and delicious at home, and enjoy it while it fills your kitchen with a fragrance, right? Well, back in India, Sooji Halwa is one such simple sweet which is made in every household to cater to sweet cravings. But another favorite of mine has been the Badam Halwa, and this time I tried to add something healthier to it and cut down on the almonds and the fat they bring along with them; so I added the main ingredient of my another favorite - Puran Poli or Vedmi, and I made my own Toor dal and Badam Halwa, which tastes just as nice, with way fewer calories!Let me warn you that this is not your traditional rich halwa that is loaded with ghee, so if you are looking for a recipe for a festive occasion, just replace the toor dal below with almonds and go for the original Badam Ha...
More About: Fusion , Indian Sweets , Healthy , Twist