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Visitor's Guide to San Francisco Bay Area - Part 1
2007-12-06 06:24:00
One of the most sought-after tourist destinations in USA has to be the city of San Francisco , which, like New York, is termed as the city that never sleeps. A beautifully designed city on the Bay at the western coast of US, this place has something interesting, exciting and fulfilling to offer to every individual; whether you are a nature-lover, a water-sports person, love architecture and history, are an avid shopper, an adventurer or a foodie like me, you will never be disappointed in SFO, and will always come back for more too! But 2 days is a very short time to capture the essence of the city; ideally, you at least need a week to revel and appreciate what SFO has to offer. But not many of us have the luxury to spend more than a weekend for short getaways. So as a resident of this area who loves travelling and blogging, I am honored to play a guide to your San Francisco Bay trip, guiding you through the must-see places and tourist attractions in and around the city, and making su...
More About: Travel , San Francisco Bay Area , Guide , Part

Shiitake Mushroom and Bleu Cheese Crostini
2007-12-04 20:18:00
As the holiday season turns into full swing, you'll find yourself playing a host more often than you think. Sometimes it's nice to know a simple yet presentable dish that will not suck all your energy and yet pay justice to the occassion. Toda I share with you one such appetizer recipe, the Shiitake Mushroom Crostini, an italian first-course meal, similar to "bruschetta", but it also serves well on a dinner plate when you are not too keen on consuming a heavy meal. That's precisely how we finished ours yesterday. The Shiitake mushrooms have a unique taste, and though you can replace this recipe with your choice of mushrooms, the former work better with the cream sauce, garlic and chives. The garlic and the bleu cheese are of course, the essence of this dish. I've used simple bread for the base, but you can even try the flavored ones that we get these days in stores and places like Panera Bread!Ingredients2 tbsp butter2 cups fresh shiitake mushrooms - cleaned and chopped2 cloves ...
More About: Italian , Appetizers , Cheese , Soups

Beetroot-Carrot-Peas Curry over Steamed Rice
2007-12-02 19:12:00
With the advent of new technology, we have gadgets taking over most of our tedious work, and pretty soon we might see robots made to think like humans and take decisions like us, probably start having feelings like us too!! That would mean a scary world to me, and I'll keep praying they can't give the sense of taste and smell to these machines; at least that will keep chefs like us into business, right??!! But seriously, just try to imagine cooking something in the kitchen without a mixer, grinder or a food processor or our favorite microwave, especially in countries like USA. Seems weird, right! And yet, when you come to think of it, there are so many people who cook great food without using any of these fancy appliances; So, when easycrafts announced a "Powerless Cooking" event, it gave me a chance to reflect upon how less we used such kitchen gadgets back in India! It's not only an energy-saving concept, but also induces the chef in you to challenge yourself once in a while to...
More About: Rice , Curry , Beetroot , Curries , Carrot

Chocolate-Dipped Orange Madeleines (French Cake-like Cookies)
2007-11-30 19:13:00
The French are known for their love of food, exquisite desserts, their romanticism, and their perfumes. They tend to be exotic in whatever they do, and so there's no doubt you'll see a similar touch in their cuisine too!! "Madeleine" is a french name for Magdalen (Mary Magdalen - The Holy Grail from the Da Vinci Code, ring any bells??) There are several legends attached to these delicious cookies with a unique shape and taste, one of them being that Madeleines come from the little French town of Commercy, whose bakers were said to have once, long ago (18th century), paid a "very large sum" for the recipe of these little cakes which became a specialty in the area. Commercy once had a convent dedicated to St. Mary Magdelen, and the nuns there supported themselves and their schools by making and selling cake-like cookies, and historians believe that when all the convents and monasteries of France were abolished during the French Revolution, they were forced to sell their recipe to th...
More About: Christmas , Holidays , Orange , Cookies

Utsav Festive Indian Restaurant - New York, NY
2007-11-28 23:18:00
New York , the city of lights, dreams, theatre and finance, basically, the city that never sleeps! So as expectations run high for everything in this city, how can food be left behind?? NY is big, and there are plenty of good places to eat, but on our trip, we just had time to check out the major tourist attractions, so our choices of location were limited. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of eateries, and believe me, being a chef myself, and coming from the food-indulgent San Francisco Bay Area, we are hard to please in terms of food. So our experience at Utsav Festive Indian restaurant, an upscale eatery in Midtown New York, was a very satisfying one, and hence needs to be shared with you.This place is located on a second-floor bridge over the plaza between 46th and 47th Streets. It's a large place aesthetically decorated in neutral and warm shades of wood, light orange and beige. The place is airy and spacious, and instantly makes you feel relaxed. On the ground floor...
More About: New York , Restaurant , New-York

Vegan Rice Paper Rolls (Veg version of Thai Ahi Rolls)
2007-11-27 21:33:00
Spring Rolls are a famous appetizer on Asian Menus, and they taste great too, whether they are vegetarian or filled with meat or fish. The only problem is that they are fried, and they also hold quite a bit of oil in the pastry shell. So I was very happy to be served Vegetarian Rolls which were not fried; rather, they were just wrapped using Rice Paper sheets. These tasted great, and were a whole lot healthier than the spring rolls (which I love, btw!) So if you've eaten a lot of calories for a few days and need to cut down on some, or simply seek to eat something healthy yet delicious, Rice Paper Rolls will work great for you. And the best part, it took me less than 20 mins to make all the rolls! The recipe I describe below is a Vegan Recipe, but I've suggested variations at the end of the post so you can modify it to suit your taste!Ingredients 1 small cucumber - peeled and chopped1 small carrot - peeled and chopped1/2 cup lettuce - chopped finely1/4 cup mint leaves3 tbsp pickle...
More About: Thai , Version

Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup - Chinese Soup, Indian Style
2007-11-26 05:03:00
For anyone who loves soups, there is one name, besides the famous Tomato Soup, which would surely go into their favourites for its unique smell, taste and flavor, and that is undoubtedly, the Hot and Sour Soup. This soy-sauce based chinese soup has the right blend of sourness and chili, providing a spicy kick which is offset by a bit of sugar that the recipe demands, and also the use of veggies and spring onions. Made of simple ingredients, this soup does not take a lot of your time, and is great for people suffering from cold. The use of pepper and ginger help in controlling appetite, and the taste is just too good for your tongue and will continue to linger in your mind even after you have finished the entire bowl!! I have indianised the traditional chinese recipe a bit to suit my palette, but basically, feel free to use your choice of vegetables so it works best for you.Ingredients2 tbsp Chili Sauce11/2 tbsp Corn Flour / Corn Starch1-1/2 tbsp Soy Sauce2 tbsp Vinegar2 tbsp Capsicu...
More About: Vegetarian , Indian , Style , Chinese , Appetizers

Hot and Spiced Vanilla Rum Drink - Welcoming Winter with a Warmth!!
2007-11-24 07:19:00
Sitting in front of the TV as I type this post, I have a hot cup of a special drink on one side and of course, the warmth of my family on the other, and with our heater turned on, it's no surprise that Winter has set in!! Tired from all the Thanksgiving shopping?? I have a special hot and spiced drink just for you. Rich and creamy, yet flavored with rum and spices to soothe your entire body, this drink is way better than a Starbucks coffee!! The cinnamon and nutmeg are also beneficial to your body. And the best part, you can make the spice mixture and store it for the entire winter so that you can appease to your cravings during anytime of the season.Ingredients1/2 cup boiling water1 ounce dark rum (optional)1 large tbsp hot buttered rum mixture (recipe below)Vanilla Spice Mixture2 cups brown sugar2 sticks butter, room temperature2 cups vanilla ice cream1 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ground nutmegMethodHot Buttered Rum MixturePlace the sugar, butter, ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg in ...
More About: Drink , Drinks , Warmth

Achari Paneer Tikka Wraps - Healthy and Delicious!!
2007-11-22 20:00:00
As an Indian, I am bound to be biased by Paneer , but frankly, even if I wasn't an Indian, there's no way someone could have kept me away from this magical ingredient called Paneer (Cottage Cheese)!! It is healthy, rich in proteins, less on trans fat, and can impart tremendous richness and flavor to any dish that it goes into. One of the easiest wasy to relish paneer is by making Paneer Tikka, that is, marinating it with spices and eating it with veggies. So I just went one step ahead and combined the paneer tikka with some chilli-garlic pickle, added veggies and cheese and wrapped them into wheat parathas to make these extremely inviting Achari Paneer Wraps. I was first exposed to these wraps at an Indian restaurant called Amber Bytes (which I'm going to review very soon!), and I was totally taken over by the taste. Hope you like it as much as we did!!Ingredients2 cups paneer (cottage cheese) - cut into small cubes1/2 green capsicum (bell pepper)- diced finely1/2 red capsicum - d...
More About: Snacks , Healthy , Delicious , Hari

Traditional Pecan Pie with Bourbon-flavored Whipped Cream
2007-11-20 19:22:00
A Thanksgiving dinner is never complete without some traditional ingredients like Pecans, Pumkins, Cranberries, Apples and of course Turkey. But as we are making a Vegetarian Thanksgiving, I have to omit turkey out of my preparations. The famous Pecan Pie, traditionally a South-western recipe, has become a trademark for thanksgiving season, and my frequent trips to supermarkets and grocery stores has proved that it's a great hit at tables on this day. On asking at the cash register, I was appaled to hear him say that they sell more than 10,000 pies during the 3 days of thanksgiving weekend!!! Wow, and that's just one store!! I am a huge fan of Marie Callendar's Pecan Pie, and this time I knew I would try making one myself. I decided to get into the holiday mood, and hence added amaretto to the basic recipe. And then I came across the Bourbon -laced whipped cream, and I knew my pie would be incomplete without it! So here's to a rich and gooey pie, and to the ultimate way of saying...
More About: Desserts , Cream , Traditional

Vegetable Lasagna with Noodles - Thanksgiving Main Course!!
2007-11-19 18:19:00
One of my first exposures to cheese and tomatoes, besides in a sandwich, was the Vegetarian Lasagna, a scrumptous, rich dish with a thick gravy and cheese flavored heavily with Italian herbs and layered with veggies and noodles. This was such a lovely way to enjoy the noodles that I instantly became a fan. So this thanksgiving, I thought I'd share with you this vegetarian main course that you and your guests would absolutely enjoy! Plus, it's so easy to tweak the basic recipe to add your choice of vegetables or meat and turn this into one of your favorites! Spiced with oregano, basil, thyme and parsely, this dish is a classic combination of noodles and veggies accentuated by the tomato sauce and cheese, and the mushrooms with Pesto take it to another level! Surely fit for a festive occasion, this Vegetable Lasagna will definitely bring an appealing taste to your palette!Ingredients4 long lasagna noodlesNonstick cooking spray1/2 cup chopped onion1 tspn dried oregano1 tspn dried bas...
More About: Thanksgiving , Snacks , Main , Noodles

Roasted Pumpkin and Onion Bisque (Soup) - Thanksgiving Appetizer!
2007-11-16 19:01:00
As we drift into longer and more chillier nights, and await the first snow, our tongues and minds crave for something hot, comforting and tantalizing. And with Thanksgiving round the corner, we are also looking for recipes that would fit the occasion. And this is one time of the year when you cannot ignore pumpkins, which are mainly cultivated in western hemisphere, and are commonly found in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. Honestly, I haven't been a great fan of using this in my recipes, maybe because I haven't developed the taste for it. But 3 days ago I tried the pumpkin soup at my cafe and the flavor struck a chord. It was creamy, rich, a bit of sweet with a touch of onions and savored with italian herbs. And the mere look of the bisque was inviting and soothing at the same time. So I thought I have to share this with my other readers who might have shied away from pumpkin recipes just like me and would never realize how wonderful this recipe could be! ...
More About: Appetizers , Soup , Pumpkin , Appetizer

Homemade Fruit and Nut Spiced Cereal Bars (Fig and Date Bars)
2007-11-15 19:37:00
As a child, I wasn't too careful about what went into my system early in the morning, and trying to get ready to reach my school in time never made breakfast a priority for me. Even when my mom and dad kept pestering me to eat properly and chew my food, most of the days I ate a slice of bread washed down with a cup of chocolate milk!! But as I grew up and became a bit more sane, I realised that breakfasts were the most important meal of the day, and it pays to make a healthy start. This led to discovery of cereals, and when I laid my eyes on the flavorful, tasty and healthy POST Cereal s, I had found my paradise!! My love (or shall I say, my sanity?) for eating healthy, at least when I can, kept growing, and now I make it a point to keep some protein and cereal/granola bars handy in my purse or my office drawer so I don't have to binge on junk food in times of dire need! But buying those bars regularly can be an expensive affair, and when you realize that they are actually pretty s...
More About: Fruit , Bars

Get Creative with Pumpkins and Wreaths - Decorating Ideas for a memorable T
2007-11-14 18:51:00
The festive season is in the air, and as Thanksgiving and Christmas, the two most important occassions are around the corner, the din-and-bustle of arranging for parties, sending out invitations and planning for family events has already begun! And the one fruit that wins the glory of attention in this season is the Pumpkin. Right from Halloween, pumpkins find their ways into homes, and as thanksgiving approaches, these spooky-pumpkins evolve and transform into lovely centerpieces and decoration items. The fall colors like Orange, Green, Amber, Red and Yellow adorn every household, and so do the Wreaths that act as a "Welcome" sign on the doors. Pumpkins blend with these colors and family traditions to add their own charm into the bountiful spirit of these celebrations! So I thought I'd share with you some lovely ideas about what you could do with pumpkins and wreaths that is not only fun, but can even add a touch of glamour to your decorations. And with this post, I am also introd...
More About: Ideas , Creative , Entertaining

Marshmallow-Chocolate Mud Cookies
2007-11-13 08:18:00
That chocolate chunks go best in cookies is a well-known fact, but another such ingredient which enhances the flavor of cookies is Marshmallow . Yes, that tiny white, soft and chewy ingredient that imparts taste and texture to your cookies! Mud Cookies are traditionally loaded with chocolate, both dark and white, and are baked a little more than regular cookies to give them the dark brown mud-like color. But don't go by the comparision to mud - it ends in the name!! The mud-cookies are very tasty, not too sweet, and make for lovely goodie-boxes for the festive season!This recipe is adapted from Paula Dean's show on Food Network.Ingredients1 cup semisweet chocolate chips1/2 cup butter, softened1 cup sugar2 large eggs1 tspn vanilla1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 tspn baking powder1/2 tspn salt1 cup chopped pecans1/2 cup milk chocolate chunks1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)MethodMicrowave semisweet chocolate morsels in a small microwave-safe glass bowl at HIGH for 1 minute, stirring e...
More About: Desserts , Chocolate , Allo

Italian Bruschetta - A perfect blend of tomatoes, onions and herbs on garli
2007-11-12 21:17:00
Bruschetta is a traditional Italian appetizer or antipasti, as you see it listed in a menu in an Italian restaurant, and definitely my favorite! I love bruschetta, especially the one that they serve over at the CheeseCake factory. They bake a special bread which is more fluffy, like a pizza base; but the traditional bruschetta is supposed to have a hard italian crusty bread for a base, and is topped with tomatoes, garlic, and basil, in the least. I like my own version though, which also includes onions and parmesan cheese:) So here's my recipe for this tasty snack which is very simple and easy to make, and healthy too! Ooh! I still have the lovely smell of garlic and the tomatoes and herbs in my nose!!Ingredients4 large ripe and juicy tomatoes1 garlic clove, minced1/2 cup onions - chopped finely1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves - chopped1 tbsp dry oregano flakesSalt and freshly ground pepper to taste1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (goat cheese or mozarella tastes great too...
More About: Appetizers , Herbs , Soups , Perfect

The Healthy Red Juice (Beetroot-Cucumber-Pineapple Juice)
2007-11-11 09:01:00
The first time I tasted beetroot juice was at a juice center in Tahoe, and frankly, I wasn't too impressed. But I knew that not all things are meant just for your taste buds, and beet is something that is really a boon for your body. It cleanses your system and increases haemoglobin, alongwith purifying your blood. So the challenge was to keep trying some combinations with beet till I found a concoction that was healthy and comparably tasty. Also, my diet plan had taught me that cucumber and apple are 2 other things that work well for the body, and also go well together. So I experimented with these flavors and came up with the following drink recipe which I am sure will appeal to your body system and your tongue! Due to lack of imagination, I just named it "The Healthy Red Drink"Ingredients1 small grated cucumber1 grated beetroot1/2 cup grated pineapple4 apples - cut in 42 tbsp sugar1 tsp grated ginger (optional)MethodBlend the beetroot, ginger, pineapple and cucumber along with w...
More About: Fruits , Cucumber , Pineapple , Drinks , Beetroot

Kesar Rasmalai - Diwali Special !!
2007-11-09 19:15:00
Diwali is one of the most popular Indian festival and would always remain to be so. Though each region in India has a special way of celebrating it, and a unique story behind it, in the northern part of India it is celebrated as the return of "Ram (a lord king) along with Sita (his wife) and Lakshman (his brother)" from his 14 years of exile after his victory over Ravana (obviously, the demon king!). To commemorate his return to Ayodhya (his birthplace), his subjects illuminated the kingdom and burst crackers. Hence, following the tradition, Indians celebrate it by enjoying sweets, music, fireworks and family get-togethers. The day after Diwali also heralds the beginning of a New financial year for some of the Hindus. So here's a beautiful, spectacular and rich-looking Indian dessert recipe (traditionally a bengali sweet) that I am sure many of you must have tasted in Indian restaurants - the Kesar Rasmalai!Ingredients4 cups whole milk for channa1 cup sugar3 cups of water6-7 strand...
More About: Indian Sweets , Special , Diwali , Mala

World's Most Expensive Dessert - Unveiled!!
2007-11-08 20:59:00
The culinary world has always been a world full of fascinating, intriguing, exotic and salivating surprises. The power of the TV and the web has brought all the gourmands and food-lovers so close to each other that barriers of geography, lifestyle, language or region are no longer existant. As more and more people join the newly-emerging Food-Lover community, this is one world that's growing faster than any other sphere, leaving even the tech world behind! The latest chart-buster on the food and culinary arena is the "Frrozen Haute Chocolate", the dessert that made its mark as the Most Expensive Dessert in the Guinness Book of World Records, and is priced at an exorbitant $25,000 !!! Astonished, aghast, interested in knowing more...the secret is unveiled right here, at Fun and Food!On Tuesday, New York City came up with a $1,000 bagel, topped with white truffle cream cheese and goji berry-infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves. (yeah, like someone would buy that!). But that was ...
More About: Entertainment

Spinach and Paneer Cutlets - Bring a Zing to your table!
2007-11-07 20:57:00
Cutlets, also known as "Croquettes" or "Tikkis" are a top choice for delicious snacks, coctail parties or finger-food appetizers. They are easy to make, can be prepared a day in advance and can go with any kind of cuisine! That, along with the multitude of variations that can go into these make it a favourite choice at lots of party platters. Potatoes are by default a preferred ingredient in most vegetable cutlets, but this time I chose to add something else that could give my cutlets a unique taste and texture. So I chose the next best thing in the Indian cooking glossary - Paneer , and added a bunch of peas, spinach and spices to make these delicious Vegetable Cutlets. You can serve them with any dipping sauce or enjoy these by themselves at tea-time!Ingredients1 cup paneer (cottage cheese) - shredded2 cups spinach - blanched and chopped1 big potato - boiled and mashed1/2 cup peas - boiled and mashed1/2 cup coriander - chopped3 cloves of garlic - minced1/2 cup onions - chopped fine...
More About: Table , Spinach , Nach

Layered Coffee Cheesecake
2007-11-06 20:52:00
Cheesecake recipes would never go out of "culinary fashion", and nor would this dessert! Generally when you think of making a cheesecake, you associate it with fruits, but after coming across one at a dessert cafe and combined with my love for coffee, I was inclined to try a new flavor, the lovely Coffee Cheesecake which is enhanced by the presence of kahlua (Kahlúa is a well known Mexican coffee flavored liqueur. It is heavy and sweet, with a distinct taste of coffee) And to top it all, I used Oreo cookies to make the crust. There! a perfect combination of all my favourite ingredients, and there is no way this dessert could go wrong!! Rather than blending everything together, I decided to make it a layered cheesecake with a larger layer of flavored coffee topped by a smaller one of espresso. So this gives you the perfect sweetness followed by a kick from the espresso. Words would not be able to give justice to this creation, so make your own and share it with everyone.Adapted from ...
More About: Desserts , Cheese , Cheesecake

AFAM-Peach Roundup - Time for some Peach Recipes
2007-11-05 20:16:00
AFAM (A Fruit a Month) started by Maheshwari (Beyond The Usual) has cycled through a lot of hosts and fruits, and this time I was the Chosen One, and I in turn chose "The delectable Peach ". Peaches or Nectarines are the juicy and fiber-rich fruits that resemble apples from outside, but have a large seed inside. I was a bit hesitant to choose Peach as this month's fruit because it's not easily available in India, and lots of my Indian blog friends couldn't participate because of this!:( I apologize for depriving them of this opportunity, and also to those where peaches were not in season!! I'll try selecting something more universal next time. But I'm happy and feel so good that even after all these odds, many of you went through tremendous efforts and used preserved or canned peaches and made something delicious out of them just to participate in my event!! That makes me feel so happy and loved. Thanks so much for all your efforts and for the lovely spread of peaches that you'...
More About: Recipes , Time , Roundup , Some

Malai Kofta Curry
2007-11-05 02:59:00
One of our favourite curries in all Indian restaurants is the Mala i Kofta. In fact, my husband uses this dish as his criterion for judging restaurants:) The place that can dish out a rich, delicious and freshly-spiced Kofta Curry goes on his wishlist. Though I've made similar curries before, I had never really ventured into making the authentic malai kofta, but after looking at Sia's recipe, I knew it was time I tried my hand at this. And this weekend as we celebrated pre-Diwali with family and friends, I made the Malai Kofta Curry and am proud to say that it was a hit with everyone!IngredientsFor Koftas2 cups Paneer - grated3 Potatoes - boiled and mashed1 cup Green Peas1 small Carrot boiled and grated1 tsp Garam Masala1 1/2 tsp Kitchen King Masala3-4 tbsp Maida2 tbsp Cashews slit in halves3 tbsp RaisinsOil for deep fryingSalt to taste1 tbsp lemon juiceFor Gravy2 medium Onions - finely chopped1 can of Tomato Puree12-15 Cashews1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste1 tsp Garam Masala2 tsp Kitch...
More About: Curries

Basbousa - Semolina (Sooji) Cake with Rose Syrup
2007-11-02 20:34:00
I have made cakes with all-purpose flour all the time, so this time I decided to try something new. While looking for ethnic cake recipes, I came across this one called "Basbousa", which is a typical middle-eastern dessert (mainly Egyptian) with Semolina as a main ingredient. Also, unlike the traditional way of making cakes, this is unique as it uses a sugar syrup topping for a plain cake, which in fact induces the softness, flavor and sweetness to the cake. Also, almonds and lemon juice are an important part of the traditional recipe. I was excited with the idea of making a cake with semolina, or sooji as it is known in India; it sounded healthy and different. The concept of sugar syrup was also fascinating, as I've made a Tres Leches Cake before which uses milk syrup in the same way. As I'm not too huge a fan of lemon flavor in my cakes, I cut down on the lemon juice a little and added Rose essence instead as I thought it would give a nice aroma and a mildly sweet taste that wou...
More About: Desserts

Ambala Dhaba Los Angeles - Review
2007-11-01 18:07:00
I realized that staying in the Bay Area, I have visited so many nice restaurants that I have neglected writing about the ones I have loved visiting in other places! You do tend to get biased for the place you live in, but then again, its also because in Bay Area I have discovered a culinary heaven like nowhere else. I know I know...some of my friends from the East Coast are going to pounce on me for this, but hey, I believe in what I see:) I spent almost 2 years in Los Angeles , CA, and there are definitely a few restaurants worth mentioning. One such quaint yet appealing place is the Ambala Dhaba, a reasonable restaurant in Westwood Santa Monica that appeals to me not only for their food, but also the ambience!Ambala Dhaba (Westwood, LA)Address:1781 Westwood BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90024(P) 310 966-1772Located between Santa Monica Blvd and Massachusets Avenue in West LA, this Indian restaurant has a setting of a "dhaba", or a village-like setting that makes you feel like you are sitting...
More About: Review

Hot and Tasty Dum Aloo
2007-10-31 18:22:00
As winter starts setting in, our senses crave for something hot and comforting, and that's exactly what we want our food to be too, right? So what could be better than hot and spicy curry served with parathas or rice?! That was precisely the thought in my mind when I decided to pick up these baby potatoes over at the vegetable market. They were so cute and so inviting I had to buy them and put them to good use. And there is no other way to enjoy these than to make Dum Aloo - a vegetable curry packed with spices and flavor. "Dum" means strength, and that is precisely what's packed in these tiny potatoes that are flavored with spices to the core and are simmered in a rich curry. Here goes my recipe!Ingredients1/2 kg baby potatoes - boiled and peeled3 tbsp lemon juiceFew coriander leaves - choppedgreen spring onion - chopped for garnish4 tbsp cup gheeSalt to taste1 tsp sugar1 tbsp tandoori masala (available in indian stores)1/2 cup water1/2 cup whole milk.oil for shallow frying the p...
More About: Curries

Peach Malai (Cream) Sandwich with Kulfi on the side
2007-10-30 18:25:00
I have been exposed to so many different kinds of fruits after coming to the US, and this gave me ample opportunities as a chef to try new combinations and variations using these fruits. From delicious berries to juicy nectarines and peaches, it has been a long journey, and I'm just halfway trying out all the options out there! So as peaches seem to be moving out of the Farmer's Markets, I decided to try something fancy with them before they ran out of season. I paired it with bread and cream to make a beautiful yet simple Sandwich with Peach and Mixed-Fruit filling and served it with the Peach Kulfi to make this complete dessert dish that you see!!This is my contribution to the AFAM-Peach Event (click on the logo on the side) that we are hosting on this blog this month. You have 2 more days to meet the deadline. So get cooking and send in your lovely peach entries if you haven't already!!IngredientsMalai Sandwich12 slices of regular white bread1/4th cup almond slices1/4th cup pi...
More About: Fruits , Desserts , Side , Cream

Lemon and Coconut Rice with Sambhar
2007-10-29 19:19:00
Being from western India, I've never quite experimented with south-Indian cooking a lot, but my husband being one of the true south-indian food fans, I had no choice but to jump right in! And I have to say I loved this!! Dosas and Idlis is something everyone finds interesting, but I was new to the wide variety of rice dishes that my friends kept cooking. So after trying stuff like Puliyogare, Tomato Rice , Curd Rice and Tamarind Rice, next in line was the famous Lemon Rice. I was intrigued by the subtle taste of this dish, and how the flavors of lemon and spices gave a nice touch to the simple art of making rice. I made some modifications to the traditional recipe and decided to add coconut to this, which made it taste even better. We had the Lemon-Coconut Rice with the not-so-traditional sambhar. I'm not sure if this is a widely accepted pair or not, but I can tell you it had us licking our fingers and the plates!!IngredientsFor the Rice4 cups long-grain basmati ricea fistful of p...

Green Tea and Health - A perspective study of the truths and the myths
2007-10-28 19:02:00
For a long time now, I've been hearing about the health benefits of Green Tea, and when I see the skinny chinese and asians roaming around in my office sipping tall cups of green tea or herb tea, I am all the more intrigued to find the truth behind the hype of this tea, and why it is labelled to be "Health y", and whether there is any real substance to this claim. So I finally decided to get all the information about this herbal concoction, and here I present to you the facts, with the associated myths, to help you make your own choice!Ordinary tea, as most people know it, comes from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. There are three main types of tea: green tea, oolong tea, and black tea, categorized according to their oxidation levels (called the fermentation process). Green tea is steamed, baked, or pan heated to prevent oxidation and thus the leaves remain green. Unlike green tea, oolong tea is partially fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. So why is green tea ge...
More About: Study , Myths , Green Tea

Chocolate Spider Cupcakes - Halloween Special!
2007-10-26 19:24:00
Halloween is in the air folks, and there are pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, and terrifying spirits lingering all around:) So how do you pacify those spirits?? I think no one can resist something sweet and cute, and the best way to win over someone to your side is by appealing to their stomachs, and thereby their souls(do spirits have souls??! I think I'm going cranky:D) Well, when my husband had to take in something for their halloween party at work, I thought of making these cute cupcakes and use some frosting to create the spooky effect. I'm not too great with art work, and this was my first experiment with creative icing decoration which was going to be seen by a lot of people, so I decided to be simple, yet meaningful. Hope you like these Chocolate -Spider Cupcakes too!!I'm not too much of a fan of frosting on cupcakes. It's just way too much cream and sometimes kills the flavor of the cake itself. But special occasions demand special efforts, so I decided to go for it. Handl...
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