~’Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life’ ~Anonymous. Some of them add spices to make it more entertaining while the others enhance, give body and add value to the recipe of life.

Opposites attract…Hmm..yes they do in real life too. I am not a movie person and she hates on-line world, so when we meet we talk everything under the Sun except the above mentioned topics. Celebrity in South India and winner of many national awards Saranya has been a dear friend for past eight years. A passionate dress designer, wonderful cook, cleanliness freak and a dedicated mother of two, she has been one of the most treasured friends of mine. We have seen our children grow together, shared some of our most precious moments, celebrated numerous functions and still continue to guide each other through our thick and thin.

‘Silence after the storm‘..the last few days of high decibel sound, screaming and running around the road to burst crackers has finally come to rest. Even the intermittent spell of rain did not dampen the spirit of festivity for my kids & hubby for whom my garage was the make shift center for bursting crackers. And no, I will not crib about the land, noise, water and air pollution which was left after the festival of lights was over. When I am not able to influence anyone in my home even after 16 years of marriage, against indulging in sugary sweets, oily savories and buying crackers at exorbitant prize (which could actually get me a dedicated server for God knows how many years) then who am I to complain…’to each his own’.

The rich and heavy traditional Steamed Christmas Pudding or cake is a delicacy hard to resist. The long hours of steaming are intimidating, but the wait is worth a million.

The heady aromas of flavorful spices, exotic nuts, dried fruits, brandy, and fruit juices make this steamed Christmas cake almost irresistible. Quite easy to make, this egg less steamed cake can be stored in a cool dry place for several weeks or even months. Wish I could also store it for a few days, let alone weeks and months and devour the infused flavors of the spices in it. Alas.. every time I make this pudding, it goes to the Hall of fame the very same day

These cute little delicacies of Cornmeal brings back the memories of childhood days. When mom would often involve us to make these laddoos and we used to unwillingly succumb to her demands for want of these scrumptious treats

These tiny deep red pearls called Ragi or finger millet are bundle of nutrients. A whole grain which I came to know about much later in life. Until then the cobs or the fingers of ragi used to decorate my vase of dry flower arrangement for long

It was only when I came to the South of India I became aware of these goldmine of nutrients. From then on it has occupied a much coveted place on my dinning table. I love the earthy and rustic aroma of this mighty grain.

Ragi or Finger millet was never there in my cooking dictionary till I got married and came to the Southern part of India. My mom is still unaware of these mighty grains!

Though a very popular and an integral part of food in South of India, Ragi remains a mystery to the rest of India and a good dry flower decoration in my vase

Cottage Cheese is probably one of the most versatile man made food products in food industry. Paneer as known in Hindi is widely used in North Indian cuisine and is gaining popularity among the health conscious. It can be easily transformed into numerous recipes including desserts, curries, bread, cakes and what not, giving a peculiar creamy texture to the cooked dish.

‘Necessity is the mother of invention’ holds true for this Banana & carrot eggless bread which added one more foodie inventions in my recipe network. I never tried a cake or a bread in a pressure cooker, as there was always a smiling Microwave sitting pretty in my kitchen. But the sudden current cut made me do so. After assembling all the ingredients for the bread, mixing the batter and pouring the mix in the bread pan, the current went off and my microwave went silent!

A sweet is always welcome, and if the treat is healthy too, there is no stopping to indulge in it. This delicious and creamy sweet treat is made with brown rice which is a wholegrain and a much healthier option than the white rice. Benefits and uses of brown rice has been explained in my recent article Brown rice or White rice.

Coriander leaves are the most commonly used ingredients in Indian cooking. From garnishing to making various dishes coriander leaves hold a special place in every refrigerator.

And being rich in iron and many other minerals fresh coriander should be included in our daily diet for better health.