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Articles tagged with: spices

Lunchbox bites, lunchbox medley, Veggies/curries »

[30 May 2013 | 13 Comments | ]
Recipes | Traditional Rajasthani Cooking with Fenugreek Seeds or Methidana – And I am Spoilt for Choice

A trip to hometown is more than just yearly rituals to me. It’s the time to connect with family & friends, explore some new and some old places that remain unchanged. Vacation is ‘my time’ when I do things at my own pace, follow my passion, and get in some real life. It is the time when blog posts can wait and there is no pressure to sign in to check mails and social media interactions. I completely enjoy every moment of the laid back life and mom’s yummy food.

Networking takes a back seat and I live in the real world. The day begins with an early morning walk alongside lake Fateh Sagar, reading regional New paper ‘Rajasthan Patrika’ and gorging home cooked simple yet authentic Rajasthani breakfast.

kids lunchbox, Lunchbox bites, Spreads & Preserves, stuffy delights/Indian flat breads »

[17 Apr 2013 | 13 Comments | ]
Recipes | Two Easy & Healthy Indian Flat Breads with Broccoli and Lentils – Home is Where the Heart is

Home is where the heart is….my heart belongs to Chennai, the place where I got married and have been living since 1996. I have wholeheartedly accepted the city and have accustomed to the traditions, climatic conditions and the food here.

But even after spending a good 17 years in Chennai I feel that a part of my heart still lives in Udaipur. The place where I grew up, studied and spent the most beautiful years of my life with family and friends.

And why not, if one is the place of my birth than the other made me a complete woman! I take it as a special privilege of belonging to the two different cities at once.

Lunchbox bites, lunchbox medley, Veggies/curries »

[6 Apr 2013 | 7 Comments | ]
Recipes | Food Creates Magic – Tofu Malai Koftas and Stuffed Okra for Dinner with a Blogger Friend

One friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about.”  ~ Mindy Kaling. I have experienced the same during many of the regular family meets with hubby’s office-mates. When everyone else would be seriously involved in discussing Cinema, TV serials, fashion world, latest gadgets to who is the best dressed man/woman, the feeling of being left alone in crowd really scares me out.
And I was really surprised to know how much common ground we all share, true to this saying “Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” 

Baking bites, cookies »

[19 Dec 2012 | 13 Comments | ]
Baking | Two Shortbread cookies to Celebrate A Life Full of Surprises

Life is full of surprises. Just say ‘never’ and you’ll see.’ I did say ‘never’ to this Samsung Notebook after posting my entry for a recipe contest by Del Monte. And today when I open the parcel marked with ‘Winner – 1st Prize’ I understand that it takes more than just magic to make any dream a reality. These are the moments when all those unseen tiny efforts you put in to keep your passion alive seems worthwhile.  Thanks Del Monte and IndiBlogger for making it happen! The winning recipe a  No-Bake Chocolate Brownie is an easy treat you can make well ahead of time during festive season.

Some news travel faster than lightening. I found myself standing near my oven, baking goodies for friends way before the feeling of winning this pretty Notebook could sink in 🙂

Baking bites, Pies »

[30 Nov 2012 | 11 Comments | ]
Recipe | Easy & Healthy Pumpkin Pie with Oats Crust and A Perfectly Wonderful Evening..

Sports do not build characters. They reveal it.’  I would never have known this side of my son but for the sports day celebrations in their school. He along with other friends helped their teachers organize the props, dresses and other essential accessories for the shows on Sports day. Some of the students (including him) who stay near school premises took extra food, water and goodies daily to share with others during long hours of practice sessions in school. Proud moments for any parent.

And I promised him to make a dessert on their sports day which resembled the color of their dress code, Yellow.

Think of yellow and Pumpkin pops up in mind. This extremely light, delicate and scrumptious Pumpkin Pie was what I baked and shared with my son’s friends.

Lunchbox bites, Veggies/curries »

[23 Nov 2012 | 9 Comments | ]
Recipe | Peanut & Poppy Seeds Stuffed Brinjal or Eggplants – Easy and Delightful Indian Curry

A Brinjal by any other name is still a Birnjal’…was my one liner when mom used to cajole us eating eggplant or brinjal dishes in the name of Bharta, Brinjal Chokha, Raitas, stuffed Baingan and so on. But then most of the children I know have love-hate relationship with Brinjal…and I too had mine, so no regrets.

I feel the pinch when I watch Asian chefs tossing out exotic eggplant recipes on television shows and savoring them with a Hmm..wow…I should have taken a risk to explore the versatility of this humble veggie then.

Though I keep trying various eggplant recipes at home but all I know is  Brinjal Bharta (smoked eggplant with spices), brinjal fritters (coated with chickpea flour) and a few Indian curries. Anyways Brinjal is a favorite at home now and even my children love it….and yes, I don’t have to cook up new names to make them eat this purple veggie anymore 🙂

Appetizers & starters, healthy snacks, Lunchbox bites »

[24 Oct 2012 | 19 Comments | ]
Recipes | Two Healthy Snacks with Fresh Corn & Soya Chunks – Just Another Day in Paradise

It was just another day in paradise…spent an evening on beach, had fun and listened to each drop of water tell a story of life! The pleasing sight of vendors selling colorful snacks, lovey-dovey pair lost in their world, elderly couple walking hand in hand and children from the most affluent to common families playing together on the beach…the more I see, the less I know about life.

A trip to beach is always welcoming both to the parents and the children. My kids and hubby love to play in water, make sand castles while I travel to and fro with the waves in my dreamland. Hubby keeps a watch on both children & me, interrupting frequently with “Take care of our shoes, camera, bag …don’t get lost in your own world”.

Lunchbox bites, lunchbox medley, Veggies/curries »

[17 Oct 2012 | 20 Comments | ]
Recipes | Steamed Bottle gourd Koftas in Spicy Yogurt Curry –  A Moment That Lasted an Eternity

A moment that lasted an eternity.….It was a weekday when I got a call from the talented & inspiring co-author of two wonderful cook books Mrs. Pratibha Jain.  She invited me to be on the panel of judges along with some of the industry bigwigs and renowned chefs for a culinary event. The event is being conducted by a group of enthusiastic youngsters from Rajasthan in India, who are working towards many social causes in the city. I received my formal e-card invitation from the organizers and was given a warm welcome by the ladies wing chairman Navaneet and other members of the group.

Low-fat Pickles, Lunchbox bites »

[7 Apr 2012 | 27 Comments | ]
Recipe | Fresh Turmeric & Gum berry Pickle – Two Unusual Spicy Treats from a Colorful Indian State

A pickle is to any meal what a smile is to a beautiful woman, both enhance the subject perfectly! If you happen to be in the colorful state of Rajasthan in India, your meal is incomplete without extra spoonfuls of ghee (clarified butter) and a dash of spicy pickle served by your generous host. Not to forget the yummy ghee laden sweets to wind up your hearty meal.

Pickled fenugreek seeds, Ker Sangari, Gum Berry, Athana green chilly, fresh whole green peas and the list of such unusual ingredients to make pickles is endless. Each pickle is unique for the spice mix that goes in it, by the way it is prepared or for the ingredients used to make it. Some of the food ingredients used to make these pickles are indigenous to Rajasthan and is difficult to get in other parts of India.

Lunchbox bites, Veggies/curries »

[17 Feb 2012 | 11 Comments | ]
Recipe | Baby Potatoes in Healthy Green Gravy

“Write Potato on a paper and she will eat that too” mom warned him beforehand. And poor hubby was not prepared for this potato overdose in his life. Not a great fan of this starchy veggie he was grumpy to see tiny chunks of potatoes in everything that was served to him. But as they say, Love me, love my dog’ errr..potatoes, he started liking them for good 😉

I could almost write a cook book on all the potato recipes I collected & cooked over the last few years. And in my quest to present my favorite veggie in better ways I am in constant search for some innovative ways to serve it. I adopted one of  mom’s favorite recipes ‘Potatoes in white gravy’ which we used to call ‘khus-khus wale aloo’.

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