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Tonight, me and my husband were in the mood for some Italian food, but wished for something different than the usual pasta dishes. So, I tried to think of some new Italian dish that would be fun, and not too difficult to make. And I thought of making Spaghetti balls with Tomato
Soups are loved by everyone. And personally, both me and my husband, love having soups for dinner. They are light, tasty and nutritious. So I keep trying to make different varieties of healthy soups every now and then. Today, I tried making a Mexican specialty, the Spicy Tortilla soup.  
I always used to think Methi Mutter Malai (Fenugreek Peas Cream) is a dish that is slightly sweet in nature, and hence was always hesitant to try it out. But then, few days back, I had a version of this dish that was not sweet at all, but in fact was a bit on the spicier side. I loved it, but
As you may have guessed from my previous posts, Spinach is one of my favorite greens. Considering the abundant nutrients in these little green leaves, I try to incorporate in various different dishes and always love experimenting with it
My husband is a big fan of spicy food. Be it entrees, snacks or sauces, he prefers them to be really spicy. But at the same time, he doesn't like the one available in the stores as they are either too tangy for his taste or just the heat without any flavor. I ended up with more than 5 varieties of hot sauces in my
Yesterday, we were contemplating what to make for dinner when I realized we did not have much vegetables at home except for some cabbage. We usually prepare Cabbage curry with it, but we were tired of having the same curry so this time we decided to try something else. &n
As you may have already guessed through previous posts, both me and my husband are big lovers of Italian food. We love to explore different Italian restaurants and try different dishes. At one such local family owned restaura
Black Chickpeas Chaat or Chana Chaat is a popular roadside snack in India. It is, like other chaat dishes, spicy and tangy, or chatpata as we call it in India. This dish can also be made with white chickpeas or garbanzo beans, but I like it more with black chickpeas.Ingredients:4 cups black Chickpea soaked for 6-8 hours1/2 cup finely chopped O
Mexican cuisine in US has lot of similarities to the Indian cuisine. They have some very similar flavors. So the first time I had Quesadillas and Enchiladas here, I loved them so much that I tried making them at home. They were so tasty and filling that it became our go-to dish during our student life.
Okra or Bhindi is a popular ingredient in many cuisines across the world including Indian. Okra curry is made in a variety of ways depending on the region you are in, ranging from simple to very difficult. Today, we will see the Gujarati style of making Okra Masala.Ingredients:1 lb Okra (Bhindi)1 cup raw Peanuts1 tbsp Red Chili powder2 tsp Turmeric p
Since coming to California, I have grown very fond of the amazing Avocados available here. Guacamole is the most common dish that is prepared with Avocados, and of course, I love that very much. Yesterday, I had this craving for an Avocado dish, but wanted to make something other than Guacamole. I prompt
Me and my husband are big lovers of Italian food, especially Pasta. While we love having our Pasta with different types of sauces like the one we saw previously, today we decided on trying out pasta with sauteed vegetables and some exciting flavors. The lemon zest adds a nice citric and ref
Green Paratha (Indian bread) gets it name from the deep green color and all the green ingredients it has. This paratha is very different from the other stuffed parathas. It is a great way to eat all the green leafy vegetables for everyone to enjoy, even those who don't like the greens
Who doesn't like to eat potato chips? This crunchy, tasty snack is an all time favorite for all age groups and for every occasion. I am a huge fan of potato chips, I like almost all the flavors of this deep fried snack. But I have to control myself from having it too much as we all know its nutrition facts. Hence, I was in search for a differe
Jeera - Cumin seed - is one of the most widely used spices in India and also around the world. Personally, it is one of my favorite spice because of its distinctive flavor and aroma. You will find the use of Cumin seeds in almost all of my recipes.Today, we have my personal favorite Potato - Cumin vegetable dish. It is usually served with a flatbread like Roti, paratha etc. I
Aloo Tikki is a popular Indian snack made by shallow-frying spiced potato patties. Here is my take on this Indian classic. Hope you enjoy it!Ingredients:5 Medium Potatoes1 cup finely chopped Onions1 cup Corn1 cup Green Peas3-4 Green Chilies3 Garlic ClovesSalt to taste1 tbsp Lemon JuiceDry Mango Powder (Amchur Powder)Instructions:Boil the potatoes ti
Last month we tried Hakka Noodles, a Chinese dish cooked Indian style. Today we have vegetable Manchurian, another Indo-Chinese fusion recipe, which goes great as a side dish along with Hakka Noodles, or an entree with rice. The core of the dish are the vegetable Manchurian balls and can be served with gravy, semi-gravy or dry.Here is the semi
There are a number ways to make sauces for pasta. Today, I will give you a tomato based pasta sauce that can go with majority types of pastas like Penne, Fusilli, Bow Tie, Macaroni etc. It is also a healthier alternative with all the fresh ingredientsIngredients:5-6 diced Tomatoes1 cup diced Onions1 cup diced Green Peppers2-3 cloves crushed Garlic2
I am back with a new recipe today after almost 2 weeks of vacation to the paradise of Hawaii. While we were there, we missed Thai food a lot. Being vegetarians, it is somewhat difficult to find a good Thai place that serves pure vegetarian dishes since most of the dishes have fish sauce or anchovies - especially in Hawaii. But we both love Thai food, so that
After the hectic festivities and all the heavy food, it feels good to have something light and simple. Whats more relaxing then having simple Dal-Rice? And instead of simple white rice, I prefer to spice it up with Cumin and Cilantro which makes a big difference to the taste. Last Month, I gave the recipe for Dal Fry. So here
Sweets are an integral part of all the festivals and occasions. We are getting close to the Hindu festival of Diwali, when most Hindu households prepare a bunch of sweets and snacks. Last recipe, Chakri, was my favorite Diwali snack, and here is my favorite sweet, Pedas - small, sweet, delicious patties made with Khoa.Khoa/Mawa is made by heating milk
As Diwali - the festival of Lights - is approaching, most Indians would be busy preparing sweets. But no festival can be completed without savory snacks to go well with all the sweets. Chakri - a spicy spiral snack - is made with rice flour and is a perfect snack with tea/coffee or on its own. Making flour spirals for chakri is fun with the Sev maker. So he
Cilantro chutney is a simple refreshing dip that can be used with a variety of grilled and fried dishes. It is also widely used as a spread for making sandwiches. A slice of bread with a little butter and cilantro chutney makes a great snack.Ingredients:2 cups chopped Cilantro1/5th cup raw Peanuts1 tsp Sugar4-5 Green Chilies1 tsp finely chopped Ginger8-10 Min
Dal or Lentil curry is a common everyday household food in India. It tastes best with Jeera (Cumin) Rice. After a tired long day, this is the food that gives you warmth, and relaxes you.Ingredients:2 Cups Toor Dal (Split Pigeon Pea)1 finely chopped Onion2 finely chop
Thepla is a type of whole wheat Indian bread that is very popular in Gujarat, the western state of India. Thepla is an inherent part of Gujarati meals, and the preferred snack while travelling or for picnics. There are many variations to it, for example, add Methi (Fenugreek Leaves) to make Methi Thepla or add Dudhi (Bottle Gourd) to make
Chinese cuisine is very famous in India, and is probably the most ubiquitous international cuisine in India. But the Chinese food available in most restaurants in India is almost indistinguishable from authentic Chinese cuisine. Chinese cuisine in India was made famous by the Chinatown in Kolkata who adapted their Chinese recipes to cater to loc
Sev is a savory crispy snack made from chickpea flour or gram flour. Some brands in the US also call it Indian Noodles. The Sev-Tomato curry is made with sev and ripe tomatoes. This is a very popular dish among Gujaratis. Sometimes, if you feel like making something really quick with minimal efforts or if you
Sabudana, also known as Tapioca Pearls, along with potato makes a great Khichdi. This recipe is great to have as a snack as well as for a meal. It is sufficiently filling and very tasty and hence, it is one of the most desired dish during fasting. I generally fast on Thursday, which means having only one full meal in a day. The other meal can be any f
Pav-Bhaji is a very popular dish in India and possibly the most popular in Mumbai. It originated in Mumbai as a quick meal for the labourers. Pav translates to bread in Marathi and Bhaji is simply a potato based mix vegetable curry. Every city in India has their own variations on the Bhaji. Being a Mumbai-ite, I naturally love its version the most.Here is my take on the
Chocolate Milkshake is a simple and easy to make drink, that is one of my - and my husband's - favorites. Here is how we love to have our milkshake.Ingredients:2 cups Milk1.5 tbsp Vanilla Syrup2 spoons Chocolate Powder3 tbsp Hershey's Chocolate SyrupSugar as neededInstructions:Add all the ingredients in the blender, and blend it until it is sm
Today I felt like having something new for dinner. As usual, my husband did not give me a definite answer on what he wanted to eat, but today he provided me a black list. He did not want to have rice, potatoes, pulses etc. He wanted something light yet fancy. So, I thought of making a sandwich, but a different type which is healthier and quick to make
Sabudana Vada are fried dumplings made with Tapioca Pearls and Potatoes. They are a delicious snack, crunchy from outside and soft from inside. Here is a quick and simple recipe for it:Ingredients:1 cup Sabudana (Tapioca Pearls)2 medium Potatoes (Boiled and Mashed)1/4 cup Crushed Peanuts2 tbsp Chili-Ginger PasteChopped Cilantro2 tbsp Lemon JuiceSalt to
Frankie, a very popular roadside snack in India, is one of my favorites. It is also known as Kathi Roll in other parts of India. We can also call it Indian version of Burrito, as the concept is similar, put the filing in the roti/tortilla and roll it.Here is a quick and easy recipe:Ingredients:For the Roti Dough:2 cups maida1 tbsp Cumin seedsSalt to tasteOil for kneadin
American Chopsuey is a delightful preparation of crispy noodles served with vegetables and a sweet and tangy sauce. I have had this dish only in India and have loved it over the years, never in America actually. It is served as a Chinese dish in India, with the name America, but the recipe is entirely Indian, except maybe for the noodles
Whole wheat bread stuffed with variety of vegetables, spiced up with green chillies, cilantro, makes this Paratha healthy and delicious. This is a full meal in itself. The best part is it makes a great lunch box as well. It remains soft even when you reheat in microwave.So here's its quick recipe:Ingredients:For the Dough: Wheat Flour &nbs
Sukhdi, also known as Gol-Papdi is a famous Gujarati sweet dish. It is made on almost all auspicious events in a Gujarati home. I just loved the way my mom used to make it, they were just the best. I still remember coming back from school or tuition and hogging down 2-3 pieces at a time.Sukhdi is very simple to make, and what makes it more inviti