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The rapid increase in the number of groups on Facebook is a menace if you are one of those unfortunates who have been added blindly every other day by their admins without your consent and with no relevance to the subject of your interest.I was added to this particular group almost a year back and I ignored it with the pretext of just another FB group where bloggers drop in to give a sho
“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer." It surely is a much needed break from the monotonous life, we all look forward to. I love the feeling of getting disoriented from the comforts of home and trusting total strangers for living in a new place. Most of our travel trips are unplanned which are decided instantly. Somehow I am not convinced with book
If Navaratri is a time for playing Dandia in Western and Northern part of India, it is a time to showcase your culinary skills down South. A very popular recipe Sundal is made in most of the houses and shared with neighbors and family during Navaratri evenings after it has been offered to God. Many use coconut and spices to make savory Sundal while others opt for jaggery and make sweet versio
You don't need a reason to indulge in a dessert if you like all that is sweet and which brings you closer to your family on a Sunday! A scrumptious dessert always brings smile on every face. I baked this fruity cake last week and found that a few slices were left in the box. I packed the slices in a zip-lock and refrigerated so that I can use the same for the weekend.And this delicious f
I have always used Pineapple to bake a cake or to make desserts, but never tried baking cookies with it. I feel the watery consistency of pineapple will make it difficult to bake perfect crispy cookies. But after baking these chewy cinnamon cookies canned Pineapple I am sure I will be baking these more often.The small chunks of pineapple in every bite make these cookies a real treat. You
Most of the traditional recipes from India are simple and are cooked with commonly available indigenous ingredients. These recipes can be easily adapted in any other cuisine of the world. The humble lentils or Daal, quick veggie curries, Indian flat breads are loved by one and all.I have been cooking many fusion recipes to give a new dimension and also to add health factor to the or
"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see" ~ Chesterton. And we started our five day travel trail on the same note to the majestic blue mountain range Nilgiri as a traveler, avoiding most of the popular tourist spots in Nilgiri district, treading the off beaten path. In the bargain we could connect with the nature and to those inno
We had no concrete travel plans this year as re-modelling the house, painting, developing our farm house and many such long pending activities were on the wish list.Sweltering heat in the city, monotonous summer holidays and the travel bug in us had different plans for us. Time was the big constraint in finalizing the destination, as we had few days of holidays left. Kanha National Park,
Any Indian meal is incomplete without tangy pickles, crisp poppadoms and some sort of deep fried accompaniments. And when my friend Prerna, Barbara and Kathy announced 'Indian Food Palooza' at their blogs, I thought of taking these Crispy Lentil Vadas along with me to join their on going event.A perfect tea time snack, a popular street food and a must during most of the festive
Hello friends, its been a long time I posted a recipe on Different Strokes. Lite Bite kept me busy with a couple of projects and events I was involved in for the last few months. I know this does not sound a good reason to stay away from all my lovely readers here. Have done loads of festive cooking, tried many new and authentic recipes which are all treasured in the drafts.Thi
A Banana recipe and my virtual party is complete for the girl who loves chocolate, coffee, Nutella and banana more than her boy! After posting a recipe with almost all the favorite ingredients of Nelly, I noticed one of the most favorite s of all Banana was left out. We call ourselves banana sisters and our banana love often comes out on Twitter. Nelly even has a post with all banana recipes here.
Kulcha is a delightful Indian flat bread, normally fermented with yeast and baked in oven. Baked version is better off than the fried one as it is devoid of oil. Kulchas are very common street food of North India, and is generally served with spicy channa curry in bowls made of dried leaves.I made the fried version ad served it with Cottage cheese curry - Paneer Jalfrezi. The Kulchas taste quite d
The peculiar look of this sweet studded with white pearls of poppy seeds makes Anarsay very special festive recipe. And it has been long time since I made this crunchy and scrumptious sweet at home. I wanted to make something different this festival which is easy and fuss free. A long telephonic discussion with mom resulted in zeroing upon Anarsay.Except for the soaking hour the sweet is really ve
There are very few moments as cherished, as beautiful as the day you embark the new journey of life. Holding someone's hand, with dreams in heart and sparkle in the eyes. The day she started dreaming for, even before she knew its’ meaning. The day she has visualized so many times, that by now every detail is clearly itched in her mind. Yes the day a girl becomes a bride, is like no other.Very soon
Yummy delight!The festival of lights Diwali, brings back the memories of colorful sweets and bursting noisiest of crackers during our childhood days. Times have changed and now we hardly make any sweets at home.But there are a few sweets which are a staple during the festive seasons at my home, and Gulab Jamun is one of them. These spongy balls made with reduced milk and dipped in sugar syrup is a
A simple Peas and cottage cheese or Mutter paneer as is called in Hindi with wholewheat Indian flat breads is one such delightful meals I crave for during the weekends. There are many ways to make this recipe, you could make it more exotic with cashew nut paste or deep fry the cottage cheese cubes for the crunchy taste. But my favorite is this simple yet scrumptious recipe which is easy to cook an
Come Diwali and you could smell jaggery, cardamom and coconut everywhere! There are many special sweets from South India which are uncommon in other regions, and Adhirasam is one of them.This traditional sweet requires a little proficiency in making the exact dough which will hold its shape when fried in oil.Ingredients;(makes about 10-12)1 cup Raw rice3/4 cup Jaggary1 tsp. cardamom powder Oil fo
Indian festivals and sweets are synonyms to each other. Festivals in India are not complete without a plateful of colourful sweets. These Cashew Fudge or Kaju Katli as called in Hindi is one of my favorite sweets and is a permanent feature in my house during all festivals.
Weekend is the most awaited time for my family who look forward to something crisp to munch upon during the evenings. And I like to experiment with various food ingredients to come up with something new and exciting from the normal snack recipes I usually make. This one is yet another scrumptious treat from my kitchen for you. Ingredients;(makes 10-12 pieces) 2 cups of cooked rice1/2 cup of Soya g
Evening is the time everyone look out for something to munch upon with a hot cup of tea. I often bake muffins, wholewheat cookies and scones in advance and store them for a couple of days. At times we all feel like having something spicy and crispy to go along with the tea. The Crunchy Lentil snack below fits the bill perfectly.A bit time consuming but believe me the recipe is worth giving a try.
For the last one month my taste buds are adjusting with the drastic changes in the food habits. From the light and simple foods I am used to, to the lavish spreads mom is cooking daily. The whole month passed trying out some of her authentic curries, pickles, snacks and recipes I almost forgot.Mom made these Wholewheat Green Gram Pooris or Indian flat bread with wholewheat and green gram which we
Snack time is the most awaited time on a weekend. More so when there is a cricket match to follow and the kid and hubby look forward to eating something crisp and scrumptious. These Sago snack was one such treat for them last week.Ingredients;(makes 20 balls)One cup Sago/sabudana1/2 cup potato1 small onion2 tsp. red chilly powder1 green chilly1/4 tsp. turmeric powderSalt as desired1/2 tsp. roasted
These Brown rice spicy pooris make a good lunch box meal when packed with a chutney or spread. Healthy and easy to make they can be taken for picnic or as a great travel food too. I often make these crisp pooris at dinner time and serve them with spicy curd potato or channa masala.Ingredients;(makes 10 puris)1/2cup brown rice flour1/2 cup wholewheat flour1 tsp of chilly powder1/2 tsp of cumin powd
Coming down the hill from Didihat to Ramnagar was easy this time, thanks to the timely advice from my friend and proper precautions against mountain sickness. The nearest staying option we could find was KMVN guest house in Ramnagar, which was well maintained and had good room service with all the basic amenities.We were among the few privileged lucky travelers to Jim Corbett National Park or
As the name suggests this Indian sweet 7 Cup Cakes is done with exactly 7 cups of ingredients. This is a long due post and the very first post in 2011. My co-sister S made the sweet during Diwali festival. Though she was not quite happy with the results as she thought the mix got overcooked and did not taste exactly like what she wanted. But I thoroughly enjoyed the slight caramelized version of t
December is the time for all cakes & bakes. All the food blogs are abuzz with loads & loads of scrumptious baked goodies. This egg less light Vanilla Cake is a treat from Different strokes to all the friends and bloggers. Ingredients;250 gms Refined flour180 gms Condensed milk50 gms melted Butter100 ml Milk100 ml Soda water1 tsp. Baking powder1/2 tsp. Baking Soda1 tsp. of Vanilla extract&n
These crisp and spicy circles make a very interesting tea time snack. The crunchy whole pepper in every bite gives a fiery taste. Very common in South India, these are called Tattai in Tamil. Easy to make these snacks stay good for many days.Ingredients;1 cup of Rice flour 1/4 cup of De husked Black gram flour (urad dal)1 tbsp de husked Green gram (Moong dal)3 tsp. of whole black pepper2 tsp. of S
A crisp and scrumptious lentil snack - Murukku is a very common savory dish during festivals and special occasions in south India. Murukkus are traditionally made with hands and needs a lot of patience to constantly twist and turn the dough for that spiral look. Ingredients;2 cups of rice 1/4 cup of de-husked black gram 1/4 tsp of asafoetida or Hing1 tsp cumin seeds/Jeera1 tsp.of
Tea time snacks are the most awaited time during rainy days and on weekends. These Veggie Fitters aka Pakoras fit into the bill perfectly. Easy to make, crispy and delicious snack which can be transformed into many new varieties with different vegetables and flours in it. This veggie fritter is the most common way to make these scrumptious snack. And using the same batter you can make fritters wit
Muffins are great breakfast to start your weekends on a sweet note. These egg less Orange Muffins are soft and light, and can be packed in the snack box for your kids. I think I am now done with oranges, with 3 baking recipes with oranges in a row :) Ingredients;1 cup refined flour2 tbsp. of sugar1 tsp. Baking powderA pinch of salt1/2 cup of orange juice1 tbsp of yogurt or 1 egg3 tsp.
Khaja is a crispy and very light snack popular in the North India. Care should be taken when you buy these snacks from the bakery or super market. As most of the times these are made with Trasfats, a kind of vegetable fat which is very dangerous to health but gives a light and flaky texture and more shelf life to such goodies. Ingredients;1 cup of refined flour5-6 tsp of butter or ghee1 tsp.Caroms
The sweet looks and taste as beautiful as its name - Chandrakala which might have got its name due to the crescent shape similar to moon (chandra). The shape and the stuffing may vary from one region to other region, but the sweet is surely a delicacy worth indulging in. Moreover these sweets can be prepared ahead of time and kept, saves loads of time during the hustle & bustle of festive seas
Planning for a great breakfast which is accepted by the kids also is a daring job for all moms. These crispy and delicious looking small Indian bread or Pooris is one such treat my kids wait for any time of the day. I often make them on weekends and sometimes pack them in my kids lunchbox as well. Ingredients:(makes about 20 small servings)1/2 cup wholewheat flour1/4 cup chickpea flour or Bes
The next few days are going to be sweet indulgence with festivals around the corner. The women folks are all geared up to plan for the variates they are going to prepare this Diwali. Sweets, sweets and more sweets!Normally I avoid making sweets on festivals, but my hubby insists that I make a few sweets so that the kids get to know of our traditions and customs.My mom always makes this traditional
Sambhar Vada is an authentic regional dish of South India. The humble dish has become very common and has made its presence in every part of the world. A recipe which makes a full meal in itself, and can be devoured at any time of the day. The secret of soft and fluffy vada lies in the right consistency of the batter, which should be light and full of air. Heavy grinders with rotatory stones are p
Pickles are an integral part of Indian meals. Whether it is the humble curd rice from the South India or just plain rice with dal in the North India, Pickles take a pride to be an important accompaniment. Though garlic is not a favorite for many due to ethical or personal reasons, I love this nutrient rich food for its healing properties. SpicesIngredients;1 cup of Garlic pearls3 tbs
This quick and crispy bread snack is a favorite for my kids and they demand the same on every weekend. Easy to make with very few ingredients to assemble I oblige them with this tasty and crispy snack often. These cute little triangles also add up as a good tea-time snack, a picnic add on and as a great travel food.Ingredients;(makes 8 in numbers)2 slices of bread 1/2 cup of Curd3-4 tsp of chickpe
Cheese fingers are a favorite for my kids and is a must for all the parties we host for our friends. A very handy and scrumptious snack, which can also be baked to reduce the fats in it. snacksIngredients;(makes 20 cheese fingers)4 cubes of cheese6 slices of brown bread1/4 cup of Fresh or frozen peas and carrot1 tsp of Black pepper powdersalt as desiredBeard crumbsOil for deep fryingsnacksMethod:
This Simple dessert of Semolina to celebrate is for Tasty Bites, an interactive platform for readers and bloggers alike. As is a tradition in India, every good news accompanies a sweet, here is the easy and quick dessert for the same.Ingredients;1 cup of Semolina or Suji rawa2 cups of hot water1/2 cup of Jaggery1/2 cup of hot Milk7-8 tsps. of GheeA few Almonds1/2 tsp. of Cardamom powder3 tsps.&nbs
Spreads and Dips saves a lot of time and resources in our daily cooking. A bottle of fresh coriander chutney or fresh cheese dip would come very handy when we are at loggerheads with time.This fresh and Tangy Tomato Spread has a permanent place in my refrigerator. I use it as a spread for my breads, chapattis or as a chutney with Idlies and Dosas an Indian breakfast delicacy.Ingredients;1 kg of To
Muffins are a good snack option for kids in school. I normally use wholewheat flour or other whole grains to make Muffins. But my kids often love the bakery muffins which use refined flour and comes out to be fluffy and light in texture. This recipe use refined flour and makes the same. Ingredients;11/2 cups of refined flour3/4 cup of powdered sugar1/3 cup of unsalted butter1 tbsp of curd1/2 cup m
Tea -time can be made more scrumptious with crispy and tasty Potato patties. Quick and easy to prepare, these delicacies are a delight for any weekend party or to relish at any normal day.There are numerous variate to make these patties with different fillings and ways of cooking, this one require deep frying and taste absolutely delicious.Ingredients;(makes 10 in numbers)3 medium size potat
Pancakes are one of the favorite weekend breakfast menus for my kids.I try to include different ingredients and make variation every time I make them. If it is wholewheat with oats in the batter on one Sunday, then fruit puree and wheat flour pancakes go to the dinning table the next Sunday.Pancakes made using only wholewheat flour comes out to be a bit dense, while refined flour or maida gives th
This post is dedicated to all those beautiful people who believed and connected with me & my work. This simple and delicious sweet is my dedication to all of them. This Vermicelli Kheer is a famous & instant sweet prepared down South of India by many at all occasions.Be it a birthday, a function or any festival, the first thing that my mother-in-law prepares is this sweet concoction.Ingred
A crispy tea time snack - Samosa, is a commonly available Indian delicacy in most of the tea shops and restaurants. Samosa serves as a great starter for any kind of party and small gatherings. A Birthday party is incomplete without these delicacies.Ingredients for the covering;(makes about 20 small size Samosas) 1 cup of refined flour (maida) A pinch of salt Water to knead the dough Method:&
Kulcha an Indian bread delicacy, is very famous in road side eateries and sophisticated restaurants as well. It is quite tedious to prepare at home and for the same reason I avoid making it at home. If not for the guests, whose only demand was a typical Rajasthani spread with some unusual stuff, this recipe would not have seen the light of the day!. Kulcha was the first thing that came to me, othe
A hot cup of tea, misty morning and a picturesque Himalayas in front, mornings could never be better than this.A good night sleep did cast its magic on us. It is lovely to see morning hours with a different view.“Blessed are those who are close to nature” The serene and unpolluted environment fills the people of mountain with exuberance and a life time gift of sparkle & innocence on their face
Lentil Crispy Snack is a delicious any-time snack. This snack is normally made with one kind of dal or pulse, but I try to include little bit of each pulse to make this snack.Lentil Crispy Snacks are very crisp from outside and soft inside. It makes a scrumptious starter for any party, and is a good comfort food on a rainy day.Ingredients;(makes 20-25 pieces) 3 tbsp of whole green gram (moong dal)
The title sounds funny! Hmm…somewhat, why should I move the Idlies but? Nothing serious, its Just to give vent to my food cravings and to save my words, yes this space is for recipes, which have no connection to health and diet, just hog on and Spppp..lurge. I often make extra idlies and move them to my refrigerator, to make a tasty snack the next day. The crispy & delicious snack which
One of the most discussed natural foods among health buffs and the laboratories worldwide for its dubious role in the food chart is Coconut. Where tender coconut is the healthiest natural drink available to us, ripe coconut goes under the sharp blades of modern research. The saturated fats present in the coconut are the point of content. I normally do not use much of coconut in my cook
