01 April 2014

Banana Bundt Cake



Peace at last for all the kids and moms in India - its vacation time after all that exam fever. Yeah, this calls for a celebration. So I decided to try out another cake which will now add up to my list of favorite cakes because it is an ultra moist, and melt in the mouth kind of cake by Dorie Greenspan. You can make this cake in a cinch with readily available ingredients especially if you are a home baker like me who is always on the look out for easy recipes.


18 March 2014

Dragon Chicken - Indo Chinese Starter


Today I would like to share this easy Indo-Chinese starter - Dragon Chicken. We used to order it at our favourite Chinese restaurant as my son likes it. When I saw this recipe in a magazine (Grihalaxmi) I thought why not try it. And voila! I served it and it was over in a few seconds. This is a new addition to our weekly menu of Indo Chinese preparations. My other favorites are the Chicken Fried Rice, Chilly Mushroom and Chilly Chicken.

13 March 2014

Basil Seeds Lime Cooler



If you are a fan of Falooda, you must be familiar with basil seeds. In India, basil seeds are commonly used in faloodas. They are also known by the names Tukmaria / Falooda Seeds / Sabja Seeds. Never did I know, that it had so many health benefits. If you are living in the America / Australia then I am sure you must be familiar with Chia Seeds. Chia Seeds and Basil Seeds are not the same but they are very similar when it comes to benefits. You can call them "cousins". Chia seeds are difficult to find in Asia / South East Asia / Middle East. Basil seeds are more common in these places.You can find these seeds in supermarkets / grocery shops.

04 March 2014

Neypathiri / Malabar Special Rice Pancakes


A traditional treat of North Malabar- the Neypathiri / Neypathal. It is a deep fried rice roti which is a common breakfast, evening snack or dinner item at houses in North Kerala. There are different varieties of pathiris like the Ari Pathiri ( for all the health conscious people), Prawn Pathiri, Irachi Pathiri, Chatti/atti pathiri, Tyre Pathiri.. 

22 February 2014

Naranga Achar / Kerala Style Lime Pickle



No Indian meal is complete without pickles. There is an amazing variety of pickles made in every part of our country with each region having its own special pickles and methods of preparation. In the non vegetarian type of pickles, the most famous in the North Malabar is the Mussels Pickle. Vegetarian pickles the most famous are the mango pickle, carrot beetroot & dates pickle and lime pickle. Some pickles which all are not aware of are the ones like Chena (yam) Achar.

31 January 2014

Kaippakka Curry / Not So Bitter - Bitter Gourd Curry for Kids


Bitter Gourd is one vegetable that even adults try to avoid eating. But that's not the case with me. I have enjoyed having bitter gourd, thanks to my Mom. May be it's the way in which she prepared that made it easy for us to have it. Bitter Gourd is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, C, magnesium, folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, dietary fiber and iron. It has double the quantity of beta carotine, calcium and potassium than in broccoli, spinach and banana respectively. I am sure with this recipe kids will never say no to bitter gourd. And there is no squeezing out (the essential nutrients) of bitter gourd to get rid of the bitterness. 


10 December 2013

Easy Classic Christmas Cake



It's party time! No matter which part of the world you are in, if you are celebrating Christmas there are certain traditions that you follow no matter what. Baking is one such tradition and it is almost synonymous with Christmas. So have you decided on the center piece for your Christmas party? Here is a quick and easy Christmas cake recipe that can be made without the soaking fruits or making preparations weeks ahead.

23 October 2013

Cardamom Fudge - Easy Diwali Sweet



Diwali - the popular Indian Festival also referred to as 'the festival of lights' falls on November 3rd this year.Many traditional dishes are prepared during this time but sweets are the most iconic of them.Whenever anyone says about Diwali the first thought that comes to mind is sweets. Shops with variety of mouth watering sweets lined up like Rasgollas, Jalebis, Chenna Payas and savouries like chivda, sev etc..This is the time when traditional meals are prepared, guests invited, sweets gifted to friends and relatives. So let's make some quick sweet this Diwali.

Cardamom Fudge - An easy Indian fudge recipe that can be made with the very few ingredients already in your pantry. It is a low fat sweet that can be served after dinner. This is a dish that does not take much of your time. It is soft and juicy and can be made in a microwave.

18 October 2013

Low Calorie Instant Poha Chivda - Diwali Special



Chivda - the crunchy popular snack of Maharashtra. Its a low fat appetizer that can be made for guests during Diwali. It is also called the Bombay Mix or the Bombay Style Beaten Rice Mix. It is a healthy snack alternative to the usually fried mixture.Diwali is around the corner and  I am sure preparations have already started. I have tried out many recipes that is made specially during Diwali. Here is a list that can help you plan a Diwali Menu.

04 October 2013

Erachi Ularthiyathu/ Kerala Style Slow Roasted Meat


Erachi Ularthiyathu is one of the popular dishes of Kerala. It can be made with mutton or chicken. Here the meat is marinated with the masala, cooked and then sauteed along with fried onions. It is a famous Thattu Kada (local fast food joints) special.