Archives for April 2013

Baking-Chocolate Cupcakes- Vegan Allergy free

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      “When you share a cupcake, you share love.”  ~ Unknown Author
                                                 

Are you a chocolate junkie, I confess I am.  There’s not a single day that goes without having chocolate in
some form.  Screams celebration when there is chocolate and cake.  I truly believe you can win over anyone with these these beautiful looking cupcakes.  Cupcakes with all it’s glory has become a star the past few years, with Cupcake Wars(which i religiously watch) and shops dedicated purely to these sugary goodies..   Why not right, they are portioned out, you think of a flavor, you can make them or find em’ and most of all loved by most.

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Vegetable CURRY

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Entertaining the Indian way  involves a soiree of chatter, chai, samosas, vada, coffee, laughs and then begins a never ending buffet of deliciousness.  There’s something very pleasant about food when eaten in good company which is prepared with love.  Every Indian household has their version of this very famous NAVRATAN KORMA which needs no introduction, some add less vegetables and some more,  different spices which can change the appearance and the tastes even if so slightly. This MUGHLAI dish generally consists of cashew paste along with a good dose of heavy cream or even milk.  It’s a staple in an Indian restaurant menu and a way to bump up the buffet for a vegetarian party.

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BAKING- EL SALVADORIAN Sweet Bread- Semitas De Dulce(Sweet Suffed Bread)

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“I like reality that tastes like bread.”

Jean Anouilh (1910-1987)

Although popular all around Central America, this version of the  Sweet Buttery Bread stuffed with jam is found in El Salvador.  SEMITAS De Dulce is so famous, you can find it in bakeries throughout Central America and when walking around touring this small country but a fast growing one, you can see street vendors with their version.. 
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Spring Light- Pumpkin PASTA

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“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” – Federico Fellini

When you have leftover piece of pumpkin, especially when  you can’t make a big meal of, this recipe is perfect.  Pumpkins are sweet, robust in flavor and packs on some healthy perks.  Spring might not be associated with pumpkins but they are found year round. This vegetable is very good for you unless you hog on your pumpkin pie ….

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NO BAKE/ Low Fat Dates Panna Cotta

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“In cooking, as in all the arts, simplicity is the sign of perfection.” Curnonsky

                 

Some days are slower and simpler than others.  This was one of those days with a simple goal in mind.
Don’t we all love a quick sweet treat..(most of em’ at least) and if it’s healthy for us..why not right? So when I had a chance to write up an article for http://www.foodandnightlife.com about a no bake healthy dessert, it created a challenge.  So worked up my brain, Googled for ideas and created this one.

SPICE Your meal up- Green Chilly Pickle

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“Condiments are like old friends — highly thought of, but often taken for granted.”
Marilyn Kaytor, 

It does no lasting damage, but the way our body reacts to this simple yet strong spice is interesting.  Tingling of tongue, sweat drops forming, quickening of pulse doesn’t stop someone from enjoying it and gulping buckets of water later.  We Indians are known for a high tolerance to this spice powehouse, GREEN CHILLY.  India is known to be the largest producer and consumer of this treat(info from WIKIPEDIA).

Visited a friend for dinner, she keeps the condiment she concocted and warns, ‘it is spicy’, eat with care.  How spicy can it be?? ufffff…sweating, it was spicy, tasted so good and fresh, became a fan of pickle.  I don’t normally have pickle with my meals, but she got me hooked on to it.  She bottled up some for me to take home, which I licked clean in matter of days and called back for more.  Convincing her to bottle it up and sell it.. 

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HEALTHY GRANOLA WITH ALL TRIMMINGS

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My life during weekends is a never ending marathon with constant pauses to think whether I forgot an event or did I forget a birthday the kid had to attend.  So this was one of those calm couple of days, where I didn’t step out to greet the beautiful weather California is witnessing.  But, that didn’t stop the kids from their routine with their dad who happily chauffered them around.

Between the laundering, cooking, reading…… my sweet tooth required immediate attention.  Didn’t wanna eat the remains of the cake, nor  the ice cream which was screaming at me…So, the health nut side of me decided to make GRANOLA.   I had Greek Yogurt(one of my new faves), so let’s toss in Granola and have that for dessert tonight. Sounds, good right..

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You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six. Yogi Berra

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Recently, I had reasons to do some research on the ubiquitous Pizza. I was amazed to find how ancient the concept of pizza is!! The common history of the birth of the pizza, as a popular dish, is a romantic story of how a poor man’s meal became the comfort food of the high and mighty and the prosperous and has since become a truly democratic dish!

What I also discovered in my scouring was that the term “pizza” has been prevalent as early as 997 A.D but wasn’t even given the status of being an edible dish until much later. It was initially a baker’s tool used to verify oven temperature!!

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Life’s too short, have your cake.

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Think Sweet!!

HAPPY SPRING!
Things have been a little slow yet too fast last couple of weeks, some unexpected unwelcome stuff denting my otherwise settled routine life. Writing always makes things which looks hazy more clearer to me.  I’m eternally grateful to my lovely boys who get distracted often(with other stuff) yet helpful in moving things along for me.  For times when life isn’t going full throttle, when things don’t go especially as you want it too, a sweet little thing tingles my palate and gets me all excited. 
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