Food Fashion Recipe Blog

Tofu Kimchi Salad and 10 years of blogging

March 6, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Kimchi Salad. Crispy marinated spicy tofu, crunchy napa cabbage, sweet carrots, fresh cucumbers with peanuts, all tossed in a spicy dressing. A salad you will love and make often. HEALTHY and Tasty!

It has happened so quickly, seemingly days apart. Events, life changing ones. TEN YEARS!! Of blogging and Life. And what a delicious journey it has been!

The growth

We have a new member in our family, our love, Waffles.

My then seventh grader who jump started the blog, is in third year of college.

You’ve read why I call my little boy, ‘baby bear”. From running around a five year old skinny little boy to seeing him get his licence, my readers have seen it all.

Hubby has published a book, writing another one…but, the biggest change in him: he has been living and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.

If gray hair is also known as wisdom highlights, I am wiser for sure. 😉 A cookbook and a blog that turned into a business, not too shabby eh?!

Gained some meaningful relationships.

Went through very dark moments with events that made me broody about mortality and humans and life.

Part of me really feels that the love of food, the love of family and the support from readers has kept me going through these 10 years….

Chili Garlic Sauce – One sauce, many uses

March 2, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Chili garlic sauce- you will skip all other sauces for this. Easy to make and so versatile that you’ll be making it on repeat. Spicy and flavorful. A MUST MAKE!

Back in the Eighties Indo-chinese was all the rage in India. Indian-Chinese cuisine originated in India and is a uniquely South Asian phenomenon, drastically different from the Cantonese Chinese cuisine available in the U.S. When Chinese settlers immigrated to a city, Kolkatta..they set up their own chinatown.

It all started with chicken manchurian which went viral, and it grew because of love of the merging of Chinese flavors with Indian heat. Then came the Vegetable Manchurian or Gobi (cauliflower) Manchurian, chili paneer, hakka noodles, idli chili and a ton more recipes that captured the hearts of Indians. The common sauce among all is the Homemade Chili garlic sauce….

EASY Spicy Fish Fry

February 28, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This Spicy Fish Fry is flaky and great with paruppu/daal and rice. This effortless South Indian style Fish Fry has few ingredients, marinated and pan fried. Perfect as an appetizer too.

Amma(my paternal grandmother) had the midas touch when it came to seafood: spicy fish fry, fish kozhumbu, shrimp and meat dishes.

It’s mid morning, the chaos of our home has settled down leaving my amma and me taking in the sun rays coming through the balcony. His screams reach us from a kilometer, the fish monger pushing his wooden cart with a huge cane basket filled with ice, to keep the fish fresh comes our way. His visit was a little later than normal. I see the eager look in Amma’s face. He waves at us, shouting in tamil that he has Amma’s favorite fish, Vanjaram(king mackerel). Holding her pallu (corner of her saree/dress), I tag along with her. And her bargaining starts, in the end, both coming halfway and happy. She gets her Vanjaram for fish fry and another for curry….

No Bake Orange Cheesecake

February 12, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This no-bake Orange cheesecake is a perfect delicious dessert. It’s light, smooth, tangy and folded with candied almonds, SO GOOD!

Love is many things. It is varied. One thing love is not, is unsure. ~Maya Angelou.~

In my many years on this beautiful earth, I’ve had the opportunity to learn love comes in many forms. Romantic love is wonderful, so is friendship, family and all the little acts of kindness towards strangers. Love is making people feel seen and heard, and allowing myself to receive the same in return. Because I’ll be honest, I’m all heart. I smother the people I love with Love and there are few things that make me happier. Being honest and open and truthful about how I feel is the core that drives my connections — and drives my writing.

Everyone’s love language is not sending-love-notes, wearing-their-heart-on-their-sleeve, saying-how-they-feel-all-the-time like me. Sometimes it’s quieter, sometimes it’s louder, but once I’ve started taking the time to see how Love, with a capital L, shows up in the world around me, it’s given me a little bit more hope in humanity and made my heart grow about 10 sizes bigger. So love big, your own way….

Hotel Style Vegetable Kurma

February 11, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This Hotel Style Vegetable Kurma is tasty, authentic and perfect with idli, dosa or appam. It’s made with plenty of veggies, including potatoes and cauliflower that have simmered in a spice-paste.

Some recipes are born out of necessity and this is definitely one of them.

I have a hankering for authentic meals quite often. At times being in US, with below average restaurant food makes me miss the traditional curries that we get in India even more. This mixed vegetable curry comes with dosa or idli in many restaurants and it’s so special, simple and so comforting.

My Vegetable Curry recipe has been in the works for a few months now and while you’ll need bit of fresh produce, the bulk of this recipe relies on pantry staples — spices. Then, with the fresh produce required, most of it is shelf stable for quite a long time — the onions, ginger, garlic, and potatoes….

8 Simple Decadent Valentine’s treats you must make

February 9, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Valentines Desserts cannot be more Impressive, Simple and decadent. From breakfast, to drinks to sweet treats.

I carry around a list in my brain… a list of things that I’m in love with. Actively in love with, everyday… just walking around in the world.I’m in love with fresh flowers at home, big and small rings, my not so perfect black cotton dress, girls who carry themselves with ease that I covet, planners, writing small notes of love to family members, the diffuser that has lemon essence in it, sit and day dream.This is aside from loving the people and pets around me. This love is separate from family and friends. This love sometimes steps to the back of my mind and I’m left feeling a little blaaaaaahhh…. until all the love comes rushing back and I remember that I’m totally in love with my life. I LOVE falling in love with life.I mean… think about it. Despite its messes and disappointments… and bills, there’s a lot to be in love with… even if it’s just the smell of your new shampoo, because it reminds you of toasted coconut. That someone who compliments you on voice, a stranger looks at you because you are special. There’s so many things in life to be happy about.As much as I dislike the concept of Valentines day, hey it’s important to be in love with life.I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds… because it feels good to be in love. Let’s celebrate with something sweet.

Here are my favorite Valentines Desserts:

CHURRO FRENCH TOAST SANDWICH

In my opinion these are the next best thing to Churros . These Churro french Toast Sandwiches are easy for anyone to make and is impressive. They’re crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside and they have a flavor no one can resist!

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Ultimate Top 10 Spicy Appetizers – Super bowl Recipes

February 4, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

A roundup of Spicy Super Bowl recipes for one of the biggest sporting events of the year is coming up on Sunday. It’s going to be just us this year, but here are some fabulous Indian inspired appetizers to help you celebrate.

A roundup of Spicy Super Bowl recipes for appetizers worthy of a touchdown. I love spicy appetizers for every party. It works great for game night parties.

All of the Super Bowl food recipes below are ones I’ve made multiple times. These are pretty much the only recipes I make for super bowl parties. Of course this year, it’s going to be just us, but I will be make a couple of these spicy appetizers.

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Tiramisu French Toast

January 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This Tiramisu French toast is a twist to the classic treat. It’s so delicious and unbelievably easy. This Tiramisu French toast recipe is made with coffee, cocoa and liqueur soaked brioche, buttery and topped with creamy mascarpone , and cocoa powder dusted on top.

I’m a morning person. I drink my coffee, I love my sunrise runs, but, I don’t care for breakfast. And you are a morning person? you ask;-). Yup. I’m that annoying person who is stupidly cheerful first thing. I love the early morning light and the birds chirping and dewy grass and a cuppa coffee.

I wasn’t a no-breakfast person growing up. Mom had the most delicious south Indian breakfast ready for me by 8.00 a.m and I didn’t have to move a finger. It was downright comfort home cooking. Weekends were different though. Dad took out his apron and the only vintage beater we had. The one with two whips, a handle to turn the whip.. remember?…. Good quality bread was key. A classic french toast, one of my dad’s specialties. It was simple: eggs, milk, sugar and cardamom. “Whip till it froths, dip the bread for no more than ten seconds on each side”, he said. Ghee laden, crispy and the best french toast. I enjoyed it! Those mornings felt very hoity-toity, with forks and all, nothing like my usual….

Yakhni Pulao

January 22, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Yakhni pulao is a light, yet full flavored rice dish. The Yakhni or the broth is where all the flavor lies, the more flavorful, rich and aromatic your broth is, the better the pulao. It’s simply irresistible with a spicy curry.

If you’ve been a reader of the blog for a while, you already know how inquisitive I can be about new food, the food I love and I don’t rest easy until I get the recipe. I’ve always been intrigued by different dishes from different regions of India and the World.

My hubby’s very good friend comes from a royal family in Aligarh, India. His mom is a stunner, has a glow about her. I still remember meeting aunt and uncle for the first time here in US. They had invited us for dinner. As a young bride, very protected..I was quite nervous and overwhelmed, before meeting them. After our initial introductions, the conversations flowed easily and comfortably. Aunt brought out shammi kababs, mantu dumplings and samosas and I immediately knew, we had something in common. FOOD. She started explaining how her family bawarchi/chef was the best and he was taught by his granddad who was also a royal chef. Aunty learnt a lot from him. I could sense how passionate aunt was about food when she explained in detail how to make the perfect chai….

Marinated Greek style Gigantes

January 12, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Greek style Gigantes has few ingredients with bold flavors. This easy Greek style Marinated Gigantes is so moreish and makes for a perfect appetizer or a light lunch.

“Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.

Just keep going.

No feeling is final.”

~Rainer Maria ~

I think of happiness as being something that we’re always chasing — the right person, the right job — external things. To me, joy is quieter, more internal, and we often find it in simple moments along the way. Like i read somewhere: the author writes about her mother, who experienced so much disappointment and loneliness in her life, yet finds solace in the little things….