Food Fashion Recipe Blog

Easy Mutton Curry

January 7, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This Indian style Easy Mutton Curry might just become your family favorite. It’s a good balance of flavors and the mutton is fall of the bone delicious. MUST MAKE!

Happy 2021!

Let’s face it – at this point it is not magic and life is not going to get back to normalcy just like that. lt’s messy and confusing at the moment. So many of us are counting on the little things to get us through the day – a spritz of perfume, fixing your hair – if you can even get that far. For some of us, it could simply be keeping up with a workout and a shower followed

I haven’t made New Year Resolutions in the longest time. A few years ago I stopped making year-long-goals and started making life-long-goals. And for the latter, waiting for a new year, isn’t wise. You need to start the moment you realize you need change. After all, kal ho na ho (translation: there might or might not be a tomorrow) *cliche.but.true*. But a new year seems like a good reason to reflect back and enforce them, stronger! For this year, I’d say: to get by without expectations is my resolution.

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Artichoke Spinach Dip

December 29, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Cheesy, rich and hot Artichoke Spinach Dip is delicious and addictive. An informal appetizer served with toasted bread, crackers and crudite.

It’s classic. It’s comforting. And it is a party favorite.

I can’t believe I haven’t shared a dip recipe on the blog as yet, although I do have a few spreads, but a warm cheesy dip that I make often, just makes an appearance on the blog.

Entertaining to me has always been about fuss free, few dishes(not overwhelming your guests) and of course something for everyone. Although, there won’t be any entertaining this year or in the near future, there’s always just the two of you, your kids or just you.

This is what I call a quick appetizer cum meal to maximize your valuable family time. …

Eggless South African Donuts – Eggless Donuts with Cardamom & Coconut

December 19, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Donuts are my kyrptonite and these Eggless South African Donuts have my heart. These are slightly different from the American donuts. They are sweet, spongy and pillowy, spiced and traditionally dipped in sugar syrup. SO GOOD!

Food feeds the soul. To the extent that we all eat food, and we all have souls, food is the single great unifier across cultures. On a larger scale, food is an important part of culture. Traditional cuisine is passed down from one generation to the next. It also operates as an expression of cultural identity. Immigrants bring the food of their countries with them wherever they go and cooking traditional food is a way of preserving their culture when they move to new places.

Being in America has opened up a pandoras box of global cuisine. What stays the same though is the extent to which each country or community’s unique cuisine can reflect its unique history, lifestyle, values, and beliefs. As the world becomes more globalized, it is easier to access cuisines from different cultures….

Fatteh – Pita topped with chickepeas,eggplant,potatoes in yogurt sauce

December 16, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

This Fatteh is a delicious combo of flavors made with tahini yogurt sauce, spiced chickpeas, smashed peppery potatoes, paprika eggplant, poms and crispy pita bread!

It’s only normal for me to love this Lebanese Vegetarian Fatteh that feels like Indian chaat, but so different too.

I’ve learnt a few dishes from my neighbor: shish barak and this Lebanese fatteh, my top favorites. A generous lady with five kids, always made it a point to share special dishes, and this was one that I gobbled up. The holidays makes me miss her more, it was lively with kids playing in the yard, the screams, lights and action. After they moved, I kept in touch with them for few years, then life happened. Her food and warm personality will always be close to my heart….

Creme Brûlée Linzer Cookies

December 12, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Theses Creme Brûlée Linzer Cookies will become your absolute cookies ever! These gorgeous and easy cookies are buttery, flaky shortbread filled with thick custard and the torched sugar makes it heavenly. A Class dessert turned into a Christmas Cookie Classic!

“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

It’s the time to be jolly, the time to shine, to give and to hold.

It’s a choice to be in the moment and to somehow find a balance between happiness and melancholy. Some moments are never planned out, some paths are taken and then we see where it leads us.

This year has taught us to live in the now. To be and to live, simply….

Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies with Cream Cheese and White Chocolate

December 7, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Red Velvet Cookies are a must make for Christmas. Baking and holiday season is upon us and I’m so happy to be bring this festive recipe for you. Buttery pillows of rich dreamy thumbprint cookies topped with cream cheese and white chocolate mixed in with cashews.

Red velvet cookies or cake is definitely one of the most festive looking treats for Christmas and the holidays. It’s the sweet marriage of cream cheese and vanilla with a little cocoa for good measure. She’s beautiful, dramatic, and completely topped with cream cheese and white chocolate frosting. This is my favorite.

These cookies are a blend of my two favorites, chocolate and vanilla. In my opinion red velvet shouldn’t be overpowered with chocolate. Red velvet desserts to me is a combination of vanilla and chocolate….

Gluten free Best Tahini Brownies with Peanut Butter

December 4, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

The BEST brownie recipe! These Tahini Brownies have a crispy top and edges, fudgy middles, and rich chocolate flavor, these homemade brownies will disappear in no time. Double the recipe!

I’ve been making “homemade brownies” that were average for years, until I found the perfect recipe. Anytime I made homemade brownies, I wanted them to be just like the ones I ate made by my team member for Thanksgiving for the old age home – super fudgy, moist, and chocolaty, with crispy edges and crackly tops. They were the best, I’d sneak a few to bring home for the boys. And Grace graciously would box a few for me. She said the recipe came from a friend and almond butter made it ever so perfect….

Easy Homemade Crackers and Sweetest (&Savory) Holiday Gift Basket idea

December 2, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Crispy, quick and easy homemade crackers under 20 minutes! It is as easy as that. This whole wheat healthy cracker recipe, made with pepper, 3 ingredients comes together in few minutes. Perfect on a cheese board or for gifts. Thanks to Sante for sponsoring this post. Crafted in small batches, Santé‘s lightly-candied pecans are distinctively crunchy for the perfect, plant-based snack.

I don’t think I’m alone in falling back on cliché to express what has, for the most part, felt inexpressible. The unprecedented. The thing to do, I guess, is parse what I really mean when I fall back on the clichés that have come to define this very strange time.

What’s not strange is the love of home made food that has grown hundred fold. People have started making sourdough, yogurt, spiced crackers and more.

These spiced easy crackers have been made quite a lot of times at home. They are healthy and you can make it your own by adding any flavorings. What I love during the holidays is to make a cheese board gift box or basket with crackers, Santé Candied Pecans, and cheese.…

Spicy Bhadang/Kaara Pori

November 12, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Traditional Maharashtrian spicy Bhadang or Kaara Pori is a quintessential snack with chai and for every occasion. It’s spicy, filled with goodness of peanuts, curry leaves, asafoetida and lot more. Few key steps and you get the perfect Bhadang or Kaara Pori.

It’s no secret that I love celebrations. Celebrations of all kinds.

August arrives, bringing along a long festive season for Indians. We have something every month until January. It’s DIWALI: where Goodness reins over evil.

I’ve always wondered why we celebrate festivals. Festivals are celebrated for many reasons by people. Of course, a huge reason for most is religious beliefs.

For me as an adult who’s seen life’s ups and downs on earth, Diwali means a lot more to me than food, clothes, parties and fun. It means: time to release the old and welcoming the new. Letting go of things, bad feelings, heartaches, judgemental attitude, disagreements, and welcoming peace, love and harmony. Festivals also provide a break from the routine, a festive atmosphere, camaraderie, a time when family gets together, reflections, relaxation. Sometimes, it breaks vicious cycles of negative emotions, stress, and helps bring the positive emotions back. Whatever the reason might be, how big or small the celebration might be, the fact that we take a step back from the routine to celebrate a special day is so important. It also reminds us of our heritage and culture. It’s almost like you press a reset button for whatever you want it to be. This is also the time to GIVE, give back to the society. Many are not fortunate as we are. I am an ardent believer in giving back. Let’s do our part, let’s make this world a better place to live in….

Paneer Lababdar – Rich and Creamy Restaurant Style Paneer Curry

November 6, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Paneer Lababdar, a traditional Punjabi style paneer curry is creamy without any cream. A restaurant style paneer curry, that is rich and perfect for any festivities and easy to make. It’s predominantly made with melon seeds and cashews or almonds. Butter, enhances the flavors. A mild paneer dish that silk creamy smooth, goes so well with naan or jeera rice.

There’s as many paneer dishes in India as there are toppings of a pizza. This is one of my favorite restaurant style paneer curry next paneer tikka masala.

Paneer is such a versatile protein for vegetarians, it takes on the flavor of anything you add it to. It’s creamy and a non meat eater’s meat. There are so many Indian paneer curries that I love: paneer mattar, paneer makhni, paneer pulao, paneer butter masala, paneer masala and the list goes on. If you want to learn how to make paneer from scratch, check this post out. This dish has no cream or milk or lots of butter, it’s creamy from the nuts and tastes excellent….