Appetizer

Vegetable-Tofu Wrap with Spicy Almond Cream

February 3, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Happy February!

The only thing that comes to mind during January is Downton Abbey.

We watched or let’s just say binge watched all 6 seasons under 3 weeks. I know..I know..it’s crazy. We did though. For a month I spoke in an accent new to me, and I felt quite posh. Now that fancy accent is fading away as fast as the memories of Downton Abbey are. I enjoyed it so much that I pretty much have withdrawal symtom now. I’m looking for another period drama. If you have suggestions, please do let me know.

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Garlicky Mung/Moong Bean-Dill-Pomegranate Spicy Warm Salad

January 21, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

After a couple of years of pretty severe drought in the Bay, the wet weather for the past few weeks is a welcome change. I definitely am happy to hear the pitter-patter of the rain and rumble of the leaves. The deep brown soil turning brown and the dry brown grass on the mountains turning green are some very pretty sights.

Waking up to dark gray clouds, the sounds of rain, the trembling trees all makes us want to snuggle a bit more. Turning and struggling to wake up, going down for a hot cup of coffee and to a silent almost ‘pin drop silence’ except for the rain was an ideal start to my perfect day.

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Spicy Chicken Pakora/Fritters

December 28, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Chicken Pakora/fritters is an amazing appetizer and perfect party entertainer. It’s best made using boneless chicken and chickpea flour/besan.

We are thoroughly spoiled by where we live. Right in the middle of the bay, there are farmer’s markets every week, people with light casual clothes all year around. There are strawberry picking, the cherry festival, the peach trees, and garage sales which will close down the streets. Apple orchards filled with the most delicious ones to pick, tangerines and oranges everywhere. We are greedy every season and try to hold on to the harvest preserving it bottle by bottle. When there are snow and storms everywhere, we are trying to preserve the water because of the dry weather. Craving for exotic food, we have options: we can either make them because the international grocery stores carry everything and the restaurants here are amazing. There are mountains to one side and sea to the other. Ski resorts are a couple of hours north and Disneyland a few more to the south.

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Balsamic Spiced Mixed Nuts

December 7, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Christmas is just around the corner. It will come by, before we know it and will pass by in a blur. The journey during December is a beautiful one.

Amidst all these you guys, it’s been a tough last 4 weeks for a place very dear to my hubby and a lot of people who belong to Chennai.

I met my husband in Chennai Airport for the first time. A memorable moment that I will never forget. What Chennai and the 6 million people in it won’t forget is, what they saw and experienced in the last few weeks.

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Endive Boats with Beet-Carrot-Fennel-Pear in Asian Dressing

November 4, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

I’ve always been picky about my salads. I will eat a salad only if it is spicy, crunchy, and made with some peanut butter dressing :). Well, it changed.

I was invited to a clothing boutique opening a few winters ago. That’s when I fell in love with these endive boats after avoiding it for about 20 minutes. As we walked in, our coats were taken. The wine was served and the conversations were on full swing, when a very prim and proper server walked by us bringing these beautiful salad boats. I excused myself politely to walk across to the left of the room where the cocktails and desserts were. After a few minutes, the guy comes again with this beautifully arranged platter of these boats, and I picked out a boat just to be nice to the guy. He smiled because I had been avoiding him for at least 20 minutes. I stalked him for the next 15; I am sure I would’ve eaten at least 10.

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Bruschetta with Persimmon Chutney

November 4, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Happy November!!

There’s something about the cooler weather, twinkling stars as early at 6.00 p.m., and all the festive pumpkins and persimmons in the grocery store. Everything screams of holidays, parties and food. Everyone gets in the mood of perfecting their pies, the sides and their birds.

The appetizers are some of the last to be remembered. Don’t you think?

I have a great one for you. Just make a lot of it and have some bottles of chutney ready to go for your guests, they’ll want it.

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Quick Pumpkin Butter with Cardamom and Ginger – Pull apart Bread

October 23, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

It is the season of festivals for Indians. Starts around September and goes on till mid November.

‘Ayudha Pooja’, that’s what we celebrate in the Southern Part of India this week. It is a very interesting festival. Ayudha means weapons/instruments. On this day, we pay our respect to all the regular household items we use. Knifes, screw drivers, hammer, calculator, you name it, if we can keep it for prayers, we will.

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Pesto with Candied Balsamic Cashews on Focaccia

October 14, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

We still are wearing our open toed sandals and sundresses. I think we are going to jump to Winter, skipping Fall. There is not a lot of foliage here. The only sign of fall are the squash and pumpkins.
I miss the chill, we need some rain.

On the bright side, I found some beautiful tomatoes in Cali and it’s crazy 91 degrees.

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Vegetable-Quinoa Rolls with Sweet and Spicy Green Chutney

April 27, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Hi Friends! Happy Spring!

Is it spring already? It’s spring now, and Saturday felt like winter. It was rainy, and gloomy all day. I know it’s spring cause’ I’ve had the worst allergies ever. Sinus and I’ve been asking the boys in my life to press one side of my face. They find it funny but always do it.

I’ve been everywhere in the last couple of weeks, from Bikram yoga to a hike to a boxing class. I ate up a storm, cooked like crazy, and have been insta crazy. I went to the library. I got a bunch of books which are just lying around, and I just got a notice saying that it’s due in 2 days. I wanted to blog. I wrote so many recipes and tested a few, but I had no mojo to take pictures.

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Peanut Spice Stuffed Peppers

April 8, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

As food bloggers, we are trying and testing out recipes all the time. I post my daily food on Instagram and Facebook almost everyday. However, I noticed something very funny. Throughout winter I really haven’t had a decent ‘party’ at home. Friends have dropped by, and we’ve met them outside, but we’ve not had an actual party. It’s very surprising how sometimes we get caught with so many things that entertaining does take a back seat.

Finally, I decided to have a few friends come over for some wine and snippets. Around the kitchen table, laughs and discussions about everything happened. Wine flowed as the spicy paneer was devoured. This unique looking chili kept our conversation going for at least 3o minutes. Food, wine, and friends are so magical.

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