Bake with Kids

Blueberry Walnut Poppy Seed Cake

September 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This blueberry walnut poppy seed cake is laced with fresh blueberries, filled to the brim with nutty, crackly poppy seeds, and drizzled with a delicious caramel glaze. It’s the perfect “company cake.” This Blueberry Poppy Seed Cake is a must make.

If you’re looking for a fruity cake that’s perfect to take to parties or just a pick me up, this is for you, Blueberry Poppy Seed Cake or as I call it the Best Sour Cream Cake.

I make this cake to take to friend’s, for picnics, it travels well and the perfect snack time cake. We enjoy dense fruity poppy seed cake –from when I made this recipe decades ago-so I can definitely tell you that this is a recipe that stands the test of time….

Urad Daal Halwa/Ulundu Urandai

March 11, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Urad Dal Halwa or Ulundu Urandai is a sweet treat that’s very healthy, protein rich and a traditional recipe passed on by grandmothers.

My paternal grandmother was anything but traditional and conventional. She wanted all her grandkids to call her “Amma”(mom). She was progressive in many ways. I was 18 when she left us. I wasn’t matured enough to really ask her about her beliefs, her likes. Interestingly though, I didn’t need to interview her to know she was a lady after her own will. She danced to her own tunes.

She was not one to tell me: you need to learn to cook. All her boys were great cooks and helped her around. She most definitely didn’t scare me or her children into living a life like everyone did. She let me believe in me, gave me the strength to think for myself and supported me in ways no one did. She went against all norms. She had a big personality….

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….

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.…

Healthier & Loaded Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins with tahini

October 17, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

These soft pumpkin muffins are loaded with chocolate chips and pecans, with tahini in the filling, it’s over the top flavorful. Made with olive oil and whole wheat flour, it’s little healthier, but no one can tell. Make one batch and it will become your favorite too.

We are still seeing high temps in the Bay Area, but that doesn’t stop me from going pumpkin frenzy. At least my home smells like Fall.

I’ve made a few batches of these over the last many years. They’ve also made a few trips to the bake sale, and they get sold before you can spell PUMPKIN:’).

I don’t measure, I eye ball pretty much everything especially when muffins are concerned. And every single time I get lucky. Last week a friend of mine asked for the recipe and it hit me that I don’t use any recipe for this. So, I decided to write it down, send it to her and while we are on a roll, share it with you’ll. It’s after all one of my most baked muffins during pumpkin season. Breakfast, lunchbox treat, after school snack… Best Ever Loaded Pumpkin Muffins for everyone!…

Sesame Apple CAke

September 28, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Thinly sliced sweet apples run through this tender, fluffy and buttery Sesame Apple Cake. This apple cake screams simplicity and comfort, a cake that is not overtly sweet and so so satisfying.

That abundance mentality vs scarcity mentality. We are human, we want it all. Recognition, success, respect, money – these are all things that most of us dream of having in abundance on a daily basis.

Steven Covey in his book Seven Habits of highly successful people coined this well.

_________”Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.

The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production. The also have a a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people.

The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flow out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.”_____

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