Cheese

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….

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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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. …

Paneer Beans Stir Fry in Tamarind Chutney

August 3, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Chutney. Chop. Stir and serve. This paneer beans stir fry is a great, delicious meal with some rice on the side or some noodles. Simple and splendid.

Stir-fries are a girl’s best friend when looking for an easy meal that feels fancy and loved by all. Lunch time when the boys would go to school and work was a peaceful time, all by myself soaking in the moments. Plated well, simple it might be, but always fancy-ish and healthy. The lesson — that lunch can be and should be the welcomed break in our day to recoup and recharge — changes the entire game of the day.

This is hardly work: some stirring, pouring, and a bit of fry up, and then, here’s lunch. The trifling effort yields plush, sweet and spicy paneer that snuggles up with green slightly crisp beans. I love to have it as is, it is simple and absolutely delicious….

Potato Paneer Stuffed Jalapeno Curry

July 29, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Paneer stuffed jalapeno Curry. The mild mellow, slightly sweetish tomato and cashew curry offsets the heat from the stuffed peppers. It’s dish to entertain with, a great vegetarian entree for those fancy days with a bodacious personality.

I run down the stairs to the door bell. The grocery guy has just pulled over the driveway. I wait till he leaves the produce and take all precautions to bring it in. A quick scan: milk, butter, 7 cucumbers(hmm I didn’t order that much, but I was ok), greek yogurt- check, a huge relief! I go to the next bag with my clear gloves on and stand confused. Four tomatoes and 3 pounds of jalapenos?!! What!!

After a few moments of annoyance and a close call for a massive tantrum, then the realization for the many possible things to come up with the three pound jalapeno bag were emotions all in a minute as I stared at the bag staring back at me….

Indian spiced vegan mac and cheese

August 20, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

This Indian spiced vegan mac and cheese recipe is incredibly creamy, spiced and remarkably cheese-like! You won’t believe how delicious dairy-free mac and cheese can be and it’s got lot of veggies, hidden:).

Indian spiced vegan mac and cheese

Personally, I never was cheese fan before, until I got introduced to the fancier ones, but I still am quite picky. I know, it probably seems sacrilegious to you, but it’s just the way I am. My teen an experimental cook, made cashew cheese once and I was hooked. So, when my teen made this Indian spiced vegan mac and cheese for me with cashews, I was floored. It’s lighter than normal mac and cheese, and has a different cheesy touch from the paneer. It’s one of my favorite recipes.…

Moroccan Guava Almond Phyllo Cake aka Snake cake/ M’hanncha

December 17, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Traditional Moroccan dessert, Moroccan Guava Almond Phyllo Cake M’hanncha/snake cake is made with filo pastry and almond filling, scented with orange blossom water and cardamom. Here we’ve used guava paste and cream cheese for that nontraditional modern touch. M’hanncha means coiled snake, name given because of the shape. It is easy to make and the taste is simply divine!

When I began blogging in 2013 I was completely blown away by the prolific community of food writers and home cooks who shared their stories and their inspiration on the web. Come to think of it, I barely visited blogs let alone food blogs, until giving it all a go myself… It was one of those “jump before looking how deep the water was first” sort of things. Needless to say, I spent countless hours pouring over gorgeous, articulate web pages, trying to learn as much as I could. Beautiful photos, authentic writing, original tested recipes, and authenticity was incredibly inspiring….

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Coffee Cake with Maple Drizzle

October 23, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is the fall recipe I’ve been waiting to share, cardamom-spiced pumpkin cream cheese coffee cake! A big slice of spiced pumpkin cake with cream cheese filling in the center, with crunchy brown sugar coffee crumbs on top, drizzled with sweet glaze, paired with a cup of coffee… It’s the perfect way to start a fall day.

What is better than pumpkin and coffee cake, pumpkin coffee cake :). Come Fall, and my obsession for pumpkin and squash dishes reinvigorates. As it should be!!

With all of the pumpkin recipes floating around, there’s one extremely basic pumpkin dessert that I’ve never shared with you before. It’s my favorite pumpkin cake. Simple, straightforward, unadulterated, no strings attached, positively perfect pumpkin cake. It’s for those of us who want pure pumpkin spice flavor with nothing else in the way.

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Shortcut Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

September 18, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This flavorful shortcut chicken tortilla soup is loaded with beans, corn, tomatoes, and chicken, and it comes together in under thirty minutes. To serve, garnish with your favorite tortilla chips or toasted corn tortillas cut into strips, along with avocado, cilantro, cheese, and onions.

A year ago when my teen expressed that he wants to pursue his studies in New York , it was bittersweet. I made up my mind that I’ll be giving him a small diary filled with 15-30 minute easy recipes. After a quick survey on Instagram, I had so many requests for easy healthy recipes, weeknight dinners, and bachelor recipes… Voila, it’s better to also blog those recipes, right?!…

Broccoli Cauliflower Goat Cheese Quinoa Patties with Avocada Cream

August 6, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

These crispy, healthy, gluten-free broccoli cauliflower goat cheese quinoa patties are simple and nutritious. If you want, skip the cheese and use vegan cheese to make it fully vegan. These patties are very versatile. You can make them with different vegetables and your choice of cheese. Your meat lover will love it too.

Happy New Week you guys!!

I find it a little challenging to eat healthily while having all the good flavors, with portion control. When summer hits, it’s especially a little hard to maintain a decent lifestyle in terms of food. With the boys home, there’s a little bit of indulgent food, a lot of comfort food, and in between, I try to squeeze in some healthy food too….