Dessert

12 BEST Christmas COOKIES

December 16, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

“I am still convinced that a good, simple, homemade cookie is preferable to all the store-bought cookies one can find.”James Beard

Here are my top 12 best Christmas cookies. Treat your family to exotic Moroccan cookies to Pizzelles, classic shortbread, addictive coffee cardamom cookies, Indian bakery cookies, Persian cookies, butter cookies and a gluten free amaretti cookies. All my favorite and I hope you enjoy them.

12 BEST Christmas COOKIES12 BEST Christmas COOKIES #christmascookies

Baking Christmas Cookies is one of the holiday traditions I look forward to the most! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

‘Tis the season for Christmas cookies, sweet and spicy scented Pizzelles smiling back at us, buttery melt in your mouth shortbread cookies and holiday cookie decorating parties!

Christmas cookies are a wonderful way to share your own Christmas traditions with friends and family throughout the holiday season. From cookie platters at your holiday parties to getting together to virtual cookie parties , Christmas cookies are loved by everyone!…

Honey Walnut Shortbread Cookies

December 9, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

These Honey Walnut Shortbread Cookies are deliciously crisp and buttery in a classic way, and are especially wonderful for Christmas and holiday baking! I consider them a luxury of cookies, and added bonus with the honey. The dough is easy to make using five simple ingredients.

Dare I say that these are my favorite cookies ever?

Honey Walnut Shortbread Cookies

These shortbread cookies are simply the best around. Your house will smell incredible, I couldn’t wait till they came out of the oven, just desperately needed to put one in my mouth as soon as possible.

These cookies are reminiscent of the Danish butter cookies that come in those blue tins around Christmas time. They taste slightly similar but are not as crispy. With honey in it, its softer on the inside and crispier on the outside….

Walnut chocolate pinwheel cookie

November 13, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Walnut chocolate cookie recipe is the best for your upcoming winter parties. This Walnut Chocolate Pinwheel Cookie recipe is well loved. Make it for your next cookie exchange or for your holiday place and I promise, it’s going to be a hit. I am thrilled to announce that I am a 2019 Reynolds Kitchens Ambassador.

These “cookies” are very popular for christmas parties . Practically every cookie tray has this delicious treat. I had this years ago at a party and asked the host to send me the recipe and she did. I asked my friend what she called them and she said they were “chocolate nut cookies.” I asked another friend and he said they were “chocolate slices.”

They do remind me of pinwheels too, but I decided to call them Walnut chocolate pinwheel cookie I. think that’s the most accurate description :).There were 2 surprise ingredients: 1 being condensed milk, but the most surprising was the cream cheese in the crust. And what a delicious, flaky crust it is! You will love it!…

Classic Carrot Cupcake with Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting

April 5, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

These are fluffy, and moist classic carrot cupcake! Made completely from scratch with real grated carrots, these carrot cupcakes are always a hit! Make sure to top them off with the absolute best cream cheese frosting.

Carrot Cupcakes are my little one’s favorite and I’d like to believe that it’s a way to get his daily serving of vegetables. Give him a cupcake and a zucchini muffin for each hand and we’ve got the bottom of the food pyramid covered.

Alright, maybe carrot cupcakes aren’t the best way to get your daily vegetables, but it’s definitely the tastiest, especially when topped off with a very generous swirl of cream cheese frosting. They’re soft, moist, and cheerfully fluffy, these cupcakes taste like springtime and sunny weather (which I could really, really use right now!)….

Gujiya Pie – Modern take on the traditional

March 17, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Gujiya Pie, a modern take on a beloved Indian treat. Gujiya or deep fried hand pies are a quintessential treat for Diwali and Holi. Gujiya Pie is a unique treat that is easy to make and impressive for a party or take to a potluck.

One of the most awaited festivals and celebrated throughout India is Holi. Holi is celebrated in India by the people to get rejuvenated after the months of winter season. People meet, hug, share sweet, play with color, visit their homes together, eat delicious foods, wear new clothes. It a nice way to form a bond, re kindle friendships and camaraderie. It brings out the child in everyone.

It’s a tradition that dates back millenniums. It is the greatest festival of Hindus indicates the triumph of good over evil. It’s a festival that is celebrated over two days and marks the beginning of spring….

Coconut Cashew Cocoa Bailey’s Strawberry and Cream Panna cotta

February 1, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

An impressively easy dessert, bailey’s strawberry and cream panna cotta will make anyone smile. It’s light and it’s decadent, both at the same time. The crunch from the tart base compliments this smooth panna cotta.

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….

Sweet Pongal / Sakkarai Pongal / Ven Pongal

January 14, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Sakkarai Pongal or Sweet Pongal is a speciality of Southern part of India. Made during the festival of Sankranthi and Pongalm its also a very popular breakfast. It is made with rice, daal and jaggery. It’s topped with ghee and nuts. A sweet treat like none other.

Pongal / Sankranti to all who celebrate!! When they say India is a land of festivals, it is true. We probably have a festival every month of the year. The crazy part is that they are not small festivals; each one is big. Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to Sun God. It’s a celebration of the first crop. It’s celebrated over four days, each day with its own significance. You can read more about the mythology and significance behind Pongal here.…

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….

Festive Froyo Bark/ Frozen Yogurt Bark

December 10, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Snack time just got exciting with this recipe for energy boosting Frozen Yogurt Bark; FAGE greek yogurt sweetened with honey and topped with chocolate chips, poms, pistachios and sugar free sprinkles!

After a three week vacation that was filled with food, laughter, fun and more food, I have been craving healthier, guilt free treats for snacks.

I have been making yogurt sweetened with maple syrup and topped with granola for years. This is a pleasant change that I made a year or so ago and it was well loved. Hey, in between all the cookies and treats, why not sneak in some healthy treats too?…

Pumpkin Halwa Swirled Vanilla Ice Cream with Saffron Sesame Crumble

November 18, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This homemade pumpkin halwa icecream is so easy to whip up. It’s packed full of ingredients you most likely have on hand already, and isn’t too ingredient-heavy. Mix it with store bought ice cream, or make your own ice cream. Topped with crunchy brittle, it’s a surely winning dessert.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Before this week is over, many of us would have had a couple get-togethers with family or friends.

I have to admit: Thanksgiving is my favorite celebration among the many American traditions. I find the meaning behind it intriguing, and I enjoy the holiday. It’s about family, and being grateful and thankful for everything. And this Thanksgiving, I am more than thankful to be among my favorite people, my FAMILY. Words can’t explain how grateful and thankful I am for everything that’s happened to me….