Entertaining

Blood Orange Fizz

January 28, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

The vibrant color of blood oranges makes this blood orange fizz a beautiful drink and absolutely delicious and special.

It’s January and there is an abundance of blood oranges in my farmers market and I cannot get enough of it. Even better when a friend who has a major green thumb, with a large yard who grows all sorts of citrus trees shares some of her precious stash. She is like, I better get to it before my squirrels. I get lucky because she doesn’t know what to do with all the beauties. It’s probably my favorite citrus fruit, so I happily offer to take any amount she gives:).

Few weeks and it’s gone. POOF. And we have to wait a year for blood orange season….

Quick Yellow Thai Curry – 20 Min.

January 24, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This quick yellow Thai curry will both impress you and leave you craving for more. It’s so easy, and you don’t even need any paste. It’s a weekly staple in our home.

If there’s one thing we would take out quite often, but I was still overwhelmed by, it was Thai food. For some reason, for years I thought making Thai curry with Thai paste was laborious. Well, making a Thai curry paste does require a few ingredients, but it’s actually quite simple as I later learned. However, on the days I run out of my curry paste and have a hankering for Thai Curry, this is my go to….

Curry Chicken Salad Avocado Boats with Cilantro cream

January 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This madras curry chicken salad avocado boats are so healthy and equally delicious, perfect with the cilantro cream. Just the right balance for the non-carb days or any day.

Curry is not a thing in Indian cuisine. Every recipe calls for a mix of spices, each family has their blend. So there’s nothing like curry, every recipe has it’s own name. There are many reasons for the word curry, you can read it HERE. Now, just for the convenience, we call it chicken curry or Andhra curry or Egg curry.…

black eyed peas and eggplant curry

January 1, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Black eyed peas curry with eggplant and spinach rotis, a healthy and tasty way to begin the New Year. Healthy, nutritious and extremely tasty. Happy 2018!!!

Happy New Year! Wishing you a Very Happy 2018! Hope you all have an enriched and fulfilling year ahead.

Black eyed peas is supposed to be a lucky dish to have on New Year’s. It’s a Southern tradition, and you can read the reasons behind it HERE. For us, we just love black eyed peas, and that’s reason enough to share and enjoy this dish.

And here we are, in 2018. A new year. Beginning of a New chapter.

Whatever it maybe,

Find What ignites worlds within you

Let your work, everything you create,

Be a direct extention of your heart space,

Now, more than ever,

The world needs more of our light

Go find what sparks it

And people that wholeheartedly believe in it,

And use to go out + change something.

Danielle Doby…

Perfect CHEESE BOARD – Roasted red bell pepper and Tomato Chutney

December 28, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

A party feels complete with a perfect cheese board. Make this roasted red bell pepper and tomato chutney, which is spicy and goes perfectly with an array of cheeses.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your Holidays. We had a relaxed and joyful one. I wanted to wrap 2018 on a fun note and was out of words to do it. I asked my teen to write a guest post and here goes… Hope you have a good laugh, I sure did….

Classic Spritz Cookies

December 19, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These tender butter classic spritz cookies are so easy, and melt in your mouth delicious. The dough is easy to work with, so it’s fun to make these into a variety of festive shapes.

These classic spritz cookies are so buttery and addictive. The dough is easy and comfortable enough that you don’t need a cookie press, but they do make for pretty designs.

Is it Christmas already?

Merry Christmas you guys!!! And the famous question, “How did this year go by so quickly?”…

BEST Coffee-Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Mascarpone cream

December 4, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Get your caffeine fix with these super moist, flavorful, eggless coffee chocolate cupcakes, topped with caramel mascarpone cream. It’s my favorite recipe, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the upcoming holiday parties.

Say Hello to the best coffee chocolate cupcakes that I’ve made. The exact recipe that I’ve been making for the last many years, and one of the first recipes I posted on this blog, was this CUPCAKE. The frosting is a beautiful, delicately flavored cream which holds well with a touch of mascarpone. The coffee is pronounced, but not bitter, and will not keep you up :). It’s a coffee lover’s dream….

Quick Chickpea with Spinach Curry – 30 Minute Dish

December 1, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This quick golden-hued chickpea spinach curry is simply the perfect cozy meal on a cold evening.

Happy Friday!! Happy December!!!

The cookie and cake season is here, and I bring to you a healthy and delicious meal for those “I don’t want to cook” days, when you are too busy baking up sweet treats….

PUMPKIN CAKE – Brown Butter Pumpkin Chocolate Cake WITH SAFFRON AND CARDAMOM

November 20, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This rich and nutty brown butter, pumpkin, and chocolate cake is spiced with saffron and cardamom. It’s fluffy, delicately flavored, and a perfect Autumn celebration cake.

Before this week is over, many of us would have had a couple get-togethers with family or friends. And this pumpkin cake will be made at least twice at my home.

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.

…

Twice Baked Potato with Pepper Jack-Cauliflower-Peas Stuffing (Indian style)

November 14, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

A perfect snack, side or a light lunch. These twice baked potatoes are stuffed with a spicy cauliflower peas stir fry that’s mixed in with pepper jack and wild rice. It makes for an amazing Thanksgiving side, as well as a light, delicious lunch.

It’s okay to be an Idealist, I guess!!

Maybe you’ve been called a dreamer your whole life—by others and by yourself. Are you the person spending half your time envisioning what you’d love and want to do or be?

I see some of you nod in agreement. I also see my parents shake their head side to side and saying, “That’s not reality, step down my dear…”

Trying to bridge the two worlds, the practical and the reality, is a dreamer’s challenge….