HEALTHY COOKING

ZESTY AUTUMN VEGETARIAN PROTEIN SOUP

November 15, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

It was Friday night, and the kids didn’t care what they ate. All they wanted was to take a break, relax, and do nothing. After a few days of binge eating and carb overload, we all had to eat a bit cleaner for a few days. The good thing is, the kids love to eat healthy food, but only when it tastes good. When they help make it, it’s even better! ;). I called them to come up with their own ingredients for a soup(little did they know I had it all planned). The little one chose the vegetables, the teen chose beans, and we had a winning combo. I asked them to chop, clean, and organize. I had the base ready, and they put things together; it’s that simple. They enjoyed it and were thrilled that they came up with it :).…

SAVORY WHOLE GRAIN WAFFLES

January 23, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

How are you’ll doing? Hope you are keeping yourself warm and safe.
What have I been up to??
Not a lot. Watched a very bad movie, infact the worst Indian movie ever and it had the biggest cast.
Ran 6 miles today after taking a break for a while, feels AMAZING.
Ohhh and by the way, watching episodes of STAR GATE. I remember watching it long back. Now on Season 2 and I am quite addicted now. After the boys are in bed, hubby and I watch at least four episodes, loving it.
And also made a huge batch of these waffles.

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CRISPY CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI WITH ASIAN DRESSING

January 15, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

It has been a good couple of weeks. I am trying to get back on track with my workouts and a good healthy diet. I’ve always been consistent with workouts, in fact I can overdo a bit but the results are definitely well worth it. Although my parents beg to differ, they hate to see the skinny me. Food, on the other hand is something I love too much to be eating less portions and healthy all the time. So I have to come up with tasty alternative which are liked by all. I am so glad that my boys are into salads and smoothies.

This was our light dinner for the day, with a cantaloupe smoothie (cantaloupe, strawberry, and coconut water). …

Ridgegourd Yogurt and Coconut Milk Stew with Sriracha Garbanzo Beans

January 9, 2014 By Asha Shivakumar

Ridgegourd Yogurt-Coconut Milk Stew with Sriracha Garbanzo Beans

As the holidays are behind us and a new year is ahead of us, a fresh start always feels good. It was relaxing,took a break from all social networking, yet crazy, couple of weeks. We ate a great deal of food, spent some quality time with friends, and baked plenty of different goodies. After a couple of weeks of waking up late, skipping workouts, eating out, and having absolutely no routine, I was craving to get back into shape. I guess that sometimes, too much of a good thing can annoy you.

Well, I am quite excited for the New Year. I have no resolution in particular, but I have goals I want to accomplish. To start off, I am in deep need of some detox. Well, the carb lover that I am, it is hard to do that. However, once a day, healthy smoothies or soups/stews are not a bad thing.
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OPA SQUASH DUMPLINGS IN SPICY CURRY-Kofta Curry

October 10, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

When things are in a rush, every body’s got lots to do and you feel the need for extra couple of hours in a day….then comes the spicy yummy meal craving. That’s when one pot meals come in handy.

Don’t you love one pot meals?
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SPICY GARBANZO PEANUT SALAD – ‘Sundal’

September 15, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

My words his experiences.

“I first ate this version of the salad at a festival in my neighbor’s house. The simplest way to describe that festival is ‘a doll festival‘(GOLU). They keep miniature idols of GOD, and dolls of mythological characters on tiny steps made of wood. The dolls would’ve been collected over many years, received as gifts, and also inherited from parents and grandparents. Ladies get together, sing, pray, and give this salad in mini bowls to guests.

College days were fun. Going to the beach with my guy friends was an experience. Chennai(in the southern part of India) has some of the nicest beaches. We watched kids playing, moms and dads watching over the kids, and couples walking hand in hand. It truly was a sight.

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RICOTTA COCOA WAFFLES – Whole grain with fruits

August 25, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

HAPPY SUNDAY GUYS!!

My week was quite an eventful one.

Have you ever silently scolded someone and a few moments later thanked them(in your mind)?

We were in a small store which sells school uniforms. I finished my purchases and quickly decided to check my receipt with the number of clothes. Left my phone for 40 seconds on the counter. A minute later realized that I didn’t have my phone and I was standing exactly in the same place. IT WAS GONE…

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BUCKWHEAT/FLAX SEEDS SPICY CRACKERS with GRILLED GOLDEN BEET DIP/HUMMUS

August 20, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

I am not Vegan.

I eat gluten in some form every day.

Healthy food habits…not all the time.

We do go sometimes Vegan for a week, just to see how it feels. Being a South Indian, rice is a huge part of our daily meals, we naturally follow a gluten free diet to a certain extent.

Now about eating and following a healthy lifestyle, wish I was more consistent with it. We eat quite healthy, actually very healthy, but after a good healthy meal, we go out for Gelato:). My new favorite flavor FicoPistachio, oh yum.
OK, I don’t eat ice cream everyday, but I need a sweet something after dinner time. Do you crave a dessert after your dinner?
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ROASTED CAULIFLOWER AND GARBANZO COUSCOUS With BALSAMIC CANDIED WALNUTS

August 8, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

“I’ve been on a diet for two weeks and all I’ve lost is two weeks”- Totie Fields

Do you love crazy scary rides?

We were in Disney for the weekend.
We ate Churros, Mickey Ice creams, cheesy pasta, frozen lemonade and a lot in between. I am not even making up what I ate, it was a little too much. I feel stuffed and not so a little guilty to have eaten my way to happiness. Now, I fear the scale. Why am I only talking about food, we were in Disney right???…

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CHICKEN PATTIES with APPLE CORIANDER CHUTNEY

August 6, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

Some things are just easy.

Some things are comfort.

Some things just bring back memories.

I met her 6 years ago,a lady with an attitude of gratitude.

She was the lady who carried a cane basket filled with different fresh greens. She came every morning door to door to sell greens. A simple yet strong woman. I fell in love with her(my keerai lady/greens lady). Why, you might ask?

Her husband abandoned her. She adopted a little girl at 2 months and she started living for the little one. She sold greens in the mornings and did household chores in the afternoon for a living.
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