Party Ideas

PUMPKIN ON LENTIL AND COUSCOUS GALETTE

October 6, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

It’s the season of Pumpkins.

It’s very overwhelming when you move from a place where you are born, raised and have a big family to a place where you know no one. The rules, the grocery store, the weather, food and getting adjusted to a different way of living poses a challenge. It can can get very lonely if you don’t have anyone to talk to, spend some time on the weekends.

When I moved here, I was blessed with a great set of my hubby’s friends. They knew each other from early college days. Eventually, everyone got married in the group. Had kids almost at the same time. Growing up together and to see kids get along well, sure is nice thing. I don’t feel so lost anymore after a fun 17 years here.
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SPICED POMEGRANATE SIMPLE SYRUP

September 24, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

Are we close to October already? How did that happen? Just seems like we welcomed summer and now it’s orange everywhere. Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated birthdays, woke up late, made ice cream, barbecued, vacations and slept late(the best part).

Here we are on the thresh hold of holiday season, and I am not ready for it, are you? I hear friends have started shopping for Halloween, then comes thanksgiving and a ton of baking. Clearly, I need a drink.
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PANEER TIKKA with YOGURT MINT SAUCE

September 20, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

I happen to love paneer (non melting, unaged, farmer’s cheese).

Growing up, I don’t remember mom cooking much paneer (cheese). It was something that we ate at restaurants.

As a South Indian our diet mostly consisted of rice, lentils, vegetables, and chicken. Paneer/cheese was considered ‘North Indian food’. So when we wanted to eat, we would go out to a restaurant for a treat, and what a nice treat it was.

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Chicken Wings – Spicy Masala Wings- turn up the heat!!

July 2, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

A Recipe has no soul. You as a the cook must bring soul to the recipe. – Thomas Keller

Happy July Friends. Hope your weekend was good with perfect weather.

Mine I can say was hot and irritating. Our a/c is not working and it was 100 in the Bay. Thankfully I got a chance to stay in the skating ring with my preteen, safe for 3 hours while my little baby played cricket for hours in the burning heat. I also had a brilliant but impractical idea of driving around so we don’t have to walk into the oven. Well, that did not happen, I wonder why.

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NO BAKE/ Low Fat Dates Panna Cotta

April 27, 2013 By Asha Shivakumar

“In cooking, as in all the arts, simplicity is the sign of perfection.” Curnonsky

Some days are slower and simpler than others. This was one of those days with a simple goal in mind.

Don’t we all love a quick sweet treat..(most of em’ at least) and if it’s healthy for us..why not right? So when I had a chance to write up an article for http://www.foodandnightlife.com about a no bake healthy dessert, it created a challenge. So worked up my brain, Googled for ideas and created this one.

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