Sweets

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.…

Top 10 Quick Diwali Sweets

November 1, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Here are a few quick sweets to make last minute Diwali is right out the corner. Colors, lights, fireworks, clothes, family, friends, parties, dancing, and, of course, we can’t forget the food. The food and sweet is in abundance. It has the spirit of coming together, laughing over mugs of coffee and tea, snacking, and just relaxing. One of the specialties of Diwali is the snacks that are prepared days before the actual festival. Here are my top 5 Quick Diwali sweets I make every year and it is loved and enjoyed. Happy Diwali from ours to yours!!

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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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Over the Top Toasted Chocolate Hazelnut S’mores Bars

July 2, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Buttery and gooey with the chocolatey nutty marshmallow goodness. This toasted chocolate hazelnut s’mores bars will be gone before you know it. It will be a summer staple once you make it.

As a content creator, I often face a reoccurring problem. Sometimes, I scratch my head pondering on what to post to keep it exciting and interesting, doable, and also something I love to eat. And then there is the photographer’s block. Last, and worst, is the writer’s block.

I’ve gone through periods where I had to take a break because the content simply wasn’t exciting enough. Especially after my book, I really hit a wall for few weeks. Then boom, I had this immense bout of energy to cook, test, shoot and share. But at the end of the day, what do you write for all these posts?…

Salvadoran Sweet Bread / Semitas De Dulce (Sweet Stuffed Bread)

May 15, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This Salvadoran Sweet Bread / Semitas De Dulce is a traditional bread stuffed with panela/jaggery. A delicious twist on the classic recipe is to use your favorite jam as a filling.

You have to taste the culture to understand it.

We travel for many reasons. To explore, for love, for glory, for adventure, for thrills, to get away from reality, to relax. For the new and the familiar, for sensory thrills and serenity, for socialization and isolation, for risk and reward, for the journey and the story and the secrets. I travel for all these reasons. Which is all just another way of saying that I travel to eat….

Brown Butter Caramalized Banana Semolina Mini Cake with aka Sheera Cake

September 30, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

These mini brown butter banana semolina cakes are perfect for entertaining and for festivals. They taste like a popular Indian dessert called Sheera, but in cake form!

India can easily be called the “Land of Festivals.”

This whole month has been very religious for many. I always love sharing the festival food on social media. For me, it’s always such a wonderful time to spread love and food.

This festival, Ayudha/Saraswathi Pooja, is one which is particularly celebrated in Southern India. Ayudh means instruments, so this festival is all about giving due respect to the things that we use everyday. Cars, homes, etc. are cleaned in detail. Respecting the ordinary things which we would take for granted otherwise….

Red Rice Sweet Paniyaarm/fritters stuffed with Coconut and Palm Sugar

March 22, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

It’s that time again for Indians to slap colors on each other. A festival which brings people together, a festival of camaraderie and jollity. Holi – the festival of COLORS.

India does have a lot of festivals, and the whole country turns into a colorful atmosphere. Among these festivals, some are religious, some are based on seasons, and some are of national importance. I consider this festival in particular to be a more free spirited, joyous occasion for the young and old and everyone in between. It’s a festival where people forget anger, sadness and join in for a day of fun, food and become kids at heart.

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Almond-Cardamom Cream stuffed Apple Tarts

February 19, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

I wonder how the days were when there was no puff pastry in the freezer.

Making a puff pastry is an art, an art of being patient. The dough is breathtakingly soft and pliable. There is an aura of romantacism while you handle the dough and roll carefully, quarter turns and striping/dotting The ingredients are just a few, but so many small details go into making the dough. I had little clue until then about the process, and how amazingly flaky, pure buttery it would be. The first bite I took after we baked one batch just blew my socks off. I instinctively remember closing my eyes and tasting the butter, the flakiness and the gazillion layers so thin and crispy. The effort paid off….

Red Bean-Cardamom Buns

February 7, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

What’s your favorite dessert?

I couldn’t pick just one. It’s coffee cake one day, falooda another, or a simple gulab jamun, which I always love.

While San Francisco is famous for it’s Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and earthquakes, it’s also very famous for its restaurants. There are no words to describe the popular sourdough of San Francisco, it’s amazing. The food truck festival is a very popular one. The Ghirardelli ice cream is just to die for. My mouth just waters with the memory of the English muffins from Model bakery. Ahhh, so good. Little Italy has some beautifully created dishes as well. While burritos are considered sacred here, Chinese food is like an institution. We have some very very popular chefs who have great restaurants, and I’ve been to a lot of them. It is a food heaven filled with culture and beauty.

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