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Guava Coconut Frangipane Tart

July 24, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

A tropical bakewell tart: this guava coconut frangipane tart is a classic with a twist. The addition of guava paste is a delicious touch to this nutty tart . It’s a great picnic cake, travels well.

Connections are made every day. Sometimes they’re large or life changing. Other times they’re as simple as a smile to a passerby on the street or stopping to observe Spring’s first flowers pushing through the cool, heavy earth. These little connections are made everyday whether you stop to take notice or not.

One connection that continues to intrigue and inspire me is food. It’s amazing to think that one little seed, when loved and cared for, grows into something that nourishes the body and mind. That those little seeds make a meal that I can then share with friends and family, making even further connections, that soon become memories of those meals and times past….

Cauliflower Chili Stir Fry aka Chili Ghobi

July 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Home style Chili Ghobi aka Cauliflower stir fry is spicy, delicious and nutritious. It’s an easy Indian side dish, requiring only a few ingredients. It goes perfect side with rotis or chapathis.

Life is a journey, and this journey is all about change and evolution. Friendships are just like that. It has the honeymoon phase, the lull period, blossoming friendship, wanting something more, the end, or the friendship that lasts forever. I’ve tried hard to understand its nuances, but I usually just go with the flow.

I’ve realized over the years that I am OK with change, both in relationships and friendships. We start liking someone and their company, for what they are. The things you admire about someone in the first place might become quite annoying as you get closer to them….

Chicken Black bean Mole Enchiladas

July 17, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This ridiculously easy and delicious Mole sauce is made with black beans and chocolate and mixed with chicken which is stuffed in tortillas and pan fried. Crispy, Spicy, sweet and perfect Chicken Black Bean Mole Enchiladas. Make it for picnics or brunch for the two of you. Winner all the time.

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take a while. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”

― Ira Glass…

200 Year Old Recipe – Sri Lankan Mixed Vegetable Curry

July 14, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This two hundred year old recipe, a Sri Lankan Mixed Vegetable Curry, is inspired by a popular restaurant in Colombo. It has a nice level of spice, creaminess with the coconut milk, and a great texture with all kinds of different vegetables.

“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can see, as much as you can. Across the ocean or simply across the river. The extent you can walk in someone else’s shoes, or atleast eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up of the couch, and move.” Anthony Bourdain.

Anthony Bourdain was special. What a loss!…

Spiked Lychee Mint Lemonade

July 12, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This lychee mint lemonade is refreshing and delicious, a perfect drink on a warm day, with the unexpectedly delectable combination of lychee and mint. Add vodka or any mix to amp up this drink.

I wanted a perfect ending. I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, leaning into change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. – Gilda Radner

Change is weird.

I’ve had this post as a draft for two years. The ticker at the footer reads 2,200 words. Oye. Every day for the past week I’ve tried to sit down and write about the change. I know what to write: I want to write about the changes I’ve gone through in the last two years. Sometimes it comes when you least expect it. It is the unexpected where you learn the lessons that have the greatest impact on your life. I’m starting to understand the saying, “Life is a journey, not the destination.” Your life is defined by all the components that make up the journey.…

Vegan Crunchy Kale Corn Summer Roll with Tahini Miso Dressing and Spiced Almond Crumble

July 8, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

These refreshing Crunchy Kale Corn summer roll with cherries and miso-tahini dressing are a breeze on a hot day. The spicy almond crunch is the perfect touch to this salad roll.

Summer is in full swing here in the Bay. Not a beautiful warm air, but burning heat.

We spent our July 4th cleaning our backyard, making a little noise, and playing with Waffles. With the speaker on, playing some old blues, corn making some crackling sounds on the grill and these kale corn summer rolls are arranged neatly sitting on the table. I was drinking wine, and the rest drank lemonade from water glasses, sitting next to our little furball as he was panting as hard as he can. We had to physically calm him down. A lot of hugs and treats. The fireworks scare him, very badly. We put on some white noise at home, with our sprinklers turned on while trying to not leave his side.

…

Homestyle Teen Dal Fry / Three Lentil Curry

July 3, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This homestyle teen dal fry, or three lentils curry, is a simple comforting dish with carrots, a nice tempering of cumin, and lots of curry leaves. Served with roti or rice, it’s healthy and delicious.

I don’t believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. – Julia Child

In my kitchen, it’s around 5.45 p.m. All the four of us have just gotten home after an eight hour day at the field in 101-degree weather. We are all trying to be civil with each other. It’s not been a normal few days. The little one has had a national cricket tournament, and since our league is hosting, we all have been a minuscule part of it. Helping in whatever way we can. That leaves me with no time at home, no time to shop, and everything being a rush….

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?…

Panzanella Ice Cream / Roasted Summer Fruit No Churn Ice Cream

June 29, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

At the peak of summer, fresh fruit is bountiful. This easy roasted summer fruit no churn ice cream recipe is the perfect tasty dessert for hot summer days.

Panzanella/Roasted summer fruit No churn Ice cream |foodfashionparty| #summerfruiticecream #panzanella

Every summer has a story, and it’s often bittersweet.

Around here, many moms are celebrating . . . and lamenting (just a tad bit) the last day of school arrived a couple of weeks ago. Simultaneously relieved and a little bit terrified. We’re finished with homework, packing lunches, carpool lines, teacher gifts, and end of year parties. On one hand, it’s a huge relief. But we’re looking down the barrel of twelve weeks of managing unusual schedules, creating fun activities, packing for road trips, applying sunscreen, picking up wet swimsuits, cleaning up sand in the car, and trying to continue to contribute to the world in a meaningful way in the middle of it all. Then there’s the never-ending pull of over-scheduling versus under-scheduling….

Creamy Pistachio Cardamom Horchata & A letter to grads

June 19, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Insanely rich and creamy. This is the best creamy pistachio cardamom horchata you’ll ever make. Spiked with some rum or served on some ice, it’s the perfect summer dessert or drink for parties.

We reached a milestone last week. My teen graduated from high school!

It is jarring to find out that he is an adult. A few of our friends’ kids, who we cradled in our arms, are now beautiful grown men and women, graduating high school. Gone are the days of Wii games and children’s books, and now comes the time where we ask them what they’d like to take to their dorm. A toaster maybe, or an instant pot….