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Caramel-Mocha Raspberry Mousse

April 4, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Here’s my simple way to make this Mocha-Caramel Raspberry Mousse, using Werther’s caramel candies, and it’s all dressed up. Sweet treat Ker-uh-muhl or Kar-muhl, how do you pronounce it? What ever it might be, we love Caramel. This silky smooth Caramel mousse, layered with Mocha cream and raspberry mousse, altogether making it an indulgent beautiful Spring/Summer Dessert.

As the afternoon sun cast shadows of the trees in my garden on my dining floor, I suddenly had the urge to have something cool, creamy and rich. I opened the refrigerator just to find few eggs staring back at me. It’s almost like they were calling me to be used. I had guests 2 days later, so why not?, I thought to myself. Taking my steel bowl to break open the eggs, I stared at the egg shells and back to the most prettiest separated yellow yolks. This is where I belong, the kitchen, Waffles by me waiting for a spill, and a cookie if he got lucky. I took a sip of my coconut water and got out my double boiler and added water. I decided I was going to make a creme anglaise. Slowly whipping the eggs and the moment I added it to the cream, a perfume surrounded the kitchen.…

Spicy Amaranth Chicken Curry/ Thotakura Chicken

March 27, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Amaranth Chicken Curry is popular throughout the state of Andra Pradesh. Their cuisine is known for their spicy food and hearty distinctive taste. Amaranth leaves come in shades of red, purple and simple green. They are easily available in Asian grocers and widely popular in Indian cooking. They are robust in flavor eaten raw, but when cooked they turn mellow and add an extra layer of flavor to any dish.

Midweek rush.

Have you packed your bags? Print everything you want for school now, nothing in the morning. I’ll wake you up at 6. am., if you want to finish your homework.

After making sure things are a bit organized, I send the little one off to bed, kissing him on his cheek and squeezing his chin. I come down to finish the chores, prep for tomorrow’s lunch, and stare at the dishes for a while before tackling them. Once I find myself standing in a clean kitchen, I am pleased with myself. I put on a kettle, pour some boiling water in my mug and sit down with my green tea on the sofa, taking a deep breath. My phone is in my hand.…

Black Bean Dosa/Crepe – Easy and Instant

March 2, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

Here is a quick and easy Dosa for the days you want to have something comforting and no time. Black Bean Dosa/Crepes are versatile, go with curries and chutneys. And they are packed with protein.

Last month. This and that…..

We are creeping into spring and it’s March already.

Are you feeling it in the air? We are; the little one has started to sneeze and I have some itchy eyes. Still, I can’t wait for some warmth and sunshine.

How are you doing? How has weather been in your part of the world?…

Garlicky Tomato-Vegetable Chickpea Orzo/pasta soup with a touch of heat

February 11, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

We are still in soup season. It’s raining, and it’s still cold around here. Our umbrellas are in full use, and so are our scarves. Our weekend evenings are filled with soup under blankets on the sofa. Mornings are dark, with no peeking of sunlight, and I want to sleep in more. Sometimes, the best things can happen in dark moments on a rainy day. I wake up, bake a batch of muffins, and put on a kettle of water to brew some coffee.

There are some quiet moments before the boys get down. No one to talk to, just me and my coffee with little Waffles (our puppy) by my feet. Silence sometimes is healing. Kind of a rehab. That feeling cannot be explained to the fullest. Silence is about feelings. I go out for a small walk with my large polka dot umbrella with frills, and it’s still drizzling. That moment, when there’s not a worry about anything that’s happening around.

I open the door after my walk, setting the umbrella down, I get a jump from my puppy and a hug and kiss. One by one the boys come down to hug and kiss me “Morning!”

Yes, sometimes I don’t want to think of what’s happening around.

On that note, there are many things happening right now, and there will always be. Let’s do something about it. Do what you believe in, go for it, fight for it. Speak your mind, or write what’s in your mind. We spend way too many nights thinking if everything would get alright. In the end, though, there’s nothing given up and nothing to quit as yet. In the end, love will always win.

Soups are not my thing, but this is one of my favorite soups. There are so many variations to make with this. You can add any vegetable you want, and the base for the soup can be made to your liking. It’s a hearty and a delicious soup which is great any time of the year.

This is a take on a chutney I make and the recipe was an accident, a very happy one. I love adding beets to it; not only does it add color but also lot of flavor and the slight sweetness.

Hope you get to try it out sometime.

Sending hugs!!

5.0 from 2 reviews

Tomato-Vegetable Soup with Orzo

Prep time

40 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

55 mins

Author: Ash

Recipe type: Soup

Cuisine: American, Italian

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

5 roma tomatoes or vine tomatoes
2 whole garlic
3 carrots
½ Beet
1 red onion
10 dried red chilies
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp freshly crushed black pepper
2 cups low sodium or no sodium vegetable stock
½ cup orzo pasta(use more or less)
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp garlic powder
2 cups cooked garbanzo beans or canned(rinsed and drained)
10-12 basil leaves

For garnish

chives, toasted pine nuts and thinly sliced jalapenos

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut the tomatoes in half, cut the garlic in halves, carrots and beet cut to 1 inch size, 1 inch onion. Put all this in a baking tray, add the red chilies, drizzle oil, add the salt and pepper and toss well. Bake for 30-40 minutes.
Take it out and grind with 2 cups of vegetable stock or water. Transfer in a soup pot, add the orzo, onion and garlic powder. Let it simmer and cook for about 6-8 minutes.
Once the pasta is cooked, add the chickpeas, tear the basil leaves and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Serve hot with chopped chives, jalapeno and toasted pine nuts.

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Garlicky Tomato-Vegetable Chickpea Orzo/pasta Soup with a touch of heat |foodfashionparty| #soup #wintersoup

Healthy Creamy Kale-Lentil Daal

January 3, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wishing you all a very wonderful 2017!!

I woke up on NYE, reflecting on how it was a wonderful 2016.

When I say wonderful, it was, with some complexity. It had its ups and downs. And when I say wonderful, I meant that I chose to focus on the wonderful things. I tried to focus on the positive things. I learnt how to heal myself and look at what I had in front of me. I learnt that there’s no right way of life, no right way of living, or a perfect life. Perfection is a perception. It’s what we make of it.…

The Power of Relaxation

November 10, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

For the love for tea and relaxing . Thanks to Pure Leaf and feedfeed for sponsoring this post.

Not a recipe or food post, but something which is very important in my opinion.

My amma/grandma had the most beautiful, longest, thickest hair with hints of silver touches. Carefully and painstakingly, using the best homemade shampoos, she air dried her hair on the front porch. Combing and detangling her hair was so pleasant and soothing. It was just so remarkable how her hair touched the top of the knee. Finally, a face mask made out of milk cream and sandalwood powder completed a Friday schedule.

Did I mention her skin was impeccable? It was. Her face oozed a sense of calm even while she managed six sons, a daughter, a daughter-in-law, a little kid who held her saree. Each one had a different demand that she always fulfilled.

When I think of how calm, relaxed, and in the moment she always was, I hoped and fantasized that I would be like her one day. Now, as an adult, I realize it wasn’t the hair mask, the face mask, or the help she got from her loving sons, although it helped. She had stress for sure, and a financial crunch, but nothing got to her. It was her choice to be happy. But how did she do it?

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Chickpea-Cherry Tomatoes-Basil Pasta Salad in a Peanut-Curry Dressing

August 30, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

Hello there my friends!! Long time, no see.

Boy, is it hard to get to a routine after a fun 2 months of no cooking, no photography, and just lazing around.

Hope your summer went well. Any interesting things you did during summer, would love to hear.

It’s quite appropriate to say that we traveled the whole globe in the last 2 months. It was one heck of a fun summer, travels, family, lots of food and more food.

I have a post coming up soon on my travels, with pictures of monuments, food, and all the colors. Well, before I could jump into that post, life happened. School and routine began, and what to pack for school lunch is now always on my mind. This is one of my go to lunches for the boys and makes for a colorful and healthy meal. Pack the sauce separately and add any veggies you like. It’s a base and tastes absolutely good even when it’s only slightly warm.

Healthy and a perfectly balanced dish, with an amazing sauce. Hope you get to try it out!

Have a wonderful week! All the best for all the kids who start school this week.

Hugs,

Ash

5.0 from 2 reviews

Chickpea-Cherry Tomatoes-Basil Pasta Salad with Peanut Curry Dressing

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

30 mins

Author: Ash

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 cups dry pasta(any pasta with some
8 oz of canned chickpea or cooked chickpea 1 cup
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
basil - 15-20 leaves

For the dressing

Toasted Peanuts - 2 tbsp
Almonds 2 tbsp
sesame seeds -1 tbsp
Lime juice from ½ lime
⅓ tsp red chili flakes
sriracha- 1tsp
1 tsp honey
4 garlic
1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp curry powder
Olive oil -1 tsp
cumin seeds- ½ tsp
roasted fennel seeds -1/3 tsp(optional)
1 stalk green onion/scallion
Water to thin the dressing

Instructions

Cook the pasta till al dante and run it through cold water to take away any starch. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, you can make the dressing.
Grind everything required for the dressing to a smooth paste. Add a tablespoon or so of the hot water to thin it down. It should be of pourable consistency.
Take a pan, add a tsp of oil and ⅓ tsp fennel and add the cooked chickpeas. If you are using the canned, drain it very well and then use.
Toss them well and add the cherry tomatoes and toss for 30 seconds to a minute. Take it off the heat.
Add the pasta and veggies in a bowl and top it with basil.
Add the dressing 15 minutes before serving.

Enjoy

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No-churn Pistachio-Coconut Cardamom Ice Cream with Chocolate

July 13, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

This deliciously easy ice cream is full of flavor and has coconut and pistachios that make it nutty and crunchy. Make this no churn pistachio icecream and you’ll love.

It’s summer here, and it’s monsoon season in India where I am right now. Monsoon in Bangalore is beautiful. The weather is quite perfect, not too cold or chilly. It rains, but not crazily. Being here, travelling around, and trying different foods is an amazing feeling.

There’s a huge selection of food here. From the authentic Karnataka Ragi Roti (finger millet tortilla) to a Belgian waffle flavored with rich Indian spices, everything is easily accessible.

The palette right now is wide. The ice cream flavors are numerous, with wine ice cream, cherry-mango ice cream, and butterscotch pistachio ice cream. Throughout my childhood years, I don’t remember having fruit based ice creams or desserts at all. It wasn’t that popular then. The ice cream that were fruit based were probably artificially flavored, so it was a natural instinct to go for the nutty cardamom or saffron ones, but a no churn pistachio icecream. It’s all so different now.

Although I do like the fruit ones, I still have a strong bond to the ones I grew up with. This is one of them., the no churn pistachio icecream.

Who wouldn’t like a luscious, smooth, sweet nutty ice cream? We Indians have a strong relationship with cardamom. The no churn was a popular method to make ice cream, since regular households didn’t have an ice cream machine then. I stuck to that method with slight changes after seeing Nigella Lawson’s Popular No-Churn Ice Cream.

This is one of our favorite flavors and it works so well together. I made cones using my recipe for Pizzelle.

If you make this no churn pistachio icecream, tag me on social media.

Have a lovely week my friends!!

Asha

5.0 from 3 reviews

Pistachio-Coconut Cardamom Icecream with Chocolate

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

20 mins

The easiest no churn icecream is perfect for the summer days and these flavors are classic and delicious.

Author: Ash

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

4 cup of Heavy Whipping Cream chilled
1 can condensed milk
⅓ cup coconut cream
½ cup pistachio coarse paste
½ tsp green cardamom powder or powder for 3-4 cardamom pods
Semi sweet melted chocolate
2 tbsp coconut oil
Cones to serve in

Instructions

Clean the whipping bowl and the whisk very well and dry it. You can leave the bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes before whipping the cream.
Add the condensed milk, coconut cream and the chilled whipping cream and whip it on low speed, around 3 for 3 minutes so it can slowly whip. Then whip it on medium high for another 5 minutes at high speed until it is almost to a stiff peak stage. Stop the machine and add the pistachio paste and whip it for another 30 seconds to a minute until stiff peak and stop immediately. Pour in a ice cream pan or box and chill overnight.
Melt the chocolate on double broiler, add coconut oil in it and drizzle on the icecream once it is completely chilled.
Enjoy

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Endive Boats with Beet-Carrot-Fennel-Pear in Asian Dressing

November 4, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

I’ve always been picky about my salads. I will eat a salad only if it is spicy, crunchy, and made with some peanut butter dressing :). Well, it changed.

I was invited to a clothing boutique opening a few winters ago. That’s when I fell in love with these endive boats after avoiding it for about 20 minutes. As we walked in, our coats were taken. The wine was served and the conversations were on full swing, when a very prim and proper server walked by us bringing these beautiful salad boats. I excused myself politely to walk across to the left of the room where the cocktails and desserts were. After a few minutes, the guy comes again with this beautifully arranged platter of these boats, and I picked out a boat just to be nice to the guy. He smiled because I had been avoiding him for at least 20 minutes. I stalked him for the next 15; I am sure I would’ve eaten at least 10.

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Quick Pumpkin Butter with Cardamom and Ginger – Pull apart Bread

October 23, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

It is the season of festivals for Indians. Starts around September and goes on till mid November.

‘Ayudha Pooja’, that’s what we celebrate in the Southern Part of India this week. It is a very interesting festival. Ayudha means weapons/instruments. On this day, we pay our respect to all the regular household items we use. Knifes, screw drivers, hammer, calculator, you name it, if we can keep it for prayers, we will.

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