VEGETARIAN

Mirch Ka Salan – Spicy Pepper Curry

November 29, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Why measure when you have your taste buds, right?!

As long as I can remember, my grandma and mom never measured anything in their cooking. There would be huge family gatherings and lots of food. Just watching grandmom(Amma) cook with a pinch of this, a teaspoon of that, tasting every now and then was pure joy. Despite all the chaos I would be called to taste and see if it was OK. Let’s just say, it wasn’t just O.K, it was all so perfect. Maybe because of their inconsistency in how they cooked and got it right always, inspired me to see what cooking was all about.

…

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.

…

Bruschetta with Persimmon Chutney

November 4, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Happy November!!

There’s something about the cooler weather, twinkling stars as early at 6.00 p.m., and all the festive pumpkins and persimmons in the grocery store. Everything screams of holidays, parties and food. Everyone gets in the mood of perfecting their pies, the sides and their birds.

The appetizers are some of the last to be remembered. Don’t you think?

I have a great one for you. Just make a lot of it and have some bottles of chutney ready to go for your guests, they’ll want it.

…

Best Authentic Vegetarian Vegetarian Khow Suey – Lightly Spiced Coconut Milk Curry with Noodles and Condiments

October 6, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

It’s October, it’s Autumn. To me, it’s the start of a lot of baking, cooking, festivities and entertaining. I hope everyone’s as excited for Fall, Pumpkins, Warm Spices, and Soups.

All of that can get overwhelming at times.

But, sometimes, even too much of a good thing is really good, like this soup!

…

5 Easy Kids Lunch Ideas -Going back to school lunches

August 27, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

I thought I’d gotten used to this. One’s a teen, and the other just turned two digits. I’ve been through this for years now. Unfortunately, it is still so hard. My throat’s filled with knots. Emotions, those emotions all over again, the anxiety of separation. I thought I’d figured it all out, and it would be different this time around. Boy, was I wrong.

…

Indo-Thai Mixed Vegetable/Squash Red Curry with lentils and Pearl Couscous

August 17, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

You’ve heard it many times, read many experiences and you will hear it many more times.

When I stepped out into the cold chilly San Francisco airport as a new bride, I really had no clue what I was getting into….

I walked into a blank canvas in every sense. A large apartment with not a chair to sit on. No pots and pans, no spoons, I felt almost helpless. Really helpless and very thankful because for the name God, I could not make a decent coffee. Eating out was the only option until I got really bored of it….

Instant Savory Vegetable Cake- Handvo

July 29, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

It is probably the 5557th time he has asked me, “What time is the flight landing?” The baby bear of our home is a big fan of his dad. He calls themselves “the twins.” To him, his dad can’t do anything wrong or say anything wrong. His trust and love for him is unparalleled. When I am cross, it doesn’t take him a moment more to say I was wrong. He’s around his dad every minute possible. He’s the biggest fan of his dad, and takes every word his dad says to heart, and those are the final words. Imagine a kid who sounds squeaky and loud going daddy, daddy this, daddy that. It can get quite annoying, but it’s too cute for us not to smile.

…

30 minute Broccoli Pizza with Roasted Garlic Pesto and Feta Cheese

July 16, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

“Who puts broccoli on a pizza?!” If you have seen Inside Out, you probably know exactly what I’m referring too.

We finally got to see the movie Inside Out. As I was munching on my popcorn, I was oblivious to what was coming next. I literally spit and started laughing when the broccoli scene came. It just seemed so surreal. I don’t want to give away too much in case you plan to watch.

I’m not the biggest fan of animated movies. I got dragged into this. I have to say the imagination maestros outdid themselves. Ah! The way that the Inside Out writers chose to tell the story is gorgeous, complicated, and crazily imaginative: inside the control room of the protagonist’s mind. It covers a whole range of emotions and feelings. It makes you think.

…

Coffee-Marzipan No Churn Icecream

July 8, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

Hi my friends! Hope all of you are doing great. I apologize for not visiting your blogs regularly, which I truly miss. It’s been crazy busy here with a bit of traveling and taking care of the things that got left out for a year. Spring cleaning turned into Summer organizing.

…

Beet Lifafa(Envelope) Paratha with Apple Cilantro Chutney

June 2, 2015 By Asha Shivakumar

You all must have a recipe for a food that never fails you every time you make it. Paratha is one of them for me. Whoever cooked the first paratha is a genius. This is a dish that I’ve been making a lot after the kids got into school. Prepare the dough, stuffing the night before, and roll them in the morning. All you need to do after that is wrap well, and off it goes into their lunch boxes. How much easier can it be?!

…