Weeknight Meal

Kohlrabi/Noolkol Edamame Fry

January 26, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Don’t be intimidated by kohlrabi/noolkol! This root vegetable is easily adaptable to many flavors and keeps it’s crunch. Delicious and Nutritious. This Kohlrabi/Noolkol Edamame Fry is a vegetarian lovers meat dish.

I’m always curious about other people’s comfort food. The stuff you eat when you’re sick or sad. I feel like it tells you so much about that person, where they came from, what they turn to feel better.

And when I ask people so many secrets spill out, gooey mushy nostalgic childhood food, some’s grandmother’s mutton, someone else who goes to a tiny box-line restaurant in old Shivajinagar for the flavors of that chicken that’s unbeatable, some else, who makes an elaborate meal from scratch to lose themselves in the method and to forget….

Bengali Pumpkin Aloo Posto – Stir fry Pumpkin and potatoes with poppy seeds

January 2, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

This Aloo Posto is a classic example of how just a few ingredients can yield a creamy spiced potato dish. A staple in Bengali households and one of my all time favorite recipes.

I love January and it’s everyday-ness. I’m glad for a regular pulse again. The holidays are great but it’s the stillness that I crave at the end of it all. We spent the holidays binge watching “How I met your mother” and a small skii trip to Aspen. We ate home made comfort food and listened to Paul Anka, on my teen’s new record player to fill the house with something… normal….

Indian inspired Spicy Carrot Soup with Walnut Crumble & Monday Musings

October 7, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is super healthy soup that gives you all the fresh, warm fall flavors. The spicy carrot soup is easy on the ingredients and boast big flavors. Loaded with ginger and garlic, lime juice for punch, with some sesame seeds. It is tangy, nutty, very creamy and intensely flavored, Made with few ingredients and 30 minutes, this is an incredible easy and delicious meal any time of the year.

The endless cascade of nutritional information—about localism, vegetarianism, veganism, organic food, the environmental impact of eating meat, poultry, or fish, and more—makes the simple goal of a healthy, sustainable diet seem hopelessly complex.

Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” That’s what the French lawyer Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, who happened to have a deep love of gastronomy, wrote in 1825. A century later, a diet-hawking American nutritionist named Victor Lindlahr rendered it as: “You are what you eat.” I propose revising it further: Tell me what you eat and I will tell you how you impact the planet.

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Instant Paniyaaram with Millets & Vegetables -Tomato Chutney

October 6, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Gluten-free and vegan, a healthy and tasty snack, this instant paniyaaram only takes about half an hour. Loaded with vegetables, made with millets, and with protein from the peanuts, it makes for an easy and healthy after-school snack or is great for school lunchboxes.

I’d mock my mom when I saw her cook with millets, oats, and whole grains. She’d slyly put a handful of millets in our pongal, or add some oat flour in the roti batter. We never realized healthier ingredients went into our food, but it did. But, every moment dad and I saw her sneak it in, we’d roll our eyes. Yeah… well, here I am living in the very world I lovingly mocked.

Who am I? I can’t believe the day has come that I’ve become my mother. I’m making millets paratha, quinoa pongal, chocolate oatmeal… And, I’m loving it. The family loves it too. Well, maybe not the whole family. The little baby bear will come around, just like I did. Or at least I hope he will 🙄 . He’s got a tongue just like his mumma used to….

Dhaba Style Egg Omelette Tomato Curry

September 29, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

These mildly spiced eggs cooked in butter were rolled, cut, and simmered in a tangy garlicky tomato curry. They are fluffy and soak in the juices quite efficiently. This dhaba style egg curry is a perfect quick “lazy” meal for cold evenings. The curry goes absolutely great with rotis, chapathis, and parathas.

We’ve had an adventurous few weeks. Yes, we did travel quite a bit, but it is the adventure we had with my camera I’m referring to.

A few days before leaving on a trip to London and Oslo, my camera stopped working. The card reader was messed up. I was sick at that time. When I finally had some energy, I decided to take it to my local camera repair guy (which had a one-star rating) only because I did not want to drive an hour up to the city to get it fixed. We were somewhat relieved because the local guy told me he can try and give it before we leave on our trip, which was in five days….

Cabbage Puttu/Stirfry – Vegetable Dry Sabzi South Indian style

May 20, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This easy weeknight South Indian style cabbage puttu-stirfry is spicy and gingery, and it’s perfect with some roti or chapathi.

There are people who like to say how exactly they feel about certain foods. They don’t like the taste, it’s too sour or too sweet, or “Why would I ever eat that? It seems too healthy.”

I live with these types of people.. I was one, oh well, I’m still one.

They are firm non-believers of the cabbage family….

Easy and Quick Chicken Lo Mein – 15 Min. Dish

April 19, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This simple, easy and quick chicken lo mein requires only a few ingredients and just fifteen minutes. You’ll have a good, nutritious meal in no time.

Hello there!!

And today, I guess a fifteen-minute chicken lo mein it is!

I’ve had a huge list of dishes I wanted to cook, shoot, and share. The fancy ones that don’t take time, but great for parties and to entertain, also amazing for family.

My teen loves to cook and eat, and while I was gone for a few weeks to India, he cooked quite a few dishes from the blog. He cooked the quick EGG CURRY, there was a huge pot of ZESTY AUTUMN SOUP, and there was this easy FISH CURRY. What is common with all of these dishes are: they’re easy, filled with flavor, and packed with nutrition. And the teen will be going off to college soon. He’ll fly to the other end of America, NY. Knowing him, he’ll need homemade Indian few times a week, and that’ll only be possible if he cooks it….

Kovakkai/Tindora/Ivy Gourd Curry Easy Curry with Chickpea Flour and Peanuts

February 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This is a simple delicious curry for vegetarian and meat lovers. This kovakkai/tindora Ivy gourd curry with chickpea flour and peanuts is absolutely a treat for the vegetarian lovers. Have it with rotis, and it’s perfect.

We all hail from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures, and have limitations on what we do eat and not.

There are many myths in different cultures, and we Indians are quite famous for it. When you grow up in a distinctive culture, it’s bound to influence your lifestyle, your belief system — and perhaps most enjoyably, your diet. Eat okra, you’ll do well in math. Eat too much ivy gourd, your brain will not be as smart (no joke, I’ve seen people say this), don’t have banana after 6 p.m, or my favorite one, don’t have yogurt rice after you eat meat. I’ve heard it all….

Vegan Healthy Vegetable Dal with Kale and Yam

January 15, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This vegan healthy vegetable dal is filled with ton of good veggies, kale and yam and carrots. Perfect hearty meal.

We are mid Jan and I have been on a vegetable high this month on the blog and otherwise. We make many different types of dal and I’ve been fond of mixing a few different legumes for a hearty and delicious meal. Dal seems to be one of the biggest source of protein for vegetarian eaters. South Indians love their dal and this has become one is become by absolute favorite, healthy vegetable dal….

Quick Chickpea with Spinach Curry – 30 Minute Dish

December 1, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This quick golden-hued chickpea spinach curry is simply the perfect cozy meal on a cold evening.

Happy Friday!! Happy December!!!

The cookie and cake season is here, and I bring to you a healthy and delicious meal for those “I don’t want to cook” days, when you are too busy baking up sweet treats….