cake

Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish and Matcha Cake

July 11, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish and Matcha Cake. Tender spiced fish in a deliciously simple ginger scallion sauce and steamed matcha cake, a delicious meal in one all in the BUYDEEM steamer. Thanks to buydeem for sponsoring this post.

Of all the conventional cooking methods, steaming is one of the most natural and healthful ways to cook the food you eat; it’s a simple technique that allows you to experience the unique flavors of the food itself. Let’s explore why this timeless moist-heat cooking method is worth using in today’s modern diet.

Steaming leaves the food with bright flavors and textures of the food intact. Unlike boiling and simmering, steaming doesn’t agitate food, so it’s a perfectly gentle way to cook delicate items like meats, seafood and shellfish. And perhaps best of all, steaming keeps all those valuable nutrients inside the food, instead of in the cooking liquid….

Blueberry Walnut Poppy Seed Cake

September 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

This blueberry walnut poppy seed cake is laced with fresh blueberries, filled to the brim with nutty, crackly poppy seeds, and drizzled with a delicious caramel glaze. It’s the perfect “company cake.” This Blueberry Poppy Seed Cake is a must make.

If you’re looking for a fruity cake that’s perfect to take to parties or just a pick me up, this is for you, Blueberry Poppy Seed Cake or as I call it the Best Sour Cream Cake.

I make this cake to take to friend’s, for picnics, it travels well and the perfect snack time cake. We enjoy dense fruity poppy seed cake –from when I made this recipe decades ago-so I can definitely tell you that this is a recipe that stands the test of time….

Easy Strawberry Almond Cake

May 2, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Simple from scratch delicious one bowl Strawberry Almond Cake with Cream cheese frosting. Tastes like a bakery cake and it’s studded with strawberries in the cake. The cake flowers are a perfect touch to celebrate every mom.

“Motherhood is an ultimately complex journey―breathtakingly beautiful and achingly difficult in a single moment.

Mom’s are judged all the time, I am guilty of that too. We are but, just human. We can be hammered into thinking we are just not doing enough: working moms don’t spend enough time with kids, we don’t like to cook, we are not feeding our kids well. You’ve gained weight after the baby, you look so tired, dammit, we’ve given birth to an 8 pound baby!!! The list goes on, the things we are judged for. Most talk about skills, but what about compassion and psychological development?

In the quest for perfectionism, some of us lose sight sometimes. Learning from those experiences helped me let go of my need for perfection so that I could be a happy, healthy mom to my boys. It’s so easy to let the need for perfection take control of your actions and forget to live in the present. Life with children is messy, literally and figuratively. Embracing the imperfection will help you enjoy your time together. You are enough for your kids, and your imperfections are what make you perfect to them!…

8 Simple Decadent Valentine’s treats you must make

February 9, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Valentines Desserts cannot be more Impressive, Simple and decadent. From breakfast, to drinks to sweet treats.

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.I mean… think about it. Despite its messes and disappointments… and bills, there’s a lot to be in love with… even if it’s just the smell of your new shampoo, because it reminds you of toasted coconut. That someone who compliments you on voice, a stranger looks at you because you are special. There’s so many things in life to be happy about.As much as I dislike the concept of Valentines day, hey it’s important to be in love with life.I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds… because it feels good to be in love. Let’s celebrate with something sweet.

Here are my favorite Valentines Desserts:

CHURRO FRENCH TOAST SANDWICH

In my opinion these are the next best thing to Churros . These Churro french Toast Sandwiches are easy for anyone to make and is impressive. They’re crispy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside and they have a flavor no one can resist!

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Sesame Apple CAke

September 28, 2020 By Asha Shivakumar

Thinly sliced sweet apples run through this tender, fluffy and buttery Sesame Apple Cake. This apple cake screams simplicity and comfort, a cake that is not overtly sweet and so so satisfying.

That abundance mentality vs scarcity mentality. We are human, we want it all. Recognition, success, respect, money – these are all things that most of us dream of having in abundance on a daily basis.

Steven Covey in his book Seven Habits of highly successful people coined this well.

_________”Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.

The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production. The also have a a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people.

The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flow out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.”_____

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5 BEST Cinco De Mayo Recipes

April 29, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Cinco de Mayo is a festive day celebrating the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. To commemorate this historical event, Cinco de Mayo parties are held in parts of Mexico and the United States. Use some of our best Mexican Cinco de mayo recipes to throw your own Cinco de Mayo party with a menu worth celebrating.

A little background on Cinco de Mayo

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday to celebrate the Battle of Puebla where the Mexican army defeated the French army in the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the second French intervention in Mexico. It was a war that France eventually won. Surprisingly, Cinco de Mayo isn’t a huge party day to drink tequila and Corona like it is in the U.S. and it isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day as many think.

On the other hand in the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is big party day to drink tequila and celebrate all things Mexican and we are all for celebrating Mexican food. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Sunday which means there is time to fire up the grill and have a cookout or cook a enchilada or mole and take it to a picnic.

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Eggless Chocolate Sesame Yogurt Cake

March 6, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

This truly is The Best Eggless Chocolate Cake Ever, and add sesame to it and it’s the best eggless chocolate sesame cake! The cake is supremely tender, moist, and bursting with a rich chocolate flavor with a rich nutty touch. Perfect for dinner parties, craving days or any celebration.

I am a sucker for simple flavors, attainable bakes and classic combos.

Simplicity. Especially being a food blogger, I used to get lost sometimes in the hoopla of creating creative and fancy food. Simplicity is somewhat forgotten. I’m always puzzled when I get asked to make a chocolate cake or white chocolate tres leches for birthdays and dinner parties. I fully respect the fancy food but I’ve come to see that people love simplicty(most of the time), and I love to create it with all my heart. I found this recipe few years ago written in my diary which was copied from my mom’s book and have always followed it. It hasn’t ever disappointed me….

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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Maple Rum Apple Banana Pudding Cake

October 4, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This simple delicious cake bakes so beautifully, with a sauce that forms in the bottom. This maple rum apple pudding cake with banana is a quick dessert to take for potlucks and surprise guests with.

I woke up one morning last week just when the sun was peeking through. I suddenly felt the need to grab my robe, and I really craved a warm cup of coffee. Autumn. FINALLY. My bones have ached for this season. I want to believe the fallen leaves that cover our footpath now match the hues of my heart.

Every morning, I sit on the large floor by the tall windows and stare at our neighbor’s apple tree. It has thrived. I’ve seen them grow for years, from a tiny sapling to a young tree. And now they stand proudly with fruits that blush with pinkish reddish hues. Ready to be plucked. The tree very gracefully hovers over our fence calling for us to enjoy her. Wait, is it fair to pluck fruits from someone else’s tree? Not sure. …

PUMPKIN CAKE – Brown Butter Pumpkin Chocolate Cake WITH SAFFRON AND CARDAMOM

November 20, 2017 By Asha Shivakumar

This rich and nutty brown butter, pumpkin, and chocolate cake is spiced with saffron and cardamom. It’s fluffy, delicately flavored, and a perfect Autumn celebration cake.

Before this week is over, many of us would have had a couple get-togethers with family or friends. And this pumpkin cake will be made at least twice at my home.

I have to admit: Thanksgiving is my favorite celebration among the many American traditions. I find the meaning behind it intriguing, and I enjoy the holiday. It’s about family, and being grateful and thankful for everything.

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