Sweet

Zarda – Pakistani style Sweet Rice

March 4, 2023 By Asha Shivakumar

Zarda or Sweet Rice is a favorite dessert that’s simple to make and addictive. It is sweetened rice with sugar, toasted nuts. Colorful, flavorful with spices and perfect for parties or festivals.

I grew up with parents who had friends from different cultural backgrounds. It wasn’t intentional, it just happened. Having friends who are culturally different from you allows you to develop an insight into their lives. It shows you how their practices or beliefs are different from yours, and yet, how it leads to their growth. It teaches one to accept differences and to build an understanding that no religion or culture is better than the other but that each has its unique features. One has to learn from them and inculcate the good in them, if possible. Multiculturalism becomes an important concept to inculcate in today’s world of globalization where more than ever, the chances of people living and interacting with racially and culturally different people than their own are heightened. The main advantage of having friends from different ethnic backgrounds and cultures is that it promotes multiculturalism within individuals,andfood. …

Dumroot/Ash Gourd Halwa/lWinter Melon Halwa

October 15, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Dumroot or Dumroot Halwa is a classic, rich, delicious halwa which is unique to the state of Karnataka, particularly Udupi cuisine.

Summer comes, mom and I enter the days of chats, chaat and Bhagatram sweets. Particularly gulab jamun and dumroot, a recipe that’s a pride and joy of Karnataka, Udupi cuisine. Walking down Commercial street decades ago was way different to what it is now. No glitz and glamor, it didn’t have parking, so it was meant only for people to stroll, shop and eat. To the left was the clothing stores that never caught our attention. We mainly came to eat a gulab jamun each and the famous Dumroot. We are a family obsessively in love with DUMROOT. My dad, cousins and now my hubby and boys….

Pori Urundai/Murmura Nuts Ladoo/Puffed Rice Nuts Ladoo

October 13, 2022 By Asha Shivakumar

Pori Urundai or Murmura Nuts Ladoo is an authentic South Indian snack made during festivals. I call it the energy balls of yester years that grandma made. It’s healthy-ish, full of feel-good ingredients, and irresistibly delicious!

Diwali is around the corner. There’s a new meaning to festivals now versus festivals hundreds of years ago. Festivals in the golden days was a celebration of bringing the whole village together, a ritual of life. They pretty much partied fifteen days a year: simple events that involved simple food. Fast forward to the 2000’s and festivals mean holidays, rest days, and for lack of a better word, “an extension of a weekend”

Life can get repetitious if we don’t appreciate the joy around festivals. After all, making life thrilling is up to you. To be honest, staying away from India, it’s harder to feel festive, as festivity encompasses India as a whole….

Thandai Gulab jamun Mousse

October 29, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Thandai Gulab Jamun Mousse is a fusion dessert which has two delicious treats in one. Thandai a spiced drink made like a mousse stuffed with spongy soft gulab jamun.

Be the light. Find the light.

It’s that time of the year, the festival of lights, festival of together, festival of celebration of the lightness within us and around us. Diwali….

Urad Daal Halwa/Ulundu Urandai

March 11, 2021 By Asha Shivakumar

Urad Dal Halwa or Ulundu Urandai is a sweet treat that’s very healthy, protein rich and a traditional recipe passed on by grandmothers.

My paternal grandmother was anything but traditional and conventional. She wanted all her grandkids to call her “Amma”(mom). She was progressive in many ways. I was 18 when she left us. I wasn’t matured enough to really ask her about her beliefs, her likes. Interestingly though, I didn’t need to interview her to know she was a lady after her own will. She danced to her own tunes.

She was not one to tell me: you need to learn to cook. All her boys were great cooks and helped her around. She most definitely didn’t scare me or her children into living a life like everyone did. She let me believe in me, gave me the strength to think for myself and supported me in ways no one did. She went against all norms. She had a big personality….

Basic Banana Bread with Olive Oil and Maple Syrup

June 8, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Best Basic Banana Bread Recipe that uses five ingredients, is so easy to make and super soft and moist! The very best way to use up overripe bananas this bread is tender and packed full of flavor!

Banana Bread needs no introduction. It’s cake like, easy and feels decadent and makes for a great treat.

One of my favorite recipe for Banana Bread uses ricotta and is decadent. Although I like the fancy, I make this simple basic banana bread version most of the time.

To make the very basic best banana bread that comes out super moist, it is important to start out with those ugly, overripe bananas! They need to be a dark yellow with lots of browning. The riper the bananas, the more moist your bread will be and the more banana flavor it will have!…

Churro French Toast Sandwich

February 12, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

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!

Who doesn’t love churros? Everyone loves them. From scratch, even better.

The next best thing are these French Toast Churros sandwiches that I stuffed with Hazelnut spread and Peanut butter-jelly.

A few days ago, my little one asked me what I wanted for valentines and I said, “nothing much my dear.” But, chocolate would be good. Then he goes on to ask, “do you have a recipe on your blog that is simple one, so I can make it for you…”? Which was too sweet of him. He wanted to make churros for me(partly because he was craving it:)….

Coconut Cashew Cocoa Bailey’s Strawberry and Cream Panna cotta

February 1, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

An impressively easy dessert, bailey’s strawberry and cream panna cotta will make anyone smile. It’s light and it’s decadent, both at the same time. The crunch from the tart base compliments this smooth panna cotta.

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….

Sweet Pongal / Sakkarai Pongal / Ven Pongal

January 14, 2019 By Asha Shivakumar

Sakkarai Pongal or Sweet Pongal is a speciality of Southern part of India. Made during the festival of Sankranthi and Pongalm its also a very popular breakfast. It is made with rice, daal and jaggery. It’s topped with ghee and nuts. A sweet treat like none other.

Pongal / Sankranti to all who celebrate!! When they say India is a land of festivals, it is true. We probably have a festival every month of the year. The crazy part is that they are not small festivals; each one is big. Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to Sun God. It’s a celebration of the first crop. It’s celebrated over four days, each day with its own significance. You can read more about the mythology and significance behind Pongal here.…

Red Rice Sweet Paniyaarm/fritters stuffed with Coconut and Palm Sugar

March 22, 2016 By Asha Shivakumar

It’s that time again for Indians to slap colors on each other. A festival which brings people together, a festival of camaraderie and jollity. Holi – the festival of COLORS.

India does have a lot of festivals, and the whole country turns into a colorful atmosphere. Among these festivals, some are religious, some are based on seasons, and some are of national importance. I consider this festival in particular to be a more free spirited, joyous occasion for the young and old and everyone in between. It’s a festival where people forget anger, sadness and join in for a day of fun, food and become kids at heart.

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