Fresh homemade pasta truly has a taste onto its own. Tender pasta that is soft yet al-dente is so delicious that anything you add to it tastes amazing. We learnt how to make fresh homemade pasta from our friend Rose a while back and she learnt how to make pasta from a local Italian chef while vacationing in Italy, so you know it’s delicious! Continue reading Making Fresh Bow Tie Pasta with Friends
Arugula, roasted fennel and potatoes tossed with a simple vinaigrette make for a wonderful earthy salad. I got the idea for this salad when I was making my Roasted potato, fennel and arugula soup. This combination was so good together that I thought I’d try the same combo in a salad. I mean what’s not to like with garlicky roasted potatoes and fennel? Toss in peppery arugula and feta cheese and a simple vinaigrette, and what you have is a delicious salad perfect for lunch or dinner. Give it a try! Continue reading Roasted Fennel & Potato Arugula Salad
Think vanilla ice cream with the delicate flavors of saffron, the sweetness of honey, and tender bits of orange. A while back I had bought over six jars of honey from a local beekeeper and I had so much honey that it gave me the opportunity to get adventurous with them. I made a few jars of flavored honey. One of the flavors I tried was tangerine flavored honey. To make this flavored honey I submerged tangerine slices along with saffron in a jar of honey. I then let the tangerine and saffron marinate for a few weeks. At the end of four weeks the honey developed a wonderful saffron orange flavor, and here’s the best part! The orange slices themselves had become nice and tender and honey sweet! Continue reading Honey Orange Saffron Ice Cream
Upma is a savory South Indian pilaf usually made with cream of wheat and vegetables. Upma is made by roasting cream of wheat which is then seasoned with spices and veggies and then cooked until fluffy and soft. The spices in upma are minimal making it a simple dish that kids really enjoy. Upma can me made with any variety of vegetables such as cauliflower, spinach, potatoes, green beans, and carrots. Upma makes a delicious lunch or brunch option served with a side of plain yogurt or raita. Here is a recipe for a quick and easy upma that my Mom used to make with frozen mixted vegetables. Give it a try!
This Indian spinach dish called saag paneer is usually made with spinach, garlic, onions and paneer, but in this variation I thought I would experiment with leeks instead which gives this dish more of a green onion flavor. When leeks are in season I like to use them in leu of onions as they add a different type of onion flavor and a creamy texture to whatever dish they are used in. Leeks and spinach are a great combination and in this saag paneer they taste great together with all the spices and paneer. Continue reading Spinach and Leek Saag Paneer
You’ve heard me mention asafetida many times as I have used it in plenty of my Indian recipes, but this is the first time I am sharing a recipe with asafetida in salad vinaigrette, and it tastes awesome! I love asafetida, I grew up with this spice in our South Indian cooking, and I love how it brings back warm memories of Mom’s cooking every time I get a whiff of asafetida. In a salad dressing this rather eclectic spice really adds an unexpected fragrance punch that I love. Continue reading Asafetida Cumin Vinaigrette
Golden beets, edamame, baby spinach, peppers and onions all tossed in cumin and asafetida vinaigrette make this salad totally unique and delicious that is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. My friend Padmini brought this delicious golden beet salad with Indian vinaigrette for a picnic that we want on at Clos Les Chance Winery in Morgan Hill recently that was outstanding! Continue reading Golden Beet Salad with Asafetida Cumin Vinaigrette
I was assigned to make sandwiches for a picnic I was going on with a few friends and I just couldn’t find my favorite artichoke and jalapeño spread at the grocery store that I usually use for my sandwiches. Out of a need to make something similar to my favorite spread with the same delicious results I came up with this artichoke pesto sandwich. Continue reading Artichoke Pesto Sandwich
The scene was set for a beautiful day in the vineyards. Gorgeous weather with temperatures in the pleasant 70s, sunny with a gentle breeze, a winery with great wine, and friends who were all free to go together for a picnic in the vineyard. This was my perfect afternoon at Clos LaChance Winery in Morgan Hill in the South Bay. Continue reading Picnic in the Vineyard at Clos LaChance Winery in Morgan Hill, California
June has been a crazy roller coaster of weather for us here in the Bay Area. We had temperatures in the 90s and 100s and I think we even broke a few records with temps up to 105! Then the temperatures went back down to our pleasant 70s and 80s. Basically we were all over the place weather wise in June. Despite these fluctuations in temps the garden faired really well. Continue reading June in the Garden
