Whole-wheat couscous with plenty of colorful vegetables and flavorful Indian spices turns a rather ordinary pasta grain into something scrumptious. With loads of veggies such as finely chopped bell peppers, carrots, peas, tomatoes, onions, green beans, and shelled edamame, this pilaf is veggie delicious 😋. Continue reading Whole Wheat Couscous Pilaf with Mixed Vegetables
Fresh tasting ginger, lemon and tender zucchini makes this a light soup perfect for a low-key Sunday soup dinner. Honestly sometimes I think maybe the family wants more than soup on Sunday night so I try very hard to make my soups as hearty and filling as I can; but in reality the family is perfectly fine having a soup that is light and not so filling, especially after a weekend of indulging. I made this soup with over 5 zucchinis to add in as much vegetables as I could for a large pot of soup, yet this was all gone. With no leftovers for my next day’s lunch. This zucchini soup is one that everyone in the family loved with feedback like “This is awesome soup.” and “It’s delicious Mommy.” and “It’s really good.” How can I get better feedback than this? Continue reading Zucchini Ginger Soup
This sweet wine cake is a great way to use up an already open dessert wine you might have in the refrigerator, and because the cake isn’t that sweet it actually tastes wonderful with a glass of chilled dessert wine🍸🍰. Sweet dessert wine adds a subtle grape floral honey like flavor that is lovely, and pairs really nicely with the pineapple in the cake. With crushed pineapple, coconut and sweet wine I call this cake a sweet chardonnay pinnacolada cake that will have you wanting more than just one slice 😋🍰. Continue reading Sweet Chardonnay Pinnacolada Cake
Yummy, yummy, yummy is how I describe this delicious risotto 😋. I made this leek, zucchini and Swiss chard risotto specifically for my daughter Anjali who doesn’t like mushrooms, and since I was making mushroom risotto for my other twin Rani, I had to make something for Anjali, and this risotto was the one. I chose to make Anjali’s risotto with leeks, Swiss chard and zucchini as I had just bought these veggies from the Farmer’s market and this veggie risotto was the delicious result. Leeks and zucchini in a creamy risotto rice enhanced with goat cheese, this is one scrumptious risotto. Continue reading Swiss Chard, Leek and Zucchini Risotto
Shredded cabbage sautéed with asafetida, turmeric and cumin seeds is one of our favorite vegetable dishes. When I make this cabbage curry, we have it with rasam (tomato and lentil soup) or daal (lentil soup) and rice. We don’t require much else. Simple, delicious, wholesome – this meal is always comfort food in our family. Continue reading Cabbage Sauté with Turmeric and Asafetida
Oh my Goodness – Rasam! It is comfort food to the Nth degree. Think chicken soup but for vegetarians. Just as chicken soup makes one feel good when they have a cold or flu so does rasam for us vegetarians. In fact in our home or for that matter in most South Indian homes, when one is under the weather the first question they get asked is “Shall I make rasam for you?” Rasam is a ubiquitous feel good soup and is such an integral part of a traditional South Indian meal that every meal will usually include rasam on the menu.
Think Asian flavors like coconut milk and Siracha combined with North Indian flavors such as bay leaves and cardamom pods, combined with South Indian flavors such as mustard seeds and cumin seeds – this is a dish that combines all these flavors into one delectable lentil stew. Ladled over steaming white rice with a squeeze of limejuice, this rather eclectic lentil daal is delicious and filling. Continue reading Bay Leaf Cardamom Vegetable Daal & A Visit From My Sister
When I think of the Mediterranean, images of warm sunshine, blue waters, lemon trees, olive groves, artichokes, and fresh veggies come to mind. This pasta has all the ingredients that conjure up images of the Mediterranean – lemons, briny olives, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and lots of fresh asparagus. Packed with good for you veggies and loaded with fresh tangy flavor this is an awesome pasta to whip up in just minutes. Continue reading Mediterranean Linguine
Truth be told I had never tasted Indian masala buns until one of my dear friends made them one time when I had gone over for tea, I’m talking over a decade ago! She fondly reminisced of her Dad making them for her and her brother when she was growing up and served them nostiligically for us to have with a little butter. I can honestly say I haven’t had these buns since then. That was the first and last time I had masala buns – it’s been a long time! I don’t know why then, recently I have been craving home made bread but not just any bread – savory Indian masala buns jazzed up with onions, green chilis and spices. Continue reading Indian Masala Buns
February has had crazy wild weather here in the Bay Area. Cold, rain, and even snow blanketed our hills and mountains this February. We haven’t had snow in our lower elevations in over 9 years! We went from cold temperatures in the 30s to warmer temperatures in the 60s all in just a few weeks. Despite the ups and down in temperature the garden did really well. Lots and lots of rainy and stormy days in February made for our gardens not complaining one bit. Here is a look at how the garden faired in February. Continue reading February in the Garden, 2019
