Apples are in abundance everywhere I look this fall season. I’ve already made an apple crisp, and apple ginger cake, and I’ve been eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away, yet I have lots of apples in my fruit basket. That’s why when I stopped by my friend Rose’s place for lunch to celebrate our mutual friend Devi’s birthday, I came up with a recipe that used lots of apples – an apple zucchini salad. Continue reading Apple Zucchini Salad
Tag Archives: menus worth replicating
Mixed Vegetable Pilau
This is a quick and easy rice dish that is packed with vegetables and is one of those recipes I turn to again and again when I am in a pinch and need to make dinner fast. My Mom used to make this vegetable pilaf (called pilau in Hindi) with frozen mixed vegetables when she was late coming home from work and needed to whip something up fast, delicious, and filling – a one pot meal of sorts. I’ve pretty much been making my pilau the exact same way Mom taught me years ago. Why mess with a good thing? Especially if that recipe is quick, healthy, easy and delicious. All the pilau needs is a side of simple yogurt raita to make a complete meal. Continue reading Mixed Vegetable Pilau
Apple Crisp
I had my friends Devi and Rose over last week for a little celebration lunch for our friend Rose’s birthday. On a warm September Friday afternoon I thought I would keep our lunch on the lighter side and made veggie sandwiches, soup, and salad. Devi brought fresh cut fruit and fresh figs from her garden, and since my friend Rose is the queen of baking 😋👑🍪 she was assigned to bring dessert. For our humble lunch Rose brought not just one sweet treat but two! A delectable apple crisp and biscotti. Continue reading Apple Crisp
Cauliflower Broccoli & Potato Curry
Cauliflower, broccoli and potato curry is a dish I had at my friend Radhika’s home when we all went over for dinner recently. Radhika had made a traditional South Indian Tamil meal for the evening that was outstanding. One of the veggie dishes was a broccoli cauliflower and potato curry that was so good that Rani was having seconds and thirds. It seems this curry is a favorite of Radhika’s two sons and is a dish that Radhika’s Father used to make when she was young. Continue reading Cauliflower Broccoli & Potato Curry
Celebrating the Bond Among Siblings in the Festival of Raksha Bhandan
Last weekend I had my cousins over for dinner to celebrate the Indian festival of Raksha Bhandhan. Raksha Bhandan celebrates the bond that exists between brothers and sisters and is observed every year in August. The relationship between siblings is a very special one and this unique bond is celebrated during Raksha Bhandan. It is a day when siblings pray for each other’s well-being and happiness. Though traditionally Raksha Bhandan is observed mostly in Northern and Northwestern parts of India and in Nepal; this festival of sibling love has spread to other parts of India today. Continue reading Celebrating the Bond Among Siblings in the Festival of Raksha Bhandan
Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
I must confess I had never made mashed potatoes until we went for dinner at our friends William and Stella’s home for a surprise birthday party last week. It was a surprise birthday dinner for our friend Stella that William her husband pulled together in just 48 hours! He texted and called a small group of Stella’s close friends and asked if we could come over for a weeknight dinner to surprise Stella on her birthday. Our response was “Of course, we will be there.” Continue reading Horseradish Mashed Potatoes
Dinner at John and Lorraine’s in Vancouver, Canada.
On day four of our Vancouver summer holiday we had dinner at Hitesh’s long time friend John’s home. John is Hitesh’s elementary school friend from Kenya who now lives in Vancouver, Canada. The two grew up together in Mombasa, Kenya and were best friends until they graduated high school. After high school Hitesh came to study at University of Texas at Austin and then started working in Santa Cruz, California, while John went to college in London and then moved to Canada for work. Both got married and had a family and through it all they have kept in touch. They have been friends for over 40 years! Pretty awesome! When John heard we were coming to Vancouver for a holiday he invited us for diner at his home, how could we resist? Continue reading Dinner at John and Lorraine’s in Vancouver, Canada.
Raw Mango Chutney & Sweet Apple on Baguette
If you are looking for an artsy avant garde appetizer that tastes outstanding then this recipe is for you. Sour from the raw mango, sweet from the apples, and delicious from the addition of green chillies and onions. This is the type of unique appetizer that comes from Indians who lived in Morocco and now live here in the Bay Area- a true global background my friend Radhika and her Mom have. Continue reading Raw Mango Chutney & Sweet Apple on Baguette
A Flavorful Vegetarian Lunch at Devi & Del’s
My Dad visits us here in California about once every year, and every time he visits we are invited for lunch or dinner at a few of our friend’s homes. One of our dear friends are Devi and Del, and over the years going to Devi and Del’s home for lunch when Dad visits has become almost a tradition. The last time we headed over to Devi’s we were treated to a delicious vegetarian Indian lunch. Our friend Rose and her son Alex joined us too, and we all had a lively afternoon discussing cultures (India, U.S. and Philippines) and U.S. politics. Oh my what an animated debate we had – all in good humor 😄. Continue reading A Flavorful Vegetarian Lunch at Devi & Del’s
Pakoras, Cake and Chai. A Menu Worth Replicating
I had my cousins over for tea a couple of weeks ago as I hadn’t seen them in a while, and when all our schedules finally aligned, getting together for Sunday afternoon tea seemed like the perfect low-key way to meet up, catch up, and hang out with some afternoon treats. What I had planned for tea was going to be delicious and fun 😋 😃. Continue reading Pakoras, Cake and Chai. A Menu Worth Replicating
