Hey y’all, I am back with another cookie recipe. Did you really think there was such a thing as too many Christmas cookies? Or too many any-time cookies for that matter? Nah!! So, this one is a favorite of mine, the twice-baked Italian cookies or biscotti. It reminds of another childhood favorite, a twice-baked bread…
Christmas Baking: Nankhatai {Indian Shortbread Cookies}
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds; While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads… (Clement…
Gulab Phirni {Creamy Rose Flavored Rice Pudding}
If you are looking for something sweet yet light with a hint of the exotic, then this dessert is for you. That’s exactly what I craved one day. I knew phirni fit the bill perfectly. Phirni or firni is an Indian dessert from the Punjab region. It is the more exotic cousin of a traditional…
Doodh Peda {Indian Milk Fudge}
My absolute favorite Indian sweet is the gulab jamun. Doodh (milk) pedas come a close second. I’ve always made gulab jamuns from a ready-made mix and bought pedas from the store. Never tried making them from scratch. I find that gulab jamuns made from ready-to-make dough mixes are actually pretty good. So I decided to…
Scary-Good Halloween Green Monster Shake
Like it or not, it’s Halloween season. I don’t care for it particularly. There, I’ve said it! But I have one little person in the house who goes bonkers for Halloween and of course, candy. The two things I do enjoy this season are making our annual trip to the local pumpkin patch and carving…
Bhapa Doi Or Baked Yogurt Pudding {With Pomegranate Coulis}
Imagine this. A dessert so luscious and so delightful, that you savor the taste and texture long after it’s all gone. And even better, what if I told it takes less than 5 minutes of hands-on time? Meet bhapa doi, a traditional Bengali dessert which is nothing but a sweet yogurt pudding. Bengali cuisine is…
Lauki Ka Halwa {Bottle Gourd Pudding}
Has it ever happened to you, when you tasted something extraordinary just once and you can still recollect its aroma, taste and every little nuance that made it special in the first place? There are some foods that linger in your memory for a long time, almost forever. I still remember the first time I…
Oats, Quinoa And Almonds Breakfast Bowl With Plum Sauce
Breakfast is an area I have neglected on the blog. I seem to have shared just a couple of my favorites with you guys. On days when we are not having a traditional South Indian breakfast, a quick egg sandwich or a fancy fruity pancake, I resort to a bowl of cereal. Cheerios it is…
Falooda {Rose Flavored Indian Dessert Beverage}
Every school kid looks forward to Friday evening. I know, mine does. I used to be the same when I was his age (ok, even now!). Growing up, Friday nights (or sometimes Saturday nights) were special. That’s when we went shopping, and most often, dined out. When I was a school kid in the 90s,…
Frozen Greek Yogurt Bark
I am so happy that at least for now, Texas is out of the deep freeze that’s been gripping the nation the past month. I realize not many are as lucky as us, but I have a super simple recipe to cheer you up. And it’s a frozen treat. Don’t hate me, please. It’s absolutely…
Pasta With Sausage And A Fresh Spinach-Cilantro-Almond Pesto
Everyone knows pesto, right? The vibrant, fresh, literally green cousin of the full-bodied marinara and the hearty alfredo. Pesto is the black sheep of the family. He makes pasta almost healthy… gasp! How dare he, right?! Pesto is really easy to make, but doesn’t exactly get the respect it deserves. Okay, I have now officially…
Poha-Sabudana Kheer {Flattened Rice And Tapioca Pearl Pudding}
Indians around the world are sure to be in a festive holiday mood this week with all the Diwali preps and celebrations. As with any Indian festival, the most important thing is of course, the food, especially the sweet treats. We gorge on sweets redolent with milk, ghee and sugar and spend the coming weeks…
