Chewy Chocolate Cookies

I am not much of a baker and I don’t bake often. But this blog and the kiddo have driven me in that direction and I am learning and enjoying as I go along. It has been a roller coaster ride, but with success like these that makes you want to do the happy dance and try your hand at some more.  The kiddo who is now 5 and half, loves to bake and help around in the kitchen. It is fun to watch his enthusiastic self, mixing stuff, measuring, chatting and of course making a mess. What are moms…

The bug has bitten, come join us won’t you?

Errr…..people, people before you jump to any conclusion, it is just the shutter bug that I am referring to, not any other type of bug!  You know, that interest and enthusiasm for amateur photography, right?  That is the bug I am referring to 🙂  Well this ‘bug’ bite is not something new as we (DH and I) have been taking pictures for a long time now. When we are not cooking, cleaning, arguing, or driving each other nuts (ahem), then you can find us taking pictures.  We take pictures of anything that catches our fancy; food, nature, people, architecture but…

Banana Pepper, Raw Banana Dry Curry

Hope you all had a good weekend. We had a wonderful yet busy weekend. We had a line of chores, but did not complete most of it. The usual complaint about the weekend is that it gets over very fast. During the week I enthusiastically plan for the weekend, but then most of the tasks don’t get done and before we know it gets over in the blink of an eye. So many things, so little time !  Last week we came up with this recipe on a whim after scanning through the ingredients in the fridge that needed immediate…

Capsicum Masala Recipe/ Bell pepper coconut curry (dry)

While there are different ways of making capsicum curries, this way of making capsicum/bell pepper curry is my all-time favorite. The pungent capsicum is simmered in a coconut masala, perfectly balancing sweet, spicy, salty, and sour flavors. This combination transforms the bell pepper into a captivating dish. Preparing this Capsicum Masala is a breeze. While the onions and capsicums cook in a pan, I quickly grind the coconut masala and mix it with the sautéed vegetables. Since everything cooks rapidly, this dish is ready in no time and tastes incredible. Pair it with rice and dal, like “Daali thoy,” and…

Ghee Rice

If you are looking for a rice recipe that is easy to prepare, rich in taste, aromatic and crowd pleasing then Ghee Rice is right for you. Generous use of ghee (clarified butter) along with cashews, raisins makes this dish rich and festive. This pairs well with a spicy gravy based side dish. Few weeks ago we had some friends for dinner and this was one of our menu items. The credit for preparing this rice dish goes to DH. He is a good cook, who has a knack for cooking without taking any short cuts. While I chicken out…

Teppal Ambat (Potato Curry in Triphal spice)

Teppal / Tirphal also called as Sichuan pepper is a rare spice Indian resembling a bigger version of black pepper. This is predominantly used in Maharashtra and coastal Konkan cooking.  If you are looking at this spice for the first time, then you might ignore it as it so ordinary looking with no distinct flavor or aroma of its own. But looks can be so deceiving and this spice goes on to prove just that. The minute you crush about 6-9 of them in water you begin to see the change and start getting that distinct aroma. The final magic…

Banana Mango Milkshake

This Banana Mango Milkshake is an easy, delicious and filling drink. Not only does it have a cooling effect, but provides good nutrition as well. This is also a good way of using up any extra ripe mangoes and or bananas. The kiddo has been showing some interest in milkshakes and so it is giving me an opportunity to try some healthy fruit combinations. Plus we bought a new Magic Bullet blender courtesy CSN stores and these shakes, juices, smoothies give me an opportunity to try it on the new blender. The ingredients here are just for reference. It can…