I can't mention enough number of times how hard we are trying to keep our food healthy. Losing the ''few'' extra pounds after Ariana was born wasn't as difficult, but the last few, are turning out to be more adamant than I expected. And it's just not fair to do it with giving up food, anyways through a pregnancy and after, you have to watch what you eat, its madness to have to follow that even after you have all the freedom to eat whatever you want. Dieting is madness. Dieting has always driven me crazy and made me crave for more fatty things. Instead, I prefer substituting all the fatty things with a healthier alternative and still feasting on whatever is for a meal.
Its amazing how much a pregnancy can change you!
From absolutely disliking chocolates, to making something out of them at least once a week, Ariana has definitely shared her love of bittersweet heavenliness with me. She doesn’t yet like eating nutella right out of the jar, that’s why i had to look for recipes that would suit her taste and make a good enough and a healthy snack for her. This is the ONE and ONLY chocolate dessert I can feast on! No other cake like this one, can say ‘’its time to celebrate’’! And what better reason than to make it on our anniversary. The recipe looks like a long tedious one, but trust me it isn’t. Its actually a lot of fun to make this cake. And what better rewards than an earshot grin of satisfaction from your better half!
I love baking, ABSOLUTELY love it! With my headphones and an awesome playlist, I can bake till my phone battery runs out. Then I would take a break to recharge it and get back to baking! The joy and ''happy feeling'' that some people feel with yoga / long drives / long walks / dancing / meeting friends; baking gives me all that.
It is the most enjoyable, de-stressing, relaxing and working out at the same time, kitchen experience I always look forward to. If you think of it, interestingly and entertainingly, with all the careful and smooth mixing, rhythmic kneading and shaping, it definitely seems like Tai Chi, but of course in the kitchen! To be honest, I am not a big fan of biscuits or cookies. But that all changed during my cabin crew days. On all the flights to the U.S, for a snack with tea or coffee, we had to bake choco-chip cookies on board. The dough didn't come in any branded pack, so I always thought that the catering department actually made them from scratch. One of the days when I bumped into a friend who worked in catering department, I couldn’t stop myself from asking him if the cookie dough was branded or made by the department. And it turned out to be Nestlé cookie dough! As soon as I landed back at base, googled the recipe for cookies and also went and bought the Nestlé Tollhouse cookie dough. Made two batches of the cookies to see if I could create the same taste. And to my amazement, I did!! Ever since, I have been baking these so often, as they make a perfect breakfast with a nice glass of cold milk. A very simple and a quick recipe, with mouth-watering results! A definitely must-try. This is, hands down one of my all time favourite snacks! I have read and seen so many posts about the amazing monsoon rains in India, that I couldn’t help but think of a nice cup of masala chai and what better snack with it than Bhakarwadis.
Though, no one can beat Chitale's Bhakarwadis, I really wanted to give them a try, and also make them in a healthier way. This recipe does call for a bit of efforts, but the results are absolutely rewarding! I really enjoyed making this, and even more, feasting on it with a nice cup of masala chai. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! The original name of this recipe is PANE CON POMODORI E CIPOLLE ROSSE
This is a robustly flavoured loaf originated in Tropea in the southern Italian region of Cabria. Ripe full flavoured tomatoes are essential to its success. Choose firm red tomatoes, or leave unripe tomatoes stem-side down on a window sill to ripen. Store ripe potatoes in a dark cool place but don’t refrigerate them. Another foot ball day, and thus a new bread recipe trial day! Happy Baking! Again, I so wish I could have a tandoor at home to do justice to this preparation!
The truth is, however good the dough turns out to be, it needs to be baked in a tandoor to get the authentic taste. If its baked in the oven, it doesn’t only become a little dry due to its longer baking time in the oven temperatures, which of course, can't go as high as the temperatures in the tandoor. I have read about people baking them on a non stick pan too, but I haven’t given it a try yet. I plan to do that soon though. But none the less, this is one of my most favourite Indian breads and a very quick recipe too! Perfect bread to dip in some amazing curries. Definitely a must try. yummy yum yum is all I can think of looking at the picture! I had this for the first time at a friend's place and HAD to try a hand at this. Tenderising and marinating the chicken in curd, makes it so amazingly soft, and the curd also imparts a nice tangy taste to it. The chicken can be either shallow fried on the pan, which of course makes it crunchier and tastier, but if you are looking for a healthier version, then it can be baked in an oven with as little as 2 tsp oil for the whole recipe. Lip smacking yummy, especially with a salad and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. Bon Appétit During my cabin crew days, I used to always be the galley (aircraft kitchen) manager.
The breads that were served in economy, business and first class would always catch my eye! A wonderful variety of sweet, salty, savoury, nutty, grain breads. Especially, their shapes and how perfectly they would be baked! I had always wanted to try making them all, and hence starting with one of my most favourites. Since I love salty / savoury food, this is, hands-down, one of my most favorite breads! The textures of this bread are so varied and absolutely delicious! This was one of the very first recipes that I tried out before starting the blog, and trust me, I have made it about 20 times since. It is such a hot favorite at home and at Mitul's office, that every week I have to make sure that I have enough over ripe bananas to quickly fix a banana bread if the emergency request comes in!
ABSOLUTELY gorgeous blend of flavors. Sweet caramelized bananas and brown sugar give this cake its unique flavor. It is a very simple recipe and a quick fix too. Tastes stunning with a big scoop of vanilla and a slice of warm banana bread. Its not just a must-try, but I insist you bake it whenever you plan to taking up your next kitchen project. One of the weekends, Mitul and I wanted to do a different and an adventurous cooking project and what better than home-made pizzas to be feasted on. Especially knowing that there is less oil, butter and the amount of cheese, you can relish them guilt-free!
They turned out absolutely gorgeous! A very simple recipe and definitely a must try. I love any recipe which has pumpkin as a main ingredient.
Cooked pumpkin purée gets such a beautiful caramelized taste, that it is a joy to eat any dish made with it. Delicious recipe savory - sweet recipe and a must try. In Europe, Munich would be one of my most favorite destinations!
The hotel was perfectly located right next to the English Garden. As soon as I would reach the hotel, I would quickly freshen up, pick up my book, music and head straight to the open food court which was located just by a large lake at the center of the garden. I have never been to a more peaceful and relaxing place as this! The food court had different kiosks selling beer, cold food, warm food, breads etc. I would always take a decent enough meal and loads of bread to feed the ducks by the pond. Read my books and listen to music till I could no longer keep my eyes open. The last best part of going to English Garden was that, on my way back to the hotel, I would always pick up a HUMONGOUS 2L glass of beer and while paying for it, pick up these 2 - 3 pretzels and wear them in my hand, and walk back eating those off my hand an sipping on the best beer! There are some large enough that you can actually wear them around your neck with a thread and eat them as and when you want. I can hardly wait to go back to the garden and do the same. A definite must try for salt lovers! I wish I could have a proper tandoor at home! (home is a flat right now) A stunning combination of curd and spices make it a perfect marinade. To give it a richer taste, while the chicken is getting baked / roasted. it should be brushed with ghee / oil. In spite of baking it in an oven, I have tried my best to do justice to this lip-smacking delicious dish. An all time favourite, especially with a nice chilled glass of beer. Tastes very very delicious when accompanied with sliced onions and lemon. Bon Appétit I came across this bread for the first time in subway, and ever since has been my most favorite sandwich bread.
Delicious and slightly caramelized taste. If you are a baking enthusiast, a definitely must try! A very Indian and a delicious recipe!
Got it from my mum-in-law, and hopefully have done justice to it. This is one of those recipes that make a rainy / winter day very special. Tastes amazing if you have the freshly baked bread buns with nice pot of masala chai. Was an absolute joy to make it and a greater joy to feast on it! Gujaratis are known for making not just innovative, but delicious snacks. People definitely get judgmental, when on tours, their gujju friends carry their own snacks and meals. But one bite of that, and you would want to do the same! They are absolutely lip-smacking delicious!
I had never tasted handvo before I got married. And as soon as I did, I headed straight to my room, got a pen and paper and noted the recipe without missing the smallest detail. And now, I make this atleast once every 10 - 14 days. Gujju food is that captivating! This is a must try. Hope you not just enjoy feasting on it, but making it too. If you have a bit of all possible vegetables left in the fridge, then no other way to use them as, than in a delicious lasagna.
It makes such a perfect meal with its ingredients. It definitely is one of my favourites! When I am in a mood to finish the kitchen work as quickly as possible with least amount of labour hours, this preparation is my first choice always. Hardly takes 30 - 45 minutes and is perfectly filling. The best part is, any vegetables taste great in it. A little back-ground check on this dish; Lasagna is a wide, flat pasta shape and possibly one of the oldest. As with most other types of pasta, the word is a plural form, lasagne meaning more than one piece of lasagna ribbon. The word also refers to a dish made with this type of pasta in several layers interspersed with layers of various ingredients and sauces, typically including ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, meat (e.g., ground beef or pork), and in some cases, spinach, that is then baked in the oven. Lasagne is typically flavoured with wine, garlic, onion, and oregano. This recipe caught my eye because of it's name. I had never tasted a sour bread and I really wanted to try my hand at it. The recipe too seemed a bit long, which was even more intriguing, and I really wanted to figure out how to make the dough sour without adding any additives to it.
The final product turned out absolutely fabulous! If you like very sour food, then the starter for this bread should be fermented for the mentioned time, but if you want it a little less sour, keep it for a shorter time (3 days or so). Its one of the best breads I have ever had. A must - try! |
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