Orange Almond and Yogurt Loaf—light, moist, and deliciously moreish

It’s that time of the year again.

Christmas is around the corner, and the clock is ticking down hurriedly to a whole new exciting year.

The festive season is always a special and memorable time. It brings family and friends together with rituals and traditions, sparkle and magic, gifts and fun and food.

Sambar Using Store Bought Sambar Powder — Happy Onam!

Happy Onam.

Onam brings fond memories.  

Memories of draping in traditional gold-bordered settu mundu, wearing jimikki earrings with strings of fresh jasmine flower adorning the hair, creating pookkalam—the colorful and intricate arrangement of fresh flowers on the floor—with friends, clapping and moving around in a group to the tune of thiruvathira song, and, enjoying the elaborate and most exquisite vegetarian feast, sadya.

The harvest festival of Onam—the most important festival in Kerala—celebrates the mythical homecoming of King Mahabali, the legendary king who reigned the state in the golden era. Per legend, he visits his subjects every year, and Keralites celebrate it with pomp and great frevor. Onam also signals the end of monsoon seaon.

4 Delicious Lemonade Variations for Summer

The world is gripped by the football fever. 

And, Middle East? Summer fever!

No kidding.

We are sizziling with temperatures hitting record levels as early as June. Haven’t seen this much heat and humidity so far in the beginning of summer. The peak season is usually July-August.

It’s simply hot, humid and hazy.  With temperatures soaring to the 50s, staying hydrated is vital.

Tadka Dal — Spiced Indian Lentils

If I had to list my all-time favorite dal recipe it would be this.  

Simple, satiating, and soul-comforting, dal tadka.

The taste I grew up with.

Strawberry Mache Salad with Poppy Seed Vinaigrette and Almond Brittle

Ever tried strawberry with greens? Simply ahh-mazing!

Juicy strawberries, tender greens, kiwifruit, and goji berries with poppy seed vinaigrette. It’s dessert on your plate. Yea, right.

And the proverbial icing on the cake? Almond brittle!

Strawberry Jam with Redcurrant

Everything seems to be going on a little slower pace. And yes, I’ve been infinitely slow with updates. Except here.

The exciting news is, I’ve finally—yes finally—upgraded from a point and shoot camera to a DSLR—oh joy! Yes, after twenty-five amazing months of indulging in food photography and styling with a P&S, I’m now the proud owner of a SLR. 

About time, huh?

Chocolate Orange Truffles. And—Two Wondrous Years!

Astonishingly lovely weather and a brand new year. Suddenly the future seems to be filled with a million new possibilities and wildly beautiful things. And—it’s only just begun.

Happy, Happy New Year!

Hope you had a dazzling time ringing in the New Year, and more, a dazzling start to twenty thirteen surrounded by love and laughter and loved ones.

Ultimate Parisan Hot chocolate — velvety and so utterly chocolaty

Nothing quite like the romance and charm of the holiday season, I must say. Most especially when it is to be followed by beautiful and exciting new beginnings, ha.

So despite the frenzy of life, and a beautiful fluttery of things, on these last few beautiful days of twenty twelve, I find myself totally, utterly, and most desperately lost in the spirit of magic and dreams. Hey, it’s a new, new year in just two days! Are you not excited ..?

And before the clock strikes midnight, I hope you are somewhere cozy, cherishing the glitter and sparkle and snowfall or rainfall, holding your loved ones close, and looking forward to the arrival of wonderful new beginnings. Here’s to a magical new year, filled with the most delightful happenings, love, peace, joy, and hope it’s astonishingly beautiful wherever in the world you are.

“I know nothing with certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream” Van Gosh.

Spicy Noodle Stir-Fry with Vegetables — Super Healthy and Easy Weeknight Meal

Featured on Babble's 20 vegan meals you can make in 20 minutes or less

I grew up on Top Ramen instant noodles.

A dish of steaming hot noodles with scrambled eggs and carrots was pure joy. Particularly on a weekend. Almost mostly I was in charge of prepping noodles for my siblings. So many Sunday breakfasts and beautiful moments with my sister and two brothers chitchatting around the table over many cups of chai, ah.

Those are some of my most treasured memories. Especially since I lost my kid brother in an accident a few summers back, and I know we cannot have a foursome again. Never again.

Eggless Strawberry Melting Moments—melt-in-your mouth sandwich cookies for the holiday season

October whirled by quickly, and can hardly believe it is November. 

Sweet, sweet November with its brisk freshness and excitement of utterly lovely things—cool nights with cozy cashmeres and warm woolen blankets, strong cups of chai in the morning, and many memorable evening with scented candles and the intoxicating fragrance of fresh roses.

Spiced Red Beans and Green Banana — Kaya Vanpayar Mezhukkupuratti

The morning slants of sunlight are a little sluggish. A little less dazzling. As if this is the beginning. The beginning of summer’s end.

The long summer days are leisurely falling into longer winter nights.

Fall-ing. 

Slowly. But surely.

Mango Lemonade

Featured in the Kitchn delicious links, and 10 refreshing lemonade recipes to try 

Iced Tea and Lemonades on Design Crush

Ramadan is almost here—the most wonderful and magical time of the Islamic calendar. And on these last few days, with each day bringing us a little closer to the fasting season, there’s so much to think about, so much to do—iftar meals to plan and to attend, guest lists to confirm, suhoor meals to schedule, without having to worry about getting new abhayas tailored, and plenty more Ramadan-y things to get hopelessly lost in. But for now, before I get whisked away to a flurry of activities, I’m taking a few minutes for a quick hello, and share this delightful citrusy drink to set the Ramadan mood, and as usual, fill this space with plenty of photos too.

Pavakka Mulakittadu — Sour and Spicy Bitter Melon Curry — Karela from Kerala

Native to tropical Asia, Africa and Caribbea, and found usually in Asian markets, bitter melon or bitter gourd is not everyone’s cup of tea. Wonder why? Think bitter. Seriously bitter. With a lingering flavor. Yes, true to its name, the alarming bitter taste and smell is the main drawback for  haters, not the bumpy green skin. Due to its unappealing flavor, bitter melon is more confined to its roots of origin—global cooks don’t see much of this fruity vegetable, or for that matter, know of its existence. Known about as pavakka or kaipakka in Malayalam, and karela in Hindi and Urdu, it is commonly used in Indian and Pakistani cooking.

Eggless, No Bake, Mini Mango Cheesecakes

A stroll about the fruit markets with its sweet, tempting display of summer produce in a rainbow of fresh flavors, I have a feeling I’ll be preparing and sharing dainty desserts all summer long.

Of all the wonderful things that summer brings, I look forward so much to the mango festival happening at the local stores around here at this time of the year—sweet, sweet excuse to indulge in a variety of luscious goodness. There are few things quite like the flavor and scent of Alphonso, Rajpuri and Badami at the peak of their season. I just can’t stop picking them, and the result is an ever-inspiring list of mango dishes, though nothing compares to eating them whole, I admit.

Mango Lassi — summer in a glass

Lassi : |ˈlasē| noun; a sweet or savory Indian drink made from a yogurt or buttermilk base with water

With summer beautifully seeping into the lingering golden days and sultry arabian nights, I’m into a major cooler kick. The lure of a tall glass of chilled beverage that’s quick to mix and heavenly to quench thirst and combat heat is so wild that I’ve been going crazy shaking things up with summers bounty.

And while I’ve been cooking other serious food, it is astonishingly the drink recipes that I’m drawn to, and gets scandalously photographed and featured, again and again. Like today.

Ice Pops — Fizzy Mango Mint Popsicle, and Creamy Chocolaty Fudgesicle — hydrating summertime treats

Featured on Foodbuzz Top 9

Something about the balmy climate and fragrant flowers make me think of fluttery dresses and languid afternoons by the seaside. Happy thoughts.

Sunshine, sea, and a glass of ice cold drink, or cool dripping treat on a stick. Ooh la la.

Summer is the most glamorous of seasons to be lost in such golden daydreams.

And while there are 101 things I should be doing—most importantly get working on my email situation—all I really want to do is laze away the hours in sweet nostalgia, and fall asleep to dreams of a beautiful world filled with lots of love, laughter and happiness.

Lots. Yes, lots.

Chocolate Covered Kiwis on a Stick — boost your intake of antioxidants with this fun recipe!

Mid April. Monday. Sunny day.

It’s time for a stunningly simple, yet gourmet-looking recipe peeps. 

Don’t you love the idea of food on a stick? I do. And my kids simply adore cute little morsels on a stick. Especially sweet treats. Cake pops, popsicles, fudgesicles, lollipops, or just about anything sweet that can be popped on a stick—you name it.

No messy hands, or fuss with plates. They are so much fun to eat, and even more fun to make. 

Pineapple Passion Chiller with Curried Chickpeas Salad — Guest Post for Flavour Fiesta

This week is a flurry of excitements, beautiful inspirations, new beginnings, a delicious toast to celebrate friendship, and a peek behind the screen.

My very first guest post, featuring two recipes to enjoy outdoors during the warmer spring days, is published at this utterly beautiful and inspiring space, Flavour Fiesta (FF). Also fun was to share the moment, answering a few questions with the gorgeous author, Divya.

Warm, Aromatic Broccoli Salad — Broccoli Upperi

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It’s Thursday! Simple pleasures, ah.

I’ve been so busy this week, I didn’t realize that the weekend is here.

My husband’s brother and family are visiting from Canada and we’ve been full of activities. In fact, we have a couple of things lined up for this weekend too and I can’t wait for the fun to begin. So I’ll go to the recipe quickly and save the chitchat for later.

Nutella Lava Mug Cake

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Featured on The Huffington Post Kitchen Daily

There’s an air of expectation in February, and everyone else is joining in the celebration. For Valentine’s day, that is.

I’ve always considered Valentine’s as a holiday for kids, particularly teenagers, than for adults. Just the same, I was inspired to share in the moment with a special recipe—a treat for your sweetie, or your own sweet self.

Keeping up with romantic spirits, this special occasion deserves nothing less than a luscious dessert. With chocolate, of course—the aphrodisiac and quintessential Valentine’s treat.