EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #200NOTOUT I joined FoodieMonday/Bloghop in March 2016 when their #31st theme was Fusion Thandai Recipes. I remember I was really struggling to figure out what to prepare for the theme and also how will I portray myself as a new member. What I found very quickly was that the members of the group were very friendly and helpful. Today we’re on our #200th theme and I’ve come a long way, more confident, have improved on how I write my blog posts, how I take photographs of the prepared dish, learnt about other Indian cuisines and also know the members and a bit about their families. Many old members have left and new ones have joined. With some its now a lasting…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #197 GET IN SHAPE The #197th theme for FoodieMonday/Bloghop group, Get in Shape is nothing to do about us getting into shape with some healthy diet or workout. However, as Kalyani suggested, its all about presenting food in a geometrical fashion. Kalyani blogs at Sizzling Buds. Her blog is full of vegetarian recipes and many are vegan. Her endeavor to present world cuisine in a more healthier manner for her family is commendable. When the theme was suggested, I got excited. I would have loved to bake a bread or tart to really give due credit to this theme (you know the type where slices are arranged in concentric circle or even or semi circles on a square pie), but limited resources meant…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #196 IT’S PICKLE TIME My mum use to make huge quantities of lemon pickle and other pickles and store it in those old fashioned ceramic brown and cream jars. The pickle would be served every Sunday along with khichdi and kadhi. As for the lemon pickle which I love so much,she would leave the lemon pieces in a container, covered with muslin cloth for days in the sun till the lemon peel would become soft. I never learnt how to make the pickle from her. A few years back Vibha bhabhi made the pickle and shared the recipe with me. Tips like leaving the lemon pieces to marinate in the fridge was my kaki’s valuable tip. I have tasted lemon pickle that…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #195 THIRD LETTER MAGIC My first taste of an absolutely tasty red Thai curry was in Bali when I visited it for the first time in 2017. The curry was served in a coconut shell. As I had complained that I was not able to taste a veggie version of the Thai cuisine, my hubby’s best friend and his wife who live in Bangkok made sure that I would not leave Thailand without tasting some good Thai curries. Just the night before we were to leave Bangkok, they treated us to a vegan restaurant called Veganerie at the Silom Complex. While they didn’t want to eat Thai food, hubby and I ordered Thai curries. I ordered green Thai curry with aubergine and…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOPTHEME: #194 SUMMER FRUIT FEST This week’s theme was suggested by Swaty who blogs at Food – Trails. Swaty’s blog is full of fun recipes from appetizers to desserts. I love her photography. Check out her blog for some exciting delicious recipes. When Swaty suggested using summer fruits to create a recipe, I was happy as I was in the right place to enjoy really colorful summer fruits – Thailand. You’ll find many fruit vendors on the streets selling cut ripe mangoes, cut raw mangoes, water melons, dragon fruits, other melons, pineapples, peeled pomelo, durian, rambutan, rose apple slices, papaya, guava, coconut and longan. A really colorful smoothie bowl would have been the ideal recipe for this theme, but I couldn’t make the smoothie as…
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Continue ReadingEVENT:FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME:#192 ONE SPICE INGREDIENT When Sasmita who blogs at First Timer Cook was suggesting themes for #192, I wasn’t paying much attention as I thought I wouldn’t be able to participate. It was when I got back to my hotel in the evening and saw over 50 messages on the group’s WhatsApp, is when I began reading them out of curiosity. With One Spice Ingredient as the chosen theme, I immediately remembered that I had a recipe in the draft that fits the bill. I was about to post this recipe for the minicake theme but changed my mind. I now know why this one got saved. Sasmita has a wonderful blog with a huge range of recipes from Odia dishes to more…
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Continue ReadingEVENT:FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME:#190 MINICAKES RECIPE: THANDAI MUFFINS Thandai Muffins baked with thandai spice mixture make a delicious treat for the Holi Party. Both kids and adults love them along with chilled thandai drink. Eggless, these muffins come together in no time. Bake them a day ahead, they stay fresh for a couple of days. Just before Holi, I had baked some thandai muffins to share with my neighbors. The recipe did not make it to the blog on time for Holi. I kept it in the draft file thinking that I’ll use it next year. Yeah, I know its a long time to keep it, but I’m quite good at storing stuff 🙂 FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme When Preethi suggested a few themes for the #190, I opted…
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Continue ReadingEVENT:FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOPTHEME:#189 GAJAR KA JALWA Once again in a few days I’ll be on the move. So the routine has begun, packing my suitcase (I hate packing!), time to wind up the kitchen, close the house. Last minute tension, as I’ll be attending two weddings and have to make sure have all the wedding saris, jewelry etc. Always get the feeling, ‘am I forgetting something?’ However, I calm down for a few hours as I remember what my kaka (chacha, uncle) always use to say when we’d travel by flight alone to get back to boarding school. He’d say as long as you have your passport, ticket and some money, you’re fine. Traveling often, does that make me an expert at packing my suitcase? Not at…
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Continue ReadingEVENT:FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME:#188 IDLY MEDLEY RECIPE: BUCKWHEAT IDLI/ KUTTU IDLI Buckwheat Idli is a soft, fluffy, nutritious ,steamed and healthy breakfast or snack to enjoy. Enjoy it with some sambar and chutney, or on its own with some chutney and ghee drizzled over it. Or, you can stir fry them with some podi masala or spice powder. I simply love podi idli. What is Idli? Idli or Idly is a popular South Indian savory steamed cake which is usually made from rice and black lentils(urad dal). The batter is allowed to ferment overnight without yeast or other raising agents. Next day its steamed in a idli stand or in small bowls. Its a popular breakfast dish and is served with usually with a coconut chutney and…
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Continue ReadingEVENT:FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME:#187 DESI TWIST When this interesting theme was announced by Kalyani who blogs at Sizzling Tastebuds, I was a little confused. Do we cook a western dish with some desi twist to it or cook a desi (Indian) dish and give it a western twist. Fortunately she explained what she wanted us to do, give the Indian dish a western twist. Confused still?? I’m still frowning and thinking. However the recipe below will explain how I understood the theme. Coming to Kalyani’s blog, its worth a visit as she has many healthy and vegan recipes. Find some interesting egg free bakes too. When I had to decide what to make, my choice was limited to the ingredients present in my kitchen as soon I’ll…
