EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #262 BITTER BUT GOOD RECIPE: CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE What is a Chocolate Truffle? In reality, truffle is an edible but very expensive fungi. Just a few shavings used in a dish elevates the overall flavour and taste. However, today my recipe has nothing to do with that truffle. Specifically, Chocolate Truffles are bite sized chocolate treats or confectionery. Actually, made from ganache which is simply a mixture of melted chocolate and warmed cream. This Week’s Theme on FoodieMonday/Bloghop Group: This week, the group theme is Bitter but Good. Actually, Sasmita who blogs at First Timer Cook, suggested that we use any food that is naturally bitter. Naturally Bitter Foods By the way, when I think of bitter food, bitter gourd pops up…
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Continue ReadingSamo Tikki / Barnyard Millet Pattis Samo tikki / Barnyard Millet Pattis are gluten free, vegan, delicious and healthy too. A good way to get the family to enjoy the nutritional value of barnyard millet. Known as sama chawal, samo, moriyo, kuthiraivali. What Is Samo? Samo is what is known as barnyard millet in English. It can be easily confused with little millet as it looks so similar. When not hulled, barnyard millet has a tiny black spot. How Come We Can Eat Barnyard Millet During Fasting And Not The Other Millets? Barnyard millet, sama is not a true millet. It is a variety of grass, whose seeds we consume. The scientific name is Echinochloa esculenta. Other varieties of millets are classified as grains. Sharing…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #249 MONSOON MUNCHIES For India, the hype of summer with people going on holidays, enjoying late nights out, street food, ice creams, mango delights all passed by without much celebration this year with the lockdown because of Covid 19. Some states are already experiencing rains while others are waiting for the Monsoon. Monsoon in India equates to hot hot bhajias (pakoras), steaming or roasted corn and garam garam (hot) chai. Theme this week on FoodieMonday/Bloghop Archana who blogs at The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen suggested Monsoon food and I was thinking like I really don’t want to fry anything or even make a hot soup as it has been just too hot for the past week or so in Mombasa. We are suppose…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #247 IT’S CHAAT TIME Summer time in India equates to not only mangoes but also Chaats and loads of it. This is the time when most kitchens are closed especially in the evenings and families venture out to sample lip smacking street food and chaats. However, this year I’m sure its a totally different scenario with everyone cooped up at home. However, that doesn’t mean that one cannot enjoy Chaats from the comforts of their homes. FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme Here in Kenya, we don’t get Chaats as street food, as it has its own street food specials like Mahamari, Fried Mogo, Kebabs, Chicken Tikka, Kachri Bateta, Viazi Karai, etc. If we want to enjoy some Chaats we either have to make them at…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #245 LOVE FOR COFFEE The theme name is so apt when it comes to hubby and me, as we both love coffee. Having said that, I’m a little surprised that I really don’t have that many recipes on the blog where I’ve used coffee powder or granules as an ingredient. However, that has been taken care of to some degree with the coffee and walnut cake that I prepared for the theme. FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme Before I get into the whole coffee story a reminder that the FoodieMonday/ Bloghop group members decide on a theme and post a new recipe every Monday. For this week Sasmita who blogs at First Timer Cook suggested that we use Coffee to make our dishes. General…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #244 SNACKMANIA FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme Many countries are still under lockdown or curfew while some are planning to open up malls, restaurants, shops but with limited people allowed in these places. This week Renu who blogs at Cook with Renu, suggested that we make snacks which can be stored at least for two weeks if not less. Truthfully, most snacks in my home don’t last beyond two weeks besides chevdo. Snacks With families at home with this Stay Home Be Safe that everyone in the world is practicing, more food is consumed. Especially when you have kids at home, they constantly need something to snack on. For many its not easy to get fresh fruits and vegetables all the time. So most of…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #241 FLATBREAD FIESTA RECIPE: MANGALORE BUNS/BANANA PURI Mangalore Buns/Banana Puri is a speciality from Mangalore, Karnataka. They are sweetish deep fried puris or flatbread with a hint of cumin flavour. Mostly enjoyed as breakfast with hot tea or with a curry or simply coconut chutney. What is a Flatbread? Generally, flatbreads are made with flour, salt or no salt and water. The dough is either rolled out and then roasted or grilled or its spread out with a ladle like as in crepes, dosa, chila or its patted onto the griddle pan or tawa using your hands like as in a thalipeeth. Mostly, they are unleavened but some like pita bread or pizza will contain a leavening agent. FoodieMonday/Bloghop Theme This…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #236 HUMMUS TIME RECIPE: MANGO SRIRACHA HUMMUS Mango Sriracha Hummus is a slightly sweetish and spicy dip that is best enjoyed with vegetables, pita chips or crackers. What is Hummus? An integral part of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cuisine, Hummus is a dip, spread or sauce that traditionally is made from chickpeas, lemon, garlic and tahini. Made into a smooth paste or sauce depending how its going to be used, hummus these days is readily available in the supermarkets. The Main Ingredients For Hummus Are: Boiled Chickpeas, the white variety Garlic Olive oil Tahini Lemon juice seasoning Its that simple to make hummus. So why buy ready made ones which have preservatives and artificial food additives? How to use Hummus? Spread…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #230 CHINESE NEW YEAR Chinese New Year 2020 Gong hei fat choy is the Greeting for Chinese New Year in Cantonese and Gong xi fa cai (pronounced gong she fa tsai) in Madarin. Basically it means wishing you great happiness and prosperity. This year Chinese New Year, Spring Festival and also known as Lunar New Year falls on 25th January. Like most Indian festivals, Chinese New Year doesn’t fall on the same day every year as it follows the lunar calendar. Did you know that the New Year festival usually lasts 15 days? How is Chinese New Year Celebrated? Its a day for praying to God, for good harvest and planting. People also pray to their ancestors. A vast variety of food…
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Continue ReadingEVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME: #229 SANKRANTI SPECIALS Happy Makar Sankranti to all my friends, followers and family What is Makar Sankranti? Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Lohri, Maghi, Bihu, Thai Pongal, Suggi Habba, Makara Sankramana all fall more or less on the same day. These are all harvest festivals celebrated according to each one’s tradition and culture. Makar Sankranti, is dedicated to the Sun God Surya. It also marks the end of the winter solstice and beginning of longer daylight. While most communities will celebrate Makar Sankranti according to their tradition and culture, it is largely associated with kite flying and delicious food. Importance of Sesame Seeds and Jaggery during Makar Sankranti Most of Makar Sankranti treats will have sesame seeds and jaggery in them. Usually I make…
