Jacob's Creek Sparkling Rose Wine and Grilled Chicken ~ A Perfect summer cominbation

We (me and the husband) both like wines and keep trying new ones. So, when I was offered a bottle of Jacob's Creek Sparkling Rose wine to try a few days ago, I gladly accepted it. On a hot summer evening this weekend,  we unwind-ed with grilled chicken & sparkling wine; it turned out to be a delightful combination.

Mocha Kulfi ~ Coffee lover's Kulfi for summer

The husband is a coffee lover and he is a purist as far as coffee is concerned (that means filter coffee made from ground beans). In summers, coffee is a bit strong for the tummy and that's where this delightful Mocha Kulfi comes into the picture. I spotted this Mocha Kulfi recipe in May Issue of BBC GoodFood India Magazine and since it was super easy, had to try it ASAP. The Mocha Kulfi turned out to be a  delightfully decadent Kulfi with a dominating coffee flavor,  which becomes addictive to the tongue with every spoonful.

Sunshine Jams & Marmalade with The Gourmet Jar

I have vivid memories of having eaten one of the most magical Orange Marmalade, brought from Europe by my Uncle. It was bittersweet, had the most lovely flavor of oranges and  slices of Orange in it. Unfortunately, it also made my taste buds totally against the Indian Jams!! I found them to be too sweet & full of false flavoring. I never had an Orange Jam or Marmalade by Kissan or any Indian Brands for sure after that!! Then, about a year ago, through one of our food groups, I got a jar of Fig Contreau Jam made by Apeksha Jain, who had just started a range of Fresh, homemade, preservative-free jams called 'The Gourmet Jar'. One spoonful and I was hooked. I asked her if she made Orange Marmalade, she said yes but they were not the sweet ones but the bittersweet one she makes. I said ofcourse!! that's what I want!!!!

I loved the Orange Whiskey Jam from her range and since then only 'The Gourmet Jar' Jams are brought in our home.  The Jams are fresh, are not to sweet and have a wonderfully natural flavor of the fruits intact. It's become my staple breakfast in summers - my choice of TGJ jam for the day, toast of bread & tea (and maybe an omelette).

Cooking with Philips Airfryer ~ Healthy way to eat comfort food!!

I have been from the blog for some time now....but that doesn't mean i have been missing from cooking and eating good food!! On the contrary, i have been having whale of a time cooking, trying out new recipes and eating out. It's just that I haven't written about it.

One of the exciting things I have been doing in the kitchen is cooking with Philips Airfryer. It's a wonderful device which air fries (i.e. fries with hot air) without the use of oil. I just did not believe it could work , until a saw a demo a year back. I loved the taste of french fries that was served in the demo and thought it's a damn good appliance to have. Fnally, when I got my Philips airfyer, I went completely crazy, trying a plethora of frozen foods - french friens, potato nuggets, burger patties , chicken nuggets,etc. 

Zucchini, Lemon & Mint Pasta ~ Easy & Light Pasta Recipe

When I see an easy recipe, I jump at it and lose no time over making it. Therefore, when I saw this Zucchini, lemon & mint Pasta recipe on BBC GoodFood India's September Issue, I knew I had to try it. It has 3 basic ingredients and takes only 30 minutes to cook. I simply loved the lemony pasta which is also very light on the palate & tummy.

Pan Roasted Baby Potatoes ~ Easy Recipe for anytime meal

I am a sucker for baby potatoes and like to cook them in myriad of ways. But this pan roasted method is the most simplest!! I got the idea from friend & food blogger Sangeeta Khanna's recipe, but tweaked it as per ingredients available at home at the time. 

Fluffy Pancake for Sunday Breakfast ~ Easy Breakfast Recipe

Sundays (rather weekends) are the days both of us  invariably wake up really late. So, we need to make something fast to curb our hunger pangs after we have refreshed ourselves. But, we don't want to have usual stuff we have every working day. We came out with the idea of making fluffy pancakes after having them at American Diner at IHC one work day morning. 

We searched through many recipes on google and youtube, before settling for what looked to us as the most simple & basic fluffy pancake recipe. So, one fine Sunday morning we tried this fluffy pancake recipe and it turned out awesome. Fluffy Pancake with melted butter & honey syrup, it was yummm....and our Sunday made!!!

Serradurra (Sawdust Dessert) ~ Easy dessert from Goa

I am always on the look out for easy desserts - Easy to make but awesomely delicious in taste (and I do have got quite a few in my kitty). So, when I saw the 'Star Recipe' of the BBC GoodFood India Magazine's August Issue, I knew this was another 'easy recipe' which was going to be added to my list. 

Serradurra (Sawdust Dessert) requires only 3 ingredients and requires no baking; how easier it could get!! I made it this weekend and it turned out to be divinely decadent & delicious. Thumbs up to BBC GoodFood India people!! 

Tea and a potful of Memories

There is something to be said about thoughtful gifts (am not talking about fancy or expensive ones). Only someone who observes a lot about you or really has taken the effort to know you, will gift you a 'thoughtful' gift. One of the most thoughtful (and not to say pretty) gifts I have ever got is a cute tea pot & cup set from one of my favorite food bloggers & friend Ruchira Hoon. She is a journalist, a great cook & baker, recipe developer and most important of all, one of the most straight forward, bindass & humorous women I have come across. I have known her for only a year and it feels like I have known her forever.  

She gifted me this cute tea pot & cup set on my birthday; my first feeling was "how thoughtful ?". I love tea & it is may daily addiction, ritual & indulgence combined together. And she observed that and gifted me something which I would be able to enjoy daily. Every morning, when I brew my first cup of tea in this lovely pot, she is part of my good vibes too.

Beetroot, Cucumber, Tomato, Carrot & Raw Mango Salad ~ Quick Summer Salad Ideas

I love to experiment with Salads and find new ways to mix different vegetables, fruits & sprouts in delicious yet healthy Salads. This Beetroot, Cucumber, Carrot & Raw Mango Salad was the result of a brainwave one afternoon, when I thought to use my raw mango lying in the freezer for long. I thought why not use this instead of lemon juice as a garnish. The result was a tangy, crunchy and colorful salad. And as we all know, different colors in a meal mean more vitamins & minerals covered!!

Shahi Tukda (Double ka Meetha) ~ Easy Dessert Recipe

What do you do when absent mindedly boiling half a litre milk for almost an hour? In most cases, would throw it.But not my husband.  He made Shahi Tukda out of it! It so happened that the husband was at home (while I was at work) and happened to over boil the milk, while being absent minded watching TV.  The moment he saw the reduced milk, he thought of the amazing Shahi tukda his mum used to make during childhood with the naturally reduced milk and made up his mind to treat with it (how sweet!!). 

Shahi Tukda (also called Double ka Meetha) is simply reduced milk (rabri)+sugar+bread, but it comes together so beautifully to make an awesome divine dessert. I simply loved it and for the 1^st time did not get angry on the husband for leaving milk to boil absent mindedly!!

Banana Cocoa Almond Flax Meal Smoothie ~ Quick & healthy Work day Breafast Idea

I always prefer to have heavy & filling breakfast in the morning; it keeps me energetic & productive till lunch time. On workday mornings, I have office to rush to, there is always time constraint to make too many things and for years I survived on muesli. But there is so much muesli one woman can have day in & day out before getting tired of it!!

Just when I was looking for healthy yet quick ideas for fulfilling breakfasts, my friend &health food blogger Sangeeta Khanna posted her Banana Cocoa Almond & Flax Meal Smoothie. The thought of a chocolatey breakfast, which was quick & fulfilling totally hooked me to this recipe and today morning, I made it.

English Breakfast Reinvented ~ Weekend Brunch Ideas

Me and the husband love to have a big brunch on weekends, especially on Sunday. The idea is to get up late, have a big fulfilling meal and then laze off to sleep again!!

Last Sunday, I came up with this reinvention of Classic English breakfast, omitting some items and adding some. This is how our Reinvented English breakfast looked :)

Quick Fix Iced Tea ~ Make Iced Tea in 10 minutes flat!!

There is nothing like a tall glass of refreshing iced tea in the summers. Especially the crazy hot summers of my  city Delhi. It is one of my favorite drinks for summer and I make it quite often at home.

Khichdi, Bok Choy & Carrot Raita, Cucumber & Potato Fritters ~ Whole some Sunday Lunch

I love a wholesome lunch on a lazy sunday afternoon. If anything, it slows down the pace of time even more as we feel sleepy & enjoy a good noon siesta afterwards.

So, this sunday, I prepared the ultimate comfort food of India  - Khichdi with Bok Choy & Carrot Raita, Cucumber Salad and Potato Fritters for lunch. 

Nigella Lawson's Slow Roast Tomatoes, Goat's Cheese & Mint Salad ~ A Perfect Summer Salad

I Love salads!! They are both healthy and tasty, which is what I always try to achieve in all my meals. This summer I wanted to try out some new salads and going through the recipe Book Nigella Express (by Nigella Lawson), I came across what seemed to me an easy salad, with one of my most favorite ingredients - cherry tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes in this salad are slow roasted( and the result is called moonblush tomatoes by Nigella) and it has to be done a night before,  which is the only time taking part about this salad. The rest of the ingredients have just got to be thrown in together and voila, its ready. 

So presenting to you Slow roast Tomatoes, Goat's Cheese & Mint Salad from Nigella Express Recipe Book.