Tava Aloo Kulcha Recipe / Stuffed Leavened Indian Flatbread Cooked On A Griddle Recipe ~ Just Recipes

I am truly ecstatic to be back to what I love doing. Blogging is a different high altogether. Not that in my long absentia here have I stopped my kitchen adventure for a single day, but certain personal work took precedence and I just simply couldn't mange to squeeze in the time, to capture the steps pictorially while cooking nor could I collect and pen my thoughts here. But that's history now and hopefully(keeps fingers and toes crossed) I hope to regularly (at least twice a week) share my kitchen and food adventures here with you. Thank you my dear readers, for taking out the time, visiting my blog and checking out my posts during this interval. It is your love and enthusiasm for food and your continued encouragement of my work, which makes me and this Blog going. 

Bhapa Aloo Recipe / Steamed Potatoes In Mustard Coconut Sauce Recipe ~ Just Recipes

Bhapa is the Bengali word used for steamed. Bhapa Mach or Steamed Fish is a Bengali delicacy which finds its way to many a Bengali Feast Menu. Everytime we had a lunch or dinner gathering at my home, Ma or Thakuma (paternal grandmother) would inevitably dish out these lovely looking green parcels with a large fish fillet doused in a pungent yet aromatic concoction of mustard and coconut sauce infused with mustard oil and green chilli paste. This would not only be polished off the plate in no time but often there would be a demand for more servings of these flavour laden green parcels. Unfortunately my vegetarian friends would always miss out on this ubiquitous Bengali meal offering and would only have to do with the explanation of how these parcels came into being.

Strawberry Italian Cream Soda Mocktail Recipe ~ Creating My Own Igloo

Shriek!!!! Scream !!!! This cannot be true. " Temperatures across the UAE will peak at around 45C over the next few days, but the soaring humidity will make it feel as if it's, wait for it.... a whooping 64 degrees." Information courtesy What's On , Dubai. Please please Mr.S can we take a holiday to a place of cooler clime? He frowns and with the sternest no looks away into his news paper, too annoyed to be called out of his morning ritual of piping hot South Indian filter coffee and the freshest edition of Gulf News, which he, I think reads line by line. I get up looking for Mum-in-law, my saviour in situations like this on most earlier occasions. She, too, is busy in her morning invocation of the Almighty and I meekly recede back into my own cocoon. But I am so unable to concentrate on anything. The next best saviour after my Mum-in-law has always been the refrigerator. On occasions such as this, when things don't go my way, a peek into the refrigerator has always ended, with me cooking up a fire (oh no nothing hot seems to feel good this morning) or alternately digging into some comfort food or chocolates sitting pretty in my refrigerator. Oh dear gadget friend, please pull me out of my despondency this morning. I open the door of the refrigerator and the chill whiff coated with a white smoke that greets me is good enough to bring a kind of solace to me.

Surti Locho Recipe / Gujarati Street Food Recipe / Healthy Gujarati Snack Recipe ~ ' Locho Thai Gayo Re '

I write to liberate all the beautiful, confused, happy, sad, bad and good thoughts which remain in the closet of my mind. Mind, I say cause, the heart has a strong filter and allows only thoughts laced with love. For me writing in this blog, is totally like adding wings and letting my thoughts fly out into the realms of my dreams, traverse lands where simplicity and goodness abounds. Whenever I write, almost all the time I like to dwell in a beautiful life full of simple joys, multiplying laughter, subtracting hatred. Well, at least the time my fingers flies over the letters on the keyboards, I like to believe that such a land exists.

Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad With Sunflower Seeds And Curry Leaf Pesto ~ Hello Summer

Have you tried clasping sunshine in your palms ? I used to do that often as a child. With the onset of the summer months, the commencement of the summer holidays from school, life would be one joyous ride, with a dozen cousins of all sizes, who too would come visiting during their summer holidays. Playing hide and seek in one such hot summer day, I had hidden behind the huge grand old banana tree in our backyard. As the sun peeped through its long ribbed green leaves it created different types of pattern on my legs. Small triangles, circles, squares and a solo hexagon , tiny golden patterns all over my legs and I had forgotten all about the game I was in , too busy in my attempt to clasp these golden shapes of sunshine in my palms. Thinking about that afternoon and how simple and full of innocence the ways of the mind were, never fails to light up a smile on my lips, as radiant as the sunshine, eons away under the banana tree. 

Matki Chi Usal Recipe / Moth Bean Sprouts Curry ( Maharashtrian Style) Recipe ~ Flavours Of Maharashtra

Dear friends and readers, this post is a continuation of my earlier post on Maharashtrian Cuisine. I will share with you some more facets of this very delicious cuisine. Mumbai as we all know is not only the capital of Maharashtra, but is also the financial capital of India. Apart from leaving a distinct mark on the world map for its very prominent and extremely popular film industry, Mumbai is home to two very popular dishes namely 1) Vada Pav and 2) Pav Bhaji. Vada Pav is basically deep fried Potato dumplings coated in gram flour batter, served inside a square bun or pav with liberal servings of coconut chutney and a very spicy yet yummy dry garlic chutney. Pav Bhaji is basically a vegetable mish mash, wherein vegetables are steamed, spiced and mashed finely with a masher and served along with a soft bread roll or pav. Starting from Mumbai Airport , you will find the city dotted in every nook and corner with shops selling these two fast food dishes.

Zunka Bhakar Recipe / Jhunka Recipe / Bajra Chi Bhakri Recipe / Gram Flour Curry Recipe / Bajra Roti Recipe ~ Flavours of Maharashtra

I never tire writing this that how lucky I am to be born in a country where within every few miles there is a change in cuisine. Countless number of dishes abound this traditionally rich culturally diverse country. I don't think one lifetime is enough to be able to gather knowledge of all the different types of dishes that exist in the nook and cranny of India. I am thankful to the Culinary Hoppers because of whom it has been possible to cook so many different dishes from different regions of India in the realms of my kitchen every single month for the past one year and two months. This time the regional fare to experience was Maharashtrian food and I must say that I loved doing the research online and taking to friends and reading books to know more about the food and the nitty-gritties that go into making it in this particular region.

Shorshe Dharosh Recipe | Sarson Wali Bhindi Recipe | Okra in Mustard Gravy Recipe

Shorshe Dharosh or Okra in Mustard Gravy has been my most desired way of cooking and eating okra. I have an immense liking for the Mustard Gravy which is infused with the pungent and strong smelling mustard paste cooked in mustard oil flavoured with nigella seeds, Bengal's indispensable whole spice Kalo Jeera. Another jewel of a dish from my paternal grandmother's treasure trunk of recipes. With this dish I continue my series on Bengali Vegetarian dishes.

Vangi Bhat / Aubergine Rice With Bendekai / Okra Raita ~ Udupi Cuisine

Those frequent trips to Udupi Restaurants holding on to daddy's finger, comes flooding in my mind as I am told that the first Blog Hop theme of 2016 is South Canara cuisine. Picture of a tiny head bobbling from side to side, a pony tail held in place with a pink rubber band with a few pink and blue plastic butterflies adorning it in gaps flashes by. Happiness was abound those days and smiles galore especially on these unplanned trips to my favourite Dosa restaurant, as I would remember these overcrowded indigenous joints with their bright red chairs and unceasing chatters. Perching myself on a chair I would happily hear daddy ordering Masala Dosa and as the order would be relayed to the open counter a few steps from us, I would with the biggest possible smile turn towards the large hissing griddle which puffed up smoke furiously as the man behind it sprinkled it with water with a swift movement of his fingers. The next thing I knew would be the clank clank of his spatula as he would get the Dosa ready, place the filling, fold the dosa and place it on the plate having a few cavities which would be filled with smoking sambar and colourful chutneys. I still can feel the thrill as I would break a piece from the dosa, dip it in the sambar then the chutney and savour it. That was my understanding of Udupi cuisine for a very long time.

Appe Payasa/Milk Pudding With Crisp Fried Semolina Fritters ~ Udupi Cuisine

Dear Friends & Precious Followers Of my Blog, Wishing you all a Very Happy and Prosperous 2016. I want to thank you all for showering so much love on my posts and encouraging my work. Without your unflinching support this Blog would not be what it is today. You all are my inspiration behind the stories I write, the dishes I cook and its your encouragement that keeps me going. My Blog looks forward to another year of basking in the warmth of your love and nurture. I promise to take you all to more wonderful food adventures. The dishes that I will bring to you will get more exciting. This year it is all about creating magic with simple and regularly available ingredients in our kitchen. I will bring to you recipes, with which you can create mind blowing dishes from ingredients which always abound the shelves of your kitchen. So let me take you all away with me to this thrilling culinary journey within the realms of your own kitchen. Let's together wok up dishes which delight the palate of your family and friends. Let's bring back the element of surprise to every dish we put up on the table and let's take our taste buds on an never ending carnival of flavours. Let The Culinary Adventure begin in our kitchen. 

UlavaCharu / Horse Gram Vegetable Biryani ~ Happy Blog Hopversary

Continuing the Blog Hop Anniversary Celebrations with this post. An year of unending learning, joys which transcended from different corners of the world, a whole bunch of chatter, making the most gloomy day sunny, oh when I look back on this Blog Hopping journey, it does bring the hugest smile on my face. A year of unflinching support from miles across, a whole year where I scaled new heights , traversing through a treasure trove of recipes, ingredients unknown, new methods of cooking and also bringing back long lost dishes and many dear to the tummy recipes. All this was made possible by the lovely ladies, the most enthralling and crafted Bloggers of ~ Culinary Hoppers.

Badami Paneer Pasanda ~ Happy Blog Hopversary

The year 2014 was on the verge of winding up. The chill in the Dubai air was palpable. Resting my tired feet after a busy day at work, I had opened Google plus, when I came across a very vibrant and colourful dish. Was so taken up by that dish that I typed a comment without even looking up at who was the creator of the dish. After having an eye fill of the dish I scrolled up to see who the Blogger was. A petite, doe eyed pretty face stared back at me. I read the name +Anu Nagaraja . I thought to myself, oh what a crafted Blogger she is , looked back at the scrumptious palette again and then went and clicked on the follow button. The reply to my comment was quite brisk, I remember. I was completely engulfed by the warmth of that reply and developed an instant bond with her. Interactions followed on each other's dishes and thus paved the way, to a friendship, priceless and treasured. Looking back, I knock wood and thank heavens for having met her online. From that day till this moment, she has always reached out to me magically whenever I have been down or in doubt or stressed.

Beetroot Tofu Barfi / Fudge, Diwali Sweet, Vegan And Gluten Free ~ Let There Be Light

I have always tried to fill my Blog with happy posts. But this time, when I sat to pen down, it was with a heavy heart. The ruthless killings of humans both in India and many different parts of the World made me ponder, why oh why can't we stop all this once and for all. Life is such a precious gift and no one should cut a life short, no matter what the reason is. No reason for cutting short a life can be strong enough before life itself. A little more reasoning, love for people, increased tolerance can go a thousand miles in creating a world of peace and happiness. On this week, preceding Diwali, the Festival of Lights, my heart and soul in unison prays for universal peace. I pray that no mother should lose a son or daughter to intolerance anymore. I pray that the diyas / lamps of Diwali lights up not only our homes but are hearts and minds as well.

KORAISHUTIR KOCHURI /GREEN PEAS STUFFED BENGALI STYLE KACHORI ~ SHUBHO BIJOYA

The annually awaited DURGA PUJO reaches its crescendo and bids goodbye to all the celebrations which are stacked away again until next year. With the Idol of Goddess Durga being immersed in the water, no matter how hard one tries, the heart does become a bit heavy. It brings in the feeling of parting and then waiting for one whole year until the festival returns. Though I have gone through this ritual of festivities which does come to an end on BIJOYA DASHAMI upteen number of times , since my childhood the melancholy beats in my heart still ring out loud and clear every single year, even now.

VEGAN LEMON MUFFINS WITH COCONUT CRANBERRY CREAM ~ PINK FOR OCTOBER SERIES

Whenever I feel the spirit of my home needs to be uplifted, nothing works better than flushing the house with the delicious aromas of baking. It's true, I have seen a smile on the faces of my loved ones as the chocolaty, honey laced sometimes citrusy, sometimes spicy notes envelope the house and along with it the senses of its inmates. I always tell my friends that baking is therapy for the entire family. Baking peps my family up in an eager anticipation, what to expect popping out of the oven. The fragrant notes result many a times in, guess the flavour game and it's so much fun. These enchanting nuances about food makes me realise that food is much much more than merely a way of sustaining our body for survival. The more I discover different facets of food, the more fascinated I am and more eager to discover this magical world of endless possibilities. 

Malai Sabz Seekh Kebab / Veg Seekh Kebab ~ The Doe Eyed Fairy In Jebel Haffet Mountain

It was a moonless night, even the stars had covered themselves with a blanket of fluffy white candy floss like cottony clouds. The melancholy of the night was broken by the whispering winds and the tapping of my feet as I walked alone on the winding streets of Jebel Haffet mountains. The Jebel Haffet mountains looms over the hamlet of Al Alain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabhi and is approximately 165 Kms from Dubai. We had taken a weekend break and had driven down earlier in the day. We reached the Hotel Mercure Grand as the sun was setting, with little D sleeping blissfully in the backseat of the car. Though she was overtly excited about this trip, somewhere in the midway during the drive, she had fallen fast asleep. We decided to let her complete her siesta while we unpacked and got ready to unwind. 

DOODH PULI/SEMOLINA AND COCONUT DUMPLINGS IN THICK MILK - MY PRIZED SOUVENIR OF MOONDROPS

Yum

Childhood, pristine, overloaded with innocence, bereft of malice, couldn't we all remain like that all our life? But sadly no, we change, our thoughts too and the pure heart of a child transforms, giving way to something very different, something unknown to childhood. But that's the way things here are meant to be. Reflecting back, as a child the things which assumed immense significance are now totally mundane.

RAIBI / MOROCCAN YOGURT DRINK WITH MANGO GINGER, COCONUT AND FRESH ROSE PETALS FLOAT - MY DATE WITH BOGART AND CASABLANCA

Yum

I am in Casablanca, no not the movie but this buzzing with smiles city in Morocco which has me thinking about the Oscar winning movie with the (gasp!!! , scream ) hero Humphery Bogart. I stand and take a deep breath, close my eyes and instantly flashes from the movie engulf me. It's been many years since I have seen the movie umpteen, no lost count number of times. But today as I stand in Casablanca with my eyes closed, the sultry sea breeze caressing the strands of hair across my face, oblivious of the crowds nudging me slightly as they break the din and walk past me, all I can remember is the love between the two lead characters of the movie and oh there goes my heart on a thump thump spree.

ALOO TOKRI CHAAT - HIT BY A MAMMOTH BOMB OF FLAVOURS

With an excited tread in my walk I rush to be in time for my date with ALOO TOKRI CHAAT. This is my first visit to Lucknow and I have just been dropped off at the over crowded Hazratganj market area. In my eagerness to locate Royal Cafe I pay no heed to the crowd nudging, sometimes slightly pushing me. All my attention and concentration is at reaching my destination and getting my hands on the famous Aloo Tokri chaat.

PALAK PAKORA CHAAT - MY TOUNGUE GOES TAP DANCING

The moment I hear the word CHAAT my tongue automatically goes into a tap dancing mode. God knows how, why or from where water starts streaming into my mouth and there is a huge smile on my face. For all those who have grown up or lived even for a short while in the Sub-Continent will know exactly what I mean by the above lines. But all of you my dear readers who are not familiar with CHAAT, it is a snack which basically combines the sweet, savoury and tangy flavours perfectly in one truly mouthwatering dish. CHAAT is not the name of one dish prepared using one set of ingredients in one particular manner. CHAAT is actually prepared in many many different variations throughout the length and breadth of the Sub -Continent.