Murg Palak Ke Korma Kebab Recipe / Kebabs Made With Chicken Korma And Spinach ~ My Fab Kebab Series

The word Kebab has Turkish and Arabic origin. However food historians have put forth the existence of something similar to Kebabs in Ancient India. "the Manasolassa, a Sanskrit composition from the 11 th century, talks about Bhaditrakam, a dish made by cutting lamb or goat into small pieces, stringing the pieces on iron skewers and cooking them on hot coals."( This is an extract from the article India's Kebab Connection by Air Sangvi ) . Having said that when the Arabs and Turks came to India they did bring with them their famous Kebabs, which in time imbibed the Indian spices and took the shape of the Kebabs we savour today. My Fab Kebabs Series is an ode to this wonderful dish.

Churmur Recipe / Kolkata Street Food Churmur Chaat Recipe / Indian Street Food

Churmur or Churmur Chaat is a tasty street side snack from Kolkata, India. It has boiled potato as its base and the tongue tapping build up of this snack is done by adding veggies, condiments, fritters, flavoured liquids etc. resulting in a flavour bomb which is sure to delight your senses. There are different ways of making this and every street food vendor selling Churmur has his own touches added to this. What's wonderful about this snack is that you do not have to visit Kolkata to experience that immense flavour burst. You can make it in your home by following my easy step-wise pictorial recipe, given right below. But one thing I must tell you, whenever you visit the City Of Joy, Kolkata do surely stop by at a roadside Phuchka Cart and try Churmur from there.

Murshidabad Mutton Tikia Recipe / Mutton Mince Patties Recipe (Murshidabad Style) / Mutton Keema Tikia Recipe ~ Just Recipes

I am quite smitten by the culinary fare of Murshidabad. Mutton Tikia (Murshidabad Style) is the third dish from the region, to be posted on my Blog. Have you checked the other two unique dishes from this region yet ? If you haven't, do most definitely check out CHICKEN KORMA (MURSHIDABAD STYLE) and POPPY SEEDS HALWA (MURSHIDABAD STYLE) . Such culinary treasures are to be savoured and documented for posterity and I am glad that I have had the good fortune of not only savouring these delicacies from Murshidabad but have cooked them many a times in my kitchen and now have them documented forever in my Blog. A hearty thank you to CHEF DEVRAJ HALDER for initiating my foray into this wonderful world of Murshidabad Cuisine.

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.

Challa Punugulu Recipe / Ugadi Recipes / Refined Wheat Flour And ButterMilk Fritters Recipe ~ Ugadi Special

ON THE EVE OF UGADI (THE NEW BEGINNING)...

New beginnings always brings with it a lot of hope, happiness and a sense that everything around you will take a turn for the better. I too am hoping for the same as Ugadi heralds its way into our lives once again, bringing with it good luck, health, prosperity and all round joy. Sitting amidst a bunch of friends who have come home to commence the Ugadi celebrations, even in all the din and chatter, my mind still walks out with a loud wish that there will peace in the World and my little one will grow in a surrounding of love and compassion, where every person is only judged by his/her deeds and not by any other parameters and violence and senseless acts paining others are unheard of. Honestly dear friends if Ugadi can bring in with it a wave, which would wash away any trace of hatred from every part of our globe, how wonderful it would be. A wave which splashes ever child in this world with warmth and smiles, a healthy environment where they grow to spread harmony and well being of one and all. I truly hope that this Ugadi brings with it this and much much more.

Dahi Gujiya Recipe / Holi Recipes / Stuffed Moon Shaped Lentil Dumplings In Yogurt ~ Holi Hai !!

The festival of Holi will be celebrated in India with pomp and vigour in less than a week. As we all Indians, no matter in which part of the world we live, gear up for the festival of colours, Holi, one can easily see the preparations, to stock up on different types of snacks and sweets have already begun in most Indian, Hindu households. As my kitchen too starts to revel in the holi festivities with the woks emanating a sugary aroma sometimes, sometimes spicy, my kitchen becomes a place where the moment you step in the salivary glands go into a frenzy.

Instant Doughnuts Recipe ~ Celebrating Valentine's Day With A Platter of Edible Love

Whenever someone has asked me, what is love, I have always said the same thing. I have deciphered love as that feeling, which you have for someone, for whom you want the best every single time, worry about their well being, want them to be happy, hale and hearty and in any given situation think about them before you think about yourself. The people who feature in priority in your prayers are the ones you love, is what I believe. 

Bengali Vegetarian Thali ~ A Splash of Unassuming Nuances And Striking Flavours

Bengali Cuisine has the nuances which have been imbibed from a very long and rich history with strong influences from the Mughal style of cooking, the British Babus, whose khansamas (male cook) modified the existent Bengali cuisine to suit their palates. Not only that, the style of cooking dishes, also varied as one passed through the length and breath of Bengal itself. Then there are also many dishes from Bangladesh which was earlier a part of Bengal, India. 

Posto Narkel Bora Recipe | Khus Khus Aur Nariyal Ke Vade Recipe | Poppy Seeds, Coconut Fritters Recipe

Unlike the common belief that Bengali Cuisine is mostly about non-vegetarian dishes, there is a huge repertoire of Vegetarian dishes too. Many of my friends have asked me about these vegetarian dishes which abound Bengali cuisine and so I deceided to do this post and a series of posts after this one, to take you all, my dear readers into this treasure trove of Bengali Vegetarian fare. There are Blogger friends who are documenting and sharing vegetarian recipes and one such Blogger whom I immensely admire is Soma Saha Ray. Do check out her Blog Curry And Spice by clicking on the title of her Blog here. You will get many vegetarian Bengali dishes there right out of her kitchen and also those dishes which her Mother, Mother-in-law and grandmothers have passed on to her. 

Masala Prawn Popcorn Recipe

It's the weekend and my time with little D. We do are Mummy daughter things mostly on the weekends. But this weekend my little darling is down with a nasty cold. To make things worse, the anti histamine syrup prescribed by her doctor is making her drowsy and grumpy. My poor darling has lost her priceless smile as she is tucked away under her favourite tinker bell blanket, clinging to her tinker bell doll, as if almost hoping that this fairy doll will sprinkle some magical powder on her which will make her feel better. For a mother nothing can be more heart wrenching than seeing her little one unwell, even if it's just a common cold.

Garbanzo Beans, Apricot, Dill Meatballs Recipe | Vegan Meatballs | Kabuli Chana, Khubani, Suva Meatballs Recipe

In a world full of different people, we do not realise how many have touched our lives, influenced our thinking and shaped the person we are today. Even before we realise they have encircled us with a whiff of beautiful thoughts, sprinkled invaluable ways to improve ourselves and we without even realising, have been imbibing a little from each of them and evolving into who we are at this moment. But, that point of time, when this realisation dawns on us, we should without much ado, thank these priceless individuals and treasure them in our lives.

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.

ELO JHELO IN SALSA, ZATAR AND ORANGE FLAVOURS - A ZESTY UNION OF FLAVOURSOME NOTES

HAPPY DUSSEHRA AND VIJAYADASHAMI TO MY DEAR READERS

The ribbed glass jar sat high up on the highest rack in the room, where through a half opened wooden window, a spotted stream of light entered. Two heads with a pair of pigtails each were clustered together in deep conversation, hush hush though, looking up towards that ribbed glass jar from time to time. The discussion gained momentum and soon a pair of tiny feet rushed out of the room and was back half carrying, half pulling, struggling with a wooden stool. Some more whispers and then the adventure to reach that jar began. The stool creaked, swayed under the raised on toes two pretty feet with a silver anklet tinkling lightly with the movement. Hush instructions were given from below, maybe the right direction of the jar. The tiny hands trying hard to reach it. Alas even after the full extension of both hands and feet the final outcome was, the jar flying in the air for a couple of seconds before breaking the pin drop silence with its clinking shatter, as it spread a thousand sparkle on the floor. No sooner had the glass jar met its final outcome a voice rang loud and clear , who is it in the store room, followed by the scurrying away of the little feet.

CHICKEN KOBIRAJI CUTLETS ~ DURGA PUJO SPECIAL

A very HAPPY DURGA PUJA to all my readers, family and friends celebrating this festival. Durga Puja is a very significant festival and heralds a whole lot of festivities for Bengalis all over the world. We have grown up amidst the rituals , traditions and festivities surrounding DURGA Puja. But this is not the case with little D who was born far away from India and who though loves any kind of rituals and celebrations surrounding these festivals is not at all familiar with any of them. Every year I try in my own little way to bring to her a minuscule part of the pomp and fervour that is such an integral part of Durga Puja.

Apricot / Khubani Laddoos ( Vegan Sugar Free Gluten Free) ~ Happy Ganesh Puja

As the 10 day long festivities of GANESH Chaturthi continues in India, far away in my humble home in Dubai we too usher in the celebrations. I make it a point to celebrate almost all the INDIAN festivals which I grew up rejoicing either at my home or a friend's house or the community puja centre, no matter how tied up I am with work. Most INDIAN families who live far away from their homeland, in my conversations with them, I have learnt that just like me they make it a point to celebrate these festivals either at home or in the community collective celebrations. Most of my friends or aquantainces have echoed my thought, that it's these festivals which help us remain connected to our roots and bring forth our rich culture and traditions to our children.

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. 

EGGLESS VEGETABLE OMELETTE SANDWICH - HEALTHY KICK START TO YOUR DAY

SANDWICH is one dish where you can let your imagination take an endless flight and get as creative as possible. In fact you can have a different type of sandwich every time and continue this process of playing with your ingredients, adding , omitting, making it simple, making it elaborate, just as you and your innovativeness decide.   

RAJMA/RED KIDNEY BEANS POPS - WHET YOUR APPETITE WITH MY APPETIZERS

APPETIZERS are bite sized dishes served prior to the main course in a three course meal comprising of ( Appetizers, Main Course and Desserts). While deciding on designing an appetizer the chef basically chooses ingredients and works up a dish which will Whet the Appetite or in other words stimulate your gut and get your taste buds ready for the Main Course. Basically APPETIZERS set the tone for the meal, by keeping the mind and belly of the diners occupied while they wait for the scrumptious main course to appear on the table, which is meant to satiate their hunger to the fullest.

PAAN GULKAND GUJIYA RECIPE / HOLI RECIPES

Gujiya is the most popular sweet made during the Holi festivities. Gujiya is a sweet dumpling made with refined flour and stuffed with khoa traditionally.You can get very creative with the Gujiyas. These dumplings can also be made with whole wheat flour or semolina or a mix of these with each other or with refined wheat flour. Similarly there is no end to the kind of innovation you can do with its stuffing. I have stuffed these gujiyas with a mixture of Betel Leaves and Gulkand. Get as imaginative as you can and spray your Holi with a riot of Flavours.

Celebrate this HOLI with this delicious sweet which is an integral part of any HOLI RECIPE.