I am not that big a fan of ice creams but that changes when there is caffeine element in there- coffee, matcha, chai, you get the idea.The bitter sweet note added by coffee or tea really really makes ice cream interesting for me.Those are my most favorite ice cream flavors. This recipe is so simple. You start by brewing some chai in half and half (or whole milk, see recipe), mix it with heavy cream, chai masala, condensed milk and freeze it overnight....

You’ve probably heard of Mexican layered dip, but this version is even better in my opinion! It’s got creamy cheese and plenty of savory toppings. I don’t know about you, but I happen to love layered dips. My mom makes an awesome version of the classic mexican style seven layer dip and I’ve even seen a greek version with hummus. This mediterranean layered dip is a similar concept but with a different flavor profile....

Hard to believe Memorial Day is already here, huh? Even though I am honestly in shock with how fast the days are going by, I’m pretty excited that tomorrow is Memorial Day. As I mentioned earlier this week, Memorial Day is definitely the kick off of summer for me (even though it snowed all day yesterday) and I could not be more pumped for summertime! I feel like we can all agree, summer is the best…of course until fall rolls around, and then I completely change my tune....

I love making these puri during festivals like Dusherra or Diwali that fall during the cold months when fresh methi is easily available. Puris, also know as poori are deep fried indian flatbreads. They are made using a variety of flours like whole wheat, gram flour, lentils, buckwheat as well as a ton of flavors like bedmi poori, kuttu poori or ajwain poori. Puris happen to be a favorite during festival time....

My love for Italian needs no introduction and there are many of my favorite pasta recipes on this blog, right from making simple three ingredient homemade pasta to making exotic burnt butter mushroom pasta to alfredo fettuccine to homemade farfalle pasta, I have tried it all. It has been my dream to make ravioli at home but most recipes online seem to ask for eggs in the pasta dough. I kept putting it off until I couldn’t resist the temptation and resorted to make some homemade mushroom & spinach ravioli with basil pesto....

Mushroom Kurma is a delicious Tamil style easy side dish made with mushrooms cooked in fresh ground spices and coconut. In this recipe, I share a different method of making kurma in a pressure cooker that is slightly different from my other kurma recipes made in the cooker like Chana Kurma or Double Beans kurma. Using coconut based fresh ground masala adds a lot of flavor to the kurma and mushrooms are soft & juicy too!...

Today’s recipe is really not a recipe, as it is utterly simple. Caramelized Banana Ghee Roast is a very easy and delicious snack or dessert (depending on when and whom you serve). Usually Banana Roast is made with raw bananas or plantains, sprinkled with salt and red chilli powder – best served as side dish for rice. This recipe is made with ripe bananas and Nendran variant of banana works the best as it can hold its shape even after cooking....

I mean, I am slightly embarrassed by them, but then no, I am so not. They are the ultimate dessert, my ideal dessert… basically they’re just everything. In my mind, you can almost never beat the combo of chocolate and peanut butter, like it’s just the BEST! I’m not ashamed to admit that Reese’s were one of my all time favorite candies as a kid. I was never much into sugary or sour candies, always chocolate....

I mean, let’s face it, pizza is good no matter what. See, I wanted to save this pizza (here I go saving recipes again) for next week. It’s perfect for Monday night football and I thought posting it next week would be a little better idea, seeing as football starts on the eighth… but then this whole thing involving some chocolate, an obscene amount of eggs and a little powdered sugar happened and it consumed my life for the last three days....

You can never go wrong with Oreo desserts, I find that sweets such as fried Oreos, Oreo balls and Oreo cheesecake are always a hit! Oreo brownies are great for all of the chocolate lovers in your life, I always get rave reviews when I serve them at parties. Brownies are amazing on their own, but when you add a hefty dose of Oreo cookies to the mix, you end up with a unique and decadent dessert that people go crazy over!...

I always hesitate to share these types of “round-up” style posts, but year after year you guys continue to request them. I guess it’s nice to see a group of recipes for a specific occasion or event all in one place. Since a Mother’s Day menu was a big request this year, I am taking today to share a few of my favorite recipes to help celebrate all the moms out there....

Today’s Parotta recipe is a much awaited one, something that I have wanted to make for years now but it somehow didn’t happen. And then just like that over last weekend, the husband called me in for a cook-together. If that is a joy in itself, he wanted us to make Tamilnadu Style Soft Layered Parotta recipe! What a delight, really 😀 The husband and I cook most of our weekend meals together and he is always in the kitchen helping me (playing sous chef ;)) but cook-together sessions are all the more fun....

Summer is officially here and somehow we are more than halfway through June. All the more reason for me to embrace summer produce and super simple dinners more than ever. Our forecast for the next ten days is mostly sunny with a few clouds here and there. This means that, just like you, I really want to be limiting my time inside cooking. But I also don’t want to sacrifice good food…and we don’t have to!...

I like to serve up an assortment of side dishes when I’m entertaining, including sour cream mashed potatoes, mustard greens, Southern cornbread dressing and this super easy pineapple casserole. Pineapple Casserole Ingredients When you make pineapple casserole you will need canned pineapple chunks, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, cheddar cheese, buttery crackers, butter and parsley. When I want a good casserole side dish recipe, I love to make this dish and some other favorites like noodle kugel, savory squash casserole and this fantastic cornbread casserole....

When I want a simple, yet flavorful veggie side dish recipe, I make sauteed green beans, roasted acorn squash or these fantastic Brussels sprouts! Pomegranate Brussels Sprouts Ingredients To make pomegranate Brussels sprouts you will need brussels sprouts, olive oil, pomegranate seeds, pecans, butter, salt and black pepper. Try these sprouts for your next holiday meal with some of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes like zucchini casserole, slow roasted prime rib and pecan pie bars....

On most of the weekdays I end up making rotis/phulkas for our lunch boxes. First it is easy for me to quantify and prepare phulkas along with a vegetable side dish. Secondly, they remain fresh until lunch without having to reheat. And the third reason is truly selfish – I am not too fond of rice. Such blasphemy for the South Indian in me but what to do! The husband on the other hand loves rice....

It’s July, the 4th is days away, and everyone is most likely checking out for the long weekend ahead. Aside from planning your summer fun, you’re probably brainstorming your menus for Thursday. ME TOO! We have so many family members and friends in town this week for my brother’s wedding. And you better believe they expect yummy summertime foods while they’re here. Our 4th will be filled with festivities, and I’m already planning to bring these sliders!...

You can never go wrong with a pumpkin dessert during the fall season, whether it’s pumpkin dump cake, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, or this simple yet totally satisfying pumpkin sheet cake. This treat is even great for the winter holidays along with options such as eggnog cake. Pumpkin Cake Ingredients To make this moist and delicious pumpkin cake you will need flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract, eggs, vegetable oil and pumpkin puree....

Hey, hey, to colorful summer salads!! When it comes to making a great salad you guys all know that I love them hardy and loaded! So I’m sure it comes as no surprise that a noodle salad is totally my thing. Especially when it’s a Thai noodle salad. I’ve been on a huge Thai food kick and I don’t see it going away any time soon. This salad is perfect for the summer, and has been a weekly favorite around here since the start of June....

Ingredients Broccoli florets (small florets or large) Tuscan kale Extra virgin olive oil Garlic Toasted sesame oil Lemon Low sodium soy sauce or Tamari Honey Kosher salt and black pepper Crushed red pepper flakes Large carrots Bell peppers Fresh cilantro Pomegranate Blood orange or grapefruit Avocado Toasted sesame seeds If you like nuts, almonds, pecans, or walnuts would be a great addition to this salad. Other toppings that could be added include dried cranberries, raisins, red onion, scallions, or sunflower seeds....