This final Christmas drink Saturday requires the most festive drink of the year. Enter The Santa Clause Smash. It’s warming, it’s cozy, has a little bit of kick, and it’s as sweet as can be…just like Jolly old Santa himself. Yes, I’m being so cheesy right now, but Christmas is only three days away, so it’s OK. Embracing the season and all of the holly, jolly happiness that it brings!...

Following my Kara Dosa recipe, I am going to post a chutney that goes really well with any South Indian breakfast. Usually at our home, its coconut chutney or the peanut chutney that is regular every morning. Peanut chutney happens to be my most favorite and its one of the most basic chutney recipes. I will save that recipe for some other day but have a variation to the usual peanut chutney for today....

I could not be more excited to share this recipe with you all, it’s one of the best steak recipes I’ve created! Typically, steak doesn’t need a recipe. Throw a little salt and pepper on a good cut of meat and grill it up. But sometimes you just want something a little more fanciful and fun, and when that time comes, this is your recipe. This recipe is almost as simple as adding salt and pepper, but about a million times more flavorful and delicious....

I can never resist a Twix bar, and these cookies have that same gooey chocolate and caramel combination. They’re easy to make and a total crowd pleaser! I make these cookies during the holidays along with crockpot candy and reindeer chow. Do you ever make a recipe and end up getting impatient before it’s finished because you just can’t wait to eat it? That’s how these Twix cookies were for me....

I’m not sure I’ve ever loved a muffin more than these. I know strawberry muffins are great, bakery style muffins are so delicious, and sure, pumpkin muffins are sin worthy. They all have their place in the muffin world, and are loved for very different reasons. BUT, I don’t know, these lemon ricotta muffins feel extra special. And they taste just as special too. These muffins are moist, light, fluffy, lemony, and hinted with the flavors of chai....

There’s really nothing better than a steaming mug of hot cocoa on a cold day…especially during the holidays. With Thanksgiving past, and December arriving in just a few short days, it’s full on Christmas mode over here, and I couldn’t be happier. No matter how hectic or hard life is, something about the holidays always makes things a little better. Or at least that’s how I view it. I know this time of year can be hard for some, but I really try and make it the best ever by doing at least one festive thing a day....

Betel Leaf, also called as Vethalai (in Tamil) and Tamalapaku (in Telugu) is so popular in South India. The leaf is used in a number of ways – not particularly cooking though. Betel Leaf is considered one of the auspicious items that is used during festivals and poojas (prayers) – often offered to God. Other than that, this leaf is given along with Bananas, Betel Nut and some gift to the Sumangali (married) ladies as a return gift in South India....

Well, these are certainly different for me, but they’re so fun and so delicious! I love that I decided to experiment a bit with this cookie. They’re not like any other cookie I’ve shared before. And most importantly, these are so delicious – soft and chewy + sweet and salty. My inspiration for this cookie really was dreamt up over the course of a few days. I wanted to make a raspberry cookie for Easter....

Thursday night Korean takeout…made quickly at home? Yes, yes, yes, it’s my favorite kind of night. You all know how much I love cooking Asian inspired recipes at home. Ever since our family’s trip to South Korea for the Olympics, Korean style cooking will always be my weakness. It’s always so good. Sure, this is not your traditional bowl of Korean style bulgogi, but bulgogi is really all about the sauce…or hot sauce....

Maybe you’ve noticed, maybe not, but I’m having a moment with flank steak. I know that sounds so odd, but up until recently, I rarely used flank (or skirt) steak. I always thought it was a cheap cut of meat that didn’t taste as good as, say, a ribeye, so I just avoided it. But then, I made these Chipotle Steak Tacos, and my mind was changed forever. Yes, it’s a cheaper cut of meat, but when seasoned well, it can really be so delicious....

Ada Pradhaman is a traditional Kerala special ada payasam recipe that is made with rice ada, coconut milk and jaggery. Rice Ada is basically rice flour batter cooked until thick & dough like and dried out as thick, long ribbons. It is quite time-consuming to make rice ada at home but is real simple to make the ada pradhaman using store-bought dry rice ada. The flavor of the payasam is delicious as it is rich with jaggery and coconut milk – a combo match made in heaven....

Traditionally, kashmiri rogan josh is served with steamed rice, but it also pairs wonderfully with naan or rotis, that perfect for soaking up the flavorful sauce. For an added touch of freshness, you can add refreshing kachumber salad on the side. When it comes to cooking lamb curries, this simple lamb curry stands as my go-to choice. Yet, there are times when I yearn for something different and that’s when I turn to this delightful rogan josh made without the usual onion-garlic-tomato masala....

If you happen to visit streets of Old Delhi, you will see every other stall selling bedmi poori. Street-side fried pooris are an absolute delight. The irresistible fragrance of spices and lentils permeates the air as they sizzle in hot oil, making it nearly impossible to resist the urge to taste. Beyond the streets of Old Delhi, I also loved eating these during our journey to Agra at food stalls near the Taj Mahal as well as the quaint lanes of Mathura where they served it in bowls made of palm leaves....

Stuffed bhindi is a very popular sabji in indian cuisine. Different parts of India have their own way of making it. I grew up eating mom’s punjabi style bharwa bhindi and that is how I love it. In different parts of india, crushed peanuts or coconut etc are used in the stuffing along with the spices, however in this north indian preparation - dry roasted besan or gram flour is a must....

Black bean salad is full of different flavors and textures, and makes a great side dish. You can even serve it as a dip for chips or as a topping for grilled meats or fish. This salad is perfect with entrees like grilled pork chops, shrimp kabobs or baked chicken wings. Black Bean and Corn Salad Ingredients To make this black bean and corn salad you will need two cans of black beans, corn kernels, a red onion, a red bell pepper, an avocado and a jalapeno pepper....

Traditionally a Red Velvet Cake is frosted with Boiled Flour Butter Cream frosting and it is one of the easiest frosting recipes you will ever find. For anyone like who find frosting intimidating, this recipe is a savior. It is the most forgiving and there are not a lot of technicalities involved. Traditional Butter Cream could be very rich and way too buttery whereas the Whipped Cream frosting is hard to do in India with no affordable whipping cream brands available....

Taking the brunch game to a whole new level today. Breakfast tacos! I honestly don’t know why it has taken me so long to jump on this whole tacos-for-breakfast thing. Now that I’ve tried them though? Whoa, I am so hooked. I mean, what on Earth could not be awesome about having tacos for brunch? They’re the best. So let me tell you a little back story on me and tacos....

After a few weeks, I am back with yet another Sunday Biriyani and it is my most favorite Brinji recipe! I have talked about our Sunday biriyani meals and my Amma’s special Vegetable Biriyani that featured on most Sundays. Today I want to talk about Priya Aunty – our beloved neighbor, who generously shared every delicacy she prepared and opened her heart to us. In a close-knit community of multiple ethnicities and regional differences, our neighbors were more than our friends....

This is my year to bake all things pumpkin. When I was looking back at the last 10 years of writing recipes for HBH, I realized many things. But one thing that hit me about fall is the lack of sweet pumpkin recipes. I actually have plenty of favorite pumpkin recipes. But when it comes to baking with pumpkin, I only have a handful of really solid go-to recipes. I made it my goal this week to embrace baking with pumpkin....

This dessert pizza is brownies on overload! It’s also quite easy to make, but looks really impressive and festive for a special occasion. If you’re a brownie fan, you’ll adore this beautiful and delicious brownie pizza. A homemade brownie base forms the crust, which is topped with a 5 minute cream cheese frosting, and fruit of your choice. The end result is nothing short of amazing, and it tastes as good as it looks!...