Parotta or Barotta is one of the most popular South Indian layered breads, found in almost all restaurants from the hi-fi ones to the road-side shops. Parotta is not to be confused with Paratha which is also an Indian bread from North India. Paratha usually would have stuffing of vegetable or lentils and can be had as it is. This blog features a few of our favorite paratha recipes like Cheese Coriander Paratha, Triangle Paratha or Gobi Paratha....

Flaky Salmon, fragrant jasmine rice and colorful blanched vegetables in a soupy Thai yellow curry broth are my idea of a cozy dinner.This bowl has balanced flavors and is really hearty. After Indian cuisine, my next favorite has to be Thai cuisine. What’s not to love! What I am drawn to the most is how the spices and herbs used in both cuisines. They bear resemblance to each other but the flavor profile of dishes is so unique....

Apparently, these past few months have been the season of my life when I’ve learned to embrace cooking with more beef. This is partly because my family craves and often requests beef, partly because I’m personally interested in upping the family’s protein intake, and partly because you can only cook so much chicken, you know what I mean? We had to switch things up this year! And it’s actually been so much fun....

Some of my favorite types of dinners to create and share with my family are fun takeout-inspired dinners made at home. Well, tacos are probably my favorite, but takeout at home is a close second. My younger sister, Asher, adores any dish with a hit of soy sauce (I use tamari) and served over rice. Just like my mom, Asher adores rice. I often make dishes like today’s recipe for them, but I love sharing new sauces and flavors!...

Did you grow up eating pork chops? I did not, and for the longest time cooking with pork chops has never excited me. But within the last two years or so I’ve really grown to like them. I don’t make them often, maybe once every few months, but when I do make them, I always ask myself why I don’t cook with pork chops more. Sometimes I get so stuck in my chicken dinner routine that I forget to incorporate other forms of protein....

This is crazy town, but today I’m sharing the first of many fall/winter holiday cocktails! With Halloween coming up on Thursday, the time has come to switch from my spooky cocktails to cocktails that feel a bit more elegant for the season ahead. I debated sharing another spooky drink with something nice for Thanksgiving. But in the end, this margarita excited me far too much! I developed this drink a year ago and never had a chance to share it before the season ended....

Something I love to do is switch up recipes. I love combining flavors that are not traditional and having fun with flavors. This salmon is such a great example of that: a simple BBQ seasoning blend paired with a Thai curry sauce. Not something you might see daily, but so delicious. And I love how this recipe came to be. I started out with a simple BBQ salmon idea. After that fell flat, I was ready to scrap the whole thing....

My family could eat soup every night, some of our favorites include cabbage roll soup and chicken tortellini soup. Beef barley soup is also on the list, because it’s simple yet totally satisfying. Whenever I’m looking for a comfort food style meal that I know my family will approve of, I turn to this beef barley soup. It’s got bold flavors, fork tender meat, plenty of veggies and the barley adds such great texture....

Things like forgetting to put the cream on the Bourbon Peaches and CREAM pancakes. Sometimes I am just so excited about a recipe. So excited in fact, that I forget to actually add the ingredients that make up the recipe. I am not even talking little things like maybe a final drizzle of chocolate or a sprinkle of basil. No, I am talking big things. Things that are in the darn title of the recipe....

Right off the bat I will say that this recipe has some steps, and yeah, I know that kind of sucks, BUT you can pick and choose what you want to add. Umm, you kind of need everything though, cause this bowl is KILLER. And really, nothing is hard to do at all. Everything is mostly cooked on the grill, aside from frying those plantains….which is semi annoying yes, but if you like fried plantains then it is SO worth every last oil spray burn you may or may not get....

First there was Friday’s big, over the top, and perfectly delicious cake, then on Sunday there was Asher’s simple chocolate on chocolate cake birthday cake (listed in my links), and today we have yet another cake! But today’s cake is totally different from any cake I have ever made…though I am in love with it all the same. Plus, I can’t get over the prettiness of these plums. Oh my gosh, lovin all the plums at the moment....

I always order cashew chicken from my favorite take out spot, and I think this homemade version tastes even better than the restaurant recipe. Serve with veggie fried rice and Asian cucumber salad for a complete meal. I always order cashew chicken from my local restaurant, but this homemade version is even better than the take out kind! It’s got plenty of breaded chicken with crunchy cashews and the most delicious (and easy) sauce....

I’m always looking for new ways to dress up ordinary veggies. Some of my favorite options include sauteed brussels sprouts, honey roasted carrots and this loaded cauliflower casserole. Tips For The Perfect Cauliflower Casserole I recommend shredding your own cheese for this dish. The pre-shredded cheese in bags at the grocery store is often coated in preservatives and anti caking agents and does not melt smoothly. I have made this casserole with both fresh and frozen cauliflower, and either works just fine....

Cheesy Flaming Shrooms – this is a recipe that’s worth recording here for a couple of reasons. During one of our many team dinners, my manager took us to Mikuni – supposedly popular Japanese restaurant in the states. I had my first taste of Mikuni’s Flaming Shrooms, not knowing that they are stuffed with imitation crab. Once I knew, I couldn’t do anything about it except for worrying that I don’t get an allergic reaction in foreign land....

I am really horrible at remembering people’s names, and it can be really embarrassing. I get this trait from my dad, but you’d think that being someone who is really aware of things that I would remember names. Trust me though, I don’t. For example, there are two different people whom I see while I am hiking fairly often. They have both told me their names at least once or twice now....

Tomato and mozzarella salad is a traditional summer side dish recipe that never goes out of style. This version uses cherry tomatoes and bite sized mozzarella balls and is perfect for a pot luck or barbecue. Serve it alongside other summertime favorites such as grilled pork chops or grilled chicken kabobs. I often like to throw together salads that don’t contain lettuce for a nice snack. Of course, they work as a side dish just as well and one of my favorites is this cherry tomato salad....

I make Mexican food for dinner at least once a week, I often whip up shrimp tacos, pork carnitas or this fabulous enchilada casserole. Add your favorite toppings and watch the rave reviews come in! Sometimes there’s just nothing better than a piping hot casserole, loaded with cheese of course! This easy chicken enchilada casserole is so simple to put together, but really delivers in the flavor department. I love Mexican food, especially enchiladas but sometimes I just don’t have the time to individually roll a million enchiladas....

Before I made these cookie I really did not know what a fluffernutter was. Here is the truth, I am not the biggest marshmallow person. Okay wait, warm marshmallows with chocolate? Yes. Gooey, sticky, still warm Rice Krispie Treats with maybe a little chocolate mixed in? Yes. But just marshmallows alone? No. I can’t do it, it’s too sugary and too boring. And I always think, I would rather be eating something else....

Chola Idiyappam is a traditional Tamilnadu recipe for making string hoppers made with sorghum/maize flour. Traditional idiyappam or string hoppers are made with rice flour but there are many other variations of idiyappam recipes. Wheat Idiyappam, Ragi Idiyyapam are other popular idiyappam recipes. Chola maavu idiyappam is a healthy and delicious dish that can served as a quick breakfast or dinner. As idiyappam is steamed and there is not more than a teaspoon of oil, it is perfect to be served for any age-group....

I mean whether you are a meat eater, veggie hater, veggie lover, vegetarian, gluten free or vegan there is probably a lasagna out there for you. This recipe is kind of a weird one, but I promise in a totally good way! I never thought that using creamy polenta for “noodles” would be so good! Then top that with a spicy tomato chorizo sauce and loads of yummy cheese! I mean really did you think I would not pile on the cheese?...