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Summer is slowly slipping away, guys! Yes I know, I know. Until few weeks back I cribbed about the constant heat and the hot sun but now, rains have begun in our part of the world. It is all going too quickly and before we know it, half of this year would be gone! Gosh, before I blabber more here is an amazing ice cream that is a such a mood lifter that it is a keeper - Instant Chocolate Ice Cream recipe that requires just two ingredients....

I’m a big fan of using my Instant Pot to make dinner time easier. This Instant Pot chicken recipe has quickly become a favorite, and it’s on our dinner menu constantly. I recommend serving this chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli for a complete meal. When I’m looking for a quick meal with minimal work, I turn to my Instant Pot. This Instant Pot chicken is smothered in the most delicious creamy mushroom sauce, and the whole thing is ready in less than 30 minutes!...

Hope you all are having a great Sunday. I am spending my day working on the barn and getting it ready to FINALLY show you guys. Ahhh! I know, exciting! The post probably will not happen for another month, but I have big things to show you… coming up!! For today though, here are a few of my newest favorite links from the around the web, Enjoy!! …crushing hard on these cheesy chickpea waffles with buttered basil mushrooms....

I heart soups. Give me a big bowl of soup, I would be a happy soul. Especially if the soup is loaded with vegetables and noodles, I am all for it. Recently, I posted the recipe for one of my favorite soups – Vegetable Manchow Soup. The crispy fried noodles on top of a soup loaded with veggies can be quite comforting. But then, it’s not so healthy to have crispy fried noodles quite often and this soup would be a perfect replacement for the same....

Here I go again…bringing back the “old school” desserts. Today I’ve got this chocolate cream pie and I am very excited about it. The fact that I don’t already have a recipe for chocolate cream pie is kind of shocking to me. This is my first, but you guys, it’s not going to be my last. I had forgotten just how delicious this simple pie really is! I’m sure I’ve mentioned this previously, but growing up my mom was a two pie kind of baker....

As my third post for this year’s Ganesh Chathurdhi/Vinayaka Chavithi/Pillayar Chathurdhi, I am posting the popular Paal Kozhukattai recipe, a Chettinad delicacy from Tamilnadu. There are number of ways to make this beautiful sweet and although this is not the most authentic recipe, this is a very simple and easy recipe. Kozhukattai is a popular South Indian sweet, looks like a dumpling but made with rice flour and is usually filled with a sweet stuffing....

Today I am sharing a typical South Tamilnadu recipe – Paruppu Kuzhambu that serves as a best accompaniment to hot rice, straight from my mother-in-law’s kitchen. There are many recipes that I have learnt from her after getting married into the family and till date, this thuvaram paruppu kuzhambu and kurma kuzhambu are my absolute favorites. In the early days, I hardly knew the difference between her Sambar and paruppu kulambu as the ingredients are the same but on closer attention, it is hard to miss the subtle differences....

I realize that they are a little indulgent, but hey, isn’t that what Friday’s (Saturday and Sunday too!) are for? I think so. We’ll get back to the health food on Monday, but for now let’s just live it up a little. In reality though, it’s been another crazy week and I really just wanted it to end on a super sweet note. I would say I achieved that AND it even ended on a sweeter note because I got my cabinets all picked out, possibly my flooring and maybe, possibly, even my counter tops....

This crustless pie is my absolute favorite way to enjoy pears, I make it almost every week during the fall months! I am not a huge fan of pears. I like them fine when they’re cooked but I don’t eat them raw, I think it’s the somewhat grainy texture that bothers me. A long time ago before we had kids a relative sent us a big box of those fancy mail order pears....

The next in Vinayaka Chaturthi recipe series is a spicy kozhukattai – Podi Ammini Kozhukattai. Ammini Kozhukattai, also known as mani kozhukattai is made with the outer covering used for the usual kozhukattai, basically cooked rice flour. The small balls of the rice flour dough look like small white pearls and hence the name, mani/ammini kozhukattai. I first made Ammini Kozhukattai a few years back and ever since, I make it every time I make Idiyappam at home....

Because they willingly ate… and loved, these chicken strips. Of course they had not a clue that quinoa was involved. And I would really like to keep it that way so I can continue to make them, because they are good. Plus, the dipping/coating options for these strips are endless. So many options. Side note: I recently made another quinoa bake only this one was heavy on the Mexican and included chicken....

Ramen noodle salad is a classic dish that’s a welcome addition to any party. It’s simple to put together and people always beg me for the recipe! In my opinion, the best salads have a variety of flavors, colors and textures. This ramen noodle salad, for example, has the perfect mix of textures due to the almonds and ramen noodles. Those crunchy ramen noodles mixing with the fresh and snappy vegetables make for the perfect side dish....

I am so excited to be starting something a little new here on the site, and to be kicking it off with this fizzy, kind of healthy, raspberry rose tequila kombucha. So many of you mentioned how much you enjoyed my Christmas Drink Saturday posts that I decided it might be fun to do something like that all year long. SO, while I might be a little late in getting these going…here we go!...

Deepavali invariably means laddus. As far as I can remember we have always made laddus for every deepavali. Growing up, I have watched dad make boondi laddus effortlessly year after year. While making boondi is so time consuming, it is equally laborious making perfect shaped round laddus. Once I started cooking, I began keeping up with the family laddu tradition and made Boondi Laddus. My mom is huge fan of my laddus even from the days they were not so perfect....

Who knew that once I tried beets I would feel the need to make a new beet recipe once a week. I mean, for the longest time when I thought of beets I thought “eew”! Looking back, I really don’t understand why I would ever think that. Probably because I’d never tried them. They are so pretty too, and you all know how much I love pretty food, boy was I missing out!...

Is anyone else just freezing? I feel like I have spent the last three days huddled by my little space heater just watching the snow fall. Remember when I said we where having spring like weather? Well, yeah, that’s long gone. The snow and cold, cold temps have returned. I know that a lot of you can probably sympathize with my coldness since I have heard that pretty much the entire eastern half of the country has been having below average temperatures....

Guys, I figured out how to make Wednesdays more fun. Mid weekdays can drag on and on, but I love having a dinner like these pitas planned. They feel fresh, different, and exciting, right? As with a lot of my recipes these days, this was yet another request from my brother, Creighton. When he’s back home In Cleveland, he loves to get chicken or lamb shawarma from his favorite middle eastern spots in town....

The countdown has begun. Exactly Twenty-Five Days Till Christmas!! hehe! 🙂 PLEASE tell me that you all have plans to park it on the couch tonight and watch ABC Family’s 25-Days of Christmas?!?! Honestly, this has to be one of my favorite things to do on these cozy December nights. I may just have to run over to Mom and Dad’s house tonight and use their TV to get my fix in, since I don’t actually have cable at my house....

Lately, I’ve been feeling the need to switch things up. I haven’t been excited about any recipes I’ve been making, so I haven’t shared them. I desperately wanted to create a recipe I would be so excited to share. There were many ideas that I went back and forth with before finally landing on this fun sandwich/melt situation. I shared the idea with Creighton (my older brother), who I oddly find very helpful in the recipe department these days....

Look, I know it’s different, a little out there, maybe even somewhat wild. But please, please, do not cross this off without giving it a try. This is one of my favorite pizzas to date! I’ll never love anything more than a classic cheese and pepperoni pizza, but at the moment, this is taking a close second. It’s just one of those unexpected flavor combinations that work so well! We’re all pretty familiar with the Hawaiian pizza....