Roasted Vegetable Pizza - Vegan Version and Cheesy Version

When someone says Pizza, the first thing that comes to mind is the melted cheese on top and the soft warm bread. Growing up, we never knew Pizza. At some point in our lives, Pizza made a grand entry to our lives - for good or bad I don't know. We used to eat out a lot when I started working and pizza with friends was once a week affair. And the pan size pizza from the Dominos outlet in the office was a go to place.

After years of enjoying pizza, the food gods decided I had enough. Being lactose intolerant, I can't eat cheese. So I have devised methods of making the yummiest Pizza which will make you forget about the cheese. I have come to realize how easy it is to make your own Pizza from scratch. Once you make it, you will never order Pizza, trust me. You can customize Pizza for each person in your house. How cool is that?

Vegan Orange Poppy Seed Muffins - Eggless Muffin

Winter has finally arrived. The temperature here has dipped to about 4-5 C. But interestingly we had a warmer weekend. We had quite a busy couple of days. We watched the movie Paddigton on Friday. It is a hilarious movie about a bear from Peru coming to London and his adventures.

Saturday was even busier with Parkrun in the morning, School fair in the afternoon and Ice Hockey game in the evening. Sunday was another busy day with a birthday party and we also went out for a long walk yesterday in a local trail.

Vegan Dry Fruit Scones - 4 ingredient recipe

Scones are just Classic British. Growing up in India, whenever you read a book you would read about these wonderful treats. Though you get many things not commonly made in Indian home at some shops, Scones evaded us. When I realized how easy it is to make one, I had to try my hand at making some. Though I have made them with milk and eggs, I like this version a lot cause I can enjoy it too.

Star Wars Cake - R2D2 Cake - Vanilla Sponge Cake with a Vanilla Buttercream frosting - Step by Step pictorial

Happy 3rd Birthday to my blog! I am so excited that the little journey I began 3 years ago has brought me to this place in life. Though this year has been a little slow with respect to the number of recipes posted, it has been a wonderful year. The highlight of it is the Indian Food Bloggers Meet. I was able to meet some food bloggers who I have come to regard as some of my closest friends (and a little sad to have missed some of them).

When it comes to a birthday, there has to be a cake. I wish I could tell you that I am a big Star Wars fan and this cake is a dedication to that love. But no, the star wars fan is a my 5 year old son. And this cake was baked way back in July for his birthday. I traveled to India a couple of days after his birthday and never got to post it for you.

Spicy Tomato and Orzo Soup - Vegan

Winter is nearly on us. Here the temperature is touching 4 C. Well, I know it is not much when compared to some parts of the world. But we are getting used to the English weather and so it is cold for us. I have fished out my scarfs and gloves. Am now dreading the morning when I have to scrape ice of my car's windshield. That is another 10 minutes added to the morning.

Garlic Eyeballs - Pizza Dough Balls with Olives

Halloween has come and gone. We had a fun celebration this year. Yes Yes. I know there are people asking why celebrate a pagan festival, why celebrate vampires, what has it got to do with Indians etc. Let me put all your thoughts to rest. We just had loads of fun dressing up, partying with friends, making and eating loads of food. My little one was dressed up as Spiderman for one and Mr. Bump for another. I was a witch in one and a robber in another. My H had fun as Wally (Where's Wally). 

Owl Pancakes - Halloween Treats - Healthy Kids Breakfast - Vegan

Another fun treat we tried this week! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did. This one is my fav cause it is whole wheat, it is loaded with fruits! Perfect Kiddie Breakfast! Design from here. Though the idea was to make an owl, when I finished I thought it looks like a monster bird! What say?

Halloween Carrot Rice - Pumpkin Shaped Carrot Rice

Worried about all the junk kids are eating this Halloween Season? Make a super healthy treat this halloween!

This recipe is just enough to serve 1 child as a full meal, but it is easily scalable to your needs. Aslo, I have used cumin and turmeric as seasoning as my little one loves his carrot rice like that. Feel free to use any seasoning or spices that you like. Design idea borrowed from here

Ingredients (Makes 4 lemon sized Pumpkins)

Carrot 1 big finely grated
Rice 1/2 cup (before cooking)
Black olives 3-4
Cumin 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp

Oil and salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Cook the rice with 1 cup of water till well cooked.

2. Heat a pan, add some oil, cumin seeds and turmeric powder.

3. When it sizzles, add the grated carrots and saute for a minute. You do not want to over cook the carrots. Otherwise you will lose the colour and texture.

4. Add the rice, salt and mix well.

5. While it is still a little hot, separate into 4 portions.

6. Dip your hand in some water, gather a portion and roll into a ball. Place on a plate. Repeat for the rest of the portions.

7. Cut the olives into small pieces in shapes of eyes, nose, mouth etc and stick it to the ball gently.

Serve a happy kid!

Halloween Mini Pies - Pumpkin Pizza Pie and Ghost Pizza Pie

Halloween and Half term coinciding this year is turning out to be absolute fun week. My little one and I are having loads of fun doing some craft activities and then ofcourse making some fun food. Though these ideas are great for halloween and the autumn season, I am sure they are a great way to feed a picky eater. Idea for these is borrowed from this recipe for a sweet pop tart.

Ghost Pancakes - Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Halloween Special - Vegan

Halloween is round the corner.  Though Halloween is all about spooky and stuff, I think it can be about cute and fun too. It is half term holidays here for kids. So what better excuse that to make some kiddie treats. So this week we have been working on some wonderful Halloween treats at home. A welcome change after all the fun, hectic making of Diwali sweets. I have borrowed idea from the Internet.

Chocolate 7 Cup Cake - Chocolate Burfi - Diwali Sweet

Diwali is just a day away and I am totally enjoying making sweets to share with friends and family. Hope your Diwali preparations are coming along well. Wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous Diwali!

Its another celebration in my blog. It is nearly 3 years old (just 2 more weeks). And this is my 601st post (well, I missed celebrating the 600th post)! I made the 7 cup cake and posted for you a couple of years back. This time I am presenting an even yummier version with some chocolate!

Kara Boondi - Kaara Boondi - Diwali Special

Boondi is basically fried balls made from Chick pea flour. It is the main component of South Indian Mixture. The spicy version of the Boondi called Kara Boondi can be made as a snack on its own. You could just make the boondi part or add a few things like Cashews, Peanuts, Pottu Kadalai, Curry Leaves etc for enhanced taste.

People think Boondi is a very difficult thing to make. But trust me. Just figure out the right consistency of the batter and you will be done in no time at all.

Kaju Katli - Cashew Fudge - Vegan, Gluten Free, Indian Diwali Sweet

Diwali season is time to eat sweets to your hearts content. I love sweets and can never stop eating them. So to me, this season has been all about making loads of sweets. Though I wanted to try some new sweets this year, I ended up making Mysore pak and 7 cup cake a lot.



My son is the total opposite of me. He does not care much for anything sweet. But then there are a few things he eats as he fancies at that time. He used to like 7 cup cake last year. This year, he has chosen Kaju Katli. So I was all excited to fulfill his request. This sweet is usually a big hit among adults and children alike.

Boondi Ladoo - Diwali Sweet - Step by Step recipe - Vegan, Gluten Free

Diwali is just a week away. We are all busy planning what we are going to make for our loved ones. I am also working on what I am making for my family (collecting their wish list). How can I forget the blog? I need something new to celebrate Diwali with my wonderful readers. I will start off this year with an awesome sweet - Boondi Ladoo.

Chena Kadi - Yam Stew with Lentils and Roasted Coconut

Chena Kadi is a dish that invokes memories of my childhood. It is a dish my mom used to make often and we used to love it. The food prepared in my home was a wonderful mix of all the cultures we have been part of. Tamil food from our origins, Kerala food from the land we lived in, North Indian food cause my dad liked it and then many others that my mom learned from friends and family. This is probably a recipe she learned from a friend cause it is not a common dish among Malayalees nor is it a Tamil dish. This is a dish prepared by the Varma Community in Kerala. 

As I have told you before, I was not too much into cooking when I was younger. So I lost the recipe for this dish with my mom. I have been craving to make this for a long time and finally got a chance to see it being made in a TV show. I was really excited and noted the recipe. When I made it today and tasted the first spoonful, it literally brought tears to my eyes. It was exactly as I remember it. 

Mini Shape Idlis - Kids Lunch Box

Lunch - Mini Shape Idlis, Tomato Thokku (Pickle), Madeleine, Yogurt. Thokku recipe here. Madeleine recipe here.

Idlis can be prepared in regular idli molds. I got the idea of using silicone molds to make idlis from a friend. I took the idea a little further and made these mini idlis in small silicone chocolate molds. They are a treat to the eyes and my little one cannot get enough of it. These are the molds that I used.

Punjabi Rajma Masala - Red Kidney Bean Stew

Rajma Masala is basically a Kidney bean stew and is a staple in Punjabi Households. It is one of those recipes that has to be enjoyed in an authentic kitchen. I have had a few punjabi friends who have made the best Rajma for me and I totally love it (if made right). Yes, you read it. I am not a fan of it if the recipe is messed up.

Authentic Arrabbiata Sauce - Pasta with Arrabiata Sauce

Arrabbiata Sauce as the name suggests is a Fiery Tomato Sauce. Though there are many versions of the sauce that are made, not all recipes are Authentic. There are versions which use onions, veggies etc. The perfect sauce uses just garlic, red chilli and tomato cooked in Olive oil and optionally a garnish with some parsley.

When we were in Italy, I enjoyed some awesome pizza and pasta. The thing I learned from that trip was to keep things simple and use fresh ingredients for the best taste. So here you go! Hope you enjoy it.

Broccoli Paruppusli - Broccoli Stir fried with Steamed Lentils - Broccoli Paruppu Usli

When we think of Broccoli, you think of recipes which are Western like Roasted Broccoli, Broccoli Cheddar Soup or Chinese/Thai recipes. These days Broccoli is quite popular in India and are available in Supermarkets. Then we have to give some Indian recipes a try, shouldn't we? My friend Nachal gave me this idea years ago and I have made this quite often. Hope you try this unusual combo and enjoy it as much as we do.

Tandoori Gobi Kathi Rolls - Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Wholewheat Wraps

Let me start by thanking everyone for staying with me through this long absence. Loads of things came my way and I was not able to dedicate time to cooking for the blog (did I say I cook for the blog, may be I should say cooking for the family to be safe). I had a wonderful time with a couple of India Trips (woo hoo!!) for my brother's engagement and wedding. The months in between were spent with my in laws visiting us and me eating all the yummy food made by my Mother in law. So now you know why I was not cooking and blogging.

Now that I am back, lets get the party started shall we? This Roasted Cauliflower is perfect for just about anything. You could have it as a side dish with roti, goes great with rice, as a starter in a party, as a sandwich filler or in a Kathi Roll.. Yummm.. I wish I had a photo of the rolls toasted with a little oil or butter on the pan. Trust me, you want to do that. It just crisps up the outside and gives it a buttery flavour. 

Krishna Jayanthi Recipes

Happy Krishna Jayanthi to all of you..... 

Recipes

1. Baked Uppu Seedai (Savoury Seedai, Also called as Cheedai)

2. Baked Vella Seedai (Sweet Cheedai)

3. Vella Aval (Sweet Aval, Poha made with Jaggery)

4. Ellu Boli (Sesame Boli)

5. Unniappam (Appam)

6. Chakkara Pongal

7. Medhu Vadai

Corn and Cheese Tart - Indian Food Bloggers Meet - Freedom Tree Baking Challenge

Cheese and Corn are things that my little one loves. And Puff Pastry is another one of his favorite things. This corn and cheese tart (or Pizza as we sometimes call it) is one of his fav food. Its so tasty and easy to make. I even pack this for lunch.

This post is an entry to the IFBM and Freedom Tree Baking Contest. Check out the link here

Watermelon Gingerade - Frozen Watermelon Ginger Lemonade - IFBM - Urban Dazzle Contest

Watermelon is an absolute treat to have in Summer. Nothing beats the summer heat like a bite into these sweet, watery fruit. And I am a big fan of juices made with it. Though I make juice with just watermelon or with lemon, I always crave for a Indian Street Drink. The Sugarcane juice with ginger is just out of the world. Something about that Ginger takes the juice to a whole new level. So today I have adopted that taste into my Watermelon.

Plum and Raisin Puffs - Indian Food Bloggers Meet - Kitchen Aid Contest

Did you know that the first Indian Food Bloggers Meet is happening in Bangalore on Aug 1st-2nd 2014? I am so excited to be in India at that time. You will understand my sentiment if you are a blogger. I am going to meet my friends of the last couple of years for the first time. It feels like I have known these gals all my life. Its hard to believe I have never met them. So now my dream comes true.

Check out this link for more details of what is happening at the event. There are so many wonderful sessions on Food Photography, Food Writing, Master Classes, a goody bag to take home and the opportunity to meet some wonderful food bloggers. Many of these people have helped me understand the world of blogging and baking. I would never be so confident if it had not been for the virtual support of these wonderful bloggers.

Now the event is studded with contests and prizes to be won. So here I am sending my entry to the Kitchen Aid Contest. I am a big fan for Kitchen Aid. My husband got me a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for my last birthday. I have used it almost every day in the last year. Be it to make the humble atta for my daily Chapati, or my weekly bread fix or the cakes and cookies that I have whipped up. So looking forward to a chance to win the Kitchen Aid Chopper! What an addition it would be to my kitchen.

Ingredients (Makes 9)

Puff Pastry Sheet 1
Plums 2
Raisins 2 tbsp
Sugar 1 tbsp (more for sweeter pastry)
Cinnamon 1/4 tsp

Milk for brushing
Sugar for Dusting 1 tsp

Method of Preparation

1. Chop the Plums into small pieces.

2. Add the Raisins, Sugar and Cinnamon. Toss well.

3. Spread the puff pastry and cut it into 9 pieces.

4. Add a tbsp of the mix into each puff sheet.

5. Fold it into two and seal the edges.

6. Make small slits on top to let steam out while baking.

7. Brush on top with milk and sprinkle the sugar on it.

8. Preheat oven to 220 C and bake for 15-20 min till the top is slightly browned.

9. Cool on a wire rack. 

Potato Onion Seeded Bread - Vegan Option

Bread baking has become a weekly ritual at home. We all love the aroma of freshly baked bread. I think I may have told you this before. Earlier, I used to bake/buy bread to go with all the soups that I make. These days, I have a feeling that I make soups to go with all the awesome breads that I bake.

With so many varieties of breads to bake and soup to make, I will be doing this for years to come. My Friday dinners are sorted out :-)

Quinoa and Summer Vegetable Soup - Vegan

Summer is a wonderful time when the vegetables and fruits are available in plenty. When I had a bunch of vegetables on hand, I decided to try this soup and totally loved it. Makes a complete meal.

If you are wondering what that bread is, just hang on for a couple of days. I will post the recipe for an awesome Potato Onion Seeded Bread.

Ingredients

Onion 1
Garlic 4 pods
Celery 4 ribs
Carrots 3
Potato 3 small
Peas 1/2 cup
Sweet Corn 1/4 cup
Zucchini 1

Tomato 1 can

Quinoa 1 cup dry (about 3 cooked cups)
Water 6 cups (or use broth)

Basil leaves a few

Oil and salt to taste

Method of Preparation

1. Heat a little oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and garlic. Saute till it starts to brown.

2. Add chopped celery, carrots, potatoes, peas and corn. Saute for a minute.

3. Add 3-4 cups of water (or broth) along with the can of tomato and salt.

4. Bring to boil and simmer till the veggies are nearly cooked. Add the zucchini at the end.

5. In the meanwhile, bring 2 cups of water to boil. Add the quinoa. Simmer and cook till all the water is evaporated and the quinoa is cooked.

6. When the soup is nearly ready, add the cooked quinoa and basil. Stir well. Boil for 2-3 min.

Serve with some crusty bread. 

Tiffin Sambar with Pumpkin - Pumpkin Sambar

Sambar is a side dish prepared almost every day in South India. It works as a side dish for rice and vegetables. Another wonderful use of Sambar is as a side dish for Idli and Sambar. Recipe varies slightly when making as a side for Idli/Dosa.

I have a huge variety of sambar dishes in my blog. Each one has its own speciality. Try it all and tell me which one you like best. This one has the awesome flavours imparted from Pumpkin.

Curry Leaf Loaf - Curry Leaf Bread - Vegan Option

Curry Leaf is a staple in South Indian cooking. Almost all side dishes have curry leaf as a tempering ingredient. Curry Leaf powder (to make rice) is yet another of my favourites. When I saw a bread which uses Curry leaf, I got super excited. Now the humble curry leaf is travelling beyond the humble South Indian kitchen to the world of breads. It made a wonderful bread and the rise was awesome. I had to place the pan on the bottom rack to prevent it from touching the roof of my oven!!

Coconut Potato Curry with Basil and Cashews - Vegan

As Indians we make our share of 'curry'. Be it the North Indian Style 'Curry' or the South Indian 'Kari', there is always one or the other made at home almost everyday. But what is interesting for me is a Westerner's take on the Indian Curry. So whenever I come across a recipe like that, I make it a point to give it a shot.

One such example is this beetroot masala that I tried a few months back. It is a big hit in our house. Try this new version of potato gravy in a coconut milk sauce.

Mexican Brown Rice with Cilantro and Lime - Chipotle Inspired

Mexican rice is a very versatile dish. You can serve this as a meal on its own. It goes very well with vegetarian sides or chicken. This can be used as a stuffing for burritos or wraps. The options are many.

This rice has a wonderful balance of spicy and tangy taste. Perfect for any Mexican dinner party!

Watermelon Margarita and Mojito - Cocktails and Mocktails - Watermelon Orange Juice

Summer is at it peak in India. Here in the UK, we are starting to get some warm days. How better to celebrate than with some cooling and refreshing juice. Summer in India is super duper hot (and getting worse by the year). Does that mean you sit at home and do nothing? Nope, life goes on. When we are out and about on a warm summer day, one of the things that we love eating is a watermelon. You will find vendors on the street selling these fresh fruit in piles. It is a site to watch a mountain of watermelon on the street. And then ofcourse the juice vendors who make your day! Why not make it at home and enjoy a summer picnic in your own backyard!

Carrot Soup - Indian Restaurant Style - Vegan

Growing up, we never made soups at home. They were usually a restaurant thing. And they are served quite differently. Usually they are very thin and the purpose of soup is to create appetite for the main course that is going to follow. As kids we almost always got full up with the appetizer and soup. So never understood the idea of soup creating Appetite.

Rise and Shine Papaya Breakfast - Vegan

Papaya is a buttery sweet tropical fruit. I have developed this craze for the fruit lately. I made this awesome Tropical Detox Smoothie which is just amazing - super tasty and super healthy. Do give it a try. The next day I went ahead and made this for breakfast and it was just out of the world. Try it, you will love it. This is not so much a recipe, it is more a combination that I wanted to suggest you try :-)



Ingredients

Papaya 1 cup Chopped (used half a small papaya)
Flavoured Yogurt 1 cup (had pear yogurt, so used that) - use Vegan yogurt or Regular yogurt.
Granola 2 tbsp (Homemade Granola Recipe here. or use store bought)

Method of Preparation

1. Make a paste of papaya in a blender. Add sugar if needed. Mine was sweet and so I did not add any. Transfer to the cup.

2. Add a layer of the yogurt.

3. Top it with Granola. Make sure it has some fruits, nuts and seeds. It will give a nice crunch

4. Drizzle some honey/maple syrup or chocolate syrup if you like. Mine does not have any. Dig in!!

You can prepare this ahead of time in a jar and keep in fridge and grab as you run out of the door. Will make a super filling breakfast!

Bhindi Do Pyaza

I am sorry to have disappeared from the blog for 3 weeks. Holidays and other commitments came in the way. Now that I am back to blogging, let me present to you a very simple, healthy, flavourful side dish.

Pesto Tarts

Puff Pastry sheets are very commonly used in our house. I make a variety of Indian Puff Items like the Soya Puff or the Egg Puff. The Pesto Sauce I used is yet another family favourite and I have used in it many variations including this Creamy Vegan Pasta and Potato Sandwich

When I needed to make a quick starter for a group of friends, I chose to make this simple Pesto Tarts which turned out to be a huge hit at the party.