Let’s face it, there’s nothing better than bread. Warm, soft, delicious bread! Even better if it’s homemade. Don’t even start with the whole anti-carbs speech towards me, ’cause I won’t listen! Carbs are delicious and they are necessary. What a sad, sad life I would have without carbs… and without bread! (Sorry dieters and celiacs, I just have to express my love for bread.) Among my favorite kinds of bread is the focaccia, which is a flat oven-baked bread very popular in Italy....

About Sambar Powder There are plenty of sambar powder recipes across South India prepared with varying ingredients. Most of these are made with coriander seeds, cumin and lentils as the base. Ingredients like coconut, cinnamon and even stone flower are used in some regions. For years I had been bringing sambar masala from my mum’s home. For the past one year I have been making my own since I don’t travel frequently....

Sambar rice is a dish made with lentils, rice, mixed vegetables, spices & herbs. It is a delicious, flavorful & protein packed dish that is also healthy & nutrient dense. Sambar rice is best served with papad & some buttermilk or lassi. Other similar popular Variety Rice recipes from south Indian cuisine are these Tomato rice Ghee rice Ven pongal To make this sambar rice, I have used brown rice and a small quantity of white rice along with dal....

If you’re looking for comfort food that can feed a crowd, look no further. Complete with al dente noodles, meaty marinara, and loads of melted cheese on top, this baked ziti is the casserole of your dreams. It has similar flavors to lasagna, but it’s so much simpler to make. With a baked ziti, you won’t have to worry about preparing so many different components and arranging them into layers....

(This post is sponsored by Pomì.) The last few weeks has been a little chaotic. I don’t know if it’s the holiday season or the fact that I’ve been a little under the weather and not feeling like doing much, let alone cook… Tim, being the supportive husband that he is, keeps saying it’s okay. That it’s the holiday season and it’s not a big deal if we spend all our money on take out food!...

For the uninitiated, dosa is a kind of lentil crepe from South Indian cuisine and there are so many kinds made across the region. Masala Dosa, Rava Dosa and Neer Dosa are some of the staples. About Set Dosa This Set Dosa is another variation and is mostly seen on the Karnataka restaurant menus. Crispy thick base, soft spongy & fluffy top with a porous texture is what makes these Set Dosa so much different from the regular crisp thin dosas....

As you all know, I’m no vegetarian – just look at the last 3 posts on my blog – but I do like to cook vegetarian meals and I’m a huge grain fan. I seriously can’t wait to expand my use of spelt in things other than salad. I’ve read it is great in meatballs (where its starchiness works as a binder), risottos, porridges and pilaf! And as for using beans in salads, that is a recent trend for me....

My easy Stuffed Flank Steak recipe perfectly combines fresh herbs, garlic, and seasonings all rolled into a tender cut of flank steak! This is an elegant steak dinner that comes together simply. All you have to do is roll the meat, marinate, and grill, and you have a beautiful dinner everyone will love! Best Beef Roulade Recipe Beef roulade, or stuffed flank steak, is a comforting and savory steak recipe I love to make for my family....

Giving up sugar doesn’t mean saying goodbye to gummy bears. With this recipe, you’ll get to enjoy your favorite sweet snack in a healthier way. As much as I love gummy bears, I know they’re not good for me. They’re full of sugar and additives that can be harmful to the body. This is why I’m so grateful to have chanced upon this easy, four-ingredient recipe for sugar-free gummy bears....

Can’t get enough of sweet potatoes? You should also check out my recipes for Sweet Potato Soup and Sweet Potato Chili. This post is sponsored by the New York Beef Council. All opinions are my own! I’ve been on a serious soup kick lately! I’m usually not one to order soup at restaurants, but that’s all I’ve been ordering and craving these days. And this sweet potato chowder has been at the top of my crave list....

I’m not sure when you last cooked a hash recipe, but for us the answer is usually too long. Magnificently flexible, incredibly filling, and loaded with ingredients from every food group, hash can be so many things we need at any given moment: a healthy, all-in-one meala protein-packed breakfast, impressive brunch, or easy weeknight dinnerstellar leftovers that are easy to reheata clean-out-the-fridge situationa great excuse to add a runny egg to something (I am always happy to have this)...

Thanks to advice from my mom and Grammy, I have found a foolproof way to make both busy weeknights and party prep feel like a breeze: make it ahead. By choosing recipes that can be almost (if not entirely) prepped in advance, I ensure that I don’t have to run around at the last minute trying to get everything ready. Sweet potato quiche, like my Easy Quiche Recipe, is an ideal make-ahead dish, because it can be prepped days or even weeks ahead, freezes like a dream, and most importantly, tastes off-the-wall deee-lish....

Boldly flavored, pungent and spicy Szechuan shrimp is one of my top 5 Asian dishes that I like eating out or making at home. It may come as a surprise, but this delicious dish can be easily prepared at home in 25 minutes or less from start to finish, and the level of spiciness can be adjusted to suit your taste. Recently I’ve been noticing more and more Asian restaurants adopting Szechuan (Sichuan) style of cooking....

Since my friends are coming over at six, and I have exactly ZERO prep work done, my plan is to make a double batch of the teriyaki burger patties, cook half tonight, then keep the rest in the refrigerator for tomorrow. Work once, eat twice. I like this strategy. For the rest of the menu, we’ll be having this Grilled Corn Salad (FAVE), sliced watermelon, and my favorite blackberry crisp for dessert....

Thandai If you are new to this drink and wondering what is thandai? Thandai is a popular North Indian drink made with cooling spices, seeds, nuts, rose petals and milk. The word Thanda translates to cool in Hindi. This beverage is believed to be a coolant as most of the ingredients used have a cooling effect on the body. Hence the name thandai. This beverage is made by soaking and blending all of the ingredients to a paste....

In India, every region has their own unique way of making pickles. Not only the method but also the ingredients used vary a lot. In North India a lot of people use mustard oil and in South India sesame oil is used. The pickle recipes are usually passed on over the generations. Tomato Pickle Tomato Pickle is a pickle variety from Andhra Cuisine made primarily with tomatoes. While the traditional pickle is a no-cook recipe and is made with sun dried tomatoes, the other easier version shared here is simply made by cooking tomatoes until the raw flavor is lost....

The popular dishes are some of my absolute favorite Chilean foods, and with these easy recipes, you’ll have no trouble making them yourself. Occasionally, you’ll see influences from Italy, Germany, and other European nations in Chilean fare. However, it’s most heavily influenced by its unique local culture and incorporation of Spanish recipe elements. You’ll see plenty of corn, beans, potatoes, peppers, and rice in Chilean dishes. There are also loads of seasonings, various meats (including seafood), and lots of super insanely sweet desserts....

(This post is sponsored by my friends at Jennie-O!) While everybody and their mothers are recovering from all the fatty football food, Tim and I somehow managed to resist all temptations and eat something healthy for a change. But don’t feel sorry for us, on the contrary! This Turkey, Kale and Rice Soup definitely hit the spot and helped us stay warm on this bone-chillin cold Big Game Sunday. And tomorrow, when everyone is hungover and feeling lousy because of all the greasy indulgence, I will be feeling swell, with a lot of energy to work on a bunch of recipes and clean my whole apartment....

I find that the best way to get the most tender, flavorful and juicy meatballs is to quickly sear them then cook over low heat covered until done. I use the same method to make my famous beer brats, extra tender chicken wings and other dishes. It only takes less than 30 minutes to cook these meatballs to the internal temperature of 160F. Don’t worry, the temperature will continue rising after you take them off the heat, reaching 165F in a few minutes....

Taco Casserole Ingredients Ground Beef. I like to use 90% lean ground beef. It still has lots of flavor but it’s not overly greasy. For a healthier option, you can also use ground turkey. Taco Seasoning Mix. This is what really brings that irresistible Mexican flavor. I know homemade taco seasoning would be even better. But I’m all about saving time in the kitchen. So it’s the Old El Paso Taco Seasoning packet for me....