Category Archives: recipes

“Japanese style” Spaghetti Meat Sauce

Make spaghetti meat sauce recipe from scratch. It takes some effort but the taste is way better than sauce from a jar. From the original site: Japanese style Spaghetti Meat Sauce was my favorite food since childhood and I always “had to” order it whenever we went to Western-style restaurant in Japan. I would even […]

Ragi and Banana Muffin

This is a simple muffin modified from banana muffin. My first experience with muffins was when we were in UK, it my earlier days there. After a tired long day walk in a big shopping mall (Oracle), we went and sat down for some coffee in bb’s, I think I remember the name right. My […]

Prawn Gravy

Prawns are the best of seafood to me, being born and brought up in a coastal area, I was always lucky enough to have the fresh and best seafood. When it comes to prawns, it’s simply irresistible for me. I wonder if there is anyone who doesn’t like prawns. Even if you hate prawns, once […]

Rocking Rooster Burgers

I’m having loads of fun exploring burgers this week and actually, so is my husband Filippo! Today we’re using another alternate protein, chicken. I wanted to create a hearty burger that would satisfy a big manly appetite or even a teenage boy who loves his big meaty burgers. So after some experimenting I settled on […]

Neythili Meen Aviya l(Anchovies in Spicy Coconut based Gravy)

I know you might be wondering what is Neythili, Neythili is the Tamil(language) name of Anchovies. This is a popular dish in South India, particularly Kerala. This is one of the best dish which I loved from childhood to now. This can be enjoyed with hot steaming plain rice and fish gravy. Special Instructions: Preparation […]

Savory Cheese and Chive Bread

The recipe is a great side choice for dinner. It can also be used as an appetizer. It is cheesy and nutty and delicious. A quick bread is an easy way to entertain and they also make great gifts. Anyone would welcome this on their dinner table. From the original site: Ms. Greenspan suggest serving […]

Chicken wings in BBQ sauce with roasted potato.

I bet you love chicken wings and roasted potato. The recipe is inspired by necessity to cook something fast and easy. Roasted potato is a recipe of my Italian friend and wings’ recipe is borrowed from one diner. It’s literally more efforts to eat than to cook. (Just remember if you want them even more […]

Tonkatsu – Fried Pork Cutlet

Tonkatsu – breaded pork cutlet fried and served with tonkatsu sauce. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. From the original site: Tonkatsu is one of my husband’s favorite Japanese food (which includes yakitori, sushi, shabushabu, and Japanese steak). Whenever we go to Japan, we always make a mandatory stop at Wako or […]

Apricot & Plum Cobbler

TA cobbler where the sweet tartness of stone fruit paired with the nuttiness of the almond meal in the topping entices the palette. From the original site: What did I see here? A blueberry cobbler? The passionate fruit baker in me was completely inspired and a cobbler it was going to be. No blueberries here […]

S’More Chocolate Cakes

This dessert will certainly satisfy your chocolate sweet tooth with the moistest, creamiest chocolate cake ever, topped with the surprise of toasted marshmallows! It is both a visual and taste delight to anyone who ever enjoyed roasting marshmallows by the camp fire or experienced the joy of biting into a warm some-more! Your inner child […]

Hot Fudge Cake (Light or Rich)

#24 in Made by Nicole’s cake series, this Hot Fudge Cake looks decadent and tasty! From the original site: This is my go-to, too tired to cook dessert that I’ve been making since I was a teenager. It’s as easy as falling down stairs and I guarantee you have everything you need for it in […]

Tomato Free Pasta Sauce

A great tasting tomato free substitute for marinara sauce or any other tomato based sauce. It’s got the color and texture of tomato sauce and if you season it well you can’t tell the difference. From the original site: You could also easily adapt this recipe to make a tomato-free Marinara style sauce (use only […]

Proof Positive I’m CRACKERS!

Just a fun and super easy treat to make for family and friends! From the original site: With an entire isle of boxed crackers in every market why oh why would I want to make my own? Well I just felt like experimenting and guess what? I’m glad I did!

Mango Frozen Yogurt

Mango Frozen Yogurt which tastes every bit like an ice-cream, rich, smooth & divine, but is sans the cream! From the original site: To keep in tune with the dieting divas low fat diet, this turned out to be a perfect fit … a Mango Frozen Yogurt which tasted every bit like an ice-cream, rich, […]

Dinner in Minutes; Frittata

One of the easiest main dishes you can whip up for a family dinner is an Italian Frittata! It is also one of the best ways to incorporate veggies into your kids’ diets. Remember that when you sauté zucchini and onions to the point of being caramelized they are sweet and delicious.So if your kids […]

Blueberry Bonanza: Parfait & Gratin

Packed with vitamin C, 25% of your daily need in every serving and only 80 calories per cup and virtually no fat…no wonder we all love blueberries! These little treasures are also filled with dietary fiber and are an excellent source of manganese, all the while claiming nearly the top in antioxidant activity per serving! […]

Angry Birds Onigiri Lunch Box

An idea struck me when it was my son’s lunch box day on Fridays. Jon loves Onigiri, so I decided to make him an Angry Birds Lunch Box! Angry Birds, the popular & best-selling mobile game, has taken the world by storm. The game is about these birds who’re angry because their eggs were stolen […]

Pizzazz Pizza

Have you ever seen the mozzarella logs that are rolled with prosciutto in your local markets? If you have, buy one and use it to make the best pizza you will ever have! Big statement right? Well, yes, but my husband did declare this to be the best pizza I have ever made…just saying…so I […]

Greek Leek Low-Fat Quiche

Ok, quiche is French but I used non fat Greek yogurt as the quiche base rather than crème fresh or heavy cream; hence Greek Quiche. You end up with a lighter and definitely healthier version of a traditional quiche. Once you start using non fat Greek yogurt I don’t think you will ever go back. […]

Strawberries for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

I LOVE strawberries! So when they are in season i use them as much as possible. Here I share more than a day’s worth of strawberry recipes! I hope you enjoy! From the original site: What’s your first thought when you think of strawberries? Strawberry Shortcake? Strawberry Daiquiri? Strawberries dipped in chocolate? The choices are […]

Cherry Phyllo Pie

This is a summer pastry for a country like ours. Light, crisp, versatile, delightful … amazing pie! From the original site: Junes Daring Baker challenge of Baklava reignited the pastry baker in me. The success of home made phyllo won me over, and soon enough I made another batch of dough. This time it ended […]

Red Bean Ice Cream (Home made)

Azuki Ice cream – home made red bean ice cream drizzled with black sesame seeds From the original site: Red bean is by far the most popular ingredient or flavor in traditional Japanese sweets. Its prominence in Japanese sweets is similar to chocolate for western desserts. Even after living in the states for many years, […]

Multigrain Poundcake

Multigrain Atta is nothing but atta with 7 grains like wheat, oats, chana dhal, barley, ragi, maize and soya. You can find this atta in any Asian grocery store, if not you can go for normal atta or all purpose flours. Also instead of sugar, I have used jaggery which is nothing but unrefined cane […]

Fried lotus root with pork

Delicious fried lotus root appetizer, seasoned ground pork sandwiched between two slices of fried lotus root. From the original site: Today, I’ll share a lotus root recipe. If you have spent quite a bit of time in Asia, then you are probably familiar with lotus root as an ingredient. I found out that lotus root […]

Black Sesame Macarons with Cherry Chocolate Ganache

Black Sesame Macarons with Cherry Chocolate Ganache … inspired baking From the original site: Inspiration comes in strange ways. I’m racing with the wind, time is no longer my friend, the hands of the clock whiz by at a dizzy pace … and the pressure of baking macarons for our baby, MacTweets appears to be […]