Apple Banana Pakora, Bhajia, Fritters
Apple and Banana Pakoras! Pakoras are an all-time favorite snack amongst everyone. Pakoras are made in so many ways using a variety of vegetables and lentils. Apple and Banana Pakoras were suggested by my friend Rajni from India. It sounds different because I never tried these pakoras. I decided to give it a try. I know she enjoys sweet and spicy combinations of flavors. These pakoras are crispy from the outside and soft from the inside. These Pakoras are also vegan and gluten-free. Give it a try and share your experience.

Avocado Paratha
Avocado Paratha, these days I’m spending a lot of time at home, so I decided to experiment in the kitchen. I had one extra avocado left after making some guacamole dip. Avocados seem to be very popular these days most often served as “Avocado Toast”. I decided to put an Indian twist and use the extra avocado in delicious flavorful parathas. It actually turned out great and I enjoyed, but I think it needed a few tweaks. I added some extra spices and it turned out even better.

Basil Pesto Sauce
Lately pesto has become one of my favorite condiments to keep. Basil Pesto is an Italian delicacy. It is super easy to make, and you can use it in so many ways, making variations of dishes. My grandkids enjoy pesto pasta, my son’s favorite is making pesto sandwiches, and I like salad and roasted vegetables with pesto. Pesto has a vibrant color and brightens up any dish you make. Basil is a very aromatic herb. I have basil plants in my backyard. Because basil is the main ingredient for this recipe, I am always prepared. This is also vegan and gluten free recipe.

Bread Pudding with Chocolate Sauce
It was my daughter-in-law’s birthday this past weekend, and I wanted to do something nice for her. For me, the thing that gives me the most joy is making food for the people that I love, and so I decided that I would prepare something for her to drop off. Due to the quarantine, this was the best that I could do for her, so I wanted what I made to be special. I asked my husband if he had any suggestions, and he said that I should make a dessert that my daughter-in-law, son, and grandkids would all enjoy. After talking to him, I was on the search for a dessert recipe that would be easy to prepare and also not too sweet.

Chocolate Pudding
Chocolate Pudding is a simple and delightful dessert. My son is on a vegan diet and one day he mentioned he was craving a dessert like a chocolate pudding or mousse. I think he was giving me a not-so-subtle hint that he wanted me to experiment with this! I decided to give a try and he was very happy with the results! Soon after that this became a favorite dessert with others in my family. It’s funny because my family’s favorites keep changing! This is a super simple and easy recipe to make. I can prepare this dessert on demand and with limited notice for my grandchildren, who love to request dishes last minute! This rich chocolatey dessert is vegan and gluten-free.

Coconut Paratha
Coconut Paratha is a delicacy, I make parathas with so many different fillings, but I will say this is very different from others. Coconut Paratha can be served with the main meal, but one can also enjoy this as a snack with a hot cup of chai. One day, my younger sister Kumkum, who is an excellent cook, called me from India and told me that I must try this coconut paratha, that I will love it. So, in fact, this is her recipe. She is also a big help who I can call when I get lost with the new recipes I am trying. She always has good suggestions. This paratha has a complex flavor. Usually, stuffed parathas are not very thin, but coconut paratha is very thin and mildly spiced. They taste best when they are served hot. The paratha is crispy from outside and its inside filling has a different texture that is well balanced. Coconut parathas also taste as delicious when they are served at room temperature with pickle.

Crispy French Fries
Crispy delicious French Fries! Who doesn’t enjoy French fries? It’s the perfect comfort food! Homemade Fries, it’s actually quite simple and easy to make. In fact, this is a great treat for my grandkids when they come to visit me. My grandson will say very proudly my dadi (grandmother) makes the best fries.

Crispy Jalebi
Jalebi is a warm crispy, delicious treat. It can best be described as funnel cake. In my home town jalebi was a breakfast treat like pancakes, especially when they were served with kachori (puffed fried bread filled with spicy dal). I know jalebi is mostly served as a dessert, but for me jalebi still makes the best breakfast treat.

Frozen Chocolate Frappuccino
School is back in session and summer is pretty much over, but it’s still hot enough to enjoy “Frozen Chocolate Frappuccino”. It has been a huge hit with my grandkids this summer. Of course, they enjoy traditional hot chocolate as well. One day my granddaughter asked me if I could make a delicious cold version of a hot chocolate and call it “Frozen Chocolate Frappuccino”! It was a really hot day and we decided to experiment with different versions of cold frothy frozen chocolate. We came up with the perfect recipe together. She was so excited about this recipe that she wants to create more recipes!

Instant Badam Burfi
Instant Badam Burfi, or Almond Candy is a quick and easy recipe that will satisfy the entire family! The best part of this recipe is that involves absolutely no cooking. This is the time of the year when we are all busy celebrating the holidays. Of course, this year will look a little different, but we can always make the best of this situation. Since we are all busy with work and family responsibilities, I wanted to make a quick and easy dessert that is both delicious and sweet. Badam Burfi is just that. All you need is less than 10 minutes to make this delicious Burfi. After trying this recipe a few times, I was surprisingly satisfied with the way it turned out! I wish I had thought of this recipe before. During the holidays, homemade sweets make the best holiday gift for family and friends. The main ingredients are almond flour and condensed milk. Enjoy!

Kamal Kakdi Ki Chaat (Spicy Lotus Root Appetizer)
Kamal Kakdi Chaat is a truly unique and tasty dish. I wanted to make something new and delicious but also healthy and easy to make. kamal kakdi, is an edible lotus root that has a crunchy texture and slightly sweet taste. After doing some research, I was surprised at how much nutrients kamal kakdi has. I was excited to try out a spicy chat recipe using it. An added plus is that this recipe requires no frying and is a nice healthy savory snack.

Khasta Kachori Besan
Khasta kachori is a delicacy from north India. Khasta kachori is a spicy puffed pastry. Kachories are made with a variety of different filling, and I have many recipes for Khasta Kachori. They are my favorite over samosa. Maybe one of the reasons is I can prepare them even a few days before and can be served at room temperature and served many different ways, even serving as chaat. Traditionally kachori is sold at HALWAI (a sweet and snack shop). Today, I am using spicy besan filling. These mouthwatering Kachories can be served as a snack, chaat or part of the main meal, making the meal exotic.

Kokum Coconut Kadhi
To make Kokum Coconut Kadhi, we have to know what is Kokum. Kokum is a fruit used as a souring agent in many parts of India and it is mellow in taste compared to tamarind. For me, how it can be a kadhi without besan? So, this Kokum Coconut Kadhi is my twist, by adding a little roasted besan (gram flour). This is both delicious and very refreshing. You can serve this as a soup or with rice. My son who is a very picky eater thoroughly enjoyed it! This is a quick and easy recipe which you must give it a try. This Kadhi is also vegan and gluten free.

Masala Bell Pepper Curry
Masala Bell Pepper Curry, which is a Hyderabadi-style dish. Hyderabad dishes are very spicy and aromatic. For me, bell pepper curry represents these dishes well. I wanted to do a recipe for a side dish for a more formal get together. I happened to have some extra bell peppers in my fridge, so I decided to experiment with those.
