tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930Wed, 06 Nov 2024 02:47:33 +0000Kids CuisineBaked GoodsDessertsMainsCakesSummerBreakfastNutritionOne-dish mealsFestiveVegetarianJewishVegetablesPassoverSpringAsianFishMusingsSaladsCupcakesAutumnwinterBritishCookiesSidesSoupsIndianBarbecueBeveragesGluten-freeHerbsSauces and DressingsSuperfoodRestaurantsReviewsRosh HashanaThaiCocktailsCondimentsCondiments and SaucesHalloweenHanukkahHouse and GardenKitchen SnippetsKitchen StuffNon Food CreationsStoriesStories. AsianMy thoughts on food, love and family life. Mostly food!http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)Blogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-3423798171251121833Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:20:00 +00002009-11-14T18:20:31.454-05:00Please note this site has moved to http://divaindoors.wordpress.com . If you've bookmarked www.divaindoors.com, you don't need to do anything. If you've subscribed to my email or RSS feed, you may need to sign up again at the new site. Apologies for any inconvenience. (All text and photos or images are copyright protected. Please do not reprint any stories, recipes or photographs without the http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/11/this-site-is-moving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-2550831397807073016Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:16:00 +00002009-11-14T15:05:56.710-05:00Baked GoodsCakesCupcakesFestiveHalloween The to-do list went on and on, even as a sense of foreboding and doubt built, as if it were The Ten Commandments. Only it outnumbered them:   bake 75 cupcakes for three different parties - two Halloween, one a ghoulie-girlie birthday decorate all said cupcakes attend physio for a hand injury (same hand needed for baking) find H1N1 clinic for adults fix punctured car tire (ended up http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/10/ghoulish-to-do-list-and-halloween.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-1948089843763708637Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:00 +00002009-11-14T14:40:17.761-05:00AsianMainsOne-dish meals This is one of the fall-back recipes I've kept from decade to decade. It worked as well in the BC days (before children) as it does now - the only difference being in how I use my free time (far more frivolously in those days) and is inspired by the fresh and quickly prepared 'street food' in Singapore.  It's easy, you only need the one wok, and takes 15-20 minutes from start to finish.http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/10/chicken-stirfry-with-red-and-yellow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-7243059604614945463Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:22:00 +00002009-10-15T18:24:52.918-04:00AutumnFestiveGluten-freeRosh HashanaSoupswinter It was nostalgic cooking with butternut squash recently, a much-neglected activity since the early months of weaning both my children. It has literally been years since I have picked up this fruit, preferring instead to make pies, couscous, roasted veg dishes and soups with pumpkin instead.  Back in the day, I'd skin the Mr-Peanut-shaped, pale beige butternut, cube and steam it, then http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/10/roasted-butternut-squash-and-apple-soup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-2249033057633342825Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:31:00 +00002009-10-10T19:31:24.847-04:00Baked GoodsCakesCupcakesDessertsKids Cuisine These are immensely popular with adults and kids alike. I thought I'd throw the cinnamon in instead of vanilla, betting confidently that this would keep the kids at bay. But no such luck. Make them mini bite-size cupcakes and even the ladies on permanent diets will reach for seconds, even as they protest (feebly). (Makes 40 regular ones, about 70-80 minis) eggs, 5 butter, 2 1/2 sticks sugarhttp://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/10/cinnamon-cupcakes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-9065352085838780157Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:59:00 +00002009-09-27T14:02:29.562-04:00RestaurantsReviewsStories. Asian(Review published on Baristanet on Sept. 24th) As someone who was born in Malaysia and has widely traveled and eaten her way through Southeast Asia, I was delighted to hear a restaurant called Pahang, after Malaysia's third-largest state, had set up shop on Bloomfield Ave in Verona. With readers asking to know more about it, I was only too happy to oblige, even as I appreciated the surrealism ofhttp://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/pahang-adds-sizzle-to-verona-restaurant.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-7244731581056433265Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:32:00 +00002009-09-24T11:32:14.229-04:00MusingsReviewsStories (Written for Baristanet, Sept 21, 2009. Click on the title for the original post) It all began in Northport, a little village on the North Shore of Long Island, when two sisters and their mom began a weekly tradition of walking to the local penny candy store, each child clutching a dollar in her fist, ready to stock up on whatever their hearts desired. "We were raised in a way that we were http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/dulce-church-sts-own-sweet-spot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-3537013151446773040Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:20:00 +00002009-09-21T12:31:33.704-04:00AutumnFestiveJewishRosh HashanaSoupsSpringSummerVegetarian So I copped out on the chicken soup and matzo balls this year. What can I say, it's a recession and I couldn't countenance wasting an entire carcass for what would have been, no doubt, a tasty soup. Besides, the butcher was long on non-kosher sausages and short on chicken bones. Instead, I reproduced a soup I came up with a few weeks earlier when I found myself with two voluptuous melons fast http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/rosh-hashana-melon-soup-recession.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-5088276649615591057Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:11:00 +00002009-11-14T14:05:48.652-05:00CakesDessertsFestiveJewish I chanced upon this recipe for honey cake, a traditional sweet for the Jewish new year, while perusing the web nearly ten years ago, amid unhappiness with the dry and otherwise uninspiring offerings I have had the misfortune of plastering onto my hips. The recipe, which yields the most addictive batter which later transforms into a mouthwateringly moist and majestic cake, is by Marcy http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/moist-and-majestic-honey-cake-by-marcy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-3813187529913526654Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:53:00 +00002009-09-24T11:36:18.106-04:00FestiveJewish A sweet and happy new year to you all! It's the first day of the ten High Holidays of awe in the year 5770. A friend sent me a joke saying the Chinese year is 4706, meaning the Jews had gone without Chinese food for more than a thousand years, a period known as the Dark Ages ;) Pomegranates are traditionally eaten on the second night (tonight), as they are a new fruit, and supposedly contain http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/rosh-hashana-5770.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-1995943650670620321Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:11:00 +00002009-09-12T20:57:17.669-04:00Baked GoodsCakesDessertsMusings Today was a sunshiny lemony sort of day, you know, one of those pleasant days filled with happy events even though it's practically rained for all of it. It started with me tumbling out of bed too early, forgetting about having a Saturday lie-in, and deciding to (lemon)squeeze in a 3-mile run on the treadmill. Quick shower later, I ran to catch the bus to NYC to meet a dear friend, one of the http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/09/lemon-curd-loaf-cake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-4827700992367919895Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:39:00 +00002009-08-27T10:43:52.604-04:00Baked GoodsDessertsWe are lucky to live in such a hospitable town. During the first ten weeks following our arrival here last September, even as the engine of a new school year and fresh routines began to chug in earnest, we must have had one party invite a week, sometimes two, which petered off (just a little) over the less sociable winter months. Now, in the summer, the once-weekly party habit (this week there http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/apple-and-almond-tart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-5171058172186059657Mon, 10 Aug 2009 21:44:00 +00002009-08-10T19:45:14.959-04:00SaladsSauces and DressingsSummerVegetablesVegetarianThis salad is inspired by one that a friend brought over to a potluck dinner party recently. I was wowed by the bite, colour and tanginess of it, and its fiberful promises. As I guessed at the basic ingredients and remembered only three (corn, beans, lime juice), I have ended up throwing in additional ingredients which seem to work well together. The salad would go beautifully with grilled fish.http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/08/black-bean-and-corn-salad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-1302493344272814076Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:01:00 +00002009-08-02T14:42:23.120-04:00SoupsSo glad to be home! First day back after a lovely two weeks in London on holiday. However much fun was had with family, friends, at restaurants, museums and parks, there's nothing quite like being where one's stuff is.I had hoped to blog on the go, but this isn't easily done when one's phone provider is AT&T, who make it impossible for 3G phones to roam anywhere outside of North America http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/08/watercress-soup.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-1044671825162032479Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:16:00 +00002009-07-15T13:28:39.402-04:00BeveragesKids CuisineNutritionSummerSummer's finally here - a bit unusual to be saying this in mid-July but the weather's been a bit dicey with the relentless monsoon rains we've had recently (note the vibrant green of the lawn). Yogurt, a staple in our fridge, is the star here in lassi, a beverage made of yogurt, presented sweet or savoury. The latter may not suit the uninitiated but I find it very refreshing.Mango Lassimangos, 2http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/07/summer-cool-down-drink-lassi-two-ways.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-8818812500191412287Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:57:00 +00002009-07-04T19:15:54.564-04:00BritishDessertsFestiveKids CuisineHappy July the 4th! Made this to take to our favourite neighbours' today - all at the last minute and didn't have time for a proper photo (try and ignore the missing chunk, more would be missing in another few minutes). Didn't take long at all to assemble, just make sure you've done the jelly or jello ahead of time.jelly, 2 packets (follow instructions and have all gelled)cream, 500mlmilk, 700 http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/07/red-white-and-blueberry-trifle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-7187889694904749163Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:28:00 +00002009-06-28T11:50:50.730-04:00Baked GoodsDessertsFestiveKids CuisineI made these for my older son's birthday because they are so eye catching and, from nine years of throwing children's parties, I know how popular anything is with jelly in it. I love how pretty all the layers look once the jelly has set, and I also wanted to pay tribute to the wonderful baking traditions of Australia, and New Zealand too, where I have had the most delicious homemade-tasting http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/aussie-jelly-bar.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-9186580217577701854Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:54:00 +00002009-06-23T16:45:40.791-04:00MusingsThis is not a Diva posting on Food, but more on Love and Family (see my blurb on the Home page, I'm supposed to be writing on the other stuff too). Family brought home the ducklings and I fell in love. Here's what happened.My Third Grader at Hillside worked his charm on me last week, begging to be allowed to bring home a pair of chicks or ducklings for the weekend that his class had been watchinghttp://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/hni0097jpg.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-4482066575206394065Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:03:00 +00002009-06-18T20:02:57.766-04:00Kids CuisineNutritionOne-dish mealsAnother winner for the school lunchbox and one that easily fits into a picnic basket, too. Both my children have recently requested easy meals they can despatch with haste in order to get to the more important tasks of hanging with friends or hanging on a climbing frame (usually upside down, which can't be encouraging for any sandwich).Layer up wholemeal bread with double brie, baby spinach and http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/lunchbox-newbie-cheese-and-chutney.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-6858849197395695054Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:24:00 +00002009-06-11T17:30:19.612-04:00Baked GoodsCookiesKids CuisineI love the green saltiness of pistachios against the creamy white chocolate in in this cookie. Anyone concerned about the amount of (supremely unavoidable) butter might be comforted to know that studies suggest pistachios help to reduce the bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, in your system, while raising the good (high-density lipoprotein). In other words, they're heart healthy.They http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/pistachio-and-white-chocolate-cookie.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-494118650059963739Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:56:00 +00002009-06-14T16:33:45.118-04:00Kids CuisineMusingsThis admission will horrify many a grandmother, but our oldest son never knew what a sweet was until he was 6 years old. Undoubtedly my fault for attempting to sway the course of nature and avoid him inheriting my debilitating weakness for sweets. I did succeed, for by 6, his palate for smoked salmon, pesto, sushi and fresh fruit was so determined that he had no interest in candy.While he loves http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/kids-in-candy-store.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-6518769930446968644Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:47:00 +00002009-06-05T09:47:00.484-04:00AsianKids CuisineMusingsNutritionSpringSummerVegetarianMangoes featured very strongly in the early days of Richard's and my romance, the buds of which were planted in India, from where the fruit originates. Indeed, we all have a soft spot for the fruit and are thrilled that it's back in season again.When I grew up in my grandmother's home in Malaysia, she had a massive, enormously fertile mango tree right in front of her house. Its branches hung low http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/mango-moist-majestic-and-morish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-2266574622059473773Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:43:00 +00002009-06-04T09:46:06.310-04:00Baked GoodsCookiesKids CuisineAn all-time favourite for the lunch box and after school, now with added protein. They are delectably squidgy and nut-scented :) plain flour, 2 cupsalmond meal, 1 cupwhite sugar, 1 cup,dark brown sugar, 1/2 cupbutter, 1 1/4 cupeggs, 2, largevanilla, 1 tspsalt, 1/2 tspbaking powder, 1 tspchocolate chunks or chips, 1 cup Preheat the oven to 375F, 170CCream the sugar and butter till light and http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/06/almond-and-chocolate-chip-cookies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-5440645021208532751Wed, 27 May 2009 22:46:00 +00002009-05-27T19:05:57.889-04:00Kids CuisineNutritionOne-dish mealsMy older son has rather keen tastebuds and (thankfully) fancies few lunchmeats. I found this uncured *turkey at Trader Joe's, which both my children love. It has five recognizable ingredients (turkey, sugar, salt, spices, honey), but no nitrites, nitrates or preservatives.Best of all, the bird was raised - as all beings free of pneumonia and infections should be - without antibiotics.Add to the http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/05/turkey-sandwich-plain-and-simple.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1324291987563131930.post-8223058155937526420Tue, 19 May 2009 20:49:00 +00002009-05-20T17:57:19.675-04:00BeveragesKitchen SnippetsKitchen StuffMusingsIn Toronto, where we last lived, we were extremely fortunate to have The Remarkable Bean at the bottom of our street - a charming neighbourhood cafe where they roasted and ground the finest coffee beans, and baked the most heavenly blueberry muffins I've ever had. It was a delight making the brief walk to savour its sights and scents on the streetcar-visited Queen St, which itself was home to a http://divaindoors.blogspot.com/2009/05/recession-safe-cuppa-or-caffeine-pumped.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Diva Indoors)0