Fun and Food Blog

Baked Penne with Pink Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Pasta is one food that finds appreciation in every household, and also a staple that can adapt itself to numerous amount of creativity, to suit the occasion, flavor and the ingredients in the pantry! For our family, there can never be enough of pasta recipes, and though I love experimenting in the kitchen, they don't always gel well with my 3-year old. So sometimes, sticking to favorites is the only way to go, and luckily for me, there are a few favorites that stick with all of us - like this...

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Baked Strawberry Dessert Pudding

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Strawberry Pudding has been a favorite since ages and eons, and as these berries are easily available almost all year round, there's no restraint on indulging in a sweet dessert pudding whenever you fancy to have one! Puddings can be of various types, creamy, gooey, gelatinous or cake-like, and as the last one is one of my favorites, I chose a baked pudding that's softer than a cake, yet light in texture. The inspiration came from a craving for a traditional Strawberry Shortcake, but I didn't...

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Vegetarian Croquettes

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:44:00 +0000

As a mom, I am always on the look-out for healthy delicious recipes for my child, and as she is still a toddler, finger foods seem to top the list. Last week, I came across these beautiful Carrot Croquettes on Patricia's blog [photo courtesy Technicolor Kitchen]. They were delicious to look at, and I knew these would appeal to my whole family. But as I was going through the ingredient list, I saw that it contained Apricots along with the carrots. Fruit and veggies, both together in one recipe?!...

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Ancho Chili Chocolate Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000

Do you love Chocolate? Do you love a bit of heat or spice in your food? Then these outstandingly rich and fudgy brownies are a must-try! Made with good old cocoa powder and chocolate, but kicked up a notch with a teeny-tiny addition of ancho chile powder, these are a perfect introduction to adding heat in chocolate desserts. I had heard about Mexican hot chocolate, which uses this, and since then I wanted to try something like this. These brownies have a hint of spice without overwhelming the...

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Delicious & Drool-Worthy Valentine Dessert Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:23:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I am sure all of you are on the lookout for some amazingly special recipes that you can make to celebrate Love on this special day. These days internet is the best source to find the best recipes, its like an online cookbook ready to be devoured and explored. And with the increasing popularity of food blogs, it has become easier to find innovative, creative and delicious recipes that come with a solid backing, because they have been tried and...

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$50 Spa Giftcard Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:25:00 +0000

_qoptions={qacct:'p-f4QCdDOj56EYA'}; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img src='http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f4QCdDOj56EYA.gif' style='display: none;' border='0' height='1' width='1' alt='Quantcast' /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; As the New Year rolled out, almost 80% of the people I met told me that weight-loss was on top of their goals and resolutions. And why not, its on mine too! All that Holiday binging takes a toll when you stop fitting in your clothes, and you know its time...

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A List of Best Aphrodisiac Foods for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:31:00 +0000

Celebrated as the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day brings with it flowers, candies, cookies, chocolates, cupid, candlelight and love. Our romantic fantasies may begin with Cupid and Roses, but somehow they always seem to end with luscious food, because no celebration is complete without delicious food, and perhaps some alcohol! It is probably a universal belief that certain food and beverages can act as strong aphrodisiacs due to certain chemicals they release in our bodies, as...

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Free 2012 Calendar Giveaway on Fun and Food Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:28:00 +0000

I opened my mail this morning and I am excited to see that Fun and Food Cafe's custom calendar for 2012 has finally arrived! Here's a preview of how it looks like! it looks so cute, and so inviting, just the way I wanted it:) I wanted to organize a giveaway in the New Year, but due to delays in printing and shipping, it got pushed off. But nevertheless, its still mid-January, and I have a cool calendar with delicious food photos to give away to one lucky reader on FFC! There are 12 amazing...

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How to Make Your Own Soy Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Many people have allergies to dairy, or are lactose-intolerant, making it inevitable for them to use milk alternatives, thereby choosing Soymilk instead of regular milk. And though several brands and flavors of Soymilk is available out there in the stores, if you use it on a daily basis, this can get to be an expensive affair! But, by making your own Soymilk at home, you can save tonnes of money, as well as get fresh milk every 3-4 days. Its really easy, and unbelievably cheap, plus you can use...

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How To Make Caramel Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:34:00 +0000

Caramel is the backbone of caramel sauce, but it’s also ideal for coating nuts, fresh fruit, or the bottom of ramekins for Crème Caramel(pictured above) and other caramel-topped desserts. And it can add a touch of sweet and gooey to anything from cakes and tarts to brownies and ice creams. Contrary to what one might think, making Caramel Sauce at home is not too hard. It just needs some patience, and you need to stand hovering above the stove as sugar can go from Caramel to burnt in no time! I...

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Peppermint and Vanilla Butter Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Just as wreaths, stockings and mistletoes signify the spirit of christmas, cookies and cakes do their part in spreading the joy all around. As the festival of christmas is just a few days away, people have started baking goodies and packing them in decorative tin boxes and wrapping papers, shipping them across to their loved ones and friends, wishing them joy and success in the days to come. Some flavors and smells reign the kitchens in these festive days, including, but not limited to...

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Fun & Healthy Halloween Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Halloween is a time that's often associated with sugary snacks like chocolate and candy, which can leave your kids wired on sugar and without the nutrition they need. However years of studying at an online university has taught me that just because a snack is healthy doesn't mean it has to be boring, remotely expensive or take a bunch of time to make. Halloween provides the perfect time to sneak in healthy food items in creative ways. Your kids will have so much fun creating and eating these...

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Raspberry Almond Crumble

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:14:00 +0000

The easiest way to enjoy fresh fruits as a simple yet delicious dessert is by baking them into pies and crumbles! This lovely Raspberry Almond Crumble made with wholegrain flour is proof enough, don't you think! Crips, Crumbles, Cobblers and Pies all belong to the same family, but technically, they are slightly different. A Crumble is a british dessert containing stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of butter, flour, and sugar. It is then baked in an oven until the topping becomes brown...

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Blueberry Orange Sour Cream Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Sweet breads are a great way to enjoy the goodness of a cake-like dessert which can be relished by itself, or even be paired with tea or coffee. Fruit breads are not only easy to make, they can be really versatile to incorporate seasonal ingredients. This week we enjoyed baking this Blueberry Bread, made even more delicious by addition of citrusy Orange flavor, and made soft by using Sour Cream. The bread not only smells great, it can fill your kitchen with a refreshing aroma that lingers long...

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Cherry & Peach Upside Down Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:14:00 +0000

Though fall and baking go hand in hand, sometimes, its more comforting to bake whenever you want to, using whatever ingredients you have at hand. Just like this Upside down Peach and Cherry cake which was a great way to use the bag of stone fruits lying on my kitchen counter. Foodblogga's story behind his cake is much more interesting though, as its an adapted version of her grandma's 70-year old recipe! It's a fresh and colorful cake that will fill your house with a scintillating aroma, as the...

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Classic Scottish Shortbread

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:01:00 +0000

Scotland is as well known for its Food, as it is for its history, folklore and festivals. Some people think Scottish food is not for the faint-hearted - they use varieties of meat and spices that might not gel with everyone. However, when it comes to Desserts, they are a safe bet, and Scottish pastries are famous for being not overly-sweet, with a flaky crust and nice fresh fruit filling. But even if someone is not familiar with Scottish food, I am sure they will know about the Scottish...

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Subway's Baseball Designs Tour & Charity Initiative

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:44:00 +0000

SUBWAY® restaurants, the world’s largest restaurant chain, today unveiled the third annual SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour with its first exhibit at the 2011 SUBWAY® National Little League® Baseball Appreciation Game at La Cienega Park in Los Angeles. The SUBWAY® Baseball DeSIGNS Tour includes more than 40 baseballs designed by young artists and signed by celebrities and athletes including: musician Katy Perry, actor Zac Efron, rock band Maroon 5, gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps,...

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Thai Red Curry With Tofu & Vegetables

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Thai curries are famous for their distinct flavors and the coconut base. And I love the fact that you can create beautiful variations by using different types of curry pastes or spice blends to make a red, green or yellow curry. This Friday night, we experimented with the Thai Red Curry made with Tofu and vegetables. What better way to get some protein, vitamins and loads of nutritious juices into our system than make a fulfilling curry! The best part, it was so easy to make, did not need much...

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Simple Chickpea and Mung Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:31:00 +0000

There are days when you feel like eating the most simple and nutritious things in life, and naturally, the first thing that comes to your mind is a Salad. There are loads of salad dressings available in the market these days, but if you closely look at the labels on them, you'll find they are not always less in calories. It's best to stick to simple and traditional home-dressings when you are trying to fill yourself up with something nutritious. Here's my favorite salad, which I call a bowlful...

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Shrikhand - Yogurt Dessert with Saffron & Nuts

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:12:00 +0000

Today's post is all about celebrating Yogurt - one of the simplest sources of Calcium and Protein, and I am sure the name DANNON is not unknown to any of you, right? Dannon Activia is graciously giving away FREE coupons to all our readers to try their new yogurt samples. You can print your free coupons by visiting this link below: Visit the Activia Selects Facebook page to get your FREE coupon now! Shrikhand, also known as Amarkhand or Mattha is an easy and flavorful Indian dessert which...

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What is Organic Weight Loss?

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:38:00 +0000

Weight Loss will always be a topic of immense interest and discussion, even decades from now, I believe. However, it is interesting to see how this topic has evolved over time! First there was only Exercise, then there were diet plans, then came weight loss supplements, detox diets, and now its going full circle again with Organic Weight Loss Propaganda. What is Organic weight loss? Have you heard about it? I for sure had not known the term until few days ago, when I came across an article...

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TGIF Promotional Post

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Attention Chicago area Friday's® fans! Head on over to your local Friday's® now to pick 2 items for only $10! Enjoy two of Friday's® delicious specials (including appetizers, entrees, and desserts): Spinach Florentine Flatbread Savory Dragonfire Chicken Pan-Seared Parmesan Flounder Delicious Vanilla Bean Cheesecake This offer is available every night of the week! For the full menu being offered, please visit this page for more details: Please Note, that this promotion is...

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Best Indian Party Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:52:00 +0000

Are you planning to throw a party for your friends, and have an Indian Menu on your mind? More often than not, one finds it hard to narrow down to what dishes you would serve - picking out your favorites that will work well with a diverse group is obviously a difficult choice. So here is a sample Indian Party Menu that I have created just for my readers. From Appetizers to Main Course, Sides and Desserts, this is a perfect gathering which will please all your guests, whether Indian or not....

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Ideas on Hosting a Cocktail Party

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Cocktail parties are a fun way to catch up with old friends, or entertain people from work. And they are so much easier to plan and execute as these parties last for mostly an hour or two, and as the menu has only drinks and appetizers, perhaps some desserts, they do not require a lot of work! The other thing I love about cocktail parties is that they can easily be hosted inside your house, out on a patio or club-house, or you can choose to host a happy-hour at a restaurant or cafe, which can...

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BBQ & Grilling Tips - Perfect for Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mansi) — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:42:00 +0000

As we approach summer, its time to get out your barbecue grills and start having some fun with them, especially around Memorial day weekend! Whether its camping or just a backyard bbq, there is always a thrill attached to grilling; in fact we absolutely love it! But as easy as it sounds, grilling is not everyone's forte. I am sure all of you must have had some good and bad experiences with barbecues; it serves to be one of the best events for a pot luck, meeting with friends, chilling out and...

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