Taste Junction

Fasting and feasting with sago

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:00:00 +0000

If the word 'fast' makes you run miles away. If the idea of being away from food for the whole day. gives you panic attacks; then surely you got to read further. Since I too was like you, years back.

Until the food lover in me tasted the amazing "vrat ka khana". And please don't translate it to 'fast food' as in junk food, but the special dishes prepared specially for the fasts. Surely this blessing comes in a disguise.

Forever popular: Black Forest Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:19:00 +0000

Another cake post? You must be wondering what's happening. Well nothing much, except for the fact that this time of the year holds many special occasions in my family. So while we celebrate our anniversary on 28th Jan, only a few days later - 9th Feb, happens to be my husband's b'day. And we all know what a special day 14th Feb is. So yes, its quite a sweet time of the year indeed. And I'm more than happy to try out different cake varieties and add them to my learnings as a home baker. So after the red velvet cake, here's the black forest cake!

Red Velvet Cake for a special day

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:28:00 +0000

"Marriage is like fine wine. As it ages, it gets better." - Unknown.

5 years back, I said "I do". 5 years back this day, I vowed to make this relationship the most beautiful ever. I became a bride and a wife.

Half a decade later, its still as alive as yesterday. And as we take this journey together, the emotions become more cemented, more meaningful. Yes last week, we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Nothing grand, nothing loud. But a well spent day of just 3 of us. And a cake. A red velvet cake as a mark of love.

Choco Vanilla cupcake to please all

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:33:00 +0000

I think the world can be easily divided into two clear cut groups. The vanilla lover and the chocolate lover. See how easy to classify someone. But what to do when the wife is a chocolate lover, husband is on the vanilla side and the kid wants some strawberries too. Simple you blend it all in a single cupcake!

Healthy breakfast - Bulgur Upma

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:51:00 +0000

I was always told, half knowledge is dangerous. Yes it always proved true, when I tried solving my algebra equations without knowing the formulas. It even proved true in the kitchen, when I thought "kali dal" simply black lentil. And was left wondering why it didn't taste even one bit similar to the restaurant one, when I made it with "kali masoor dal". Well that was pre blogging and googling days. So I think I can pardon myself for such foolishness.

But how do I forgive myself for buying a pack of bulgur, thinking it to be Indian "dalia" and trying to cook it for as long....Now all of you who are much familiar with the ease of cooking with bulgur would be smiling ear to ear, reading this. Specially when every packet at least comes with a basic label of what it is. Right?

Crunchy Snacks - Mullu Murukku: Guest Post by Vardhini

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:14:00 +0000

When I started blogging, my main temptation was to learn to bake and to discover new cuisines. And I felt so silly when I realised that I don't really need to go very far for that, since I have yet to learn so much about the myriad Indian cuisine itself.

If there's one word to describe the food landscape of India, probably its the rainbow. Yet even that's very inept since it limits the color and vibrancy of regional cuisines of India to just 7. And our culturally rich country is far more colorful and varied than that...Hopefully some day I would know many more colors and shades.

And in this quest to learn and to share, I have made some great friends in the blogging world. Incidentally many of them belong to the Southern coast of India, hence always intriguing me with their vast of preparations. Thanks to them, I'm little more aware now. And one such dear friend of mine is Vardhini from Zesty Palette, whom I've been interacted since almost the time we started bogging. She's not just a very passionate blogger (with consistent posts, great step-by-step pics) but also dedicated to healthy eating. But then I think to treat me and the readers with that occasional indulgence, she's sharing a popular and traditional south Indian snack.

Graham Crackers to munch on

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Sometimes what we find not so good in a child, sadly is reminiscent of our own behaviour. Yes I never realized that my own habit of being a muncher could lead me to trouble. That too through the next generation!

Well the whole deal is that my three year old like many other kids is a fussy eater and added to that he's more of a muncher than a proper eater. And I have no one to blame but myself, who's big time into small bites myself. So here I'm wondering most of the daytime on what next to give to him. And one of the thing that he can simply not o without are biscuits or cookies. So here I'm making another batch of cookies to keep the jar full, for yes you guessed it right..munching.

Makar Sankranti Special - Til ke laddoo

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:57:00 +0000

When the little girl (which was me ages ago) was asked to dress up for any festival or perform a ritual for it, she used to get very impatient with all these processes. And then with a mix of innocence and defiance she would ask her mom, the rationale for so many festivals. She even rationalised it that it must be surely because of lack of activities on the part of our ancestors, who devised so many of them. After all it was pre- TV, internet and computer games era. And then she would feel very proud of her intelligent reasoning, until her mom deflated her false pride.

Dish it Out - Cheese & tomatoes Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:39:00 +0000

Like many of you out there, I too am a big fan of Masterchef series. Both Australia and our own Indian version. Loved the intriguing challenges, invention tests and above all Mystery Box. Yes so many times, I have caught myself wondering what dish I would have created if given the same set of ingredients as the participants. Quite a nice creativity test actually.

And that's the reason I like the "Dish it out" series of Vardhini, which gives two random ingredients for you to cook from. Well, I can't say that its as tough like Mystery Box, but it surely is fun to see the outcome. So here's the roundup of "Dish it out - Cheese and Tomatoes" event.

It always helps to have a Quick Bread recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:11:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I'm sure by now, after all the festive celebrations, yearly roundups and some high ideal resolution making, life is back to its routine. Great, now we can chat without the fireworks and marathon cookie baking session to interrupt us. Just kidding, hope 2012 is proving great in every sense of the word.

Today while doing my usual blog hopping and blog discovery, I came across the term BC. Now only difference was that this signified a life "before child". How true is that?? As all mothers out there will nod there heads in great unity about a life that seems to be from a different era. The one that was where time was at our mercy, not the other way round. The only planning needed was to utilise it and not in how to squeeze precious moments for ourselves.

A year that was special - 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Far from the madding crowd. Long ago when I had read this title, little did I know it's significance. Of being lost in a crowd. Of need to be with only oneself. Of getting reintroduced to oneself. Yes that's what this year did to me. It took me far from the madding crowd, far from the hustle bustle. To a quiet corner where slowly and gradually I would get to know my latent interests.

365 days. 52 weeks. Countless moments and inedible memories. 2011 was as special as every year has been in my life. Only difference being that this year was dedicated solely to me. Not just to the mother, wife, employee, daughter, sister and friend but to me as a person. Where I discovered my love for cooking, photography, writing and more importantly I got the time and space to nurture them.

As year slips by, I bake an apple tart

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:04:00 +0000

It's that time of the year again when the past joins hands with the present to welcome the future. A moment which arrives every year without fail, yet doesn't lose its charm or importance. When the world around seems to be so full of festive goodies, that sometimes I feel even a glance can up the weighing scale. But then the resolve to be on the leaner side can wait for a few more days, while I create a festive tart.

Surprisingly I've been able to shy away from the batch baking which the year end involves. I guess back home Xmas and New Year had always been more about parties and holidays, since baking was (rather is) not part of of our lifestyles. Unlike diwali or holi, where there were customary creations (like gujiya, mithai, savories, etc), the year end had no symbolic tradition than to give it a nice farewell with a party. Hence I never felt a guilt in not indulging in the sweet overdose of the season. Also a week's trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi amidst it all, ensured I was away from my baking counter.

A sweet journey- Book Review: A world of cakes

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:29:00 +0000

Alas my love for cakes is no more a secret. And like so many of you I hold a deep fascination for them. How simple ingredients like flour, butter, sugar and eggs transforms to form myriad of forms, flavours and textures. Somehow this joy of the amazing creations that one can master, is much more intriguing to me than just taking a bite (Of course I dig deeper than just a bite....but that's separate). So you can very well imagine my joy when I got a copy of A world of cakes by Krystina Castella for review. So here's my point of view, as published in Honest Cooking.

Making everyday special with chocolate loaf cake

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:59:00 +0000

Not everyday is my birthday. Nor do I celebrate my anniversary on monthly basis. And oh jesus even X mas comes only once a year...So what? I don't need occasions to feel good!! After all the best of the emotions knocks uniformed, uninvited and many a times all alone too. Yes there are times when you don't need even the second person to make you feel good.

I love these moments of celebratory happiness, without rhyme or reason. Maybe its the chill in the air, the perfect music in the background or the smile that the last read book read has brought on your face, or maybe “just like that”...When you want to indulge, feel good - just bake a cake.

When easy & tasty is the name: Vol-au-vents with Sweet corn filling

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:35:00 +0000

They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and tastes. Some elaborate enough to make you slog for hours. Some delicate enough to bring out the lady in you while some others are casual enough to serve in a jiffy. Yes you guessed it right..I'm talking about the lovely starters that peps up every party and gathering. One, over which introductions are made, preludes of future flirting is hinted and which just helps you loosen with that tall drink.

I'm sure we all love these small savory (mostly) bites, but not too sure how much we all love making it. After all with so many other nitty gritties of the parties like the elaborate main course and the delicious dessert to be prepared, these little ones sometimes gets left behind. No more!

Soya Stir Fry: Thanking the Indo chinese kitchen union

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Without any blush on the cheeks and flutter of eyelids, I can let you know that we are a couple.Yes, me and my blog.

Married for a year and still to know so much more. Well, you can say ignorance is bliss in this case, since how many more differences can you take with a pinch of smile. We like to be around each other, to check upon silently for any changing moods and temperaments (or comments in this case). But always a touch (or a click) away...My state of mind is mostly reflected on it and my learnings are methodically recorded there. But if it would have been so blissful, it would have simple been friendship, to make it a marriage we need to throw a few contradictions as well.

Dish it Out: Cheese and Tomatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:01:00 +0000

While some pairs are god made; others just find their way to their mate. And that's how the story begins, whether in life or in kitchen. Few flavors and combinations are just so apt with one another, that never for a moment we will question it. Like french fries and ketchup. Can we imagine one without the other? Or onion and garlic - just goes hand in hand. But then we can't take everything by the rulebook. We got to play a bit of a matchmaker, just to have some fun.

And this is where the fun begins - with Vardhini of Zesty Palette's brainchild event: Dish it Out. Dish it out is a monthly 'matchmaking' or flavor combining event which brings together two ingredients and ask you to put your thinking cap and create a lovely dish out of it. Simple? Right. And making it even simpler is this month's ingredients - Tomato and Cheese.
Just reading these ingredients conjures so many tempting images in the head right from pastas to curries to salads and so on. And just to clear the doubts, our very Indian cheese - paneer is very much in the running for this, which luckily pairs extremely well with tomatoes.

When finally something went right - Eggless Chocolate Birthday Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:50:00 +0000

Its said even a lie becomes a truth if spoken a thousand times. In my case few wise sayings have become the reality of life, with their precise accuracy and timely repetitions. And the most forceful one of them is "Life is what happens when you are planning other things".

I'm sure I can see heads nodding in agreement, as you must have as well experienced this irony of life some time or the other. But in my case, its become my ready reckoner.

So what was that I had planned so much, just to see it getting shredded mercilessly. Well, it was darling son's 3rd birthday last month. Something, which like all enthusiastic moms (in my case over enthusiastic), I too was overtly excited and wanted to make as a special day. And in accordance the planning started 3-4 weeks before the D day.

Curry Leaves Event Round Up

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:36:00 +0000

A month passed by, silently and happily. October blended so seamlessly with November as if they were meeting after ages. And before I realized, we would soon be entering the last month of the year as well. Strange, how time can fly even without so much as an agenda. But then time also plays on the tunes of mental state.

So while I was absorbing the pleasures of being in my homeland, the joy of being pampered by family. And treasuring the love besotted by everything around in the lovely weather of India, I comfortably forgot to check the calendar, or the watch or the blog.

While early October gave the pains of eye infection for the whole family, it made up with a nice Diwali at home and a great vacation ahead.A month later, here I'm alive and kicking, as you might be wondering. Thanks for the concern friends! Hope you are all doing great!

Now let me do what has been long overdue with all my apologies for the delay..Yes the roundup for the Herbs & Flowers: Curry Leaves event. Thanks for your patience and participation.

Bridal Shower for Nithya : Rasmalai

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:23:00 +0000

There are very few moments as cherished, as beautiful as the day you embark the new journey of life. Holding someone's hand, with dreams in heart and sparkle in the eyes. The day she started dreaming for, even before she knew its’ meaning. The day she has visualized so many times, that by now every detail is clearly itched in her mind. Yes the day a girl becomes a bride, is like no other.

Very soon one of our friends, a great blogger and a gifted photographer, is going to live her dream. And since I'm sure you read the header before reading this, you all know who am I talking about...Yes Nithya of 4thsensecooking is getting married this November.

Thanks to the world of connectivity, distances have become a lesser shortcoming. Though nothing can reclaim the joy of celebration in person. Yet in absence of actually being with her during her most joyous period..here we are all, united, to wish her all the best. So today we are throwing this virtual bridal shower for Nithya to express our happiness and celebrate with her.

Blog Hop Wednesdays - Chettinad Potato

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:40:00 +0000

Wednesdays are always special. They make you rejoice for half the week gone past and makes you closer to your dearest weekend. No wonder wednesdays have become the new favourite of the food bloggers. And that's why so many nice events are dedicated to this special day- Black & White Wednesday, Wordless Wednesdays and Blog Hop Wednesdays.

I'm sure by now most of you are familiar with the concept of this wonderful event started by Radhika. This fortnight I was paired with the warm and sweet Vardhini of Zesty Palette. Both of us follow each other's blogs quite closely and there are many things I admire about Vardhini and her dedicated blogging, i.e. other than this spicy, crunchy Chettinad Potato.

Guest Post for Ananda: Potato Paneer Kofta in Makhni Gravy

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:22:00 +0000

Just like any home reflects the personality of the resident; so do I feel about the virtual window or the blog. The moment I visit a new blog, I immediately personify the blogger with the cues of the space. And though technical aspects have a huge role to play in that, yet there are some sure sure-shot giveaways, like the choice of color schemes, fonts and writing style.

So the very first time I visited Anandaa's blog (which unfortunately was not too long ago), I felt a sense of calmness and aesthetics. And after lingering a little more than I needed to, admiring her beautifully captured images and thoughtfully prepared delicacies, I knew it was not going to be a short stay.

So here I'm, pleased to take this appreciation a step further with a guest post, while she dedicated herself to some meaningful research. I'm sure her tired body and mind can get a bit re-engerised after having some home made comfort food.

Ode to Home makers: Gajar ka halwa

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:01:00 +0000

On the beautiful occasion of Karva Chauth, here's my way of giving respect to all the lovely ladies, who have chucked it all to be a home maker.

He has no idea when she gets up, since it's always way before his eyes meet the rays of sun. Neither does he have the clue when she sleeps, since by the time she's tucked the kids in the bed and cleaned the kitchen and don't know what all..he is already snoozing.

But then he must be tired since after the 9-5 regime, while she stays at home. So what if that means having no exit time..

He thinks keeping a check on stock market is difficult. And that by managing the client's expense file, he's more apt at being called the statistician or accountant. Truth is that managing the stock of the kitchen pantry to the brim,

meeting the rising demands of the kids and planing for the festivals and social commitments requires no less of an economist's minds. Throw in some love for fashion labels and gourmet food to spin the balance of the household budget and you require only a magician to set things right.

Cookbook Review: Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:57:00 +0000

The moment after we decided on our visit to India for diwali, I was on amazon and flipkart, looking for the cookbooks I wanted to buy. Being more used to browsing though the physical books in the book store at a lavish pace. Till I got the “looks can kill” stares, I would flip through them all. But here this virtual shopping was not going so easy without the ease of actually knowing the book from cover to cover. This is where the mighty word “review” came in the picture. So I thought to at least put my experience of cookbooks I own in perspective, which might help others.

The novice baker that I'm, I was very excited to buy my first ''baking” book. And after a usual hard time in making a choice amidst the selected few baking books available over here - Bahrain (even Dorie Greenspan's book was not available here), I settled for this one.

So here's my opinion and experience of this baking bible, in hope that it helps someone else in making a choice.

Indian Shortbread - Cardamom & Saffron Nankhatai

noreply@blogger.com (Taste Junction) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

12 different personalities. 12 different identities clubbed together. That's what a year means to me. Each one of them has a unique temperament, unique likes and most importantly unique memories. October is my best friend of the lot.

Strangely enough October reminds me of a young bride. Adorned in festive finery; with newly accomplished title of bride making her all red. Shyness and fear of unknown making her fingers cold, yet a bright curiosity sparkling in her eyes. Yes that's what October is for me. With pinkish blush, cool breeze and festive spirits; this is the month I look forward to, all year round. Just the right note of temperature to make you feel oh-s0-cozy but not the lazy bones that December would do. And specially with the festivals all around, you would rather be 'pandal-hopping' than tucking under your blankets.

It's the month of "9 days of non-stop fun & celebration" - Navratris & Duga Puja, of "wife-husband bonding" Karva Chauth and "the king of all" - Diwali. I can pass the whole month waiting for my ultimate festival - Diwali. This is the most precious "family time" month for me. And if these many reasons were not enough - add to it the joy of having my baby's birthday amidst all this.Is there anything better than October? For me not. It's the month for new memories to be created, and kept along with cherished old one.