Rich, irresistible and moist; packed with different types of nuts, zucchini and double dose of heavenly chocolate is this sweet, eggless, quick bread. Even though it is baked as a loaf bread, the texture and taste comes closer to a decadent chocolate cake more than that of a bread.

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The other day we went out for dinner with a family who had a question about Indian Culture. They wanted to know why Indian Women wear the “DOT” on their forehead. Well I think that the subject is worth exploring. Why do you think Indian Women wear Bindi? I know it is not just the women, or just the married women, who wear the bindi, or tika, or the tilak. One theory I heard which I never came across is that the point between the forehead is a good accupressure point for expecting women, hence married women wear the so called “dot”. Please let me know your views…

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I still haven’t got used to this crazy Texas weather. It was 65 degrees yesterday, and today its freezing 25 degrees. The kids have started the winter holidays. During these chilly winter evenings all I want to do is curl up at the corner of the couch with my cozy slipper socks, a throw and a good book.  The dinner can wait, but can it really? Well this is what happened…. Some parathas, some really hot stuffed jalapenos on the side & a bowl of yogurt. Quick & Simple.

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Talking of  Dum Aloo…There are some hundreds of ways to make Dum Aloo. In West Bengal it used to be a must dish served for weddings with “Radhaballavi” (lentil stuffed puri), and I loved the slight & subtle sweet taste of that kind of dum aloo.

Also during fall/winter time, when there would be small new baby potatoes, & the peas in the shell, my mom would make peas kachori and dum aloo with the bite size potatoes. It used to be an all evening activity when we would all sit and shell the peas and rub the potatoes to skin the already peeling skins.

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Children are a joy & mine are growing very very fast. Birthdays are such a special time, but these days always bring in a down tone for me… the years are just flying by, and soon I will have no tiny, helpless, clinging baby to hold:-(  Well, we have to accept life the way it is and above all Enjoy every precious moment.

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Fall is here and so is Halloween, so we made our trip to the farm with the kids. It is a yearly ritual for us, picking the pumpkins, taking a hay ride through the mazes and petting and feeding the farm animals. This time the animals would not eat at all. I guess they were too tired & bored with all the zillion kids feeding them. They just sat in the shade and chewed on with a drowsy look.

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Harissa is a traditional side with Moroccan and North African food. It is a potently spicy sauce, with the main ingredient being a lot of Hot Peppers. I make this very often for quite a few reasons. It is very easy to make, & the Harissa added to about anything charges up the taste. Add it to rice, salads, dips, couscous or any other sauce or sides and you have a tongue tickling sensational taste.

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Labra: A Festive Combination of Vegetables & Spices

These 2 months of September & October make me extremely homesick. The cool air, clear skies and the while floating clouds spill out all the memories of the biggest religious festival of West Bengal: Durga Puja, the community celebration, and along with that-  very special food.

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This one is a Treasure in my kitchen. A delicious preparation of Paneer(soft Indian cottage cheese) gently simmered in curried Palak(spinach), this dish is relished with hot naan breads or chapatis. Or serve it as a delicious side accompaniment to any meals. Me & my kids spoon out & eat atleast half a bowl even before we start with the bread:-D. The origination of this dish is from the Northern Parts of India but is enjoyed all over the country & all over the world.

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The “Saas Bahu” combination is supposed to give the creeps:-D However my mom-in-law is one of the most wonderful people I have ever come across and I could not ask for more. Getting married when I just stepped in to my twenties… I thought and moved with caution, but immediatley she helped me get absorbed in to the family and more than all, amazed me with her exceptional cooking skills. Over the years I have learned a lot of what she cooks, especially the ones which are loved and craved by my hubby.

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