Makhani Masala is the very aromatic butter based tomato cream sauce seasoned with spices and herbs – the base gravy for most of the tomato based creamy dishes in the Indian restaurants. If you are familiar with the lip smacking, finger licking  Paneer Makhani/Paneer Butter Masala (Indian Cheese in a Butter Sauce), Malai Koftas (Cheese balls stuffed with nuts raisins and spices  cooked in a creamy sauce), Dal Makhani (Creamy buttery lentils) or the internationally famed Murgh or Chicken Makhani/Butter Chicken served in the Indian restaurants, this is one sauce they are all based on. The Makhani masala can be  adapted to form a gravy/sauce with a thick tomato base or with more cream/milk added, it makes the more popular light orange creamy sauce usually found in the restaurants. 

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Aloo (Potato) and Gobi (Cauliflower): Aloo and Gobi are cooked with myriad of spices. A staple in most Indian restaurants, the name “Aloo gobi” generally refers to this aromatic combination of cauliflower and potato usually cooked in the Northern parts of India, esp. in Punjab. This ever popular dry vegetarian curry has been brought to worldwide fame in Gurindar Chaddha’s Bend it Like Beckham. If you haven’t seen the movie, you have got to see it; no not because of its association with “Aloo Gobi” .

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A lazy weekend morning; no rush to go out, no big plans, no get together with friends, just looking forward to having a fabulous time at home, be together. That is what it was like the last weekend.

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Not much about recipes today…


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Ladenia is a local taste of Kimolos, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea; “volcanic, mountainous island with white cliffs and roads is a perfect getaway for those who want some peace and quiet…. The food served on Kimolos is traditional Greek. You’ll find the taverns in Chora or the harbour, and the island’s speciality is a kind of pizza called Ladenia“.”Lathenia” (also called Ladenia) is  Greek word for Pizza. Ladenia is like a pizza but without cheese, more like a bread dough topped with fresh tomatoes, onions, and olive oil”(from which it gets its name: “ladi” means “oil” in Greek)”, and baked until the edges are crunchy from the olive oil and the onions caramelized.

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I have these attacks of weird cravings at weird times. One evening I wanted to have the cranberry jelly. Not the sweet kind, but kind of wanted that feel of that cranberry jelly, that smooth texture… Well instead of wandering away with that, let me tell you that this tomato jelly was created out of that craving  I found out that this is actually called a Tomato Aspic. I am glad I made it.  Not only does it  look pretty, & colorful, tomatoes are  loaded with all those lycopene, one of the most powerful natural antioxidants.

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Tomato Bread Soup, also known as Pappa al Pomodoro, is one of the soups I really enjoy whether it be a chilly evening or in the summer when fresh tomatoes are in abundance. The Italians do not waste their breads. The stale breads either go to the soup or in a salad, which is really great for they have some great flavorful breads to start with. The  first time I had this soup was in an Italian Restaurant, & found it incredibly delicious. I had been wanting to make it since then, but it never happened. When I saw Suganya Tomato Bread Soup, I knew I had to do it at home now I had a recipe at hand.

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A phone conversation, & a Home Delivery gone wrong…

It’s Friday evening…After pulling thru’ the 5 long weekdays, it’s finally here. Chilled Beer (lemonade for kids) & an evening out with friends in a local pizzeria is one option, the other one being having a quiet family time with a pizza home delivery. So one of these Fridays we opted on having that Oh! so precious (Quiet? no way!) family time & some thought of “custom pizza”.

I put the beer cans in the refrigerator, hubby goes up to pick a movie which we hope we can all enjoy together (mind it we have kids), & I pick up the phone and dial the number while I fish out the Pizza Coupon… here starts the drama-If you are like us ( “Picky Pizza People”) you would know what I am talking about.

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Rich in  history, flavors & sensational tastes, Moroccan cuisine is one of the most exotic food in the world. The recipes are simple and easy to prepare. Even the everyday salads and vegetables take on an immediate exotic flavor when it comes Moroccan recipes and cuisine.

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“Breadline Africa is an internationally registered charity that seeks out partnerships of hope and growth in Africa.” Breadline Africa launched its Blogger Bake Off, which is an online campaign aimed at connecting people to care, at getting bloggers to talk to their communities about poverty in Africa, and at having these communities to donate to Breadline Africa.

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