As our lives tend to become more and more busy, making us tensed all over, spending an hour at the Spa is often on the wish-list for many of us. But unfortunately, this can be highly expensive, or it may be hard for us to find an hour's worth of time to spend on our indulgences, not to mention driving out to a spa salon! but the perfect solution to this problem lies in the book called The Handcrafter's Companion - a collection of 126 recipes and product guide for aromatic home spa treatments... Read Full Story

Who doesn't love Pineapple Muffins?! Though a bit under-rated than Chocolate, Banana or Blueberry Muffins, these Vegan pineapple muffins are hard to avoid! The idea behind this recipe came from an urge to indulge in a Pina-Colada, and I was curious to see how it would taste as a muffin! Baked vegan, yet complete with the flavor of pineapples & fresh sweet coconut, these are as soft and moist as any other muffin recipe. They do sink a bit after removing from the oven, due to lack of eggs, but... Read Full Story

There's something about the delicious Fall Apples that flood the farmer's markets these days. Whether large red or the invigorating Green ones, they all have a distinct taste, and a sensual aroma that fills up your kitchen when you bake something with apples. One of the most celebrated traditions in the US is to bake an aromatic Apple Pie at home. The Classic apple pie recipe calls for 2 different varieties of apples, and some fragrant spices like ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. So here's a det... Read Full Story

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! ... Read Full Story

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Halloween is getting closer faster than you think, and if you haven't finalized on your Halloween party menu yet, now is the time! Food is always an important aspect of any gathering, and Halloween is no exception! But as you prepare to entertain guests and tiny scary creatures in your house, you don't want to be spending time in the kitchen and miss all the fun. So here's a quick list of several goodies that I found on the web. From appetizers to crudites, cocktails and desserts, spooky as h... Read Full Story

I'm always looking out for Pasta recipes, and one of the simplest yet tastiest ways to enjoy a weeknight pasta dinner is to toss it with some homemade Pesto Sauce! And this Rigatoni with Walnut, Parsley & Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto is one such charmer recipe that you would surely love. The tiny pieces of rich olive oil-soaked sun-dried tomatoes and earthy walnuts make this a satisfyingly thick, knobby pesto that bursts with flavor. Bye-bye Basil, we have some newbies to enjoy! [Recipe & photo co... Read Full Story

Garlic is more often than not, a preferred spice in any cuisine, especially Italian. And one of the best ways to enjoy the pungent flavor of this bulbous stem is by roasting it. Yes, the smell of roasted garlic on a freshly-baked pizza, or mixed with pasta, or sometimes even eaten raw, is mesmerizing to food lovers world-wide! Though many people think it is hard to roast garlic, it isn't a daunting task. You can roast the entire bulb, and use it to flavor your dishes. Here's a quick post on h... Read Full Story

I meant to post this for Diwali, but these days, time flies even before I can think of catching it! This was our first Diwali with our dearest daughter "Ritika", so obviously, it was extra-special. Juggling between getting back to work, looking after Ritu, and managing other routine chores, we could find some time to make a few Diwali delicacies, thanks to my Mom, which otherwise would have been impossible for me to do - yes, taking care of a 3-month old is NOT an easy job!! One of the easies... Read Full Story

For a simple yet tasty Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) recipe that won't take hours of preparation, and which you can savor with Rotis/Parathas/Naans or Rice, look no further. Kadhai Paneer is a healthy, nutritious, protein-rich and almost fat-free Indian curry that will leave you satisfied at the end of your meal. Flavored with kasuri-methi, ginger-garlic and a blend of mild Indian spices, Kadhai Paneer can be ready in a jiffy and can be a perfect accompaniment to bread or rice for a fulfilli... Read Full Story