For the love of food and travel

I love homemade blueberry sauce…..whether it is spooned over a slice of cheesecake or on top of fluffy pancakes or also eaten along with a smooth panna cotta…it’s just absolute heaven. The thing I love the most about blueberry sauce…is that it comes together on the stovetop in less than ten minutes with just a few ingredients. Blueberries were called “star fruits” by North American indigenous people because of the five-pointed star shape that is formed at the blossom end of the berry. The blueberry is one of the only foods that is truly naturally blue in colour. The pigment that gives blueberries their distinctive colour—called anthocyanin—is the same compound that provides the blueberry’s amazing health benefits. The silvery sheen (or “bloom”) found on the skin of blueberries is a naturally occurring compound that helps protect the fruit. This is why you should only wash blueberries right before you’re going to eat them.  Consumption of blueberries has been linked to health benefits i

I love watching the sitcom Friends. In the episode of 'The One With All The Cheesecakes', Chandler and Rachel can't resist eating their neighbour's delicious cheesecake – and that episode always makes me crave for cheesecake.  Cheesecakes are essentially rich cheese and egg custards baked over a biscuit crust. It’s not technically a ‘cake.’ New York styled baked cheesecake is known for its creamy and satiny texture. It is rich, dense and with a flat top; that’s exactly how I like my cheesecake.  Homemade cheesecakes are surprisingly easy to make and require very little active time. The hardest part of the process is waiting for it to bake, cool, and chill overnight. The classic way for baking cheesecake is by using a water bath. A water bath, is the baker’s secret to creamy cheesecake perfection. All you need for a water bath is a deep roasting pan and foil. The cheesecake batter is basically a rich custard, it needs to be treated delicately. Without the moist heat of a

  Red velvet cupcakes There is something really elegant about red velvet cupcakes. They just look so cool and they taste awesome, especially when covered with a nice homemade cream cheese frosting. Velvet cake is thought to have originated in USA in the early 20th century. During WWII,  soldiers and civilians had to ration off food and supplies. Baking products like sugar and butter were a part of the rations. As a result, some bakers chose to use beet juice in their cakes. Beet was and is used in some recipes as a filler or to retain moisture. The red color of the beets makes the cake have a more delicious appeal. However, not only do the beets make the cake pretty, but they also make the cake soft. These days, most have steered away from beets in their red velvet cake recipe, and instead opt for red food coloring to give the cake vibrancy. In recent years, red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes have become increasingly popular in the US and many countries, especially around Christma

Summer time = Mango Mania. When the king of fruits is here.....we are all out to relish this wonderful juicy fruit in every way possible. Having it as it is - cut & sliced or juicing it or shaking it or drizzling it over yummy desserts....we leave no "Mango" unturned. Mango panna cotta is an easy yet classy dessert that you can make during the hot summer months. It is an easy make-ahead dessert that is served with a sweet and sour mango sauce on top ( https://bit.ly/3acecnH) . The perfect dessert for entertaining guests if you ask me! A spoonful of panna cotta is remarkably creamy, melting in the mouth without a trace of grittiness or lumps.  Panna cotta is a very basic pudding that is made of dairy thickened with gelatin. It originated in Italy and its name literally means "cooked cream". You can eat it straight out of a cup, but it's often unmolded onto a plate and drizzled with sweet sauce and garnished with fruit.  It is not known exactly how or when thi

Come Summer  and the Mango Mania starts in my home.  Mango is one of the most loved fruits here. It is not only a very juicy, pulpy and luscious fruit, with a wonderful sweet and refreshing flavour; but also a rich source of various vitamins and minerals.  Mango is the national fruit of India which is loved by one and all. It is regarded as the king of fruits and comes in various shapes and sizes. There are a huge variety of mangoes which are cultivated in India like Alphonso, Dasheri, Langra, Badami, Malda, Banganapalli among others. It grows extensively during the summer season across various parts of India. It is a tasty fruit and everyone loves its juicy and lip-smacking flavour.  Mangos are one of those gorgeous summer fruits we just can't get enough of. Their bright, sweet creamy flesh are amazing on their own, sliced and eaten fresh and getting every last bit from the seed inside. When you're looking for something different to make with mangos you can make this versatile

I’m a big fan of easy casserole type dishes, even during those hot summer months, because nothing beats a one-pot cheesy chicken when it comes to convenience and comfort. A chicken casserole is essentially a casserole made with chicken as the main ingredient. It is one of the most popular casseroles and prepared almost everywhere in the world. Cooked in the traditional casserole dish, chicken casseroles have a slightly crusty top with a soft and easy-to-slice center. There are various types of casserole including, but not limited to, hotpot, shepherd's pie, lasagna and ragout. In Britain, a casserole is often referred to as a ' bake’. The French are often credited as being the inventors of the casserole, both the dish as well as the baking tray. Chicken casserole is often classified as a 'comfort food' i.e., a food that is easy to cook and digest, yet rich in calories and nutrients. In my version, I like to add mushrooms and spinach too. So here’s the recipe: Ingredient