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Jaipur - Lost in the Pink City, Leaving Footprints Where Royalty Once Tread

We recently took a short vacation to Jaipur, and I still find myself mesmerized by its beauty. Often hailed as one of Rajasthan’s most enchanting destinations, Jaipur captivates with its charm and magnificence. Famously known as the Pink City , it owes its name to the striking pink sandstone buildings that line its streets, creating an atmosphere that feels both regal and welcoming. Jaipur is a city that overwhelms and enchants in equal measure. Its bustling streets pulse with energy—markets brimming with vibrant textiles and jewellery, majestic palaces and forts rising in grandeur, and a kaleidoscope of colourful people weaving through the chaos alongside cows, pigeons, and rickshaws. Every corner offers a sensory feast, with aromas of rich delicacies tempting your taste buds and leaving you utterly captivated. Jaipur means city of victory. The city is named after the king Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who left the city of Amber and founded a new capital in the 18th century. When t...
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Sweet Diamond Cuts - Festive Crunch, Endless Munch

  Christmas celebrations in Kerala are a grand, community-focused affair where the food is as central as the festivities. The true essence of these delicacies lies not just in their ingredients but in the tradition of their preparation. Kitchens in Kerala come alive with the collective effort of grandmothers, mothers, and children weeks before Christmas, preparing batches of these snacks and storing them in large airtight jars.  While treats like Achappam require special molds and Unniyappam a specific pan, the beauty of Diamond Cuts lies in their simplicity, making them one of the most common homemade snacks in Kerala during the Christmas season. In some places it is also known as Pottiyappam and is available in most bakeries across Kerala. It is a diamond shaped deep fried snack coated with cardamom flavored sugar syrup. It used to be a regular snack at home when we were kids. Even without coating in sugar syrup it is a great snack. ...
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Kulkuls - Crunchy Whirls of Festive Fun - Sweet, Spiraled, Irresistible

Plum cakes may be the classic Christmas treat, yet adding kulkuls can bring a delightful twist to your Christmas menu this year. In many Indian Christian households, particularly in Goa, Kerala and Mangalore a cherished tradition is the making of kulkuls. These yummy deep fried, bite-sized pastry are crunchy on the outside and kinda flaky on the inside. The history of kulkuls   are believed by many to have originated from the Portuguese style of sweet making. This was later adapted by Goan Christians into a festive essential during Christmas season. The technique of creating small, curled pastries was likely inspired by the Portuguese practices, but over a period of time, Indian households have made it uniquely their own, incorporating local ingredients and flavours. These little delicacies are fun to make with the family. It takes time to roll each one with a fork, so I got my two teens to join in along with me!! Making kulkuls is definitely a labor of love, but the results ar...
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Chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips

Every time I bake chocolate chip cookies, my kiddos get so excited—it’s like a mini party in my home! I try to complete all the baking just before they get back home from school…coz I love to see their faces light up the moment they smell the sweet, buttery aroma in our house. This time I tried a different kind of chocolate chip cookies. Instead of the vanilla cookie with dark chocolate chips, I baked a batch of chocolate cookies with white chocolate chips. It was an instant hit and my kids loved it.  The joy on their faces when they get to enjoy these homemade cookies makes every baking session worth it. So here’s the recipe:  Ingredients   ½ cup of unsalted butter ½ cup white sugar powdered  ¼ cup brown sugar powdered 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1 cup flour ½ cup cocoa powder  ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup white chocolate chips Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C.  Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to just barely melt it...
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Triple Chocolate mousse

They say that no matter how old you become, when you are with your siblings, you revert back to your childhood. Growing up with my kid brother was one of the best adventures of my life. We’ve laughed over the silliest of things, fought for the tv remote almost everyday, we played as a team in home video games of Contra and Mario, watched the same movies over and over again and enjoyed the food during our every trip to the Gulf. He was my first “Foodie Buddy”. Years have passed by, and now when we are living in different continents, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we still connect over food in our conversations of what we used to eat in the past and what we relish today. Growing up, we didn’t have big celebrations during birthdays with cakes and parties…didn’t feel the need then…but today, we look forward to celebrate any occasion. So, whether we’re near or far, birthdays and anniversaries we celebrate for each other wherever geographically we are. While my kid brother ce...
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Kappad Beach - waves are calling for some much needed Vitamin ‘Sea’

Happiness is family get togethers. A while back I had a wonderful opportunity to be part of one such party to celebrate a milestone birthday of my dear aunt. The date was set, the time was set and the location was set. My family from different parts of the country gathered together at a lovely resort in the Kappad Beach. While the celebrations were joyous and all of us had a gala time at the resort; a spontaneous stroll at the Kappad beach was a wonderful experience for me. I look my best when I’m totally free, on a holiday and walking on the beach. The Kappad beach is one of Kerala's highly tourist-attracted destinations due to its topography, is located 16 km away from Kozhikode is nestled away from the hustle-bustle of the city, which makes it an ideal beach holiday destination for relaxation. A very thrilling feature about the Kappad beach is the fascinating formation of rocks that protrudes into the sea. The beach landscape includes several coconut groves and long stretch...
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