For the love of food and travel

Well, I finally did it.  They have been on my list of things I have always wanted to make for way too long. Croissants are not something you make if you do not have the time. They do take a lot of time and labour. But I like to call it the labour of love. Now, will I ever make these again? Probably yes, but only because I love croissants and I live in a family of bread lovers. Technically, making croissants are not hard at all....they are actually pretty straight forward. If you can make bread then you can make these, but you do need time .  A croissant is a delicious French pastry, known by its crescent shape. (Croissant means crescent in French). Puff pastry is used to make this delicacy - the dough is layered with butter, rolled and folded a few times, then rolled into its shape. It is then glazed with butter and baked. The original croissant was called Kipfel and originated in Austria in 1683. It was created in honor of the Austrian victory over the Turks and m...

Living in a city like Bangalore, evening showers are almost a given. They wash over the streets, cool the air, and bring down the day’s lingering heat. The nights don’t turn icy like the winters of December or January, but there’s a gentle chill that makes you crave something warm and comforting. On such evenings, nothing feels better than a simple, homemade meal. For me, one-pot dishes are the ultimate comfort food—and a hearty lasagna is just perfect for nights like these. This is a recipe I’ve been wanting to share for quite some time. I cook it often, but I kept debating which version to post first—the classic with meat, a vegetarian option, or the lighter chicken variation. In the end, I went with the meat lasagna. It’s hearty, satisfying, and always a crowd-pleaser at home. I was genuinely excited about how this meat lasagna turned out. A classic is always a classic, and this one came together beautifully—it had just the right texture and tasted absolutely delicious. I decide...

We’re big pasta fans at home. At least once a month, we treat ourselves to a visit to an Italian restaurant just to enjoy a good plate of pasta. And of course, I love making it in my own kitchen too—so there’s always some tucked away in the pantry. Spaghetti, fettuccine, macaroni, fusilli, lasagna, ravioli, cannelloni, farfalle… we love them all. Pair any of these with a sauce—whether it’s Alfredo, Carbonara, Pesto, Marinara, or Arrabbiata—and you’ve got yourself the kind of cozy, satisfying meal that never fails to make everyone happy. According to the International Pasta Organization, there are more than 600 different shapes of pasta produced throughout the world. Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, with the first reference dating to 1154 in Sicily. It is typically a noodle made from an unleavened dough of a durum wheat flour mixed with water or eggs and formed into sheets or various shapes, then cooked by boiling or baking.  Pastas may be divided int...

The very first time I tasted focaccia was at an Italian restaurant—and oh my, it was love at first bite! The aroma, the soft yet chewy texture, the rich flavor… everything about this bread won me over instantly. And I’ll admit, even the way it’s pronounced had its charm. Of course, the next thought that popped into my head was: how do I make this at home? That curiosity led me straight online, exploring recipes and following food bloggers to learn the secrets of baking focaccia in a home kitchen. To my delight, I discovered it’s not complicated at all—it fits perfectly into my category of easy, joyful cooking. But first, let’s talk about what focaccia actually is. Focaccia is a traditional Italian flatbread baked in the oven, known for its soft, airy texture and golden crust. It’s often brushed with olive oil and topped with herbs, cheese, onions, or even meats. You can also add vegetables for extra flavor, making it one of the most versatile breads to enjoy at home. Most his...