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Treats

Meethe Shakarpare

August 16, 2020 by Bhawana

Meethe Shakarpare

 

IMG_0151

Filed Under: Appetizers/Snacks, Holi, Indian Sweets, North India, Snacks, Treats Tagged With: Holi Recipes, shakarpare, sugary diamonds, sugry treat, Sweet squares

Gujiya – Happy Holi

August 16, 2020 by Bhawana

holi

Holi is the festival full of fun (total masti) with no rules. This is the one festival we celebrate without taking shower and in clothes we don’t want to wear any more!
Holi is the festival to celebrate, victory of good over evil. Days before the festival people start gathering wood at open spaces to make a pyre with a effigy of Holika on top. Holika, sister of King Hiranyakashyapu who tricked Prahalad into the fire,Holika was burnt to death and Prahalad was saved. On choti holi every year this ritual signifies the triumph of good over evil. Loud music, delicious food and most important the spirit of togetherness defines this festival.
Colors is the most important part of holi other than gujiya. Holi is incomplete without Gujiya and colorful gulals.

To me, holi is more about array of food than playing with water and wet colors. Without much thinking about the calories and weight issues I like to celebrate Holi enjoying all delicious delicacies this festival is famous for…Gujiya, Shakarpare, Sev, Chakri, Kanji, Thandai, Dahi Vada, Chaat, Pakodas, just to name a few…

gujiya

Ingredients

For the dough:

    • 2 cups Maida (Refined flour)
    • 1/2 cup Ghee (Clarified butter)
    • Warm Water to mix

For the filling:

  • 1 cup Khoya
  • 1/4 cup Sugar
  • 1 tsp Green Cardamom Powder
  • Almonds, Pistachios, Cashew nut, Chironji nut – finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp Roasted Semolina
  • 2 tsp Coconut powder
  • Ghee/Oil for deep-frying

Method

Rub 1/4 cup ghee into the flour and knead into a stiff dough with warm water.
Leave to rest for at least half an hour.

For the filling:

  • Saute khoya in a pan over medium heat till it slightly changes color.
  • Keep aside for a while, when it cools, mix in the sugar, cardamom, all chopped nuts, roasted semolina and coconut powder.
  • Make balls of the dough and roll out into 1 cm / 1/8 in thick rounds (like small puris).
  • Take a round, wet the edges with water and place a piece of filling over one half.
  • Fold the other half over and press the edges together to seal.
  • Either use gujiya maker or make a design by pinching and twisting all along the sealed edges.
  • Make all the gujiyas in this way. Heat ghee/oil in a kadahi. Fry gujiya on medium/low flame till light golden in color.
  • Fish out and leave to drain on absorbent paper.
  • Serve hot or at room temperature and can be stored in air-tight containers.
  • Enjoy gujiyas with your family and friends. Happy Holi.

Linking it to the event :  Lets cook with seeds

Lets cook with seeds

 

Filed Under: Holi, Indian Sweets, North India, Treats Tagged With: gunjiya, Holi Recipes, karanji, mawa gujiya, sweet empanadas

Meethe Chawal – Saffron Rice

July 7, 2020 by Bhawana

Meethe Chawal

Basant Panchami (as we call it), is predominantly the day love for kites. Sky full of colorful kites, small and big and my favorite with a tail. Oh! How much I loved that tailed kite flying carelessly with a long tail made out of paper streamers. This is the only day when everybody are on rooftops before sunrise with all the energy and zest. The significance of the day lies in the worship of Goddess Saraswati, symbol of wisdom, knowledge and also the onset of spring season.
The color yellow plays an important role in Vasant Panchami as it is related to the bloom of mustard flowers during this period. Sweet saffron rice and yellow sweets are
more popular and relished on this day.

IMG_9442

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice
  • 3 tbsp Ghee
  • 1/2 cup Sugar (little more or less, suitable to your taste buds)
  • 1″ piece of Dalchini (Cinnamon Stick )
  • 2 tbsp Milk
  • 1/4 tsp Kesar (Saffron )
  • 4 whole Laung (Cloves)
  • 1/2 tsp Coarsely Crushed Elaichi (Cardamom Seeds)
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 3 tbsp sliced Pistachios and Almonds
  • 2 tbsp Grated Coconut
  • 1 Badi Elaichi (Black Cardamom)

IMG_9444

Method

  • Fry almonds, pistachios and coconut in a little bit of ghee on medium heat until nuts slightly change color. Set aside.
  • Put the rice, water, cinnamom stick, cloves, badi elaichi and salt in a sauce pan over medium low heat.
  • Let the rice cook for about 15 minutes, or until the water has evaporated and the rice is almost done.
  • While rice is cooking, in a separate pan combine milk, ghee, sugar, saffron, cardamom pd and bring to boil on medium heat, stir until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Add the nuts mixture and sugar syrup over the rice. Fold gently into the rice with a spoon (I simply use my hands) gently to avoid mashing the rice.
  • Let the rice simmer for more 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the heat off and leave it covered for another few minutes.
  • Garnished with dry fruits of your choice.

Filed Under: Indian Sweets, North India, Rice Dishes, Treats Tagged With: dry fruit rice, indian basant panchani, kesar bhat, rice dish, saraswati pooja, sweet rice, vasant

Lemon Cupcakes With Whipped Cream Frosting

June 28, 2020 by Bhawana

lemon cupcakes

I love snow days, sitting cozily on a couch with a hot ginger tea reading or writing for a blog watching small cotton balls falling down. Freshly fallen snow, white all around looks immensely beautiful and so serene. Busy lives take a pause, with no errands outside, no school, no office small family get together without rushing or planning for things. Everything is so peaceful and calm. But not for long….all of a sudden a bleak voice ” mommy, I’m bored,” will break your dream and ‘bang’ fall in to realities.
Bored and hungry, these two words takes you out of this cozy setup into action. To kill the boredom, I made these Lemon Cupcakes with/for my son on this serene beautiful day….
Well, lemon because in this freezing temperature my small Meyer lemon tree giving me surplus sunshine with its bounty of fruits.

IMG_9278

Lemon Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cup All-Purpose Flour
  •  1-1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
  •  1/4 tsp Salt
  •  3/4 cup Sugar
  •  1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
  •  3 large Eggs (at room temperature)
  •  1/2 tbsp Lemon Extract
  •  1/2tsp Lemon Zest
  •  1/4 cup Buttermilk (at room temperature)

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF and place liners in a cupcake pan.
  • Mix flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat sugar and butter together until creamy.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating on low speed, then mix in lemon extract.
  • Add dry ingredients and buttermilk to mixture in alternating intervals.
  • Turn speed up to medium, combining all ingredients until well mixed.
  • Spoon mixture into cupcake liners, about half full.
  • Bake for 18-20 min. or until cupcakes spring back to touch.
  • Cool completely before topping with whipped cream frosting.

IMG_9286

Whipped Cream Frosting

Ingredients

  •  1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/3 cup Cream Cheese
  • 4tbsp Granulated Sugar
  • 1 tsp Lemon Extract
  • Few drops of Yellow Color

Method

  • Pour heavy whipping cream, cream cheese and sugar into a chilled bowl and beat on low for 30–45 sec. or until well mixed.
  •  Add the lemon extract and increase speed to medium-high. Whip until soft peaks form.
  •  Add food coloring and mix thoroughly.
  •  Refrigerate topping until cupcakes have cooled.
  •  Decorate cupcakes.

Filed Under: Baking, Cupcakes, Treats Tagged With: cream cheese, Cupcakes, lemon recipes, snow day recipe, whipped cream frosting

Merry Christmas

June 8, 2020 by Bhawana

Christmas Santa Cake

 photo IMG_8892_zps8647c8b3.jpg

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 photo IMG_8886_zps557d12c6.jpg

Strawberry Santa

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Filed Under: Cakes, Christmas, Treats Tagged With: Cakes, Christmas, holiday recipes, Santa cake, Strawberry Santa

Rambling of thoughts with Chocolate Eclairs

October 12, 2016 by Bhawana

My thoughts have no boundaries. Call me dreamy, crazy, thoughtful, contemplative even broody or stupid anything….my brain works overtime… anytime. While sleeping its more fun, my dreams are all about whats in my mind. I can see my thoughts playing real roles in life and that to in colors. Sometimes thoughts brings back all beautiful moments from the past or even makes present colorful and bright thinking about future.
One day while thinking, God knows what.. all I want to eat was Chocolate Eclairs. I remembered how mommy surprised me one evening with my favourite Chocolate Eclairs from my favourite bakery. M was not there and no bakery in the perimeters of my home. The desire was so strong, I googled and Bon Appétit.
First I was really scared with all those fancy names but truth is, if u have a knack for cooking slowly things become easy for u.
I tried and result was very satisfying for me.

CHOCOLATE ECLAIRS
(Courtesy Videojug– Thank u very much)
for the choux pastry
6 ¾ fl oz water
4 1⁄3 oz butter
1 cups (½ pint) flour
5 eggs
a pinch of salt

for the pastry cream
17 fl oz cream
8 ¾ oz sugar

for chocolate topping
5 1⁄3 oz cooking chocolate
2 1⁄8 oz butter

 

Boil the water and butter
Place the small pan on a medium heat. Add the water, spoon in the butter, add the salt and bring to the boil.
Preheat oven Set the oven to 375ºF.
Make choux dough
Once boiling, add the flour to the pan of water and stir well with your wooden spoon until it forms a smooth dough. Then set aside to cool.
Make the pastry cream
Begin by adding the cream and sugar into the large bowl. Whisk it continuously until the cream starts to form stiff peaks. Cover the bowl with cling film and place into the fridge until you need to use it.
When the pastry has cooled down add in one egg and thoroughly combine using your wooden spoon, then continue to add all the eggs one by one until the dough has formed a smooth, elastic appearance.
Transfer dough into piping bag. Cover the baking tray with a piece of greaseproof paper and pipe the pastry dough into roughly 3cm wide and 15cm long, log shaped cylinders. (I made smaller) They are now ready to bake.
Place the baking tray into the centre of the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Make the chocolate sauce
Whilst the pastry is cooking we can melt the chocolate, so place a pan on a low heat and cover with the bowl of chocolate and butter. Allow to melt slowly.
When cooked remove the cooked eclairs from the oven and allow to cool.
When cooled, slice the length of each of the eclairs with a sharp knife and make a slight opening. Then with a spoon fill all the eclairs with the cream.
With a spoon, dribble the melted chocolate length ways over each eclair and leave them to cool. You could even pop them in the fridge.
Serve these mouth-watering eclairs for dessert or as a special treat

Filed Under: Baking, Desserts, Treats Tagged With: Chocolate, Chocolate eclairs, chocolate recipes, Choux Pastry, Cream Dessert

Halloween 2009

April 6, 2016 by Bhawana

Now that our festival season is over but the festivity is still all around. That’s one big advantage of living in US. As we say, goodbye see u next year .. to Diwali, same time look forward excitedly for Halloween night trick or treat, planning for Thanksgiving dinner and shopping, shopping, shopping on black Friday, Christmas eve party and lastly New year eve.

Wow…But today lets talk about Halloween.
Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31 every year in US. Its a spooky, funky, sweet holiday because of all the candies and chocolates and cupcakes and cookies baked for the day.
I made these Cupcakes on Halloween for Maanav and his friends in our block.

These are Carrot cupcakes with whipped cream frosting.

I even tried my hands in Thumbprint Cookies. Thanks to this blog world for sharing wonderful recipes. These are Chocolate thumbprint cookies and Lemon curd thumbprint cookies.
We preferred Lemon curd, they comes out really good.



These cookies are really fun to bake. I’m not sharing the recipe coz this place is full of beautiful recipes if you still need, let me know I’ll be happy to do it.

These cookies are Coconut Macadamias cookies and reallllly delicious. Anyways anything with coconut is really delicious for me. But it tastes like our Indian coconut cookies.

Saving for last, this is my first log cake I baked and decorated. The filling I used was vanilla whipped cream with strawberry and walnut.

Decorating any cakes is always a nice experience, its fun to explore, try new techniques and at last feeling of contentment when your family and friends enjoy eating it.
So this is the story of my Halloween waiting to hear from you guys!!…

Filed Under: Baking, Cookies, Halloween, Treats Tagged With: Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Cupcakes dedicated to a Friend.

March 2, 2016 by Bhawana

Hi Sangi,
Thank u very much for all the awards. This post as promised is dedicated to u. I hope things are fine at your end. We (your blogger friends) are waiting for you and your spicy chatpati post.
Come back soon…
Thank U Sangi.

For Considering my blog,

and showering me with all these beautiful awards.

Now the tag time…

What is your current obsession?
Baking

What are you wearing today?
Blue top and denim capris.

What’s for dinner?
No Idea…

What is the last thing you brought?
Grossery

What are you listening to right now?
Moment of bliss, nth.

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
Simple, lovable, friendly, creative.. who cooks delicious food thats why known as Simply…Delicious.

If you have a house totally paid for,fully furnished any where in the world,where would you like it to be?
Seaside Penthouse.

What are your must have pieces for summer?
Sunscreen, white cotton clothes, lots of water.

Which language you want to learn?
French.

Who do u want to meet now?
Now….my hubby, nice weather we can go out for a nice drive.

What is your favourite colour?
Green

What do you try to cook when you have cooking blues(when you feel real lazy to cook something)?
Cook stories about the restaurent so that we can go out and eat there.

What are the cosmetics/make-up/perfumes that you can’t live without?
Kajal Pencil

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Actually all my saaris.

If you had $100 now,what would you spend it on?
Mac cosmetics

Who are your style icons?
None

Describe your personal style?
Can’t say my personal but I appreciate simple yet classy.

What are your favourite movies?
Favourite none but I enjoyed watching many of them.

Give us three styling tips that always work for you?
Nth for sure.

Coffe or tea?
Adrak ki chai

What inspires you?
Success.

Which other blogs you love visiting?
List is long…this place is full of best of the best.

Favourite dessert/sweet?
Gulab Jamun, rasmalai, rasgulla, gajar ka halwa, jalebi………

Favourite season?
In US Spring and Fall

Which is your dream destination?
Comforts of home.

Which is your favourite international cuisine?
Italian

Who is your favourite singer?
Asha Bhonsle

Thank u Sangi for tagging and showering me with all these awards.

Now it’s time for the recipe of the day….

Chocolate Cupcakes with vanilla ButterCream Frosting

Original recipe from Cupcakes Creations

5 oz Butter – softened
5 oz superfine (castor) sugar I used lesser suitable for my palate.
6 oz (175g)self-raising flour
3 eggs
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to moderate 350F.
Line 12 CC pan with paper cases.
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Sift flour and cocoa and fold into butter mixture alternately with milk. Drop spoonfuls of mixture into prepared paper cases. Bake for 20 min or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool in pans.

Vanilla ButterCream Frosting
5 oz butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract (not synthetic vanilla)
1 C icing/confectioner’s sugar
2 tbsp milk

Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Gradually add vanilla and 2 tbsp of milk. Beat until smooth and creamy. Pipped it on cupcakes and decorate them ur way.

Sure thing tastes yummy….if dieting forget about it for few minutes.

Filed Under: Baking, Cupcakes, Treats Tagged With: Awards, Buttercream Frosting, Chocolate cupcake, chocolate recipes

Jab We Met….

August 14, 2015 by Bhawana

This month we celebrated 5Th year anniversary of Jab We Met…. yeah! we met 5 years back as strangers over a cup of Cappuccino. That’s what we ordered and spent some time talking and knowing each other. Coincidentally he was wearing shirt of my favourite color, and being fan of “Dil To Pagal Hai” I thought its a sign from above (ya! those days) and that color is everywhere in our home now.
We met as Strangers, Started as a Couple and now “Three” is a company.
On our Fifth Anniversary of Jab We Met I made Cappuccino (Tried ya, at home without Machine) just to relive our first meeting all over again.
I tried it for the first time ( we both are Tea Lovers – Adrak Ki Chai) and it comes out fairly good. But today I want to share much delayed recipe for-
PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE
For Caramel
  • 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 6 pineapple rings/slices
  • 6 maraschino cherries ( I used 11)
For Cake
  • 2 cup All Purpose Flour/Maida
  • 2tsp Baking powder
  • 1/2tsp Salt
  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 1 c Sugar (or less up to your taste)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1tsp Vanilla essence
  • 1/2 cup Milk
Method
  • For Caramel–
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan.
  • Add brown sugar and mix it very well.
  • When sugar starts caramelizing, pour it in to a greased cake pan.
  • Arrange pineapple and cherries according to the shape of the pan.
  • For Cake-
  • Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Sift flour, baking pd and salt.
  • Separate the yolk and white of eggs.
  • Beat yolk with Butter and Sugar until light and lemony yellow.
  • Add dry ingredients and vanilla essence.
  • Add milk mix it well.
  • Beat egg whites until stiff then fold into the egg yolk mixture.
  • Pour it on arranged pineapple and cherries.
  • Bake in preheated oven at 350F for up to 35 to 45 minutes.
  • Let the cake cool down for 10 min, and then raise the curtain by turning it upside down.
  • Cake is ready to serve.

Filed Under: Cakes, Treats Tagged With: Caramel, fruit cake, pineapple cake, upside down cake

Instant Treat For Kids

August 3, 2015 by Bhawana

Instant Fruit Pudding

There are times when you want to instantly reward your children with some colorful tasty treat, that your kiddos really deserve. Kids wants something sweet, colorful, and whipped cream..yeah !! This is what I gave to my kiddo when he ate green beans in his lunch without any fuss. Bravo…he earns it.
This colorful bowl requires sesonal fruits or any fruits you have and whipped cream (can use that are available in cans or whipped at home)
Fruits I used were– Mango (cubed), Banana (sliced), Strawberry (sliced) and raspberries.
Really simple, Place first layer of fruit in a bowl (in my case I used Mango) then thin layer of cream, second layer of fruit (IMC-Banana) again thin layer of cream, Third Layer of Fruit (IMC – Strawberry) swirls of w-cream and last fruit I used Raspberries.
Instant Fruit Pudding ready to eat.I really want to mention the help I get from my son by giving me the fruit bowls, repeating fruits name after me and lastly sharing it with our neighbour’s daughter.
Just for u Shonna… Anyday Anytime Anything.

Filed Under: Desserts, Treats Tagged With: Children Treat, Cream, Fruits

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"Food is not about impressing people, It's about making them feel comfortable." I still remember when I got married & came to US first two days I don’t have to bother about food, we were eating out and then we went to grocery store & there the reality struck. Its not that cooking was a new term to me but cooking with out taking instructions & help of my mother & grandmother was something new and different. Newly married, nervous but with lot of confidence I cooked bhindi (okra) & burnt it but my husband M ate it like nothing happened though he didn’t say anything but I felt really bad. That day I realized that I used to cook before but all on my mother’s instructions. That means it’s a new world to me and has to start cooking from scratch without my mother’s help. M always been very encouraging to me & till today he is my guinea pig. And i like cooking for him.

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