

by Bhawana


by Bhawana

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…

For the dough:
For the filling:
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:

by Bhawana

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.


by Bhawana

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.

Lemon Cupcakes

Whipped Cream Frosting
by Bhawana
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
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!!…
by Bhawana
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
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.
by Bhawana
by Bhawana