If like me, you crave bright and fresh flavors in dark winter days, then this cake will give you every reason to smile and lift your mood! Citrus fruits are a great source of mood-elevating vitamin C. Plus, chocolate is a definite cure for cold weather and gray skies. So, I thought to make this orange chocolate cake. To tell the truth I have made this cake a few times, and every time I did it a little different. For a warming twist, I decided to add in some ginger this time. It tasted amazing and exotic!
Aromatic Wild Rice Mix
Do you love rice? Most people do (myself included) and that’s okay, because rice is the most familiar food eaten in grain form. It makes a delicious side dish that pairs well with almost everything. Growing up I only had white basmati and parboiled rice. I didn’t even know about other types. That all changed a few years ago when I was diagnosed and had to go gluten-free. Life has a way of bringing in wisdom at the right time. Slowly I figured out other varieties of rice and different kinds of whole grains (quinoa, sorghum, millet and buckwheat). I still use rice flour in baking and eat basmati rice, but the frequency is very much reduced. Today’s recipe of wild rice mix is a brilliant accompaniment alongside grilled meats, vegetables, kabobs, and even Indian curries.
Sicilian Cookies with egg free and sugar free option
On my recent trip to Italy I had a chance to eat a bunch of gluten free cookies. I particularly fell in love with the Sicilian cookies. They were crisp on the outside and dense and chewy on the inside. So of course, I had to come home and try to recreate it. I searched online and developed my recipe based on this and this. These cookies are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free and so delicious. I also experimented with egg and sugar free cookies, just in case someone with different dietary restrictions needed to try them. The result was soft with a texture of cake.
Fragrant Hot and Sour Soup
The season now is such that we are having a lot of soups. Hot and sour soup is one that I learned to love and make after living in Asian influenced city of Richmond. There are many versions of this soup, but my recipe is a combination of Chinese and Thai and it turned into the best I have ever had!
My Week Long Holiday Trip to Northern Italy – Part 2
Being married for 25 years is no small feat, so to celebrate our love and togetherness we went to Italy in October. Our trip was basically to the Northern part of Italy. We visited Venice, Florence, Genoa, and Lake Garda – which my Italian friend said was a must visit. Lake Garda is not only the largest lake in Italy, it’s a gorgeous place with lovely towns clinging to the edge and large alps all around. We stayed in Bardolino, a small town situated on the south eastern side of Lake Garda. This lovely town is known for its wine which is very fresh, delicious and sparkly.
Methi Paneer
Fenugreek leaves, also called Kasuri Methi, is an herb/ vegetable with a bitter but an addictive taste. I find myself adding it to everything from rice, to chicken and also rotis. People often like to mix methi with spinach to mellow out the bitterness. I am sharing a recipe where methi is used as a vegetable and to which paneer is added, and so the sweetness and richness of paneer also mellows out the bitterness of methi. This is a highly fragrant winter dish that goes beautifully with almost any indian bread-chapatis, naans, rotis or parathas or with some daal and rice.
My week long Holiday Trip to Northern Italy – Part 1
We recently returned from a fabulous holiday in Northern Italy celebrating our 25 years of marriage. It was absolutely wonderful. Every single place we visited was memorable and gorgeous. Our holiday trip included Venice, Florence, Pisa, Genova and Lake Garda. We stayed in major touristy areas but in nice, quiet hotels for convenience of gluten free food choices. This also saved us time and money on ferry trips, trains, or taxis.
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