I love spring/summer for all the fresh fruits we get to eat! I saw these beautiful apricots at Whole Foods and grabbed a few hoping to make a chutney. I was planning a dinner party with some friends so I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone, I put together a cheese platter just so I could use my new cheese board I got as a birthday gift last year and I made apricot jam instead of chutney to go with the cheese. I loved making Fig Jam last year and I can't wait to make it again this year when they are in season. I followed the same concept with the Apricot jam as well but I was so disappointed with myself because I forgot to turn down the heat and walked away from the pot. The jam was not a jam anymore, it was this dark caramelized goo. Ugh...I had to buy more apricots and tried making it again the next day. I did not forget to turn down the heat and paid more attention to it and thankfully, it turned out well.
Read MoreVegan Polenta Crusted Eggplant
"Eww...eggplant..so mushy...eww," said young Karishma. "Hmm...how can I make eggplant not so mushy," said "chef" Karishma.
I used to HATE eggplant as a kid. Whenever my mom made anything with eggplant, I used to pick it out because I didn't like the texture. But lately I've been giving it another chance and I actually don't mind it at all. I made this when my mother-in-law was in town back in April (yes, this is a very late post). She loves trying new things so this gave me an opportunity to create a new recipe.
Read MoreFig Jam
I've only ever had dried figs and they're pretty delicious. I saw fresh ripe figs for the first time and got excited. I bought a pack but I didn't know what to do with them. I tried to eat them raw but I wasn't a fan. They weren't as sweet as I thought they would be. Maybe it was just that batch I got. I browsed for recipes and I decided to make fig jam. I couldn't settle on a single recipe so I decided to combine inspirations from a few I found on Food52.com. My mom and I kept trying the mixture to see what needed to be added and the aftermath was pretty sweet (pun intended). :)
Read MoreMango Chaat Pizza
An Indian restaurant in Fremont, CA has Mango Chaat Pizza that my hubby loves. I tried to mimic their MCP at home today and it turned out great! I just guessed the ingredients they used. It's so easy to make and it will "wow" your family and friends. My hubby said, "this is probably the best thing you've ever made." Hmm...but he said that about the pasta I made the other day. :-P
Read MoreBlack Bean Burger
My cousin's wife is a great cook and she is really good at Indian fusion recipes. She shared this black bean burger recipe with me and it's one of our favorites! I made baked fries because I wanted a healthier option for regular fries.
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