Anshu's Food Odyssey

Kheer is one of the most famous and loved desserts in India; be it any festival or auspicious occasion such as Diwali , Holi , Eid or Raksha Bandhan , it is one delicacy that finds a top place on the festive menu . Having said that, kheer is of different types and can be made with varied ingredients depending on the occasion and the region. While the most traditional version of kheer that can be found across India is the kheer made with rice, yet there are other farali versions too that are often made during the festival of Navratris and the holy month of Shravan, when many Hindus observe fasts and abstain from having any grains in their meals . Amongst all the farali versions,  sabudane (sago pearls) ki kheer is byfar the most common and is literally enjoyed by anyone and everyone. I too am fond of this delicious kheer and make it whenever there's an opportunity. For past few weeks, I have started observing fasts on Thursdays and as an offering (prashad), I try to make som

I remember how much I loved the chocolate sandwich biscuits in my childhood. Filled with a luscious, lickable chocolate cream sandwiched between layers of crisp and crunchy cookies, they were my best accompaniment to a glass of milk every morning. Even today, these biscuits happen to be my weakness; though we can easily get a variety of them from store, the satisfaction of baking these lovely beauties at home is simply inexplicable. Plus the heavenly chocolaty aroma that fills through the kitchen is something that instantly transports you to another world. No wonder, I am always in a lookout for reasons and occasions to bake them.. If you think baking them is a daunting task, let me tell you, its quite a simple chore much like baking any other biscuits. The only new thing with them, is making a butter cream frosting which also takes just a couple of minutes that too with only a few basic ingredients in hand. I must say the end result is simply fantastic with crunchy biscuit laye

Paneer Pasanda is a rich and creamy delicacy from Mughlai Cuisine wherein stuffed fried cottage cheese cubes/triangles are dunked in a luscious tomato & cashew based gravy. This is a perfect recipe for parties, get-togethers and festive occasions. Well, paneer or cottage cheese is one ingredient that is so so versatile. There are literally an endless number of recipes that can be cooked with it; palak paneer , shahi paneer, paneer butter masala , paneer tikka, kadhai paneer, matar paneer, paneer kofta  and paneer bhurji are some of the common ones that are cooked most often at homes. Coming to Paneer Pasanda , making it is slightly complex and time consuming when compared to other paneer dishes. But, just in case you want to add a variety to your usual paneer accompaniments, it makes for a perfect dish to go on your menu. It is one recipe that was long-due on my to-do list and fortunately I got the opportunity to make it last Saturday for a small get-together at our place.