I was born into a large joint family. My father was one of nine children, and my mother, the eldest of twelve siblings. My dear late father, a jeweler, was the smartest and the most handsome of the lot. He took it upon himself to conduct every marriage or thread ceremony of all my cousins….
Vegan
Potato Pakoda – A tasty snack (Vegan)
Most of us around the world love potatoes. Potato lovers like to think that the earth is round like a potato! We are easily annoyed when asked if it isn’t the other way around. To us, a world without potatoes is just impossible! A kitchen without a bag of potatoes, just inconceivable! Both my dear…
Tomato Sauce (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Rows of bottles of tomato sauce line the shelves of every supermarket, every grocery shop. It has become such an indispensable part of our lifestyle in recent years. Whether it is french fries, pizza or fried rice, noodles, gobi manchurian or samosas, tomato sauce is a must. Yet, when one goes through the mandatory list…
Acerola Cherry and Ivy Gourd Pickle (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Konkani people make delicious, tender karonda cherry pickle called karinja nonche in Konkani. It is made using karonda cherries and tender ivy gourds. However, it is a tedious process as the karonda cherries are gummy and need to be processed for days before the pickle can be made. If you substitute the karonda cherries with…
Konkani Chili Pickle (Vegan + Gluten Free)
There are no newspaper boys where I live. Early morning, everyone goes to the tiny village marketplace to pick up their newspapers or to sell their milk and fresh farm produce, or to just gossip over a glass of tea at the local tea shops. This morning, when my husband went there for the newspaper,…
Acerola Cherries in Syrup (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Five years ago, my husband planted a tiny acerola cherry (also called Barbados, West Indian, Wild Crepe Myrtle cherries, Malpighia Emarginata) plant by the side of our courtyard. Within a year, it started bearing fruit. Nourished with farmyard manure and lime, and watered in summer, it now bears baskets of delicious, bright red cherries, attracting…
Acerola Cherry Squash – Fruit drink concentrate (Vegan + Gluten Free)
So many of us casually reach for a bottle of soft drink in the heat of the day, little reflecting on what is packed in the bottle other than water and sugar – artificial colors, flavors, stabilizers and preservatives, many of which are harmful to health. What if you were to have an absolutely thrilling,…
Jaggery Cucumber Juice – Scoop and drink! (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Do you feel like having a juice that freshens and energizes you, that cools and detoxifies your system? Do you wish to have a juice that you can enjoy in scoops, munching delicious, sweet grated cucumber in between heavenly nectarine sips? Something light and filling at the same time? Are you looking for a juice…
Sweet Taushali – A sweet cucumber pancake (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Sundays are special, because almost everyone in the family is at home. There is no school for children. No compulsions to rush away to work. All can enjoy a delicious, healthy breakfast at leisure. Let this Sunday turn out to be a cucumber breakfast day. Sweet taushali is a traditional Konkani cucumber coconut rice pancake…
Chili Peanuts – A delicious deep-fried snack (Vegan + Gluten Free)
Nearly everyone loves peanuts (groundnuts). In India, one finds beaches and marketplaces dotted with pushcart peanut vendors, roasting salted, shelled peanuts in hot sand and selling them in little newspaper cones to eager buyers. Such a delight to eat, peanuts are brain food – great for children and adults alike. When peanuts are…