Winter Cravings

Today I decided to give you an insider's look into what eating-in in winter looks like. It mainly comprises of carbs..loads of them actually, and some hot chocolate and doses of caffeine in between and then more carbs again. Adding on to the winter-weight, blame the weather!

There's something about this weather that makes you super-hungry without stepping outside. And when you are in snowed-in for days, nothing warms up the heart like a big bowl of soupy deliciousness.

So here goes my winter-food diary!

 Nothing more comforting than digging in a bowl of Spicy and Garlicky Dal-Khichadi! Also, it's easy to make and with ingredients right at home. 

 Some left-over paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and potato mixture stuffed in-between two loaves of bread and toasted to perfection with generous amounts of ooey-gooey cheese..lip-smacking to say the least!

 Good ol' Idli, sambar and chutney..breakfast and lunch rolled into one big bowl! I used to think making idlis is a lot of work and preferred making dosas over them. But this time around, my views changed. Idlis are actually easier to make and both of us can sit down for the meal at the same time (and not when one of us is busy at the stove top making dosas) 

A bowl of hot and warming Potato chowder! Yes. More. Carbs. It's been a harsh winter, people! 

This soup was actually a last minute idea. It's a pot with some spices, potatoes, cream and all of it blended together. I do add brocolli or cauliflower if it's available. I serve it with toasted baguette or bread sticks. 

And to keep me going in the day, copious amounts of caffeine. I am drinking Hot Italian Mocha (my absolute fave) in an actual ceramic cup at Nordstrom Cafe. Starbucks is so over-rated, I tell you! 

So..what have you been gorging on? 

Connect With Me

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Healthy & Tasty Series - Cauliflower Leek soup

I almost always have cauliflower in my fridge and well I am plain bored eating it as sabzi or in pav-bhaji. So, when I saw this recipe first time on a Cooking Channel show called as 'Bitchin Kitchen' by Nadia G., I knew I had to try it out. Also, the fact that I have seen 'Leek' like a million times in the grocery store, and the curious cook that I was, I really never knew how to put it to a good use. So in that sense, this soup helped me to marry the two interesting ingredients for me.
The recipe itself is quick and easy, and the soup makes a perfect companion on a cold winter day with a book/movie/TV show.

This flavor-packed soup recipe has been adapted from here.

Cooking time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 leek, thinly sliced
6 cups organic chicken stock (you could use hot water too)
1 cauliflower, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 potatoes, diced
1 bay leaf
3/4 cup aged cheddar cheese ( I skipped the cheese)
pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
fresh chives, minced (I used coriander)

Directions

• In a pot, heat the extra virgin olive oil over medium. 
• In the oil, sauté the leeks for a few minutes until soft.
• Deglaze the pot with organic chicken stock. Add the cauliflower, potatoes, bay leaf to the stock and simmer for 15-20 minutes until veggies are fork-tender. Remove the pot from the heat. Fish out about one cup of cauliflower florets and potatoes and set them aside.
• Puree the soup using a hand blender, and then put the cauliflower and potatoes pieces back into the pot. Add the aged cheddar, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. Turn the heat down to medium-low and whisk until the cheese is melted.
• Serve topped with fresh chives/coriander.

Back on track

Aaah!! it feels just great to be back home and back on track..after a really long (read 5 days) vacation. I have come to realize that ‘HOME’ is but a warm fuzzy feeling full of comfort. Nothing against traveling or vacationing, but after a certain point you look forward to coming back home..having a bowl/plate of your favorite comfort food, watching tv in the night and lazying on the comfy couch..just do the normal humdrum and it just feels right to do just that for some time.

We took a red-eye from LA n so we were home early morning. In evidently I took a day off to get over from the vacay hangover and well you can imagine, J was supremely jealous!! He managed to catch some winks and then had to head to the office. Well, for me.. I did just what I said above. I had a bowl of desi comfort food – aka daal rice with some pickles n spicy shev (I was too lazy even to get a papad in microwave), made myself comtable on the sofa and watched a couple of chic flicks. Perfect afternoon I must say! So from now on this can be termed as the ‘Ultimate remedy for vacay hangover’. Unpacked bags, laundry, and everything else will have to wait for its turn.

While on vacation I managed to keep a tab on some of fav blogs. Well, I realized I was late to post the 4^th of July outfits, but nonetheless very much inspired from J from J's everyday fashion I have got three outfits from my wardrobe. July 4^th outfits is nothing but putting together an outfit based on red, blue and white colors. I actually feel that it’s such a classic combo that it doesn’t have to be July4th to don that.

Well, did you dress up for 4^th of July festivities/BBQ/outings? and which one of these 3 outfits is your fav? Do share your tips and feedback.

Outfit 1:

Red striped Top: Tommy Hilfiger outlet

Butterfly necklace & Blue shorts: H&M

Fedora hat: Francesca’s

Tan boat shoes (not seen in picture): Aldo

Watch: Husband’s Casio EDIFICE Chronograph

Glasses: Vogue (Pearle Vision)

Iphone cover: Kate Spade New York Agenda iphone 4 case

 Outfit 2:

Red denims: NY and Company (as seen here and here and here)

Blue striped tee: Gap

fringed necklace: Sears
chunky watch: Anne Klein
patent pumps: Payless

Outfit 3 is what I would wear to office in the July 4 spirit. I toned down the look with black belt n wedges (you could also wear them with black pumps) and yeah I went again low on accessories. I usually don't prefer a whole lot of accessories at work, its not comfy for me when I am working, typing away emails or on calls. I do wear a pretty necklace and earrings and def a great watch befitting the dress but no bracelets or rings for me at work. I mean business, serious business B-)

Red striped shirt: H&M
navy blue skirt: Banana Republic Factory Outlet 
Belt: NY and Company
Black wedges: Aldo

        

P.S. Thank you very much to all the lovely ladies at IN-FB. You took time to review my Black and White remix outfit and left such lovely comments.. *I am honored*