Dessert

Top 10 Quick Diwali Sweets

November 1, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Here are a few quick sweets to make last minute Diwali is right out the corner. Colors, lights, fireworks, clothes, family, friends, parties, dancing, and, of course, we can’t forget the food. The food and sweet is in abundance. It has the spirit of coming together, laughing over mugs of coffee and tea, snacking, and just relaxing. One of the specialties of Diwali is the snacks that are prepared days before the actual festival. Here are my top 5 Quick Diwali sweets I make every year and it is loved and enjoyed. Happy Diwali from ours to yours!!

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Maple Rum Apple Banana Pudding Cake

October 4, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This simple delicious cake bakes so beautifully, with a sauce that forms in the bottom. This maple rum apple pudding cake with banana is a quick dessert to take for potlucks and surprise guests with.

I woke up one morning last week just when the sun was peeking through. I suddenly felt the need to grab my robe, and I really craved a warm cup of coffee. Autumn. FINALLY. My bones have ached for this season. I want to believe the fallen leaves that cover our footpath now match the hues of my heart.

Every morning, I sit on the large floor by the tall windows and stare at our neighbor’s apple tree. It has thrived. I’ve seen them grow for years, from a tiny sapling to a young tree. And now they stand proudly with fruits that blush with pinkish reddish hues. Ready to be plucked. The tree very gracefully hovers over our fence calling for us to enjoy her. Wait, is it fair to pluck fruits from someone else’s tree? Not sure. …

Over the Top Toasted Chocolate Hazelnut S’mores Bars

July 2, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Buttery and gooey with the chocolatey nutty marshmallow goodness. This toasted chocolate hazelnut s’mores bars will be gone before you know it. It will be a summer staple once you make it.

As a content creator, I often face a reoccurring problem. Sometimes, I scratch my head pondering on what to post to keep it exciting and interesting, doable, and also something I love to eat. And then there is the photographer’s block. Last, and worst, is the writer’s block.

I’ve gone through periods where I had to take a break because the content simply wasn’t exciting enough. Especially after my book, I really hit a wall for few weeks. Then boom, I had this immense bout of energy to cook, test, shoot and share. But at the end of the day, what do you write for all these posts?…

Panzanella Ice Cream / Roasted Summer Fruit No Churn Ice Cream

June 29, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

At the peak of summer, fresh fruit is bountiful. This easy roasted summer fruit no churn ice cream recipe is the perfect tasty dessert for hot summer days.

Panzanella/Roasted summer fruit No churn Ice cream |foodfashionparty| #summerfruiticecream #panzanella

Every summer has a story, and it’s often bittersweet.

Around here, many moms are celebrating . . . and lamenting (just a tad bit) the last day of school arrived a couple of weeks ago. Simultaneously relieved and a little bit terrified. We’re finished with homework, packing lunches, carpool lines, teacher gifts, and end of year parties. On one hand, it’s a huge relief. But we’re looking down the barrel of twelve weeks of managing unusual schedules, creating fun activities, packing for road trips, applying sunscreen, picking up wet swimsuits, cleaning up sand in the car, and trying to continue to contribute to the world in a meaningful way in the middle of it all. Then there’s the never-ending pull of over-scheduling versus under-scheduling….

Creamy Peach Pistachio Horchata Popsicles – Gluten Free and Vegan

June 22, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Summertime means stone fruits, popsicles, and cool drinks. I combined the three in this Peach Horchata Popsicles. A delicious peach jam and strawberry preserve swirled in the horchata mix make this a delicious treat. You will not believe it’s not cream or milk based.

Are you a multitasker?

I consider myself skilled at multitasking. Like many working moms and women, I can get sucked in the Bermuda triangle of the regular routine chores. I can be thinking of one thing, doing one thing, seeing something, and talking on the phone with someone, all at the same time. I know it sounds complicated, but for some, we are wired that way. For instance, I will be talking to my family about planning a vacation and my topic all of a sudden will shift to my little baby bear, as to why he didn’t finish his chores… :). That’s how a mind of a multitasker works, I guess….

Creamy Pistachio Cardamom Horchata & A letter to grads

June 19, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

Insanely rich and creamy. This is the best creamy pistachio cardamom horchata you’ll ever make. Spiked with some rum or served on some ice, it’s the perfect summer dessert or drink for parties.

We reached a milestone last week. My teen graduated from high school!

It is jarring to find out that he is an adult. A few of our friends’ kids, who we cradled in our arms, are now beautiful grown men and women, graduating high school. Gone are the days of Wii games and children’s books, and now comes the time where we ask them what they’d like to take to their dorm. A toaster maybe, or an instant pot….

Easiest Delicious Kahlua Chocolate Matcha Mousse

June 2, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

An easy and quick summer treat that is great for entertaining or a pick me up on those warm summer afternoons. The chocolate matcha mousse is a no-bake, eggless dessert that’s creamy, fluffy and oh so good.

“Desserts are like a feel-good song, and the best ones make you dance.” – Chef Edward Lee

The windows are open, and a light breeze comes in moving around the papers left on the table. A warm heat touches the side of my elbows. Waffles finally has made his way to a corner of the garden where bougainvilleas are showering him with flowers and shade. He digs a little spot for himself and sits cozily, tucked in for the next few hours, sun bathing. I take my cold coffee outside, sit under the large red umbrella, and turn on my Etta James playlist with a book to scribble on. Gazing into nothing and closing my eyes, I’m dreaming of the next couple of months…. I can feel it slowing down, as the holidays are approaching. Ready to embrace the heat……

Salvadoran Sweet Bread / Semitas De Dulce (Sweet Stuffed Bread)

May 15, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This Salvadoran Sweet Bread / Semitas De Dulce is a traditional bread stuffed with panela/jaggery. A delicious twist on the classic recipe is to use your favorite jam as a filling.

You have to taste the culture to understand it.

We travel for many reasons. To explore, for love, for glory, for adventure, for thrills, to get away from reality, to relax. For the new and the familiar, for sensory thrills and serenity, for socialization and isolation, for risk and reward, for the journey and the story and the secrets. I travel for all these reasons. Which is all just another way of saying that I travel to eat….

Caramel Crunch Raspberry Ice Cream Cake

April 5, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

So happy to partner with Werther’s Original to bring you this easy and delicious Caramel Crunch Raspberry Ice Cream Cake. I absolutely love Werther’s Caramel. It is the only candy I use in my caramel desserts. Here, we have a beautiful caramel crunch raspberry ice cream cake.

Happy Spring!!

I’ve been to two countries, visited different places, witnessed different cultures, and had loads of good food. India treated me well in the last few weeks. I spent some quality time with friends and family. Well, now I’m back home and back in routine just before spring break.

And this happened….

Bailey’s White Chocolate Panna Cotta with Amaretti Cookies

February 5, 2018 By Asha Shivakumar

This white chocolate panna cotta is smooth, silky, and perfect for any occasion. The white chocolate adds a touch of sweetness, the blood orange gelee adds a citrus punch, and the amaretti cookies add a great crunch.

Happy February!!

This dessert was inspired by my love of white chocolate and blood oranges. I think they are a match made in dessert heaven. I tried hard to capture both of their strengths while maintaining their integrity.

I’m generally not a big fan of citrus fruits, but blood oranges are something I wait for, every year. A good glass of fresh juice in its freshest form is such a refresher, but I also love using it desserts like this. This panna cotta is such a sexy and smooth dessert, and I thought, what better day to share it than on Valentine’s Day?…