Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
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A weblog of the food journey of a whimsical foodie, showcasing seasonal, regional and sustainable Indian Cooking. The food capers of a suburban working mom, with two kids, a foodie cat and a gardener husband. Speaking of regional flavors, check out my award winning cookbook, The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles.
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
1M ago
It has been a hot minute. But I am so excited about these cookies, they have brought me out of blog hibernation. These Double Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies are a chocolate lovers dream. Naturally so much chocolate can only mean one thing, yes, one of my chocolate lovers are home. Today was the last day of my son’s spring break and I sent him back home with these cookies.
As things on the home front. Well, we survived a week. In my case on some days, barely. Still grateful for my children. And grateful that simple things like a recipe that works out brings me so much joy. My soapbox aside, these ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
3M ago
The first time I had Baked Beans on Toast, was not at the iconic Flury’s. It was made by my aunt or Choto Mashi. She made this based on my description of the dish and cravings. It is quite likely since this was in London, she had doctored a can of Heinz’s baked beans.
This said, it is a memory that lingers vivid and bold with me. Since then, I have of course enjoyed this a few times at Flury’s. I am honestly not sure why, I was craving baked beans recently. In scouring through a few recipes including this one, I offer you a really good version of baked beans that I have put together. It is goo ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
4M ago
This really is a put everything that you have together together kind of meal. Yes, the sort you come to this site for. So, yes it is a Sausage and Peppers Ravioli. Well, there are loads of onions, garlic and spinach. All of this meshed with Butternut squash ravioli is what I am culling together to bring in the first post of 2024. Well, it is a little bit of everything, and times for me and where my Spice Chronicles kitchen will land is a little bit uncertain and lots of confused.
The Story of this Sausage and Peppers Ravioli
My home is breaking up. Yes, I still have my boy with me for a ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
5M ago
Chingri Macher Bora is a rustic shrimp fritter cake with Bengali Flavors. In general, I am always looking for cozy and comforting options as winter approaches. This year it is all the more so, and to this end I whipped up these simple and comforting shrimp fritters or Chingri Macher Bora. Easily made with the frozen shrimp on hand, these worked out to be satisfying and quick comfort on short notice.
What exactly is a Bora and what is Chingri Macher Bora
Loosely translated, a bora is a fritter. It is the Bengali equivalent of a pakora. Except that a bora can made with any and everything ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
5M ago
It has been a while since I have posted here. So much has happened, and then not really anything at all. It has been a journey of transitions in what used to be a household. Although, as my household changes, I seem to be slowly finding a community. And in going to meet a new friend, I made these coconut almond macaroons. To learn more about life and how things have been moving along, check out my substack
I have been cooking some interesting things here and there. Mostly been trying to find my pace and place in this new turn in my journey called life. Things are a little topsy turvy, but hope ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
7M ago
This week has been all about fall weather. And just like that in craving comfort food, I remembered comforting brown lentils. These lentils are the wholesome version of red lentils. Known as Masur dal on the Indian table. Sabut means whole and pairing these with rice results in a good comforting meal. The signature North Indian Dal Chawal.
What is Dal Chawal and why is it so comforting?
Truth be told, what unites all of India is the love of lentils, and they can be savored with a choice of flatbread or rice. Since, flatbreads tend to be the preferred carbohydrate of choice in North India, hot ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
7M ago
I first tasted a blondie when working at my first job. And for this less than chocaholic, it was love at first taste. Back then for a long time this used to be an afternoon treat. Since then thanks to the children, I tend to make brownies and everyone is happy. I have both classic and gluten free variations on this site. Today however I am making and talking blondies. I have made them with low gluten and no gluten. You can follow along to see how I did them.
What is a Blondie?
In case, you do not know, a blondie is a moist and rich bar cookie with chocolate chips and a generous dose of vanilla ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
8M ago
Yellow Beans from the garden
The past few weeks have been somewhat momentous. All of August, that dreaded moment of my youngest leaving haunted me, and finally it happened. This weekend is my first weekend without either of them. In an empty house to boot. The garden has been bringing in all kinds of offerings to boot. The most prolific of these have been the bush beans, low maintenance and predictable. They are yellow rather than green, however the brightness is a fun thing. I have been getting close to a pound of these every week. So I decided to try cooking them the Chinese W ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
9M ago
On a calming rainy Monday, these Kale and Paneer Parathas are what I pulled together. This serving to break my silence and hiatus from this blog for a hot minute. Kale has been growing happily in the yard. Kale unlike purslane is cultivated. In general hardier than spinach it is the green of choice. I love working with flatbreads, they are calming and generally good for you. Well, it is another thing that most people in the house seem to have gone low carb. I am firmly sticking on.
My Case for Carbs and these Parathas
Whole grains actually do provide a good amount of fiber and in my opin ..read more
Spice Chronicles | Where Spices Meet the Seasons
10M ago
It is hot, somewhat wet and humid. This also means that it is purslane season in the curry garden. If you follow this site, you probably know that purslane loves our garden. And this morning I picked bunches of it of make this easy and forgiving sheet pan spanakopita. Except, I used purslane. A perfect use of bunches of purslane. As of now there is a lot of promise in the garden. Lots of tomatoes emerging as we speak. The cucumbers seem to be flowering so I might see cucumbers soon, The squash has giant leaves and tiny buds that are threatening to bloom one of these days.
The Story of Purslane ..read more