Author: Gopi Krishna

Veg pasta is a simple yet delicious dish made by cooking pasta and vegetables in spicy Schezwan sauce. This is really a good option for quick lunch or dinner and you can make it at home with easy ingredients. The soft pasta mixed in the sauce with peas and capsicum makes it filling but also light. It is light and healthy as it uses very little oil and you can add vegetables as per your choice. The sauce adds flavor without being heavy and the seasoning can be adjusted slightly as per taste. Veg pasta is also quick to make,…

Last summer, William and I threw our first real backyard party. I panicked about what to serve for drinks. Beer seemed boring, wine felt too formal, and I’m terrible at remembering complicated cocktail recipes. Then I remembered a drink my cousin made at her wedding in Tuscany that had everyone talking.That’s how I discovered the magic of lavender limoncello spritz. This sparkling lavender beverage combines Italian limoncello with homemade lavender syrup and bubbly prosecco for the most refreshing floral citrus drink you’ve ever tasted. It’s like drinking a Mediterranean garden at sunset. Why You’ll Love This Lavender Limoncello Spritz This…

If anyone has been shopping for furniture, then we don’t have to tell you it’s NOT CHEAP. Between tariffs, materials costs, etc., finding “affordable” pieces can feel like a treasure hunt where you aren’t sure there will actually be treasure at the end. However, the desire to make our homes feel cozy, beautiful, and collected doesn’t just stop. To help with your treasure hunt, we’ve found the best affordable furniture (for current market pricing) that will also get to you in time for the holidays, if that’s what you are hoping for. These are the staple pieces for the most…

William used to order Chinese takeout three times a week. Not kidding. Our credit card statement looked like we owned stock in our local restaurant. One night, I looked at the soggy fried rice container and said, “I bet I can make this better.” He laughed. Challenge accepted.That’s how I created our better than takeout fried rice recipe. After testing dozens of batches and burning through several pans, I finally cracked the code. This homemade Better Than Takeout Fried Rice tastes exactly like your favorite Chinese restaurant – maybe even better. The rice gets crispy on the edges, the eggs…

Sabudana Laddu is a very easy sweet made with simple ingredients. It has a mild sweet taste and soft texture that melts in the mouth when bitten. These laddus are perfect for festive times or when you feel like making something quick and different. The tiny sago pearls add a slight crunch and the coconut adds a nice flavour. This is a lovely dessert to make when you run out of rice flour or other regular ingredients for laddus. It takes less time and the quantity is also good. I like how the ghee binds everything well and it makes…

White Christmas Slice is a soft, sweet and crunchy, no-bake dessert bar made using desiccated coconut, milk powder, nuts, dried fruits and butter. It’s lightly sweet, nutritious and perfect for when you want to make something quick but special. You can prepare it in just a few minutes and it sets beautifully in the fridge and gives a firm but chewy flavour. I like to make these slices whenever I feel like eating something sweet but I don’t want to stand in the kitchen for long. It looks so colorful and bright because of all those dry fruits. You can…

Soybean Sundal is a healthy and very tasty snack made using soaked soybeans, spices and grated coconut. It is soft and light buttery, with a slight crunch of coconut and the aroma of tadka. It is also easy to make and fill. You can enjoy it as an evening snack or in small doses whenever you feel hungry. This recipe snack is easy to make and takes less time, the beans are soft and slightly nutty in taste, and the coconut gives it a nice texture. You can make it salty or sweet as per your choice. Even kids love…

Our first winter together, William and I got snowed in completely. The power flickered, the wind howled, and our fridge looked sad. I had some chicken, a few cans of beans, and cream cheese. “Can you make something warm?” William asked, wrapped in blankets like a burrito.That’s when I remembered my mom’s white chicken chili recipe. She used to make it during Chicago winters when we were stuck inside for days. I threw everything together, hoping it would work. An hour later, our tiny apartment smelled like heaven, and William declared it “the best thing you’ve ever made.” Why This…

Pori Kadalai is a light and crispy sweet and salty mixture made using puffed rice, peanuts, chutney dal and a little jaggery. It’s very quick to make and requires only a few simple ingredients from the kitchen shelf. The combination of crunchy pori with the nutty flavor of kadalai and the mild sweetness of jaggery makes it such a great snack to have at any time. This recipe is very simple and easy to make. You just fry, mix and it’s ready to eat within minutes. This is perfect when you feel like eating something light but tasty. The mild…

My Aunt made this salad every single summer when I visited her as a kid. I remember sitting at her tiny kitchen table, watching her chop vegetables with that old knife she refused to replace. “Safa,” she’d say, “the secret to good food is fresh ingredients and love.” That’s when I fell in love with chickpea feta avocado salad.Years later, I pulled out her handwritten recipe card (coffee-stained and crinkled) and made it for William. He took one bite and said, “Why haven’t you been making this our whole marriage?” Now this Mediterranean chickpea salad with feta shows up on…