Author: Gopi Krishna

My kids are 10/12 now (tbh it’s hard to shop for – they still like stuff and still think they need a laptop??). Some silly things have caught their attention (like Simpson’s prank phone and the Magic 8 Ball). And others with whom they have played for 6-8 years, like sculpture straw kit And fuse beads. This is difficult!! This year, I also included a real 16-year-old teen who sent me What Teenage Girls Want, which was very helpful. And then at the bottom, I have my favorite gifts for toddlers/babies (based on my experience). Our Favorite Art Supplies (Ages…

Last Tuesday night, I had exactly 20 minutes before William needed to leave for his evening meeting. The fridge was basically empty except for some pasta, cream, and garlic. I threw this creamy garlic pasta together in pure panic mode, and William took one bite and said, “This is going in the regular rotation, right?”Now this easy creamy garlic pasta is our go-to rescue dinner. It’s ready faster than ordering takeout, costs about $8 to feed four people, and tastes like something from an Italian restaurant. The best part? Only one pot to clean. I’ve made this at least 50…

You know that feeling when you walk into your house and it smells so good you just want to stay home forever? That’s what happens every single time I make this Hungarian goulash. William actually came home early from work last Tuesday just because I texted him “making goulash” – true story!This traditional Hungarian goulash recipe has become our family’s go-to comfort food. It’s one of those dishes where you throw everything in a pot, let it do its thing, and somehow end up looking like a cooking genius. My neighbor asked me last week if I went to culinary…

Last Thursday night, William came home from his friend’s house raving about dinner. “Mom, they had these orange fries that were SO crispy and they weren’t even fried! Can we make them?” He was talking so fast, trying to describe these magical Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Baked that somehow came out of the oven crispy instead of soggy. I knew exactly what he meant – I’d been trying to perfect crispy sweet potato fries baked in the oven for months. Every attempt came out limp and sad. “Give me one more try,” I told him. “I think I figured out…

We’ve all been there: You’re at the thrift store and something catches your attention. It’s interesting, but…yeah, you’re not sure what you’re going to do with it, so you move on. Then, some time later, you see an image of the same beautifully styled item in a magazine or social feed, and your body is instantly filled with FOMO. You missed it, and chances are it has long been picked up by someone else. Well, today, I’m getting rid of that FOPOTBTI (fear of losing that beautiful thrifted item…crappy, I know) by sharing a piece of furniture that I see…

Malai Laddu is a soft, melt-in-the-mouth dessert made using cottage cheese and condensed milk as main ingredients. It has delicious taste and smooth texture with the essence of cardamom and rose which makes it very special. These laddus are quick to make and require only a few ingredients from the pantry. This dessert is often made for family gatherings or when we want to make something delicious but simple and easy to make. The texture is so soft and light that it melts away as soon as you eat a piece. The taste of natural milk mixed with saffron gives…

Sabudana Murukku is a crispy snack made with rice flour and sago as main ingredients. It has a great crunch with a mild spicy flavor which makes it a great evening tea time snack. The texture is slightly different from regular murukku due to the soaked sago, it gives a nice bubbly look and extra crispy feel when bitten. This murukku is very popular during festival times, but is also a good option for casual snacking at any time. The method is quite simple but the sago should be soaked well otherwise it may burst while frying. Once fried, the…

Last February, snow was falling heavily when Lina came in from playing outside, her cheeks flushed and her mittens soaked. “Mom, I’m freezing! Can we have that super thick soup with tender meat?” She was talking about my German Goulash the one I make whenever it’s bitterly cold and we need something hearty and comforting. After thirteen years in professional kitchens, including a year at a German restaurant in Munich, I’ve learned that authentic goulash isn’t the American-style version with noodles. It’s a rich, paprika-spiced beef stew that cooks slowly for hours until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender and the…

Last Halloween, Lina came home with a pillowcase overflowing with candy, and by the middle of November, we still had a pile of Butterfinger Balls taking up space in the pantry. “Mom, can we make something with these?” he asked, holding up a few crushed bars. That’s when I remembered the Butterfinger Balls my grandmother used to whip up every Christmas. After more than a decade of making candies and truffles professionally, I’ve realized that the best homemade sweets are often the easiest. These are no exception just crushed Butterfingers, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and melted chocolate. Why I Love…

टोमैटो बाथ एक पारंपरिक कर्नाटक शैली का चावल का व्यंजन है जो बहुत स्वादिष्ट और सुगंधित होता है। यह चावल को साबुत मसालों, प्याज, टमाटर, एक विशेष मसाला पेस्ट और कुछ मसालों के साथ पकाकर बनाया जाता है। इसकी गंध ही आपको चखने से पहले ही इतनी भूखा बना देती है। इसमें थोड़े से मसाले और नारियल के स्वाद के साथ टमाटर का तीखा स्वाद है जो इसके स्वाद को बहुत अनोखा बनाता है। टोमैटो बाथ रंगीन है और इसमें घरेलू स्वाद है जो बिरयानी या पुलाव के बीच में आता है। सबसे अच्छी बात यह है कि आप इसे…