Not sure if this needs any introduction at all, but that this was the first time I made Eggnog. I’ve generally not ventured into the realm of eggnog, as it is super fattening and most of the time it is raw (there are recipes where you can temper the yolks so they’re cooked, or a …
Stuffed Italian Hot Peppers
There are a lot of vegetables that are overlooked, especially when it comes to vegetables used in Italian cooking. My family (especially my dad) have always loved long Italian hot peppers – they’re usually offered at Italian restaurants in Staten Island. This Christmas when we decided to cook an Italian feast I decided I’d make …
Rose Red Velvet Cake Truffles with Cardamom-Chocolate Ganache
I don’t think these need much of an introduction, but just picture moist red velvet cake flavored with the delicate flavors of rose and en-robed in rich cardamom chocolate ganache. Yeah. Trust me, even those who don’t like “exotic flavors” (hate those people), will love these. Perfect for Holiday parties! I actually made these for …
Spicy Veggie Quesadilla with Roasted Pepper Crema
It was Mexican night at the Naik household this past weekend! We wanted something simple yet satisfying, and of course I just worked with ingredients that we already had on hand – was not about to venture out in the freezing cold for some nachos ya know. We decided on Quesadillas since we had a …
Open Faced Paneer Sandwich with Avocado Cream & Pomegranate
We had a little family gathering this weekend, and instead of making the usual appetizers, I decided to create something with food/ingredients that we already had in the house. The day before my mom had made an Indo-Chinese paneer manchurian, and we had tons of leftover. I also noticed that we …
Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Vegetable Biryani (Indian Spiced Rice)
Christmas is around the corner (trust me it’ll creep up on you really fast, so you better have your gifts ready :-D), and I like to add a little Indian flair to my Christmas Eve dinner. Ok, I’m obviously not Christian, but being born and brought up in Staten Island, I can say I know …
Indian Corn & Cranberry Succotash
Have you ever heard of succotash? It’s a corn/bean dish that has come down to Americans from the Native Americans. It was especially popular during the Great Depression becasue corn was cheap and redily available. Well, there’s not much explain to do here. It’s corn, it’s chili, it’s cranberry and with a little Indian flair. …
Herbed Brioche Stuffing with Fig & Walnut
An awesome vegetarian side dish that’s great for the cold weather season. Warm and hearty, this stuffing is filled with my homemade Brioche, dried figs and crunchy walnut. I add some sweet, I add some spice, and you’ve got yourself a great side dish. The leftover can be turned into stuffing muffins, or just reheated …
French Onion Soup (Vegetarian!!)
I cannot tell you the number of times that my family and I have gone to restaurants where they serve French Onion Soup and we can NEVER eat it. Why? Because one the primary ingredients is beef broth!! UGH SO ANNOYING. It always looks so bubble, so cheesy, so yummy and delicious, and in the …
Pumpkin & Butternut Squash Lasagna with a Roasted Garlic-Sage Cream Sauce
When I think of winter and snow, I think of snuggling up in my fleece pajamas and fuzzy socks and watching tv (and doing absolutely nothing else). But, ya gotta eat dinner, right? When I think of winter in terms of food, I think about all of the wintery vegetables- squash, pumpkin, cabbage, onion, potato, …