My favourite kitchen gadgets!!!!!

I have been an avid kitchen collector from my teen years,A strange acumen for kitchen's useful yet contemporay stuff.I would suggest my mother for picking up stuff and would love to try my hand on it.When I started my own kitchen with support of my hubby I collected certain things which made me proud to own them and flaunt them!!!

1)Chopping board-Would suggest bamboo one which is single cut and large...It has a coating which protects it from wearing down early.
Rectangular ones are more stroke friendly.

2)A bamboo salad bowl-Organic fruit and salad server and its earthiness is what attracts me most.They come with mixing spatulas and designed widely.

3)Olive oil press and dispense-This little bottle of suction I bought from 'Crate and barrel'.Its very handy and pours oil as wished according to measured oil in pout.I love it for vinagrettes and salad dressings.

4)Magnetic spice keepers-Got  these from 'Ikea' and proudly decorate my spice collection in it.I have sticked them on refrigerator and use them daily

5)Mini dip servers-Got these little ones from 'Bed bath and beyond' and are indispensible in my guest service.I love white porcelain for serving dishes, dips and salsas.They bring out bright radiant colours of the food
served.

6)Baking brush-A bristled brush of silicone in red is very handy for me in baking and barbeque,basting the meat is easy and so is for breads.It can with stand high temperatures of 425 degree farenheit

7)The wok-I got this mini wok from 'Marshalls' and it has a wooden handle thats just what i wanted.I have mastered my art of stir fry after owning this one.

8)Morter and pestle-Using this device is very ancient in india from ayurveda times but I own a small one with different design with large surface area which is unique of its kind,My hubby uses it for fresh cardamom grinding.The picture depicts the unique design which i mentioned so it has special place in my laboratory.



I tried to bring my kitchen stuff and shared my proud belongings with you,these members invite me everyday and i look forward to another day with more excitement in my favourite corner of house.

Raksha bandhan with Indian pannacotta..

Its been long time and I was looking forward to write this recipe of mine and what better day than festivity of 'Rakhi'.I had tried this Italian recipe with vanilla essence and my mind wanted Indian flavours to burst with first bite.I have redesigned the molecular structure of flavours by adding Kesar and dried rose leaves(adding gulukand is also great!!!)

For making this recipe we need to have-
1)One and half cup milk
2)Quarter ounce gelatin
3)One and half cup of Cream
4)Quarter cup sugar
5)10 sprigs of kesar soaked in little milk
6)Dried rose leaves(desi indian red rose) and pistachios for garnish

-We start with dissolving the gelatin in milk and keeping it for five minutes.
-Add cream and sugar in a saucepan and bring it to boil for few minutes.
-Then add milkgelatin mix in the boiling cream and give it another three minutes heating.
-Add the kesar which is already dissolved in milk.
-Cover the dish and chill for atleast 4 hours.
-Serve in small plates inverted from setting dish.
-Garnish with dry fruits and rose leaves.

Thai Temple-little Thailand in Tampa

My exploration in Tampa bay area took me to a temple named 'Wat mongkolratanaram' on a beautiful sunday afternoon with family.Its not a regular day of the week ,as here on sunday you find crowd of city rushing to taste the best food cooked by devotees to collect donation for the temple.Its a buddhist temple on the plam river side where the authentic thai food is served for a definite time (10:30-1:30 pm)

The food is home cooked,delicious and economical.We can find stalls serving from colourful desserts,Raw papaya salad,dumplings, banana fritters,wholesome pork and beef noodle soups(donot forget trying),coconut custard(must try),traditional curries with padthai and rice,eggrolls and even satay or barbeque dishes.The people like us need to carry cash as the place earns it as donation,so dont forget that!!!.Everything is good there and is really is....I found people coming from 10 -12 years for a great sunday brunch there .Its a success story of devotees for their sincere attempt to bring up their religion in foreign land.

The serene surroundings and sitting area makes it a must place for family outing.The temple also places a stall for selling Thai kitchen essential veggies,spices and produce for us to try our hand in kitchen with those wonderful recipes.Thats another way to bring traditions close to all those people who are unknown to rich traditions of eastern world....Right place where east meets west harmoniously.

Food is one thing which brings together people and all our sense organs are loving it!!!!

Wat Mongkolratanaram 5306 Palm River Rd. Tampa, Florida 33619
Phone : 813-621-1669 Fax : 813-626-8850

Tex mex in a bus....

 Living in texas for three years made me fond of mexican food and that made me search a local joint in Tampa ,this one is known to be the best serving Tacos,burritos,quesadilla and tostada place in Florida state.Well the place reminds us of a bus which is the kitchen and hence named 'Taco bus' .They have a tagline "Broken english perfectly spoken"

Try their tacos with veggie fillings and meats..they are fresh and juicy,the place offers lots of choices for vegetarians and their vegan 'steak strips' are recommended for first time goers.Veggie crowd can also try 'rajas con queso' which is roasted poblano peppers with queso fresco.

Non vegetarians can try their fish tacos(specially recommended) and chicken,beef,pork all other meats are available too.
Talking of drinks try pineapple water,tamarind water,cantaloupe and watermelon ones are seasonal.they are fresh and go well with the food.'hibiscus flower lemonade' is specially recommended.
The place is casual ,economical and open all 24*7 all days...try satisfying midnight hunger there.( can do that online too)
Location
913 E Hillsborough avenue
Tampa 33604
813-232-5889

New found love!!!!!

I had known him briefly before but this time I am hooked to his passion for food and advancement of culinary world.He is no other than Gordan ramsay,he is different and he is one person who sounds arrogant but is seriously sincere for his job.A footballer who turned out to be a great chef and restauranter and my new favourite watch.A scottish in origin,who is as easy with italian as with steaks and samosa too!!! Is it not amazing that he respects food with no bars and boundaries.His british accent and mannerisms are one unique thing to look out for.The idea of food for him is fresh,local produce,simple and single flavour served with fervour.I think we think alike....Well thats just to keep me happy.

He is one person who is 13 michelin star chef and is full of infinite energies.I love the way he loves his work and makes the audience feel passionate for.He tries to catch fresh produce and in that search he has travelled world to try out any and every thing,in one episode he was trying to bake bread in volcanic residue in south arctic circle,and was catching a 'puffin' bird  in Iceland to cook and he faced life threatening slip in cliff and was saved.

In series of 'Kitchen nightmares' he has helped the series of restaurants to revive and stand the tough times,that is one series which is interesting to watch out for...I love him when he is preparing Indian food with so much confidence and usually wins from other chefs...His fingers close the samosa ends with same finesse as any Indian chef would do.....so I am loving it!!!!

Cool gurukul....... Are parents listening ?

After long I am writing on a start up which any parent would rush for as it is a platform for all the modern day questions of a new parent who is entering the arena of the world 'school'.I remember when I was a kid it was a search but not the way now parents are going all over to put their child in best of the school and doing lot of brain storming to get into one of the schools where they think their bundle would open wings to fly in colours.
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