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Created: 29 December 2018

Growing up, once-in-a-while our Sunday breakfast treat used to be Jalebis, Dhoklas and Samosa. Since i wasn't a big fan of Sweets back then (whatever happened now?), i would happily trade my share of the oh-too-sweet-and-darned-drippy Jalebis for the spongy-spicy Dhoklas.

For those of us who've never had afternoon tea in an Indian household - Dhoklas are feather-light and fluffy yellow savoury cakes made from a fermented batter of gram flour (besan) and semolina. Spiced with a bit of chilli, tempered with mustard, cumin seeds and curry leaves, these light and airy bites are packed with flavour - one can easily down quite a few without noticing. Steam cooking makes it easily digestible, so there’s always room to enjoy one extra fluffy-as-a-cloud, melt-in-the-mouth Dhokla…and still not feel heavy or guilty for that matter.

Read more: Dhokla'ing @ Home -- Dec 28

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Created: 28 December 2018

We're snowed in and suddenly out of the Blue -- my favourite Beach "Torrey Pines" comes a calling. I take a trip down memory lane -- running barefoot on the beach, cooling off the feet in the waves, taking a gentle walk, biking up & down the hill, laying around on the beach - enjoying countless sunsets, listening to waves crash on the rocks, sipping coffee, admiring the sea-gulls gliding over the surface, getting sprayed by the big waves, paragliding over the cliffs, laughter, smiles, pensive moments, sadness, love and joy.. i have lived pretty much every emotion except Anger there on that Beach. It's like my Mecca..  

So what's the next best thing to do when you can't fly there on a magic carpet -- Yeah!! Make the 523 piece "Cliffs by the Sea" Liberty Puzzle by "Gustave Caillebotte". A special gift from a special friend - who shares my love for the beach.

Read more: Remembering Torrey Pines -- Dec 27

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Created: 24 December 2018

There's a vibe of magic in the air

"Snowflakes, Pine scent and Candlelight"

- can you feel it too??

Peace, Health and Happiness -

is being wished by us two,

not just for Christmas,

but for the coming year too!!

Merry Christmas!!!!

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Created: 23 December 2018

The aroma of homemade Christmas cookies baking in the oven is one of the greatest smells in the world. Christmas is just round the corner and the Sweet Tooth is acting up again. So it's time to fire up the oven and get ready to spread some holiday cheer and calm the taste buds.

We decide on 4 of Mutti's (Lukas's Mom) traditional cookies: Spitzbuben (literally translates to Rascals!), Anis Chräbeli (Anise biscuits with feet), Rosinenhöckerli (Raisin Knobs) and Zitronenplätzchen (Lemon cookies in different forms). 

And since every Christmas, we gift Zopf to our Friends, Lukas decides to bake a few of these as well... Haven't you heard - Bake Bread when the Oven is already Hot!! (aka make Hay while the Sun Shines!)

Read more: Baked with Love -- Dec 21