Haagalkai Gojju ~ Amma’s recipe

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Radhika @ Just Homemade

Bitter Gourd in a palate clearing sweet and spicy tamarind gravy – mom’s recipe

Haagalkai Gojju and oil

It was end of the 90′s and the beginning of my hostel days. The very first time that I was on my own, in a place far enough from home and certainly with no access to home food. Home sick I was, like hell. Except, once a month when Amma would come to see me. Religiously, I would look forward to the first week of the month, because I could get to see Amma, spend the special day catching up and end the day co-sleeping, sharing the same hostel bed, chatting away into the wee hours until we fell asleep before she left early the next morning. Continue reading →

Blood Orange Jal Jeera

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Radhika @ Just Homemade

Cumin spiced Blood Orange and Citrus cooler

Blood Orange Jaljeera

I happened to compose this post in early March, delighted that I had something timely and seasonal to share. But, before I got to finish it and hit the publish button, I was consumed by other non-food related projects that demanded priority. When realization struck, March had whizzed past by me and April to me, seems to be in a hurry to leave too.

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Roasted Purple Carrots Soup

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Radhika @ Just Homemade

Mint and Fenugreek flavored Roasted Purple Carrots Soup

Roasted Purple Carrot soup with mint and fenugreek

Soups were never made at home, growing up. The only soup that I grew up accustomed to, was a tomato soup served with croutons ordered on a rare visit to a North Indian style restaurant. It is amusing that we South Indians love to eat North Indian food when eating out and I hear it is vice-versa up north. Whatever the case, soups were not a norm. Over the years, especially more so after I began blogging, soups started to kind of grow on me and my kitchen started to see more of simmering soup pots, then on. Squashes, Apples, Pasta and Vegetables, Barley and Celery, Tomato, Spinach and Carrots – the list of vegetables that have been my soup experiment guinea pigs, is not quite bad considering my aforementioned background.

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Roasted Butternut Squash and Kalonji Paratha

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Radhika @ Just Homemade

Super soft Roasted Butternut squash Paratha speckled with Nigella seeds

Recently when I was reading this, I realized just how well we, my daughter and I, fit into the foodie mom-picky eater child paradox that I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I often resort to sneaking vegetables and fruits, vegetables mostly, so that my almost-five-year-old gets her nutrition while fussing less about new food she’s not comfortable eating or even touching.

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