Travel | A Fulfilling Trip to Pondicherry, Mangrove Forest and Mamallapuram

“Vacation is what you take when you can't take what you've been taking any longer." It surely is a much needed break from the monotonous life, we all look forward to. I love the feeling of getting disoriented from the comforts of home and trusting total strangers for living in a new place. 
Most of our travel trips are unplanned which are decided instantly. Somehow I am not convinced with booking a holiday trough a travel agent where we need to do things as per their itinerary. 

Recipe | Quick Chickpea Sundal with Flax seed powder - A Spicy Festive Snack

If Navaratri is a time for playing Dandia in Western and Northern part of India, it is a time to showcase your culinary skills down South. A very popular recipe Sundal is made in most of the houses and shared with neighbors and family during Navaratri evenings after it has been offered to God. 
Many use coconut and spices to make savory Sundal while others opt for jaggery and make sweet versions of it. 
My children love the entire process of decorating the small dolls, making gardens with sand and calling friends to visit the same each day. Each day my MIL prepares a different Sundal alternating with a sweet and savory recipe. 
I came up with the idea of adding flax seed powder to this healthy and filling Sundal recipe and make it more nutritious. You can omit the same if you wish to, it will not make any difference. 

Recipe | Eggless Apricot & Carrot Cake and A Pineapple Trifle

You don't need a reason to indulge in a dessert if you like all that is sweet and which brings you closer to your family on a Sunday! A scrumptious dessert always brings smile on every face. I baked this fruity cake last week and found that a few slices were left in the box. I packed the slices in a zip-lock and refrigerated so that I can use the same for the weekend.
And this delicious fruity Trilfe is what was out after dinner treat during one such weekend while playing a board game together.

Baking | Eggless Pineapple & Orange Cookies - A Flavorful Chewy Cookie

I have always used Pineapple to bake a cake or to make desserts, but never tried baking cookies with it. I feel the watery consistency of pineapple will make it difficult to bake perfect crispy cookies. But after baking these chewy cinnamon cookies canned Pineapple I am sure I will be baking these more often.
The small chunks of pineapple in every bite make these cookies a real treat. You can call these cookies a cross between cookie and scones.

Idly Seekh Kebabs - A Fusion Recipe from Four Regions of India

Most of the traditional recipes from India are simple and are cooked with commonly available indigenous ingredients. These recipes can be easily adapted in any other cuisine of the world. The humble lentils or Daal, quick veggie curries, Indian flat breads are loved by one and all.

I have been cooking many fusion recipes to give a new dimension and also to add health factor to the original recipes. Some of which are on Lite Bte;

A refreshing Upma or couscous salad, 

Traditional Lapsi with a flavorful twist  

The very famous Gajar Ka Halwa in a new avatar  

A Trip to Charming Coonoor and Kotagiri in Nilgiri - II

"The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see" ~ Chesterton. And we started our five day travel trail on the same note to the majestic blue mountain range Nilgiri as a traveler, avoiding most of the popular tourist spots in Nilgiri district, treading the off beaten path. In the bargain we could connect with the nature and to those innocent people married to tough mountain life.

A Trip to Ooty through the Picturesque Blue Mountain Ranges in Nilgiri - I

We had no concrete travel plans this year as re-modelling the house, painting, developing our farm house and many such long pending activities were on the wish list.
Sweltering heat in the city, monotonous summer holidays and the travel bug in us had different plans for us. Time was the big constraint in finalizing the destination, as we had few days of holidays left. Kanha National Park, Periyar sanctuary and a few other tourist places came to mind, but they all needed prior bookings for jungle cottages and the rides.
A friend suggested to visit off beat places in Ooty, strange but its true that we never visited Ooty though staying very close to this lovely place. This mountain city is overcrowded now and has lost its charm due to too many tourists travelling and making it more of a commercial place. But the weather is perfect to beat the heat and relax, away from the sweaty Chennai in May.

Crispy Lentil Snacks - Daal Vada

Any Indian meal is incomplete without tangy pickles, crisp poppadoms and some sort of deep fried accompaniments. And when my friend Prerna, Barbara and Kathy announced 'Indian Food Palooza' at their blogs, I thought of taking these Crispy Lentil Vadas along with me to join their on going event.

A perfect tea time snack, a popular street food and a must during most of the festive meals in India, these Daal Vadas or deep fired crisp lentil cakes are a real delicacy.

Chocolate Cupcakes Filled with Marshmallow

Hello friends, its been a long time I posted a recipe on Different Strokes. Lite Bite kept me busy with a couple of projects and events I was involved in for the last few months. I know this does not sound a good reason to stay away from all my lovely readers here. Have done loads of festive cooking, tried many new and authentic recipes which are all treasured in the drafts.

This Chocolaty Marshmallow filled Cupcakes is one such treats I baked for the New year party. I just wanted to give a different look to the same old chocolate muffins and filled each one with store bought marshmallows. Needless to say these were a hit with all the children and adults as well.