Easy Spider Web cake

This tangy sweet orange cake with whipped cream cheese frosting and a spooky spider web on top using dark chocolate ganache is a delicious Halloween treat. It's so simple to make on short time to satisfy both kids and adult's sweet tooth. All you need is very basic cake ingredients. No fancy decoration is needed. 

Labra/Bengali Mix Vegetable Medley

This traditional Labra/Bengali Mix vegetable Medley is at its best, consisting of sweet pumpkin, radish and other seasonal vegetables brings fresh flavor and wonderful texture. Labra is best paired with Bhoger Khichuri or plain rice and a great offering to the Hindu deities. Unlike other vegetable curries this curry is not supposed to be spicy at all. It is cooked on low heat, tempered with whole five spices, bay leaf, red chili and gently spiced with fresh ginger paste, turmeric-cumin-coriander powder. This is a satvik recipe without onion and garlic. The flavor combination is simply out of this world. 

Bhoger Khichuri/Rice and Mung Bean Medley

Bhoger Khichuri, an iconic rice and yellow mung beans medley has a special place in Bengali's heart. Its divine taste brings back so many nostalgic memories of growing up in my mother land. There are plenty of specialty khicuri recipes in Bengali households as well as different regions of India. Among all Bengali khichuries, Bhoger Khichuri stands out for the use of special small grain rice called "Gobindo bhog rice"(only grown in West Bengal) which is very famous for its alluring aroma and sweet buttery taste. Bhoger khichuri is specially prepared in a brass vessel with Sona mung dal(tiny split yellow mung beans) and Gobindo bhog rice as satvik way, meaning without onion or garlic for any auspicious occasions as prime offering to Gods and Goddesses. But it can be simply served as comfort food without any rituals whenever cravings occur.  

Chirey Bhaja/Bengali Sytle Roasted Beaten Rice with Nuts

Shubho Bijoya from our home to yours. Today is Dashomi day and the grand celebration of Durgapoooja come to an end. As Ma Durga leaves for her adobe everyone gathers around and wishes Happy Dashomi greetings to each other with traditional Bengali  snacks like Chinir Narkolnaru, Gurernarkolnaru, NarkelrTokti,Mishti Nimki, KuchoNimki, Mohan Bhog, and other sweets. Chirey Bhaja is another popular salty snack we make for Bijoya celebration or anytime of of the year.

Mohan Bhog/Bengali Semolina Pudding

Wishing you all a Happy Durga pooja from our family to yours. It's the time of the year Bengali people (who celebrate) start to gear up a couple of weeks in advance to welcome Ma Durga and her family. Ma Durga symbolizes divine force(positive energy) against the negative forces of evil. Durgapooja is also known as Sharodshav. The ritual is observed for ten days but las four days are grand celebration. It's fun festival that brings everyone together regardless of religious faiths. Durgapooja won't be completed without pandel hopping with new clothes, endless fun and partying hard with friends, relatives and neighbors, and last but not least savoring delicious sweet and savory foods.

Vegan Lattice-Topped Apple Pie

Our house smells amazing with the fall spiced of freshly baked apple pie. I was never a big fan of apple pie until I tasted the best one from a farmers' market a few years back. Oh boy, it was truly delicious, a buttery flaky crust filled with sweet tart apple slices, not runny at all and served with vanilla ice cream. Since then I have been baking apple pie and every time it turns out tasty. Apple pie should not have soggy bottom crust and juice should not ooze all over when sliced. That's my kind of pie!

Murighonto/Fish Head Curry

Bengali people not only love to savor fish curries but prepare variety of unique dishes using mostly large fish heads of carp fish. It is made for simple family gathering or special occasions. The perfect blend of Gobindobhog rice(a sweet aromatic rice, specially grown in West Bengal only) warm spices, fried fish head pieces, potatoes along with sauteed onion, ginger-garlic paste creates an
ambrosial taste to the dish. Even if Murighonto has rice in there it is still served with plain rice. This true blue Bengali dish is very close to my heart and Ma made the best Muri Ghonto ever!