Date and Pecan Bread

Date and Pecan Bread is my absolute favorite and it doesn't require any refined sugar. Mostly dates and little bit of molasses are used as sweetener. A warm piece of bread slightly buttered is my favorite way to enjoy it for breakfast or afternoon snack with tea of coffee. It can be serve as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It can be spiced with warm spices but I prefer vanilla. 

Black Eyed Peas Curry

I love Black Eyed Peas in salad, stew and curry. I make this hearty curry with fully plant-based ingredients, so flavorful and tasty to be paired with Indian flat bread, plain rice, quinoa or as is. This wholesome gravy based curry made with onion, ginger, garlic, tomato and some dry aromatic spices. Black eyed peas are also known as Cowpeas, Lobia (in North India) and Ramakolai(in Bankura district,West Bengal). It melts in mouth, full of nutrients, fiber and protein rich. There are many variations to this curry and I make it simply Bengali way. It's very colorful, tasty and comforting dish.  

Mung Bean and Green Papaya Stew(Pepe Diye Mung Dal)

Mung beans and green papaya is a very healthy yet delicious combination. This plant based stew is full of protein, vitamin and fiber. All you need for this refreshing stew, is steamed rice and you can indulge in deep fried shoestring potatoes once in a while as a side. It's a simple pleasure of delicious comfort meal any time of the year.

Green Papaya, Chickpeas and Potato Curry

Green Papaya, Chickpea and Potato Curry(Pepe, Kabulichola, Alu diye Torkari) is another simple Bengali veg recipe without onion and garlic is savored with rice or Indian flat bread(roti). This plant based curry is hearty, low fat and full of nutrients. Chickpeas add good source of protein and fiber in this curry. Its delicious broth with coconut milk, tomato and aromatic spices gives this curry a wonderful texture, flavor, color and great taste. I use dried chickpeas instead of canned version for better texture and natural flavor. 

Three Bean Salad

This colorful, tangy sweet(but not so sweet though)hearty salad is so tasty to munch on any time of the day. It's a simple vegan, gluten free side dish that perfectly pairs with any meal and easy to make at home using simple pantry ingredients. Store unused portions in the refrigerator up to a week.   

Chotpoti/Chickpea Salad

The good old days when I made new friends after moving in an apartments complex and we just clicked. Then we used to meet almost everyday, went for shopping together, had breakfast, lunch, late afternoon snack together, enjoyed evening stroll with unlimited chitchat. Yes, I am taking a nostalgic walk back to memory lane as I think about this lip smacking snack that I learned from my sweet Bangladeshi friend Silva. It's a very healthy snack studded with cucumber, tomato, red onion, cilantro and spicy black salt lemon dressing. 

Mixed Vegetable Quinoa Pilaf

My New year resolutions is to have more plant based foods; so beginning the year on a colorful heath note with quinoa pilaf. If you want to cut down on carbohydrate, quinoa is an excellent choice.  Quinoa(keen-wah) is fiber rich, higher in protein than any grain, hypoglycemic, meaning it won't spike blood sugar level, has highest amount of unsaturated fat, vitamins and minerals.

Eggnog Cheesecake

This scrumptious yet easy to make cheesecake with a nut crust is another show-stopping dessert for holiday gathering. If you enjoy eggnog you will fall in love as well with this luscious cheesecake blended with eggnog. I baked this one in a water bath. It was perfectly smooth looking, no cracks at all and topped with nutmeg infused whipped cream cheese! Celebrate holiday season with this unique Christmas flavor. 

Mator Dal diye Kumro/Yellow Split Peas and Pumpkin Stew

We had a fabulous food and fun filled Thanksgiving week, with endless festive food, meeting friends and shopping. After consuming little too much Thanksgiving inspired savory and sweet treats, all we wanted to have a light, plant based meal to soothe our tummy. I made this Mator Dal diye Kumro/Yellow Split Peas and Pumpkin Stew for last night's supper. This comforting, lightly spiced stew is made with yellow split peas,  yellow mung beans and some veggies, mostly sweet pumpkin, green beans and green peas served over brown rice. It's a delicious vegan stew packed with plant based protein, fiber and other nutrients. 

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Pie is an integral part of holiday dessert in America and so is cheesecake with seasonal festive flavors. I love to combine cheesecake with pie ingredients; they always turn out darn tasty. If I ever have to choose between pie and cheesecake, I will definitely go for cheesecake. I have shared Pumpkin Cheese Tart, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Pumpkin Custard Pie and Pumpkine Pie. They all are amazingly delicious. 

Malai Sandesh

The Autumn festivals also known as Sharodutsov in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura begins with Durgapooja celebration the victory good over evil followed by Laskmi pooja, the goddess of wealth. After two weeks, festival ends on new moon day with celebration of  Kalipooja which symbolizes epitome of "shakti" the power and Dipaboli, the festival of lights. 

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.  

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!

Berry Berry Cheesecake

Before we bid adieu to summer, I am sharing another spectacular cheesecake recipe bursting with summer's bounty berries folded into rich-velvety cream cheese batter on a pre-baked gluten free brownie crust that I made 2 weeks back. It was simply delicious and devoured by family, friends and neighbors. 

Mango Cheesecake

When you craving for dessert, make cheesecake. It's easy to prepare and crowd pleasing. I made this decadent cheesecake using fresh mango, one of the guilt free desserts. This velvety smooth  and golden yellow color cheesecake is low in fat, low in sugar and gluten free, what more can you expect?

Berry Berry Lemonade

When life gives us delicious berries we eat them just like that and make lemonade. A refreshing lemonade bursting with summer's bounty berries is one the easiest way to cool down on hot days. I used fresh strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and raspberry. It's tangy and sweet. Both the kids and adults love it. It can be made up to two days ahead for big party, cover and refrigerate until served.

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

This velvety cheesecake with the fresh strawberry sauce is a gorgeous treat for Mother's Day, Spring celebration or any special occasion. It has a gluten free crust, low fat cream cheese, sour cream, just enough sugar to make it perfectly sweet with a hint of slight tang and strawberry puree. It is not only stunning, it tastes amazing. 

Asparagus, Butternut Squash, Potato and Coconut Curry

As spring arrives new leaves appear and a variety of flowers bloom in our neighborhood, parks and of course our front/back yard. Warmer weather, cool breeze, birds chirping, squirrels chasing each other, gardening, it's a season of new beginnings and the perfect time to start for healthy eating.