Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops

It feels Christmas in our house after we put Christmas tree up on Thanksgiving weekend. Our favorite radio station plays Christmas songs all day long where ever we go. It's time to get ready for holiday shopping, packing as well as cooking and baking.

 

Mini Turkey Pot pies

My friend Ranjana made a succulent roasted turkey with garlic herb butter and other seasonings for Thanksgiving dinner. As usual lots of leftovers and we are always in cooking mode to make savory pies, sandwich or soups for post Thanksgiving brunch or dinner.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Thanksgiving, it's the time for family and friends to gather around, to be thankful for being there for each other and of course food. Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of roasted turkey with stuffing, variety of savory side dishes and cranberry sauce followed by dessert  made of pumpkin. My friend  Ranjana makes the awesome juicy and succulent turkey, festive breads and cookies whenever we have Thanksgiving dinner together and I make the rest. Our kids look forward to have some pumpkin dessert to finish  festive dinner. So, tomorrow I am going to serve one of our family favorites "Pumpkin Cheesecake". 

Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate

It's fall and festive season. Of course, it's all about pumpkin, be it breakfast, snacks, main dishes, salads, desserts or drinks. As cooler temperature arrives here in Northern California, we are ready for warm blankets and special flavor hot chocolate to enjoy Fall. A delicious Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate with real pumpkin, spices and coco powder is perfect to warm up chilly fall evenings.  

How To Make Pumpkin Spice Mix

Happy Fall season! Leaves have changed color and begun to fall. As temperature begins to drop days are getting shorter. Let's  celebrate Fall with Pumpkin Spice craze. 

Bhapa Sandesh/ Steamed Bengali Cheese Fudge

Autumn season is known for auspicious celebrations for Indian starting with Navaratri, Durga pooja, Laxmipooja and ending with Diwali, Kali pooja(another form of goddess Durga) and Bhai PhoNta.  

Diwali/Festival of Lights signifies light over darkness and good over evil. This joyous occasion is marked as a national holiday in India and celebrated on the month of October or Early November every year. People decorate their house with clay lamps or electric lights. Some families worship goddess Laxmi Pooja for divine blessing. Families and neighbors gather together with new clothes, display fireworks and share home made sweets and savory snacks. 

Gurer Narkol Naru/ Coconut Confection with Jaggery

My house smells divine. The earthy smell of jaggery fills up the entire house while getting slowly cooked with coconut. It's the time of the year Bengali households are busy preparing Naru for the greatest festival "Durga pooja" also known as Sharodshav that falls on Autumn during the month of either late September or early to mid October. Goddess Durga symbolizes divine forces(positive energy) against the negative forces of evil.

2015 Bay Area Shobar Poojo 

The ritual is observed for ten days but last four days especially in West Bengal, other places of India and abroad Durga pooja is celebrated in a grand way. Ma Durga and her four children, Laxmi, Shraswati, Kartik and Ganesh are worshipped on Mahasaptami, Mahastomi, Mahanabomi and Mahadoshomi days. Devotees dress up with nice clothes and go to the pooja pandel to worship and pray offering special treats with gaiety and devotion.