The most popular clam chowder is milk based thick consistency made with fresh clams, potatoes, onions, salt pork and other seasonings often served in a sour dough bread bowls especially in San Francisco. Chowder derived from the Latin word calderia, which meant a large cooking pot. To learn history of chowder visit What's cooking America.
This
delicious stew is staple for West Bengalis (known as Edeshio/Ghoti) during Sawaraswati poojo. Traditionally it is Ghoti ritual to cook on the Sawaraswati poojo day and eat it cold the day after as they observe Sheetal Shashthi. Gota Sheddho was never cooked at our house. One of our very close family friends Bhattacharya Kakima(aunt) shared this stew with us every year and as long as Ma lived. Kakima would send quite a big tiffin carrier full of Gota Sheddho through her younger daughter Manu, the day after Swasaswati Poojo morning that we always looked forward to. Even if it is supposed to be eaten cold she would always reheat and season it well before sending. It’s been more than two decades since I haven't tasted Kakima's Gota Sheddho but my childhood memories unfolded as I wrote this recipe.
It's winter break and I have been making pancakes with my home made pancake mix for breakfast instead of regular Steel Cut oatmeal with banana or Steel Cut Mango Oatmeal. Pancakes are perfect breakfast or brunch for weekends and holidays. It's so simple to whip up. It's a hearty and delicious recipe for light and fluffy pancakes. They taste great with buttery spread, fruit syrup or maple syrup.
Wishing you all the best in the new year! It's good to start off the morning with whole grain. Our regular breakfast is Steel Cut Porridge or Mango Porrige (specially in summer) most of the time. But weekend breakfast for kids means pancakes with maple syrup and I like making my own pancake mix. It's healthy, delicious, most importantly it's 100% whole wheat and I know what's in there. Just five basic pantry ingredients and ready in less than 5 minutes. So there is no point going for store bought mix. It's good to have this mix on hand and it's convenient to whip up any times my kids crave for pancakes.
December is the best festive month of the year and the festivities begin during the Thanksgiving holiday followed by Christmas and New Year's Day. It's the time of the year we try to forget our worries for a while. The Santa Clause, The Christmas tree, the Christmas carols, the twinkling lights, the presents, the get together, the shopping spree, the festive food and drinks put us in a joyful and positive mood. I always tend to get a little carried away. It's so wonderful to listen to Christmas songs all day through Christmas Day on our favorite radio station especially while waking up and falling asleep at night.
Ho ho ho! It's almost time for Santa's visit on Christmas eve and he will fulfill good
little kids' Christmas wishes. My 9 year old has been writing a letter
to Santa since kindergarten days. Writing a letter to Santa is a wonderful
Christmas spirit along with holiday decor, carols, stories, movies,
red-green-golden twinkling lights and last but not least baked goodies. We will leave out some cookies and milk or eggnog for Santa and carrots for his reindeers as usual.
Our kitchen smells so Christmassy because I have been baking some sweet and savory goodies lately. I am very happy to post some of them. Christmas wreath bread is another amazing show stopper at Christmas table. I used my Italian Sweet Easter bread dough recipe filled with some dried fruits and turned it into a wreath. It is so simple to create an edible wreath. Fillings can be any sweet stuff but dried fruits really smells Christmassy. This bread is best when served fresh
from the oven. But you can bake it ahead, warm it up before serving. Feel free to add a couple of tablespoons orange flavored liqueur like Triple Sec or Cointreau if you have it on hand. Soak dried fruits in orange flavored liqueur for 1 hour if using.
