myfoodietrails

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Strawberry Cake Recipe

Fruit flavored cakes have always been a challenge for me. I always look to incorporate natural fruit flavors into the cake rather than resorting to artificial colors and flavorings. The last time I tried a fruit cake was last summer when I chanced upon this lovely Orange cake. This year I came across a wonderful Homemade Strawberry Cakerecipe by Sally’s Baking Addiction. I loved the way she has…

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Tried & Tested - Biryani

Tried & Tested – Biryani

I have been trying since last year to learn one delicacy at a time and attempting to make them in the most authentic form possible. I started by making Puran Polis for Holi (another version of which will be made this year) then Modaks– I couldn’t source all ingredients I needed so did best with what was available. But apart from sweet-dishes the one food item I really wanted to learn and make was…

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Crisp Winter Snack - The Savory Shankarpalle

Crisp Winter Snack – The Savory Shankarpalle

Winters are my favorite time of the year even though Chicago winters can be a bit harsh. They are the perfect time to curl up at home, indulge in your favorite meals and spend some quality time with your loved ones.

Usually in India, evening time meaning time for Chai with some crispy snacks and cookies. You will find this routine in almost every Indian household. Snacks are made especially for…

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Indian Festive Food Ideas - Chole

Indian Festive Food Ideas – Chole

Festive season in India is just starting which means a lot of get-togethers, small parties, large celebrations etc are on cards and if you love planning a get-together like I do, the first thing which crosses my mind is, what should we eat? 😀 It has to be something indulgent and delicious, something which everyone loves and if the food is to be made on an auspicious day then it has to be…

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Its that time of the year again when the temperatures are dipping, there is a slight nip in the air and if you are based in a windy location like Chicago the wind gods are having a blast 😛 Just a few days ago it was warm enough to step out of the house without a jacket and suddenly today I find myself cranking up the heater and fishing out my woolies. I have no idea how cold can the Chicago Fall be since its my first time here, but I am bracing myself for the worse since last winter wasn’t too forgiving either.  So while I prepare my woolies and my home for the colder days, I have also planned out some healthy meals which will help us beat the cold and stay warm. The cold winds and drier climate makes me susceptible to colds, flu and dry skin and hair. While there are medicines and lotions which help you with this, it is also essential to give yourself proper nutrition to aid your body. Indian cuisine has a lot of recipes which include foods that will increase your immunity, provide warmth and overall help you in the cold and dry weather. Most of these recipes include use of fruits and vegetables grown in this season, along with generous use of dry fruits, nuts, milk and Ghee. Generally considered to be high fat and avoided by many, these ingredients if used in the right proportion will do more good than harm for your body. 

So keeping this in mind, I have decided to share with you few such recipes which do include the so called “fat rich” ingredients, but are good for your health and are a good inclusion in your winter diets. There are a lot of such recipes, but I will be sharing only those which I have tried to cook personally in USA since all the ingredients cannot be easily sourced here. Also, I have trimmed off some excess fat content in these and tried to retain the health quotient. The first recipe I would love to share is of a warm and sweet delicacy made especially in winters and is  my all time favorite  – Gajar ka halwa or Carrot Pudding.

Carrot pudding or Gajar ka Halwa is a sweet North Indian delicacy primarily made in India in winters a time when the sweet juicy orange carrots are grown. It requires very less sugar, it is traditionally made with heavy cream – (which I have replaced with skimmed milk in my recipe but feel free to sub it in), Ghee and a lot of dried fruits. It can be eaten warm or chilled, just by itself or served as a dessert with your meals.

Why is this dish good for winters?

Ghee and dry fruits used in the Halwa are natural agents which help your body stay warm. Ghee is full of fat soluble vitamins and healthy fatty acids which makes it a good alternative to butter. Offcourse you cannot have excess of it, but if taken in proportion (1-3 teaspoons per day) ghee contributes to healthy bones and joints, healthy skin and hair and keeps your gut healthy. Plus it is lactose free!

The carrots in this recipe are high in antioxidants, minerals, fiber and vitamin A.

Coming back to the recipe – it does not need a lot of preparations here and you can whip it up in minutes. The only tedious part of the preparations would be shredding the carrots which I did manually using my little Ikea veggie shredder (not sponsored) but you can whizz them once through a food processor to get good results.

Once the Halwa is ready, it stays well in the fridge for a week though I haven’t really frozen it so I can’t comment on that. Also, when it comes to using the dry-fruits in this recipe, you can use them directly in the end to garnish but I prefer to cook them a bit in Ghee and then mixing them in a later stage in the Halwa.

Also, this can be made in huge batches and is perfect for parties (a definite crowd pleaser) , so here’s my quick and healthy version of Gajar ka Halwa

Ingredients –

Carrots shredded 4 cups

Fine sugar ½ cup

Dry fruits (mixed assorted – cashews, almonds, pistachios, raisins) 1 cup – (you can add more if you so prefer)

Milk – 2 cups skimmed milk / if you want to try the full-fat version  use heavy cream instead of milk

Ghee – 1 tablespoon

Cardamom and nutmeg powder – ½ teaspoon each

Saffron – a pinch for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Heat Ghee in a wok and stir fry the dry fruits in it for approximately 2 minutes.

Remove the dry fruits and set them aside, preserve the ghee and add carrots to it.

The carrots will start breaking down and releasing water so keep on sauteeing them till the water evaporates.

Add in the milk/ heavy cream and saute till it is completely absorbed by the carrots.

Finally add in the dry fruits and sugar and stir till the sugar dissolves

Cover and cook for another minute on medium flame and then turn off the heat

Serve warm immediately or let it cool down before serving it. Enjoy!

Fall Winter Recipes – Gajar ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding) Its that time of the year again when the temperatures are dipping, there is a slight nip in the air and if you are based in a windy location like Chicago the wind gods are having a blast 😛 Just a few days ago it was warm enough to step out of the house without a jacket and suddenly today I find myself cranking up the heater and fishing out my woolies.

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Billy Bricks Wood Fired Pizzas - bite into the authentic wood fired pizzas and make them too!

Billy Bricks Wood Fired Pizzas – bite into the authentic wood fired pizzas and make them too!

Pizzas have been a soul-food for me since I was a little kid. The delicious combination of bread, marinara and cheese baked together to crispy yet soft perfection gets my heart every time I dig into it. So when I was invited by Billy Bricks Pizza at Oak Park to try out their fresh wood fired pizzas and even get a chance to make one I simply could not refuse!

Image source – Billy Bricks

Billy…

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Ukdiche Modak - Steamed sweet dumpling

how to make the traditional festive steamed sweet dumplings from the western coastal regions of India.

Its been a long time since I’ve shared a recipe with you all!! Here is one for a  sweet dish which I have been fond of since childhood. It is also associated with some of the Indian festivals, especially those celebrated in Maharashtra. But most prominently, Modak are made during Ganesh Chaturthi – a festival for Indian deity Ganpati. These Modak are said to be the favorite food of the deity and…

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Situated by Lake Michigan, the third largest city in US, Chicago is a city of wonder. Often referred to as Chicagoland, this city is the birthplace of skyscrapers and is well known for its hot-dogs, deep dish pizzas, mindblowing architecture and scenic views of Lake Michigan. This city has a lot to explore and I’ve been here just for 8 months or so. So from a new-comers perspective I wanted to share with you a few things that a newcomer to this city should not miss out on!! 😀

Weather you are here for leisure or business, or you have a small layover in this city, even if you have just one day to explore the beautiful city of Chicago, you have to make the most of it and here are five things you can do within one day to get a feel of Chicago 

1. Visit Museum Campus at Soldier Field –

The Museum Campus at Soldier field is home to some of the most prestigious institutions of the city, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Exploring all three of these in one day is possible, however you won’t have time for anything else 😛 Hence you can visit one of these three spots and reserve the rest for your next visit. For a more detailed itinerary on the museums, you can read my blog on spending a weekend in Chicago here  . In a gist here is a look at these three locations –

Field Museum – The Field Museum of Natural History is one of the largest natural history museums in the world with interesting permanent exhibits such as the largest fossil of T-Rex fondly named Sue, Twenty-three human mummies and mummified animals, replica of the tomb of the last pharaoh, working laboratories and fossil laboratories, cultural exhibits and various interesting temporary exhibits.

The Basic Admission here is for $24 with all access pass for $38 per person and this Museum is open from 9am to 5pm all days of the year apart from Christmas Day

Adler Planetarium – Located at the far end of Museum Campus besides the scenic Lake Michigan, Adler Planetarium is home to full size, extensive exhibits on space science, a wonderful collection on space scientific equipments used since the ancient times and they also have research-active, public-urban observatory – Doane Observatory.

Adler is open every day from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, their  Basic Admission is for $24.95 with the All Access Pass for $34.95 per person.

The scenic view of Chicago Skyline from Adler Planeterium 

Shedd Aquarium  – One of the largest aquariums in the world, this place is a must visit for their extensive display of aquatic life, their special exhibits, informative movies and my personal favorite the Pacific wide sided dolphins! Don’t miss to catch the dolphins live in action while you are there and make sure you get a front row seat to high-five the penguins 😀

The General Admission is for $39.95 with a 50% for Chicago residents. Shedd has different operating hours changing as per the season, click here for a detailed chart.

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2. Cloud Gate & Millennium Park

Also plan a visit to Millenium Park in the Loop area of Chicago for a look at the Cloud Gate and of course for clicking some great pictures at the iconic sculpture of Chicago. The sculpture, nicknamed as “the Bean” for its bean-like appearance is made out of 168 stainless steel plates welded together to give a highly polished exterior and no visible seams. The sculpture reflects Chicago skyline in multiple ways and you can click some really interesting pictures and selfies here by playing around with the reflections.

3. Take a pizza break

Deep dish pizza is quintessential to Chicago. Some argue it is not a pizza, it is a pie, but Chicago-people simply love their deep dish pizza. Two famous locations for trying this cheesy wonder are Giordanos Pizza and Lou Malnatis Pizzeria. The pizza wars between these two chains are common 😛 and if you ask me, I tend to favor Lou Malnatis 😉

If you are not a pizza fan, try out Chicago style hot dogs at Portillos or grab some delicious caramel popcorn from Garrett Popcorn Shops 

4. A Panoramic view of the City

While you are exploring Chicago downtown make your way towards Willis Towers for a panoramic view of the city at Skydeck Chicago. Skydeck Chicago is located on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower and it gives you an amazing panaromic view of the city. You can click as many pictures as you like and also get some pictures professionally clicked there, The Skydeck is open 365 days and you can visit here from  October through February from 10am-8pm and March through September from 9am-10pm

The Basic Admission here is $24.00 and the Fast Pass is for $49.00 which gives you express entry to the elevators.

5. The Chicago River-walk

Chicago river cuts its way through this city and the pedestrian walkway by the side of the river called Chicago River-walk. It offers some amazing views of the skyscrapers of the city and great food and drink options. You can walk the entire stretch and make your way towards Navy Pier for a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, and check out the ongoing events there. This is a great way to spend your evening, taking a leisurely stroll by the river or hopping into one of the many river-cruises available there.

  There are a lot of other things to do in Chicago and places to explore, but sadly these cannot be done in a single day. This is what I believe to be the best things to do in Chicago in a day. Are there any suggestions to it? Let me know!!

5 things to do if you have a day in Chicago Situated by Lake Michigan, the third largest city in US, Chicago is a city of wonder. Often referred to as Chicagoland, this city is the birthplace of skyscrapers and is well known for its hot-dogs, deep dish pizzas, mindblowing architecture and scenic views of Lake Michigan.

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Washington DC for a first timer - An itinerary for 3 days in the capital city

Washington DC for a first timer – An itinerary for 3 days in the capital city

Visiting the capital city of the United States can be both exciting and overwhelming for a first timer. Washington Dc is a city full of memorials, monuments, government buildings, museums, amazing restaurants and it now boasts a really fun harbor point at the National Harbor. Further almost all of these memorials and museums are free and require little to no prior booking at all. Also all of…

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I'm a fan of comfort food and love to try out #comfortfoods from various cuisines. I got a chance to try out the Japanese Katsu curry rice at Ajida Ramen at N Wells St. Downtown Chicago The crunchy chicken cutlets with creamy mildly flavored gravy served over steamed rice makes for a great comfort meal anytime! The portion sizes are also huge so one serving is pretty filling. Try this with some warm sake for an authentic Japanese dining experience 😀 @chicagofoodmag @bestfoodchicago @yelpchicago @ajidaramenchicago #chicagofoodie #buzzfeast #chicagofoodauthority #chicagofood #f52grams #soulfood #chicagoeats #eaterchicago #fabfoodchicago #312food #chickencurry #katsucurry #japanesefood #asiancuisine #foodstagram #eeeeeets #chicagofoodmag #chigram #chicagolife #foodblogger #indianinchicago #myfoodietrails (at Ajida Ramen) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnHCaiandrn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12zvp2gwf86g1

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May your coming week be full of joy, rainbows and sunshine! Here's a beautiful taken from Chicago Riverwalk❤️ a great place to spend your time relaxing by the river, taking a walk with your loved ones or a fun jog! Any fun activity/food to try out near Chicago Riverwalk? Do let me know and I'll try it out for you! . . . . . . . . . . @chicago @choosechicago @lonelyplanet @voyagechicago @chicago_riverwalk #chicagogram #chicagobloggers #chicagoland #chicagoriverwalk #chicagogrammers #TravelBlogger #TravelersJournal #traveltoeat #foodiechicago #indianblogger #indianinchicago #marathi_ig #marathimulgi #oakpark #igers #picoftheday #newbeginnings #newweek #grateful #everydayhappy #myfoodietrails 😊❤️ (at Chicago, Illinois)

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When it's Throwback Thursday #tbt and you also reach the 2k mark!! When it comes to food, 2 is always better than 1, like I'm trying to prove at wedding years ago in India😝 A huge thank you to all my followers and my loved ones for getting me here 😊 I love celebrating every milestone in this journey no matter how big or small it is..it's all about enjoying the process!! Here's to more foodie & travel content from myfoodietrails!! ❤️❤️ . . . . . . . . #throwbackthursday #2k #2000followers #milestone #happy #blessed #overjoyed #indianblogger #indianwear #sari #sarinotsorry #weddings #happythoughts #ladyblogger #mumbaichimulgi #marathimulgi #marathi_ig #traditionalwear #paithanisari #handloomsarees #foodblogger #TravelBlogger #myfoodietrails ❤️ (at Oak Park, Illinois)

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‼️New blog alert‼️ Upon the recommendation of @novafoodking we visited Zaytinya at Washington DC and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious Mediterranean food there! Read up the complete blog post in the link in my bio and do visit Zaytinya on your next visit to the capital city. Pictured here is the Skuna Salmon Bay and Turkish delight served as a part of their mezze lunch..check out all the pictures and more on the blog😊❤️ #swipeformore . . . . . . @zaytinya @visitwashingtondc @yelp @buzzfeedfood @yelpdc #mediterraneanfood #fusionfood #mezze #datenight #washingtondc #foodielife #TravelBlogger #foodblogger #eatingout #influencer #notsponsored #resturantreview #newblogpostonline #linkinbio👉💻 #myfoodietrails #ladyblogger #traveltoeat #explorer #happiness #foodcoma #bliss (at Zaytinya)

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Zaytinya - A beautiful Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Washington DC

experience delicious Mediterranean mezze dining in Washington DC at Zaytinya. Read on for our experience and food review.

Mediterranean food always has a very special place in my heart. I love the freshness and the warmth in every dish and the variety of flavors which pleases your palette. Last month I tried cooking some Mediterranean food and while in the process of finding the perfect recipe and spice blends, I read a lot about the Mediterranean cuisine. So obviously I was craving to try out some delicious…

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Major throwback to our time in Mumbai when we explored different hidden gems in the city for our date nights. This one is from Red Box Cafe @redboxcafe in Andheri. I loved their Pollo Alfredo paired with this fresh Virgin Caprioska a beautiful combination to refresh you after a long day at work 😀 . . . . . . . . . #throwbackthursday #datenight #zomato #mumbaigram #mumbaifoodie #mumbaichimulgi #swipeformore #redboxcafe #foodienight #whatieat #latergram #igers #mumbaiigers #mumbaiblogger #foodblogger #foodpicoftheday #lovetoeat #myfoodietrails (at Andheri,MIDC)

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Escape into wilderness with a visit to the Starved Rock State Park! Do check the latest blog now published on my website linked in the bio for more photos tips and info about the Park. Do plan your next hike soon! Also which is your most favorite place to hike?? Comment below and let me know 😀 . . . . . . . . . #newblogger #newpostalert‼️ #TravelersJournal #TravelBlogger #hikingtrail #hikers #starvedrock #statepark #canyons #frenchcanyon #escape #naturelove #naturelovers #tripideas #Lonelyplanet #travelgram #TravelTips #OakPark #chicagobloggers #chicagogram #oakparkblogger #indianblogger #indianinchicago #myfoodietrails ❤️ #linkinbio👉💻 (at Oak Park, Illinois)

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Hike through Starved Rock State Park

Hike through Starved Rock State Park

Summer has finally set in at Chicago which means its time to don that hiking gear and get exploring. When I moved here, I set out finding out some cool options where we could go a for a hike and the name which constantly popped up in all my searches along with some amazing photographs was STARVED ROCK STATE PARK. So as soon as the climate warmed up a bit we simply had to go hiking there. Located…