Hermits

Today is the last day of 2020, and it felt like a slow crawl to get here.  To say that I’ve been anything but a whole mood this year, would be a bit of an understatement.  Rather than dwell on what this year has and hasn’t been, I thought I would celebrate those of us who’ve felt like literal hermits during the pandemic, and dare I say, actually embraced it. Continue Reading

Ammi’s Mixed Sabzi (Mom’s Mixed Vegetables)

Confession time: although most of the Pakistani dishes that I’ve posted on here involve meat, I have to admit I’m not a “meat person”. Truthfully, I’ve never been a “meat person” (much to hubby’s dismay). I don’t crave it like some people do, and I suppose you can say I’m one of “those types” who thinks a burger tastes just as delicious made out of hearty whole grains and lentils. Continue Reading

Shami Kebabs

Growing up, my mum had a bi-monthly ritual of preparing gallon sized freezer bags of shami kebabs. The kebabs would be made over the course of a weekend, frozen on trays, and then packed and tucked away in the deep freeze to be used for daily lunches and as an accompaniment to our weekend nashta (breakfast). Continue Reading

Hokkaido Milk Buns

When I was young girl, my older brother had me convinced that I was not my parents’ biological child.  He had conjured a story that involved my parents discovering a crying infant (me) in a dumpster behind their local grocery store.  I won’t get into the details of his story – it was elaborate and given that I looked like neither of my parents at the time (whereas he took after mum, and my younger brother took after dad), I was convinced for at least 8 years of my life that I was a dumpster baby.  The joys of being his punching bag younger sister!

Obviously, I don’t believe that (so much) anymore.  Often, I catch myself in the mirror and realize just how much I actually resemble my parents.  I have my dad’s tiny eyes and the laugh lines that hug his smiles, and I share my mum’s petite stature and youthful round cheeks.  I’ve also noticed that I’ve come to inherit their quirks and unusual habits.  I unplug the kitchen kettle, when not in use, to avoid any sort of spontaneous combustion (obviously) and I have a firm abhorrence to bread crumbs speckled across my butter or clustered atop my marmalade.  The crumb situation, however, is unavoidable because one of the more prominent traits that I share with my parents (namely my dad) is their affinity for bread. 

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Aloo Samosas

Happy New Year dear friends!  I’m a tad bit late here (okay, I’m über late here), but I hope that the new year brings you all tremendous joys and endless positive vibes!  I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions, but this year I certainly hope to dedicate more time to this blog and to continue sharing my culinary adventures with you all. Continue Reading

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Hi friends!  Guess what time of year it is?!  It is, undeniably, the most wonderful time of the year.  Autumn – my dear friends – is FINALLY here!  

Now I suppose autumn has been around for a few weeks, but here in the Bay Area, it’s been unseasonably hot.  Truthfully, I started to experience a heavy sense of anxiety that summer was just going to stick around for, ummm, forever?  But then, without fail, the entrance of my once modest grocery store suddenly found itself overrun with pumpkins.  Inside, the aisles were dotted with everything pumpkin spice and maple; the warm scent of cinnamon and cloves danced amongst the produce bins.  And just this past week, the mercury decided to follow suit and take a nice dip, offering comfortable days and cool nights (can I get a hallelujah?).  Needless to say, I’m on cloud 9 and possibly headed straight to autumn nirvana.  

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Citrus Sorbet

It has been a long and incredibly HOT summer here, friends.  I’m aware that this isn’t a particular popular notion to admit, but I have absolutely no shame in sharing that I don’t care much (read: at all) for summer.  Aside from the bounty of fresh berries, stone fruits, and tomatoes, I really can’t say that I look forward to anything that this season brings.  I’m more of a hygge girl, or as my husband lovingly calls me, a weirdo from the North.

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