About

Hello and welcome to my blog, A Teaspoon of Turmeric: Indian Cooking For A Happy & Healthy Life!
A Teaspoon of Turmeric is a blog about Indian cooking mixed in with a hint of Indian culture. Throughout my posts I feature mostly traditional but also modern Indian cooking, highlighting the many health benefits of spices (not only turmeric!) used in the Indian kitchen. From time to time I’ll draw upon Ayurveda (the science of life in Sanskrit) and its principles as a source of inspiration for my cooking, as these are practices I strive towards and try to live by for a happier and healthier life!

My name is Preena Chauhan, an Indian cooking instructor in the Toronto, Ontario area. I started out as my mother Arvinda Chauhan’s ‘sous chef’ in her Indian cooking classes when I was 15 years old and now run Arvinda’s Indian Cooking Classes full-time–still with my mother!

Preena Chauhan

In 2006 while earning my Master degree in Environmental Studies, my brother Paresh and I launched a line of our family spice blends called Arvinda’s Artfully Created Indian Spice Blends sold in fine specialty retailers and in bulk for chefs and specialty food manufacturers.

In almost every cooking class I teach I sing the praises for my favourite spice turmeric, encouraging our participants to include a little bit of turmeric into their diets, namely for the health benefits. To pay tribute to my admiration for this truly special ‘wonder spice’ I decided to create A Teaspoon of Turmeric!

A teaspoon a day, keeps the doctor away…
It is only recently the world has discovered the immense medicinal power of turmeric, the ‘super-spice’ as I like to call it. In India, the use of turmeric is deeply rooted in history has been used for its medicinal purposes dating back 5,000 years.

My mother always says, when you eat a curry you are healing yourself from the inside out – so with that, eat more curry!

I entertain any discussion on spices, Indian cooking and culture on this blog and hope you will share your thoughts, experiences and recipe ideas with me! Thank you for visiting and I welcome you into my world of spices!

A T E A S P O O N O F: Next to Indian cuisine I’m a huge music lover from everything indie rock to Spanish guitar to electronic…and of course, maybe the odd Bollywood track here or there if you’re lucky! Being addicted to the music industry, I’ll often lend you a musical pairing to the post or “a teaspoon of” what I’m listening to in the moment. Although the beginnings of my band didn’t get very far after high school, I’m always game for anything with a beat (and a great concert too). Anyway, music and food need I say more?!

P H O T O S : Photos on A Teaspoon of Turmeric are taken by Preena Chauhan, unless an alternate photo credit is listed. If you’re interested in using any of my photos I would appreciate a link or credit to the source URL. Praise for your respect!

C O N T A C T: Would love to hear your musings, thoughts, travel journals and recipes on the subject of Indian food and culture! You can catch me at: info@arvindas.com

Follow on Twitter: @ArvindasSpices
Facebook
A Teaspoon Of Turmeric YouTube Channel

D I S C L A I M E R: All content on ATeaspoonOfTurmeric.com is original and copyright unless otherwise stated. I give credit where credit is due. I am not a health care provider and please consult with a doctor or health practitioner before making changes to diet, lifestyle or exercise. All content is based on my personal experiences so if something works for me, it may not work for you. Please consult your doctor.

================================================================================================================================
“Inspiration is that state in which mind and heart are connected. When you feel inspired you find yourself thrust into a world where ordinary objects and events are full of light, as if illuminated from within. This inner light is truth, and when you suddenly see the truth, you gain insight, clarity, and joy.”
~Deepak Chopra
================================================================================================================================

20 Comments »

20 Responses

on May 15, 2012 at 9:58 AM | Reply wanderfool

Great blog! Keep up the good work!
on March 26, 2012 at 2:23 AM | Reply whisksandchopsticks

Hello Preena! I have been following your blog and really enjoy your posts and videos so much that I nominated you for…please come and have a look. Tina
on March 22, 2012 at 7:38 PM | Reply cloudoflace

Hello again!!

I’m so glad to announce that I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award!! What can I say?? I simply love your blog

Kindly follow this link:
http://cloudoflace.com/2012/03/23/the-versatile-blogger-award/

Regards,
Hiba
- on April 7, 2012 at 3:17 PM | Reply Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric
  
  Hello Hiba,
  Thank you so kindly for the nomination! Much appreciated and thank you for reading my blog!
  Preena
on March 22, 2012 at 12:07 PM | Reply mildlyentertained

Are you a full time cook now or in the environmental studies field? Beautiful photo!
- on April 7, 2012 at 3:23 PM | Reply Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric
  
  I work full time with Arvinda’s spice line and instructing cooking classes. All with environmental sustainability in mind! Thanks for stopping by!
on March 10, 2012 at 5:46 PM | Reply mearez

Preena,
Namaste.Thank you for commenting on my post. I really appreciate it. I must have been Indian in a past life. I love the culture, movies and food. I’ve seen all the movies you mentioned. I’ll be following your site. I would love to learn Indian cooking.
on February 28, 2012 at 10:41 PM | Reply Steph Rice

You’ve been nominated for the 7×7 Award!
http://basmatitaco.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/my-first-blog-award-7×7/
I love your blog and look forward to more great recipes and ideas.

Taco!
on November 5, 2011 at 5:30 PM | Reply agirlandhercarrot

Hi preena!
i am so happy to have found you via foodpress. Love,”A teaspoon of turmeric keeps the doctor away.” Yeah it does! Indian cuisine and spices are amazingly healthful and healing. I am learning a bit more about the Doshas and diet as a nutritionist and yoga teacher and look forward to perusing through your fantastic blog here! Namaste!
Jennifer
- on November 6, 2011 at 11:29 PM | Reply Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric
  
  Thanks for stopping by Jennifer! The power of Ayurveda is amazing, it’s really helped me a lot and swear by its principles…and certainly goes hand-in-hand with yoga! Namaste
on July 25, 2011 at 9:19 AM | Reply Bob Kostiuck

Good morning, Preena. My wife saw a TV program where you did a meal of – Chicken Tikka Kebabs, Paneer with Veg and Raita, and Slaw with an Indian dressing. She swears the program directed her to Foodies.com for the recipe, but I cannot find anything like that on the website. Where would we find the recipe? Thanks.
- on August 1, 2011 at 1:28 PM | Reply Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric
  
  Hi there Bob!
  
  It was indeed Foodies – our recipe is here: http://www.foodies.ca/recipes/281
  We used Arvinda’s Tandoori Masala in the kebabs.
  
  Hope you will try it and thanks for tuning in!
  Preena
on May 23, 2011 at 1:06 PM | Reply Curry and Comfort

Hi Preena,

Thank you for dropping by my blog (curry and comfort). You have a lovely blog and I love turmeric! I cook with it a lot.

You asked if Sri Lankan salads are ever spicy and most of the salad are spiced with green chilies. I love to use serranos finely diced to give a little heat.

I am looking forward to checking out your blog today. Congratulations on making the Top9 on Foodbuzz! That’s a great achievement!

Nice to meet you…

Ramona
on February 14, 2011 at 6:38 PM | Reply Susan Blackburn

Hi Preena,

I love your blog. Indian cooking is definitely one of my favorites. Thank you for coming out to the Real Life Series on Thursday – it was great meeting you!

Warmly,
Susan
- on February 21, 2011 at 11:03 PM | Reply Preena @ A Teaspoon of Turmeric
  
  Hello Susan,
  
  Thank you for visiting A Teaspoon of Turmeric! Likewise, great meeting you too and thank you for your positive words!
  
  Best regards,
  Preena
on November 2, 2010 at 12:01 PM | Reply Nienke at Revel

Hey Preena – it was awesome meeting you on Sunday! I am very excited about cooking with your spices (thanks so much!) – and will let you know how it turns out!
- on November 2, 2010 at 3:14 PM | Reply Preena
  
  Hey there Nienke! Likewise great meeting you too. Would love to hear about your delicious Indian-inspired creations. Please keep me posted!
on October 31, 2010 at 11:41 AM | Reply Kathy Cecchetto

Hi Preena:

I was just wondering if your spice line is available commercially? I’ve recently depleted my supply of Garam Masala (cooking up a storm after our two day Indian Walking Tour!), and wished to purchase a few more tins.

I’ve signed up for four more classes, the first one being Nov. 13 – I could wait until then.

Namaste,

Kathy
- on October 31, 2010 at 11:39 PM | Reply Preena
  
  Hello Kathy!
  Glad you’re ‘cooking up a storm’ of Indian dishes! You can purchase Arvinda’s masalas at various fine retailers and natural food stores. Please visit: http://www.arvindas.com/buy.htm for a store listing.
  Looking forward to seeing you in another class soon!
  Preena
on May 31, 2010 at 11:31 PM | Reply Albert

Hey Preena,

You might not remember me but I remember you from Earth Day Canada.

I just wanted to let you know that I saw you tonight on CBC News, on a segment about the improving Canadian economy.

You looked great on tv and congratulations on your business.

Take care.