Posted in Arvinda's Chai Masala, Baking, Sweets & Desserts, Recipes, tagged birthday, chai, chocolate, dessert, Indian, PostAWeek2013, Shrikhand on April 12, 2013 | 3 Comments »
Chocolate Shrikhand with Cranberries – a decadent treat!
Can I just say, sheer decadence can be captured in a cup of Shrikhand, a Gujarati dessert of strained yogurt spiced with cardamom and other Chai spices. A spoonful of this heavenly dessert can always put me in a good mood.
Just give me a reason and I will make this dessert in a moment’s notice!
Presentation is pretty in a glass dessert bowl or cup.
Posted in Arvinda's Chai Masala, Baking, Sweets & Desserts, tagged cake, carrot, chai, cream cheese, dessert, frosting, Indian, PostAWeek2012, recipe, sweet potato on October 8, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Sweet Potato & Carrot Chai Spiced Halwa Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Years ago at the Harborside Organic Farmers’ Market we used to visit Round Plains Plantation for their organic sweet potatoes. Not only would I pick up a couple of delicious sweet potatoes, I would also sample some of their sweet potato baked goodies at the same time.
This reminded me I could use sweet potatoes in my baking when thinking of trying a new fall sweet recipe this weekend.
Posted in Baking, Sweets & Desserts, Recipes, Vegetarian, tagged birthday, chai, dessert, Indian, masala, PostAWeek2012, recipe, Shrikhand, Sweet on April 7, 2012 | 11 Comments »
Greek yogurt makes this one of the easiest Indian desserts to prepare. I love it!
Greek yogurt has made life so easy! It’s my perfect little secret for making Creamy Chai Spiced Shrikhand–my one and only favourite Indian dessert which I make only once every year…on my birthday!
Posted in Baking, Sweets & Desserts, tagged burfi, chai, Coconut, dessert, Healthy Cooking Challenge, Indian, peanut, PostAWeek2011, recipe, Sweet on August 1, 2011 | 3 Comments »
Chai Spiced Peanut Coconut Burfi ~ Jolly Vindaloo and My Tasty Curry inspired me to post this!
This week I made an amazing sweet that has all the flavour, authentic taste typical of Indian sweets but without the fat (ghee)!
Some of you may be familiar with my recipe for Arvinda’s Orange Almond Chai Spiced Running Balls from a previous post — my favourite ‘long-run’ running treat. Although these are delicious I sought to make something similar, but more authentic to resemble the taste of a traditional Indian sweet–Burfi.
Posted in Baking, Sweets & Desserts, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, tagged Arvinda's, baking, Canadian Running, chai, dessert, flax, Gluten-Free, healthy, hemp seeds, Indian, long runs, magazine, masala, orange, recipe, running, snack on March 24, 2010 | 2 Comments »
As running season is upon us with the beautiful weather on its way (hopefully), I thought I would share with you my recipe for Arvinda’s Orange-Almond Chai Running Balls that appeared in the March/April 2010 issue of Canadian Running Magazine — perfect as a long-run power treat or as a post-workout recovery snack.
Arvinda's Orange-Almond Chai Running Balls
I’ve been a long-distance runner since 2003, with my favourite distance being the half-marathon (21.1 km). Any workout exceeding one hour in length, requires fuel recovery — usually in the form of sugar or glucose. Many runners use gels or syrups as an easy digestible way to raise energy levels. This was something I never enjoyed on those long runs as it often gave me a case of nausea. Pure sugar, often with additives and preservatives, how healthy is that? I realized bringing my own homemade running treat was a tastier and healthier option.
Although I don’t run the long distance road running as I did in the past (knee injuries!), I still enjoy getting onto the trails to enjoy the fresh air, beautiful weather and nature, for that matter. These little power balls are perfect for a run, hike or post-workout treat. Gluten-free and delicious too!
Now it’s time for a run. See you on the trails!
A teaspoon of: Sam Roberts Band. Listening to: Hard Road.
Posted in Beverages, Entertaining, Food Network, Garam Masala, Holidays, Indian-Inspired, Recipes, Salads, Vegetarian, tagged antioxidant, appetizer, Arvinda's, beetroot, beverage, chai, cherries, cocktail, coffee liqueur, compote, dessert, Food Network, Garam Masala, ice cream, Indian-Inspired, recipe, salad, tea, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian on February 14, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Still looking for some inspiration for a special Valentine’s meal today? Look no further. Indian spices can add both warming qualities and lots of flavour to a beautifully pleasing Valentine’s menu.
Indian cuisine is known to be aphrodisical in nature, namely because of the vast array of spices we use, each having euphoric-inducing qualities. These spices include ginger, cardamom, cloves and chilies that awaken the senses and excite the mind, body and spirit.
Here are a few easy recipes posted on Food Network Canada’s website using Arvinda’s Chai Masala and Arvinda’s Garam Masala, both containing these powerful and sensuous spices.
Posted in Authentic Indian, Beverages, Breakfast, India Travel, Recipes, tagged almond, Arvinda's, beverage, chai, chai masala, dessert, doodh, India, Jaipur, kesar, milk, pista, recipe, saffron, Shiva, Shrivratri, spicy on February 12, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Arvinda's Saffron Scented Almond Chai Spiced Milk
On this moonless February 12, Hindus all over the world observe Maha Shivratri, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar.
Shivratri is a sanskrit word meaning ‘night’ and this is the day it is said Lord Shiva performs his cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction. The day is observed with a fast and is celebrated with a diya (lamp) lit all day and night.
This day is most significant for women — married women pray for the health and well-being of their families and unmarried women pray they will find their ideal husband. Offerings to Lord Shiva include fruits, flowers and milk.
On my recent trip to India, we went to a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in southern Gujarat. In mid-January, preparations for today’s celebrations were already underway, where we were told thousands of people are expected on this night.
According to one source, “the night of Shiva worship, devotees, prepare a drink called ‘Thandai’ made from almonds and milk, sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.” Click here for more information.
Here is my version of Kesar Badam Doodh ~ Arvinda’s Saffron Scented Almond Chai Spiced Milk. I tried it in Jaipur, Rajasthan, served in a clay vessel. I’ve been craving its sweetness and richness ever since! It’s a perfect sustenance beverage, that’s dessert-like at the same time.
My first taste of heaven - Kesar Badam Doodh in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Posted in Baking, Sweets & Desserts, Entertaining, Gluten-Free, Holidays, Indian-Inspired, Recipes, tagged almond, Arvinda's, chai masala, cookies, dessert, holiday, Indian, ladoo, recipe, signature party, snowballs, Toronto Star, treat on December 21, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Arvinda's Chai Spice Ladoos (Snowballs)
Here’s a recipe for my Holiday Chai Spice Ladoos (snowballs) featured in last week’s Toronto Star as part of the article, “How to Create a Signature Party” featuring ‘foodie’ Torontonians and their cool holiday traditions.
Posted in Baking, Sweets & Desserts, Events, Trade Shows, Benefits, Holidays, tagged Arvinda's, bake off, cookies, curried, curry powder, dessert, Foodie Meet, Foodie Meet Up, foodie meetup, holiday, mango, masala, Nella Cucina, Pravda, Samovar Room, shortbread, snow cresents, tandoori, The Stop Community Centre, Toronto on December 16, 2009 | 2 Comments »
On the first of December, we hosted Arvinda’s Merry Masala Cookie Exchange at Nella Cucina featuring holiday goodies infused with Arvinda’s artisanal spice blends. In attendance was Suresh and Jenny of Spotlight Toronto, who are also a part of Toronto’s FoodieMeet @foodiemeet, an online community of VERY passionate Toronto ‘foodies’.
The FoodieMeet Bake-Off is on
A couple of emails later, I was invited as a baker to participate in the FoodieMeet’s Bake-Off in support of The Stop Community Centre on December 13. I read the details and thought the invite should have read, “please bring your sweet tooth”. This was going to be ‘sweet tooth’ heaven, plus a good party at Samovar Room (a great place by the way, reminiscent of Russian bar Pravda). An invite not to be turned down!
Amongst the professional and amateur bakers, judges and FoodieMeet attendees, I was most impressed with the hyper-creative, heightened taste buds and sophisticated palettes all under one roof. Everyone there really loves food, which I found very inspiring.
Bakers were to be guided by the theme, “Escape Toronto”. I went with our Arvinda’s Merry Masala Cookie Exchange’s Curry Mango Snow Crescents. Give passionate foodies an “Escape Toronto” theme, and you’re left with an array of heavenly sweets including–Coconut Cupcakes with Kafir Lime Icing; Tandoori Shortbread Tarts with Passionfruit Curd; Chinese Almond-Cookie Cupcakes with a Wonton Wrapper Snowflakes; Sticky Date Cake with Beer-Caramel Sauce with Pomegranate Compote; Sri Lankan Jamaican Patties (savoury); Mayan Spice Mousse Macarons…I could go on.
Posted in Beverages, Indian-Inspired, Recipes, tagged antioxidant, Arvinda's, chai, cookies, dessert, healthy, Indian, masala, recipe, red tea, rooibos, Spice Safar, Toronto on December 6, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Do you love Chai but want it without the caffeine? Try making Chai with a rooibos tea (it’s really a tisane, not a tea). Milder than a black tea and having no bitterness, rooibos makes the perfect caffeine-free Chai — when boiled together, the spices can really be appreciated.
With the added health benefit of a dose of antioxidants, Rooibos Chai can be enjoyed at all times of the day and is suitable for both children and pregnant women (check with your doctor to be sure). Light and aromatic, it pairs nicely with a chocolatey decadent dessert.
Arvinda's Maple Rooibos Chai Latte
