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Me and my 4 siblings were all together for the weekend, which rarely happens since we’re spread across 4 states. We were celebrating her retirement after 20 years of teaching, my parent’s 40th anniversary, and her 60th birthday. That right there made up for any potential ruined-surprise deflation. Pretty hard to stay upset when there is so much awesomeness happening. No really, there’s not anymore. I’ve been planning my mom’s surprise retirement/birthday/anniversary party for months now and while the event itself was amazing, I’m just so glad it’s over so that I don’t have to worry about giving away the surprise anymore....

Dive in using your favorite tortilla chips, crusty bread, drizzle on hot dogs or over these Sumac Baked Sweet Potatoes. This is the most delicious use of seasonal corn and peppers, because who doesn’t love cheese dip? You can also make this when it’s not corn season, just used defrosted frozen corn or canned. The corn and peppers are simply sautéed while the cheese melts in the crockpot. This helps bring out extra sweetness in the vegetables and I believe increases the flavor in the dip....

This spicy legume sundal is not limited to the festival days and can be enjoyed with masala chai or as an elevenses snack. If you like, add diced shallots on other days. Why you’ll love this recipe Ingredients You’ll need only a handful of staple cupboard ingredients along with grated coconut and curry leaves Chickpeas - Also known as Garbanzo beans or Channa. You can use a Tin of Chickpeas for convenience or make it at home with this handy guide on How to Cook Chickpeas from dried beans in under one hour?...

Dessert cheese balls are such a fun way to enjoy dessert with friends! Just like savory cheese balls, the dessert versions are made with softened cream cheese and other tasty add-ins, then shaped into a ball and rolled in nuts. But unlike a bacon ranch cheese ball, this dessert turkey cheese ball is filled with chocolate chips and brown sugar, rather than salt and spices. This fantastic blend of brown sugar, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla is like a mix between raw chocolate chip cookie dough and cheesecake, and it’s irresistible spread on a Nilla Wafer or graham cracker....

Party food is some of my favorite to create. This fruit dip is absolutely perfect party food. While we love fresh fruit in our house on its own, adding this dip is such a special treat. The last time I made this, my youngest asked me how it was made so that next time she could just whip it up for herself! How to Make Fruit Dip Here is a brief overview of how this easy fruit dip comes together....

What is Tzatziki? Authentic tzatziki dip is a chilled dip made with grated and drained cucumbers, creamy greek yogurt, fresh dill, a little bit of garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never want to waste your money on store-bought tzatziki ever again! It’s so simple to make, tastes much better than the store-bought stuff, and will save you money. I also have a Middle Eastern version of Tzatziki, it’s called Khyar bi Laban, be sure to check it out!...

You guys I think I’m getting to the tail end of being cutesy with Gavin. I mean, don’t get me wrong. The kiddo will still let me wrap him in a huge snuggle, but anything in front of his friends is . . . . . dicey. I’m not sure that I could get away with sending a lunch box like this to school with him. This might be the last year for it....

This Breakfast smoothie recipe is so quick and easy - they make a perfect summer breakfast. Ready in just 5 minutes! MANGO BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE RECIPE We turn to these cold healthy breakfast smoothies on hot days - Tropical Smoothie, Mango Lassi, Blueberry Coconut Smoothie, Mango Matcha Smoothie. We can never have too many smoothie recipes, isn’t it? Especially when smoothies are so easy to blend together, keeping in mind color, texture, and nutrition....

My mom has been making some version of this delicious white bean soup recipe for as long as I can remember! It’s one of my favorites, and I’m sure that your family will love a big bowl of this tasty vegetarian bean soup as much as mine does. This Mediterranean-style white bean soup is packed with vegetables, fiber-rich cannellini beans, and rice, in a savory broth. With 20 grams of protein per serving, it’s also completely vegetarian, naturally gluten-free, and ready in about half an hour!...

It is one of the most popular restaurant style clear soup recipe with vegetables that can be made at home and one of our favourites too! ABOUT CLEAR VEGETABLE SOUP Call it Clear Veg Soup, Veg Clear Soup, Vegetable Clear Soup - this Soup is one of my childhood favourites. Many a times, when we visit the restaurant, we would either have a Tomato Soup topped with Croutons or this Vegetable Clear Soup or Sweet Corn Soup as the first course of the meal....

I am a huge fan of Fritos! There’s just something so delicious and satisfying about the little curved chips that are extra crunchy and salty. They are great for dipping into things like my Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip, and they are also pretty good stuck inside of a ham and cheese sandwich to add some extra crunch! When I was first introduced to the concept of walking tacos, I was mostly excited that I got to eat a bag of Fritos with my dinner!...

The Birthday Party If you’re looking for a way to take your birthday celebration to the next level, consider hiring a private chef to cook a meal in the comfort of your own home. This unique dining experience is a luxurious way to treat yourself and your guests to a delicious meal without having to leave the house. We took care of the decorations and table setting, while the private chef cooked up a delicious meal, tailored to to ours tastes and dietary restrictions....

Every time I start a new group on Facebook, I get a congratulatory message: “Great job! You’re building community!” Facebook groups have their place in the world, but it’s not true community, in my opinion. Humans need human interaction, and screen interactions are rapidly replacing them, which is a little crazy if you ask me. “Every Tuesday, from 6-8pm, bring the family to have dinner and hang out with us!...

Vegetarian Christmas mains Take your pick from whole roasted cauliflower, dauphinoise potatoes, cauliflower cheese, cauliflower mac and cheese, or stuffed peppers—you are going to love these vegetarian Christmas recipes. Forget the usual turkey—let’s explore delicious meatless recipes that everyone will love! I’m often torn between Indian whole roasted cauliflower, the British classic cauliflower cheese, Roasted broccoli and cauliflower cheese, Shepherds pie and dauphinoise potatoes for the main course. I It’s tough to choose from the 20+ side dishes, but I still love crispy potato slices, hasselback potatoes and festive coleslaw....

It’s a perfect example of simple North Indian regional cooking ! This is especially a great recipe when you are on a weight loss diet or even if you aren’t on one.With this Indian chicken curry recipe in your repertoire ,you can ace any dinner party! Especially because it’s Fuss free, uses minimum ingredients and packs in a punch(and then some!) How to make Achari Chicken Step 1: Making the Spice Mix Blend the Red Chillies,Methi Seeds,Mustard,Fennel Seeds,Nigella Seeds and Salt to make homemade Achari masala....

Today I’m here to talk about the wonderful accompaniments to one of the most loved Indian breads. Yes, the curries that we all love to dip our crispy Puris into and relish! A very common accompaniment to Puris is no doubt the classic Punjabi Chole or Chana Masala. I guess it’s just the blend of flavours and the combination of crispness to the richness of the chickpeas curry that make these two team up so well....

Long before we were married, Hubby Dear and I were in a long distance relationship for a couple of years. We lived a good 2 hours drive away from each other, and would alternate the travel each weekend to meet up. The days in between however, would be filled with super long phone conversations. Our talks ranged from how our day went, what classes we had, what we ate (I actually helped him cook this Aloo Shimla Mirch over video chat), and pretty much anything in between....

What to do when you can’t decide between making a traditional NY style cheesecake and a sweet, gooey pecan pie? Combine them into the ultimate dessert! This recipe takes my perfected cheesecake recipe and tops it with a buttery, rich pecan pie topping. Pecan Pie Cheesecake is the best of both recipes and includes a crispy graham cracker crust, silky baked cheesecake, and the most perfect pecan topping. If you’re a cheesecake fan, be sure to check out my Pumpkin Cheesecake....

This gorgeous Apple Spice Cake looks fancy but is really easy to make! Even if you never stray from boxed cake mixes, you can do this one, I promise! And you won’t believe how much better a fresh apple cake tastes when it doesn’t come from a box. The simple ingredients come together in a snap and the aroma that lingers in your house is something to treasure. Warm cinnamon, tart, sweet apples all baked together and topped with a dreamy cream cheese icing....

Today Charlotte was dropped off at home from a playdate at a friend’s, and as we’re eating lunch she says, “Mom, you never got dressed!” “What! Yes I did!” “No, you didn’t.” “I took a shower! I put on makeup!” “Well you look the same.” THANKS A LOT CHARLOTTE. Sometimes living with a 3-year-old is all you need to keep your ego in check. Although to be fair, I probably needed an ego check after The Autograph Incident....