A non-biased guide to visit Hampi and its ancient monuments in South India. 📕 Where and what is Hampi? Hampi is a place in South India, Karnataka, known for its ancient Indian monuments. It was the capital of the notorious Vijayanagara Empire. The capital of the empire was also known as Vijayanagara and was the second-largest city in the world in 1500 CE, some 500 … [Read more...]
Search Results for: south
South Indian Sambar Recipe
A super flavorful and easy recipe to prepare South Indian Sambar at home, with vegetables from your grocery store or garden. This south Indian lentil recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and low-calorie friendly. This recipe was filmed with Ajpa. It's also her take on Sambar, a dish she loved to prepare while she studied in Chennai, South India. South Indian food lovers … [Read more...]
Munnar Hill Station Kerala - Tea Gardens South India
Munnar is one unique place to visit in this world. The popular Hill station in South India is one of the tea hubs in this world. There is a good chance that, where ever you are in this world, you have had a hot tea, whose leaves were grown and hand-collected between these green hills in the high mountain ranges of the Indian subcontinent. We traveled from Kodaikanal … [Read more...]
Kodaikanal Tamil Nadu South India and my honest experience
Some time around 2007 in Goa, I met a few very nice and friendly Russian freelance internet pioneers. They had made Goa their base during the winter months, but they would travel to their liking around the South Indian States, from Pondicherry, Mysore to Kodaikanal, Munnar and Alappuzha. I had not traveled the Southern Indian States at that point and was mesmerized by … [Read more...]
Mysore trip and Mysore Zoo | Karnataka | South India
After a long day on the road, across the Western Ghats into new South Indian territories, we reached the imperial city Mysore in the Indian state of Karnataka. On our way down from Goa to Mysore by car, we ended up traveling 606 kilometers which took us about 14 incredible hours and we were quite speedy with only 2 stops. We saw the beautiful konkan coastline, … [Read more...]
Traveling South India - Road Trip Goa Mysore Ooty Kodaikanal Munnar
Finally I get to share the first part of our ultimate trip to South India. Traveling South India is such a huge topic that I needed my own time to compile the first part, others will follow soon with all our beautiful impressions, useful tips and stunning stories. Just to summarize it, the five of us, including my husband part of his family and myself, organized a road … [Read more...]
Amboli, Tilari - South Maharashtra - Western ghats - India
Recently the famous west Indian mountain chain, the western ghats, made it to the coveted list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. For that reason alone, we should all celebrate! You wonder why? Well, the western ghats are known to be one of the eight hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world. The mountain chain runs, in a narrow strip from north to … [Read more...]
+24 Asian Shrimp Recipes
Authentic and Asian style shrimp recipes to get inspired in the kitchen. Learn new cooking techniques, experience new flavors, and immerse yourself into the world of shrimp recipes. Below you will find my favorite shrimp (and prawn for all Indian and British readers) recipes. I also asked my food friends to share their top Asian shrimp recipes, and this is how this … [Read more...]
+29 Asian Soup Recipes to get inspired!
You know, I LOVE, Asian soup recipes. They are flavorful, easy to prepare and good for you. Therefore, I have compiled a list of the best Asian soup dishes with the help of my recipe friends. Get inspired and collect some ideas. Most soups can be enjoyed all year round and are great as a main course meal or as a starter. The list below includes Asian inspired soup … [Read more...]
Mediterranean Chicken Seasoning
Mediterranean spices and herbs are combined into a seasoning blend to enhance your chicken. TL;DR I came up with this chicken seasoning when I visited my family in France. We cook with Mediterranean flavors in the summer months and the combination of these spices and herbs, make for a great chicken seasoning blend. The blend of spices and herbs can be used to season … [Read more...]
Thai Sweet Chili Lime Sauce Recipe
This Thai Sweet Chili Lime Sauce can be used as a dip or added to meals during the cooking process. You are going to love the DIY Sweet Chili Sauce for the flavor depths and adjustments you can make so that you can prepare this chili sauce easily just the way you like it! This recipe was first posted on the 10th April 2018 and was enhanced with better pictures later … [Read more...]
+30 Authentic Oktoberfest Food Ideas to Turbocharge your Party
Visiting Oktoberfest or are you looking for some delicious original Oktoberfest food ideas for your party? I compiled a collection of the best Oktoberfest recipes, savory and sweet. Grab some ideas for your Oktoberfest food party further below, or learn about the food offering before your Oktoberfest visit! This is an updated version, inspired by our recent trip to … [Read more...]
Avocado Cucumber Beet Mango Sushi Roll Recipe
A vibrant and healthy Avocado Cucumber Beet Mango Sushi Roll to add to your list of must-try sushi recipes. Vegan sushi lovers and those who don't like raw seafood, will enjoy this inside out sushi roll. Created with Momoko our Japanese food expert, this Mango, Avocado, Cucumber, and Beet Sushi Roll recipe is part of our extensive modern Japanese food … [Read more...]
+23 Jackfruit Recipes (Ripe and Unripe)
Jackfruit is such a versatile tropical fruit and to celebrate that, I have put together a selection of jackfruit recipes. Discover fresh ripe and young canned jackfruit recipes below. There is something for everyone with lunch ideas, sweet desserts, Asian and Indian recipes, as well as American and European classics prepared with jackfruit. Yet, here you will mainly … [Read more...]
Ranch Seasoning Mix Recipe
Make this homemade ranch seasoning mix if you are seeking real food flavors in your life. Save money with your DIY ranch spice and make it as per your needs and health requirements. 📕 What's Ranch Seasoning? Ranch seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices popularized by Hidden Valley. Their main product is Ranch Dressing, which was invented by Steve Henson … [Read more...]
+18 Flavored Rice Recipes
More than 18 flavored rice recipes to jazz up your rice cooking skills. Take your bland rice to the next level, and season your rice as per your choice with these inspiring recipe ideas. What's flavored rice? Flavored rice is also known as seasoned rice. It is rice infused with a set of flavors. You do that by adding spices, herbs, condiments such as soy … [Read more...]
Breadfruit VS Jackfruit: What's the difference?
I talk about the differences between Breadfruit VS Jackfruit and how these two delicious tropical fruits compare. You will be able to easily spot these two related fruits in the future! In this post, we will compare the two, breadfruit and jackfruit, in looks, taste, uses, growing habits, possible health perks and cultural importance. We have a massive … [Read more...]
German Pork Loin Roast with Sauerkraut Recipe
Our South German/Austrian boneless pork loin roast with sauerkraut recipe. This is an authentic recipe for pork roast prepared without apples and brown sugar in a Dutch oven. I share useful tips to get make the juiciest and most tender pork loin roast ever! The recipe comes with process images and a video. 📕 What is this pork and sauerkraut recipe? I'm … [Read more...]
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil has many fantastic uses in Asian cuisine, but it can be a confusing ingredient! Here you will learn about the different types, how to use them, the smoking point, substitutions and the best way to store your sesame oil. 📕 What is Sesame Oil? Sesame oil is extracted from Sesame seeds, which come in white or black varieties. The plant grows vastly … [Read more...]
Skillet French Savory Crêpe Recipe
A simple savory crêpe recipe, just the way French people make them at home. You will only need a regular skillet to make thin perfect crêpes. Those can be stuffed with a savory filling. 📕 What are Crêpes? Crêpes are french paper-thin large round pancakes. They resemble the German or Austrian Pfannkuchen or Palatschinken, just that they are thinner than … [Read more...]
12 BEST Chanterelle Mushroom Recipes
Here are some great chanterelle mushroom recipes to make the most out of your fresh, dried or frozen chanterelles. 📕 What are Chanterelle Mushrooms? Chanterelle mushrooms, or chanterelles as they are also called, are vibrant yellow or golden colored and funnel-shaped mushrooms. Variations exist between the white and black color spectrum. Some … [Read more...]
Guava Fruit
The guava fruit is a beautiful tropical fruit. It has many delicious and useful uses. Here you will find everything you need to know to start enjoying guavas all the more. 📕 What is a Guava? Guava is a tropical fruit in every sense of the word. It grows in the tropics around the equator, smells like the tropics, and is the fruitiest of all the fruits out … [Read more...]
Prickly Pear Juice (Cactus Fruit)
Prickly pear juice is made from cactus fruits. It's refreshing and so easily made, you don't need a blender or juicer! 📕 What is a Prickly Pear? Prickly pears are the colorful fruits of the nopales "paddle" cactus. They are native to the American continent where they grow in an arid dry desert climate. The fruits are also known as tuna fruit or simply cactus … [Read more...]
French Green Lentils with Sausage (Puy Lentils)
A French recipe for green lentils cooked with sausages. This is a family one-pot recipe. It's one of my favorite winter-time dinner meals. My mum would prepare it every once in a while for us. 📕 What are French Green Puy Lentils? The french green lentils are an important ingredient in the french homemade local cuisine. They are better known as Lentille … [Read more...]
How to prepare Absinthe
Preparing absinthe the right way is part of the ritual and it makes for a great way to entertain your party guests. 📕 What is Absinthe? Absinthe is a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It's also known as The Green Fairy or La Fee Verte. It can be described as anise-flavored, licorice-flavored, or minty. This is because true absinthe is prepared by … [Read more...]
What are Tropical Fruits
Tropical fruits are fruits that grow in a tropical area. The climate for these fruits to thrive and grow is humid hot and it never freezes. 🗺️ Tropical Places Tropical or so-called exotic fruits come from places close to the equator, the tropical climate belt. The weather there is mostly warm or hot the whole year round with a humidity level higher … [Read more...]
Papaya Fruit
Papaya is such a misunderstood fruit! Yet it has so many delicious and useful uses. Here you will find everything you need to know to start enjoying papayas all the more. 📕 What is Papaya? Papaya or Pawpaw is a sweet, pulpy, and nutritious fruit that widely grows in tropical climates. The first thing you’ll notice about a Papaya is its vibrant color, like … [Read more...]
Sapodilla Fruit
Sapodilla is a wonderful tropical fruit. Learn about the different varieties and collect some tips and ideas on how to use the amazing fruit! 📕 What is the Sapodilla Fruit? Sapodilla is a brown, round to oval-shaped, fruit. Sometimes this fruit is also called chicozapote, sapota, naseberry, or nispero in the Caribbean and American … [Read more...]
Simple Stewed Tomatoes Recipe
Simple flavored stewed tomatoes, prepared from scratch from whole fresh tomatoes and peeled. I share seasoning, storing options and ways to use them. 📕 What are stewed tomatoes? Tomatoes are peeled and then slowly cooked over a medium to low heat setting. The tomatoes can be diced or cooked as a whole. Stewed tomatoes and variations exist all over the … [Read more...]
Canned Pinto Beans and Rice with Sausage
Pinto Beans and rice prepared with canned beans and stewed over the stovetop with sausages. This is a quick and easy healthy dinner meal. It's comforting and effortless to put together after a long day at work. 🧅 Ingredients You will need a few pantry ingredients to make this from scratch with canned beans, AND you can enhance it further with a seasoning of … [Read more...]
Things to see in Slovenia (Europe)
This post is there to inspire you to add Slovenia, a small European country, to your travel bucket list for the future. 💭 FAQs in a nutshell Slovenia is located in Europe. It's bordering Austria to the north, Hungary to the east, Croatia to the South, and Italy to the West. It's part of the European Union so, Schengen visa applies here and they have the Euro. … [Read more...]
Austrian Food Guide
This is a guide about Austrian food and drink specialties. It covers everything you need to know if you are a gourmand traveling Austria or if you want to simply learn more about our food culture. The food guide is from the perspective of a West Austrian, so I may have mentioned more specialties from there because, well that's my expertise. But I have also … [Read more...]
Learn to cook with Spices and Herbs
Trending Lunch and Dinner Discover more recipes → Discover more recipes → Seasonal Ingredients & Spring Recipes Discover more recipes → Homemade Seasonings Discover more recipes → Hi I'm Helene! I help you to discover great recipes prepared with spices and herbs. Here you will find +500 quick and easy recipes from around the … [Read more...]
Banana Foster Recipe
Banana Foster is your dessert if you have a sweet tooth! Bananas are cooked in a buttery sweet sauce before being served over vanilla ice cream. 📕 What is Banana Foster? Banana Foster is a traditional dessert from the south in the US. Bananas are cooked with butter sugar, cinnamon and liquor. The dish is popular in restaurants in New Orleans and … [Read more...]
Red Beans and Rice with Sausage Recipe
Red beans and rice flavored with sausages, veggies and a set of spices. This is a wholesome dinner meal that you can prepare in one-pot easily from scratch. 📕 What are red beans and rice? Red beans and rice is mostly known thanks to the South in the US. New Orleans in Louisiana calls this cajun comfort dish its own! Historically this dish was prepared on … [Read more...]
Skillet Chicken Cordon Bleu Recipe
One-pan juicy skillet chicken cordon bleu, stuffed with melt in your mouth cheese and ham, coated with a crispy golden breading. Discover how to easily make this family dinner favorite from scratch at home. 🍗 Ingredients You will need the following ingredients to make chicken cordon bleu from scratch at home: You can also choose to season the ham and cheese … [Read more...]
Brazil Nut - What is it and How to use it?
The Brazil Nut is a little known nut from Central America. It has been gaining popularity. Here you will learn everything you need to know about this exotic nut. 📕 What is the Brazil Nut? Brazil nuts come from tropical trees that grow in South America, including Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. The trees reach a majestic height of … [Read more...]
Hungarian Goulash Soup Recipe
A Hungarian goulash soup recipe with beef, vegetables and spices. This is a traditional soup served in an authentic Hungarian soup bowl. 📕 What is Hungarian Goulash? Hungarian Goulash is a soup or stew prepared with beef, vegetables and spices. Hungarian Goulash, which has conquered the world with its deliciously rustic taste, has its origins in the … [Read more...]
Olive Tapenade Recipe
Easy homemade olive tapenade to serve as a party appetizer over bruschetta or with crackers. This recipe is without anchovies, making it vegan-friendly. 📕 What is a Tapenade? Tapenade is a spread prepared with black or green olives. It's a condiment from the Provence in South France, where olives and Mediterranean food are a tradition. Traditionally, … [Read more...]
Beef Tenderloin Roast with Garlic and Herb in the Dutch Oven
Juicy and perfect oven roasted beef tenderloin seasoned with garlic and herbs and prepared in the Dutch oven. A great meal to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones such as Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving. You might also enjoy my Roasted Garlic Pork Tenderloin or this Herb-Roasted Turkey Tenderloin Recipe. 📕 What is Beef Tenderloin? Beef … [Read more...]