The last days have been super hot in the small Indian Coastline state Goa and the retrieving rains seem to be over. Yet the heat is dragging along and I am starting to turn into a raisin. I am looking for water and I am yearning for cooling sights. I remember the days when plump water drops would fall on the broad Elephant Ears in my tropical garden Goa. I … [Read more...]
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Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame
Saturday's used to be house cleaning days in my younger years. This would be the most annoying day and the best day at the same time in the week. My mum would make sure that my siblings and I would be up early mornings to attack the day. Yet, her plans rarely worked out and I must say I was very stubborn and cleaning the house was something I hated, but I was … [Read more...]
Goan Para Fish - Marinated Fish Pickle
Something that I thought I would never eat back in 2007, ended up being one of my most favorite Goan dishes. Dried Fish curing in fiery red marination is definitely unusual for a European, but when I was introduced to the fried Goan Para fish served with a mountain of rice and a good dose of Dal, I was instantly hooked by the flavor tango on my tongue. At the … [Read more...]
Sweet and Sour Papaya Sauce
Hello orange Season, welcome back! I have been seeing oranges lately, not in a bad way of course, no I am talking about the change of seasons and the time when orange-colored vegetables and fruits appear more frequently in the market. It might be Europe, the Americas or India, every September you'll notice warmer colored produce. While the old wives summer (also … [Read more...]
Tulsi Syrup Recipe - Indian Holy Basil
During the rainy season, our garden turns into a real Jungle, sheltering some of the weirdest and prettiest creatures alike. A couple of times I came across some insects that looked like branches and some dangerous looking frogs with a red line on their back were sitting in the broad daylight undisturbed by our hovering presence. Then there are yellow, dotted, … [Read more...]
Kohlrabi Potato Purée
The other day I came across a vegetable that I hadn’t seen for a while in my little neighborhood market here. As you must have guessed it from the title, I am talking about the humble Kohlrabi, a plump, whitish and roundish looking leafy bulb vegetable. Personally, I am very familiar with the taste of the bulb and I blame my mother for that. She had the habit to … [Read more...]
Chicken Tikka Recipe
To get a hand on a perfect tasty chicken tikka recipe is one challenge and then to even master the “technique” is another. It doesn't mean that only you, the home cook, is facing this famous challenge alone. In fact, in a place such as Goa, even though a popular tourist destination in India, you'll have a hard time hunting down a moist and flavorsome Chicken Tikka. … [Read more...]
Rice Patties Recipe with Carrots
Rice Patties are a great addition to your weekly meal plan to switch up things. These pan-fried savory rice cakes with carrots are prepared with leftover rice and are vegetarian and gluten-free. I created these rice patty cakes to celebrate rice in all its forms and shapes. Just FYI, rice patties are at times also known as rice cakes. 🔪 How to make rice … [Read more...]
Ridge Gourd Casserole Recipe
Ridge Gourd Bake Casserole is a delicious Week night dinner idea. The Ridge Gourd is a gourd vegetable growing in the tropical regions of this world, and most particularly on the Indian subcontinent. Learn how to use this healthy vegetable in this ridge gourd bake casserole with the step-by-step recipe further below: My all-time favorite vegetable on the … [Read more...]
Tropical Fruit Garden India
I thought it was about time to show you all our Tropical Fruit Garden here in Goa, India. This is the best season for me to show off with all the wondrous fruit treats growing in our garden. We have many more trees, but they are still pretty young. In fact, most of them were planted a year ago, but more about that later on. Of course, we do have some … [Read more...]
Austrian German English Food Translations
A couple of days ago, me and my Bavarian - German friends were sitting outside waiting for the electricity to come back. We ended up talking about food (what else right?) and then, of course, we started to compare the Tyrolean/Austrian dish traditions with the Bavarian/South German food habits and tried to compare and figure out some food translations. We didn't find … [Read more...]
Herb Soup Dumplings (Biskuitschöberl)
Nearly two weeks ago I had posted our Austrian Semolina dumplings recipe and in the same post I had promised to share more traditional Soup dumplings. Back then I had also come up with a Clear Vegetable Consommé, and today you'll be able to reuse this Clear soup recipe together with some typical, easy and quick herb dumplings. These dumplings are commonly known as … [Read more...]
Austrian Jagertee Recipe
The alpine skiing slopes are famous all over the world. Why? Mostly because of the tipsy making hot beverages, such as the heart-warming Jagertee. 📕 What is a Jagertee? Jagertee, Jägertee or Jagatee means Hunter's tea and Jaga is the local Tyrolean (regional Austrian German) word for Jäger in German. My conclusion is that in the old times, Hunter's used … [Read more...]
Vegetarian Potato Goulash Recipe
This Potato Goulash is completely vegetarian and a common weeknight dinner meal during the cold winter months in Austria. The one-pot wonder is easy to make and you just need a few ingredients to prepare the soup within 30 minutes. 📕 What is this dish? The Austrian Goulash soup with potatoes is a dish we all grew up with, in Austria. The authentic goulash … [Read more...]
Lebkuchen Spice Mixture
This little spice mix is one of the most important European spice blends during Christmastime. In the alpine region, it is the main ingredient while baking Lebkuchen cookies and without the spice mixture, it wouldn't be a Lebkuchen. These brown inviting and often decorated cookies are a form of the worldwide known Gingerbread and in dictionaries, the Lebkuchen is … [Read more...]
Coconut Ball Macaroons Recipe
For Christmas, light Coconut Macaroons are always common in each Middle European house. 📕 What are Macaroons? In German they are better known as Kokosbusserl and I can tell you, there are many variations. These cream/white shaded cookies are very simple to recreate and I guess, that and the taste are the reason for its popularity. Now you might be … [Read more...]
Easy Christmas Meringue Cookies
So I am back to the Christmas cookie season with this post. This time I decided to share with you a simple, 2 ingredients, basic cookie type known as Meringue, which is quite common in Europe over the merry festivity period. Meringues are sometimes even known as Baiser or in German even as Windbäckerei. They appear in different shapes such as drops and circles and … [Read more...]
Amla Candy
In India, one fruit has gained more more importance over the years. I am speaking of the Indian Gooseberry, which is commonly known as Amla all over the country. The Amla Berry has been popular among Indians for ages, but not for its culinary uses but mostly for its medicinal Ayurvedic properties. The benefits are countless, yet the fruit never achieved a … [Read more...]
Dutch Oven Beef Goulash Recipe
Slow-simmered beef cubes are cooked tender soft in a velvety, rich paprika-based sauce. Bring the timeless Central European classic beef goulash to your dinner table. TL;DR We traditionally prepare beef goulash in Austria, where it is known as Rindergulasch or Rindsgulasch. This is my take on the creamy version of a classic beef goulash. Unlike the hearty … [Read more...]
Coco Loco Brain Juice [Halloween]
As you have already realized, Halloween is nearing and some of us, including me, are all busy creating new Halloween Food Idea. If you click on the link, you 'll be able to see our Halloween Pinterest Pin board, already stuffed with great creative and spooky Halloween goodies from the Food Blogger community. Head over for some … [Read more...]
Layered Polenta Casserole Recipe
📕 What is Polenta? Polenta is a typical Italian, central European maize (cornmeal) porridge type. Polenta resembles grits, but it's deep yellow. Before polenta was introduced to Europe, they used other ingredients such as chestnut flour or millet. Polenta is cooked with liquids such as water, stocks or milk for a couple of minutes. It's a very quick side dish … [Read more...]
Apple Tart
It's Time to bake some Apple Tarts! What do you think? Apples are falling and besides that, other fruits are ready to be harvested. Again, I wished I were in Europe now. Just to be able to pick what I had planted and to preserve the surplus fruits. Occasionally, we even make juice of certain fruits. My parents belong to the local gardening club there, … [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...]
Goan Sauteed Ridge Gourd Recipe
Luffa is a funny name for a Vegetable that is just so tasty! When I hear the word Luffa, I think of soap and a hot bath. In fact, my thinking isn't that wrong because this particular vegetable isn't just a wonderful food item but at the same time a very popular natural sponge since the beginning of time. However, the Luffa vegetables here in Goa/India are actually … [Read more...]
Schwarzsee - Kitzbühel surrounding - Tirol, Austria
Schwarzsee, also known as the Black Lake translated, is a serene spot in the midst of the Alps next to the luxurious alpine city, Kitzbühel. My parents and I had taken a relaxed Sunday off and went for a little walk nearby. We chose to take a stroll around Kitzbühel (Tirolean Alps, Austria). Kitzbühel is famous for its numerous ruff sports competitions, such as … [Read more...]
Spinach Parmesan Frittata with Shrimp Recipe
Sometimes I feel I should come back to the staple food reality, even though the exotic food world is ever so tempting and exciting! The past days I have been working and testing a wild leave bhaji type, commonly cooked in Hindu houses in the rains in Goa. However it will take some time till I am ready to share it with you all since I am looking for some … [Read more...]
Spiced Yardlong Beans Recipe
In India, or at least in Goa, bhaji means Vegetable. When you go to a local restaurant, which serves up simple food, you can ask for a bhaji. For example, potato bhaji, beans bhaji and so on are readily available on the menu. Those food places which serve up tasty bhaji are quite popular with their Vegetarians. You will not just see locals, but even foreigners … [Read more...]
Rhubarb Strawberry Jam Recipe
Homemade Rhubarb Strawberry Jam Recipe with fresh ingredients that are in season. Make a batch of this delicious jam to spread a spoonful of it over your toasted breakfast bread. Minus the Rhubarb and you have a strawberry jam recipe to make. We love Rhubarb, don't we? The sour, tart flavor of those crisp stalks have become quite popular … [Read more...]
Herb Infused Vinegar DIY
Who knew that making homemade herbal vinegar dressing was that easy. You'd be surprised too by the lovely flavors and intensity of the fresh herbs infused for a lovely herbal vinegar. Learn how to make this DIY herbal vinegar step by step. Furthermore, learn about the herbs used in this recipe and their health benefits further below. A punch of sweet … [Read more...]
Rhubarb Tart
Our house is a real treasure cove, with useful old things and precious collectables. Whenever the time allows it, (which doesn't happen often) I like to search through forgotten attic boxes and cellar cupboards. I had picked up that habit as a kid one fine afternoon when I was alone at home. Precisely, I had actually started to rummage through the house when I … [Read more...]
Austrian Farmer's Open-Door Day
Austria might be a small country, barely remembered and known by the world in the middle of the European continent, but this friendly little country has a remarkable tradition with friendly inhabiting people. Traveling the world, I was asked several times for my country of origin and whenever I tried to explain that I grew up in Austria, the first thing I was told was "AHA, … [Read more...]
Detox Herbal Tea
Some time back I had introduced you to a creative home made Dandelion flower jelly, and back then I had promised to share a few other healthy culinary uses for the plant. Before the Austrian alps were commercialized, folks of the mountains had ways and secrete family recipes to their disposition. The chosen ingredients were commonly available products, such as wild … [Read more...]
Bavarian Sauerkraut and Sausage Recipe
A traditional Bavarian Sauerkraut with Sausage recipe. It's an effortless one-pot meal which you can prepare with either homemade or store-bought Sauerkraut. This Sauerkraut recipe is as per Bavarian and Austrian customs (we share a culture), and if you have traveled to the area, this is the recipe you are looking for. What is Sauerkraut and Sausage? Sauerkraut is … [Read more...]
Zunna Berry (chunna) - Ziziphus Rugosa
We love berries don't we? The best part is to collect them in the wild and either take them home or even better to indulge them here and there in the forest/jungle. We don't feel like it is a waste of time! It's an urge, like a desire deep from our subconscious selves, telling us “Come on, it is fun and tasty at the same time!”. Granted, I for once don't … [Read more...]
One Pot Pork Fillet with mushrooms and potatoes
This is my first pork dish here., and it has been a while. It is very rare that I cook pork at home and in general its not a meat which everybody enjoys. I myself, I am quite difficult and choosy when I cook and eat pork Nowadays I have seen more useless cuts of pork meat around than ever before. Another factor is the fat content, and I am the type of person who … [Read more...]
Green Mango Pickle
Its the Mango season, the time when you indulge the fruity gems in masses, the time when you end up eating only fresh mangoes the whole day and the time when you have to be aware that some of your house tiles might get jammed by falling fruits. What would we do without the juicy, refreshing goodness? It is unimaginable, so deeply rooted and needed are the mangoes. … [Read more...]
Cold Tomato Orange Soup with Buffalo Mozzarella
A cold tomato orange soup prepared with fresh peeled tomatoes, orange juice and enriched with chunks of soft buffalo mozzarella and basil leaves. 📕 What is this soup? A simple, flavorful cold summer soup to beat the heat. This soup is like a Spanish cold gazpacho soup. It's served cooled. This soup doesn't require cooking it, it can be prepared within 20 … [Read more...]
Blanquette de veau a l'ancienne
The other day my husband bought some excellent veal belly which he found in a corner at market. Usually, these kinds of meats are uncommon or asking for their prices. I have to confess I wouldn't know where to buy veal or other meats such as lamb, buffalo, or even deer. The later meat will not be available. Game meats such as deer boar, tortoise, and … [Read more...]
Rare Indian Berries
I am looking and searching and reading and going crazy with the thought that I won't find the name or any other information about some of the tastiest culinary berries out there. Those berries are nearly forgotten in between Goas hills, known only by the former generations and the poorer populations of the villages. It is frustrating to watch a fruit disappear in front … [Read more...]
Java Plum Juice
Finally, I am feeling a bit better after that vicious food poisoning attack last weekend. My husband did eat the same dish as I, but he was barely effected, luckily! Definitely I am not looking forward to weakening my body again, no Idea why I thought that I could eat prawns in the summer heat. My taste buds were crying for some seafood flavors, for a change of … [Read more...]