Spiced Orange Saffron Warm drink | Drink Recipes from Chitra's Healthy Kitchen (Reblog)

Wintertime is the best time for warm drinks. Who would disagree? Even though you drink hot or warm drinks all year round, for obvious reasons, they are just more soothing and comforting during the winter. That's why I am reblogging this recipe from an awesome food blogger who shares recipes for healthy living. Chitra's blog has over 3000 followers.

• Saffron, my favorite spice.  Never thought to put it in a drink though. :) 

• Love oranges. Love saffron. Can’t go wrong! :)

• Warm drinks are so soothing and comforting.   

Spiced Orange Saffron Warm Drink
| Chitra's Healthy Kitchen

EES shares recipes, cooking tips, and all things foodie!

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More Warm Winter Drinks

Indulge in cozy vibes with Simpson & Vail Almond Sugar Cookie #BlackTea 🍪☕ Part of the #DessertTeas Collection — one 4oz tin brews up to 50 cups of sweet comfort! 🌿💛
Perfect for #TeaLovers, #Vegan & #Kosher lifestyles.
👉 https://t.co/b7b4jtRhie pic.twitter.com/pgCtfWqvhA

— My Shopping Channel (@goshoppingbees) November 26, 2025

Comfort and Joy! Holiday drinks are warm and soothing with the right mulling spices like peppercorns and cinnamon

Thermos Funtainer 12 Ounce Warm Beverage Bottle, Darth Vader Armour

Winterial Insulated Watter Bottle / 40oz / Double Walled HOT & COLD / Vacuum Sealed / Black

glitter-graphics.com

Food Blog Spotlight: Home Cooking Presented by Hilda's Touch of Spice

Spotlight on another awesome food blog. This one should be saved in your bookmarks for forever! It's called “Hilda'sTouch of Spice”. The blog is published by Hilda Mascarenhas. Her recipes include a wonderful sampling of European, Asian, and American cuisines, and categories are for holidays, by countries, vegetarian versus non-vegetarian, desserts, side dishes, soups and salads, and more! The best way to describe her blog is using her own words:

"Mouth watering recipes & essential cooking advice, helping you to add the right Touch of Spice to make simple home cooking special!"

That's the description from her Facebook page.  In 2013 her page reached 1,000 Likes.  As of today (2016), it has over 5,000 Likes!  Isn't that marvelous?

Since it's the holiday season you're going to love this share. It's her Christmas Special menu, followed by a few more selected blog posts that I like. Enjoy!

Christmas Special Menu - Hilda's Touch Of Spice

(Click here to view all of Hilda's Christmas recipes.)

Christmas Special Menu

This year Christmas is going to be filled with traditional sweets at our home.

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Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese Cheesecake

Popularly known as "Japanese Cotton Cheesecake" due to its cotton texture this beautiful baked cheesecake is delicately soft. Very famous years ago on the net, you will find several recipes to this delicious cake.

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Steamed Momos

Steamed Momos

The weather in Pune is chilly & cold in the nights.

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Carrot Coconut Ladoos / Gajar Nariyal Ladoos

Carrot Coconut Ladoos / Gajar Nariyal Ladoos

Two of my eternal favorites... Carrots and Coconut. Just can't do without them! 🙂 They bind beautifully to form into gorgeous,sweet and yummy ladoos. A perfect ball of melt in the mouth goodness to satiate that sweet craving.

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Chicken Handi (Murg Handi)

Chicken Handi (Murg Handi)

Rustic and full of flavor this delectable Chicken/Murg Handi is so succulent. Like many who love this dish, we are no exception. There are many good restaurants in Pune who prepare this dish really well. Making an almost authentic, traditional Murg handi at home is an experience to be savored.

Other food bloggers highlighted by Food Ways:

• JovinaCooks Italian.
• CiaoFlorentina ~ Easy Italian Recipes
• Flaming Vegan

World Cuisine : The India-Africa Cooking Connection

For me, a hearty stew has always been the ultimate family-style comfort food. Prepare a big pot, fill the bowls for family, friends, and honored guests, break bread, and chow down!! (Keep reading and you'll get the "bread" and "chow" references.)  Such a meal can unite family and friends, make strangers feel welcome, and dare I say ... connect countries?  Hey!  Nothing wrong with wishful thinking and dreams of world peace.

Indians love curry; in fact that's where it originated. Africans like peanuts; it was a food used to feed the slaves because it was an excellent source of protein. These tidbits of info gleaned from researching world cuisine, global flavors, and food history.  When the Indians and the Africans combined their food loves ... the "mix" was WOW!  Let the links shared below explain the impact.  They lead to recipes that introduce your palette to the blending of the cultures of  India and Africa in every delicious mouthful.  Not just dishes that use curry and peanuts but meals with other flavorful cultural ingredients.  It's family food, it's comfort food, it's "all kinds of deliciousness" food!! ☺

Let's Go to South Africa for Some Indian Food

Experience the flavors of Indian food in South Africa.

Indian cuisine South Africa style blends Indian and African foods

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African cuisine reflects the amalgamation of hundreds of different cultures and groups that inhabit the continent. The local culinary traditions are a fusion and it can be seen in the choice of ingredients, method of preparation and cooking techniques.

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Can You Name 5 British Desserts? (NO Googling!)

My youngest child is practicing (and hopefully improving) her writing skills. She picked a random topic and did some research.  The topic was British desserts, a subject matter which she definitely had to find out about on her own because:

(A) Her American mother was clueless.
(B) Even though her late father was from The Bahamas, which at one time was beholden to the Queen of England, Bahamian food is in no way a reflection of British cuisine.  In other words, he was also clueless.

(Arctic Roll)

I was pleasantly surprised with the results of her search.
Has anybody ever tried any of these treats?
Can you name 5 more British desserts? ☺
(Supplied a link below if you can't think of any.)

1. Arctic Roll
2. Bakewell Tart
3. Eton Mess
4. Flies Graveyard
5. Rock Cake

Flies Graveyard?? Sounds perfect for celebrating Halloween.

Original source: Read.Cash

Recipe Sharing : CHICKEN RECIPES – The Best of

Award-winning TV chef, Lidia Bastianich, says that “chicken” is the most searched for food term. There is no reason to think that fact needs to be checked out. Lots of people love chicken! Fried, stewed, baked, barbecued, grilled! There has got to be a million plus ways to prepare this delightful bird and make it taste like it's the first time you've ever eaten it! Agree?

 



What's your favorite part of the chicken? (Breasts or dark meat?)

• I like chicken thighs.

Do you also like chicken livers, gizzards, and hearts?

• If you tenderize them you can cook them in a stew with carrots, potatoes and green cabbage. It's a poor man's meal but very filling.

Do you have favorite way you like to eat chicken?

 
When people say “best of”, it's almost always purely subjective. However, for several years I have been collecting what, in my opinion is the “best” chicken recipes from wherever they can be found and as of today my Pinterest board boasts close to 600 recipes.

Here is a quick list of just a few of the best chicken dishes ever.

Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

Yeah mon!! :)

16-Spice Fried Chicken with Mango–Red Chile Honey

Mango makes everything taste good!

 

Easy Greek Marinated Chicken

Greek Chicken with Garlic and Feta

Grilled Thai Spice Chicken Sliders

Who doesn't like Greek or Thai food? (O.o) (???)

 

Honey Jalapeno Chicken Tenders

Finger food in its finest hour!

 

Best Ever Roast Chicken

* soy sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, olive oil.

Just listing the seasonings makes my mouth water.

 

Chicken Rice Casserole Sunday Supper

The mighty one-pot dish!

 

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

* use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.

 Chicken Rice Casserole Sunday Supper 137 ​ 138
The mighty one pot dish!

Easy Chicken Enchiladas 

 * use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken. 

 Said the magic word. Easy!!

Lemon Chicken Rice Soup 

Best Chicken Detox Soup 

Don't resist chicken soup! It's good for the soul! :) 

 

Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

Best Chicken Detox Soup

Don't resist chicken soup! It's good for the soul! :)

Spotlight on Food Bloggers ~ Recipes for the Holidays (or Any Day)

In 2015, I became a member of Bloggy Moms Network. It was a wonderful community, and in a previous blog post, I was happy to shine a spotlight on the members who were food bloggers. The BM Network was a great place to find recipes, cooking tips, meal ideas, and all kinds of food-related information. Unfortunately, the network no longer exists, and this blog post is being published a a replacement.

Since the holiday season is here, the first share is about preparing a wonderful and healthy “healthier” Christmas feast. And then there are a lot more foodie links that I'm sure you'll enjoy!!

45 Best Healthy Christmas Recipes! | The Clean Eating Couple

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Becoming A Farm Girl. “🛒 FORGET Meal Plans. How I Cook for a Week on $100 --No Recipes. No Waste. No Panic.” YouTube, Video, 3 June 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvOT-S0ctLo.

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Colorful Bow Tie Pork | Harried Housewife Blog

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Soup for Thanksgiving! | Adriana's Best Recipes

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Every Thanksgiving, I want all the pies! There are so many delicious pies to enjoy: Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Cherry Pie, Apple Crumb Pie, and don't forget pumpkin cheesecake and all the other desserts that come with Thanksgiving.  OK!  I like rolls too.

• One-Pan Mini Thanksgiving Pies Three Ways | The BakerMama  
• Mini Pies for the Holidays | Two Sisters

• Pumpkin Bread Rolls with Cinnamon Butter | Handle the Heat

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Apple Pecan Chia Pudding – #SecretRecipeClub
(Dessert for breakfast? No wonder it's a secret!)

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Moist And Fluffy Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls Recipe (+VIDEO)

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Mini Sweet Potato Cakes with Sticky Caramel Sauce | Cooking With Carlee

Hope you enjoy your holidays and every day before and after.

glitter-graphics.com

Inexpensive Meals: Lentils are Hearty, Healthy and a Small Bag Can Feed a Crowd

LEBANESE RECIPE: Mujaddara

I did not start eating lentils until I got married back in the 70s. It was never served in my mom's house. I learned how to cook them because my husband liked them. I usually seasoned them with smoked turkey and added diced carrots, onions, and celery. Learned that lentils are a common dish in the Middle East. They are legumes and they come in different colors: black, brown, red, and yellow. They can not be eaten RAW. Also, you don't have to soak them before cooking.

FUN FOOD FACTS:

• Lentils are one of the oldest cultivated crops in human history. (You know it! They're mentioned in the Bible.)

• Lentils likely came to the USA via European Settlers, especially from Mediterranean countries.

• In the early 1900s, the USDA and land-grant universities began promoting lentils as a rotational crop due to their nitrogen-fixing properties.

• As of today, the USA is now one of the world’s top producers of lentils. The United States grows several types: green, red, black (also known as Beluga lentils), and French green (Puy-style) lentils.

Mujaddara is a dish of cooked lentils together with groats, generally rice, and garnished with sautéed onions.

• Here is a recipe: Mujadara (Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions) -Cookie and Kate  

“Mujadara is served across the Middle East in various forms and goes by differing names, depending on where you are. It has many spelling variations: mujadarra, mujadarah, majadra, mejadra, moujadara, mudardara, and megadarra.”

• More Info: What Are Lentils and How Do You Cook Them? | Cooking Light ~ 

The good thing about lentils is that they are very inexpensive, and one small bag (16 oz.) can make a big pot to feed a lot of people.

Enjoy Your Fruit By Season and in a Salad

Not sure how many of my blog readers have ever eaten an American Thanksgiving meal. If you have, then you know how heavy that meal is. Is it any wonder many people just want to go to sleep afterward? LOL.

I have been preparing Thanksgiving dinner ever since I got married. That was over 40 years ago. My kids say they have good memories of our holiday meals, and I'm glad. There was one holiday in particular that one of my kids remembers because I made a fruit salad. Instead of a cake with icing or a pie, I wanted to make something sweet but not so heavy. When I went shopping that year, there was some great fruit in the produce department. So I decided to put fruit salad on the Turkey Day menu.

That memory got me thinking about fruit salads and whether or not there were specific recipes for every season of the year. I managed to find fruit salad recipes for winter, spring, summer, and fall. The Thanksgiving holiday occurs during the fall season, and it is no surprise that there are quite a few fall fruit salad recipes.

Image credit: 3pcs Heart Shaped Glass Bowls Golden Rim Edge Fruit Salad Bowl Home Dinnerware Set by GOODFEER 

If you like fruit (and who doesn't?), you'll probably love these fruit salad recipes. There is a delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter, and dressed with honey; a spring salad recipe is super sweet, hydrating, and nourishing; and a summer salad made with fresh summer fruits mixed together with crunchy peanuts and a dressing made of Thai herbs and fish sauce. Enjoy!

A delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter, and dressed with honey.

~ Winter Fruit Salad Recipe - Natasha's Kitchen https://t.co/VOJbsEvEHX @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/o0hs9ItGCY

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) September 25, 2025

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795626728441757696/via-breakfast-fruit-salad-easy-recipe

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795626960861691904/fresh-summer-fruits-mixed-together-with-crunchy

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795627181010223104/via-15-incredible-summer-salad-recipes-you-need

https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/795627572965916672/autumn-fruit-salad-recipe-foodcom

Sweet & Spicy Fall Fruit Salad — Shauna Sever @shaunasever https://t.co/L6vbiEuTL6 pic.twitter.com/KRicVhYuJC

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

How to Find Out When Fruits Are in Season

Recipe Sharing: The Simple Joys of Italian Sausage

How did I come to know about the simple joys of Italian sausage?  The first time I ever used Italian sausage was when I made stuffing for Thanksgiving. I grew up with my mother using the turkey gizzards, so I thought that was “The Only Way”. When I made the stuffing with Italian sausage, it became the main side dish for our holiday meals. It was a memorable "first food experience".  From that time forward, I can leave out other side dishes for our turkey day meal.  But if I don't make stuffing … I will hear nothing but complaints!

My second simple way to enjoy Italian sausages?  I was in a grocery store one day, and the chef was giving out free samples of a hearty soup he had made. Soup is such a comfort food. The soup was made with dark green veggies, legumes, chicken broth, and sausages.  It was delicious! That became my other simple way of using Italian sausage.

My 3^rd way is a simple sausage, onions, and peppers, over rice.

I never make my own Italian sausage because the store-bought brand is inexpensive and tasty. Although I did watch an Italian cooking show one time and the chef showed how to make your own.

How to Cook Italian Sausage {3 different ways!} - Spend With Pennies

~ What are the 3 ways: Stovetop, Oven, or Grill.

I usually do my sausages in the oven so I don't have to watch them on the stove. I would grill them. But I don't have a grill.

Who likes Italian sausage?  What's your favorite way to eat them?

My #foodie posts. “...looking for easy ideas for entertaining or tasty weeknight dinners, these top Italian sausage recipes will make any meal feel like a zesty #Italian feast....” 20+ Best Italian Sausage Recipes – How to Cook Italian Sausage www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking...

— [ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛʜʏʟ ꜰᴏx ᴀᴋᴀ ᴄᴍᴏɴᴇʏꜱᴘɪɴɴᴇʀ] 💖 (@cmoneyspinner.bsky.social) 2025-09-05T01:28:23.289Z

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/793810086276497408/italian-sausage-is-one-of-my-all-time-favorite

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/793810810380206080/here-at-delish-we-have-a-rule-of-thumb-on-how-to

Foodie Friday : Pesto Around the World

I'm going to take aim at pesto for my Foodie Friday topic.  Another wonderful delight for enlivening salads, adorning sandwiches, dressing pasta … you name it! Always sing the praises of salsa. This time, doing a song and dance routine for pesto.

Hear the word pesto and one usually always thinks Italian. Right? But different cultures have their own version of pesto. Africa. Mexico. Australia. This link is an awesome foodie find! Not only does it tell you the main ingredients in everybody's version but it introduced me to a new word. “Permaculture”.

Preserving With Pesto – It’s Not Rocket Science | PermacultureNews.org

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Here is a quick recipe for Raw Wheatgrass Pesto, using our premium, organic, raw super food powder. This will m ake your taste buds go wild! Adds a good dose of vitality to any diet. Made in a blender there is virtually any preparation to do! Just the way we like it!

Mexican Pesto Recipe by emilie_ 1 - Key Ingredient

Thai Basil Pesto

Thai Basil Pesto

This one's for my Thai lovers. But before I even start talking Thai basil pesto, I feel moved to have a little rant about how much I love Thai food. It's like an instant exotic vacation right in my kitchen.

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

This raw vegan semi-dried tomato and macadamia pesto is super easy and seriously delicious. Just throw everything into your food processor.

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

Combine all ingredients, except cheese, in bowl of food processor. Process, adding additional oil or water, until desired consistency is reached. Stir in cheese. Use immediately or store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. (Tip: pesto can also be frozen in ice cube trays.)

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce combines Italian parsley, cilantro and basil with jalapeño and parmesan cheese. It is vibrant, nutty and tangy. Perfect for pasta. I will never forget the first time I tried Chimichurri Sauce. It was at my incredibly talented friend Bibi's home. She had me over for dinner and prepared the most mouth-watering steak.

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Content first appeared at Persona Paper on July 27, 2015.

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Miso is Good for Your Health

Miso is the fermented soybean paste that is used in Japanese cuisine. It offers many nutritional health benefits. Actually, nutritionists say that most fermented foods are very good for you. But miso is “recognized as one of the top superfoods for gut health”

.

FUN FOOD FACTS:

“According to the Japan Miso Promotion Board, there are over 1,300 kinds of miso!”

“...the Japanese drink a bowl of miso soup three times a day ...”


WEIRD FOOD FACT:

Even though miso has a high salt content, it's not bad for your heart like other high-sodium foods.


The Health Benefits of Miso ~ Just One Cookbook

~ You can buy miso ready-made or make your own. 

* * * Homemade Miso 

 

FOOD FACT: Did You Know: Japanese cuisine is one of only three national food traditions recognized by the UN for its cultural significance. 

10 Things You Should Know About Japanese Food

Foodie Friday : Experience the Joy of Salsa

There was once a time when the recipe for fresh salsa was simply diced tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, lime juice, red pepper or a jalapeno pepper, salt to taste (cilantro, optional). I love salsa!  It's a great way to eat your veggies.  Several years back, I moved into a new neighborhood and was at the local grocery store. Walked down an aisle, and on the shelves were bottles of every kind of salsa imaginable.

This week's Foodie Friday focus is on salsa!

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La Salsa Speciale del Chef

Some of them were made with sweet fruits like mangoes and peaches! Oh the wonder of it all! Had no idea salsa came in that many flavors. Gave me all kinds of foodie ideas. Sharing some recipes.. 

Why keep all these delicious delights to myself?

• 7 Delicious Salsa Recipes
• Black-Eyed Pea Salsa Recipe: How to Make It
• Cilantro Lime Grille Chicken with Strawberry Salsa (pic below)

Originally published at Persona Paper on Jul 3, 2015.

Sharing a bit of salsa heaven!  

Recipes found around the web.

Wild Beet Salad Company makes Wild Beet Salsa

Recipe: Roasted Pineapple Salsa (thekitchn .com)

#Recipe: Roasted Pineapple Salsa — Recipes from #TheKitchn https://t.co/uIFEtndKUY pic.twitter.com/0bJCHDwhDv

— Zesty Recipes (@zesty_recipes) May 2, 2016

Blackened Tomatillo Poblano Salsa With Habanero

17 Savory Salsa Recipes

https://www.tumblr.com/myfoodieluv/792541904634068992/sweet-sugar-blossoms-17-savory-salsa-recipes

Mango Pomegranate & Tender Coconut Salsa

Apple Salsa – Spicy, Fresh, Perfect for Fall