inspiration | The Spice Adventuress

Tag Archives: inspiration

Adieu 2018, Welcome 2019…..

Miscellaneous January 3, 2019 Leave a comment

“Rest when you are weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work” – Ralph Marston

This is my goal for 2019….

As I mentioned on my social media pages yesterday, I do not believe in resolutions but smaller goals that are motivating and achievable. And my biggest goal for 2019 is to listen more to my body, rest and refresh when necessary and then get back to work because I realised that I am not productive nor is my work any good when my physical or mental self is tired.

2018 was a great year for work with so many interesting and meaningful collaborations with brands. And I also got to develop some amazing recipes that so many of you have loved and tested out. Do you have a favourite recipe from my blog or did you try out any for the first time last year? I really would love to know….

And even though it’s really hard, I would still like to pick out my Top Ten favourites from the year gone by;

This Khichdi photograph also made it to Indian Link’s Top Photographs of 2018. Especially pleased about this one because not only is it a dish so close to my heart, it is also a style of photography that I started practicing last year.

Your opinions, feedback and suggestions mean a lot to me; it has always helped me create content and also focus on improving this space. So do let me know your feedback and also what’s the kind of recipes/content that you would love to see here this year.

Finally it’s time for all my favourites for the month of Dec.

The most beautiful Pure linen French blue tea towels….

This Antique silver 5-piece cutlery set is on sale; I am getting one to add to my prop collection.

Totally investing in a Staub French Oven this year.

My big project for 2019 is to set up a home office.

Love greens and this is just another delicious way to eat it.

Chickpea and lentil taco salads; this would be perfect as a work day lunch.

Bookmarking this vegan soup for autumn and winter.

I have never used tahini in a noodles dish before. How interesting!

Roasted vegetable lasagna; I am definitely trying this out. How about you?

Are you a zoodle lover? Then this article is for you.

I am a huge fan of sheet pan dinner for weeknights, and this chicken recipe looks absolutely fabulous to try out this year.

July Favourites

Miscellaneous July 31, 2018 Comments: 2

It’s been such a fabulous and rewarding month filled with such amazing opportunities on the work front. I am thoroughly drained but it has all been so worth it.

After a few months of discussions, brainstorming and testing, I was finally able to announce my collaboration with Feastively. It is a joy that I cannot put into words to finally see my recipes as a meal box. And of course the thought that it would be of immense help to busy families to put healthy, fresh and delicious meals in 15 minutes on the table.

I have already done a blog post announcing the collaboration so you can read it all here. And to purchase my fresh box, visit the Feastively website. If any of you have already cooked with it, I would love to hear your feedback.

Visit the Feastively website to purchase my special Beef Mince Curry with potatoes, peas and served with steamed rice.

The second highlight of the month was the opportunity to be one of the judges for an upcoming series called Zee TV Chef Diaries. Shot in Melbourne, it’s a cooking series for passionate home cooks to showcase their culinary talents. It was an incredible honour because judging someone else’s cooking is no easy task. But I was happy that I was able to do my best; an experience I will cherish forever.

And the third was being chosen as one of the Top 30 Indian Food Photographers, 2018. Again a huge honour especially being in the company of some of the photographers that I have admired and learned from since the beginning of my blogging journey.

There’s been a lot of recipe development that happened in July; it was a busy month again with lots of brand collaborations and the like. But one of my favourites was this simple Kerala platter with rice, parippu curry (Kerala style lentils); beetroot stir fry and mussels thoran (mussels stir fried with grated coconut and spices). It’s the taste of home!

And time now for all other favourites for the month of July:

Most parents are often made to feel guilty about having just one child. I hope this article will make you feel better about the decision.

I have a little boy or I would have shopped this entire site. But I do buy for my nieces.

An easy peasy chicken noodle dish.

This kofta biryani is perfect for our Sunday lunch. And a long siesta thereafter….

I love taro (arbi), one of my favourite root vegetables.

A Vegan Wellington! How interesting….

Enchilada and a casserole….what a great idea!

Love gazpacho especially in summer but never tried a tomatillo version.

The best chicken sandwich I have seen in a long time

Totally making this pork burger

June Favourites

Miscellaneous July 2, 2018 Comments: 2

School holidays are here, and it’s such a relief from the monotony of a routine.

We totally enjoy the school holiday period, especially because it means no need to wake up to the alarm clock. It’s such a relief folks because I love to sleep.

And I enjoy having Adi’s company too. He is quite happy to do his own things and do not disturb me unnecessarily which means I can still manage to get in a bit of my work done. I try not to take up too much work anyway so that I can spend time with him, take him to activities etc….

We are so looking forward to the Disney on Ice, 100 Years of Magic performance this week. It’s our first time and quite excited for it. Then there are a couple of playdates planned and a few other activities which should keep him engaged during the holiday period.

What’s your plan for the holidays? Any special activities planned?

Getting to food, it’s been a really interesting month. Tried out so many different recipes both for the blog and for clients, and it’s been a really amazing experience. There’s also a project that I have been working on for a while now and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. But a few more days before the big reveal. So excited!

Plus, I am taking part in the NEFF Kitchen 50 Best Home Cooks contest. If you live in Australia, I would be deeply grateful if you could take a minute and vote for me. Thanks so much folks…

The voting link can be found here.

And the dish that I have entered for the competition is the slow cooked Lamb Shanks with Srilankan curry powder.

One of my favourite recipes that I developed for a client this month was the Pan grilled Fish Skewers with Sambar Powder.

My love for sambar powder is common knowledge, especially among my blog readers. But for those who are new here, sambar powder is a spice blend that is predominantly used to make sambar, a lentil stew with vegetables that is a traditional South Indian dish, but now a highly popular dish worldwide. But apart from making sambar, I love using the spice blend to season many other dishes and these fish skewers are the latest.

A highly aromatic blend, the sambar powder works as a brilliant rub for grilling fish, meat or vegetables. It can be used to season curries or stews too, adding a nice depth of flavour. In this dish, I have used it along with yoghurt to make a marinade. The fish and veggies were added to this and coated well; finally the skewers were pan grilled to perfection. An excellent starter to any meal.

Now getting to other recipes and tidbits that became part of my June favourites…

A cocktail for the Campari lovers.

A delicious way to have broccoli. Yum!

This wedge salad is drop dead gorgeous.

Can’t wait to try out this linguine recipe.

Totally love mussels and this one is lipsmacking delicious.

Okra, my absolute favourite vegetable and a delicious recipe that I am going to make next week.

I have already started searching for burger recipes for Father’s Day. This one and this one are close competitors.

Have you seen the new Salt n’ Pepper Vegemite range?

This feather tray would sit beautifully on my coffee table.

My favourite winter aroma.

May Favourites

Miscellaneous June 1, 2018 Leave a comment

Yet another glorious month has passed by, one that bought along plenty of joys and plenty of little moments to rejoice. It was not without its fair share of challenges, but looking back, I can feel only happiness and gratitude at the life I have been blessed with.

Technically autumn, but May was a crazy month when it came to weather. Plenty of rain and cold, gloomy days meant that we needed warm, delicious comforting food on our plates. And the best was this Risotto with Dried Mushrooms and Bacon Crumbs. Absolute yumminess!

Leftover rice is perhaps a very common ingredient in most households and there are quite a few quick recipes on the blog to use it, after all we don’t want to waste food right. All of these recipes are made frequently in my kitchen whenever I have leftover rice to create something delicious for the next day’s lunch box.

One such dish is the Stir fried rice with Salami, Sun dried Tomatoes, Bell Peppers and Herbs. Not a combination that’s common, but I promise it’s really delicious. It’s quick to make and Adi loves it in his lunch box with some cucumber sticks on the side.

Speaking of food, did you read my review about the new South Indian menu launched at The Rochey, Fitzroy? Absolutely chuffed that the cuisine of my hometown would make it to a mainstream modern Australian pub. It’s definitely a small world out there, especially when it comes to food.

Rochester Hotel aka ‘The Rochey’ (Fitzroy, Melbourne) - thespiceadventuress.com

Duck Hearts ( Chargrilled with Recheado and a sweet and sour spicy sauce) – One of the highlight dishes of the day for me. Absolutely loved the flavours, that perfect blend of sweet, sour, spicy; absolutely divine. And highly recommended.

Also, we got to meet Mickey Mouse!

Adi had the most exciting time at the launch of Disney on Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic. The spectacular show returns this year to Melbourne during the school holidays and we are so excited to watch it; it’s our first time.

If you have plans to go, then waste no time in booking the tickets…selling out like hot cakes.

Now getting to last month’s favourites; everything that inspired me be it food, drinks, lifestyle, travel, words or even beauty.

This sangria is different to any I have seen or tasted before. But I am going to try it only when summer returns to Down Under.

These drumettes are fingerlickin’ sexy!

I would say the same for this chicken dish too.

Crack, slurp, mix…..those words define it all.

I am not gonna miss the noodles in this one.

Totally love her Instagram handle; has the most delicious food with some stunning photography too.

A lesser known fact about me is that I binge watch beauty and fashion videos on YouTube. In fact, I hardly watch any cooking channels but I have all the info about the who’s who of the beauty blogging business. And one of the channels I am absolutely loving at the moment is this luxury blogger. She’s sassy, bold and one hell of a woman.

February Favourites

Miscellaneous March 1, 2018 Leave a comment

A short and sweet month, that’s what I always feel about February.

The month always goes by fast and for us, it’s always a month of planning as Adi’s birthday falls in March; mine too. We are planning something really exciting on his birthday, so stay tuned for that info….

Coming back to Feb, it was a month of getting back into routine with schools reopened. After the holidays, it was such a welcome change to get back to our everyday lives and for me, especially to get back into the kitchen after a month long break.

One of my main goals this year and hopefully, future ones too is to send more packed work lunches as it is much more healthy (approaching 40s always makes you mindful) and also great for the wallet. And that means cooking food that’s simple, can be reheated and consumed easily yet tastes delicious.

And one such dish that I have been cooking a lot is Tomato Rice.

It is such a versatile and easy to make rice dish that is delicious just with a raita as accompaniment or with any sort of veggies or grilled fish or meat. I had shared the recipe for this traditional South Indian preparation on my Facebook page and Instastories so if you missed it, make sure to check it out.

I have also started consciously putting an effort into our after school snacks. Adi is growing up and that reflects in his dietary needs too. He is ravenous when he comes back from school and needs something more substantial. Since he has his dinner much later, the snack has to be filling and healthy but light on the tummy so that he can enjoy his dinner too.

So I have been trying out so many different snacking options and one of our favourites is salsa, in all forms. We have been enjoying this mango salsa a lot but also this corn and sprouts salsa, which doubles up as a salad. Really healthy and delicious….

Guess I have blabbered enough, now onto all my other favourites from around the Internet world….

This pineapple ginger tonic has so many medicinal benefits.

This salad is always on rotation in my home.

Guacamole on a Pizza! Bring it on…

Love the combination of Avocado, Mango and Yellow Lentils

Aloo Kachori – it was my staple breakfast while pursuing Master’s.

Who can say no to Falafel burgers?

A large batch of this makhni sauce in your freezer; a lifesaver for busy weekdays.

Gummy hearts and sparkling rose, it’s like a dream!

Totally making this for the next kids’ party!

Feels like this article was written for me….

Raising Sweet Boys and not Angry Men

August Favourites

Miscellaneous September 5, 2017 Leave a comment

It’s almost mid year and with Christmas décor and sales almost beginning to appear in stores, I have a feeling that the year is gonna end in the blink of an eye. No wonder time feels like the most precious commodity these days….

I know the next couple of months are gonna be super busy for me, lots of exciting stuff happening, a holiday or two on the cards and lots of changes on the blog too, hopefully. But for now, let’s keep calm and check out what I have been upto last month.

Prawns featured rather heavily in my menu last month as part of the recipe development for Supreme Seafood. But I am not complaining because it is an utterly delicious one which comes together in under 30 minutes.

Spaghetti, homemade pesto, chilli flakes, tiger prawns and parmesan comes together to create this lipsmacking pasta dish. Extremely easy to make and I promise if you have children at home, they are gonna love it.

So head over to Supreme Seafood website to check out the full recipe.

Another highlight of last month was the Ultimate Foodie Tour at Queen Victoria Market, which I got to experience with some of my friends. It was a fabulous experience, getting to learn more about the history of the market, visiting the different sections and traders and also sampling a lot of goodies along the way. You can read my full post here.

This is the perfect Pandora charm for me.

Spring Fashion

Nurturing creativity in children. I wish more parents understood this….

Fake and inauthentic people make me cringe. Here’s why….

Let’s start with this summer drink

And then this chilled beet soup.

Followed by this salad.

I dig rich and bold flavours like this on my dinner plate.

I am totally making this for dinner.

A quick and easy chicken dinner

Eating Tuna responsibly; I am glad someone wrote about it.

Loving these giant meatballs, but I can’t stop with just one.

My favourite cast iron cooking ware; soon adding a wok to my collection.

June Favourites + Winter school holidays

Miscellaneous July 3, 2017 Comments: 4

A fabulous new month is here and we are freezing Down Under!

Bone chillin cold days, huddled inside layers of clothing….I have never been a winter person at all. But opposed to my earlier years here, I am now better equipped to handle it now which has actually made this winter season rather interesting.

Earlier in the month, we visited the Van Gogh and the Seasons Exhibition at NGV. Curated by Sjraar van Heugten, independent art historian and former Head of Collections at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, this event is exclusive to Melbourne and is the largest collection of Van Gogh artworks to ever travel to Australia.

The exhibition was a profoundly emotional and overwhelming one. Never has an artist moved me so much…each painting spoke to me deeply as if Van Gogh was trying to tell me something personally. It’s a beautiful experience, one the whole family can cherish. So make sure you don’t miss this opportunity since the exhibition ends by 12th July, 2017.

Another iconic place I visited last month was the State Library of Victoria. It was my first time and I wonder what took me so long to visit this place, given the fact I am a book nerd. But better late than never! It’s a massive space with so much history, architecture, rare artefacts, books that one visit simply wouldn’t do. This time, I visited with my bunch of friends who are book lovers too and we did our first book swap meet. Next time, I am planning on taking a guided tour to understand more about this iconic library.

My photographs don’t do any justice, but still a few clicks from that visit….

Our winter school hols began with the Skate, Slide and Chill at Common Man, South Wharf. Melbourne has been transformed into a winter wonderland this year with plenty of activities to get the kids outdoors during the holidays.

It was so much fun to chill out at Common Man, where the boys had a session on the ice rink followed by loads of toboggan sliding. And all that skating left us hungry and famished, so the little fella warmed himself with some hot chocolate, while we sipped on Absolut cocktails and a plate of steaming hot dimsims.

Get more details about the event here.

And finally, these salmon kebabs were a huge hit on the blog last month. Have you tried it out?

Also leaving you guys with my favourites from other creatives in the digital space…..

This lady knows fashion and she has some great tips for those who are seeking to break into the industry.

Mental Load and Gender Wars! Finally an article that has spoken the woman’s mind when it comes to household chores.

Her food photographs have always inspired me, especially this one.

Another inspiring food photographer with this fabulous recipe.

Need to learn how to make gnocchi just to make this plate of deliciousness!

Another goal for the year is to learn to bake these gorgeous dinner rolls.

Do you love bulgogi?

This soup has a chilli chia seed tempering. Fabulous, isn’t it?

Drooling big time over this spicy mutton curry.

This pickle has a deep emotional connect with me and my childhood.

This Mojito and this Martini.

And for my friends who are basking in the sun at the moment; this summer salad.

I am definitely making this when summer arrives here again…

May Favourites

Miscellaneous June 8, 2017 Comments: 3

Another fabulous month has gone by and once again it’s time to share with all of you the highlights of my month and all that tickled my fancy in May.

The world seems to be in much turmoil these days, most of which are beyond reason and comprehension. Which makes me all the more grateful for all that I have. In spite of the dark days, I continue to remind myself of all the goodness in this world, glimpses of which cross my life almost everyday and I continue to celebrate the simple joys that come my way.

Mother’s Day this year was a very special one for me. The little fellow showered me with quite a few gifts that he had bought from the Mother’s Day stall at his school. There was a also a special handmade Lego gift for me, a small house with our little family inside but, I was placed in the centre and he gave it to me saying, ‘you are the heart of this house, Mama’ which pretty much had me teary eyed. He is such a thoughtful boy and these simple joys make life so worthwhile.

The other surprise for Mother’s Day was from Pottery Barn, Australia. Earlier that month, they had run a competition on Instagram asking to post a special photograph of you with your mom or with your children. I had posted one with my little boy and we turned out to be one of the lucky winners. So we were sent a $100 gift voucher and also featured on the special Mother’s Day wall inside all their stores. It was a really beautiful thing to do which completed our special day on a high.

At Pottery Barn, Chadstone - thespiceadventuress.com

That’s us at Pottery Barn, Chadstone pointing to our photograph on the wall.

Coming back to the Lego bit, Adi is a Lego freak and a visit to the newly opened Legoland, Chadstone was on the cards for a long time. If you haven’t visited yet, then please do…..it’s amazing and the perfect place for some indoor play.

Stir fries have featured a lot on my dinner table last month, due to a lot of work commitments. Just a few ingredients and hardly any cooking time, that’s why stir fries are so popular these days. One of my favourites and one I have been making a lot recently is the Stir Fried Chicken with Sichuan Peppercorns, Chillies and Cashews. Its delicious guys, do give it a try.

And this has been my favourite drink of the month. A tad bit expensive, but totally worth it.

Everything else that has inspired and wowed me last month;

Let’s start with this quote.

This Spanish chicken stew with cumin flavoured Cauliflower broccoli rice; healthy and absolute deliciousness.

One sheet pan shrimp fajitas; yet another quick weekday dinner.

More stir fry inspiration.

We are crazy about olives in our home; so the puttanesca is also much loved.

Pork belly rolls! Need I say more?

Have you ever wondered why the restaurant salsa tastes so good? Then here is how you make it.

This would make an interesting starter at your next party.

The most delicious thing I have seen all month.

This pineapple chutney is so interesting; would make an excellent addition to my cheese platter.

What a delicious way to finish off the sambal paste in my fridge.

Learning to incorporate more farro into my diet with this salad

Such a beautiful cocktail and delicious too.

Cocktails and sun signs! Apparently I am the champagne girl…hmmm, really interesting. What’s yours?

Lusting after this beautiful Staub dutch oven. Sigh!

February Favourites

Miscellaneous March 6, 2017 Leave a comment

The short and sweet month of the year!

February is a rather charming month, isn’t it? Kicks off with the much anticipated Valentine’s Day which might be the cheesiest and most overrated day but one that makes most of us happy and mushy within. The month is short and I always feel the weekends arrive faster (which is awesome!!). And March is not far behind, which for our household means, celebration time with birthdays galore. But I will talk more of that later….

For now, it’s time to reflect and share the happenings of February!

The month started with a feature and interview for the series, ‘The Foodie Files’. Liz is the creative force behind I Spy Plum Pie and her blog is all about delicious vegetarian recipes, sustainable living, eco friendly products, spice conversations etc…. And if these are the topics that interest you, then you need to head over to her space for sure. Also check out my interview for the series here.

We attended ‘White Night Melbourne’ this year, our first in four years. It was a tad bit tricky to be out so late into the night with a little boy but we survived and managed to have quite a gala time too. If you would like to see my photographs from the night, visit my Facebook page.

I also got the opportunity to attend one of the Dandenong Food Tours, which is highly recommended to all those who love to experience the vast multicultural cuisine of Australia. These food and cultural tours are a real eye opener and is a great way to sample amazing food and also get an insight into the heart and soul of this suburb. Visit here for more photographs from the tour!

This Asian style Prawn Omelette is my lunch time indulgence!

And my current favourite drink is the Bonamy’s Cider. Made from 100% whole pressed Tasmanian apples and fermented with white wine yeast, which makes it a refreshing, sweet, clean and crisp cider which to me, tastes like a really good sparkling white!

Speaking of drinks, let me introduce you to The ‘Mojito’ Candle from Ariel’s World.

This scented candle is absolutely delicious; fresh, herby, minty, lemony…..it’s a very light scent that does not overpower but gently adds a whiff of fragrance to your room. I am not a big fan of heavy scents and so this candle is just perfect.

And it’s not just the scent that makes this candle special. It’s Ariel’s story.

Created by Raylene Barton, Ariel’s world is the journey of her little daughter (Ariel) who happens to have Down’s syndrome. And all her namesake scented products raise money for Down syndrome charities; Down syndrome NSW and LifeStart NSW.

Apart from candles, Ariel’s World also has lip balms and scented diffusers, all of which are individually handcrafted in Australia from eco-friendly products. The quality of the products is amazing and I can talk especially about this ‘Mojito’ candle which comes in a beautifully stylish silver container that adds style to your home décor.

Do check out their page and lend your support to this amazing mother-daughter duo making a real difference to the society.

Other faves of the month:

My skin loves this….

My favourite sunscreen; because it is light, not oily and works as the perfect base for makeup apart from offering good protection.

I needed this nail paint hack, especially for the bright reds.

I wear a lot of Veronika Maine and I have been eyeing this top for autumn.

A big fan of dainty rings like these.

Travel Porn!

9 things your children need but won’t tell you.

Enchiladas, we all love it but check out this one. Major drooling happening!

This Korean fried chicken burger! Fingerlickin good!

Chocolate doughnuts. Need I say more?

Food Photography with a DSLR and why you need to go beyond the auto mode. Taught by none other than Simi of Turmeric n’ Spice…she hardly needs any introduction.

Mac n’ Cheese with a lot of oomph.

January Favourites

Lamb/Mutton, Miscellaneous January 31, 2017 Comments: 4

Back to school time for the little champ!

And that means this mamma, who is extremely poor with time management during holidays, finally gets back to routine and discipline. I am usually a very organized person but I don’t know what gets over me during holidays…not only am I a disorganized mess but also Miss Lazybones.

So after a month or so of late nights and equally late mornings, too much wine and binging on free YouTube movies, I am back to routine. Sigh of relief!

Reminds me that a month has gone by and it’s time to share with all of you what I have been enjoying reading, cooking and obsessing over in January…….

Starting with this breakfast smoothie! The late mornings meant that there has not been much of a smoothie action the whole of last month. So I am super glad that I am back to eating sensibly with my favourite breakfast smoothie; have you tried it? Let me know….

Though I haven’t been working much, January has been an excellent month for the blog. The traffic has considerably gone up (no clue why!!), landed some new work opportunities and collaborations which I will reveal in the coming months and ‘The Spice Adventuress’ was also chosen as one of the Top 10 Australian blogs 2017 by Australian Good Food Guide.

There’s been no dearth to good reads, recipes and creative ideas on the Internet especially with the beginning of a New Year and the holiday season. So the list is rather long and I strongly recommend grabbing a steaming cuppa….

2017 is the “Year of Gratitude” for me. What are you focusing on this year? Haven’t thought about it…maybe this article will be of help.

Planning….don’t undermine its power. It’s not enough keeping it in your head, put it down on paper and then start ticking off those lists; you will notice the difference. Here’s some help for you!

Blog of the month; absolutely drooling over the photographs!

Eyeing these flutes, what do you think?

Battambang delights….yet another amazing travel article by the Maverick Bird.

Kids will be kids! Hilarious…..and thank God I was born before social media happened.

This mango daiquiri. Yum!

And bookmarking this drink and this too for the colder days.

Couldn’t go past this tomato and bean soup; look at that rich colour.

And this thoroughly fulfilling and delicious pasta soup.

After my cauliflower rice obsession, it’s this tabbouli!

The next Taco Tuesday will feature this.

I need to perfect this delicacy; the most delicious accompaniment for meat curries.

This hot sauce is the bomb!

Have you ever tried the pol sambol? Deliciousness….

Time to drool over seafood (ofcourse!) with this warming crab stew and this sesame shrimp bowl!

Lamb with potatoes is a classic which we all love. But have you tried lamb with beans? Delicious….I tell ya!

Can I have a dozen of these please?

And finally, something for the pork lovers to drool over.

The Spice Adventuress

Tag Archives: inspiration

Adieu 2018, Welcome 2019…..

July Favourites

June Favourites

May Favourites

February Favourites

June Favourites + Winter school holidays

May Favourites

Follow Blog via Email

Categories

Archives

Instagrammed!

Tag Archives: inspiration

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Follow Blog via Email

Categories

Archives

Instagrammed!