Shortbread cookies are traditional, classic Christmas cookie recipe. One of the simplest and best cookie recipe I made this holiday season.

How about a classic Indian sweet recipe, Doodh Peda aka Milk Fudge, for Christmas? Pedas are rich, sweet and quick to make dessert recipe with hardly any preparation time.

Vegetable Pakora with a cup of masala chai is comforting food on a pleasant winter evening. A vegan recipe that makes for a great party finger food. The standard Vegetable Pakora recipe calls for the use of mixed vegetables, chick pea flour and carom seeds.

A fantastic and flavorful chicken curry that is a regular at our home. This favorite chicken curry recipe is usually prepared as a side with flavored rice like Tomato Pulao. Coconut milk and poppy seeds are essential in the preparation of the curry. The chicken simmers in a concoction of yogurt, coconut milk, poppy seeds and garam masala to yield a rich creamy textured curry.

Our friends sent us loads of farm fresh tomatoes they harvested in their farm. Last week saw the making of a lot of tomato based recipes namely, tomato pickle, tomato rasam, tomato soup and Tamatar Pulao. Tomato Pulao is an extremely flavorful rice dish using ripe red tomatoes and rice.

I like to feed Nehal healthy desserts made from nutrition rich ingredients than a fat-rich cake or mithai. Sesame seeds Laddu falls under the category of healthy dessert. Nuvvula Unda or Nuvvula Laddu is a classic Andhra style sweet prepared for festivals like Nagula Chavati. At home, we make this calcium rich sweet often.

Little pearl onions aka shallots have an intense flavor and give curries and intense flavor, be it vegetarian or meat based. I use them a lot in my regular cooking and today’s recipe has shallots as the star ingredient.

We Andhras love our Pachadis (chutney/condiment) and in our home pachadis are revered. Seriously. Mom makes the BEST pachadis you can ever imagine. The aromas that fill the kitchen during the preparatory process is something that has to be experienced. For instance, take today’s pachadi which calls for green chilies. The aroma of green chilies roasting is simply intoxicating while the sizzle of tempered spices hold promise of an eternally pleasing meal to come.

Its time to announce the winners of the Apron Giveaway. A whopping 1100 readers participated in the giveaway. I wish I could give each of the 1100 readers, a Kalamkari Apron. I really wish I could.

Mocha brownies are to die for. With deep notes of expresso, fudge like texture, mocha brownies have decadence written all over them. A great way to end a meal is with chocolate, serve it as a party dessert and you will wow your guests who are sure to ask you for the recipe.