Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Almondina Toastees #Review and #Giveaway!!

08 | 02 | 2017
By Soni Sinha


We’ve been enjoying Almondina Brand cookies for quite sometime now,and,they recently sent me their delicious Toastees for a review and giveaway!Yes, you can enter to win! Almondina Toastees are essentially all natural twice-baked almond crisp with just a few ingredients, as you’d expect Almondina Brand to be. That’s the reason we love them.Thank you Almondina.
Almondina Toastees

Almondina Toastees have no cholesterol, no added salt, fat, trans fat or preservatives and are dairy free. They’re nutritionally good for you with 1-2 gms protein and only 60-70 calories per serving (4 pieces).My pack contained three different flavors-

  • Cranberry Almond-I love the tang of dried cranberries in this one, my favorite!
  • Sesame Almond– flavors from sesame comes through in this one.Really good.
  • Coconut Orange Almond-dual nuttiness of toasted coconuts and almonds combines with citrus here and its delicious!

Each flavor combination is unique and they’re great out of the bag for road trips, office or school events and also as kids’ snack or as a crunchy ice-cream or yoghurt topping.I love them with my coffee!

Almondina Toastees

Almondina is a family owned business and it all started with Grandmother Dina’s most secret recipe that she called Petit Gateau Sec. After her death, the family became aware that the remarkable characteristics of this nutritious cookie fell in line with today’s health conscious consumers. Today Almondina Toastees are being carried coast-to-coast by stores including all Sprouts Markets, Bed Bath & Beyond, Publix, Fairway Markets, Kroger Michigan, Amazon, Almondina.com and others.

Almondina toastees

Giveaway!!One lucky reader will get a free sample pack consisting of 3 flavors of Almondina Toastees and this giveaway is open to all US residents!Please note that previous winners of Almondina giveaways are ineligible.
What is your favorite flavor?Please leave a comment below and enter to win!The winner will be announced on Wed the 15th of Feb and notified via email.If no claim is made within 24 hours then the prize will go to the next claimant.Good Luck!!
The winner of my giveaway is Danielle Mulkey!Congrats!

This Giveaway is closed.

Disclaimer: I received a sample pack of Almondina Toastees from Almondina Brand and all opinions are my own.

Indian Spiced Cauliflower Cakes for #SuperBowl

03 | 02 | 2017
By Soni Sinha

I must thank our local Trader Joe’s for making my life so easy with their precut ready-to-use veggies and various other products, that, I get inspired to cook just because part of it is already taken care of. I make my soups,stews and pasta sauce using their precut mix of onion, carrot and celery. Peeled garlic is such a time saver!I also love their cauliflower/broccoli rice and use it to make various dishes like the one I have for you today.

Indian Spiced Cauliflower Cakes

My Cauliflower Cakes are ridiculously easy and packed with flavors from the garam masala, cumin and ginger. They’re my spin on the traditional Aloo Tikki (a ubiquitous street food across northern India) by using cauliflower and it works beautifully in this recipe. Cauliflower is one of my favorite vegetables and I love that it can be used in a myriad of dishes and tastes delicious every single time.These days we see cauliflower being substituted for grain in many recipes right from pizza to rice and I think that its a great vegetable that enhances the flavor of any dish. These cakes are a healthier alternative for those watching their carb intake and sure to please your vegan and vegetarian guests, so make a big batch!

Indian Spiced Cauliflower Cakes 2

I like to serve these with green chutney but you could use your favorite condiment. The chutney is a mix of cilantro, garlic, little water and salt. I usually add some mustard oil at the end, but its purely optional. These beauties are your perfect appetizers for the Super Bowl and can be made ahead and frozen too. Just pan-fry with a little drizzle of oil until golden on both sides and serve.Enjoy!

Indian Spiced Cauliflower Cakes

Indian Spiced Cauliflower Cakes-Makes 12 cakes

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Ingredients
  

  • Cauliflower Rice- 3 cups
  • Large Potatoes-2
  • Crushed Ginger-1 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1 tsp
  • Ground Cumin-1 tsp
  • Salt
  • Oil to pan fry

Instructions
 

  • Place the cauliflower rice in a microwave safe dish and cook on high for 5 minutes.
  • Let it cool a bit and either press firmly through a strainer or a muslin cloth to drain excess water.
  • Boil,peel and mash the potatoes.
  • Add the cauliflower into the potato mix along with ginger,garam masala, cumin and salt.
  • Make into rounds and press them to make small patties.
  • Heat about 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat in a non-stick or cast iron pan and place the patties.Drizzle some more oil all over.Cook until golden on one side before flipping gently.Add some more oil and let it develop a golden color on the other side too.
  • Serve with green chutney.

Easy Pea Soup

10 | 01 | 2017
By Soni Sinha

Hello all and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you!! Hope it fills you with love, peace, prosperity, good health and all the joys of the world. We had a great ending to 2016 with an amazing Disney Bahamas Cruise with magical skies,gorgeous blue waters and warm sunny weather.Kids had an equally great time with onboard activities that included a Pirate Party and meeting famous Disney Characters.With the copious amounts of food (and alcohol) that we consumed, it’s now time to eat healthy and light.

Bahamas

Magical Skies from our ship

My first recipe of 2017 is a delicious Pea Soup that I’ve been making and enjoying over the years. Pea is an under-rated vegetable but I love its versatility cut across different cuisines. I love Peas added into my Indian stews, curries and pasta, but this sweet soup is all I crave for in this cold weather. I’ve used Frozen peas here but it tastes equally good.

easy-pea-soup

The sweet shallots go well with peas and fresh parsley adds a lovely lemony flavor to the soup. It’s delicious with any crusty bread of your choice or on its own. The vibrant green color is in great contrast to the snow outside (if you live in a cold area like me). I usually make a big batch and have it for two or three days in a row. So so good. Enjoy and stay warm.

easy-pea-soup

Easy Pea Soup

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Ingredients
  

  • Butter-1 tbsp
  • Fresh or frozen peas-5 cups
  • Shallots-8-10 peeled and halved
  • Celery-1 stalk rinsed and diced
  • Garlic - 3 cloves chopped
  • chopped Fresh parsley-1/4 cup
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • ½ cup cream
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a deep pot heat butter and add the halved shallots.Cook for a minute.
  • Add celery and continue to cook for about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook until raw smell disappears 2-3 minutes.
  • Add parsley and stir followed by the peas.Mix well.
  • Add the liquids, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat, cover and continue to cook for about 8-10 minutes until cooked.
  • Using a stick blender puree the soup or transfer in batches in a blender and puree.Be careful since it'll be very hot.
  • Add cream and check the seasonings.Garnish with some more fresh parsley.

 

Peanut Butter Blossoms for the #Holidays

22 | 12 | 2016
By Soni Sinha

Its time to make to some Peanut Blossom Cookies! Peanut Butter and chocolate is a great combination and I can never get enough of these beauties. In our house, the hubs and my thirteen year old equally love these cookies but my eight year old is not a big fan of peanut butter, hence he doesn’t enjoy them as much.

peanut-butter-blossoms

While I’ve enjoyed many Peanut Butter Blossoms over the years, there’s an interesting story behind it as I found out. Legend has it that Freda Smith intended to make a batch of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and after mixing part of the dough, realized that her pantry was without chocolate chips. So, she grabbed a bag of Hershey’s Kisses instead and used them atop the cookies.

peanut-butter-blossoms-4

Ms. Smith entered her creation into the Annual Pillsbury Bake Off Competition and came in third place winning a General Electric range, a mixer and $100 cash while the winning cookies fetched a reward of $45,000.In 1999 Pillsbury named her Peanut Butter Blossoms one of the ten most treasured recipes in the company’s history.

peanut-butter-blossoms-2

I follow Betty Crocker recipe and they come out perfect every-time.The soft chewy texture and the Hershey’s Kiss standing proudly at the top is the highlight of this cookie. If you’re a chocolate and peanut butter lover like me then you should try to make these at home.You can get creative and dip the cookies in colored sugar for a more festive look.Place them in the freezer for a few minutes so the Kisses don’t melt (since you’re going to place them right after they’re out of the oven).
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!!

Peanut Butter Blossoms-makes around 36 cookies

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • ½ cup butter or margarine softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • more granulated sugar
  • About 36 Hershey's Kisses milk chocolates

Instructions
 

  • Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg in your stand mixer or electric mixer until well blended.
  • Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder until dough forms.
  • Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in additional granulated sugar.
  • On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown.
  • Immediately press 1 milk chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack.
  • Place in the freezer for a few minutes and take them out.

Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis #RawSpiceBar #PondicherryFlavorKit

07 | 12 | 2016
By Soni Sinha


Nothing excites me more these days than seeing the monthly flavor kit of different spice mixes from Raw Spice Bar. Such a unique concept and having tried two of their kits so far, I highly recommend them. They only cost $7/kit for a year’s subscription and you get to try freshly ground spice mixes/spices and flavors from around the world with recipes included in the kit.

Last month’s Pondicherry Kit had the flavors screaming my name!
Vaarangal (“Welcome” in Tamil)! You’ve landed in Pondicherry! The weather is warm and the coastal breeze is refreshing but a Chai tea won’t hurt. The Romans, the Chinese, the Dutch, the English, and the French have all been here and their influences remain present. Warm Vadouvan odors collide with buttery smells wafting from kitchens in the French Quarter. With colonization cuisine changed; however, the complex layers of Indian spices shine through each French inspired dish.

raw-spice-bar-pondicherry-kit

Pondicherry Kit comprises of the following spice blends:

INDO-FRENCH VADOUVAN- Toasted cumin, toasted coriander, turmeric, fenugreek, yellow mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, green cardamom, aleppo pepper, cayenne, nutmeg, cloves, spices-Looking forward to making a lamb curry using this one!

UNPUMPKIN PIE SPICE- Ginger, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black peppercorns, star anise, spices-Pumpkin Pie Truffles are always a hit with my friends and I’m going to be making lots more using this.

PEPPERCORN CHAI- Toasted black peppercorns, ginger, cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, spices-Apart from my masala chai, Apple Clafoutis is what I’ve made using this one!Delicious!

chai-spiced-apple-clafoutis-10

Apple desserts are a big family favorite especially during this time of the year when you crave for a comforting dessert with warm spices. I went straight for the Peppercorn Chai and followed the recipe for the Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis. Clafoutis or Clafouti is a French Dessert using fruits suspended in a pancake like batter.The result is a soft fluffy custardy pudding which in this case is the perfect bed for the spice glazed apples.The flavors were spot on for a spice and chai lover like me.The peppercorns, fennel, cardamom and other chai spices work really well with apples.All it needed was a dusting of sugar.A satisfying dessert for these cold days that I’m certainly going to be making over and over again.Enjoy!

chai-spiced-apple-clafoutis

Chai Spiced Apple Clafoutis

INGREDIENTS

RawSpiceBar’s Peppercorn Chai
3 eggs
1 cup milk or heavy cream
12 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
1⁄2 tsp. salt
4 tart apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tsp. sugar
3 tbsp. brandy

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Combine milk, eggs, 6 tbsp butter, vanilla, flour, 2 tsp sugar, and salt in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
  2. Melt 4 tbsp butter in a large skillet. Add apples, 1⁄2 cup sugar, RawSpiceBar’s Peppercorn Chai and brandy. Cook until apples are glazed, about 5 minutes.
  3.  Add half batter to greased pie plate. Arrange apple slices on top, reserving juices, then pour remaining batter over apples. Sprinkle remaining sugar on top and bake until golden, 25-30 minutes. Drizzle with warmed reserved apple juices.

Disclaimer:I was provided with a free sample of RawSpiceBar’s Pondicherry Flavor Kit and all opinions are my own.