Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe Winter is the time to turn to cozy, hearty and comforting food. If you are looking for dinner ideas for this time of the year then you have come to the right place. I have rounded 6 easy dinner recipes that are not only filling and delicious but also are guaranteed to cure the winter blues. From soups to stews to casseroles and curries, these recipes will leave you feeling warm and satisfied. 1. One Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables The One-Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables is a flavour- packed,vibrant meal that will leave your whole family impressed without you breaking a sweat. Incredibly flavorful chicken and assortment of colorful veggies all get baked together , making it perfect busy weeknights when you are too tired and stressed to cook and want something delicious and healthy. You can find the full recipe here. 2. Hearty Vegetable and Lentil Stew This Vegetable and Lentil Stew is ...

Skip to Recipe I can't believe this year is going to end and Christmas is just 3 days away! Nothing defines 'Christmas!' more than a slice of traditional fruit cake! It takes me back to my childhood days, where mouth watering plum and fruit cakes would jostle for spaces in the bakery days before Christmas. A Christmas cake is a rich, dense fruit cake that is filled with warm baking spices and dried fruits like apricots, raisins soaked in alcohol. Traditionally, making it takes a lot of time where you’ll have to spend several weeks feeding the cake with alcohol before it is ready to be consumed. However, if you are looking for an easy alcohol- free Christmas fruitcake to make the last minute, then your search ends right here! This is a festive, flavorful and moist fruit cake that you can cherish the holiday season! A cup of warm coffee in my hand, with a big slice of this cake is enough to perk up my winter afternoons!...

Skip to Recipe With the holidays coming up, I like having friends over to my place for some quality time. I believe happy relationships make the journey of life more beautiful and worth living. And what better way to bond with friends than by sharing meals? Though the physical act of enjoying the food itself lasts for a short time, it is also an unfaltering opportunity to reconnect and create wonderful memories with family and friends that will last forever. I love finding new appetizers to share at gatherings that will blow guests away without having me spend the whole day toiling in the kitchen. This week I am so excited to share with you this delicious BBQ Cauliflower Wings recipe. If you have never tried them before, you are in for a treat! These Cauliflower Wings are a healthy yet tasty alternative to traditional wings. Florets of cauliflower baked till golden and crispy, and then tossed in a sweet and flavourful BBQ sauce- ...

Skip to Recipe Nothing can be cozier than snuggling up on the couch, wrapped up in a cozy blanket with a warm drink in your hands on a winter night. And, when it comes to warm drinks, how can I forget the classic Mulled Wine. I was first introduced to this festive drink at a Christmas market in Germany. Standing out in the cold and sipping it while looking at all the glittering lights of the markets was a true Christmas Market experience. Mulled Wine is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, simmered along with aromatic whole spices that is enjoyed by people all over the world during the holiday season. It is also known as Glühwein, Glögg, or Vin Chaud, Vin Brulé, or any other name, depending on where in the world you live. Needless to say, it seems like just about everyone in the world loves this warm beverage. I love it too and it is something that I look forward to making every winter. This classic drink can be easil...

Skip to Recipe Winter is finally upon us, and so is the baking season. With the holiday season approaching, it is time to slow down, stay indoors, put on some festive tunes and whip up some delicious desserts together with the family. Nothing says Christmas like a batch of freshly baked cookies straight from the oven. But sometimes we are looking for recipes that are easy and quick, and don't want the hassle of a long baking project. That's where these Almond Cookies come in. You can never go wrong with this fuss-free recipe! These Almond Cookies are scrumptious, delicious, and yet so simple that amplify the wonder of Christmas but without any hassle. They’re soft, buttery, and crispy while not being overly sweet, and simply melt in your mouth! You can easily devour a whole plate of these. These cookies are perfect for gifting and sharing with friends and family. Because I believe the true spirit of Christmas is all ...

Skip to Recipe Every time I go grocery shopping, I end up buying a lot of bananas. They are a healthy snack and make a nice addition to a bowl of cereal, yogurt, and smoothie. However, they do not get eaten fast enough, and in the blink of an eye, that bunch of bananas on the kitchen counter turn brown and soggy. Last week, my husband was almost going to toss them out when I said at the top of my voice, ''Don't throw them, I'm going to bake some Banana Walnut Bread''. On hearing this, his eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. But this time, I wanted to make a healthier version. Made with 100%whole wheat and naturally sweetened with honey, this healthy Banana Walnut Bread tastes just as flavorful as the regular one. This Banana Walnut Bread is moist, soft, and so addictive - best of all, you can enjoy it without all the guilt! One bite, and you’ll be hooked! Ripe banana is the star of this r...

Skip to Recipe Having spent two beautiful years of my life in Ireland, I was utterly captivated by the country, its natural landscapes, the friendly people, and the lively celebrations. St Patrick's Day is one such event that is held on March 17 every year in Ireland, something most look forward to! Though it started as a religious holiday, over time it has become a celebration of Irish culture. The festivities revolve around parades, dance, music, and family and friends enjoying great meals and drinks that have been part of the traditions of the Emerald Isle. Shepherd's Pie is one of the favorite meals during St. Patrick's Day! It is a classic layered casserole that has creamy mashed potatoes slathered on top of well seasoned minced meat and vegetables and then baked till golden brown. This is also a hearty, filling, and delicious meal that drives the winter blues away and brings comfort during the colder months. ...

Skip to Recipe Apart from its myriad castles and museums, Germany is also well known for its large number of bakeries. Almost every street has a bakery that has mastered the craft of bread making, passed on for many generations. Strolling through the streets, you can smell the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting out of the door that can make you salivate and arouse your appetite. And once you step inside, you will be spoilt for choice. I remember the first time I tried the traditional German specialty Apple Strudel (or Apfelstrudel) and fell in love with its amazing taste. It is a flaky pastry filled with brandy-soaked raisins, cinnamon-scented apples, and chopped walnuts. Since then every time I had it, I wanted to make it at home, but the idea of making it from scratch seemed beyond my reach as a novice home-baker. The recipe that I am sharing today is inspired by the classic Apfelstrudel. Apple Cinnamon Puff Pastries are cr...

Skip to Recipe Rainy and cold weather seems to demand a bit of comfort food, and hence I have been making a lot of soups and stews lately. When it comes to vegetarian cooking, lentils are a favorite of mine and are always present in my pantry. They are packed with plant based protein and a great way to make filling and healthy meals. Not to forget, they are budget friendly too! This Vegetable and Lentil Stew is hearty, comforting and satisfying as it is loaded with a lot of vegetables and it is a nutritional powerhouse. If you are looking to transition to a vegetarian diet or simply looking for meatless meals, then this stew is perfect for you! Even my meat loving husband approved of it and relished it with gusto. I have used brown lentils for this recipe as they hold their shape, and at the same time, absorb all the flavors. What I love about this stew is that it is incredibly versatile and customizable. I have ...

Skip to Recipe The weather was terrible over the last few days, making me want to stay in bed all morning and curl up on the couch all afternoon. I did have plans to get stuff done, but the gray sky just drained all my energy. The voice inside me constantly kept saying,'' Stop wasting your time and do something productive.'' To appease her, I picked myself up and baked my favorite fall muffins...Pumpkin Nutella Muffins. Fluffy and moist pumpkin muffins with a swirl of creamy Nutella baked right in-these taste as delicious as they look and sound! While pumpkin epitomizes fall, you can never go wrong with Nutella! If you’ve never tried this combination, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how perfectly these two flavors complement each other. These muffins are decadent, bursting with fall flavors, and will make your house smell amazing! Do you need more reasons to try these? They are not only great fo...

Skip to Recipe If there’s one thing Italy’s known for, it definitely has to be its food. Though Italian cuisine is known worldwide for being the home of pizza, pasta, but there is so much more to it. Each region of the food-loving country is defined by distinctly different dishes and flavors influenced by history and tradition. Visiting Italy two years ago was an eye-opening experience that allowed me to further delve into the wealth of gastronomic delights that the country offers. While I was blown away by the idyllic scenery of the Tuscan countryside, the Tuscan cuisine was a treat to my curious palate-unpretentious, seasonal and celebrating the use of simple and extremely fresh ingredients. After a tiring day of sightseeing, I finally sat down at a rustic trattoria and all I wanted was to dig into a simple and comfort meal. It was then, I came across the quintessential Tuscan dish, Lamb Ragu, which with its simple yet incredibly delici...