Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe January is the bleakest of all months, all the glitz and glimmer of Christmas is over, giving way to the doldrums of midwinter. The season brings along the natural force of slowing down and resting, and we as humans also want to slow down and hibernate, seeking out warmth and comfort. I believe it is the perfect time of the year to embrace a slower pace of life and work with the natural energy of the season, rather than against it. Just like the way of living, the food that my souls yearns for is distinctively different from that in the summer, and my only goal is to keep my belly satiated rather than to experience a new culinary feat. For times like these, this Classic Italian Minestrone Soup is my reliable companion. This Italian Minestrone Soup boasts hearty vegetables and pasta in a tomato broth and finished off with Parmesan cheese. Serve this with some crusty bread and call it a day! WHAT IS A MINESTRON

Skip to Recipe Hello September! Days are getting shorter, but there’s still plenty of warm days left for backyard grilling and pool parties while transitioning into Fall flavors. With the hot weather of July and August behind us , and the chilly nights of Fall on the horizon, September is the best of both the worlds. Ring in the cozy season with a luscious,hearty and comforting, Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup. It is guaranteed to satisfy your soup cravings – without any guilt on busy fall weeknights. You’re going to LOVE the indulgent flavor and texture. The cauliflower is roasted that imparts a nutty flavor resulting in a thick and ultra-smooth soup. You’ll want to eat this all fall and winter. Why You Need To Try This Cauliflower Soup Amazing flavors: Featuring deeply caramelized cauliflower and garlic, this soup is cozy and bursting with robust flavors!

Skip to Recipe The cooler weather always want us to cozy up with a bowl of soup, and what could be more satisfying than slurping up a giant bowl of ramen. However, having said that, making a traditional ramen is an extremely time-consuming process, requiring the broth to be simmered for a few hours. So this recipe is a quick and easy version that can be made in the comfort of your own home and is even better than the ones in a restaurant! This Chicken Ramen features deep and flavorful broth, al dente ramen noodles, crispy roasted chicken, fresh vegetables and boiled eggs. Comforting, soul satisfying and brimming with flavors, this homemade version is ready on the table under an hour and always hits the spot. What is Ramen? Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup made with a rich-flavored broth, long thin noodles and topped with an assortment of toppings. It is an integral part of the country's cuisine and has become undeniabl

Skip to Recipe Welcome back! Hopefully, you enjoyed the Christmas season with your family and friends and indulged in all the festive food. The glitz and the shimmer of the holiday have passed, and it is time to gear up for this new year with energy, zest, and a happy body. Right after the holidays, I always crave meals that are simple and light and don’t require slaving away in the kitchen for hours. When that happens, I turn to some of my favorite healthy soup recipes like this one. A hearty, comforting, elegant garlic-flavored soup that has the goodness of leeks, creaminess of potatoes and is topped with homemade croutons. Guaranteed to satisfy your soup cravings any wintery night. This Creamy Potato, Leek and Garlic Soup is wonderful served as an appetizer or entree with a generous pile of golden homemade croutons. I also recommend some fresh crusty bread and butter on the side for a complete meal. More Reason

Skip to Recipe It is the middle of November, and almost winter, which means less daylight, sluggish moods, and bleak weather that chills our insides. While winter may feel like it lasts forever when the months drag on, thankfully we have hearty comfort food that sticks to our ribs and helps us get through. And, if I am talking about comfort food, how can I forget the iconic Beef Bourguignon? Beef Bourguignon is one of the most acclaimed French recipes around the world and embodies the essence of French Slow cooking. As its name suggests, this stew originates from Burgundy, a French region well known for producing exceptional cattle meat as well as red wine, both of which are the star ingredients of this local dish. Tender chunks of beef are braised in red wine along with mushrooms, carrots, onions, and herbs for a robust, hearty, and soul-satisfying winter dinner. The star of the recipe is the beef, which is seared over

Skip to Recipe It is officially soup season. Though I love soups any time of the year, curling up on the couch with a piping hot bowl on chilly fall evenings is pure bliss. They make for easy dinners or quick lunches that will warm up your body and soul. If you are looking for soups that are bursting with flavors and at the same time can be whipped up without much hassle, this Roasted Cauliflower and Red Pepper Soup is for you! Florets of cauliflower and red bell peppers get roasted in the oven together until lightly caramelized and crispy, and then pureed, resulting in a creamy bowl of deliciousness. This soup is low-carb, gluten-free, and completely plant-based! Although roasting the vegetables takes a little more time and effort, it is definitely worth it. The roasted cauliflower gives the soup an exceptionally rich and smooth texture without adding an extra cream, while the red peppers add a gorgeous color

Skip to Recipe Considering the diverse cuisines that are all around the world, there’s much room to expand our palettes and explore new exotic flavors. Known for its meticulous preparation and exquisite presentation, French cuisine, for long, has been toppled as the king of fine dining. However, at its core French food relies on simple flavors and high-quality ingredients to create unforgettable internationally-renowned dishes. If you want to venture into the world of French cooking, then this classic Chicken Fricassée is perfect for you. Chicken Fricassee (pronounced “fri-ka-say”) is a rustic French classic that relies on humble ingredients and just a single pot. It is the original comfort food- chicken that is sautéed lightly and then braised with onions, carrots, mushrooms, and herbs in a rich and creamy sauce. This one-pot wonder is elegant to serve company and also hearty enough for an amazing weeknight dinner.

Skip to Recipe Of lately, we are making and having a lot of stews and soups in our household. All, thanks to the constant rainy weather and the super hectic schedule. I have come to the realization that ever since we moved to the new house, I find myself with a jam-packed calendar that stresses me out every time . Hence, I am trying to reduce my time in the kitchen and looking for meals that are quick, healthy and yet satisfying. Thick, rich and flavorful, this Chilli Con Carne is the perfect weeknight dinner! Lean ground beef, kidney beans, corns, slowly cooked together in a tomato sauce, and seasoned with warm spices, this recipe is guaranteed to win you over. This stew is a great way to sneak in high-nutrient ingredients to our meals. Not only is this favourful and delicious, it takes very little time and effort to put together and everything cooks in a single pot. What more can you ask for? Your family will not

Skip to Recipe During the colder months, soups and stews are the culinary equivalent of a warm hug. After a tiring day, doning on my fluffiest socks, grabbing a bowl of hot piping stew and sitting in front of the television is what my heart craves for. The Irish Stew is one such recipe that we have in our winter dinner rotation and it has to be arguably the most flavourful of all stews. What is Irish Stew? If you walk into any pub in Ireland there’s a good chance that you will find this classic stew on the menu. An Irish Stew is a rich and robust stew filled with lamb, potatoes, vegetables, lot of herbs,and of course Guinness-a dark Irish stout. The lamb in this delicious stew is slowly simmered for hours with a bottle of Guinness until it becomes incredibly tender and almost falls apart. Tastes absolutely delicious and is cozy enough to get you through the cold spells. Though the recipe is easy, making t

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