Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe I can never say no to Chinese food! Whenever I am feeling down in the dumps or just having a bad day, I have one local Chinese takeaway that comes to the rescue and never fails to uplift my mood. One such recipe that I am extremely fond of whenever a craving for Chinese strikes is Kung Pao Chicken. The recipe can easily be recreated at home and you will have a winning dinner that the whole family will love! What is Kung Pao Chicken? Kung Pao Chicken is a famous Chinese dish with stir-fried chicken and crisp vegetables tossed in a delicious sweet and tangy sauce and topped with toasted peanuts for extra crunch. While the dish originated in the Sichuan province of China, it remains a common sight on the menus of all Chinese takeouts in countries around the world. The Kung Pao sauce has a right balance of flavors - sweet, savory with a hint of heat from the dry chillies. You really don’t need a ...

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 For many of us, our mothers and grandmothers have influenced our love for cooking. But as a kid, I did not have a flair for cooking nor did I have any such plan for the future. I got married to a foodie, and he introduced me to a whole new world of culinary delights. Initially, what seemed like a daily chore has slowly turned into my passion. The world of food and cooking seems like a work of art, there's always something new to learn, nuances to pick up, and inspirations to be added to the repertoire. The recipe for the Granola Fruit Tart has been sitting in the back of my mind waiting for its moment to shine, and what better time to share it than now with Valentine's Day a few days away. Who wouldn't like to kick Valentine's day off with a beautiful, delicious, romantic breakfast? This is sure to win over the heart of your special one. These Granola Fruit Tarts feature a simple granola crust filled...

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 Few days ago, I came across an article that stated how snacking behavior has been reshaped by the current pandemic. It mentioned how with the full force of Covid 19, most people have found themselves snacking more often than they were before the outbreak. Truly, most of the time when we are stuck indoors feeling bored, the calls of the fridge are hard to ignore and we tend to snack on unhealthy foods. It can be quite a challenge to find quick yet nutritious snack options. When it comes to healthy snacking, energy balls or energy bites are a great option. However, the ones that are available in the market often contain high level of sugar and are not so healthy. This is one of the reasons I like making them at home as I am in absolute control of what goes in them. What are Energy Balls? Energy Balls, energy bites, or whatever you may call them, are delicious bite-sized snacks that are rolled into little balls. They are usua...

Skip to Recipe Last week while I was sitting near the window, and watching the continuous rain, my mind was dreaming about Greece- the sunshine, the deep blue seas and the sandy beaches. Visiting this gem of the Mediterranean has always been my dream. Since a vacation to Greece seems off limits at the moment, I decided to make a delicious Greek- inspired dinner to taste my way around the world without leaving the house. Gyros is one of the most popular street food of Greece. The word 'gyros' is derived from 'gheereezo', which means 'to turn', referring to the constantly rotating vertical spit on which the meat is cooked. It consists of pieces of meat (like chicken,lamb, beef or pork) cooked on a rotisserie and then wrapped in a pita or flatbread along with tzatziki sauce and vegetable such as tomatoes, onions and lettuce. Though they seem completely out of the realm of home cooking, they’re incredibly ea...

Skip to Recipe After the blitz of holiday parties and gatherings over the last month, I’m ready for a breather — both from intensive cooking and indulgent meals. Therefore, I am turning to meals that are light and quick and come together with the most minimal effort possible. Penne Alla Vodka is one of those recipes that sound so fancy, and yet is one of the most easiest , hands down. Fresh pasta tossed in a luscious and creamy vodka sauce to create a comforting dish you will find yourself making over and over again. Whether you need something impressive for a date night or a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner, Penne Alla Vodka is your answer. The Origin of Penne Alla Vodka Penne Alla Vodka is a classic dish that rose to popularity in the 1980s. There’s a measure of debate as to where and when it originated. Some food historians claim it was invented in Italy, while others say that it origanated in New York. ...