Happily Cooking

Skip to Recipe As summer rolls in, nostalgia hits me. It takes me back to times when summers were synonymous with freedom. Summer meant a break from school, the time spent outdoors, a trip to my grandparents' home, and most importantly chasing down the ice cream truck in the neighborhood to grab one. My love for icecream has remained the same. The only difference is that these days, I prefer to make my own rather than surrending to the temptation of buying store-bought ones. These Vegan Chocolate Magnum Bars are my vegan version of the classic Magnum Bars. Vanilla flavored ice-cream bars dipped in luscious, melted dark chocolate to create a sinfully indulgent treat. They are creamy, fudgy and delicious as the store-bought, and just what you need to stay cool. Made with just a few ingredients, these are naturally vegan, refined sugar-free and dairy-free. If you enjoyed these Vegan Magnum Ice Cream Bars, yo...

Skip to Recipe Indonesia is a food lover's paradise and undoubtedly one of the world’s top destinations for street food if you want to give your tastebuds a real treat. When it comes to Indonesian cuisine, Nasi Goreng has to be the most popular dish that everyone thinks of in the first place. This stir fried rice is an iconic street food of the country and has made its way into kitchens and restaurants across the world. WHAT IS NASI GORENG? Nasi Goreng translates to "Fried Rice" in Indonesian and Malay-and that’s exactly what it is! It is rice that is fried along with veggies and some sort of protein. It has been called the national dish of Indonesia with every eatery, no matter how large or small, serving a version of its own. What distinguishes it from other fried rice dishes is the umami flavor, from the Kecap Manis – a sweet soy sauce that caramelizes and gives the rice its distinctive dark brown c...

Skip to Recipe Summer is one of the best times to get together with friends and family. Chances are, your summer calendar is stacked with backyard cookouts, potlucks, gatherings. Whether you’re hosting a party, or going on a potluck or picnic, you can never go wrong with a delicious salad when it’s hot outside. With a rainbow of fresh, colorful veggies, protein-packed chickpeas, and a bright zesty dressing, this Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is the real crowd-pleaser. It is low-key, big on flavors, and can be whipped up in a pinch. While this salad certainly shines in warmer weather ( especially with garden-grown tomatoes) there’s never a bad time to indulge in such a healthy, colorful and satisfying salad! SALAD INGREDIENTS Chickpeas: The star of this recipe is Chickpeas. Chickpeas are a plant-based source of protein, high in fiber and help you keep satisfied for longer. You can use d...

Skip to Recipe As the weekend rolls around, the favourite dishes from the takeaway menu call louder than ever. However, making them yourself will help you save money and impress your entire family at the dinner table. Chicken Lo Mein is one such classic dish that we always love to order again and again. Today, I will share my version of the recipe that hits the spot when you’re craving Chinese take-out, except this version is quicker, tastier and a lot healthier. Stir-fried vegetables, tender pieces of chicken and egg noodles are tossed in a flavorful savory sauce to create the most satisfying Chicken Lo Mein. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LO MEIN AND CHOW MEIN Lo Mein and Chow Mein are two Chinese noodle dishes that are sometimes used interchangeably. While both of them have similar ingredients, the key difference lies in the way they are cooked. Chow Mein refers to stir-fried noodles, while Lo Mein means tossed noodles. ...

Skip to Recipe The temperatures are soaring high, and we are enjoying the most coveted Summer. Looking outside to find the sun shining bright makes me want to enjoy the beautiful world and connect with nature. And what better way to celebrate and relish summer's bounty than a fresh drink in hand! This Virgin Pina Colada is a refreshing and non-alcoholic version of the classic tropical Pina Colada. Rich and creamy, it is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day, and you won't even miss the alcohol! This mocktail combines the creamy richness of coconut with the tangy sweetness of pineapple, creating a beverage that’s not just refreshing but downright irresistible. WHAT IS A PINA COLADA? The name Piña Colada is Spanish for “strained pineapple''. It is a popular classic cocktail that entered the pantheon of tropical drinks in Puerto Rico in the 1950’s and went on to become the official drink of th...

Skip to Recipe There's nothing that screams summer as much as cherry tomatoes. While they can be found in the supermarket all year long, it's during summers when are in their full glory-sweetest, juiciest and most flavorful. And if you're growing your own, it's when they're most abundant, too! What do you do with all those gorgeous bunch of tomatoes in the backyard that are all ready to be picked at the same time? This Cherry Tomato Pasta is one of those recipes that I make all summer long. It is light, comforting and bursting with fresh summer flavors. WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE A quick and elegant weeknight dinner that will become a staple! It comes together in 20 minutes and with minimal ingredients that are easy to get your hands on. Ideal for meatless Mondays, it’s a dish that the whole family will love. If you...

Skip to Recipe Summer is when berries get their spotlight, and oh how they shine bright! Since, the season is short-lived, it should be enjoyed in all its glory. Don't let those strawberries in your refrigerator go bad without making this Strawberry Sheet Cake. It is one of the simplest and delicious cakes you will ever make. A lot of Strawberry Cake recipes that you will find over the internet will call for cake mixes that have strawberry flavors and dyes to get that “strawberry” taste.. but why bake the fake stuff when you can have the real deal?? This Strawberry Sheet Cake is a beautifully moist cake, filled with real fresh strawberries and topped with the creamiest, strawberry cream cheese frosting. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHEET CAKE AND A LAYERED CAKE? The primary difference between a sheet cake and a regular, layered cake lies in their structure and serving size. A sheet cake is baked in a ...