Happily Cooking

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

Skip to Recipe It is October! Every year I think that this month passes too quickly, and I am left with the feeling that I let another gorgeous autumn go by without appreciating it enough. This year I am trying to get the most of this colorful and magical season before it is gone! And, what better way to get into the fall vibes than by rewarding our taste buds with some delectable food? I am going to share some of my favorite recipes in the next few weeks that celebrate and capture the essence of fall. 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 for lazy Sundays or busy weeknights when you are too tired and stressed to cook and want something delicious and healthy. All you have to do is place your ingredi

Skip to Recipe Though summer has bidden farewell, there is no reason to mourn, as autumn has made its appearance. The noise of the rustling leaves, the sound of the rain, and the incredible display of vibrant colors - nature gives us ample reasons to fall in love and appreciate the season. And above all, autumn evokes feelings of warmth, comfort, and coziness that we keep longing for in this world of constant chaos. The minute the air starts feeling crisp and the days start getting shorter, my body constantly craves food that keeps me warm and satisfied. The abundance of pumpkins at the grocery stores this time of the year inspired me to create a delicious, hearty, and comforting soup that perfectly displays the colors and flavors of fall. The Roasted Pumpkin and Carrot Soup is not only creamy, and flavorful, but it is also healthy. Pumpkin is rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, iron, and folate -all of which strengthen our immune sy

Skip to Recipe It has been almost a month in our new home and we are still surrounded by towering walls of moving boxes. Daunted by the tasks of unpacking, cleaning, and organizing, I feel physically and emotionally spent and have to keep reminding myself to pause and breathe. Sorry to sound like a whiner, but I think I am not the only one who is going through this phase. I am a very impatient person in life, and as the impatient decorator rises within me, I feel the urge to get the whole house decorated right away. Sounds so unrealistic, isn't it? In reality, a home isn't crafted in a day, and just like the people living inside, it evolves over time. I think the care we put into a home over time makes it all the more beautiful and memorable! This week I have a created a healthier version of the Panda Express Orange Chicken that is a favorite among everyone. You can now savor the flavor of your favorite dish without all t

Skip to Recipe After taking a brief hiatus from blogging, I am glad to be back and have a BIG NEWS to share. It has finally happened. After dreaming about it for years, we haved moved to our new house, a place that we can call our own. The minute we walked in, my mind was racing with a score of immediate tasks that brooked no delay. The last few weeks were massively stressful, and were all about packing and unpacking boxes and scrambling to put things away. But all the hassle of moving was balanced by the joy and elation of embarking on this new journey. With each passing day, we are trying to transform this place into our dream home and I am enjoying every step along the way! Though the sabbatical from blogging afforded me the time to settle into the new environment, I was itching to get to my normal routine and share some interesting recipes from my new kitchen! Salmon is a good source of protein and is rich in omega 3 fatty

Skip to Recipe Breakfast is one of my most loved meals of the day and especially when I already have a delicious make-ahead meal that takes the stress out of busy mornings. When it comes to healthy breakfast ideas, Healthy Banana Oats Muffins , Blueberry Chia Seed Pudding and Healthy Morning Glory Muffins are a few of my favourites. Granola is a popular breakfast cereal that is loaded with the goodness of rolled oats, seeds and has a generous amount of pecans, almonds, cranberries, and other dried fruits. You will probably find the cereal aisles of the grocery stores with an overwhelming selection of granola in assorted flavors vying for your attention. But unfortunately, most of the brands are loaded with refined sugars, turning the healthy breakfast into something resembling a dessert. Hence, I switched to making granola at home, where I have control over all the ingredients and their proportions. And, I’ve b