tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32338461231738309302012-02-16T15:02:49.387-08:00Rachananoreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233846123173830930.post-62233114648749633772009-02-10T18:45:00.000-08:002009-02-15T20:07:09.462-08:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"It's amazing how pervasive food is. Every second commercial is for food. Every second TV episode takes place around a meal. In the city, you can't go ten feet without seeing or smelling a restaurant. There are 20 foot high hamburgers up on billboards. I am acutely aware of food, and its omnipresence is astounding".</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">- Adam Scott</span></span><br /><br />So true! And in a country like India, the variety is more pronounced. Coming from a maharashtrian background, specifically GSB (Gaud Saraswat Brahmin), my taste buds are more sensitive to spicy and sharp flavors - from misal-paav to sol kadhi and from Kombadi wade to suka bombil.<br /><br />This blog is an effort to pen down all the culinery experiments that go on in my kitchen. This is an attempt to put together not only exotic recipes but also 'Quick meals' which can be ready to go. Most of my cooking is inspired by my mother who is not only an expert in maharashtrian recipes but also loves improvising. This blog is also inspired by many food blogs which I regularly visit in search of variety, some of my friends who often send me their success stories for me to try out and last but not the least, my husband who is often the guinea pig for my tests and trials.<br /><br />A brief background of myself, I come from the investment banking world, MBA by qualification. Born and raised in Bombay (now Mumbai) and now I live in United States with my husband, PhD in Mechanical Engineer by profession and currently working as a research engineer. I have several hobbies encompassing reading, swimming, hiking, travelling and when I am not doing any of this, I really enjoy sitting quietly in my patio sipping tea (if the weather permits ofcourse!)<br /><br />I would appreciate and welcome all your suggestions and comments. If you have any interesting recipes, please send them to me and I would love to post them on this portal.<br /><br />I welcome you to this journey with flavors and spices...<br /><br />Warm Regards,<br />Rachana Nabar Deshpande<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3233846123173830930-6223311464874963377?l=thegourmetlaunchpadrecipes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachananoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3233846123173830930.post-23895981734158999722008-10-11T23:32:00.000-07:002010-05-04T08:29:24.414-07:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Breads and Parathas<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/aloo-paratha-spicy-potato-flatbreads.html">Aloo Paratha (Spicy Potato flatbreads)</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/chatpate-parathe.html">Chatpate Parathe</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Burgers </span><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/03/chicken-tikka-burger.html"><br />Chicken Tikka Burger</a><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/bean-burger-with-salad.html">Vegetarian Bean Burger with Corn salad</a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"> </span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Chinese<br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/10/low-fat-vegetable-lo-mein.html">Low fat Vegetable Lo Mein</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Chutneys and Dips<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/coconut-chutney-with-sesame.html">Coconut chutney with sesame</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/dry-lasun-chutney.html">Coconut chutney with garlic</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Dessert</span><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2010/04/ganpati-bappa-morya.html">Ganpati Bappa Morya!!! (Modak)</a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/05/strawberry-shortcake.html">Strawberry Shortcake</a><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/tiramisu.html">Tiramisu</a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/03/vermicelli-pudding-in-microwave.html">Vermicelli Pudding (in the Microwave)</a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/yogurt-cake.html">Yogurt Cake</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Egg</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/egg-curry-with-difference.html">Egg Curry with a difference...</a></span><br /></p><p style="FONT-FAMILY: verdana" face="trebuchet ms"></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Events<br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/healthy-bite.html">A Healthy Bite</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/deepali-festival-of-lights.html">Deepavali - The festival of lights</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Evening snacks<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/chirote.html">Chirote</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/chivda.html">Chivda</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/corn-chaat.html">Corn Chaat</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/cucumber-tausoli.html">Cucumber Tausoli</a></span><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/10/jhatpat-dosa-semolina-crepes.html">Jhatpat Dosa (Semolina crepes)</a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/misal-paav.html">Misal Paav!</a></span><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/05/moong-daal-vada.html">Moong daal vada</a><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/pesarattu-moth-bean-crepes.html">Pesarattu (Moth Bean crepes)</a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/rawa-ladoo.html">Rawa Ladoo</a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/sabudana-khichadi.html">Sabudana Khichadi</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/vanga-batata-tomato-bhaaji.html"></a><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/tikhat-shankarpali.html">Tikhat Shankarpali</a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/vada-paav.html">Vada Paav!</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Italian pasta<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/spagetti-chilli-beeerrryyy-spicy.html">Spagetti Chilli - Beeerrryyy Spicy!!!</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Kadhi<br /></span><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/12/soul-kadhi.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">So(u)l Kadhi</span></a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/kadhi-khichadi-batata-bhaaji.html">Kadhi - Khichadi - Batata Bhaaji</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Meat</span><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/mutton-curry.html">Mutton Curry</a><br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/11/mutton-suka-goat-masala-thick-gravy.html">Mutton Suka (Goat masala - thick gravy)</a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Milk and milk products<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/almond-milk.html">Almond milk</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Rice<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/authentic-moghlai-chicken-biryani.html">Authentic Moghlai Chicken biryani</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/chicken-biryani.html">Chicken Biryani</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/daalimbi-bhaat.html">Daalimbi Bhaat</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/kadhi-khichadi-batata-bhaaji.html">Kadhi - Khichadi - Batata Bhaaji</a></span><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/kolambi-bhaat-shrimp-biryani.html">Kolambi Bhaat (Shrimp Biryani)</a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/pineapple-rice.html">Pineapple Rice</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Seafood<br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/04/fish-in-green-sauce.html">Fish in Green sauce</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/12/kolambi-suke-shrimp-in-dry-masal.html">Kolambi Suke (Shrimp in dry masala)</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Soups<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/mushroom-soup.html">Mushroom Soup</a><br /></span><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/01/spinach-soup.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;">Spinach Soup</span></a><br /><a style="FONT-FAMILY: trebuchet ms" href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/02/vegetable-soup.html">Vegetable Soup</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Vegetables<br /><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/achari-baingan_10.html">Achari Baingan</a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2009/05/corn-palak-with-whole-corn-cobs.html">Corn Palak (With whole corn cobs)</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/soya-palak.html">Soya Palak</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/10/vanga-batata-tomato-bhaaji.html">Vanga Batata Tomato bhaaji</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/09/egg-curry-with-difference.html"></a><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/soya-palak.html"></a><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://thegourmetlaunchpad.blogspot.com/2008/11/yogurt-cake.html"><br /></a></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3233846123173830930-2389598173415899972?l=thegourmetlaunchpadrecipes.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rachananoreply@blogger.com0