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Getting started: First things first: you need a name. If only I had given the naming process five minutes of thought, I could have prevented years of confusion. When I named this blog Alexandra’s Kitchen, the URL “alexandraskitchen.com” wasn’t available, so I chose alexandracooks.com, which has confused people over the years — is it Alexandra’s Kitchen? or Alexandra Cooks? My advice: Match your blog name to its URL. Before you commit, run the name by some friends....

Diana Henry’s Moroccan chicken and rice recipe is a good one to know: a modest amount of prep produces a super flavorful, one-pan wonder of a dish that feeds a small crowd. There’s no browning of the chicken first to render the fat and crisp up the skin — everything just gets added to the pot and baked uncovered for 40 minutes. The method yields beautifully brown chicken skin, juicy meat, and cooked rice....

This pound cake is a variation of one I made over the holidays, which called for orange zest and orange liqueur. Here, lemon zest and juice have replaced the orange zest and liqueur, and the baking powder has been reduced a tad, too. Like the orange and ricotta cake, this one is incredibly moist and delicious, and is a cinch to throw together. **UPDATE: If you love an olive oil cake, I’ve since adapted this recipe to use olive oil in place of butter....

Cook’s Illustrated’s The Science of Good Cooking, my latest library rental, is organized by concepts — 50 of them! — but none so much as #28 halted my page turning: Don’t Soak Beans—Brine ‘Em. I read on to discover that Cook’s Illustrated recommends not only soaking beans in salted water but also cooking beans in salted water — as in salted water right from the start. Note: This is NOT a book to give to your favorite nonna....

Last August, I published yet another galette recipe here on Alexandra’s Kitchen. With the birth of this sixth galette baby, I thought my galette family of recipes was complete, the collection including both sweet and savory characters with personalities ranging from citrus-scented to bourbon-spiked, their birthdays spanning the seasons. But last week, in preparation for a galette-making class I was teaching, I found myself facing this predicament: stone fruit, my favorite to use in this dessert, are not yet in season, but rhubarb, currently abounding at the market, is not everybody’s favorite....

When I tell you that, if forced, I had to pick one and only one recipe to share with you that this — my mother’s peasant bread — would be it, I am serious. I would almost in fact be OK ending the blog after this very post, retiring altogether from the wonderful world of food blogging, resting assured that you all had this knowledge at hand. This bread might just change your life....

But kids didn’t seem too happy with our choices. They were okay with fresh fruits, dip and chips, but about pasta? Yes, we did miss pasta. I started wondering why doesn’t pasta makes it to the list when we chalk down our picnic menu? Reasons – maybe, because its not a finger food and secondly, it gets cold making it difficult to eat. This is when I decided to make a pasta recipe for our picnic that is easy to cook and could be eaten hot or cold!...

During fasting days, people consume falahari diet that consist of fruits, vegetables, dry nuts and some dairy products. No onion and garlic is consumed in this diet and vrat recipes are prepared with few simple ingredients. Just like my other vrat ki chutney, this is another phalahari chutney, I like to keep on hand on fasting days – simple and uses minimal ingredients. This chutney is a great accompaniment to may vrat dishes like Sabudana Ladoo, Vrat Rajgiria Puri, Sabudana Uttapam, Kuttu and Singhare ke atte ki Roti, Sabudana Khichdi, Sabudana Vrat Dosa, Sama ki Tikki or Sabudana Vada and more…....

Last week my Aunt Vicki was in town from California. Predictably, I took her to Riverview Orchards for cider donuts and to Mrs. London’s for almond croissants. When we weren’t out and about, we sat at home, sipping lemon-ginger tea, flipping through cookbooks at the kitchen table. One night Vicki spotted this recipe in the new SkinnyTaste cookbook, and we then made it three times before she left. It couldn’t be simpler: chop up an apple (no need to peel), a few carrots (no need to peel), an onion or a leek, and a peeled butternut squash....

Calling all Pannacotta lovers! Are you a big Tiramisu fan then this recipe is just for you! This recipe combines the beautiful flavors of cream, mascarpone cheese with Kahlua liqueur and coffee in one single dessert. Whether it be Valentine’s day dinner or a Thanksgiving dinner, this simple and yummy Tiramisu Panna Cotta is my go-to dessert. It is a very light dessert that is- silky smooth delightfully rich creamy and utterly delicious!...

This is a variation of no-boil mac n’ cheese I made last winter. I’ve simplified the recipe here, omitting the pancetta and saffron, and I’ve replaced the panko with fresh bread crumbs, which I find to be much tastier. 5 Steps to No-Boil Mac n’ Cheese: 5 from 6 reviews

Tastes exquisite when served next to homemade Instant Pot Dum aloo or Instant Pot lobia curry. From vegetarian to non-vegetarian dishes, tandoor can make them all. Tandoori dishes (dishes made in the tandoor) have a peculiar smoky flavor and an enticing uniqueness. Roti is a soft, round flatbread, very common in Indian cuisine. Also known as phulka or chapati, this is made with whole wheat flour and kneaded with water to form a soft dough....

What to drink? Punch, of course. Holiday Bread No-knead, no excuse. Classic Bread Stuffing My favorite part of the meal every year. Potatoes Four Ways Sweet Potato Casserole ALL the Sauces Make-ahead gravy, cranberry, mustard, and more. Simple Salad Palate cleanser. Other Sides If you’re up for it. Dessert Pie Pie Pie Pie Pie Pie Pie Pie. Vegetarian Entrée? This one steals the show. Turkey Dry-brined. Schedule Get organized! Downloadable and printable timelines included!...

When someone messaged me on Instagram telling me she had used the brioche recipe from Bread Toast Crumbs to make cinnamon buns, I was intrigued. Inspired by this Washington Post article, she she assembled the pans of buns the night before and baked them in the morning. It worked like a charm, she told me, which inspired me to try it immediately. The method worked beautifully for me as well, and now these buns have become a holiday morning staple....

VISHNU JI KI AARTI IN HINDI **~~**~~**~~**~~ VISHNU JI KI AARTI IN ENGLISH Om jai Jagadish Hare, Swami jai Jagadish Hare | Bhakt janon ke sankat, Daas janon ke sankat, shan men door kare || Om jai… Jo dhyave phal pave, dukh bin se man ka, Swami dukh bin se man ka | Sukh sampatti ghar aave, Sukh sampatti ghar aave, Kasht mite tan ka || Om jai… Mat pita tum mere, sharan gahun main kiski, Swami sharan gahun main kiski | Tum bin aur na dooja, Prabhu bin aur na dooja, Aas karun main jiski || Om jai… Tum pooran Parmatma, Tum antaryami, Swami tum antaryami | Paar brahma parameshvar, Jagat pita jagdishwar, Tum sab ke Swami || Om jai… Tum karuna ke sagar, Tum palan karta, Swami tum palan karta | Main moorakh khal kami, Main sevak tum Swami, Kripa karo Bharta || Om jai… Tum ho ek agochar, sabe ke pranpati....

People eat only one meal a day, prepared with grains and vegetables that are healthy and easy to prepare. Besides grains and vegetables, nuts, fruits, and fruit juices/smoothies can also be consumed. Cooking a meal is easy but planning that meal can be a daunting task. Meal planning is my routine and I do meal planning every Saturday and shop accordingly. Not only it saves time, but it also saves some money too....

Another great vrat recipe – Vrat Rajgiria Puri or Amaranth ki poori. Deep fried puffed pooris prepared by combining amaranth flour with boiled potatoes and spices. Amaranth flour is a gluten-free, protein-rich flour and is derived from the seeds of the amaranth plant, which is a leafy vegetable. LOOKING FOR NAVRATRI MEAL PLANNER , FOLLOW THIS LINK. Because its gluten-free, amaranth flour is a sticky dough as compared to the wheat flour dough....

Enjoy it as a dessert or a mid-day snack; it is guaranteed to please one and all. The uniqueness of this cake lies in the fact that this cake is prepared using whipping cream instead of milk. Being a tried and tested recipe and a family favorite, this cream pound cake makes a perfect base for birthday cakes and celebration cakes. Easy and simple to make Rich and buttery texture Silky smooth cake with intense fluffiness and flavors Perfectly sweet Portable and easy to carry!...

I have been meaning to join a CSA since arriving in California over a year ago now, and when I learned that the new wine and cheese bar in town was a drop off spot for CSAs, I jumped. I signed up on a Monday via email and two days later my box of freshly harvested produce arrived at The Cellar. Before I knew it, the above-pictured greens were in my hands along with a boodle of other treats — lemons, avocados, grapefruits, Swiss Chard, beets, strawberries, herbs and the list goes on and on....

These little baskets of joy will bring a medley of flavors and endless fun to make your special moments with family and friends more delightful! And there is something so good about this recipe; it takes no time to prepare! So this means you don’t have to get into complicated preparations to bring a fantastic recipe to your table. But wait, there is much more besides the flavors and the looks....