Thought croutons on keto were off limits? Not anymore! These gluten-free, low carb keto croutons taste like the original, or dare I say better?! They are crispy, crunchy, golden brown and seasoned with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and garlic. They are delicious on salads, but also for snacking! There are plenty of ways to use these keto-friendly croutons, but my favorite is over salad greens with a few veggies and either keto Caesar dressing, keto ranch dressing, or creamy balsamic dressing....

Lentil soup starts with aromatic vegetables and herbs at its base, slowly sautéed to build up complex flavor. Broth and lentils marry in creating a pot of hug-you-from-the-inside bliss. While it perhaps sounds simple and is not the most photogenic, this traditional lentil soup recipe tastes phenomenal AND it’s good for you. I have cooked and served lentil soup to many friends who all raved, and it’s one of my go-to weeknight dinners....

About Malpua Malpua are traditional North Indian pancakes made with wheat flour, jaggery or sugar and cardamom powder. Various ingredients like semolina, fennel seeds, milk, khoya, coconut, yogurt and even fruits like banana are sometimes added to the malpua batter. Malpua is a festive delight & are traditionally made in many Indian homes during festivals like Holi, Navratri and Diwali. In India, you are most likely to find a zillion versions of this celebration treat right from the households to the halwai shops (sweet shops), one different from the other depending on the region....

(This post is sponsored by my friends at Mezzetta, but my love for their olives is all my own! ❤️) Okay, let’s get all of your “Olivia likes olives” jokes out of the way. Ready? Go! Good! Now we can move forward and talk about this delicious Mediterranean Black Olive Bread, because I’ve been OBSESSED with it. As in, “I’ve made this bread twice in the past 7 days” obsessed!...

What is Onion Pakoda? Pakoda also known as pakora are a deep fried snack from the Indian Sub-continent. These are made with besan (gram flour), salt, spices and a main ingredient like onion or a vegetable. Onion pakoda has onions as the key ingredient and these are the most popular snack in India. Turn to any street corner across India, and you’ll find a vendor, eatery or food stall selling these fresh from the stove....

A mix of protein-packed ingredients like peanut butter, protein powder, flaxseeds, and chia seeds, along with a touch of honey for natural sweetness and chocolate chips for good measure, these easy protein balls take fewer than 15 minutes to pull together and don’t require any special equipment. No food processor, no mixer. Just you, a bowl, and all the peanut butter you care to lick off your fingers! This high protein ball recipe is lightly adapted from my go-to Energy Balls, with the addition of protein powder....

What is pesarattu? Pesarattu is a thin breakfast crepe made with green gram, ginger, cumin & chilies. The term “pesarattu” is a blend of 2 Telugu words – pesara & attu. Pesalu or Pesara is the Telugu name for green gram & attu translates to dosa or crepe. How is it made? To begin with whole mung is rinsed and soaked briefly for a few hours and then ground to a batter with spices....

Get pumped: there’s a new mac and cheese recipe in town, and it’s everything you want (and more) in this famous comfort food classic. It’s outrageously decadent, creamy, and delicious.Fits right in alongside a holiday spread of Sweet Potato Pie, Roasted Carrots, and Crockpot Wild Rice Stuffing.AND you can take a second (or third) helping because this luscious pasta happens to be made with healthier ingredients too. This is pumpkin mac and cheese, and it’s going to be the star at your next holiday gathering or dinner party....

This ragi cake is made of no refined ingredients and is quite healthy if eaten in moderation. It can be served to toddlers for an evening snack. I recently happened to make this cake again after a very long time so thought of updating the post with a video. If making for toddlers, it is good to use melted butter than oil. But the recipe works with both. You can also make this with powdered jaggery, brown sugar, coconut sugar or palm jaggery....

Trust me I’ve been there. You have a lovely gourmet dinner planned (ahem, Red Wine Braised Short Ribs), the ingredients are purchased, and you’re looking forward to a fun night in the kitchen, but then life happens. When you get home and the dog got into the garbage, your kids need help with their homework, the laundry didn’t run, and your partner calls to say they’re stuck at work. You need a plan B or else it’s takeout for the third time this week....

Making food for others is my way of saying “I care about you,” “I’m glad you are in my life,” and, most importantly, “Thanks for putting up with me.” While many foods can convey those sentiments, pizza is the universal food whose message needs no translation. With gooey, soul-comforting cheese, an array of flavorful toppings, and a crust that’s soft, crisp, and chewy all at the same time, pan pizza is a food for every occasion, every person, and, importantly, every appetite....

Although “croquette” might sound refined and complicated (because doesn’t every French word?), salmon croquettes are straightforward to make. To make them more budget-friendly and quicker to prep, I use canned salmon. Keep a few cans of salmon and tuna stashed in your pantry, and you can pull together a fast, healthy, and legitimately tasty dinner on the fly (these Avocado Tuna Cakes and the Salmon Cakes in my cookbook are perfect examples)....

This easy shrimp ceviche recipe combines tender, juicy shrimp with lots of freshly chopped produce for an easy appetizer that always impresses! I’ll show you how to make shrimp ceviche with raw shrimp or cooked shrimp — both ways are fast and simple. It’s similar to Mexican shrimp cocktail, but with a fresh and tangy burst of citrus. What Is Shrimp Ceviche? Shrimp ceviche recipes include an acidic marinade that changes the proteins in the shrimp to “cook” it without any heat!...

What’s fruity, creamy, and pink all over? The Starbucks keto pink drink, of course! This craze started going around a year or two ago, first with the original version and later with the Starbucks “secret menu” keto pink drink that people ordered by ingredient. I tried it once at the coffee shop, but never got around to testing it out myself at home, until now. In this homemade pink drink recipe, we’re taking all the sugar and carbs out for a delicious keto friendly option!...

A few years ago, I got into a total smoothie kick and stocked our pantry with every kind of nut, seed, and super powder. I filled our freezer with a rainbow of fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, mangos, and pineapple, and fancied myself a smoothie artist. From a sunshine Carrot Smoothie to a Blueberry Spinach Smoothie that would fit right into Picasso’s blue period, I had a smoothie for every color on the wheel and lots of variations....

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

About Sweet Pongal After preparing sweet pongal it is offered as naivedyam to the Sun God as a part of the Thanksgiving ritual or puja. There are so many pongal recipes that are followed in South India based on the family traditions, customs, taste and main importantly region where they live. So one may find sweet pongal recipes with varying ingredients like moong dal, Cow’s milk, Cow’s ghee, jaggery, sugar, coconut etc....

About Turmeric Milk Turmeric Milk is a traditional Indian beverage made by mixing turmeric root and crushed long pepper known as pipli into hot or warm full fat milk. Also known as Haldi doodh, it is an age old ayurvedic remedy used to treat cold, congestion, cough, wounds, and other ailments. The main compound in turmeric is curcumin. Piperine, the compound found in long pepper was believed to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin in turmeric....

My love for pad Thai runs deep. So much so, that when Ben and I visited Thailand, we split a plate of pad Thai every single day of the trip, both at lunch and at dinner. It was so tasty and such a bargain, we couldn’t resist! Back on this side of the Pacific Ocean, pad Thai is still a dish I love to cook at home. It’s fast, easy, and hits the spot every time I’m feeling tempted by takeout (this recipe is a better choice!...

Both versions of pongal are offered to Goddess Durga & Lakshmi during Navratri, Varalakshmi puja and even on regular days. Many households also have a custom of offering this during Friday and Saturday Pooja. About Ven Pongal Ven Pongal is a traditional South Indian dish made with rice, split yellow mung dal, ghee, cumin, ginger, pepper and curry leaves. The word “Venn” means “White” in Tamil and “Pongal” means “to bubble & overflow” which signifies abundance....