When it comes to preparing a tasty spread for the family, it might seem like a daunting task to select a few recipes from the river of recipes that are available given every country, every state, every community et al has recipes that are their own. This becomes even more of an uphill task, when you need to stick to a particular cuisine for a complete meal.

It is usually said that we should eat three meals a day, but we end up getting hungry after 2 to 3 hours after each meal. While you can munch on small snacks between breakfast and lunch as their is a short gap, we need something filling during our tea time with our Chai/Coffee to beat our hunger till dinner.

Weekend, this word itself brings a smile on our face! We finally get a break after busy and hectic 5 week days and we want to make full use of it. And what can be better than starting our weekend with delicious breakfast. Well, there are many recipes to make for the breakfast, but Pancakes are our favourite. Different flavours, toppings and sauce makes us drool over this dish again and again.

Potlucks are the most exciting gathering with friends or family where each one attending the get-together cooks delicious food and contributes to the menu. Did you know the word potluck comes in the 16th century English work of Thomas Nashe, and means "food provided for an unexpected or uninvited guest, the luck of the pot."

Bengalis are famous for their rich culture and their delectably delicious sweets. When one hears of Bengal, ones' thoughts naturally shifts towards their tasty sweets more than anything else. Bengal is a paradise for sweet lovers, and the admirability that rasgulla, mishti doi, sandesh et al enjoy, there is no doubt that the Bengalis take their sweet making quite seriously. Most Bengali sweets are milk based, made of cottage cheese (chena).

We all have busy schedules during the weekdays, whether its going to the work yourself or sending your kids to school and family for work. Everyday, we go through a dilemma about what to cook in the morning for lunch which is filling, tasty and meet our daily nutrient requirements. Also the food should be apt for your kids too. As much as eating healthy lunch is important, its also necessary to take a break from all the hectic morning targets and get more energy so that you can work the whole day with same energy and mood. 

Sundays are the most ideal day of the week (of course till the arrival of Monday dawns upon you), the entire family, right from the kids to the adults are all home enjoying their day off in ways that deem fit to them. What can make your Sunday even better, is a large Sunday brunch feast. Since the entire family is home, you can involve them with cooking as well making it a fun affair.

The land of valleys-Kashmir is also loved for the unique and drool worthy recipes from the native cuisine. One can find the rich influence of Mughal cuisine and the cooking styles of Muslims and Kashmiri Pundits integrated into the various recipes from Kashmiri cuisine. Rice pilaf are the heart of food in Kashmir, we must mention. Rice is plated with delicious and a wide variety of curries and side dishes that are predominantly either dairy based, meat based or usually both.

Who is not aware of cashew nuts, or kaju as they are commonly known in India. Cashew nuts are the seeds that are present within the cashew apples of the cashew tree, which is a native to Brazil and is believed to have been brought into India by the Portuguese. The kidney or bean shaped nuts are packed with anti oxidants, vitamins and minerals that aid the smooth functioning of our bodies. 

Sun is blazing hot in many parts of the country. While it is great to see all the trees beaming with wonderful flowers, it would be such a lovely idea to enjoy summers with something cool and light to eat. Kids and adults crave for frozen desserts in summer more than in any other season. Therefore we have lined up some delicious popsicles for you that you can make at home? These are easy to make and delightful to have.

Asian food is one of those cuisines which is loved by everyone because it emphasises on a combination of flavours and textures, often within a single dish. From delicious curries, lip smacking one bowl dishes to spicy rice or noodles, the Asian cuisine has lot to offer which suits our Indian taste buds. On one hand, there are some gravies which needs to be served with steamed rice or hakka noodles, while on the other there are one dish recipes which be had on its own like the noodle bowls.

“Iniya Tamil Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal” to all the readers as April 14 of this year is marked to be the new beginnings to all the people who live in Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Tamilians in Sri Lanka. Tamil New Year known as “Puthandu” in Tamil language is the first day of the year in Tamil Calendar. “Chithirai Matham” also called as the beginning of the month in Tamil is what they look forward according to the Gregorian calendar. 

Breads are the best option to have in breakfast when we are in jiffy and want to have a quick breakfast that is healthy and fills our stomach at the same time. Just apply some flavoured butter on top and there, you have a yummy breakfast ready! These can also be served as a snack with your hot cup of tea or coffee during tea time break.

Dhokla as all of us know is originated from the state of Gujarat and is mostly enjoyed as a Breakfast. Breakfast being the most essential meal of the day, it's important to have a nutrition rich breakfast and Dhoklas fit in perfectly. Dhoklas are rich in proteins because of the besan being the core ingredient.

Easter marks the celebration of rebirth of Jesus Christ from the dead, the celebration is also associated with certain rituals and as well as the most awaited Easter Traditional Feast. After the 40 days of lent, people would rejoice the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection with a glass of wine and a marvelous meal with their loved ones with warm hearts.

Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish where in a shell called tortilla made mostly of wheat or corn flour, is wrapped around a filling. It is believed that the origin of tacos occurred in the Mexican silver mines since the first taco ever was called 'taco de minero' which translates to Miners' Taco. The word taco originally referred to pieces of paper that miners would wrap around gunpowder and use in holes that were carved into the face of the rock. 

Different regions of the country have a specific festival which marks the start of the New Year. While Ugadi/Yugadi is the festival for Karnataka, Bisu or Vishu festival is the day of New Year for Tulu region of Karnataka, that includes, Mangalore, Udupi, Kasargod. The New Year for Kerala and Tamil Nadu is also on the same day, April 14th of every year. This day marks the Solar New Year, called “Bisu Parba” in Tulu.

Summer is here and so is the holiday season for kids, and what better time for them to relax without having to worry about pending homeworks, assignments, tests et al.

Working folks need all the energy to stay active mentally throughout the day. With the challenges we face in work day after day, we should be alert and creative in any work we are committed to do. Active mind and body is least prone to errors and ponders way to get the work done quickly and efficiently.

Poila Boishakh, is a celebration of joy and hope for the Bengalis as it marks the first day of their new year. It falls on the 14th or 15th of every April and is mainly celebrated in the states of West Bengal, Tripura and among the Bengalis all around the world. On this auspicious day, Bengali’s usually visits Kali temple to worship their goddess, make Rangoli outside their house and celebrate with family and friends over scrumptious and lip smacking food.

As the heat is increasing with the passing day, it's very essential for us to keep our body cool to stay fit and refresh during the summers.

When the environment heats up outside, the best way to balance your health is to cool down from inside and you can do it through food that is favourable to cool down your body. It is advisable to take in lot of fluids that include water, fruit juices, buttermilk, and water based fruits. Avoid food that heats you up, like spicy curries, chillies, hot peppers, sesame seeds and fruits like Mango, Papaya etc.

Rajasthan, the state of royals is known for his culture and food. The unique taste and flavour of each and every Rajasthani dish has a royal touch to it. Whether it is a snack, main course or a dessert dish, everything tastes heavenly. Well, its very well known for its rich food but it is famous for its toothsome sweets too. These sweets are a part of every festival, wedding or any special occasion in the state.

Baisakhi is the harvest festival of North India, it marks the onset for winter harvest. Farmers celebrate this day by offering their gratitude to mother Earth for blessing them with good crop the upcoming season. For the Sikh and Punjabi communities, Baisakhi is important because the foundation of Panth Khalsa was laid down on this very day.

Halwa is one dessert recipe which Indian cuisine is abundant with, and is most explored on the numerous days when we have festivals to celebrate, or occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. In traditional families, stirring up Indian regional sweets or halwa is preferred to cutting cakes and trying party recipes from non-Indian cuisines, especially when it is a birthday or anniversary of the elders in family.