Sides for you TG meal – A Fun November Cooking class

Sides for you TG meal – A Fun November Cooking class

Whether a turkey adorns your TG dinner as centre piece or not, we are always hard pressed to complement the main dish with interesting sides and stuffings. In this class you will go back with ideas and spice and or grain kits to make 4 delicious dishes which you can present with pride at your TG table. So join me in this fun cooking session with wine and hors d’oeuvres and a meal cooked by you. Date: Thursday Nov 10  Time: 6-9pm Reserve your spot now What you will get  Four detailed recipes spice and /or grain kits to serve 8- 12 people as required Hands on experience following recipe instructions Wine and cider and a yummy hors d’oeuvre to enjoy as you prep and cook Get to meet some wonderful people and have a great social outing $50 per person/ $90 per couple          ...
Using Our Suvaiyana Spices

Using Our Suvaiyana Spices

We have tried to cover a wide range of flavors be they starkly different or with subtle differences. A common question I have been asked is what differentiates North Indian Spices from South Indian spices For starters, North Indian spices are made with sweeter spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, clove and such like whereas South Indian spices are usually require earthy spices such as cumin, coriander and pepper.  They each have very distinctive flavors and are easily distinguishable. However, among the north Indian spices, for instance garam masala vs biryani masala, there are subtle yet very distinctive differences, both in the proportions of the spices even if there is a good overlap of spices used in both. Here is a list of our spices and how we use them with links to recipes from our blog.Let’s start at the South and work our way up north. In our list of South Indian spices are Sambar Powder, Rasam Powder, South Indian Garam Masala, Chennai Curry Powder and Molaga Podi, and the Madras Thadka Mix Suvaiyana Madras Tadka Mix Suvaiyana Sambar Powder Sambar, a lentil and tomato based stew is the most popular dish in Southern India especially in the state of  Tamil Nadu. The powder is what gives the lentil and tomato the flavors of the Sambar. A coriander and lentil based powder, this can be used to make not only Sambar but if you run out of our Chennai Curry Powder, this would be a substitute even if there are express differences in the composition of the two powders. I use this and many other spices for spicing up my...
The Emancipation of Making, Hence Being Change

The Emancipation of Making, Hence Being Change

I will start and conclude this piece with great thanks to an entrepreneur & idealist,Tarun Shyam, a highly motivated young man with a keen sense of class and quality who along with his most capable business partner and friend, Bhoomika Ghaghada have ventured to start a smart, state of the art online magazine  B-Change – We Need to Talk in the most happening city, Dubai. This magazine has also galvanized me into action from my blogging stupor – Let me get to the back story now. Quite honestly, I never knew I had it in me to become an entrepreneur. I am still very much a work in progress but with each passing day, my heart eggs my mind to think that there is more to me than I have revealed and that my friends, is the most emancipating thought. Rome was not built in a day, or so the saying goes. Neither was my dream to start my own business. But the idea definitely stemmed my commitment to one idea – I don’t want to work for someone else and be bound by their rules and pricing of my capabilities. I want to be my own boss – Simple as that. From there, with three kids. two in high school and a toddler, I started my blog. It seemed like a perfectly legitimate thing to do with a child at home needing constant caring. The stolen moments I got to write or create a new recipe gave me additional thrills. This topped with the photos of my creation and the ultimate release of being able to put it on a template...
Suvaiyana Launching in Wholefoods Market Charlottesville

Suvaiyana Launching in Wholefoods Market Charlottesville

When I got the first order from our local WFM on Monday, I was thrilled beyond words  – this alliance has been in the making for several months now so it’s not exactly a surprise. But having a Suaiyana LLC order on paper is a whole different level of high. Suvaiyana will be a product in WF starting Friday. WOOT! With the help of my older daughter, I got cracking on spices and today started on the chutneys.  I see all your blessings in my new venture. Now that I have the license to provide to 7 states in the NE,I am looking forward to being successful and expanding as I go along. For my local homies, I would like to add that I am doing 2 demos at Whole Foods Charlottesville this coming week one on Sunday and the next on Tuesday both from 11-3. So please stop, buy and encourage me in my new location. Look for these packagings of my product, should you be shopping before or after my demo time! There are 9 spices:  Madras Tadka mix; Chennai Curry Powder; South Indian Garam Masala; North Indian Garam Masala; Pulao Mix, Molaga Podi, Sambar Powder, Rasam Powder  6 chutneys Audacious Onion; Sassy Cilantro; Maverick Mint, Peppy Chickpea & Jalapeño; Smokin’ Eggplant; Zesty Zucchini   Many thanks and Lotsa...

Suvaiyana – some “flavorful news”

Ever wondered why or how sad and happy tidings ride on each other’s coat tails? Well, as a firm believer in a power far superior to mankind, I am deciphering for myself, what millions already have, that such is life, perhaps?  We ride the constant tide of joy, sadness, fear, confidence, extreme engagement or boredom and at times being alive or gone!  A year ago my brother-in-law was diagnosed with the most diabolic of all cancers, that of the pancreas. He fought the good fight with the strong support of his wife (who put her all to being sole caregiver), friends and family, but succumbed earlier this week. Thank you to all who showed your support and love on my Facebook post of this news. your messages were a source of greatest comfort. In the meantime, in my personal life that same year I came up with my new entrepreneurial venture Suvaiyana LLC. Literally meaning flavorful, Suvaiyana will be my outlet for gourmet chutneys and spices. These will be available at the City Market on most Saturdays during the market season starting Saturday April 11 (tomorrow) and shortly at the local Whole Foods Market of Charlottesville. I will apprise you of the WF’s launch in a new post.  – with the staunchest support my beautiful and generous children, especially my precious Samyuktha, who has helped me creatively and physically through this process completely and the family I was born into – In particular my brothers Mur (and family) who put up with my bumbling, antsy new entrepreneurship and was an exemplary host, Shyama who got me started with some fabulous spices from the...