Monthly Archives: January 2014

Easy Lemon Cheesecake with Blackberry and Ginger Spiced Topping

There are few desserts as rich and delicious as cheesecake. Personally, I prefer cookies, but Piyush–who swears he does not like sweets!–is definitely a “cheesecake man.”

In fact, he likes it so much that it’s all he wanted for Christmas. No presents, just cheesecake. Heck, that’s easy enough!

I first made this particular cheesecake during the last season of Master Chef. There was a pressure test where the contestants had to bake a cheesecake in an hour. I was stunned! At that point I had never actually baked a homemade cheesecake before, but I knew it had to take longer than an hour! Continue reading →

Blackberry and Ginger Spiced Jam

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Lately I’ve been making some recipes that require many different steps or “recipes” within the recipe. To make it easier on me (and probably for you, too!), I’ve decided to split these recipes up into a few different posts.

Because I want to share this stellar Lemon Cheesecake with Blackberry and Ginger Spiced Topping (jam) with you guys:

I’ve got to first tell you how I made the topping.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE CHEESECAKE RECIPE

Because the jam can take quite a while to thicken (around 45 minutes from start to finish), I use this time to make the cheesecake crust and filling (recipe coming soon!). If you choose not to make the cheesecake and just want the jam…that’s awesome, too! Just know that it takes a little time to make.

But trust me, this jam is so fabulous, it’s definitely worth the time spent on it. You will not be disappointed! Continue reading →

Indian Food Basics: Homemade Garam Masala

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Hello Readers! It’s been quite some time since my last post–too long, actually. Since returning from India I’ve found myself incredibly swamped. Between unpacking from our trip and entertaining for the holidays, I simply haven’t had the time to sit down and blog. I also haven’t had time to moderate comments/emails, so please bear with me. I’m getting there!

Tonight I am going to show you how to make my version of Garam Masala–arguably India’s most popular spice mix.

If you’ve never heard of garam masala before, no worries! Many people I’ve met have no idea what it is or what it’s used for. Instead, they think that all Indian curries are made with a singular, yellow spice called “Curry Powder.” Interestingly enough, this mysterious “Curry Powder” doesn’t actually exist in most Indian kitchens.

In it’s place is the extremely fragrant and warm spice mix known as garam masala.

The name garam masala literally means “hot spice mixture,” but don’t be confused. The “hot” refers to the intensity and warmth of the spices and not it’s chili content–so even those with the most sensitive of taste-buds can enjoy dishes made with this spice mixture (eh hmmm…mom!). Continue reading →