Yes! Car Pooja is a thing. Many of us desi folks value and treasure our cars and being able to afford one and buy one is considered a blessing. These traditions and rituals are simple and you don't have to dress up like I am in this picture. This just happened to be on the same day we had a Satyanarayan ni Katha at our house so I am all decked out. Many Hindus around the world perfrom this ceremony to bless the vehicle that will take them safely from one place to another. Of

The first time I got my period, my best friend Aditi and I were going up the stairs at school. She said to me, "I think you sat on something, you have a little stain on your uniform". I moved my palm across it to shake whatever was stuck to my skirt and saw that my fingers had blood on them. We looked at each other and knew what this was, we ran to our teacher and told her what happened. I went to an all girls school in India so in our sewing class the teacher had showed us h

by @laviextraordinaire Loving this recipe collaboration with Pankti @laviextraordinaire. She is an amazing momma of two with a love for cooking and sharing her passion. Here is her Chanaa Methi Pickle recipe: Making a pickle is really a step-wise approach. This one is not an instant pickle so it takes time to get the final product, but trust me it's very easy and delicious. The best accompaniment to your rotis, puris and everything. Ingredients - 1 large mango (or 2 small man

Bell Pepper Sabji Need: 2 large Green Bell Peppers 2 large Red bell peppers 2 tbsp oil (yes this one takes oil but the chanaa no lot will soak it all up) 1tsp Cumin seeds (Jeeru) 2tsp minced Garlic 2tsp minced Ginger 1tsp Dhaanaa Jeeru (dry coriander powder) 1tsp Haldi (Turmeric) 2tsp Red chili powder 2tsp or more salt based on your taste 1tbsp Chickpea flour (Chanaa no lot) 1tbsp roasted peanuts grounded (Sekelaa singdaanaa no bhukko) 2tsp Sesame seeds (Tal) 1tsp Poppy seeds

What if I tell you, Gluten Free folks can also enjoy this Gujarati Treat?⁠ .⁠ 🔆 GOR PAAPADI - Gluten Free⁠ .⁠ I grew up eating Sukhadi and did not know about Gor Paapadi's existence until I got married. They are similar and different. This is normally made with wheat flour, ghee and gaud.⁠ .⁠ 🔆⁠ .⁠ When you get to go to India next time and are traveling around Gujarat be sure to go to Mahudi and visit the Jain temple there because the "SUKHADI" Prasad there is really good a

Guvar Dhokli is an authentic Gujarati dish that millennials are not aware of. Wheat and Sorghum(Jowar) flour dumplings made in a spicy garlicky cluster bean curry. Hetal Desai learned this recipe from her grandma(baa). Every time she makes this, it reminds her of home and her baa. Dhokli(dumplings) are made from wheat and sorghum flour, which can be cooked in either lentil soup or vegetable/bean curry. Typically, when we make dhokli, we roll the dough out and cut it in small

Methi Paak is made of gram flour (Chanaa no lot), methi (fenugreek), ghee and many other warming spices for winter. When I was growing up my mom made this at home around winter time and this was a staple breakfast for us in the morning. "Ek chaktu khayi leedhu etle aakho divas chaale" (Eat one square and that will give you energy for the whole day) . As I am exploring how to get my gut in the best shape it can be, I keep going back to all the things folks ate in India in cert

Gajar nu Athanu (Indian Pickled Carrots) By Milk and Cardamom A tangy and spicy Indian pickled carrot recipe made with split mustard seeds! This Gajar nu Athanu recipe simple, quick and easy! Makes 1 quart. Ingredients 6-8 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch matchsticks (4 cups) 1/4 tsp turmeric powder 1 1/2 tbsp rai na kuria (split mustard seeds) 1 tsp salt, divided 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 1/4 tsp red chili powder Method: 1. Toss carrot sticks, turmer

Traditional Gujarati thali (plate) has a variety of foods. It has two to four different types of shaak (curries), athaanu (pickles), papad, mithai (sweet), farsan(savory treats), rice, rotli (tortillas) and other goodies. However on a daily basis most Gujarati households have shaak and rotli or rice with either daal (soup made with split grains) or kadhee (buttermilk cooked with gramflour and spices). Daal is normally made with tuver daal and rice is cooked with just salt. Ho

Shimant: Gujarati Baby shower Gujarati blessings and traditions begin with the conception of a child. The arrival of a new baby is auspicious and fortunate for everyone in the family and everyone rejoices in it. The traditional baby shower in a Gujarati household is known as Shrimant ( literal meaning of the word is wealthy, for the baby shower it means the abundance & wealth we wish upon the baby and the family) or Khodo Bharavo ( Literal meaning is to fill the mother to be’

Gujarati Daal For 4 People Need: 1/2 cup Tuver daal (Split tuver daal you can find on amazon or at Indian stores) 11/2 cup water 4 medium tomatoes 1 tbsp minced ginger 1tsp turmeric 2 tsp laal marchoo(chili powder) 1tbsp lemon juice 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tbsp cane sugar (jaggery/gaud works as well) 1 tsp rai/mustard seeds 1 tsp methi/fenugreek seeds 1tsp Peanuts 2 tsp cooking oil of your choice 2 tsp chopped fresh cilantro for garnish 1 1/2 tsp adhaanaa no sambhaar (methiyo m

Papadi no Lot by Priyanka Patel (Gluten Free and Vegan) This is a great snack most Gujarati folks love. If there is a picnic, beach party or Garba(folk dance) event you are bound to find this easy and tasty Gluten Free and Vegan snack Need/Ingredients: 1. 1 Bowl Rice flour 2. 1 Bowls of Boiling water 3. 1 bowl room temp water 4. 1tsp Ajmo 5. 1tsp Jeeru/Cumin 6. 1.5 tsp salt 7. 1 tsp Baking Soda/ Kharo 8. 1tbsp of Olive oil 9. 2 tsp Sesame seeds 10. 1.5 tsp leelu marchoo/green

Khaman: (Yellow savory sponge cakes) by Gita Patel Gluten free (Can be made Vegan) 1. 1 cup Chanaa ni daal 2. 2 tbsp Greek Yogurt/ or for Vegan Option use 2tsp Lemon Juice 3. 2-3 green serrano peppers 4. 1tbsp minced ginger 5. 2tsp salt 6. 2tsp Eno/Baking Soda mix 7. 1tbsp Olive oil + 1tbsp Olive oil for vaghar 8. 1tsp mustard seed/Rai 9. 2tbsp chopped Cilantro for garnish. 10. 1tsp of Asofetida(Hing) 11. Steamer or a medium pot with a daatharo or small stainless ste

Jeera Rice (Gluten Free) Need: 1. 1 cup Basmati Rice 2. 2tsp Cumin seeds 3. 2 bay leaves 4. 1 tbsp Ghee (Purified butter) 5. 2 1/4 cup of Water to cook the rice with. 6. 1.5 tsp of salt Method: 1. In a small pot add the ghee on medium heat 2. Once it heats up add the cumin and let it brown for 2-3 minutes 3. Add the bay leaves and brown them for 30 seconds. 4. Add the rice and let it brown while stirring it for 2 minutes 5. Add the water, salt and cook on medium heat for 5-6

For 4 People For stuffing: 2 large Potatoes boiled 1-2 tbsp Dabeli Masala from the Indian store 1 tsp Tamarind Paste 1-2 tsp Dhaanaa Jeeru 1-2 tsp Salt (according to taste 1-2 tbspRoasted and crushed Peanuts 1 tsp Garlic Mix all of the above to form a patty like mixture For sides: 4 tbsp of chopped Cilantro 3-4 tbsp of chopped Onions 3-4 tbsp chopped Tomatoes 3-4 tsp chopped Green Chilli 1 cup Pomegranate seeds (A Must) 1 cup fine Sev 4-8 Hamburger buns For sides: 1 tbsp G

For 4 People Ingredients: Medium size bowl diced Bhinda 1-2 tsp Salt 1 tsp Ajmo 1 tsp Coriander Powder—Dhaanaa 1 tsp Curmin —-Jeeroo 1 tsp Turmeric powder —Hadadar 1-2 tbsp Cooking oil 1-2tsp minced Garic 1 tsp minced green Chili 1tsp chopped green cilantro 1 cup Buttermilk 2tbsp Gram/Chickpea flour —Chanaa no lot Method 1. In a medium frying pan on medium heat, add 1 tbsp of oil, garlic and ajmo. 2. Once Ajmo seeds pop, add the diced Bheenda and stir, mix well and cook for 5

Matar Paneer: (Peas and Paneer curry) by Dipti Patel (Gluten Free and Vegan) This is one of the easiest and tastiest Matar Paneer recipes in my opinion. Many of my Waldorf friends have enjoyed this when my children were part of the Waldorf School of San Diego for years. This is traditionally not Vegan however the last few years I have made it Vegan and I will include that as well. For 4 full servings Need/Ingredients: 1. One large onion diced (Dungadi/Kaando) 2. 6 Medium toma