Panang Curry is a rich, creamy curry, that has both sweet and spicy flavors, with the addition of peanuts and coconut milk. This recipe from @pipingpotcurry is vegetarian and has the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy flavors. ⁠ Recipe: https://pipingpotcurry.com/vegetarian-panang-curry-tofu/ Come back next week for another Food Fridays! If you're not sure what that is, every Friday over on my Instagram account, I feature incredible recipes in collaboration with a food blogger who cooks the way I like to eat.

1. Wishbeads Intention Bracelet 2. Date Night S'Mores Kit 3. We're Not Really Strangers Game 4. Warm Cozy Shearling Slippers Valentine's is such a wonderful day to be able to spend time with your loved ones, deepen your connection and express how much you care for each other. It can be so easy to get lost in the wash of chocolates and flowers that we can forget the real meaning of V day, LOVE! This year, I want to focus on continuing to deepen my connection with my loved ones, and im so happy to share with you some of my ideas! Wishbeads Intention Bracelet Setting intentions can be a powerful thing, writing out what you want can further clarify the direction you are looking in move in or solidify the parts of yourself you are focusing on. Sitting down with your partner to write these out is an awesome sharing experience. You might even learn nothing new about each other! Roll up your intentions into the capsule and wear the bracelets until the intention comes to fruition. Date Night S'Mores Kit Looking for a cute date night in? make s'mores! I just think this is such an adorable idea for a low-key night in. You could definitely have fun toasting up all sorts of things over the little personal fire in this set up. We're Not Really Strangers Game Okay...this game I've had on my radar for a while now, and they have lots of versions to help you connect or reconnect with those you love. This particular one is the original version but here is also the couples edition expansion pack (fitting for valentines day). Each question card is designed to help you and your partner go deeper and learn more about each other. Its just so perfect! Warm Cozy Slippers Lastly, the foundation of a night in is being comfy! so of course, coordinating slippers are a must. These L.L. Bean shearling ones will keep both of your feet nice and toasty while you relax, connect and enjoy your thoughtful date night in! Hope these ideas get you thinking about what might be perfect for you and your special person this year! 💜

Masala Chai is a Desi staple drink that originated in South Asia. Another variation is Saffron Chai (also known as Kesar Masala Chai) where the Saffron adds a bit of earthy sweet tones to it. You can make a Masala-Saffron Chai or both are great for different sipping occasions. Saffron Chai Recipe For 4 People, makes 2 cups of chai Need: 10-ish strands of saffron, soaked in water or milk until it gives off a saffron aroma 1 cup water 1 cup milk (if you need a dairy free alternative, I love oat milk) 11/2 tsp black tea leaves 2 tsp cane sugar 1 tsp minced ginger (optional) 1/2 tsp turmeric (optional) 1 tsp tea masala (you can find them on Amazon or Indian grocery stores) Tea Strainer Small pot Method: Boil the water for 1 min. on medium heat Add the tea leaves, sugar, masala, ginger, and saffron. Boil for another minute Add the milk and boil until it boils up.. Add the turmeric if you choose to and stir Strain it and enjoy your chai! If you are looking for the perfected Vegan Chai recipe, I posted about it here. If you are interested in the Indian Desi Culture, Sanskar Teaching was created to teach others the culture to keep our heritage alive learning the basics of the language, customs, and values. Subscribe to our email list below and you'll never miss a thing! Our freebies and our Indian language courses will help you get a head start learning the culture. #chai #chaa #tumeric #ginger #recipe #drink #milk #desidrinks #desi #indianculture

What is a universal question Moms dread? "What do I make for dinner tonight?"⁠ ⁠ 🥘⁠ ⁠ "Aaje jamavaa maate shu banaavu?" (Gujarati)⁠ "Aaj khaane mein kyaa pakaaye?" (Hindi)⁠ ⁠ 🥘⁠ ⁠ Tostada Pizza - Vegan and Gluten Free⁠ ⁠ 🥘⁠ ⁠ I grew up eating kadhi bhaat or daar bhaat for lunch and kathod or shaak rotli for dinner. I was ok with it but my kids wanted variety and this dreaded stressful, anxiety filled question always popped up in my head as if this was a measure of being a good or bad mom🙄 Meal planning is helping but I stay with it depending on the mood and energy. This recipe is an easy one and I love that its easy to make it vegan and GF.⁠ ⁠ 🥘⁠ ⁠ This is how:⁠ ⁠ 1. Cauliflower pizza crust (we like the @caulipower brand) - Warm the crust up according to the instructions on the package, don't over cook it⁠ 2. For regular you can use white pita flat breads (@papapita is a good brand) - preheat oven to 375 and cook the bread for 5-7 min, till slightly brown and hard⁠ 3. Warm up some refried beans, you can use them out of the can or dried beans and add water⁠ 4. Chop onions, tomatoes, romaine lettuce or spinach⁠ 5. Have regular or vegan ranch and have shredded cheese of your choice⁠ 6. Salsa, hot sauces or @thechutneylife 's crack sauce goes really well with this too. ⁠ 7. Warm the crust and bread, spread the beans and cheese and stick them back in the oven, you can either put them on broil to quickly melt the cheese. For vegan skip this step.⁠ 8. Take the bread out and add the toppings first, ranch and salsa and then the veggies.⁠ 9. Add tortilla strips on top. Enjoy.⁠ ⁠

So many myths about learning a new language and whether or not it is possible either a really early age or an adult (for more about this, see my blog post about the 8 Myths About Learning a Second Language). Increase Your Brain Size This is going to sound VERY scientific, but...learning a second language has been shown to increase the size of your hippocampus and your cerebral cortex. So this is great for us adults for lots of reasons...now apply it to your kids. Brain growth is one of the things they are doing already, so what if you start early with the language learning and kick start all that goodness going on? The study the shows this is really fascinating because they compared a group in the military learning a new language with a group in medical school...we all know that our brains are powering on the learning when you're in medical school and this is what's so interesting. Those medical school student brains stayed the same size! While the military language learners brain size increased. This is powerful stuff and a strong argument for learning a new language, for sure. Looking at brain scans of people who speak more than one language shows a greater amount of gray matter in the left hemisphere, which is the part of the brain responsible for language. More gray matter is a good thing, because it is an indicator of how many brain cells and dendrites there are. White matter improves as well. You don't necessarily get more, you get more organized white matter. White matter is responsible for the transmission of messages throughout the brain and strengthens the neural pathways so your brain communicates better with itself. Improve Your Long- and Short-Term Memory Children who learn a second language are show to have better memory recall than those who speak only a single language. Research shows that the more proficient you are in a second language the better your memory gets! Learning then, is a bit like brain exercise. Delay Dementia Research shows that people who speak more than one language experience the onset of Alzheimers a full 4.5 years later! It also positively impacts the onset of other age-related conditions because of improved condtionsin the brain's white matter. Regardless of when you pick up that second language, the learning of it increases neural pathways in the brai and improves the areas of the brain related to executive function and attention. I'll take that. Improve Your Multi-Tasking Abilities People who speak two languages get proficient at switching from one to the other. This is skill is challenging from the brain. A study found that training your brain in this way when it comes to languages, translates to an increased ability to multi-task in daily life. The National Institutes of Health study indicates bilinguals switch tasks faster than monolinguals. Increase Your Attention Span Of late, attention span has shrunk from 12 to 8 seconds. Research is showing that the attention switching abilities that come from learning a second language helps the brain maintain focus and block distractions. Increase Your Perception This is a good one: Multilingual people has the ability to focus on relevant information and editing out the irrelevant and they are better at observing their surroundings. It turns out mulitlinguals are also better at observing their surroundings, all of which means they have better perception. Improve Your Spatial Abilities Spatial awareness is what we do when we visualize things in our minds eye. It has been shown that multilingual people find innovative ways to solve practical problems which may be due to their increased ability to focus developed when learning a second language.. Improve Your Abilities with your FIRST Language! Leaning a second language actually make you more aware of how your original/native language works. The learning causes you to be aware of the rules and structure of how languages work and thus improves your first language. It is said to make you a better overall communicator and help you better manipulate language in the service of thinking and problem solving.. Expand Your Native Language Vocabulary Skills Not much to explain here. When you are learning new words in your second language, you will find you automatically improve your vocabulary skills in your Native language Gain Higher Reading Achievement Children with average and below-average intelligence, experience increased ability to read when they learn a second language. Get Higher Standardized Test Scores As a result of higher cognitive skills, studies show that the benefits of learning a new language include higher scores on standardized exams in math, reading comprehension and vocabulary by multilingual students compared to the scores of monolingual students Have More Flexible Thinking and Think FASTER! Learning a second language gives you more flexible thinking. Studies show that bilingual children show superior performance on non-linguistic tasks and execute instructions half a second faster. Learning a language is one of the most complicated skills you can master. Because language learning requires so many decisions to be made all along the way, learners become increase their ability to prioritize. Enhance Your Creative Thinking Capacities When you learn a new language, you’re forced to think of an alternative word that you’re not used to using. We often have to puzzle together words to form a sentence until it fits and makes sense to the other person. It improves your divergent thinking skills, training you to think of multiple solutions to problems on a consistent basis. Improve Your Problem Solving Skills Bilinguals’ increased metalinguistic awareness creates a form of thinking that is more open and objective, resulting in increased awareness and flexibility. When presented with mathematical and non-mathematical equations bilingual children were shown to be more creative in their problem solving than their monolingual peers Improve Your Attitude Towards the Language and Culture of the Language Your are Learning Language is the best introduction to another culture. It automatically sparks your interest in the cultural traditions tied to learning that language. Multi-linguals can read native literature without the need for translation. You can sing the native/local songs and understand the lyrics. You can even watch foreign films without subtitles. Different cultures offer different perspectives and ideologies from your own. Language is often the key for developing a better understanding and appreciation for the shared experience of two different cultures. Knowing the language opens the door to your understanding traditions, customs, festivals, believes, history and more. Knowing another language increases your global political awareness and understanding. Increase College Acceptance, Academic Performance and Minimize Drop Outs A study conducted in 2011 found that students who were in rigorous programs in high school—that included three years of foreign language study—were more likely to get better grades in college and less likely to drop out. (Horn &Kojaku 2001) Another study showed that high school seniors with two or more years of foreign language study showed significantly improved performance on achievement tests in English when compared with non-foreign language students. (Bastian 1980) Improve Your Listening Skills Learning another languages forces you to improve your listening skills Better Your Employment Opportunities and Career Choices Eton Institute’s Language Development in the Workforce survey (September 2014), shows that 89% of their clients stated that multilingual employees add value to the workforce and 88% stated that recruiting team members with language skills is important to their organization. A multilingual ability is definitely a competitive edge Other studies also show your chances for employment are much greater if you speak a second language. This is a reason to have your children learning another language now through high school as it gives them the edge to stand out in the interview process as the employers consider them to be better communicators and problem solvers Enhance Your Travel Experiences and Opportunities Traveling is more fun and so much easier when approached with out a language barrier. Converse easily with locals, read maps, order food in restaurants confidently, meet new people. Doors open to you around the world and you immediately make friendss when you share a language. People are surprisingly more open when you speak their mother tongue because they feel a greater level of respect from you towards them. Knowing another language raises your status as a Global Citizen by enhancing your World view. Broaden Your Entertainment Options Watch movies without subtitles. Pick up and read newspapers, flyers, menus, tourist signs and more when you can read without getting out Google Translate or using hand gestures. Improve Your Non-Verbal Skills Speaking of hand gestures: Bilinguals show significant advantage especially in non-verbal tests that required more mental flexibility. Improve Your Decision-Making Abilities According to one study, multilingual speakers are more resistant to conditioning and framing techniques, making them less likely to be swayed by such language in advertisements or political campaign speeches. It seems that foreign-language speakers are more sensitive and observant when it comes to the words they hear and read. Improve Family Ties Knowing another language can help keep your extended, international family connected. It allows you to communicate with people you would not otherwise have been able to Increase Social Networking Social Media platforms are worldwide now and people communicate in their native languages. Knowing a second language allows you to make new connections expanding your geographical scope. This could have positive results for your business as well as personal life. Conclusion So that is a LOOOOOOOOOOONG list! With all this on your side...what is stopping you? If you are wondering if it's too late for you to begin learning a new language go read 8 Myths About Learning a New Language. And while you ponder your own language journey, if you have children, it's a huge advantage you can give them to start now. Browse private or group language classes here and learn-at-your-own-pace Digital Courses here. If you're still waffling about whether to begin learning a new language (and we'd LOVE it if you start your language and culture journey with us!), click through here to get some good strategies for overcoming your internal objections. Hope to see you growing your brain with us soon!

Today I am sharing some of my all-time favorite things that I already own and since these are items I use and love and tend to post about in my daily life, these are also the ones I have gotten asked about the most this past year. This is honestly the gift guide I feel the best about that I've ever done so far. Read below, because I'm going to share why each item is important in my life and would make an amazing gift for someone in your life this holiday season. I'm also linking some alternatives that have slight variations and price points so there is something for everyone. Every item on it is super awesome. Are you ready to go do some shopping?! 1. Inflatable Projector Screen When my father-in-law's birthday came up, we know he enjoys watching Netflix and Amazon Prime for movies and we wanted to do something special for him around that. At first we thought of a projector, then my (smart) husband said how about a blow up tv? And I'm SO glad about that. It is SO much easier than a projector to put up. Think basic inflation. It turned out really nice because we just put out sheets and comforters on the ground outside and did a little mini-picnic while watching tv. This is a great gift for family, with children because it allows you to be outdoors instead of cooped up in four walls. The screen is really big (giant) and it just gives you that movie theater feeling while being safe at home. Click here if you want to check out some other options...sizes, colors, styles and higher and lower price points. 2. Breville Compact Juice Fountain I went to visit my friend in Austin and she had this juicer, every morning juicing me fresh celery juice. So I came home and bought one for myself. What I love about it is it is super easy to clean up and the juicing is really fast. I've had other juicers in the past that were just too big. This Breville Compact Juicer is small enough to just leave it on your counter up top with your coffee machine or toaster, which is what we do. These thin-walled glasses are an elegant companion for your morning celery juice. 3. Copper Water Carafe with Copper Cup Cap If you grew up in a Desi home, then you know the importance of copper. All of our parents have these copper utensils. Studies have shown both antimicrobial and antibacterial benefits from this age-old ayurvedic practice. The practice asserts that drinking from a copper vessel helps to boost the immunity, aids digestive tract, reduces inflammation in the body, and balances all three doshas – vata, kapha, and pitta – in the body. My mother-in-law soaks her water overnight in a copper infused glass and drinks that water in the morning. This pretty little set allows you to have it by your bedside so the minute you wake up you can drink the water. These copper water bottles were popular from my last year's Gift Guide. Also, if you're into the ayurvedic benefits of copper, like me, you may want to explore cooking with copper pans like these. 4. The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook These days to ensure my gut health needs are met, I have begun planning my meals in advance and meal prepping a week in advance. I'm finding this is a crucial element to my success Being vegan, I like instant meals and having the Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook is essential for meal prepping. The book is by Nisha Vora, one of my favorite Instagram food influencers and vegan blogger that I follow @rainbowplantlife If you are new to the Instant Pot, you will be happy to find a full tutorial in this book about everything you need to know to use this machine. After that...try making your own homemade coconut yogurt! 5. Copper Diyas So many of you have asked me about my copper diyas during Diwali and when you see me use them in my morning prayers, so I wanted to find some for you even though ours come from India. We love them because if you accidentally drop them and they don't break! They are also really easy to clean up with your Kleen King or Bon Ami powder or any other copper polish that you use. We sometimes just use left over lemon slices to clean the copper and it turns out really nice and shiny. 6. Floor Cushions If you're Desi, you know that our family gatherings are often large and not all of us have enough regular seating to accomodate 15 to 20 people, but we all like to hang out together, so we sit on the floor a lot. These cushions are convenient if say you want to sit on the floor to read instead of your bed...you can use them for prayers (we keep at least one in our prayer room at all times). Best of all, they are lightweight to move around and extremely comfortable to sit on. We have a few. Besides the ones in the prayer room, my kids also have them in their rooms, and I bring them all out when we have gatherings in the living room for everyone to just sit on. We have the ones pictured above. Here is the velvet option. While looking for some other options I found these that come in like 20 color options! Daybed cushions are also a great extra seating option because they double as extra sleeping options too! This one is kind of a statement. My daughter has this one in her room and it comes in 5 color options. 7. Backjack I used to be able to sit and meditate just sitting on the floor. As I get older, I like to have some back support when I'm down there. This chair is really good for so many uses. I leave it in the mandir area by the prayer area, for my in-laws to use. For my father-in-law, sometimes his prayers last an hour, 2 hours, even 3 hours, and this way he has a back rest. When we go to bhajans and things at the temple, sometimes we'll take our own seats in the form of these backjacks, just because we will be on the floor in a group of people for a long time. Remember those pillows I spoke of above? These backjacks are great for the same things too! Think about getting a handful of these for the outdoor picnic and movie viewing picnic! Lots of comfortable seating options. I've been at seminars before where they make a circle out of bakcjacks and everyone just sits like that. Very comfy. The purple one I put in my Gift Guide is just one of 9 colors you can choose from. Backjacks come in many different styles of fabric so besides other colors, I want to show you this really pretty sort of kaleidoscope design, this one that has a tufted cushion for a fancier look. All of these fold by the way. 8. K18 My sister-in-law introduced me to this conditioner treatment, which has been really working well cutting down my whole hair washing ritual time in about half! All I have to do is shampoo my hair (skip conditioning in the shower). When my hair is damp and drying I just put a few drops of K18, massage it in and don't have to wash it out. It leaves my hair nice and smooth. K18 claims they have a patented molecular breakthrough clinically proven to reverse hair damage. That just might be true! There is no substitute so for this one I have no alternatives 😃 9. Roborock S7 Robot Vacuum We love the as our vacuum because after our recent remodel we now have hardwood floors. You just program the Roborock S7 for the areas you want it to vacuum and off it goes! Also, did I tell you it MOPS!? Fun thing is you can operate the whole thing with an app. I'll admit my kids are better at this part than I am and I sometimes wish I didn't have to ask them to do it, but I love how this vacuum cleans so well and is automatic. You can click through and read all the technical info about it and the Technology awards it's won. The Roborock is the one I have, but there are many different robotic vacuums to choose from so I've linked a few more here, especially because prices vary wildly. 10. Double Walled Insulated Glasses On the same trip to see my friend in Austin, she served our morning coffee and evening tea in these glasses. 🤯 They are AWESOME! Hot drinks don't burn your hands when you hold them and cold drinks stay cold and don't 'sweat' on you or the table. Absolutely brilliant. I find these are great glasses for my hot morning lemon water. Besides the 12oz size I linked above which are my faves, they also come in a tall 15 0z version and a 2.5 oz espresso-sized tumbler. A couple of these or a set of 6 make a really nice hostess gift. 11. Swing (Indoor or Outdoors) Many Desi, especially Gujarati, homes have this indoor and outdoor swing. Deep enough that you can lay in it and take a nap. We have at times had one hanging in our living room for tv viewing. It's a favorite with both the littles and the bigs. This swing pictured ships from a small business in California and is made with eco-friendly fabrics, woods, stains etc, so it holds a special place in my heart. These swings come in many styles, so I made a separate post linking a bunch of different ones here if you're interested. Hypervolt Go Percussive Massager I had a frozen shoulder a few years ago and this came in handy to massage my shoulder area. I like that I can use it on myself and don't have to wait for someone else to come around to help. Now if I do yoga and mess up my back, or something's just hurt, you can use this to make it better. This is the one I have but there are other similar ones to choose from that you can browse here. I haven't tried this one by Lyric but it is particularly pretty and unlike the standard black of every other massager, it comes in colors like terra cotta, blueprint, granite and stone. 13 Ranavat Radiant Rani Brightening Saffron Serum In the last couple of years, I've experimented trying a number of different beauty products. This is one thing that if I were to recommend to anyone to get just one beauty product, this is it. I like the way the serum feels on my skin, I love the way it smells. A little goes a long way. A bottle's expensive but...it works! Some of you've asked me what have I been doing on my skin and this is one of them...of course there are others but this is in every combination of what I do. For a full list of my skincare routine, check out here. 14. Dyson AirWrap I'm adding this extra item not on my Gift Guide above because as I was writing this, I remembered this may be the item I get asked about the most. People want to know how I do my hair. This is my trick. I can't say I'm an expert at using it by any means, but I've got the basics down and that's all I need. The way it makes my hair look make me happy. The number of compliments I get on my hair, make this totally worth the price. It's an expensive hair tool. I rationalize that it is a blow dryer and curling iron all in one. I also personally love the Dyson Hair Dryer and I've recently heard good things but have not tried the Dyson Corrale Hair Straightener. You've probably heard me say this before: gift giving is my jam. I LOVE gifting people things, so gathering all these things I already have fallen in love with this year and creating this gift guide for you is a great pleasure for me. I hope it's a help for you. Please feel free to share in the comments below any great gift ideas you have too!

I am sure you’ve heard that Diwali is the Festival of Lights. But what is the meaning of Diwali? Why do we perform the rituals we do? I always turn to Sanskar Teaching to break down the meanings behind our festivals and help me relate our traditions to our busy lives now. Like most festivals, what I most look forward to about Diwali is spending time with family and friends, dressing up and food. When I moved to Los Angeles, away from my family, I really felt a void around the holidays. So I decided to start my own traditions. Throwing a Diwali party for my small group of friends is a way for me to share my culture, food, festivals and its vibrant colors with those closest to me. Last year’s Diwali party was a very small get together with my bubble due to COVID restrictions but it was such a hit that this year’s party is going to be even better, because I will be able to invite more friends ☺️ So let’s get planning! Here are the steps I take to plan out my party - Decide on a date and a guest list, then make the Diwali invitation - With services like Canva and Paperless Post, it takes just a few clicks to create a festive invite. The invite will have important information such as date, time and location but don’t forget to add a dress code. Is your party casual? Dress to Impress? Are Indian clothes highly encouraged? This will take the guess work out for your guests. Also, be sure to include a RSVP date so you can plan for an accurate number of people. If you are encouraging people to wear Indian clothes to set the festive tone, consider sending out a couple of links to boutiques that you would trust ordering from (Amazon also has great affordable options). And if you’re like me and have too many clothes that don’t get enough love, encourage your girlfriends to go shopping in your closet. For example, this year my girlfriends will be coming over the week before the party and we’re going to do a “wine and try on Indian clothes night” and they can pick whatever they like to wear for the party. This is also a great way to build excitement for the party. Another thing to note on the invite is, do you want people to bring anything? For my party, I plan on having plenty of food and drinks, so I am kindly asking my friends to not bring anything and instead pitch into the party fund, if they like. I’ve included my Venmo handle on the invite should they choose to contribute in any amount. In the previous parties we’ve hosted among our friends, 20ish bucks a person seems to be the average amount. There is no right or wrong answer here, just go with whatever you feel comfortable with and how you and your friends usually contribute to parties. Now onto my favorite part of party planning - FOOD! Picking a menu can seem daunting, as there are so many options. In the past, when my mom would host these parties, she would have a very typical menu - something like this: Chips and salsa (IYKYK) and samosa for apps, a full meal as an entree that would include a couple of sabzis (curries), farsan ( savory), mithai (sweets), roti/puri/naan, rice and daal. As I plan for my party, a FULL meal seems very daunting and if I am being honest, a little boring. I am a foodie through and through, and love being creative with my food, so I naturally gravitate towards fusion recipes. I love keeping the traditional elements of our dishes and adding a modern spin on it. I also think they’re easier for my friends who are non-Indian to approach and appreciate. So here is the menu I’ve created for my party this year: Menu Ideas Appetizers: Since charcuterie boards are all the hype right now... I thought it would be really fun to create a Diwali naasto (snacks) charcuterie board. The board will include all the typical naastos such as - mathia, ghugra, chorafali, chevdo, farsi puri, shakarpara, chikki and more. Making Diwali snacks at home is a time consuming endeavor so I will mix and match whatever I can find at my local Indian grocery store. I plan on adding this quick peanut and cheese chaat recipe by The Chutney Life to amp up the fusion factor. Last but not least, is it even a desi party without chai?! I will use ZSpice Chai Masala to make the chai about a hour-ish before guests start to arrive and pour it into a thermos to keep it warm. You can also serve your chai at the end of the meal or both. Dinner: This might be just me but when I am inviting friends over (especially non desi friends) I love making foods that they typically won’t see in a mainstream restaurant. I like them to try things that I grew up eating at home and wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. That being said, dishes like paneer, chole (chana masala), samosas are a staple in Indian cuisine and DELICIOUS so if you love them, don’t be shy to have it at your party! For my party this year - I plan on the following dinner menu: Idli Sambar with coconut chutney as my main dish and having sides like either Gobi Manchurian or air fried Pakoras and Tamarind Rice (kinda going for South Indian food vibes). I like to keep the dinner menu simple as not to overwhelm my guests with too many options. And it also makes it easier on me to prepare this in the morning before my guests start to arrive and allows me to be present with them. Other easy dinner ideas that I think guests would love are - Pav Bhaji, Ragda Pattice, Chaat, Vada Pav and Indo-Chinese. You can find recipes for all of these dishes and more on my favorite food bloggers pages. The Chutney Life - I go to her for a lot of my fusion recipes. Ministry of Curry - She is my go to person for all Instant Pot recipes. Think quick but delicious. My Vegetarian Roots - I love how she makes traditional recipes very approachable. And her Indo-Chinese recipes are bomb! Milk & Cardamom - She’s the queen of traditional and fusion mithai/dessert recipes. Dessert: Ahhh dessert, too many options and not enough time to make them. To be honest, I still haven’t decided on what I will be making for dessert this year but I am playing around with the following ideas - gajar halwa, kopra pak ( my mom used to make this for every occasion so it’s near and dear to my heart), kalakand, kheer and gulab jamun cake truffles. You’ll find recipes for all of these sweets and more on the food bloggers pages mentioned above. My criteria for dessert is pretty simple - minimal ingredients and can be made a few days ahead of time. Ain’t nobody got time for it on the day of the party. Drinks: If my mom were planning this party, this would be easy. We would buy bottles of Coke and Pepsi and call it a day. Zalak being Zalak, has to be complicated and has to have drinks/cocktails to match the festive vibes. Case in point - I was browsing the aisles of World Market last weekend for decor inspo and came across a wine from India! Like how cool is that!? So naturally I picked it up and our Diwali party will feature wine from Sula Vineyards in India. I also have a girlfriend who makes amazing cocktails so I’ve tasked her to make a signature cocktail for the night. Naturally it will have some tropical flavors like mango, guava or watermelon and chaat masala for an extra pizazz. If you’re looking for inspiration, last year I made Vodka guava spritzers and it could not have been any easier. On the afternoon of the party, mix vodka and guava juice in a big pitcher and a ton of mint for a fresh flavor. I had tonic water on the side so guests could add it as they got their drinks. Easy peasy and honestly it was a hit. Be mindful of your guests who prefer not to drink. You can easily make the same cocktail and leave out the alcohol. Next up, decor - Is it even Diwali without lighting up our houses like a christmas tree and having diyas (little lamps) everywhere?! Since diyas are a little harder to find and frankly, expensive I usually use tealight candles instead. They work just as great and are inexpensive. As mentioned earlier, I was browsing the aisles of World Market for inspiration and came across these beautiful decor pieces that could easily work for a Diwali party - Lotus Tealight Candle Holder, Gold Pierced Tealight Candle Holder Set Of 3, Antique Gold Peacock Trinket Dish, Fabric Birds Hanging Decor. Fresh flowers are always a nice touch. I usually get them from Trader Joe’s as they are more affordable compared to other places. Bonus points if you can find fresh marigolds or jasmines. Amazon also has a lot of affordable decor options. I plan on buying marigold garlands and string lights from Amazon to decorate a wall and use it as a photo booth. If you’re more creative than I am, definitely create a hashtag for the party. I will also be getting sparklers so we can light it up after dinner. Are you feeling overwhelmed? I totally understand, but no need. A lot of the heavy lifting will be done well in advance of the party. I recommend going to the grocery store, at least a few days in advance, to get everything and prepare as much as possible before the day of the party. Enlist a friend or two to help you set up the decor so you don’t have to take it all on. I love cooking for my friends and family so I prefer to make the food at home but if cooking is not your jam, totally feel free to cater the party from a local restaurant. There is no reason you have to stress about it and if you don’t have to cook, you’ll have more time to enjoy your delicious cocktails 😀 I hope you find this guide helpful and hopefully it will help you create lasting memories with your friends and family. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Diwali filled with lots of love and laughter :) Love, Zalak

#WhyDoWe Do you know what Pitrupaksh or Shraadh is?⁠ ⁠ If you grew up in a Gujarati home, chances are you saw your elders or parents offering "Kheer" and "puri" to crows once a year in the memory of your ancestors and grandparents who have passed on. This 16-day period right before Navratri is dedicated to remembering and thanking our immediate ancestors. In this time we also thank all the sages, saints and rushis who dedicated their lives to learning, guiding and making the human existence better. ⁠ ⁠ In India, during this time, people feed the crows (one belief is that your ancestors come back in the form of crow to eat their favorite meals one more time) and a group of Brahmins to satisfy and thank their ancestors. This idea of showing gratitude to all living and dead beings is embedded in our culture. ⁠ ⁠ What is a better way to thank our parents, grandparents and ancestors who have passed on than embodying the ways, values, and beliefs they taught us? I also think this is good in order to lead a kind, compassionate and loving life. Time may have taken our loved ones away, but they live on through their words, values and teachings. This is a time of reflection and remembrance. Feeding others is a great way to show your compassion. I don't know if the message goes to our loved ones or not by simply feeding others, but I do know its one more opportunity to show compassion to those living beings around us. ⁠ ⁠ How does your family celebrate this time of Shraadh or Pitrupaksh? Do you do happy things or do you mourn? Join my mailing list to be in touch for more conversations about culture and celebrations.

#WhyDoWe I recently discovered something I had no idea about myself:⁠ ⁠ I actually feel better when I LOOK better! ⁠ For me, that means no longer just grabbing whatever old thing happens to be in my closet. It means making conscious choices and being sure I fill my closet with beautiful clothes, as well as the purely utilitarian ones. ⁠ Interested in my finds? Follow me on LiketoKnow.It where I share everything with you! For years, I thought taking care of others around me was more important than spending time on myself. One of the ways I show myself love and care now is taking care in how I look and feel. ⁠ ⁠ People around me have noticed too. (Should I be embarrassed? I'm thinking I must have looked pretty sloppy or just ordinary before! 🤣)⁠ ⁠ At dinners and family gathering people come up and say “hey, you look really nice” or “Vaishali, you’re looking like a boss lady”. At one recent party THREE different people came up to me and commented. I was so surprised. And it felt awkward...a feeling I need to digest and get ok with. It's more attention than I'm used to.⁠ ⁠ What is your take on this for yourself? ⁠ ⁠ Sign up for my email list to know when I am doing fashion giveaways!

#WhyDoWe Have you heard of a "Datto" Desi calendar?⁠ ⁠This is another example of "tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi"! Many Desi homes, especially Gujarati homes, will have a version of a Desi calendar in their house. Adults often like to know the "teethi" and "taarikh"(dates) for certain festivals and celebrations through out the year. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ We used to receive a parcel from our family in India every year right around Diwali (Indian New Year) with "Mithai"(sweets) and a Datto. Datto is a small desk calendar with a wire in the back that you attached at the bottom of a cardboard picture. Each day you rip out a page and read the fun messages they have in Gujarati. ⁠ ⁠Now that we celebrate festivals in different countries and time zones, it is difficult to remember it all. Google doesn't always get it right either. If you need help remembering the festivals, be sure to check out our freebies section on our website and download Hindu Festivals calendar for 2022 for the United States. You can print it and put it on the fridge or even frame it to be reminded of those important dates.⁠ ⁠ Did you ever have a festivals calendar in your space growing up? ⁠ What kind? If you want to stay on top of each year when I release the Sanskar Teaching festivals calendar, pop your name on to my mailing list and I'll keep you posted!

#WhyDoWe What did Janmashtmi Celebrations look like when you were younger?⁠ ⁠ For me, it was staying up untll midnight, welcoming the birth of Krishna bhagwan with "Nand gher aanand bhayo, jai kanaiyaa laal ki" with manjira, tabla, breaking the dahi haandi (mataki) or krishnaji's favorite maakhan hanging way up high, human pyramids, lots of abeel and gulaal throwing, bhajans chanting, singing all day long and eating Panjari and other delicious treats as prasaad! This is what Janmaashtmi - celebrating birth of Lord Krishna - was like for many of us. ⁠ The energy and the vibe, where you felt the arrival of Laalji with everyone getting a turn to swing his "hindolo" and wonderfully decorated mandirs all around us. Blessings and dancing. Of course, at our Mandir, we even had traditional garba songs just for janmaashtami. ⁠ However you are choosing to celebrate Janmaashtmi (eighth day and birth of Devaki and Vasudev's eight child), be it fasting, praying, singing, decorating, eating prasaad or sharing stories, I wish for all of us to feel that connection with the divine and with all who celebrate. Let's welcome the good news, positivity, and blessings of love in our lives together. ⁠ ⁠ Share your favorite Janmaashtmi memory with all of us. ⁠

#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi.⁠.. ⁠ One of the things I looked forward to as a young girl in the 80s - 90s during Garba was getting to dress up and put on my "chaandalo" or "bindi". Putting on make up was not an option, as one of my Pappa's friends used to say, "Chhoti bacchiyaa make up nahi lagaati". Man, did we get creative with the bindi game though! There was a time where they sold these small pots with liquids in them with stamps and we would attempt to do dots, half moons, and other designs. ⁠ ⁠ If you are a "Chaandalo" or "bindi" lover, chances are you have a few of these "pattaas" somewhere in your closet with your jewelry and saris. These stickers became a bit of a fashion statements among some westerners, who had a pull towards India and its culture for a while. These are meant for adornment and aesthetics and they are not the same as "tilak" (in Gujarati also known as chaandalo but more like kanku no chaandalo). If you have not read the "why do we" post about tilak, be sure to check it out!⁠ ⁠ Are you a chaandalaa lover or can do with out?⁠ Join my mailing list to become part of a community of Indian language and culture lovers!