Citrus Frivolous: Orange Pannacotta, Lemon and Poppyseed Semolina Cake and Citrus Sauce - Daring Bakers

The Citrus Pannacotta was featured Gourmet Live!

I almost did not make this DB challenge. As usual, I pushed it to the eleventh hour, which, normally is manageable. But, this time, the elements were not working with me. The sudden and drastic turn in the weather, last week, left me holding my head in my hands, willing the shooting pain to go muss someone else's life.

Sigh.. yes, Sinus trouble. After 28 years of free breathing and cooperative nasal passages, I seem to be caught in the throes of a mutiny! I am caught powerless and unable to stem the seige. What is worse, it has the most inconvenient timing! All of last week was a wash out of throbbing temples and ineffective medication :(.

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5 Star Makeover - Caramelised Fennel, Serrano Ham and Fried Quail Egg Brunch Bruschetta

I have been a long time follower of Natasha's blog, 5 Star Foodie Culinary Adventures for her innovative flavor combinations and no-fear experiments of various culinary techniques! She is the first non-professional chef, I have seen, who has attempted "sous-vide" at home and successfully at that!

So, when she recently invited me to take part in her 5 Star makeover series, I, predictably, jumped on it and accepted it on the spot. The concept of the series is to give a new unique, gourmet twist to a traditional popular dish. For this month, the theme was Bacon and Eggs.

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Hot Pockets!!

Oof! It's Friday already!!! Where does time fly? Feels like it was only yesterday that it was New Year's eve and I was kicking everyone's b*** at Xbox games. And, in a blink of the eye, it's already the South side of February! Every week seems to be simply whizzing by.. My point here is, I am aging way to fast!!!! I mean, way too quickly...that is a fair concern, right?!

Well, anyway, as always, I'll just console myself with food, shall I?!

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Light and Sexy for Valentine's Day - Red Curry Beef Lettuce Wraps

So, what is everyone doing today? Something special? A candle night dinner? A weekend getaway? Sweet and simple home cooked? An elaborate evening of aphrodisiac....?

Or perhaps, you are completing ignoring all the hype around you and treating it as just another day?

There has always been much debate on such celebrated days and the world has been largely split into two distinct camps - the romanticists and the realists... The former believing that one should go all out and express the "love" so much more on this day and the later arguing that the former's beguiled beliefs have led to inflation, especially of flowers!

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Spelt Couscous with Scallions and Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Not much to say this time but just wanted to leave you with a simple dish that you can make any day. Even on those hectic weeknights when you wish you could just stay put on the couch and the dinner would just magically appear in front of you....

P.S.: This is my first food photo shot in artificial light (since it was dinner). Tell me what you think of it. Suggestions welcome!

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Baked Basil Gnudi in Fresh Tomato Sauce - Avoiding deviation

Just a quick note before we plunge into today's indulgence... :) I am looking forward to reviewing a fresh pasta maker from CSN stores, where you can find anything from kitchen equipment to even modern office furniture!! Stay tuned for more real pasta recipes in sometime. Now on with the regular scheduled programming...

Gnocchi - a soft, pillow of potato goodness encased in flour. That which can melt your heart by it's sheer delicacy. That which is really tricky to make and very intimidating to attempt. That I have many times ordered at different restaurants and mostly been disappointed.... That which is pasta and, hence, out of reach for this month's menu..

Gnudi - Supposed ugly sister of above. That which is made luscious with much ricotta and just a little flour. That is much easier to make and most often comes out great. That which I can make at home with success... That which is not pasta (really!) and hence very approachable at the moment..

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Simple Meals and a Vanilla and Coconut Oat Pudding

When I mentioned in my last post about experimenting with a low carb routine , I received many lovely comments from friends and readers about this bold step into the uncertain land :). Diet of any form is exceedingly difficult to stick to, because, inherently, it is a restraining order and all you want to do is break free!

But, I find that the urge to cut loose sedates with time and it becomes easier to accept and adapt. I know all this sounds philosophical but when food is life, well, the lines tend to merge more often than not. Anyway, what I meant to say was that life without pasta seems a bit easier now, than it did 20 days ago, when I first thought up my experiment.

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