www.indiasweetsandspices.net http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 Indian Food Made Easy http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2012/05/02/indian-food-made-easy/ http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2012/05/02/indian-food-made-easy/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/?p=11 You’ve watched Slumdog Millionaire on Directtv and now you’ve got a hankering for some real, quality Indian food. If you really want to make it yourself you should try – it’s not as hard as you might think! Here are a few traditional dishes to start off with:
Chicken Tikka Masala – You can actually buy Masala sauce in a jar in the grocery store and trust us, it’s worth it. You won’t have to buy all the weird spices and keep them around and the jarred stuff is actually really good, just brown the chicken and make some rice!
Naan – Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making bread – all you need for this is some bread flour and some yeast. Naan is a great accompaniment for your chicken tikka masala, too, and it’s pretty impressive.
Chutney – Chutney is an easy way to make dessert or just something to have with a meal! Put some sugar, garlic and fruit in a pot and let it stew on the eye for about an hour – instant chutney and it was the easiest dish of the day!

]]> http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2012/05/02/indian-food-made-easy/feed/ 0 The Relationship Between Indian Culture And Food http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/15/the-relationship-between-indian-culture-and-food/ http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/15/the-relationship-between-indian-culture-and-food/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/?p=10 Indian cuisine has a deep tie and a deep cultural history to the people, and to the country. Many of the spices and extracts which are used in the most famous Indian dishes, are those which are either from India, or were originally imported to the country from settlers, or brought in by travelers who founded the country. So, if you want to learn the history of a dish, it is something that is going to trace back several years, and in many cases, as far back as a few centuries, since the food and the history of India are so intertwined in each other. The people who created the main dishes, and the most famous Indian dishes, used only local spices and foods to do so.

There are many dishes in the culture which do have a twist of Mediteranean, as well as other influences from neighboring regions, but for the most part, the dishes from India, are purely from the country, and are deeply rooted in its history and tradition. So, next time you eat an Indian dish, make sure to read up on the ingredients, to learn the spices and extracts which are from the country, which go into these dishes.

]]> http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/15/the-relationship-between-indian-culture-and-food/feed/ 0 The Traditions And Culture Of Indian Music http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/13/the-traditions-and-culture-of-indian-music/ http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/13/the-traditions-and-culture-of-indian-music/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/?p=9 Indian music sounds very strange to American listeners. This is in large part because harmony as we know it plays no large part” and also because it makes use of a microtonal scale, with notes that differ by intervals of less than a half step.

But precisely because it sounds so exotic, the music of India holds a special fascination for us. And indeed, the Hindus have a whole mythology relating to the origin of music: Legend has it that a sage named Bharata (modern India is called Bharat in Hindi) learned the art of music from the great god Brahman himself” and subsequently taught it to Indra’s heavenly followers.

Classical Indian music is said to consist of six fundamental modes called ragas (myths also refer to a seventh), each consisting of five or more notes. Instruments include a nineteen-stringed bowed instrument called the israj, and a bamboo flute called the vani.

Smithsonian Folkways has an extensive collection of Indian folk music dating from the 1950s and 1960s” and I have added them all to my collection. Some of the titles are: Folk Music of India; Ragas from South India; Music from South India” Kerala; and Ragas” Music of India.

]]> http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/13/the-traditions-and-culture-of-indian-music/feed/ 0 Wooden Crafts In Ancient Indian Cultures http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/11/wooden-crafts-in-ancient-indian-cultures/ http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/11/wooden-crafts-in-ancient-indian-cultures/#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/?p=8 Wooden crafts have been a part of Indian culture since ancient times. Writings in the Rig Veda, dated to at least 1500 BCE, refer to a variety of vessels and objects made from wood. In India-s classical Gupta Age, from 320-647 CE, the royal families were avid patrons of the arts and frequently commissioned crafts in woodcarving and sculpture. The Medieval period leaves us with many artifacts and buildings that show a clear appreciation and flourishing of the arts. Temples from this historical era are marked with ornate woodcarvings and other beautiful achievements.

The traditional craft of woodworking in India has generally been focused around religious beliefs, devotion to deities, as well as the wishes of royal patrons of the arts. Popular woodcrafts included decorative statues, wall-hangings, and musical instruments. Vases, bowls, decorative boxes, and chests were also carved from woods. Many of these crafts doubled as both personal and spiritual items. The ancient tradition of woodcraft also included forms of jewelry making. Ornamental earrings, bracelets, pendants and necklaces, anklets, and rings were often carved out of wood and sometimes inlaid with metals. Sandalwood has been a popular choice for woodcraft and art in Indian culture. Sandalwood and art made from it has been thought to have a special religious connection to the Indian gods.

]]> http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/11/wooden-crafts-in-ancient-indian-cultures/feed/ 0 The Significance Of Gold In Indian Culture http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/09/the-significance-of-gold-in-indian-culture/ http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/2011/09/09/the-significance-of-gold-in-indian-culture/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000 admin http://www.indiasweetsandspices.net/?p=7 Since time immemorial, people, especially the Indians, have believed that gold is only meant to be used by those who have high positions in the society such as rulers, emperors, and many others. In the Indian culture, it is also believed that gold is a symbol of wealth and power. If you are an Indian women set to marry an Indian man, it has been said that brides bring gold as a dowry. If the bride is able to give gold to the family of her soon-to-be husband, it shows that the paternal side of the bride’s family is rich and has power in the society.You can find a quick rundown here In addition, brides who are able to wear 24K gold during their wedding is said to have good luck and great fortune throughout their entire lives as a married couple.

In the Indian culture, gold has a special place. There is even a special day wherein Indians are encouraged to buy gold so that they can have good fortune for the rest of their lives. They also believe that it is a good sign or omen if Indians buy gold on these special days in their Hindu calendar. Indians also decorate their houses and businesses with gold to attract good vibes.

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