Food Event: Healthy Me and Healthy Us | July 2013

Healthy eating is a challenge no matter where you live, what you do for a living, and even how organized you may be. Indeed it takes a real effort to evaluate our eating habits and begin including healthy foods in our diets in uncomplicated and tasty ways! Ways that will encourage our families also to enjoy them both for their nutritive value and taste.

Given the above, and I know this from my friends, it can be time consuming to hunt healthy recipes. In March of this year, Priya @ Mharo Rajasthan announced an event that goes some ways to make our lives easier. Healthy Me and Healthy Us is a food blogging event that not only encourages us to include healthy, fresh, and whole foods in in our diets, it also provides a forum wherein we can share our recipes and discoveries of nutrition adding foods that are really good for us. It is with great pleasure that I announce the July 2013 edition of Healthy Me and Healthy Us at Annarasa ~ Essence of Food.

Healing Foods Pomegranate: The Roundup

Last month I was the guest host to a food blogging event series called Healing Foods. This series has been created by Siri @ Siri's Corner. I chose Pomegranate as it is a much loved fruit, has great healing properties, tastes great, and can be used in a multitude of ways. This is a roundup of the entries I received for the month-long event. The entries are arranged as I received them!

Pomegranate: The Healing Food for May

The Healing Foods Event focuses every month on a single item of food. The aim is to highlight the health benefits and nutritive value of that food. This food event which was initiated by Siri @ Siri's Corner challenges you to share your recipes via the blogosphere in their most healthy form. This May, I will be the guest host for Healing Foods. The food I have chosen to highlight at this event is the Pomegranate!!

Announcing: Visit Malaysia via A.W.E.D.

Durian (Durio Zibethinus) by Hoola Van Nooten (fl 1863-1885), ca. 1863

This month my blog hosts A.W.E.D. This event created is the creation of fellow blogger DK. You can find DK @ Chef In You where you will also see the background to this event, you can stop by and sample the cuisine of over half a dozen countries, and see past and future hosts for A.W.E.D.

This October, A.W.E.D will visit Malaysia. The beauty of Malaysian cuisine is that it has something for everyone. It not only reflects the diverse population of the country, it also borrows across cultures making much of everyday food multi-ethnic. The local Malaysian food is deeply influenced by food cooked in Indian, Chinese, and Thai homes. Broadly there are five identifiable cuisine types found in Malaysia: Malay, Malaysian Indian, Malaysian Chinese, Mamak, and Nyonya. Rice, vegetables, fish, meats, and fruits make the staples of Malaysian cuisine. A rich and aromatic Indian style spice paste called a Rempah tends to define most dishes. A Rempah can be prepared fresh or can be bought dried. It is sauteed in oil in the first phase of cooking.

I invite all food bloggers and food lovers out there to join me this month in celebrating Malaysian cuisine. Create and post your favourite and/or most delicious recipe that features a Malaysian recipe. The dish can be spicy, savoury, or sweet, but it must be embedded in Mayalsian cooking.

Email the entry to me at: annarasa@gmail.com along with your name, name of your blog, name of your entry, the url link to your entry, and a short description of your creation. You can share any facts you have learnt about the recipe of your choice, your ideas, and thoughts about it and if you like its history. Let us know if this is the first time you decided to give try cooking Malaysian food! The possibilities are endless. I do have one request though. This is a vegetarian blog, and so I would be happy to welcome all vegetarian recipes.

Now for a few rules regarding A.W.E.D. Malaysia:

• This event runs from 12th October 2009 - 12th November 2009.
• You can send in as many entries as you like to this event.
• You can send in recipes that you might have submitted to other events also.
• Any recipes from your archives can be accepted ONLY if they are updated and re posted especially for this event. Please do not send in links to an old post.
• Non-bloggers are welcome to join in. Just send in your recipe to me with a photograph if you have one and all details mentioned above, and I will add it to the round-up.
• If you would like your foodie colleagues and friends to know where you are located, you can add your City, Country to your entry. This is entirely your choice.
• It would be lovely if your entry is accompanied with a photograph. Preferred size of photograph: 350 pixels wide.
• As mentioned above, do describe your creation - just a couple lines telling us about the recipe you have chosen to enter into A.W.E.D. Malaysia this month.
• And don't forget to link your entry this announcement and to DK's blog @ Chef In You.
• The badge for A.W.E.D Malaysia is the the Durian, which is considered to be the 'King of Fruits' in Malaysia. Show it off on to your post.

So what are all you foodies out there waiting for? Let's get started - we are off to Malaysia this month:)

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

Think Spice.... Think Bayleaf: The Roundup

Its roundup time again!! This time its Think Bayleaf for Think Spice!! I was hoping to get this round up blogged sooner but unfortunately there was a rather low turnout for the event. This led me to consider extending the deadline for it. However just on the day that I wrote to Sunita @ Sunita's World about this, I was quite horrified to discover that she had blogged her last post and was planning to give up blogging, maybe not forever, but for a considerable period of time. She also mentioned giving up Think Spice! This sobering news held me back and after some consideration I decided against extending the deadline and wait a while before posting the Roundup. By the way, sometime last week I learnt that Sunita is back to blogging now and I am hoping that she will keep Think Spice going for a long long time:) Meanwhile, here are the lovely recipes!!

Sudha @ Malaysian Delicacies sent in Honey Rice Honey Rice which she describes as a simple rice dish using honey and bay leaf. Sudha always use bayleaf for my cooking and though show does so for non vegetarian dishes she finds it very useful for flavouring vegetables stir fry recipes too!!




Priyasuresh @ Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes made Nasi Lemak or Malaysian Coconut Rice.

Minu @ Chettinad Fiesta sent in the delicious Chettinad Cauliflower Soup/Broth. Minu says that this recipe is a Chettinad specialty. She notes that this soup is delicious because of the spices used. In fact it is the bayleaf that balances the fragrance of the spices used and makes it unique.

A big thanks to everyone who sent in an entry to this event - If I learnt anything from hosting this month, it is that bayleaf is a much underestimated spice in our pantries!! Just adding a small leaf does wonders to soups, lentils, vegetables, of course rice!! Try it - you won't be disappointed:)

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

MLLA 12: And the Winner Is....

I know everyone has been waiting eagerly for this post!! MLLA 12th Helping has a winner. It is Deepti of Dipskitchen. The winner was the result of a random drawing via an online name generator. The prize selected by Susan for this month's winner is a Ritz 5-Piece Egyptian Flat Kitchen Towel Set. Deepti, many congratulations. Do choose the colour of the kitchen towels and contact the creator of this event Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook at: thewellseasonedcook[at]yahoo.com at your convenience :)

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

An Invitation to Think Spice.... Think Bayleaf

Laurus nobilis, known as bay leaf

This month I am hosting Think Spice..... This event in the foodie blogosphere was thought up by Sunita of Sunita's World. It aims to bring spices - those lovely fragrant, pungent, vegetable based substances that made the world go round - centre stage! Bayleaf is the spice of my choice this month and I invite all you food bloggers and food lovers out there to join me in celebrating its contribution to global cuisine.

Create and post your favourite and/or most delicious recipe that features the aromatic bayleaf as a key spice. You can use it in any form you like - whole in the form of pieces or leafs. The dish can be spicy, savoury, or sweet, but one should get a sense of bayleaf is what makes this dish special. Email the entry to me at: annarasa@gmail.com along with your name, name of your blog, name of your entry, the url link to your entry, and a short description of your creation. You can share any facts you have learnt about bayleaf, your ideas, and thoughts about it and its uses. Let us know if bayleaf is a part of your spice cabinet or if this is the first time you decided to give it a try! Do you use bayleaf only for cooking or do you find it useful in any other way too..... the possibilities are endless. I do have one request though. This is a vegetarian blog, and so I would be happy to welcome all vegetarian recipes.


Now for a few rules regarding Think Spice.... Think Bayleaf:

• This event runs from 10th July 2009 - 9th August 2009.
• You can send in as many entries as you like to this event.
• You can send in recipes that you might have submitted to other events also.
• Any recipes from your archives can be accepted ONLY if they are updated and re posted especially for this event. Please do not send in links to an old post.
• Non-bloggers are welcome to join in. Just send in your recipe to me with a photograph if you have one and all details mentioned above, and I will add it to the round-up.
• If you would like your foodie colleagues and friends to know where you are located, you can add your City, Country to your entry. This is entirely your choice.
• It would be lovely if your entry is accompanied with a photograph. Preferred size of photograph: 350 pixels wide.
• As mentioned above, do describe your creation - just a couple lines telling us about the recipe you have chosen to enter into Think Bayleaf this month.
• And don't forget to link your entry this announcement and to Sunita's blog @ Sunita's World.
• I have created a badge for Think Bayleaf. Show it off on to your post.

So what are all you bloggers waiting for? Let's get started - its bayleaf time this month:)

Drawing Courtsey: from William Woodville, Medical Botany, 1793

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

MLLA 12: Warm Welcome to New Bloggers

This is the last in the roundup series for MLLA 12. Thanks for participating and making this event such success :) I hope that I have not forgotten anyone, but if you don't see your entry here, do alert me via email asap. I plan to announce the winner of MLLA 12 in the coming week!!

Shaista @ Mixcalculations is a new food blogger. Her entry is Arhar or Toor Dal. She says that she loves having variety of daals, with roti or rice or just as it is. Toor daal is one legume that which she cooks most often. It is super easy to make, nutritious and saves time if you are in a hurry.

Jaya @ Jayaspace is also a newbie to the blogging world. She writes: "I have grown up eating various beans -- moth, moong, black eyed peas... Love them for their taste and nutrition and cook them at least once a week in my house". Though this is a very simple and very common recipe, Jaya says Moth/Matki Usal can be adjusted for taste depending on the garnish and level of spice used.


Meeta @ What's For Lunch, Honey? has dished up Butter Beans and Leeks, which she has adapted from one from Jamie Oliver’s - Cook with Jamie! Meeta says: "These beans and leeks go with just about anything. Fish lovers will find it perfect to trout, wild salmon or tilapia. Delicately baked chicken is with just a simple seasoning of lemon juice, salt and pepper is a wonderful accompaniment. Or as Jamie serves the beans and leeks with steaks".

Location: Weimar, Germany




Jisha @ Kerala Recipes Long Bean Stir Fry (Achinga Mezhkkupuratti in Malayalam) sent in a wonderful recipe of tender long beans stir fried in oil! Jisha says these beans are a favourite with her husband and she prepared this simple yet tasty dish for him.

Location: Charlotte, USA

A wonderfully innovation rice dish comes to us from Siri @ Siri's Corner! Butter Bean Pulao is a quick and esy recipe, and it is needless to say rather tasty. Siri picked up this idea from a colleague at work, and tried it at home with great success.

Location: Washington DC, USA

Katie @ Eat This a lovely snacking idea - Roasted Chickpeas! Crunchy roasted chickpeas are a delicious snack filled with protein. Katie writes that the same can be done with black, kidney and pinto beans!!

Nivedita @ Nivedita's Kitchen has sent in a protein powerhouse for MLLA 12. She writes 14 Mixed Pulses Gravy "is a very healthy food for all ages, especially children. And can be used as main food with chapatis or side dish or an evening snack".

Location ; Hubli, Karnataka, India.

Ann @ Happy and Healthy Cooking send in a simple curry recipe - Satvic Tuesday. Ann notes that Dried peas are excellent source of protein and fiber. To maximise on their nutritive value, Ann tried best to keep this recipe healthy and simple. She cooked the legumes in a Satvic style to aid in good digestion!

Matt Huntley writes: "As summer quickly approaches, the idea of eating a warm and hearty soup seems to steer a lot of people away from utilizing beans in their everyday diet. Because they are so easy to add to any soup or stew, it is easy to forget that beans can adapt just as well to chilled dishes. This recipe features the “earthy” flavor of Blackeye Peas with fresh vegetables, and is tossed in a delicious tangy and spicy dressing". Cowboy Caviar can be found @ @ the Hurst Bean Blog.

Location- Indianapolis

Susan from The Well-Seasoned Cook sends in her own recipe Pinto Beans Flameado! Susan writes that "the traditional recipe is known as Queso Flameado (Flaming Cheese) and is doused with brandy and torched before serving". Watch out for the smoke detector in your kitchen if you want to try this one.

Shri @ Tastytouch made delicious deep fried lentil dumplings or Dahi Vada! Shri says her Grandma made the best vadas she has ever tasted. The ideal Dahi Vada should be soft, and spongy, and soaked in seasoned yogurt.

Miri from Peppermill made a Chawli Amti for MLLA 12. Amti is a traditional recipe from the state of Maharashtra, India. "Amti" refers to a lentil curry and is one of the staples served with rice or rotis. Miri says: "This particular recipe uses legumes - I have used black eyed peas, one can also use black chickpeas - sprouted even!. The dried coconut and garlic adds some lovely flavours to this curry"!


All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007-2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

MLLA 12: Soups, Cookies, and Vegetarian Omelettes

I kick off the MLLA 12 Roundup this morning with 5 further entries from Sadhana & Muskaan of A2Z Vegetarian Cuisine! The first is Jain Chole Puri. Muskaan writes that while Chole Puri is everybodys favourite a Jain style Chole Puri is more 'Saatvik' as Potatoes, Onion, Garlic..etc... are not added to it during the cooking process. She notes that Jain chole tastes awesome, the food is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium. This meal is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein and Copper, and a very good source of Folate and Manganese.
The next entry
from Muskaan is a delightful vegetarian version of
an Omelette sandwich!! She uses none other than chickpea flour to make these delicious looking omelettes. Muskaan writes that ChickPea Flour (Besan) is also low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium. It is also a good source of Magnesium Protein, Folate and Manganese, and Niacin. Tomato Cabbage Omelette Whole Grain Sandwich looks an absolote treat. Muskaan also made Dahi Vada (Lentil Dumplings In Sweet Yogurt Sauce for MLLA 12.


The following 2 are from from Sadhana is Oats Peanut butter cookie. On their blog, Sadhana notes that peanuts are not true nuts but a member of a family of legumes related to peas, lentils, chickpeas and other beans. They are in fact a very good source of monosaturated fats, the type of fat that is emphasized in the heart-healthy diet. Sadhana has also made a healthy Black Bean Veggie Burger. To know more about these delicious cookies and the burger, visit their blog A2Z Vegetarian Cuisine!

Divya Vikram @ Dil Se.. sends in a lovely third entry for MLLA 12. It is the yummy Moong Dal Payasam. Divya writes that this is a healthy dessert made with moong dal and jaggery. It is usually prepared on special occasions in South India.

Lubna's fourth entry is Capsicum Chana Dal Curry. Do take a peek at her blog Yummy Food for this recipe!

Sweatha @ TastyCurryLeaf blog shows us another way in which the tasty and nutritious chickpea can be used in cooking! Her entry Moroccan Spiced ChickPea Spinach Soup. Sweatha says: "I tried this soup as the original recipe included apricots in the soup which sure add a tanginess. A Hearty and filling and perfectly spicy soup. Chickpeas in soup and sauce form is very welcome and healthy".

Smitha @ Kannada Cuisine made a Batani Saagu for MLLA 12. This is a green peas stew traditionally paired with Idli, Dosa or even Chapati. Cooked potatoes gives body to the dish and tomatoes & green peas adds a sweet accent and of course colour. Lime juice, green chillies and fresh coriander adds flavour and freshness to the dish

Ramya @ Simple Vegetarian Recipes hs sent in Beans Paruppu usili /Beans with cooked Toor Dal This is a side dish and the main ingredient is the widely used legume which is toor dal mixed with beans.


Two more entries from Deepti @ Dipskitchen! The first is Rajma, and the second Urad Chana Dal



Bee and Jai @ Jugalbandi have sent in Papad Palakfor MLLA 12.They write: "This dish was inspired by the Gujarati Dal Dhokli, where wheat dumplings are added to a lentil base. This is easier with ready made lentil wafers (available at any south Asian grocery) added to greens as they wilt down. Lower in carbs and much quicker. Frozen, thawed spinach will work too".

Location: North Western U.S.

Stay linked for more MLLA 12:)

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007-2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

MLLA 12: The Roundup

June 2009 has come and gone and we are in the thick of summer out here. Hot sticky days are followed by thunderstorms and skin-drenching rain. My garden is in full bloom and my schedule has simply exploded. And June has been a special month for me as I have travelled a lot, and written a fair bit!! I have also been the host of one of the most delightful and creative events to grace the food-blogosphere - My Legume Love Affair. Created by Susan @ The Well-Seasoned Cook, the 12th helping of this event has been running from June 1-30, 2009 @ Annarasa !

Though the title of this post reads 'The Roundup', I'd like to share at the very outset that the response to the event has been super and it will take me more than this single post to get everyone's entry up. The prize winning entry will follow the completion of the entire roundup on this blog:) Let me begin with thanking everyone who has participated and sent in such delightful recipes, all of which I feel privileged to share with you via this roundup. I would also like to thank everyone for their patience and request that in the event that you do not see your entry in the completed roundup, just send me an email and I will make sure it is placed in its rightful spot. Do remember though that the recipe roundup reflects the entries date wise as they landed in my inbox.

The very first entry I received for MLLA 12 has come from Sailaja @ Sailaja's Kitchen. Sailaja loves good food and she has prepared a deliciously spicy Rajma Vada. Doesn't it look like a tasteful and healthy snack!

Lubna @ Yummy Food has been a delightfully busy cook this month. She has enthusiastically sent in several yummy recipes for MLLA 12 over the course of the last month! I will detail them as they came in. The very first from her is Dosa - A South Indian Crepe with Instant Tomato Chutney.

Two entries from Priyasuresh @ Priya's East N Tasty Recipes are next. The first is Red Bell Pepper and Peanut Chutney - just look at the colour! And the second is a distinct and interesting preparation called Sri Lankan Paruppu Kari.

Location: Paris, France

Laura @ The Spiced Life loves her legumes. She sent in this beautiful Sabzi Dhan Shak (Parsi Spicy Squash & Legume Stew). Laura writes "Dhan Shak is a A famous Bombay dish, made unique by its use of Parsi dhanajeera powder, this lentil, mung bean and split pea stew is thick with veggies and fragrant with spices".

Location: SW Ohio, USA

The second entry from Lubna @ Yummy Food arrived in my inbox a few days later. It is Idli - A South Indian Delight. Do visit her blog for some interesting information on this all-time favourite dish from the Southerns states of India!!

Lisa @ Lisa's Kitchen writes, "One of my favorite beans is the versatile oval-shaped whole green mung bean. Particularly easy to digest, especially when soaked overnight, cooked along with some spices and vegetables, this mildly sweet little legume can easily be transformed into an entree that will quell thoughts of a decadent dessert". Lisa sends in Mung Beans with Mixed Vegetables.

Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Sra @ When My Soup Came Alive has recently acquired a new Bengali cookbook!! From this cookbook comes a recipe Legumes, And a Bit of Cheese - which is quite simply a mildly spiced but heavy dal. Sra says she tried this recipe "because the combination of paneer, potatoes and moong dal is intriguing and piqued my curiosity".


Middle-Eastern cuisine has captured the hearts of Bird's Eye View and her family! Writing @ Food and Laughter Sra says she happily discovered delights of ME cooking when visiting friends in New york. Now ME fare is as much a part of her cooking as any other. Here she has prepared Hummus to share with us at MLLA 12.



A tasty, healthy, and filling snack is coming our way courtesy of Aparna @ My Diverse Kitchen. Aparna notes that a delicious combination of chickpea flour and fenugreek leaves is all it takes to prepare these yummy looking Methi Muthias - Steamed Fenugreek Leaves!


Priyanka of Asankhana blog prepared a breakfast treat with a platter of Moong Dal Chila, and served it with tangy home-made mango pickle!! A perfect and satisfying breakfast.

Join me at my next post for more from My Legume Love Affair: 12th Helping!!

All content, text, and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007-2010. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

Announcing My Legume Love Affair: Twelfth Helping

A big hello to all my foodie friends out there. I am back after a bit of a sabbatical. Its been a busy two months, though I am happy to say fruitful ones :)


This month I begin with taking the baton from Lori @ Taste with the Eyes to announce a food event I simply adore - My Legume Love Affair. Created by the indomitable Susan @ The Well-Seasoned Cook, this event has become amongst one of the most popular in the foodie blogosphere. Indeed, it is my singular privilege this month to host MLLA - 12th Helping from June 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009!!

A legume for this particular event could be any beans, lentils, pulses, and/or the sometimes edible pods that contain these seeds - derivative products like tofu which is made from soy are welcome, as are leafy plants like alfalfa and fenugreek that are botanically classified as legumes!!

I would like to welcome all legume lovers to join me in participating in this event. Create and post your favourite and/or most delicious recipe that features legumes as the key ingredient. Email the entry to me at: annarasa@gmail.com along with your name, name of your blog, the link to your legume dish, and a short description of your creation. I do have one request though. This is a vegetarian blog, and so I would be happy to welcome all vegetarian recipes.

The many regular participants to MLLA, of course, know the rules governing this food event. For newbies whose enthusiasm I hope to whet, here are a few essential guidelines:

• You are welcome to send in as many recipes as you like.
• You can send in recipes that you might have submitted to other events also.
• Any recipes from your archives can be accepted ONLY if they are updated and re posted especially for this event. Please do not send in links to an old post.
• Non-bloggers are welcome to join in. Just send in your recipe to me with a photograph if you have one and all details mentioned above, and I will add it to the round-up. Your recipes will be eligible to enter the prize offered by Susan in the random drawing.
• If you would like your foodie colleagues and friends to know where you are located, you can add your City, Country to your entry. This is entirely your choice.
• It would be lovely if your entry is accompanied with a photograph. Preferred size of photograph: 350 pixels wide.
• Do describe your creation - just a couple lines telling us about the recipe you have chosen to enter into MLLA this June.
• And don't forget to link your entry this announcement and to Susan's host line-up @ My Legume Love Affair- Host Lineup.
• Susan has created a lovely badge for MLLA - 12th Helping. Show it off on to your post.

Last, but not least, there is a delightful prize for a single winning entry to MLLA 12th Helping. As always the winner will be chosen via a random drawing and the prize selected by Susan for this month's winner is a Ritz 5-Piece Egyptian Flat Kitchen Towel Set. The choice of colour of the kitchen towels will be the winner's but do note that this will also depend on the colour availability at the time. Finally, though multiple recipes are permitted, only one submission per person will be counted towards the prize drawing. The roundup will be posted in the 1st week of July - I will announce a date for this towards the end of the month.

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2009. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

BBD #15 Festive Breads: Second Helping

Welcome back to a second helping of Festive Breads via Bread Baking Day #15. You will find the first part of this roundup at A Roundup of Festive Breads: BBD #15.

Live :: Love :: Laugh :: Eat! is the delightful name of Kim's blog. Kim's resolution for the new year is to try new things and baking bread is one of them! She has made a truly spectacular start with the Ginger-Orange Quick Bread that she baked for her co-workers for Christmas. Here's to experimenting with more bread recipes in 2009. For a great tip on where to find candied ginger and a whiff of the warm aroma of ginger-orange, drop by at Kim's blog.

Location: Portsmouth, Virginia, USA

Emma of Gustoto baked a traditional camp fire bread from Australia for BBD #15. She says that when this bread is seasoned with chives, basil, and semi-dried tomatoes, the Damper turns into a truly festive treat!!

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Toby from Foolish Poolish Bakes has a treat for us all - a gorgeous Panotenne. Read the story of an adventure spanning no less than four months to achieve this result. Just a quick peek at the bread - its colour, texture, and taste all make the effort worthwhile. Hats off to Toby for his dedication and persistence.

Location: UK

Bejgli is a traditional Hungarian Christmas Bread and Dulmina from Dulmina tündérkonyhája or 'Dulmina's Fairy Kitchen' has baked a more vegan-friendly version of this bread. She has used whole wheat for the bread which she filled with walnuts and poppy seeds. This bread is not only beautiful but easy to create too!!

Location: Szeged, Hungary

How does Hot Cross Buns with cocoa sound to you on a chilly winter morning? Natashya chose these traditional buns from Nick Malgieri A Baker's Tour as her contribution to BBD #15. Visit her blog Living in the Kitchen with Puppies for a look at this fragrant spicy bread with the surprise ingredient of chopped dried apricot!!

Location: Ontario, Canada

Gine from i dolci fanno felici baked an exquisite Austrian Nut Bread for the holidays. Eaten in Austria and German homes around Christmas is easy to put together, full of flavour, and a real delight to serve - just look at all those lovely almonds!!

Location: Berlin, Germany

Teresa of Discovering Sourdough chose her famous Festive Hawaiian Rolls to serve with coffee on Christmas morning. Beautiful sourdough is filled with a coconut, nut, and cinnamon paste, slashed, and then baked to perfection. Can you just imagine the aroma wafting through her kitchen?

Location: Tokeland, Washington

Panfrutto is a popular fruit flavoured bread baked around Christmas in Italy. It is a favourite of Cinzia of Cindystar who says that this is a very easy recipe to create, stays well, and can be pulled out of the pantry in a snap should you find unexpected guests knocking at your door!!

Location: Bardolino, Lake of Garda, Italy

Glenda of Domesticated Engineer has sent in her own special recipe of Glenda's Christmas Bread. A wonderful recipe for a home made bread, it uses whole spelt flour, shredded zucchini, pomegranate juice, and walnuts! Glenda shaped this versatile dough into a tree and a wreath.

Location: Wichita, Kansas

The famous German Dresdner Stollen was Preeti's choice of bread for BBD #15. Though Stollen is a staple in German supermarkets at this time of the year and Preeti purchases one every year, this year she decided to bake one herself. Follow Preeti's very first attempt to making a delicious loaf of Stollen at My Kitchen Stories.

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Judy from Judy's Gross Eats took the All Purpose Holiday Bread recipe from Peter Reinhart's Crust & Crumb, and fashioned it into a lovely Christmas Bread! She says she loaded the dough with sliced almonds and finely chopped dark chocolate and made Boules!! Simply beautiful. Thanks Judy for finding the time in your busy schedule to join it the festivities. Find her recipe at All Purpose Holiday bread.

Location: Ventura, California, USA

Ulrike of Küchenlatein shared her recipe for a celebratory New Year's Pretzel. Ulrike notes that a pretzel is the symbol for infinity and is also considered to be a a good luck charm or blessing. In parts of Germany, the sharing a New Year Pretzel with friends and family is said to bring good luck and well-being!!

Sarah from What Smells So Good? baked a fragrant Vanilla-Apple Honey Challah on the first night of Chanukah!! Sarah says the holidays are filled with her baking all kinds of goodies and even though she thought she was done for this year, she chanced upon a recipe she had saved some time back!! Encouraged by her Mom, she tweaked the recipe to add Kamut flour, applesauce and vanilla to create a beautiful and golden loaf.

Location: Oshawa, Ontario

Keep reading for the final part of this Roundup!!

All text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.