Rally's Sportsbar + Smokehouse Restaurant Review

It was my husband's birthday a while back and he really didn't feel like driving too far so I did some research and found out that Rally's Sportsbar + Smokehouse (1660 O'Connor Drive, Toronto) had some pretty good reviews and they did ribs - perfect, since my hubby loves ribs! So for Saturday lunch we decided to check out the food and space at the bar.  It was definitely easily identifiable as the venue looks brand smacking new and colourful...

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Mini Cinnabon(Cinnamon) Buns

My husband loves cinnamon buns (actually he loves all things laden with sugar and fat but isn't that all men?)  I came across this wonderful recipe and the first time I tried it, we both loved it but I couldn't digest all the fat that it was involved (I choked at the one stick of butter for 8 mini buns that we finished in one sitting - eek!).  So, the next time I attempted the recipe (and I made sure it was many moons after the initial...

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Fried Accompaniments - Ash Plaintain, Pappadam, Chillis

Healthy Sri -Lankan Tamil vegetarian dishes often get eaten with deep fried salty accompaniments like the ones pictured above (I know, so much for healthy right?  I think its our way of feeling less guilty when we pair it oh so good and healthy vegy meals).   Ash Plaintain Fry (Valakkai Poriyal/Green Banana Fry) Ingredients: 1 Ash Plaintain 1/4 tsp Turmeric 1/2 tsp Sri Lankan curry powder salt to taste    Cut the...

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Assorted Pickles/Yogurts

Plain Yogurt, Lime Pickle, Malay Pickle Most Sri Lankan Tamil vegetarian dishes include accompaniments like the ones pictured above.  A dollop of plain yogurt, sour pickles and chutneys does wonders to enhancing the existing flavours. Besides the yogurt, you can find a wide array of assorted pickles and chutneys at any South Asian grocer.  The Malay Pickle however is a very common accompaniment that can be eaten with meat dishes as...

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Parappu - Masoor Dhal Curry (Lentils)

My dad told me when in my initial stages of learning to prepare Sri Lankan Tamil curries that making parappu (dhal/lentils) was the most easiest dish of all! I did agree that it was quite simple but it still did not end up like how my mother would make it.  After a few tweaks, I was able to get it to the same creamy and spicy consistency. There are a multitude of recipes for dhal but this is my version with a garlicky flavour dashed with cumin: Ingredients: 1/4...

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Banana Fritters A.K.A Vaipan

Vaipan Dough I had a banana just withering away and needed to put it to use, fast before I had a casualty on my hands. I could have made a banana bread but I was feeling for something more nostalgic, reminding me of my childhood memories. When my mom had overly riped bananas, she recovered them by creating vaipans! I could never remember the name as a kid so I would ask her to make the banana things - yes, I know, very technical. Till this...

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