Diwali greetings!

Diwali is celebrated with tiny lamps called diyas, lit and placed in people’s homes signifying light overcoming darkness. Diwali is the brightest and most joyous of celebrations in India and it is a time when new beginnings are embraced, people let go of the past and ask for blessings of prosperity and spiritual wealth for the coming year.

Diwali translates to “a row of lights” and signifies light over darkness.

Arvinda’s celebrated Diwali with the Canada AM crew this week. Watch the segment here and see how we celebrate with a cup of spicy Masala Chai (3 ways, might we add!).

Arvinda’s masalas are on sale until 11/12! Diwali greetings to all.

Tandoori Spiced Chick Pea & Kale Salad

Tandoori Spiced Chick Pea & Kale Salad

Here is a great way to celebrate the becoming of Spring with an Indian twist.

Arvinda’s Curries cooking class blogger review

On a cold wintery Saturday afternoon in March we had an enthusiastic group of participants join Arvinda’s Curries, Curries & More Curries cooking class in Toronto at Nella Cucina. Although spring is (finally!) in the air, Arvinda’s curries indeed helped us get through our terribly cold Canadian winter this year!

We had a lovely lady, Laura attend the class with her father for a ‘daddy-daughter’ cooking class. Being an avid Indian food lover and author of the blog Cook, Wine & Thinker Laura jumped right in to help us make our winter curries menu and snapped away photos throughout the class.

Photo courtesy of Cook, Wine & Thinker

Photo courtesy of Cook, Wine and Thinker!

We wanted to share with you Laura’s review of our Arvinda’s classes here.

Happy holidays from Arvinda’s

We wish you a spicy festive season!

Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Spiced Rum Balls

Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Spiced Rum Balls

Rum balls always make a nice addition to a holiday cookie plate. We made some using the sweetness from dates spiced with Arvinda’s new Christmas Chai Masala. Yum, they melt in your mouth.

Fruity Christmas Chai Spiced Cookies

Arvinda’s Fruity Christmas Chai Cookies

One fun way to use Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Masala is in your holiday cookies.

Add some spice to your cookie plate!

Try these cute little fruity Christmas cookies that will add some spice and flair to your holiday table.

Introducing…Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Masala

Arvinda’s Christmas Chai is here!

Introducing…Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Masala (limited edition).

This is a Stocking Stuffer for the Chai Lover! Round up the loved ones. Snow day fun. Crackling fire. Warm up your heart with a comforting cup of Masala Chai reminiscent of the festive holiday season. Sweet cinnamon, warm cloves and zesty orange spices up your jolly cup!

Not only used for a festive spiced tea, try Arvinda’s Christmas Chai Masala in your holiday baked goods, hot chocolates, truffles, shortbread cookies, crepes, scones, cupcakes and more to ‘spice up’ your holiday baking and sweets.

Combine this spice blend with festive flavours such as cranberry, ginger, orange, vanilla, chocolate, apple or pear to create something special for this celebratory time of year. Will share my recipes soon!

Carrot Cake loves chai spices!

For all your fall desserts–anything with carrot, pumpkin, apple or pear try spicing it up with the warming and aromatic chai spices! Arvinda’s Chai Masala goes into all my fall desserts!

Chai Spiced Carrot Halwa Cake

Tandoori Spiced Kale Chips with Turmeric

Tandoori spiced kale chips using Arvinda’s Tandoori Masala.

We hear everyone on the block these days is making kale chips. And why not!? Kale boasts many fine attributes including it’s an antioxidant, high in iron, vitamin C, helps the body with detoxification and is anti-inflammatory. Surely the list goes on!

Treat days! And a happy 2014 to you

Hello and Happy 2014! I can’t believe another year is already here…

A deliciously chocolately treat…for a treat day!

Recently with the cold temperatures and some crazy flu going around (H1N1), I’ve been stocking up on turmeric, adding ‘a pinch here and pinch there’ to all my cooking. Also, my Ayurvedic Turmeric Milk recipe for cold and flu is coming in handy. I’m taking this daily to ward off any scratchy throats which are just painfully annoying! When we become sick even with the wimpiest cold or flu, it takes away precious time (sometimes even weeks) from doing the things we love, from feeling vibrant with full energy and loving every single day of our lives. Now as I ‘knock on wood’ and slap back a turmeric shot I’m hoping to make it through another season without catching anything. If we’re talking about resolutions, one thing I did resolve to do is – don’t forget the turmeric!