The monsoon season is at its peak in India right now. While I love the rain, I prefer to be a spectator rather than be outdoors getting soaked in the deluge. It is amazing how hot, muggy India is transformed by the rain! Temperatures drop dramatically and as the skies open up, everything looks washed clean, fresh and renewed.

My favorite thing to do when it's pouring outside, is settle down with a steaming cup of Masala Chai (spiced tea). Nothing goes as well with Masala Chai as a plate of piping hot Bhajias (fritters)! If you are looking to spice things up a bit, Mirchi Ka Pakoda (chilli Bhajias) - pictured above - is the way to go. While Bhajias are 'technically' snack food, Bread Pakoda Sandwich, a cross between a Bhajia and a sandwich, is so filling, it can easily be eaten as a meal!

It's actually raining right now where I live and all this talk of Chai and Bhajias has got me excited to go and make some. Why don't you give them a shot too? Enjoy.

_{Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar, Licensed to About.com}

My Mom often tells my sons, both fussy eaters, how good I was about food as a child. They listen wide-eyed as she regales them with stories of how I could polish off half a dozen eggs at a time! This is no tall tale! I still love eggs and while I can't uphold my previous record any longer, I will still happily tuck into a good egg dish - savory or sweet - any day. Here are some of my favorites...

• Egg Curry
• Deemer Patudi
• Nargisi Kofta
• Kati Kabab Roll
• Pyaaz-Tamatar Ka Omlette
• Bebinca
• Caramel Custard (pictured above)

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_{Image © Photographer: / Getty Images}

/ Getty Images

They are the perfect accompaniment to practically every Indian dish there is, so Chapatis (Indian flatbread) - also called Rotis - are a staple food in India. Making them, while not simple, isn't too difficult either. It's a matter of pratice - the more you make, the better you get at making them. Learn how to turn out, super-soft, tasty Chapatis with my detailed step-by-step guide.

While you're at it, here are some handy hints for:

• Making softer Chapatis
• Making Chapatis really quick

Since they're made in large numbers at most meals in Indian homes, Chapatis often get left over. Check out these tips for freshening old leftover Chapatis or turning them into tasty snacks.

_{Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar licensed to About.com}

The people of Punjab (in North India) love to eat and this is reflected in their delicious, hearty regional cuisine. So tasty is Punjabi fare that it has not just wowed Indians all over the country, but the world at large. Punjabi food is probably the most popular and in-demand in any Indian restaurant! There're few who haven't heard of Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Chole and Bhaturey....

Find out firsthand what all the excitement is about. Sample some genuine Punjabi fare.

_{Rajma (red kidney bean curry) Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar licensed to About.com}

Related:
North Indian Recipes | North Indian Desserts | The Cuisine of North India

With the number of options there are for fillings, you need never run out of Paratha ideas! You can stuff them with spinach, Paneer (cottage cheese), fenugreek leaves, lentils, minced meat.... The list goes on. They are a great way to utilize leftovers as you can fill them with almost any leftover veggie, lentils, cheese or meat - just mash or shred to use.

Children love them for their mild taste and they are great for concealing veggies - like spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, peas - the littlies might otherwise not eat! Give them a try.

_{Image © 2009 Petrina Verma Sarkar, Licensed to About.com}

Just the thought of Achaar (the Hindi word for pickles) makes my mouth water! Summer is achaar season in India. This is when terraces and balconies of homes all over the country sport jars of this delicious stuff, sitting out in the blazing sun, maturing.

Pickles and chutneys, though widely available commercially, in and outside India, are still often homemade. In India, they're made with all kinds of vegetables and fruits. Meats are not left out of this equation though, as in some states like Goa, even fish and seafood is pickled!

While they're a great add-on to any meal, Indian or otherwise, my favorite way to eat pickles and chutneys is with something mild or neutral flavored so that I can really savor their unique taste. So, I most often team them with stuffed breads like Aaloo, Methi or Paneer Parathas or eat them with plain boiled rice and a simple daal (Hindi for lentil dish) like Lehsuni Daal (garlic-flavored lentils).

Make real use of the summer sun this season and make a jar of your favorite pickle or chutney. You'll be thanking yourself the rest of the year!

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Thanks to its coastal location, fish and seafood can be found in abundance in Goa (on India's western coast). The Goans make the most of this by turning out one delicious fish and seafood dish after another. These are all usually served with 'fat rice', a special thicker-grained variety of rice. I have fond memories of such meals from a teenage trip to Goa during which Fish Curry, Prawn Balchao, Prawn Pickle... and rice, eaten at various beachside food shacks, were our foods of choice... everyday! Now most of these dishes re staples in my kitchen.

Recreate Goan flavors in your home with these fish recipes:

• Goan Fish Curry
• Fish Xacuti
• Mackerel Raechad
• Prawn Balchao and
• Fresh Prawn Pickle Recipe

_{© Photographer: Gina Smith; Agency: Dreamstime.com}

Want tasty, wholesome food you don't have to slave over? You're in great company! Most of us would love a meal we can put together quickly and easily.

Try Paav Bhaaji (pictured left).

This quick and easy-to-cook dish is western Indian in origin, but its popularity India-wide just seems to get greater everyday! Paav means "small buns" and Bhaaji means "vegetables" so this is a healthy dish and a complete meal all in one.

On the streets of Bombay (Mumbai), where Paav Bhaaji was probably born, numerous vendors can be seen energetically stirring the fresh, fragrant Bhaaji on huge, wide pans while people line up eagerly to buy some. Paav Bhaaji is so tasty, make some in your kitchen and your family will probably line up for it too!

Also take a look at the easy recipe for Paav Bhaaji Masala, the most essential ingredient of Paav Bhaaji. While you can buy it readymade from most Indian groceries, it's always tastier when fresh and homemade.

_{Photograph: Courtesy of www.himadrimasala.com}

My son turned five today. How time flies. I like to stretch out the celebrations a bit, so we had a party on the weekend, one at his school and another one tonight. We will also continue to celebrate over the weekend! Needless to say he feels very special indeed. It also goes without saying that much cooking has taken place in my home the last few days, because, what is a celebration without food. If you're having a party or just asking a few friends over, here are a host of ideas for food you can serve...

• Appetizers - Top 10 Indian Party Finger Foods
• For Mains - Popular Indian Dishes
• For Dessert - Popular Bengali Sweets

_{Samosa photograph © Photographer: Rainer Plendl; Agency: Dreamstime.com}

While Indian food is hugely popular, it is also highly misunderstood. I was reminded of that yet again this afternoon while chatting with one of my non-Indian acquaintances. Common misconceptions have it typecast as hot, spicy, oily, diet-busting and generally unhealthy! This couldn't be further from the truth!

There is such an amazing and diverse range of healthy, wholesome and tasty foods to choose from, as my husband often says, "... if you cooked a different Indian dish every day of the year, you would still take a number of years to get to the stage where you would need to repeat one!" Now that's choice for you!

Don't let other people's opinions hold you back from trying out one of the world's greatest cuisines. Explore and discover the truth about Indian food for yourself. You will never regret it!

_{© Photographer: Sasha Davas; Agency: Dreamstime.com}