A strong, steamy cup of chai/chaya is one of the first things my mom taught me how to make. I remember curiously watching from a distance as she’d linger over the kitchen sink with two steel cups, pouring the tea…

ann ittoop
Welcome to The Familiar Kitchen! I am a recipe developer and food storyteller. One of my greatest joys in the kitchen is in the expressive, almost poetic, sharing of the foods and experiences I grew up with. Through sharing, my hope is that I can offer you a little dose of familiarity with a whole lotta flavor!
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STORIES ·
#SoundsFamiliar: The First Pancake Always Sucks
“Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” – Chinese Proverb What’s better than a warm, fluffy stack of pancakes topped with a little pad of butter and drizzle of maple syrup? Seriously, it’s my favorite…

All Recipes, Main Courses, South Indian Food ·
Shredded Turkey Masala (Thanksgiving Leftovers)
Hands down, one of my favorite ways to repurpose Thanksgiving leftovers is this Shredded Turkey Masala. Every year, at the end of our very American feast, mom and I sit at our kitchen table shredding up the bits. It’s a…

All Recipes, South Indian Food, Sweets ·
Banana Bonda
Need a break from making banana bread? Try out my recipe for Banana Bonda! This crunchy, lightly sweet treat is a very popular snack in Kerala. In fact, my mom told me this was one of her favorite things to…
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Hey! My name is Ann Ittoop and I am a South Indian/American South food blogger. Growing up as a second-generation Indian-American, I got the chance to experience the best of both food worlds, oftentimes on one plate! I have a firm belief there is literally magic in the cooking process. That’s why most nights you’ll find me in the kitchen. I’m there always testing and creating new recipes that stem from my wild imagination. And I’m there searching for the familiar memories of my childhood. I started The Familiar Kitchen to not only help myself find this magic, but for those seeking a way to find their own magic. Join me on my adventures through cooking classic Kerala-inspired dishes, some of my Southern favorites, and all the recipes in between.
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The kitchen is full of stories.[qodef_button size="medium" text="read more" target="_self" icon_pack="" font_weight="" text_transform=""]
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Fall in love with the process.[qodef_button size="medium" text="Start Cooking" target="_self" icon_pack="" font_weight="" text_transform=""]
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