Orange Guacomole

Ingredients:


Ripe Avocados-3
Orange-1 big
Lime-1
Red onion-1 medium finely chopped
Tomato -1 big (seeded and cut in to small pieces )
Jalapeno peppers-2
Red bell pepper-1
cilantro- 1 medium bunch
peanuts-1 tablespoon roasted and chopped fine
Salt






Method:


1.Roast the red pepper and jalapeno pepper on a grill or iron tava until the skin turns black in color
2.cool the pepper and peel the skin off and chop it fine. ( I used a small food processor)
3. In a medium sized glass bowl add the chopped onion,chopped cilantro,Tomato pieces,juice of one orange,juice of lime.
4.add the chopped peppers,salt, and scooped avocado to the mixture
5. Mix it well and smash the avocados until smooth. ( Keep the avocado seed in the bottom of the bowl to keep the guacamole from turning black)
6.add the peanuts on the top just before serving.

Recipe inspiration:Mercadito Chicago

Roasted almonds

A very easy and quick recipe for a snack


Almonds-1 cup
Salt-according to taste
Rasam Powder or garam masala-1-2 teaspoon
canola oil-1 teaspoon

Method:
In a microwave safe bowl add all the ingredients and mix it.
Microwave the mixture on high for 45-50 seconds.
 

Penne Arrabiata

                                                          Penne Arrabiata

Ingredients:

Penne pasta -1 packet
Tomatoes- 4 large tomatoes,cut in to small pieces
Onion-1 small chopped fine
Red bell pepper-1 cut in to small pieces
Garlic-2 pieces crushed and chopped fine.
Basil-1 bunch
Parsley-1 small bunch (optional)
Pasta sauce- 1-2 tablespoon
Red chili flakes-1 teaspoon
fresh ground black pepper-1 teaspoon
Extra virgin olive oil -1 tablespoon
Salt

Method:
Pasta:
Cook the pasta according to the package directions and drain.I like to add some salt while pasta is cooking.
Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the cooked pasta and keep it aside.The oil will keep the pasta from sticking together.
For the sauce:
In a sauce pan add the olive oil and heat it in a medium heat.
Add the cut onion and garlic and saute in a medium heat until they soften.
( make sure they are not over cooked)
Add the red bell pepper and saute it for a minute.
Now add the tomatoes and cook it with little salt.
add the chopped parsley and basil and cook some more.
Add the pasta sauce and boil it  until the sauce starts thickening.
Transfer the sauce in to a bowl and keep it aside.

Just before serving heat up one teaspoon of olive oil in a pan and add the one serving of pasta and 2-3 table spoons of sauce and toss it together. Serve it hot with your favorite bread.

Black Bean soup

Ingredients:

Black beans-2 cans drained,washed
stewed tomatoes-1 can
vegetable stock- 1 carton
onion-1medium sized
red,yellow,green peppers-1/2 each
Jalapeno pepper-1 (optional)

Spices:


Salt
Cumin powder-1 teaspoon
Mexican style hot sauce-1 tablespoon
Olive oil-1spoon
Red chili flakes(optional)


Method:

1.In a pot add the olive oil and keep it in a medium heat
2.Add the diced onions to the oil and saute it until soft(don't let it brown)
3.Add the colored peppers and saute a little more
4.Add the vegetable stock and let it simmer
5.Add 1can of  black beans and the can of stewed tomatoes to the boiling soup
6.Add the other can of beans to a blender and grind it with all the spices
7.Add the ground paste,salt to the soup and let it simmer in a medium heat until the soup thickens.
8.If you want a thicker consistency add a spoon full of corn flour mixed in water to the soup and boil it.

Serve the soup hot with tortilla chips,shredded Mexican cheese and sour cream

Sprouted Moong Salad with homemade orange and lime juice dressing

Ingredients:

Sprouted whole Moong-1 cup
carrots-1/4 cup
Green apple-cut in to small pieces 1/2 cup
Kohlrabi- peeled and cut in to small pieces
soaked almond(almond soaked overnight in water)-chopped in to small pieces 1 tablespoon
walnuts-chopped in to small pieces- 1 table spoon
For dressing:
2 teaspoon of olive oil
Freshly squeezed orange juice-1Tablespoon
Freshly squeezed lime juice(key lime tastes really good)-2 teaspoon
Parmesan cheese- 1 spoon ( optional)
salt and pepper according to taste


Method:

1.In a bowl add all the ingredients for salad
2.In a separate bowl add all the ingredients for the dressing and beat it with a beater for one minute
3.Add the dressing over salad and serve immediately


A very refreshing salad for a hot summer day.

Walnut Burfi

Ingredients:

Powdered walnut-1 cup
Sugar-1cup
Saffron-1 pinch

Method:


1.Take two cups of dry shelled walnuts and grind it into a smooth powder (do not add any water  or milk)
two cups of walnut will make about one cup of walnut powder.
2.Melt the sugar in a pan with 1/4 cup of water
3.Once the sugar is melted completely and starts caramelizing, add the powdered walnut in to the pan
4. Mix the batter well in medium heat until the batter starts to leave oil.
5. Spread the batter in a flat plate evenly
6.Cut it into diamond pieces

I got this recipe from a friend,healthiest among all burfis as no ghee or butter needed.
Recipe Courtesy:Geetha

Salad with Avocado

Salad

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:
Iceberg Lettuce-rinsed and air dried,cut in to medium size chunks
Croutons-1/2 cup
Dried sweetened cranberries-1/4 cup
Avocado-1/2 pitted and cut in to thin stripes 
Soaked almonds -1/4 cup chopped (optional)
Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing- 2 Tablespoon
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Mix all the ingredients except avocados and the dressing in a big bowl
Toss the salad lightly so the dressing is coated evenly
Garnish with avocado slices

Thai Red Curry

Thai Red Curry

Ingredients:

Spices:

Cumin seeds-1 teaspoon

Coriander powder-1 teaspoon

Tomato paste-1 tablespoon

Coconut milk-1/2 cup

Red chili sauce-1 tablespoon

Red chili whole-2-3

Lime juice-1 tablespoon

Brown Sugar -according to taste

Salt

Vegetables:

Basil-1 small bunch

Coriander leaves 1 small bunch

Garlic-2-3 cloves

ginger-1 inch piece cut in to thin stripes

Baby corn-1 can drained and rinsed

Zucchini-1/2 cup cut into rounds

Red,yellow,orange bell pepper-1 cup in total cut into stripes

Mushrooms-1and 1/2 cup cut in to chunks

Red onion-1/2 cup cut in to long pieces

Method:

Red curry paste:

Add cumin seeds,Coriander powder,Tomato paste,Red chili sauce,Whole red chillies,

small ginger piece,2 garlic cloves and 2 basil leaves in to a blender.

add enough coconut milk to make a smooth paste.

add the ground paste to a pan and add a spoon of oil to the paste,so that it will not stick to the pan.

Fry the paste until light brown.

Keep the paste aside.

The red curry:

In a pan add 1 tablespoon of oil

once the oil is heated ,add cut onions,ginger,rest of the garlic and stir fry for a minute or two

add the rest of the vegetables and mix it well and cook it for a minute or two until the vegetables are 1/2 cooked

add the curry paste,all the coconut milk,salt,brown sugar,lime juice and little water and boil the curry for couple of minutes.

Garnish the red curry with chopped cilantro and fresh basil leaves.

Served best with sticky white rice or simple fried rice.

Thai red curry  served with white rice and simple fried rice.

Click on food photography link down to see a preview of the recipes you will see soon..

Food Photography

Berry banana smoothie

Ingredients

Frozen strawberries-3 big ones
Frozen Sweetened raspberries-1 tablespoon
Ripe banana-1/2
Saffron-2to 3 strands(optional)
Sugar (optional)
Milk-1/2 cup






Method

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend it for 2 minutes.
Frozen strawberries will make the smoothie thick in consistency .If you only have fresh fruit use some ice while blending to make a thick smoothie.
If you do not like it thick,you can use fresh strawberries or thaw the frozen ones before grinding.

Baby Corn Manchurian

Ingredients:

Baby corn-15 oz can (rinsed and cut into ½)

Ginger-1 inch piece grated fine

Garlic- 2 pieces grated fine

Green onion –fine cut 2 table spoons

Coriander leaves-1 table spoon chopped fine

Corn flour fine -4 tablespoon

Maida-1 tablespoon

Ginger garlic paste-1/2 teaspoon (optional)

Red chili powder-1/2 teaspoon

Chings Manchurian Stir Fry sauce (available in Indian  stores) - 2 Table spoon

Hot and Sweet sauce-1 Table spoon (you can substitute with tomato ketchup)

Tomato chili sauce-1 Table spoon

Soy sauce-1 tea spoon

Salt-per taste

Method:

• 1.       Mix  Corn flour, Maida, ginger garlic paste, salt and chili powder, water and make thick batter

• 2.       Coat baby corn in the batter and deep fry until golden brown and keep it aside

• 3.       In a sauce pan heat one tablespoon of oil and add ginger, garlic and saute it until cooked

• 4.       Add the Tomato chili sauce, hot and sweet sauce, soy sauce, Manchurian stir fry sauce and cook for a minute.
• 5  Just before serving add the fried baby corn fritters, coriander leaves in to the sauce mix and garnish with green onions.

6.     

Pizza Bread

Ingredients: 

French Bread-2

Bell peppers red, yellow, and orange cut in to small pieces-1 each

Pickled/jarred jalapenos chopped -1/2 cup

Black olives canned chopped - 1 can

Mozzarella cheese-1/2 cup

Italian salad dressing-1/4 cup

Olive oil- 2-3 tablespoon.

Method:

Step 1: Cut the French bread in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle.

Step2: Brush the bread edges with olive oil and keep it aside

Step 3: Mix all the ingredients except cheese and olive oil in a bowl.

Step 4: Add salt and crushed pepper (optional) according to taste.

Step 5: Fill the bread with filling.

Step 6: sprinkle cheese on the top of the filling. Be sure not to cover the edges for a crusty taste.

Step 7: Bake it at 300 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until the cheese melts and the crust is golden brown.

Step 7: cut it and serve it immediately.



Pizza bread is one of the favorites for my kids when they come back from school. It is a easy to make appetizer for parties too.In the picture I have used rosemary,olive oil flavored bread,you can substitute any bread as long as you are able to scoop the middle. If you choose a softer bread it might fall apart while you scoop.

Banana Halwa (Prasada)

Ingredients:
Ripe bananas-2 cut into small pieces
Butter/ghee- 1 stick
Small rava(sooji)-1 cup
Sugar-1cup
Milk-3/4 cup

Method:
1.Melt the butter in a pan
2.Add the chopped bananas and fry until dark brown
3.Add the rava and fry it for a minute or two until the rava is roasted
4.Add the sugar and mix it well
5.Add the milk and keep stirring the halwa until the rava is cooked.

Mostly cooked as a sweet offering for God during a puja.