tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56247420908324067212024-03-13T09:41:32.434-04:00Dice 'n SpiceCooking for the mind, body and soul...or just for fun!Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-73338629042825806152012-12-11T11:55:00.001-05:002012-12-11T12:13:18.029-05:00Very Veggie Biryani<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love food, and I love recipes – quick, easy ones!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite dishes is Biryani – an
aromatic rice recipe that has innumerable variations and can be eaten with or
sans curry, is very filling and absolutely delish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a baked version, but we‘ll stick
with the quick stove top recipe here ;-)</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Veggie Biryani</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup cooked rice (not sticky, preferably Basmati)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 cup mixed vegetables, chopped (fresh or frozen, time
permitting)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">¼ cup onions – finely chopped (red/purple is my personal
choice)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">¼ cup ginger/garlic paste </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tbsp. olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 tsp. biryani masala (available at Indian grocery stores)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp. green chili paste (optional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 tsp. mint leaves finely chopped (optional)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cilantro, finely chopped, for garnish</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salt to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EVFO-54245A/UMdkZ4c7shI/AAAAAAAADBM/_enMi8Op_gc/s1600/VegBiryani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EVFO-54245A/UMdkZ4c7shI/AAAAAAAADBM/_enMi8Op_gc/s320/VegBiryani.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heat oil in a pan. Add onions and sauté until
translucent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add ginger/garlic paste and
sauté for a couple of minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now stir
fry the mixed vegetables until cooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add
the cooked rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, add the masala
and optional ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mix gently until
even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garnish with cilantro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy hot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tip: Use a colorful assortment of vegetables to make your biryani pretty - tomatoes or tomato paste, cauliflower, carrots, peas or edamame, green beans and the list goes on...veg. it up your style!</span></div>
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Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-13676878413410833262012-09-27T12:27:00.001-04:002012-09-27T12:27:29.798-04:00Cabbage Curry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
That's the lunch I am currently enjoying at my desk - cabbage with lentils, and it's all spiced up! It's a great combination, health wise and taste wise. Make a bowl for yourself, and eat warm with bread, rice, or as -is:<br />
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<u><strong>Cabbage with Lentils</strong></u><br />
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1 tsp oil<br />
a pinch of mustard seeds<br />
4 curry leaves (optional)<br />
1 cup finely shredded cabbage<br />
Lentils (chana dal - split yellow gram), pre-soaked for an hour or so<br />
1 clove garlic, minced<br />
1/4 bowl shredded red onion<br />
1 green chilli, slit or finely chopped<br />
salt to taste<br />
chopped fresh cilantro to garnish<br />
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Heat oil in a pan. Add the mustard seeds; when these sputter, add the curry leaves. Stir for 10 seconds. Next, add the onion and garlic, saute until pinkish brown. Add the green chilli, saute. Add the cabbage, salt and soaked lentils, and simmer covered, until cooked (stir and check in between!). Garnish and enjoy!<br />
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Variations: Add greens, potatoes/yams, peas and carrots, peppers and broccoli, use your imagination for easy peasy healthy! For extra flavor, add curry powder.<br />
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Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-34779352851553687612012-08-15T11:41:00.003-04:002012-08-15T11:41:42.107-04:00Speaking of wondrous places...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a link to some extraordinary places on this planet that had me completely mystified and in awe:<br />
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<a href="http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/extraordinary-travel-destinations">http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/extraordinary-travel-destinations</a><br />
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Enjoy!</div>
Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-8669190482273770322012-07-05T09:34:00.002-04:002012-07-05T09:34:47.412-04:00What a Wonderful World<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Come summer, all I ever think about is travel, and usually that is all I do - think about it! Lately, I have come across so many articles where people have traveled to numerous countries and viewed several wondrous monuments. Although I have not managed to launch my own travel undertaking (yet), I decided to embark on a journey around the world via the internet. Here is one such breathtakingly real image of the Taj Mahal in India:<br />
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<a href="http://www.airpano.ru/files/Taj-Mahal-India/2-3">http://www.airpano.ru/files/Taj-Mahal-India/2-3</a><br />
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Enjoy!!</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-76879710517922419302012-05-23T10:10:00.002-04:002012-05-24T09:44:16.978-04:00The Appeal of Authenticity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I chanced upon one of Dr. Seuss' quotes this morning :<br />
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<span class="st">"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."</span><br />
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<span class="st">In today's individualist, sometimes (cynics may read as "mostly") duplicitous world, authenticity is fast becoming an attractive trait. People covet simplicity and the comfort of being able to just be (oneself). This quote touched a chord in my heart today, as I am often given to being a people pleaser, and when stretched too thin, ache for the freedom of being (accepted as) just me. </span><br />
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<span class="st">Since I am in such a philosophical mood today, a mocktail seems fitting to nix the mope and lift the hopes (lame, I know!). </span><br />
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<span class="st"><u>Lemon-Cucumber Mocktail</u></span><br />
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3 cucumbers</div>
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1/2 cup lemon juice</div>
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3 tbsp agave syrup</div>
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1 cup water</div>
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Few sprigs of chopped fresh mint </div>
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Blend first four ingredients together and strain, garnish with mint. <br />
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<span class="st"></span><span class="st">Cheers to being the authentic you!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WPB4NYTgEg/T747IMiZDkI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/LrGL_87qKIE/s1600/CucumberMint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qba="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0WPB4NYTgEg/T747IMiZDkI/AAAAAAAAC-Y/LrGL_87qKIE/s320/CucumberMint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-73282157984612304862012-05-22T13:07:00.002-04:002012-05-22T13:07:40.995-04:00The Pleasure of a Good Book<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ladies and Gentlemen,<br />
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This is to announce that I now have a new blog, in addition to this one, for my book reviews called <span dir="ltr"><a href="http://myreaderretreat.blogspot.com/" onclick="" rel="contributor-to nofollow"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Reader's Retreat</span></a>. If you are an avid reader, as am I, and I totally recommend reading as a great practice for anyone, please take the time to visit and feel free to post your comments and recommendations. Like all of you great readers out there, I am always looking to fill any free time with a worthwhile book, and Readers' Retreat is the place to go for book recommendations and reviews*. Check it out, yall! Let me know what you think. </span><br />
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<span dir="ltr">*Note : Only one post so far on Readers' Retreat, first day and all. ;-)</span><br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-69954345137072273042012-03-29T11:43:00.002-04:002012-03-29T15:17:57.970-04:00All You Need is Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had the pleasure of watching the movie 'The Help' recently and am profoundly impressed with it's portrayal of the individual and society. It is a beautiful movie that evokes great emotions and inspires courage and hope. <br />
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It reminded me of how selfish and ugly people can be, but how we can emerge as better individuals through our thoughts, attitudes and actions. We can rise from being mere mortals to enlightened souls if <span class="st">only we allow our own inner light to guide us while on this journey called life. It all starts and ends with love. First, accept yourself, love yourself. And then spread the love.</span><br />
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<span class="st">With that in mind, let us now venture into our kitchen and make ourselves something healthy to eat - fancy some Quinoa? Quinoa (keen-wah) is being touted as a superfood, being a protein-rich, gluten-free whole grain. It's easy to cook and can be added to just about anything. Let's throw some things together and make ourselves a delicious healthy salad. </span><br />
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<span class="st"><u>Quinoa Salad</u></span><br />
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<span class="st">1 cup cooked quinoa - soak in water for 10 minutes, drain water and rinse, then cook in vegetable broth until done</span><br />
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<span class="st">Add to this:</span><br />
<span class="st">-Finely chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, jalapeno (optional - hot)</span><br />
<span class="st">-Finely chopped dates and walnuts</span><br />
<span class="st">-a few drops of lemon juice</span><br />
<span class="st">-garnish with coriander.</span><br />
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<span class="st">No salad dressings required - just dig in !</span><br />
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<span class="st">Variations : You may add avocado, boiled potatoes, bell peppers, even pineapple for flavor and to get those fruits and veggies in. </span><br />
<span class="st"></span><span class="st">This salad can also be seasoned as follows: Heat a tsp of oil in a pan, add a half a tsp of mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds start crackling, add 2 curry leaves, a few coarsely chopped peanuts and a pinch of hing (asafoetida) to the oil. Whole red chillies may be added for extra heat. Pour this seasoning over the salad and mix. Eat right away, with yogurt, or as-is, it is SO good!!</span><br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-37228991200256658022012-02-29T13:12:00.001-05:002012-03-02T15:00:51.041-05:00Mini goals..Baby steps...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Everywhere you look these days, you see signs and posters telling you that you can do anything, you can be anything, if you just put you rmind to it. Well, I have been thinking and dreaming about big changes in my life. About being a better person, not just for myself, but in a way that I can make a positive difference in some one else's life as well. Like most of us middle class mortals, I have my daily trials and tribulations to deal with, and the weeks and months just zip by. Most of all, I would love to do a one-minute meditation and be transformed into an enlightened soul overnight. To be rid of common evils such as anger and judgementalism. To have complete control over my thoughts, speech and actions, and to throw myself into service towards mankind. <br />
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Well, this is all very good, and seems quite possible. But it takes time (a lot of it), and tremendous effort, and just the thought of doing anything more or different in a day where every minute is planned and accounted for, exhausts me! So, I decided to do what a lot of self-help gurus advocate doing - take it one day at a time, baby steps, if you will, towards your ultimate goal. For those of you who have been following this blog, we already have two things we do daily - drink more water , and meditate for 30 seconds. Cleanse the body, and the mind, easy, peasy! <br />
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So, before we plunge into making a list of some of the things we would like to achieve in the near future ( I am one of those people who couldn't work without a list !), I suggest taking another piece of good advice - take deep breaths! Now, calm and focussed, here is our baby-step list to becoming less frenzied and more "accomplished" beings (below is my personal list - please add your comments and suggestions - I value and love your feedback!) :<br />
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1) Make weekly menu and shop accordingly in advance<br />
2) Keep car clean<br />
3) Exercise <br />
4) Have groomed nails, shiny hair and always accessorize to look well put together<br />
5) Host tea party for friends<br />
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Okay, so I have a few more which are actually more like Big Foot steps and so I am going to leave those out for now, for fear of feeling overwhelmed just by reading them. I think structure, focus and maybe even minimalism (zero clutter) will help me with the hefty ones, but let's start small and take it from here. <br />
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I will keep you updated...don't forget to share your thoughts with me. Cheers!<br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-78509883493458753952012-02-10T12:10:00.001-05:002012-02-10T12:13:39.345-05:00My new love...Grapefruit!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In an attempt to switch to a healthier lifestyle, I find myself hunting for great tasting raw foods, and I am absolutely in love with grapefruit. Most people I know always shunned them because they tend to be slightly bitter and/or sour. I ,on the other hand, have always loved things with a slight bitter twist to them, like tonic water, for example (which is a no-no, since it is soda, after all). Some prefer to eat grapefruit with a sprinkling of sugar. <br />
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For those of you who 'd like to become fellow devourers (<em>is that really a word?)</em> of grapefruit, please feel free to indulge in some fresh grapefruit salad (recipe in one of my previous posts - <a href="http://dicenspice.blogspot.com/2011/07/good-for-you-grapefruit-salad.html" target="_blank">Grapefruit Salad,</a> this post also lists some of the myriad benefits of consuming this fruit). Benefits extend to the peel, which is used for dual purposes. Grapefruit peel oil is used for massages for it's anti-aging properties. Grapefruit peel masks and scrubs act as great exfoliants. Apart from all this, it comes in three great colors - white, pink and red. So mix it up!<br />
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I always look forward to your comments on your experiences with healthy whole foods and your journey to a holistic lifestyle. Do drop me a note sometime. Stay Healthy, Stay Happy!<br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-179286536074068702012-02-01T15:06:00.000-05:002012-02-01T15:06:13.126-05:00What's new in the New Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So, at first, I dilly-dallied between whether the new year warranted one or more resolutions (since it is so hard to keep 'em anyway!). Now, after a whole month has gone by, after much thought and re-thought, I have decided on a new me!! Yes, that's right - it's either no goals, or, a huge hefty ovewhelming one! It is time for a new me - a more mindful, less stressed, much-more-pleasant-to-be-with me. Which is not to say, I no longer care about my outward appearance, losing weight and looking great, but this time, I intend to put the focus on working from the inside-out.<br />
Having said that (and, this is so much easier said than done...), I decided to launch a full blown attack on the best sellers out there on healthy living. Also, I repeatedly pestered those people in my life who do nothing but support me (they may be very few, but I am so thankful to have them!), trying to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses, and how I could start on this journey to -ahem- 'nirvana'. In my future posts, I am going to dish out advice on not just healthy food for the body, but also for the mind. For mastering the mind is mastering one's life, it is the only way to be truly happy (worded by yours truly after digesting several books and conversations on joy and peace!). <br />
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To make sure I don't fall off the wagon without a fair shot at my new goals, I have decided to start off with easy and doable daily goals:<br />
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1) Drink plenty of water - Drink up, buttercup! The benefits of drinking water regularly are many, including flushing the body of toxins, moisturizing the skin, increasing productivity and improving the immune system.<br />
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2) Half a minute of silence - This is not limited to observing a half-minute vow of silence, but also silence of the mind - to slow down it's galloping nature and rein in those endless thoughts of the past and future. This helps us become aware of our inner self, our surroundings and feel at peace. Half a minute sounds miniscule, but you will find that this is in reality a long long time to keep the mind still, at least when you first begin.<br />
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I am sure there are a lot of you out there that have similar goals and can relate and advise, and I urge you all to be a part of this excursion to attain peace and happiness. Please feel free to post your thoughts and experiences and suggestions.<br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-91479814575186230102011-12-15T12:31:00.006-05:002011-12-15T12:48:10.514-05:00Watching that Weight in the Winter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a major relapse in diet and lifestyle (no surprises there!), I am finally back on the wagon, where I want to eat and live healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first step is always the cleansing stage, and nothing better than soups, salads and juices to help you with that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, there is also exercise and meditation, and all that good stuff, but it’s always a good idea to start small, and if I start now, I might be able to reach a reasonable resolution by the end of the year, and actually make that in 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shall see…</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to go with soup for today, ‘cos it's easy and nutritious, thanks to all the fresh veggies we throw in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart (or tongue, or tummy) is saying ‘Gazpacho’, so here goes:</span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup chopped tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup chopped celery</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup yellow peppers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp minced garlic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">salt to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup water </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp red chilli powder (optional, for spiciness)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcH-x4urWLY/TuoyrJJKUwI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/LIATtcu0i5Y/s1600/Gazpacho.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XcH-x4urWLY/TuoyrJJKUwI/AAAAAAAAC7Q/LIATtcu0i5Y/s1600/Gazpacho.bmp" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3wBNwP0OW6w/Tuow_wjsFbI/AAAAAAAAC7I/5WpwXRM7I9k/s1600/gazpacho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rjsyB0n9KWI/Tuou_tEYF7I/AAAAAAAAC7A/cPZGBctPZpA/s1600/gazpacho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throw in all the vegatables into a slow cooker, add water and let their goodness simmer and blend.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This colorful soup is packed with fiber, Vitamin A and anti-oxidants. It is great to have hot or ice-cold and can be made in so many different ways by adding different vegetables, even roasted tomatoes for a subtle flavor, and you can add all kinds of herbs for variety.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bold and Beautiful Butternut Squash </span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp cumin seeds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp ginger/garlic paste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup butternut squash, peeled and cubed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp oil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pinch of salt</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cilantro for garnish</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Green chillies, finely chopped (optional)</span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heat oil in pan/wok, and add cumin seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they start to sputter, add the butternut squash and the salt ,minced<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>green chilies and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ginger/garlic <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>paste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Mix well. </span>Cook covered for a few minutes until tender, then let simmer uncovered for a couple of minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garnish with chopped cilantro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Variations: You can make zucchini , pumpkin or potatoes the same way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add lemon juice for a little tang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add your favorite<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>herbs for a subtle flavor.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wish you all Happy Healthy Holidays!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-58546082070778018532011-10-12T11:06:00.009-04:002011-10-12T11:26:21.772-04:00Divine Diwali Dessert<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">With Diwali just round the corner, I am sure all of you are feeling the festiveness and getting all geared up for greetings and parties. But what's Diwali and parties without delicious food? So, today I want to share with all of you the recipe for a yummy chocolatey sweet that can be made in about 10 minutes! Every year I pack cute little containers with sweets and savory snacks and gift them to my neighbors and friends during this time. I love putting up lights around the house and decorating the porches and patios with designs (rangoli). This recipe is a contender for this year, for it's ease and taste. It's also rather contemporary and has been a real hit so far.<br />
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Finally, here is the recipe for:<br />
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<u>Charming Chocolate Burfi</u><br />
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<div ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="197" left;?="" new="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times="">1 pack Instant Dry Milk powder</div><div ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="197" left;?="" new="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times="">1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream</div><div ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="195" left;?="" new="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times="">1 cup Confectioners Sugar</div><div 0px;="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="193" left;?="" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times="">1 tbsp- Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)</div><div 0px;="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="193" left;?="" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times="">2 tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup<br />
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</div><div 0px;="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="193" left;?="" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times=""></div><div 0px;="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="193" left;?="" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times=""></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxC4Cma2Ar4/TpWsw2IQcKI/AAAAAAAAC0k/ZHE0KBKCpiM/s1600/chocburfi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" oda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zxC4Cma2Ar4/TpWsw2IQcKI/AAAAAAAAC0k/ZHE0KBKCpiM/s1600/chocburfi.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div 0px;="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="193" left;?="" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" text-align:="" times,"times=""></div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times="">Mix milk powder, sugar and heavy cream.</div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times="">Halve this mixture into two bowls, add chocolate syrup and cocoa powder to one and mix very well. </div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times="">Microwave both mixtures for 2 minutes, then fold in. Repeat this process until mixture attains the consistency of soft cheese, firm enough to cut into bars.</div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times="">Now, spread the non-cocoa mixture onto a baking pan, then layer it with the cocoa mixture, so you have a two-color sweet that you can cut into bars. Give it time to set , about an hour or so to cool off, before cutting into pieces.</div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times=""><br />
Since this is milk-based, it should be stored in the refrigerator, but believe me, it goes fast when you have it out, so you may not need to store it at all!<br />
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</div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times=""></div><div 0px;?="" 0px="" 1.5em;="" 1em;="" ?font-family:="" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="191" line-height:="" margin:="" new="" padding:="" roman",serif;="" times,"times="">Variations: You may add almond or walnut flour to this for a nutty flavor, and/or garnish with chopped nuts, or use food color in the white part of the dessert for a different look. For a more festive look, decorate with a thin silver foil on top.<br />
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</div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-36394231069171489062011-10-07T16:14:00.005-04:002011-10-08T07:58:36.448-04:00Keen on Kidney Beans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">During my lunch hour today, I decided to look for fresh ideas on healthy lunches for school. I have run out of meal contraptions based on wheat, salad/fruit and dairy. So, I thought to myself, this leaves us with rice and beans. Speaking of beans, I can feel my mouth watering just thinking of this delish curry with dark red kidney beans as the main ingredient. To make this easier to prepare, I use two shortcuts. One, I use canned beans (however, I would recommend soaking dry beans overnight and cooking them in the pressure cooker to get them to be exactly like the canned version, minus the preservatives). The second shortcut is that I use store bought masala called Rajma masala (this is available in Indian grocery stores), for flavor. Now, all we need to do is make the base of the curry using onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes. It is so worth it!<br />
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<u>Kidney Beans Curry (Rajma)</u><br />
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A can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed<br />
Medium red onion - finely chopped<br />
Medium red tomato (fresh preferred over canned) - diced<br />
2 tsp ginger/garlic paste<br />
1 tbsp oil<br />
Rajma masala<br />
salt to taste<br />
chopped cilantro for garnishing<br />
1/2 cup of water/vegetable stock<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wE8dXPfiPCg/To9dqeGXN9I/AAAAAAAAC0g/LkyFhNVsHZ0/s1600/rajma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wE8dXPfiPCg/To9dqeGXN9I/AAAAAAAAC0g/LkyFhNVsHZ0/s1600/rajma.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Heat oil in saucepan. Add onions and saute until pinkish brown, then add the ginger/garlic paste, saute until done but not burnt. Next, add the tomatoes and salt. Saute for a couple of minutes before adding rajma masala. Add beans and water, and simmer covered for 10-15 minutes till beans become tender. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan. Inhale the aroma and dig in!<br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-27418054703325276162011-09-28T12:39:00.002-04:002011-09-28T13:26:45.246-04:00Healthy and Heavenly Date and Walnut Roll<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">So, let's talk about the three things that are important to be happy - TV, retail therapy and chocolate. Nah, just kidding! We all know what the "right" answer is - right diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep. This applies to the young and the old, the busy and the idle, the motivated ones and the procrastinators. Lately, more and more emphasis is being laid on bringing about a complete lifestyle change, so that one may live life in a healthy and happy way, in other words, fully. Below, you will find all that advice in a (very) condensed format.<br />
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Right Diet - This includes eating whole foods (raw and/or unprocessed) - stick to vegetables, fruits and grains. Eat mindfully and in moderation. Drink water, lots of it!<br />
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Regular Exercise - Be it yoga or aerobics, get the heart going and the endorphins flowing, atleast 3 times a week, if not daily. For me, this also includes Breathing exercises (pranayama).<br />
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Rest or Sleep - Get 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Sleep plays a critical role in your body's immune functions, learning, memory and metabolism.<br />
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Now that I have wrapped up that health sermon, let us move into the kitchen and make ourselves a fantastic healthy breakfast/snack/dessert item that is all natural and packs a punch! The main ingredient is dates, which are high in vitamins (rich in B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K), fiber, minerals(iron, copper, potassium) and phytonutrients(caretenoids and antioxidants). Add to this walnuts, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. And here's where we seal the deal - it takes no more than 5 minutes to make! Let's get started:<br />
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<u>Date and Walnut Roll</u><br />
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4 lbs pitted dates (the best ones are black and melt-in-your-mouth soft)<br />
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts<br />
2 tbsp clarified butter (ghee)<br />
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In a heated wok, add ghee and pitted dates. In about three minutes, you will see the dates have "melted" (soft and mushy). Add the walnuts, mix them in and take wok off the heat. Spread the mixture on a flat heat resistant surface, and roll it up, then cut into wheels. Or just flatten mixture onto surface and cut into squares. Enjoy it anytime!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-UUY35KkY/ToNNscwcrSI/AAAAAAAACyw/UU_VvB1Dtdg/s1600/DateWalnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg-UUY35KkY/ToNNscwcrSI/AAAAAAAACyw/UU_VvB1Dtdg/s320/DateWalnut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-15506756851266359962011-09-07T16:52:00.005-04:002011-09-28T13:27:51.074-04:00Palatable Pizza<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">There's nothing like homemade pizza, especially if the vegetables come from your own garden. If you do not have a vegetable garden, fret not. The local farmer's market always has freshly picked produce for your quick and healthy meals. Pizza, to me, is something that can be heavily customized or eaten just plain, either way it pleases the palate no end. With store-bought dough and sauce, this recipe is a cinch to make.<br />
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<u>Simple Pizza</u><br />
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1 large tomato, sliced<br />
1 clove minced garlic<br />
A dozen basil leaves<br />
1 jar pizza sauce<br />
1 packet shredded mozarella cheese<br />
Pizza dough <br />
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Dust a baking pan with flour, then roll out or flatten dough with hands and spread in pan .<br />
Rub garlic all over crust.<br />
Now, spread the sauce over crust, then the tomatoes and basil evenly.<br />
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.<br />
Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes. <br />
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Variations: Add toppings like onions and bell peppers, olives and mushrooms, or try herbs like parsley for flavor. The first couple of times, keep an eye on the pizza to make sure it doesn't get overdone. You can make mini pizzas for the kids, make it fun for them where they can pick their own toppings. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYfVRWnLfqs/TmfYt_PhKOI/AAAAAAAACys/F23_8T6IeQ4/s1600/Pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYfVRWnLfqs/TmfYt_PhKOI/AAAAAAAACys/F23_8T6IeQ4/s1600/Pizza.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-35999049467206731142011-07-29T11:22:00.003-04:002011-07-29T11:31:03.399-04:00Savoring Seasonal Vegetables<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">One great thing about summer is that you can simply start your grill and cook a number of quick meals in a matter of minutes. For a quick, healthy and delicious way to eat your vegetables, grill them. Then eat them as is, in a salad or with bread - they are succulent and flavorful. Toss in some spices or home made dressing, mix and match, and you have enough variety for a whole week.</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">Let's start off with some grilled peppers, eggplants and zucchini.</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><u>Grilled Vegetables</u></div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">2 cups Slices/Strips of peppers, eggplants and zucchini - make it colorful </div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">1 tbsp olive oil</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">salt and pepper to taste</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">2 tsp lemon juice</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">1/2 tbsp minced garlic</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">1 tsp Red crushed pepper/curry powder for spiciness (optional)</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111" closure_uid_u73df7="91"><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_ya31so="107" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_VV4SSrQXo/TjLRnHijTLI/AAAAAAAACqM/Dzj3hmLz1ic/s1600/GrilledVegs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_VV4SSrQXo/TjLRnHijTLI/AAAAAAAACqM/Dzj3hmLz1ic/s320/GrilledVegs.jpg" t$="true" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_ya31so="107" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl until all vegetables are coated evenly.</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111">Grill on each side for a couple of minutes each, until done and marked.</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111"><div closure_uid_ymn0w="100"><div closure_uid_ya31so="90">Variations: </div><div closure_uid_ya31so="90">This may be eaten with yogurt relish on the side (great on a hot day). Add other vegetables such as onions, tomatoes,potatoes or mushrooms. You could also add tofu. If you are making a veggie panini, add goat cheese for that extra punch. Experiment with other herbs and spices to make these your own! Enjoy...</div></div></div><div closure_uid_84dzez="111" closure_uid_ya31so="106"><br />
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</div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-67186780067837016702011-07-12T10:08:00.005-04:002011-08-11T10:55:23.194-04:00'Good For You' Grapefruit Salad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I had a wonderful weekend. A little short on sleep, but apart from that, it was wonderful. Made a trip to the beach, shopped at the outlets, had dinner at two restaurants, and watched a movie while sipping superb Ecuadorian coffee, all in the enjoyable company of some very good friends. I headed back to work feeling elated and energetic. It is amazing what friends (and a weekend without cooking and cleaning) can do for a woman!<br />
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So, of course, I am all pepped up to have a great breakfast and a healthy lunch and am hoping to continue that trend for the rest of this week (we shall see...occasionally, I will come upon something that triggers my sweet tooth and I go on a wild binge - so NOT good for you!)<br />
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Grapefruit - This unassuming citrus fruit, not as popular as it's smaller buddy, the orange, is touted by health nuts as a superfruit, rich in detox enzymes, Vitamin A and C, and the antioxidant Lycopene. It is also a good source of folate, iron, calcium, and other minerals. So, today, let us look at a breakfast and lunch version of grapefruit salad - that should help ease my conscience for having eaten rather irresponsibly the last three days. <br />
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<u>Grapefruit Salad, in the morning</u><br />
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1/2 grapefruit, peeled and diced (warning - takes a few minutes, needs practice)<br />
5 leaves mint, finely chopped<br />
3 drops lemon juice (you may add more if you like it tart)<br />
1/2 tsp sugar or honey<br />
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Toss ingredients in bowl and enjoy. Feel free to add crumbled cheese or roasted nuts to the mix, to make this more filling.<br />
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<u>Grapefruit Salad, for lunch</u><br />
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1 grapefruit, peeled and diced<br />
2 cups spring mix<br />
1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts<br />
1/2 cup red onion, sliced<br />
1/2 cup cucumber, sliced<br />
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<em>Dressing</em><br />
2 tbsp honey<br />
1/4 tsp garlic powder<br />
1 tbsp olive oil<br />
1 tsp lemon juice<br />
salt and pepper to taste<br />
1 tsp chili powder (optional)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF2OwkVN7qE/TkPtVCLJF2I/AAAAAAAACqc/QoZReOdmTS4/s1600/Grapefruit+salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VF2OwkVN7qE/TkPtVCLJF2I/AAAAAAAACqc/QoZReOdmTS4/s1600/Grapefruit+salad.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl. Throw in the rest of the ingredients and mix. This is really good stuff.<br />
<br />
Variations: Granish with different herbs. Use walnuts or almonds instead of cashew nuts, although cashews taste better. Add other ingredients like spinach or avocado for a healthier version. You could even add tofu.<br />
<br />
Have a healthy week!<br />
<br />
<br clear="all" /></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-31941954071677800232011-07-08T10:20:00.003-04:002011-07-08T11:50:27.667-04:00Charming Chick Peas (Chatpate Chhole)When I reach home this evening, I will have about an hour to put together a meal for friends who are visiting us from Canada. They are 3 families, and then there's our family too. So , what can I make in under an hour for 4 families that constitutes a complete meal?<br />
<br />
Here is what I have in mind - Chhole (or Curried Chick Peas), Naan (store bought in this case) and Rice, accompanied by salad and/or yogurt relish, and pickled onions.<br />
<br />
<u>Curried Chick Peas </u> (this recipe serves 2 people) <br />
<br />
1 can chick peas or garbanzo beans (16 oz)<br />
2 bay leaves<br />
1 finely chopped onion<br />
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)<br />
1 tsp turmeric powder<br />
1 tsp cumin seeds<br />
2 tsp ginger paste<br />
1 tbsp garlic paste<br />
1 tsp garam masala powder<br />
2 tsp coriander powder<br />
4-6 slit green chillies (optional)<br />
1 tsp red chilli powder (optional)<br />
1 tsp lemon juice<br />
salt to taste<br />
2 tbsp oil<br />
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4I9PpwhjM4/ThcnDngX2vI/AAAAAAAACp0/_2STr6iKCL0/s1600/Chick+Peas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4I9PpwhjM4/ThcnDngX2vI/AAAAAAAACp0/_2STr6iKCL0/s1600/Chick+Peas.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Wash and drain chickpeas and keep aside. <br />
<br />
Heat oil in a pan,add cumin seeds and bay leaves, allow cumin seeds to roast until slightly dark. Add the slit green chillies and ginger-garlic paste, followed by onions, stirring as you go. Saute until onions are pinkish brown. Now add the spices and cook for a couple of minutes.<br />
<br />
Add tomato sauce and chick peas and mix contents. Pressure cook for 10 minutes (this lets the flavor of the spices seep into the chick peas; alternatively, cook covered in a sauce pan on sim for 20 minutes) .<br />
<br />
Top with lemon juice and garnish with coriander leaves.<br />
<br />
The chick peas may be served hot with rice and flatbread. <br />
<br />
Variations include adding kale or potato to the chick peas.Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-33331548225180782902011-07-07T16:06:00.004-04:002011-08-11T10:57:43.579-04:00Snappy Spinach Fry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I went out and bought a bike this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All through spring and early summer, I have been fantasizing about riding a bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was jumpy all morning waiting for lunch break, so I could pull out my shiny new bike, and take it for a spin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the initial scramble for balance (from not having touched a bike in years), I set off like a free bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a thrilling, exhilarating experience, just me and nature in a quiet, peaceful setting with a view of lush green grass and colorful flowers, and the birds keeping tune with my gleeful humming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the daily commute, I feel fortunate to be able to work in such pretty surroundings, a place that is a tranquil retreat, away from the city’s industrial concrete, and the hustle and bustle of suburban fast food joints and supermarkets. Also, it is a secure place for a “re-beginner” to ride a bike, due to the absence of traffic. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I returned to my desk with a chirpiness scarcely seen on warm afternoons in employees who would much rather prefer to nap after a heavy lunch!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a short bike alone can be so exhilarating, I paused to wonder, what does a pilot feel like when launching into the air, soaring above the clouds, leaving the ground and lesser mortals beneath him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It must be a breath-taking, liberating experience!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having imagined that, I am now back to my computer, trying to get a few words in, before I dive into a new assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s recipe is a very simple spinach fry, that can be eaten as is, or loaded with frills and fancies, whatever your heart desires (You can tell I am still a little high here – exercise, endorphins, the works…)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spinach fry</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 cups chopped spinach – fresh or frozen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/4 cup sliced onion (optional)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1/2 tsp finely chopped green chilies (optional)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tbsp oil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salt to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp Curry powder</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp cumin seeds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 tsp fenugreek seeds</span><br />
<div style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; height: 9px; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heat oil in a pan, add cumin and fenugreek seeds for a few seconds until roasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add the sliced onions, and sauté until pink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add spinach, salt and curry powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cook covered for a few minutes at medium heat, stir occasionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spinach cooks real quick, so you have something tasty and healthy to eat, in a snap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hats off to spinach for being one of the most nutritious vegetables - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is v<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ery high in calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6 and vitamin C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only downside is that it is high in sodium. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7i1VjzFF9M/TkPt4ZqrEsI/AAAAAAAACqg/0V8qLKcs-bs/s1600/friedspinach.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7i1VjzFF9M/TkPt4ZqrEsI/AAAAAAAACqg/0V8qLKcs-bs/s1600/friedspinach.png" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Variations for this dish include the addition of garlic, other vegetables and tofu. Simple and succulent, this is a real hit in any season. </span></span></div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-33636612835629987042011-07-06T10:33:00.001-04:002011-09-28T13:26:14.894-04:00Easy Cheesy Veg Muffins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While we are on the subject of baking, how about some vegetable muffins for the kids?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Easy Cheesy Vegetable Muffins</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup finely chopped/grated vegs : broccoli, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, peppers, etc</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup all purpose flour</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 egg, beaten </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 tbsp olive oil</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 tbsp milk</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salt to taste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">½ cup grated cheese (optional)</span><br />
<div style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; height: 9px; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preheat oven to 250 degrees.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl, pour into greased muffin tray.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bake for about 20 minutes until done (toothpick inserted in center comes out clean)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These are good anytime, for kids and grown-ups alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Experiment with different vegetables and herbs. </span>Add finely chopped green chillies to the mix, for spiciness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BqQU__WCXTk/ToNYs_mbLVI/AAAAAAAACy0/xJeUqPv1CSA/s1600/veg+muffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BqQU__WCXTk/ToNYs_mbLVI/AAAAAAAACy0/xJeUqPv1CSA/s1600/veg+muffin.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-76275216539640080232011-07-05T16:04:00.002-04:002011-08-11T10:51:44.332-04:00Heavenly Jalapeno Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love freshly baked bread. Growing up, I remember buying bread from a bakery called Paris Bakery. I still remember the crisp smell of their baked goods and the pleasure of eating them. Recently, we enjoyed homemade bread and cheese fondue at a friend's place, and now I am tempted to bake my own. <br />
<br />
For spice, we will add finely chopped jalapeno to the dough. It looks intimidating, but with practice, and some instant yeast, baking bread is a breeze.<br />
<br />
<u>Jalapeno Bread</u><br />
<br />
<div class="ingredients">2 cups all-purpose flour <br />
1 cup wheat flour <br />
<div>1/4 teaspoon instant yeast</div><div>1 teaspoon salt </div>1 1/2 cups warm water<br />
1/2 cup finely chopped jalapeno (optional)</div><div class="directions"><br />
</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;">Fold in all ingredients in a bowl, cover and let sit overnight in a warm spot. The next morning, you will see that the dough has risen and is bubbly. Fold over a few times with floured hands into a ball. Let it sit for a couple of hours.</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;">Preheat oven to 450F.</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;">Bake for about 40 minutes until crust is golden brown and inside is done (toothpick inserted in center comes out clean).</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;">Cut into slices after bread has cooled. Enjoy a slice with butter or cheese spread. Yum!<br />
<br />
Picture below shows Cheddar Jalapeno bread...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScKjb4EeWrM/TkPsUo4jtQI/AAAAAAAACqY/uNz94WQmVTs/s1600/cheddar-jalapeno-bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScKjb4EeWrM/TkPsUo4jtQI/AAAAAAAACqY/uNz94WQmVTs/s320/cheddar-jalapeno-bread.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="directions" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-74931884685037400522011-07-05T10:05:00.003-04:002011-07-05T10:09:13.382-04:00Tuesday Morning Blues...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is Tuesday, July 5<sup>th</sup>, and although this promises to be a short week, I had a hard time getting ready for work this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This weekend was pretty good for me in that I did not clean closets, a dreadfully boring task. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I took my daughter to the movies, which I never do (many thanks to my hubby for this; he watched my little one the whole time)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to watch Cars 2 – superbly entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of cleaning curtains and comforters, I took my little one out in her stroller twice every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unlike most people, instead of winding down on Sunday night in anticipation of the routine and running around slated for the coming week, I go into overdrive, trying to do all the things that I was not able to get to over the weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way I do not have tasks piled up for the next weekend, and me being me (cleaning compulsive, although you wouldn’t think it when you come visiting!), I probably would not be able to endure a whole week with too many pending things staring me in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night, however, I resisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had had a good weekend so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did end up doing a lot of dishes, and laundry, of course!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I did go to the movies, and I did catch up on some long overdue reading and also managed to watch a movie at home, albeit in two sittings (which isn’t bad).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the ‘me’ time at home was at the expense of some much needed beauty sleep, staying up until the wee hours of the morning!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why I say – no pain, no gain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gotta work on some easy peasy recipes for the week to give myself a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first, let’s focus on today’s breakfast item, it’s gotta be grab-and-go, but healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u>Yogurt Parfait</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup vanilla yogurt</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup blueberries (I love berries)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">½ cup granola/chopped nuts</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rVteO_YkEw/ThMZ_a6aFzI/AAAAAAAACps/oEj1w51JxLE/s1600/YP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rVteO_YkEw/ThMZ_a6aFzI/AAAAAAAACps/oEj1w51JxLE/s1600/YP.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Top yogurt with berries and granola/nuts, enjoy!</span></div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-46806429611035024402011-07-04T08:19:00.004-04:002011-07-04T11:52:54.278-04:00Relish Yogurt?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I hope you are one of those people that loves yogurt, because today we shall make yogurt relish. Perhaps this will make it more attractive to those of you who don't like plain yogurt. The variations are amazing too!<br />
<br />
<u>Yogurt Relish</u><br />
<br />
<div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">1 Persian cucumber - peeled and grated</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">1 cups Greek yogurt</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">1 minced garlic</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">salt to taste</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">1/4 teaspoon white sugar (optional)</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">1/4 tsp minced green chillies (optional)<br />
1/2 tsp roasted cumin, coarsely ground (optional)<br />
1 tsp roasted peanuts, coarsely ground (optional)</div><div class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient" style="text-align: left;">Finely Chopped cilantro for garnish</div><div style="border-top: #ccc 1px dotted; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpZI9WahJPc/ThHgIicVDlI/AAAAAAAACpk/9XJW0-FpCOo/s1600/Cucumber+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hpZI9WahJPc/ThHgIicVDlI/AAAAAAAACpk/9XJW0-FpCOo/s1600/Cucumber+dip.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: center;">Picture from <a href="http://chow.com/">Chow.com</a></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Serve cold.</span></div><div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px; text-align: left;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">Variations: Use finely chopped onions(skip the garlic in this case), cooked eggplant, boiled potato or chick peas, or chopped up fruits in place of cucumber. Use int instead of cilantro. </span><br />
<br />
By the way, this goes great with tomato rice! :-)<br />
<br />
</div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624742090832406721.post-58456748789334897642011-07-01T10:22:00.004-04:002011-07-04T11:55:42.325-04:00Tangy Tomato Rice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today's recipe is a special recipe that I learned to make from a a co-worker who was very precise in her cooking, and well, maybe everything else too. I was always impressed with her foresight and how she handled certain situations, especially with her communication skills, and although she has now moved overseas, I remember her often. I hope to imbibe more of her qualities in me, and hope to see her when she visits.<br />
<br />
Today's posting is special for another reason too - this recipe is for a very special friend, someone who is sensible and supportive, and certainly more mature than I! For now, let's savor the taste of some tangy tomato rice, which can be made in a jiffy!<br />
<br />
<u>Tomato Rice</u><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 cup basmati rice </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tbsp tomato paste </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 large onion (cut length wise)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tbsp ginger garlic paste</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Finely chopped Mint leaves (half bunch) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Salt to taste </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tsp chili powder(optional – for heat)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tsp curry powder </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tsp lemon juice (optional)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tsp black cumin seeds</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2 cloves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2 Cardamoms</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2 small cinnamon sticks</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2 Bay leaves</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">10 Cashew nuts</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1 tbsp unsalted butter</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Finely chopped Cilantro leaves for garnish</span><br />
<div style="border-top: #ccc 1px dotted; height: 9px; margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xocnAtAanRI/ThHiXy1PgZI/AAAAAAAACpo/HFGV7ARm1Vs/s1600/tomato+rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xocnAtAanRI/ThHiXy1PgZI/AAAAAAAACpo/HFGV7ARm1Vs/s320/tomato+rice.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from JugalBandi.info</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Cook rice , drain and keep aside. Rice should not be sticky. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">In a pan, Add unsalted butter, cloves, cardamoms, bay leaves, cumin seeds and cashew nuts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">After 2 minutes, add onions. When onions are golden brown, add ginger garlic paste & mint leaves. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">After a few minutes of sauté, add tomato paste. Add salt, chili powder and curry powder and let it cook for 10 minutes. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Add the cooked rice and mix gently. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sprinkle with Cilantro and 1 tsp lemon juice over the top before serving. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"> During the summer, this is great to eat with yogurt or buttermilk.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Have a Happy 4th!</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"></div></div>Sonalihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07986777932918923568noreply@blogger.com0