Versatile Strawberry Topping

Strawberries are nature's candy. Summer brings an abundance of Strawberries aka "Nature's Candy". They have such a versatile use, but very short shelf life. Here is one way to preserve  those yummy red juicy strawberries   to use in Lemonades, waffles, pancakes, one ice-creams and list goes on and  on.

So next time, you have an overload of these red gems,  here is one recipe to pull out, roll up your sleeves and  then enjoy your "fruits" of labor year long.

Ingredients
Strawberries 
(washed,hulled and chopped small pieces) : 4 cups
Sugar: 5 cups
Lemon juice: 1/4 cup

Method: 
 Combine  the strawberries  and sugar. Let stand overnight. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes - add lemon juice and boil 2-4 minutes. Stir occasionally while cooling. Store in the deep freeze. It will not freeze so is ready to use on whatever you fancy. Keeps indefinitely.

Five fun facts of Strawberries:
1) Strawberries are the only fruit that wears their seeds on the outside. The average berry is adorned with some 200 of them. No wonder it only takes one bite to get seeds stuck in your teeth.

2).Strawberries are members of the rose family. Should you come upon a bush of them growing, you’ll see: they smell as sweet as they taste.

3).The strawberry plant is a perennial. This means if you plant one now, it will come back next year and the following and the year after that. It may not bear fruit immediately, but once it does, it will remain productive for about five years.

4).Belgium has a museum dedicated to strawberries. In the gift shop at Le Musée de la Fraise (The Strawberry Museum), you can buy everything from strawberry jam to strawberry beer.

5).California produces some 80% of the strawberries in the U.S. They grow about 2 billion pounds of the heart-shaped fruits per year. Every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada grows their own.

Plum Panna( Plum summer drink with Indian spices)

 

 Plums are one of my favorite stone fruits. Me and my kiddos can eat a whole bunch of them  at a time.No matter how many you eat, there  is always a bowl full of plums in my kitchen.That's what happens when you have  a huge Plum tree in the backyard.How do you use them after eating a lot, making goodies, giving bag fulls to friends, neighbors.So I created this signature drink.My inspiration is  the Indian Raw mango drink(called Panna(Panna). But I have substituted plums with raw mango. For this drink, I normally don't use exact measurements, just eyeball everything and you can always adjust it according to your taste buds.


Serving size: 3-4

Ingredients :
8-10 med Plums (if they are of small size take around 12 )
1/2 tsp :Jeera(Cumin Powder)
1 tsp Rock salt
A pinch of  regular white salt(if needed)
A pinch of fresh black pepper powder
1/2 tsp-1 tsp :chaat Masala* *
3-4 Tbsp Sugar
5-6  Mint leaves
Sparkling water (Plain or lemon Flavored) 8-10 oz
Crushed ice for garnishing


Directions: Chop the plums in small pieces or if they are soft, just mash them with bare hands. Put a rest of the ingredients except sparkling water in a blender and blend it until it's smooth.
Sieve the  blended plum mix   in  a pitcher and let it cool until ready to use.  Taste to adjust the flavors according to your taste  buds. When ready to serve, fill the plum mix in a glass until 3/4 and add sparkling water and some crushed ice. Enjoy and chillax.
The drink transports you to the blissful state of mind.

Quote to ponder: Don't chase anything but drinks and dreams.

**: Chaat Masala is blend of  spices .You can find it easily in any Indian grocery store.

Garbanzo Bean salad with Avocado Dip

                                      

Garbanzo beans can be used in so many versatile ways. Being a vegetarian, i know how important  beans are to my diet.Not only is this salad fulfilling,it also makes a great detox meal. Here is one recipe which is lunch-box favorite not only with my DH ,but also with my kids

Total servings : 2-3

Ingredients:
1 Cup:chickpeas/Garbanzo beans (cooked)
1 Cup:finely chopped  assorted veggies like red and green bell peppers,zucchini,tomato,onions.
 Handful of any salad mix,or some lettuce,red cabbage leaves shredded.
 2-3 black olives (sliced)
 1-2  sliced Jalapeno pepper(optional)
 Salt &Lemom juice according to taste.
  Red-pepper flakes(optional)

For Avocado dip
1 medium Avocado
1/2 small onion chopped
1 small tomato chopped
  5-10 cilantro leaves
salt and lemon to taste



Method:
For the Avocado dip.
Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel.In a blender,blend avocado,chopped onion,tomato with salt,lemon and cilantro until it's creamy and smooth. You can leave it a bit chunky if you like it that way. Incorporate nicely and transfer it to a bowl and cover it.

For the Salad:
Rinse the garbanzo beans if using canned ones. In a bowl add garbanzo beans, assorted veggies,salad leaves,sliced jalapeno peppers,olives.Mix everything nicely. Now add Avocado dip,add more salt and lemon if needed.Sprinkle some red pepper flakes.
Enjoy by itself or using it as filling in a toasted pita bread.

The Pink Dream

Happy New year.In 2013 ,hope to have lot more posts than last year. May be i can come out of my hibernation.Anyways after having so much holiday activities,parties and cooking,it's time to relax.Ofcourse Valentine Day is just around the corner. So here is a no -fuss drink which is great year around,but specially around Valentines Day,since it blends with the theme. As usual simple and delish.
                                                            

Preparation Time: 10 mins
 Serving size: 5-6

Ingredients:
2 Cups :Sparkling Italian Lemonade
1-2 Tbsp Ginger Juice
2-3 cups :Kern Guava nectar (juice)
 Crushed ice 
 Lemon Slices for garnishing(Optional) 

Method: 
Grate the ginger root and squeeze the juice.Pour it in a pitcher,now add chilled guava juice.Stir well.When ready to serve, add sparkling lemonade.After serving add crushed ice and garnish with lemon slices. Voila your delish pink dream is ready to enjoy.

PS :Serve immediately otherwise the lemonade will start to loose it's fizz.

 

Healthy Herbs Hearts

May I present to you the healthiest and quickest recipe ,my signature dish which I named “Healthy Herbs Hearts” to tantalize your taste buds.I created this dish for a cooking contest . This dish is a fusion of traditional and western flavors . It uses Simple ingredients and is ready in minutes in the microwave. Perfect for lunch-box, picnic or whenever you want something full of flavor and most of all, it's low on fat and high on flavors.Enjoy guilt free.

                                              
Total servings : 4
Total Calories per serving: 170 calories (Approx)

Ingredients:
1 Cup:chickpea flour/Besan
1 Cup :Assorted herbs (basil,Italian flat leaf parsely ,mint
and cilantro) : finely chopped
1Tbsp :Flaxseed Powder
2 Tbsp: Jaggery – finely chopped and mashed
1tsp: Citric acid
1 Tbsp :ginger,garlic paste
1 small green chilly finely chopped(optional)
1tsp :Soda Bicarbonate/Baking Soda
1tsp:sesame seeds
a pinch of asafoetida
1tsp :garam masala-
1tsp:chilly powder
1tsp:Turmeric Powder
1cup :water
salt to taste

For Tampering:
4 Tbsp: Oil
2tsp :Mustard Seeds
1 Tsp:sesame seeds
8-10:Curry leaves
handful of cashews(optional)
1tsp: Lemon Juice
1Tbsp: Sweetened coconut flakes
a handful of pomegranates and some finely chopped cilantro
for garnishing.

Method:
1. Wash the finely chopped herbs and squeeze out. Meanwhile mix all ingredients except water in a bowl. Now slowly add the water and incorporate.Remove any  lumps. Make a smooth batter ,not too thick.The batter should be a bit thin, but not watery.
Now spray some oil to a microwave safe bow& into pour the mixture in the bowl. Now put the bowl with batter  in a microwave safe dish with hot water in it.
Now put both the bowls in the microwave and approx 10 mins.Do the fork test after 8 mins.If it  comes out clean ,then it's done other wise keep for 2 mins more. Let it cool for 10-15 mins.Then cut it into heart shape or any shape you fancy.

Now for the Tampering or vaghar:
Take oil in a heavy bottom pan.When hot put asafoetida,mustard seeds ,sesame seeds ,curry leaves,cashews in the pan and pour it over the cooled slices .Garnish with lemon juice, coconut,chopped cilantro and pomegranate seeds.
Enjoy it with either ketchup,or cilantro chutney.

Easy Sweet Balls( Rawa-coconut ladoos)

Here is one recipe which is a keeper  in our household and is liked by everyone who has tried it. Traditionally it is  made as a dessert with a Traditional Indian Feast Called "Dal-Baati".In our house kids just love it ,so I make it quite often as it's very easy to make. Even my daughter helps me make the balls. I have shared this recipe with lots of my family and friends,here i'm sharing it with you. Make these sweet treat on any special occasions,festivals and anytime you feel like rewarding your sweet soul.

Makes approx 15-18 medium sized ladoos.

Ingredients :
1 Cup : Rawa*/Semolina/Cream of wheat
1 Cup : fine sugar**
1Tbsp:Ghee(clarified butter) or unsalted butter
3/4 cup: shredded unsweetened Coconut /coconut powder
8-10: whole Almonds
4-5 : saffron strands
4-5 : Cardamom
Raisins: 10-12
1/2 cup: Milk (1-2tsp for saffron strands)


Directions:
Take the Saffron threads and put 1-2tsp of  milk and let it soak for 10 mins,then crush the threads with the back of spoon or with the help of mortar and pestle.Keep aside.
Make a powder of ground almonds,keep aside

Take the cardamom seeds from the pods and crush it into fine powder.
Take a heavy Bottom Pan or Kadhai ,add the ghee,after a minute or two,when the ghee is warm add Rawa/semolina.,keep stirring it on slow flame for 10-12mins,until it slightly changes color.Now  add the shredded coconut,sugar,raisins,almond powder/crushed almonds,cardamom.Mix everything well..Turn off  the heat.

once the mixture had cooled down, add a lit bit of milk at a time and make small sized balls.For decoration add a dot of saffron liquid on the balls.
Keep it in a air-tight container and satisfy your sweet tooth.

*"Rawa is easily available in any Indian grocery outlet.Also known as sooji.

**:adjust the sugar according to your taste buds,add or reduce 1tbsp of sugar.

Just for the saying: "Can it be a mistake that STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards ??" 

Paneer Penne

 Here is one Italian dish with Indian take on it.  It's a big hit with kids and grown-ups. This dish is a fusion of different tastes. It replaces the normally used Mozzarella cheese in Italian dishes with Paneer which is a staple in Indian cuisine. This dish is hearty,robust with flavors and easy to make one  dish meal.

Serving: 2

Ingredients

Penne Pasta(uncooked): 1 cup

Paneer* (cubed) :1 cup

olive oil /peanut oil:3 tablespoon

garlic chopped1/2 teaspoon

Marinara Sauce:3/4  or  1 cup

Basil leaves: 4-5 Chiffon -ed

salt and pepper
Paprika or Red pepper flakes (optional):1/2 teaspoon

Directions:

Take a large pot , boil water ,add salt and cook the pasta according to instructions on the box.Drain the pasta and reserve a little pasta water.Keep the pasta aside.
Take olive oil in a pan.add garlic and paneer cubed. Saute until slightly golden brown. Now add the marinara sauce and the pasta***. Mix everything well.Add salt and pepper and finely chopped Basil leaves. If the pasta feels a bit dry ,add 2-3 tbsp of pasta water.
If you like spicy add paprika or red pepper flakes.
This is a big hit in our house with kids. It's a great lunch box keeper or best to enjoy it with some lemonade on summer days.

*:Paneer is Indian style cottage cheese,it's easily available in any South Asian grocery store.If you cannot find paneer you can substitute it with tofu. 
***:When making for kids,just cut the cooked pasta in two  pieces which make it easier for little hands to eat.with fork or spoon.

Food for the brain: Life is a combination of magic and Pasta.