Olive Cheese Cream Dip

Tasty and easy dip to be served with veggies or bread sticks.

Ingredients (Makes 1 cup)

1/2 cup grated fresh paneer
1 tbsp fresh cream
2 tbsp cheese spread
6 to 8 black olives, deseeded and chopped
1 tbsp chopped celery
salt to taste

Method

Combine the paneer, fresh cream and cheese spread in a bowl and mix well till it is smooth and creamy.

Add all the other ingredients and mix again. Refrigerate.

Serve with crackers, breadsticks and vegetable sticks like carrots, celery, capsicum etc.

Tips

Mix in a tablespoon of cream if the dip becomes too dry when serving.

You can even use this dip as a sandwich spread.

Mango Trifle

Trifle is a dessert dish made from thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, fruit juice or jelly, and whipped cream. These ingredients are usually arranged in alternating layers.

Ingredients
1 large Alphonso cubed,
1 1/2 cups vanilla custard
1 cup jelly or jelly (strawberry or another red colour jelly or jam would look better)
4 plain cup cakes cut into thin round slices (or cut rounds from any sponge cake)
1/2 cup orange juice to soak the cake (use fresh or boxed)

Method
Place the cake slices at the bottom of each glass.
Drizzle the orange juice over the cake to soak it a little.
Next top with mango pieces & spoon jelly/jam over the fruit.
Pour custard till the fruit bits and jelly are completely covered.
Place next layer of cake and continue till you fill the glass completely leaving space for the top most layer of custard and top with more mango bits for decoration.
Chill the trifle thoroughly (5 to 6 hrs) and then serve.

Tips
You can decide from the number of people you are making it for whether you want to make the trifle in individual glasses or a large bowl.
You can use cake of your choice, if you have any leftover it works perfect.  Chop cake in small pieces and use them.
Use any flavor custard, I used vanilla here.
You can also use canned fruits but personally I like to use fresh ones. You can use more fruits in this.
Make this a day before (don’t use banana in that case as it will change color) or in the morning before your party.
You can also use whipped cream as an option to top up the glasses.

Mango Panna

A refreshing and nourishing drink for summers :)

Ingredients

6 medium sized Green Mango
4 cup Water
1 tsp dry-roasted and grounded Cumin Seed

1 tsp Salt
3 tbsp Sugar
3 tbsp chopped Mint Leaves
Crushed Ice-cubes

Method

Place the mangoes with water & pressure cook till 3 or 4 whistles.

Peel, stone and pulp the mango with a spoon.

Place the pulp in a pan. Add water, sugar, salt and cumin.

Give it a boil. Cool it.

Stir in the mint.

Transfer it to a jug.

Serve chilled with crushed ice.

Tips

I made this without salt & it still tasted yummy.

You can add little red chilli powder if you want.

Always add mint after cooling the panna or mint will lose its green colour.

You can deep freeze the panna pulp if you don’t want to use all in first few days of making.

If freezing the pulp then don’t add water. Use the pulp within a week.

Popsicles

Looking for a healthful alternative to ordinary frozen snacks? Real fruit puree provides flavor and body to these easy to make frozen treats.

Watermelon-Strawberry Popsicle
Ingredients
2 cups seedless watermelon, diced
1 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp sugar (according to taste)
1/2 cup strawberries

Method
Combine all ingredients into the bowl of a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth, about 2 minutes.
Distribute the puree evenly in Popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.

Chocolate Fudge Popsicle
Ingredients
2 tbsp semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tbsp bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole milk
2 tbsp sugar (according to taste)
1 tbsp cocoa powder
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method
Place chopped chocolates into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
Heat heavy cream, milk, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until cocoa is dissolved and mixture comes to a simmer. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute, then whisk gently from the center until all chocolate is melted.
Add in the vanilla extract.
Allow to cool slightly, then divide the mixture evenly among the molds.
Freeze for at least four hours or until solid.

Thandai Popsicle
Ingredients
2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
2 tbsp Thandai syrup
1/4 cup milk

Method
Mix all ingredients and pour in molds. Freeze over night or until solid.

Black Currant Popsicle
Ingredients
1 cup black grapes deseeded
¼ tsp lemon juice
Pinch of black salt
Pinch of jeera powder
½ cup water

Method
Puree black grapes in a blender, adding water. Strain juice.
Add lemon juice, jeera powder & black salt. Mix well.
Distribute the puree evenly in Popsicle molds. Freeze overnight.

Tips

You can use single type of chocolate in Chocolate Popsicle.
To make multi layer Popsicle, fill the molds half with one kind and then freeze it. Add another layer about half an hour later and freeze again. This way you get double layers. You can make as many layers as you want.
You can make mango or pineapple Popsicle by blending the fruit with vanilla ice-cream and then freezing it.

Gazpacho Soup

Gazpacho is a tomato-based, raw vegetable soup & is widely consumed in the Spanish cuisine. It is mostly consumed during the summer months, due to its refreshing qualities and cold serving temperature. You can say it’s a salad in a blender :)

Ingredients (serves 4)
For Soup
3 cups ripe tomatoes chopped
1 cup peeled chopped cucumber
1 cup red capsicum finely chopped
1/2 cup red onion chopped
1/2 cup celery stick
4 cloves fresh garlic (optional)
1 tbsp Tabasco sauce OR 1/2 small hot green chilli
salt according to taste
1/4 cup cold water or more for desired consistency
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tsp sugar

For Garnish
1/2 cup finely diced ripe tomatoes
1/4 cup finely diced chopped green pepper
1/3 cup celery stick finely diced along with leaves
1/2 cup cucumber chopped finely
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt

Method
For soup
Place all ingredients in the blender and pulse to the desired consistency.
Some people like their gazpacho smooth and creamy. Some people prefer a rustic consistency.

How to Proceed
Toss all ingredients of garnish in a bowl.
Add half of this mixture into the blended mixture and place soup in the fridge until completely chilled.
Allow at least a few hours for the flavours to fully infuse.
Pour in bowls or glasses. Garnish with remaining mixture and serve.

Tips
I made this soup without garlic & my family loved it, will be making it more often :)
Original recipe had grated avocado in garnish but I was out of it.
You can serve it with grilled French bread.
You can even leave this soup overnight as it gets better with age like a fine Spanish wine.

Rice Bran Oil For Well Being

Rice bran oil (RBO) is the oil extracted from the germ and inner husk of rice. It is known for its high smoke point of 490°-F (254°-C), making it suitable for healthy cooking methods, such as the stir frying and deep frying made popular by Asian countries. Because of its healthy fat composition being 41% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated and 22% saturated, rice bran oil can provide many health benefits.

Characteristics of RBO

·         It is said to have high smoking point and can be used for deep frying although I do not recommend. It does not give any off flavor while frying or even stir frying

·         It has a flavor ideal for Indian cooking. So you can include this oil in your day to day cooking.

·         It is viscous in nature and hence will be absorbed lesser by the foods and the food cooked in it will not be dripping in oil or soggy.

·         It can be used for baking as it gives good texture. Great for salad dressing too.

·         It has good shelf life and not expensive as olive oil.

Health benefits

·         It contains 47% monounsaturated fatty acids as close to peanut oil and hence is heart healthy oil. It also contains 33% polyunsaturated fats and 20% saturated fats.

·         It helps to lower LDL or bad cholesterol and does not lower the good cholesterol as some oils do and is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

·         It is rich in Vitamin E, hence provides protection from cancer causing radicals.

·         The oryzanol and tocopherols present provide antioxidants. Antioxidant companies have switched their basic oil to rice bran oil. This movement is an indication that industry leaders recognize rice bran oil's lipid oxidative stability.

·         It can also strengthen the immunity.

Always use physically refined RBO, its better then chemically refined ones.

The oil is believed to keep the skin smooth and supple. Cosmetics products like sunscreen products and hair conditioners, lipsticks and fingernail polish also have this oil as one of their active ingredients.

So what are you waiting for? Switch over to RBO as I and many others have done & enjoy healthy life :)

Lemongrass & Coriander Soup

A very light & healthy soup :)

Ingredients (serves 4)

Left over sticks of coriander

½ cup lemongrass

5 cups water

Few baby spinach leaves

1 tbsp fresh mint leaves (torn)

¼ cup fresh coriander (chopped)

1 cup finely cut vegetables (steamed)

Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Boil together coriander sticks and lemon grass. Strain and discard the sticks & lemon grass. Keeps the liquid aside.

Add all other ingredients and give a boil to soup.

Serve hot.

Tips

Remember to cover the pan when boiling coriander sticks & lemongrass, to keep the flavor inside.

Ragi (Nachini) For Well Being

Ragi is one of most nutritious millet and is easy to digest as well. Since it does not contain gluten, it is a wonderful grain alternative for people who are gluten-sensitive. It is a low fat cereal and most of the fats are in the unsaturated form. It is called Kelvaragu or aariyam in Tamil, Ragi in Telugu and Kannada, and Madua or Mangal in Hindi.

Health Benefits

·         Aids in Bone Development: An excellent source of calcium.

·         Acts as a Relaxant: The amino acid called Tryptophan acts as an excellent natural relaxant and helps to fight anxiety, insomnia and depression, also helps in treating migraine headaches.

·         Aids in Weight loss: Tryptophan reduces excess appetite & Fibers gives you a feeling of fullness.

·         Reduces High Glucose Levels in the Blood

·         Acts as a Good Source of Protein/Amino Acids

·         Lowers Blood Cholesterol Levels

·         Prevents and Treats Anaemia: Being a good source of iron.

·         Good in Milk allergies: Ragi malt can be a good substitute for people suffering from milk allergies.

·         Acts as Remedy for Various Health Conditions: Such as malnutrition, premature ageing and the development of degenerative diseases. Green ragi is a remedy for blood pressure, heart weakness, liver disease, asthma and lack of milk production during lactation period.

Is there any Downside Associated with the Consumption of Ragi?

High intake of ragi can increase oxalic acid in your body. Hence, it is not recommended for people suffering from urinary calculi (kidney stone).

Prudent ways to include Ragi in diet

·         Ragi can be ground and use in baking and making puddings.

·         Porridge made with Ragi powder is very healthy refreshing breakfast.

·         Soups and vegetable broth can be prepared using Ragi flour.

·         Many Indian desserts such as Halwa and Barfi can be made with Ragi.

·         Idlis and Dosas of Ragi flour is a nourishing breakfast.

·         Mix Ragi flour with whole-wheat flour and make chapattis or Indian breads and can make dosas & upmas.

·         Sprout the ragi grains and use them in your salads.

·         Ragi Puttu a traditional a healthy recipe is a great addition to the meal.

·         Ragi is rich in calcium. Instead of popping a pill, you can as well substitute that with ragi kanji. Boil a glass of water, put a spoon of ragi flour into boiling water, add a little salt and let it cool. Drink it with a pinch of salt and butter milk. This will not just cool your body, but also gives you strength.

·         Ragi is best for weight loss. Make ragi balls and substitute this for rice. You will soon notice the difference.

·         Ragi cherry is one of the best semi-solid foods that you give your kid before you get him used to solid food. It's the best baby food in India to give make kids strong.

You can enjoy the taste of Ragi by including it in various meals. Come out with your own recipes to enjoy the goodness of this cereal!

# Ragi Cherry (from Musicas Kitchen)

Ingredients:

Ragi -1kg

Wheat -100gms

Green Gram-100gms

Almond-50gms

Sabudana-50gms

Method

Soak wheat, ragi, and green gram in a large vessel overnight

Wash 2 to 3 times all the ingredients until you are sure that its clean.

Transfer them to a large sieve to remove excess water after washing.

Tie ragi, wheat, green gram in a thin cotton cloth.

The sprouts start to appear after about a day.

Make sure to open the cloth and see it at least once a day, so that no fungus develops.

Keep it for another day so that you see a few centimeter long sprouts.

Now dry the sprouted ingredients in shade, that is inside the room for a day or until you are sure that there is no wetness.

Roast, almonds, and sabudana .

Grind everything into a fine powder. It should be almost white fine powder. 

For the baby

Mix one teaspoon of ragi Cherry into 200 ml of cold water stir so that there are no lumps.

Add 1/4 spoon of ghee.

Heat the water until it boils and the ragi is cooked. Ragi Cherry should be of semi liquid consistency.

Tips: Initially for first few days feed the baby just one spoon of ragi cherry only once a day. Only after you are sure that the baby has no allergy you can increase the quantity.