Cheesy Melon Skewers

Quick to make starter & with a difference :)

Ingredients (makes 10)
10 toothpicks
20 melon balls (scoop outs), seedless
Cheese slices or cheese cubes (cut in small squares)
1 tbsp mixed herbs
Pinch of red chilli flakes
salt to taste

Method
Sprinkle cheese with herbs, salt & chilli flakes
Arrange on tooth pick like shown.
Serve chilled :)

Tips
Make these few hours in advance & refrigerate, covered with cling film.
Make sure to remove seeds from melon.
You can cut melon in squares, same as cheese, & either arrange them on tooth pick or just keep a cheese slice on a melon slice & a spring of mint & serve.

Veg Frankie

A quick meal you can fix for your kids anytime of the day :)

Ingredients
For The Rotis (makes 4)
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
salt to taste
1/4 tsp oil for kneading
butter or oil for cooking

Spread
2 tbsp mayonnaise
4 tbsp green chutney

Paneer Stuffing
1 cup crumbled fresh paneer
Salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp pizza seasoning

Capsicum Stuffing
1/2 cup shredded cabbage or lettuce leaves
1 cup red & yellow capsicum, diced
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
Salt & pepper to taste

Method
For The Rotis
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and knead into a soft and pliable dough using enough water. Cover the dough with a wet muslin cloth and keep aside for 10 minutes.
Knead again using ¼ tsp of oil till it is smooth and elastic.
Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and roll out each into approx. 8" diameter thin circle.
Heat a tava (griddle) and cook each roti lightly on a medium flame, using little butter or oil, and keep aside.

Paneer Stuffing
Mix everything and keep aside.

Capsicum Stuffing
Mix everything and keep aside.

How to proceed
Apply the mayo & chutney spread evenly on roti.
Place paneer stuffing in the centre.
Place capsicum stuffing on paneer. Sprinkle a tsp of chutney on the stuffing.
Roll it up tightly & secure with a toothpick if you want.
Serve immediately with any sauce.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make 3 more frankies.

Tips
Add salt to vegetables just before you want to make frankies, or else they will lose lots of water and frankies will become soggy.
You can use any filling in frankies, just use your imagination.

Raw Mango Jam

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup Raw Mango (peeled and finely grated)
3/4 cup sugar (if you like it more sweet, increase accordingly)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Pinch of Cardamom

Method
Mix grated mango with salt & keep for aside few hrs. It will leave water.
Take a wok & put all ingredients along with the grated mango water.
Place the wok on medium flame. Keep stirring.
It will be ready when all the liquid dries up & the jam will have a golden colour.

Tips

Jam should simmer at a very slow boil. If it is too high, it will burn.
Don't make this jam in an aluminum wok or the colour of jam will turn dark brownish.
You can avoid cardamom powder & use saffron threads instead (dissolve 2-3 threads in 1/2 tsp water & rub). Or you can avoid both; it will still taste & smell good :)
Enjoy the tasty raw mango jam with bread, dosas, chapatis and rotis.

Cheesy Penne

My Kids favorite & super easy to make. After eating this they said its same as we ate in Taj Exotica, Goa....the best compliment :D

Ingredients Serves 4
3 cups cooked penne
2 cloves of garlic, chopped (optional)
1 cups broccoli florets
1 cup red/yellow/green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup zucchini, chopped
1/4 cup baby corn, chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup grated processed cheese
2 tbsp butter
salt and black pepper powder to taste
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp Red Chilli flakes

Method
Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the garlic and saute for 1 minute.
Add the baby corn, zucchini & broccoli and saute till little tender.
Add bell pepper, basil, milk, cream, salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
Add the Penne, cheese and oregano & chilli flakes.
Toss lightly & Serve hot.

Tips
If you like little more sauce then increase the milk & cream accordingly.

You can use any shape of pasta in this :)