Peach Smoothie

Ingredients

1. Peaches-6 (Frozen or fresh)
2. Banana-1(peeled and cut into chunks)
3. Plain Yogurt-1/2 cup
4. Apple Juice-1 Cup
5. Ice cubes-6
6. Sugar-2tbs(optional, only if needed) 

Method

• Put the Peaches,ice ,banana.Apple juice and yogurt onto the blender container.
• Cover the blender with th elid and hold down the lid while you blend ,blend on high speed.
• Blend until the mixture is forthy and there are no big chunks of fruit and ice .
• Pour the smoothie into 2 glasses and serve right away.

KULCHA

Ingredients

1. Wheat Flour-2 1/2 cups
2. Flour(Maida)- 1cup
3. Yeast- 1 1/2 tsp
4. Baking Powder-1 tsp
5. Curd-1/4 cup
6. Milk-3/4 cup( warm milk)
7. Sugar-2tbs
8. Salt-1 1/2tsp
9. Butter or oil-2tbs

Method

• Add yeast to the warm milk and keep aside for 15min.
• Now take a large bowl and add both flour ,baking powder ,sugar and salt and mix them together.
• Add oil and mix well ,now add the curd and milk (milk with yeast) and make a soft dough, add some oil and let the dough sit aside for 6hrs .The dough will rise double in size.
• Take the dough and knead once again to break the air bubbles.
• Make 13-15 lemon size balls and dust them in  flour and roll them round like chapathi.
• Drizzle some oil in a hot griddle and put the kulcha's and cook on both side.
• Serve with Spicy Chole.

Source:Priya's easy and tasty recipe

Chicken Shawarma

Ingrediants
    For chicken:

1.  Chicken thighs-1 pound
2. Potatoes-2 num(cubed)
3. Curd-2tbs
4. Lime Juice-2tbs
5. Garam Masala(all spices)-2tsp
6. Vinegar-1tbs
7. Salt-To taste
8. Pepper-1tbs
9. Oil-to fry (shallow fry)

                        Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients  for 4 hrs or overnight.

 

  For Hummus:

1. Chick peas (Garbanzo beans)-1 Cup (soaked overnight and cooked)
2. Tahini paste-2tbs (Dry roast sesame seeds and grind them with little oil).
3. Mint leaves-3-4 num
4. Curd or Sour Cream-1/2 cup
5. Garlic-2 cloves
6. Lemon juice-1 lemon
7. Olive oil-3tbs
8. Red Pepper Flakes-2 tsp
9. Salt -To taste

  For Garlic Sauce:

1. Garlic-7-8 cloves
2. Mayonnaise(or yogurt)-3tbs
3. Vegetable Oil-2/3 Cup
4. Lemon Juice-1 lemon
5. Parsley-1tbs
6. Salt -to taste
7. Pepper-2tsp

For Serving:

1. Pita bread -4 num
2. Sliced Tomatoes -2
3. Onions-1 sliced length wise
4. Cucumber-1 Sliced 
5. Hummus,Garlic sauce and Chicken

Method

  For Hummus:

• In a food processor blend together Chickpeas,Tahini,Mint leaves,Curd,Garlic ,Lemon juice,Salt and 1 tbs Olive oil. Blend to a   smooth paste.
• Spread the mixture to a serving plate ,Sprinkle chilly flakes and add the olive oil on top of hummus. 

 For Garlic Sauce: 

 

• Finely slice Garlic and add oil little at a time and mix with spoon  until it stops absorbing.
• Keep adding the oil until it runs out.
• Now add Mayonnaise and mix well, if it is too mayonnaise add more oil.
• Add Parsley ,salt and pepper
• Put them in a jar and refrigerate.

For Chicken:

• Put oil in a pan and fry the chicken (shallow fry) or grill them until they are cooked.
• Cook the potatoes separately.
• Cut the chicken pieces  to thin Strips.Keep aside.

TO SERVE:

         Take Pita bread and spread hummus.Add chicken,Potatoes,onions,tomatoes and cucumber and garlic sauce.

Granola Bars

Ingredients

1.  Oats-2 Cups
2.  Almonds-1Cups(sliced)
3. Coconut Shredded -1 Cup
4. Wheat Germ-1/2 Cup (Toasted)
5. Unsalted Butter-3 Tbs
6. Honey-2/3 Cups 
7. Light Brown Sugar -1/4 Cups
8. Vanilla Extract-1 1/2 Tsp
9. Salt-1/4 teaspoon 
10. Pitted Dates-1/2 cup(chopped)
11. Dried Apricots-1/4 Cups(chopped)
12. Dried Cranberries-1/2 cups
13. Raisins-1/4 cups

Method

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. 
• Toast Oats,Almonds and coconut together in baking sheet  for 10-12 min until light brown,Stir occasionally.
• Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and mix in the wheat germs.
• In a sauce pan add Butter ,Brown sugar ,Vanilla and Salt and bring to a boil in medium heat.
• Then pour over the toasted oats mixture.
• Add the dried fruits and mix well.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 300 F .
• Pour the mixture into a baking pan (8 by 12 inch).
• Wet your fingers and press the mixture evenly into the pan.
• Bake for 25-30 min until lightly brown.
• Cool for 2 to 3 hrs before cutting into squares.
• Store in a airtight container.

Source:Food Network( Ina )

 

Idly (Patriotic idly)

Ingredients

1. Raw rice or idly rice or Long grain rice-3 cups
2. Urad dal- 1cup
3. Fenugreek seeds(uluva)-2tbs
4. Carrot -2 (cooked and pureed)
5. spinach-1 cup(cooked and purred)
6. Salt -to taste

Method
         For Idly Batter :

• Soak Urad dal and Fenugreek overnight .soak rice separately over night.
• Grind urad dal and Fenugreek mixture to a smooth paste keep it aside.
• Now add rice and grind to a smooth mixture add enough water(add add to much water as idly need less water .
• Mix both mixture together in a big bowl and keep aside in a warm place to ferment,about 8hrs. (you will see the batter has risen).

      For Preparing Idly :

• Take the Ferment batter and add salt and mix well.
• Take a small bowl add 3 cups of batter and now add the carrot puree and mix well.
• Take another bowl and add 3 cups of batter and add the spinach puree and mix well.
• Heat the pressure cooker or idli cooker, grease the idly plates .
• Fill with the  idly batter(spinach and carrot) and cook them for about 10 minutes.
• Take out the plates n remove the idlis with spoon carefully.
• serve them hot with coconut chutney.

note:The leftover batter can be used for preparing dosa.

Tindoora(kovaka) Thoran

Ingrediants

1. Tindoora or Kovaka -1/2 pound (cut length wise or round)
2. Onions-1 num(medium size )
3. Tomatoes-1 num(medium size )
4. Green chillies-3 or 4  (if you like more spicy can add more)
5. Garlic-4-5 num(crushed)
6. Coconut Grated-1cup
7. Mustard seeds-1 tsp
8. Channa dal(kadala parupe)-1 tbs
9. Turmeric powder-1 1/2tsp
10. Chilly powder-1/2 tsp
11. Sugar-1/2 tbs
12. Lime-1 num
13. Coriander leaves-2tbs (finely chopped)
14. Salt -to taste
15. Oil-1tbs

Method

• Finely chop Onions ,tomatoes and green chilly and mix them together.
• In a sauce pan cook tindoora(kovaka) by adding enough water along with 1 tsp turmeric powder, chilly  powder and salt,keep aside
• Add oil in a pan and add Mustard seeds.
• Now add garlic and fry for 1/2 sec and add channa dal and fry till the channa dal turns light brown.
• Now add the onion,tomatoes and green chilly ,add turmeric and salt and fry until the onions and tomatoes are cooked, about 3 min, stir occasionally.
• Now add the cooked tindoora(kovaka) and sugar mix well.
• Add coconut and mix well and cook for 1 min.
• Add lime juice(2 tbs) and coriander leaves mix well  .Switch off the gas .
• Enjoy the dish with rice.

Source-Lekshmi Nair Recipe

Icebox Spirals and Bull's -Eyes Cookies

Ingredients 

1. Butter  -1 1/2 stick(3/4 cups) unsalted butter ,room temperature
2. Sugar-1 1/4 cups
3. Eggs-1(plus 1 egg white lightly beaten)
4. Salt- 1/2 tsp
5. Whole Milk-1/3cup
6. Vanilla Extract-1/2 tsp
7. Flour(all purpose flour)-2 1/2 cups ,plus more for work surface.
8. Unsweetened Cocoa powder-3tbs

Method
  1. Making dough:

• Put butter and sugar in a bowl and mix with a electric mixer in low speed until creamy.
• Add eggs and salt mix well.
• Add milk and vanilla and mix until combined.
• Add flour little at a time  ,(in medium -low speed  )    and mix until just combined
• Remove half of the mixture set aside.
• Add coco powder to the rest of the dough ,mix in low speed .

 2.  For Bulls's eyes:

•   Rolls out 1/4 of chocolate dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12inch rod about 3/4 thick.
• Transfer to a baking sheet and refrigerate for 20min.(or freeze it for 3min)
• Roll out half of Vanilla tough on lightly floured parchment paper to 12 by 4 inch rectangle about 1/2 inch thick (it should be as long as chocolate rod and just wide enough to wrap around the rod).
• Transfer to a baking sheet and refrigerate for 20min.
• Brush the top of vanilla dough with egg whites.
• Then place the chocolate rod along the length of vanilla rod.Trim the excess.
• Gently pinch the dough to seal, refrigerate until firm about 20min.

3.Form Spirals:

• Roll out remaining chocolate dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper  to 1/4 inch thick and 9 by 6 inch rectangle.
• Roll out remaining vanilla dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper  to 1/2 inch thick and 9 by 6inch rectangle.
• Refrigerate both dough for 20min
• Brush egg white on top of each rectangle .
• Then place vanilla dough on top of chocolate dough.
• Starting at on elong side,roll up dough,Gently pinch and press the edge of the roll to seal it.
• Refrigerate until firm,about 20min.

 4. Bake cookies:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Cut logs crosswise into 1/4 inch thick rounds .
• Lined the baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cookies 1 inch apart.
• Bake for 12 -15 min ,until firm but not brown.
• Let it cool on sheet for 3min ,transfer to a wire rack to cool completly.
• Store cookies in air tight container .

Source -Martha  Stewart's