Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin seed Pesto

The Splendid Spaghetti squash have become our new found favorite vegetable ,for its one of a kind pasta with low calories ,no gluten and no fat. It is also referred as a dieter's dream, a four-ounce serving of spaghetti squash has only 37 calories. The nutty pesto sauce is a flavorsome complement with the mild flavor of the Spaghetti squash.

Kalyn's Weekend Herb Blogging event is celebrating incredible 3rd Anniversary .As part of 3rd anniversary celebration Kalyn is inviting everyone to blog about there favorite vegetable,fruits or herbs. Spaghetti squash is my favorite of the season and I decided to join in the celebration with this unique member of the pumpkin family. Do check out her blog to join in the exciting celebration.

How to Cook the Spaghetti Squash?
Halve the Squash using a sharp knife . Remove the string and seeds now or later when cooked.
For Baking
Preheat oven to 375F . Lay the squash halves on a roasting pan,add a cup of water. Bake for about 40-50 minutes until squash is feels slightly soft to touch.
For Boiling
Set on stove top with in a big pot with 2 cups of water. Boil at medium heat for about 30 minutes.
Clean the core of any string and seeds. Roast the seeds(just as the pumpkin seeds) and use in baking or snacking or salads or pesto.
Using the fork separate the strands ,a gluten-free,low carb ,fat-free Spaghetti is ready to eat in salads or with a sauce.You can even make a pie with the spaghetti squash,I'll plan to post the recipe soon.
Can be stored in the refrigerator in a tight container for up to a week.


(Original recipe posted here)
Recipe Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin Pesto Sauce
Ingredients
4 cups cooked Spaghetti Squash
For Pesto
3/4 cup Toasted pumpkin seeds or Squash seeds
1 cup greens of your choice, Cilantro,mint,Spinach,Basil or Parsley
2 tablespoon of fresh squeezed lime juice
1 clove of Garlic,minced
1 finely chopped chilly (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Olive oil

Method
To make the pesto,blend all the pesto ingredients in to a coarse paste in a processor or blender,add about 3 tablespoons of water. The pesto can be store in the refrigerator for up to a week.Before serving mix in the pesto and the cooked spaghetti squash.

Green Mung Khichidi

Khichdi with Till-Imli-Pudina(Sesame Tamarind Mint) Chutney and Onion Omelet is a classic weekend brunch combo among Hyderabadi families.Kheema and pappad are palatable sides,my sister dearest makes the best tasting kheema and of course Ammi(mom) makes the best Khichdi.With winter like low temperatures my Idli and Dosa batter are not actively fermenting,khichdi turned out to be the quick substitute for brunch.
The lentils in the khichdi are usually Toor(split pegion peas)\Masoor(Split Orange Lentils)\yellow split Mung.

Did you know lentils\legumes is the best food for a healthy heart and its soluble fiber helps in stabilizing blood sugar levels.Read everything you need to know about the lentils nutrition here.
For more heart healthy lentil\legumes recipes,don't miss the My Legume Love Affair event started by Well Seasoned Cook,hosting the fourth helping is Sra of When my Soup came alive.

Recipe Green Mung Khichdi
Ingredients
1/2 cup Whole Green Moong Lentil
2 cups Rice
1 small onion,Sliced
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 green chillies
1/4 cup mint leaves
Whole spices like 2-3 cloves,1 cinnamon stick

Method
Soak the lentils in water for about an hour.Wash rice and soak in 2 cups of water, for about 10 minutes.
Heat the oil in a medium sauce pan . Add chopped onions ,whole spices,whole green chillies and cumin seeds. saute for a minute and add ginger garlic paste. Roast for a minute with turmeric. Drain the water from rice and lentils . Add soaked rice in to the skillet and roast until rice turns pearly. Now add the lentils with 2 cups of water and mint leaves. Cover and cook until rice is puffed and cooked through.Serve with Till(Sesame) Mint Chutney and Onion Omelet




Which is you favorite weekend brunch combo?

Sesame Buns

Fresh home made buns without any additives and preservatives are a pleasure to make and scrumptious to eat.I selected these groovy Seasame buns from huge collection of awesome recipes from Indira's blog Mahanandi ,in spotlight for Zu's Tried and Tasted event.
The Sesame buns are my entry for this week's Yeast Spotting,a weekly event focusing on yeast recipes.

Recipe Sesame Buns
Ingredients
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon flax seeds or use flax seed meal
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of Warm water
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
2 teaspoon active dry yeast or 1 packet(1/4 ounce) of quick rise yeast

Method
Make the Dough
In warm water mix in the dry yeast and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes,until it gets frothy.
In a bowl combine the flours,oil,seeds(reserve few sesame seeds for topping the buns) ,salt along with the yeast mixture. Knead until the dough is tacky but not sticky and place in a greased bowl and cover. Allow to rise for an hour until double its size.
Shape and proof the buns
Get the dough out of the bowl,sprinkle some all purpose flour on the work surface and knead the dough for few seconds and divide in to about 6 portions. Set on a cookie sheet and finish shaping the remaining buns,place them about 1/2 inch apart from each other,sprinkle some sesame seeds on each of the buns. Cover with wrap and allow to rise for another hour.
Bake the Buns
Preheat Oven to 450F. Bake for about 18-20 minutes until crust turns lightly brown. Let cool on rack,Slice using a serrated knife. Assemble the buns with choicest veggies and greens .
Can you guess the 6 ingredients I sandwiched in the bun??

Beet Hummus

Chick peas fuse together marvelously with vegetables like beets,roasted peppers or artichokes and greens like spinach,mint,cilantro to give a vibrant variation to traditional hummus.I could eat hummus everyday without any worry for its bursting nutritive value,Chick peas are low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol and Sodium(in home made chick peas). It is also a good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein and Copper, and a very good source of Folate and Manganese.

I'm sending the healthy pink hummus recipe to Ley's "Baking for breast cancer awareness" , a breast cancer awareness event. Healthy diet and early detection are key in prevention of any cancer.Beets are loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and C. The beet greens have a higher content of iron compared to spinach. They are also an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, sodium and iron.It is considered a blood cleanser ,that helps the body to get rid of many unwanted ailments. Raw beets are considered more effective in fighting cancer than cooked.Read everything about Beets nutrition here.Read the useful guide to prevention of cancers.Learn the important breast cancer facts here.

Think no more, buy some beets,soak your chick peas tonight and make a fresh bowl of this tasty creamy healthy delight .
Recipe Beet Hummus
Ingredients
2 cups cooked or canned Chickpeas\Garbanzo beans\Bengal gram(home made are better ,canned are higher in sodium)
1 small beet,peeled and cooked until tender with a cup of water.
2 cloves garlic,roasted in olive oil
2 tablespoon Tahini sauce(recipe follows)
1/2 a fresh lime juice
1 green chilly(optional)
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method
Finely blend the beets in processor or blender,add just few drop of water if needed. Then mix in the cooked chick peas and roasted garlic. Blend again until the mixture is of smooth paste consistency,for a thick creamy hummus add just few drops of water if needed. Stir in the oil ,salt(for home made chick peas,no more salt needed for canned chick peas) and lime juice.Blend again till creamy. Transfer in a serving plate or bowl,garnish with edible rose(unbelievably easy to make,watch Vah chef in this video )and mint leaves. Hummus is appetizing with any whole grain chips,I served them with Home made pita chips. Stores in refrigerator for a week,enjoy it on toast or sandwiches or Kababs.

On request from my dear buddy Zee,here is the tahini recipe.
Tahini Sauce
3/4th cup white sesame seeds
2 gloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup water

Method
Toast the seeds on medium heat on stove top or in oven at 350F,while stirring occasionally ,about 10 minutes.
Grind the seeds in a processor or a coffee grinder until finely powdered.Stir in rest og the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.Stores in refrigerator ,drizzle on sandwiches or Kababs or add in hummus for a creamy texture and lot more flavor.

Other Pink recipes posted for Breast cancer awareness:
Rose Flan
Rose Berry Banana Soy Smoothie

Another tasty beet recipe ,Beet Cheese Treats,I'm sending this tasty treat to JFI:Festive treats hosted this month by Srivalli.

Harees,the Spicy Chicken Porridge.

A warm bowl of spicy Harees is gratifying to a hungry soul.Its nostalgic as a fulfilling Iftar meal in Ramadan .Its getting chilly here in Cleveland , spicy meals like harees are positively relishing on a gloomy cold day.
Harees, also called Haleem in some regions in South India,my Hyderabadi Haleem is made with whole wheat and lamb. Haleem or Harees are protein pack meals ,a favorite low-carb recipe.
The spicy Harees is off to Srilekha's Chicken Event

Ingredients
1 pound boneless chicken,most of the fat trimmed and preferably Halal\Kosher or Organic free range chicken.
1 medium Onion,thinly sliced
1 cup Whole grain broken wheat\bulgur wheat\daliya
3/4 teaspoon ginger garlic paste or 1/2 teaspoon each of freshly grated garlic and ginger
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chilly powder
1 teaspoon garam masala(Ground cumin,coriander,cardamom ,cloves and cinnamon)
1 teaspoon sea salt\kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped cilantro and mint
1/2 a lime, freshly squeeeezed.
2 tablespoon Olive oil

Method
Soak the broken wheat for about 15 minutes in cold water
Heat Olive oil in a big skillet and add the thinly sliced onions. saute until lightly brown ,remove half of the fried onions and reserve for garnish. Add the chicken and spices. Saute until chicken changes color and spices aroma is toasty. Add the soaked wheat and chopped cilantro\mint(reserve few for garnish),2 cups of water,season with salt and cover .Cook on slow heat for about an hour(about 25 minutes in a pressure cooker) while stirring occasionally.
When cooked,uncover and let cool for 10 minutes before coarsely grinding using a immersion blender or any processor,stir in the fresh lime juice. Serve warm,garnish with toasted nuts,chopped greens and fried onions.

More Awards!
Priya has admired me as a hard working blogger, I'm elated! .Thanks Priya:).

I'd love to pass this to a much more hardworking blogger Sangeeth:)

Zee from Zeelicious blog has honored me with the "Best food blog",I'm awed. Thanks Zee:)


Ivy of has passed me the good job award,thanks so much Ivy:)


I'd love to pass the Good job award to Viki Xavier of Viki's Kitchen , Sara G of Life's Little Something blog, Adlak's tiny World,mamafami and Vidhas of Appetizing Recipes

Pumpkin flan and Chocoholic Award

Pumpkin Flan is another palatable dessert for the season.Baking in individual molds is apt for dessert portion control. Recipe is same as the Rose Flan,Sara in this video is baking in an oven proof dish.I used fresh small pumpkin(pie pumpkin) , its puree is lighter yellow color verses the canned pumpkins which have a the darker orange color .To add more perk to the flan,you can top with the pumpkin seed candy.
I'm sending the recipe off to weekend wokking,this months theme is Pumpkins ,being hosted by Soli Deo Gloria of Heart and Hearth.


Ingredients for custard
2 cups whole milk
1 cup Pumpkin puree,I used fresh pumpkin puree,see how to puree a pumpkin here
2 Organic eggs

For caramel
3 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoon water

6 ramekins\molds or one 8 inch baking pan\oven proof dish.

Method
Same as the Rose flan recipe.


How to make the pumpkin seed candy for topping?

Lay the aluminum foil or parchment paper on a cookie sheet or a plate. Lightly Grease with few drops of oil,Spread about 2 tablespoon of toasted pumpkin seeds. Prepare the caramel just as in this recipe and pour over the seeds.Tilt the sheet a little to spread,don't try to touch, its super hot could burn your fingers. Wait patiently at least 15 minutes before removing from the foil ,use it for topping on custards.

Fall Foliage from a nature reservation very close to our place.

Previous Pumpkin Posts:
Multi Seed Bread
Egg less chocolate Pumpkin pie
Autumn Salad

Nazarina has passed me this Sweet Chocoholic award,Thanks Nazarina.Do Check out her Halloweeny Chocolate creations here.I truly love chocolate,when in my teens I was so indulgent in milk chocolate ,many a times I had developed acne on my face:). But as a responsible adult I'm limiting myself to healthy dark chocolate;)

I'd love to pass this award to following Sweet Bloggers:
Maimoona,Anu Divya,Adlak's Tiny World,Prudy,Clumbsy Cookie,Jersey Girl,Engineer Baker,Natashya,Cherrapeno,Jude,Happy cook,Zlamushka,Sia,Raaji,n33ma,Bharti,Lubna,Armina,Zee,Anjum,Mona,Syeda,Ramya Vijaykumar,Priti,Retno Prihadana,Arfi,Jaishree,Farida,Deeba,Meeso,Curry Leaf,Applemint,Purva,Sireesha,Dershana,Aparna,Sunshinemom,Nidhi,Suma,Divya Vikram,Priya,EasyCrafts,Srikar'sKitchen,SweetBites,Madhavi,Shreya,Sharmila,Sukanya Ramkumar,Deesha,Vandana,Sefa,Cham,Ivy
And to all the bloggers\Viewers who love chocolate:)

Veggie Burger

When I was gazing at Anudivya's cutlet recipe,I said to myself why not make a whole meal with it ,by making hearty patties for burger. With hummus and baby spinach this is an all nutritious low fat burger to devour.Thanks anudivya for yet another figure-friendly recipe:)
Ingredients
4 Burger Buns
For Patties
2 cups cooked chick peas
1 small potato baked or boiled,Peeled and smashed.
1 medium carrot or 4 baby carrots ,boiled and mashed ,you could add more vegetables like peas,peppers or broccoli boiled\steamed and mashed.
1/2 teaspoon black pepper or chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon each of cumin and coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup store bought bread crumbs or 1 whole wheat bread slice ,processed to crumbs.
1 Tablespoon of Olive oil.
For Topping
1/2 a cup Hummus,same as in this recipe
10-15 baby spinach leaves

Method
Make the Patties
Process the chick peas using a food processor or blender. Do not use any water,blend until nicely mashed.Transfer in a bowl,mix with the other mashed vegetables along with the spices and bread crumbs. Without bread crumbs patties are likely to break, so use any kind fresh or store bought.Shape in to patties about the size of the buns ,makes about 4 medium 1 inch thick patties .
Heat a non-stick pan and lightly grease with olive oil, roast the patties on both sides just until crust is lightly crisp.
Assemble the Burger
Toast the burger buns and lay the patty,top with a tablespoon of hummus and spinach leaves and serve.

Autumn Salad With Pumpkin seeds ,Nuts,Fresh Fruits and Pita Chips

With pumpkins abundant in the season ,I'm having a jolly good time cooking and baking with it.The nutritious beneficial seeds bounteous in its core should never be ignored. Toast them and use in Breads, salads ,add in your bowl of oatmeal or cereals ,candy(I'll post that recipe soon) and or simply munch'em for snacks. The Autumn salad gets a sensational flavor from crunchy pumpkin seeds along fresh apples,oranges,toasty almonds and home made pita chips.

How to Toast Pumpkin seeds?
Separate all the strings from the seeds. Rinse in water until all clean. Simmer in boiling water with little bit of salt for 5-10 minutes. Preheat Oven to 375F. Drain all the water and lay the seeds on a baking sheet. Drizzle about a table spoon of Olive oil evenly and bake until toasty about 20 minutes.

Autumn Salad
Ingredients
4 leaves of Romaine lettuce
1 red skinned Apple
1 navel Orange
1/4 cup roasted Pumpkin seeds
handful of roasted Almonds or walnuts
For dressing
2 tablespoon apple juice concentrate
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin(zeera)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup pita chips(same as in the recipe,just cut in smaller bite-size squares)[use rice cracker for gluten-free salad]

Method
In a small bowl whisk together the apple juice concentrate,lime juice,Olive oil,cumin and black pepper until blended
Wash , dry and cut the lettuce leaves.Peel the oranges and remove the white pith. Cut the oranges and apples in half lengthwise. Before serving ,drizzle the dressing over the salad. Top with roasted almonds,pita chips and pumpkin seeds.

Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits of Pumpkins Seeds Pumpkin seeds are good source of protein and minerals like zinc and magnesium. Lowering cholesterol ,protection against certain kinds of cancer and reducing inflammation in conditions like arthritis are few of many health benefits of these wondrous seeds.
Autum Salad with fresh autumn ingredients is my entry for Kalyn'sWeekend Herb Blogging.Hosted this week by Laurie Helen Constantino of Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska

Saffron Dry Fruit Sevia(Vermicelli)

Saffron(derived from arabic word Zafaran), is the most expensive yet affordable spice, very little is sufficient to impart a golden aromatic flavor to any food. This rare spice grows widely in Mediterranean ,Iran and Kashmir in north India.Saffron is known not just for its unique flavor but also for its medicinal value.

Cultivating saffron is the most labor intensive work. The delicate purple saffron flower blooms for just 1 or 2 weeks in late autumn.The red stigma is delicately plucked , about 150 flowers yield just 1 gram of saffron.I bought my box of Spanish saffron for the exorbitant price of gold ,$7 for 2 grams(.07 ounce).Gifting a box of this exotic spice is a novel idea.


Lavish Saffron enhances Flavorful rice or curries or desserts with a hint of royalty and exotic flavor. A plain vermicelli gets an ambrosial make over with just a pinch of Saffron, sure to cheer up your guests.Reserve this high sugar dessert just for parties or festive occasions.I'm sending it to EC's WYF: Party foods event.

Ingredients
2 cups Thin Vermicelli,break in to smaller pieces(Available in Asian or Middle Eastern Stores)
3/4 cup Sugar
2 whole cardamoms
1/2 cup of any of your choicest dry fruits like Almonds,Cashews,dry dates,Pistachios and Raisins
3 tablespoon Ghee(Clarified Butter)
Big Pinch of saffron

Method
Blanch and roast the dry fruits
In pot of boiling water ,drop the dry fruits and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain and peel the almonds and pistachios,remove the seeds from the dry dates. Slice the almonds,pistachios ,dry dates and halve the cashews.
Heat 2 table spoon of ghee in a kadai(deep pan) and saute each of the dry fruits separately in batches until nice and brown. And set aside for garnish.
Roast the Vermicelli
In large pan add a tablespoon of ghee and roast vermicelli until nice and brown,set aside.
Make the Syrup
In a medium saucepan prepare syrup by heating a cup of water,sugar ,cardamoms and saffron. Simmer until water is of thick syrup consistency.
Cook the Vermicelli
Add the roasted vermicelli in to syrup and cover . let cook on low heat until vermicelli is tender.Occasionally stir and add few drops of water if needed . When tender ,mix in the dry fruits and serve warm.

Andhra Chepala Pusulu(Fish in Tamarind Tomato sauce) and Guntur Mirchi(Chilly)

(image source Wikipedia)
Guntur Mirchi(Hot pepper)
Andhra Pradesh(in South India) is home to one of the hottest chillies called Guntur Mirchi.Its hard to miss the red luscious bed of chillies drying in summer sun in while traveling to Guntur. Guntur is one the largest exporters of red chilly next only to Mexico! Andhra cuisine blossoms red with the flavor of these Chillies.Married to a Guntur Abbae(boy),I've acquainted myself with many andhra recipes.Chepala pesulu in Telugu translates to the Fish in Tamarind Tomato sauce is one such authentic Andhra favorites.This recipe brings out the best flavors of fish while preserving its nutritive value and tastes best when cooked in red hot peppers!


A secret of good memory ,eye sight and cardiovascular health is to include fish as part of your diet at least twice a week.Choosing the right kind of fish and cooking method is the key to get the most of its nutritive value.
Healthiest Fish are the oily fish(rich in Omega 3s) like wild Salmon,rainbow trout,pacific halibut and pacific cod.check out this page for an eco-friendly guide of selecting the right kind of fish.Important read ,Wild Vs Farm-raised fish.

Best Cooking Methods for Fish
Steaming,Cooking fish over simmering water until tender,good for salads or cutlets.
Poaching,gently cooking in simmering water or broth ,with vegetables for more flavor.
Stove Top Searing ,Cooking in a non-stick pan with some healthy oil (Olive oil)until crust is lightly crisp but not burnt.
Broil or Bake between temperature 350-375F ,requires less oil and cooks faster.
Recipe Chepala Pulusu(Fish in Tamarind Tomato sauce)
Ingredient
1 pound Fish Rainbow trout or Tilapia or any eco-friendly fish,fillets or slices with bones.
2 big Red Plum tomatoes,finely chopped
1 small onion,finely chopped
1 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste or use freshly grated
1/2 cup tamarind\imli juice, soak tamarind in water and strain the pulp or use a teaspoon of tamarind paste
1 teaspoon Rasam or sambhar powder(available in Asian grocers) or use 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin(zeera) and coriander(dhania) powder.
1 teaspoon chilly powder
1 teaspoon turmeric\haldi
1 teaspoon salt
1 sprig curry leaves
3 tablespoon Olive oil
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro\Coriander\Kothmir

Method
Marinate Fish:
Marinate the cleaned fish with 1/2 teaspoon each of turmeric,chilly powder and ginger garlic paste.
Prepare the sauce
In a sauce pan, add the chopped onions and curry leaves,saute until lightly brown. Add the ginger and garlic paste, sauce until aromatic and lightly brown. Add the chopped tomatoes and the spices. Cover and cook until tomatoes are tender. Add the tamarind juice and another 1/2 a cup of water and simmer.

Bake or Sear the fish.
To bake: Preheat oven to 350F and drizzle 2 tablespoon of olive oil evenly over the marinated fish and bake about 15-20 minutes until cooled through
To Sear: Heat Olive oil in a non stick pan and add the marinated fish. Let cook about 10 minutes each side. Remove and set aside. Add any pan juices in to the prepared sauce.

Simmer in the sauce.
Add the baked or seared fish in to the simmering sauce. Do not stir the tender fish,Cook for another 10 minutes until flavors infuse, garnish with chopped cilantro and serve on a bed of warm Rice.

Health Benefits of Chilly listed in this post.

Chepala Pulusu is off to SWC Andhra Pradesh event,hosted by Hari Priya Reddy.

Other Andhra favorites posted
Tomato Rasam
Sambhar
Lemon Rice with Egg Plant Chutney
Mirchi Ka Salan
Hyderabadi Biryani
Hyderabadi Haleem

An Eggless Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from a Real Pumpkin,Not a Can!

Splendor of Autumn is simple and serene,with cool breeze ,leaves changing to beautiful colors and blanket of leaves camouflaging the ground.Its also time of harvest,gorgeous pumpkins ,colorful corns,juicy apples and vegetables like Avocado,Leeks,Sweet potatoes ,green beans,Brussels sprouts,aubergines(egg plants) ,spinach and beets are best in this season.


Pumpkin pie is the ultimate dessert of the season. But are you aware of the sky high calories in a creamy pumpkin pie or loss of nutrition after adding a cup of sugar ,a stick of butter and 3(some recipes have 4) eggs in each pie? Its close to 320 calories in just one slice! . To avoid all the guilt after eating such a high cholesterol high sugar dessert, I made this pie egg less with just half the sugar and half the fat. Inspiration of the egg less pie was this recipe from Mango power girl.I further reduced the fat from butter and sugar from MPG's original recipe.And to get the most from the flavor of pumpkin,first time ever i made the pie from scratch with home made crust and fresh pumpkin puree.
Most delighted about the low calorie pie was my better half, who is believe it or not ,more calories conscious than I am. I know one another person who would be just as delighted ,Madhuram from Eggless Cooking , who is hosting this month's A fruit A month: Pumpkin event. Madhuram ,this pie is coming up to you soon:)
I'm also sending this pie for Ivy's Sweet pie Contest

Ingredients
For Crust
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup Whole wheat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
4 tablespoon(1/2 a stick) cold butter, cut in small cubes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup ice cold water

For Filling
1 pie pumpkin(recipe for puree follows) or 3 cups Canned Pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ginger powder or 1/8th of a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice(mixture of ground nutmeg,cloves and cinnamon)
2 table spoon of cornstarch(substitute for 2 eggs)
1 cup Organic whole milk
2 tablespoon dark chocolate, finely chopped for topping

Method

Prepare the dough
Sift the flours,cocoa ,salt and cinnamon in bowl. Mix in the butter,using a food processor pulse while adding the cold water ,until just combined in to a crumbly mixture. Or use 2 fork and break the butter in to flour and mix it up while adding the cold water.
Wrap the dough in a plastic wrap and allow to refrigerate for 30 minutes

Bake the Crust
Preheat Oven to 350F
Unwrap the dough. Spread some all purpose flour on work surface and using a rolling pin, roll out the dough in to size just bigger that your pan size(9 inches).Transfer the rolled dough to the pie or tart pan.Press gently to smooth it out and poke some holes using fork to prevent it from rising.
Bake the crust for in the middle rack of the oven for about 15-20 minutes until the crust is lightly crisp.
Bake the pie
Mix all the filling ingredient besides the chocolate. Pour it on the baked crust and spread evenly using a spatula. Sprinkle the dark chocolate in a swirl pattern or in just circles(needs some practice). Bake about 40-45 minutes ,filling will not rise much because its egg less, but the cornstarch should make the pie firm enough.
Cool completely and refrigerate at least 6 hours .To serve, slice with sharp knife .

How to Puree a Pumpkin?

The pumpkin pie tastes best with a fresh pumpkin. Roasting the pumpkin is an easier way to make its puree.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.


Halve the pumpkin with a sharp knife.Remove all strings and seeds. Don't throw away the seeds. Wash and roast in oven ,great for munching or for baking.


Place the pumpkin halves cut side down in a roasting pan along with a cup of water.Bake the pumpkin until tender, about 90 minutes.Scoop the flesh out of each pumpkin half.Puree in a food processor or blender. Store in Refrigerator for a week and use in baking or cooking.

Pumpkin Nutrition facts
Pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene Vitamin A,that may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease.It is also a good source of Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Thiamin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Iron, Magnesium and Phosphorus, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Potassium, Copper and Manganese,all essential for over all good health.


An Award

Lovely ladiesSuma and Syeda have passed me the beautiful butterfly award. Thanks a million Suma and Syeda :). As per rules I'm passing it to 10 other cool blogs.

Bharti, Happy Cook,Arfi ,Sameera, Mona,Dershana,Meeso ,Anjum,Maimoona,Zee, Farida

Multi Seed(Pumpkin,Flax and Sesame) Bread

If I survive, I will spend my whole life at the oven door seeing that no one is denied bread and, so as to give a lesson of charity, especially those who did not bring flour.-Jose Marti


Bread is part of every household around the world, each region its prepared with a distinct variation. Parathas\Chapati in Indian Sub-continent, Pita in middle east, Ciabatta from Italy, Baguette from France ,Bing from China and Rye bread from Russia are some of the breads around the world.
Today is the World Bread day, an event started by baking queen Zorra ,inviting all baking enthusiasts around the world to bake bread or simply post about a store bought bread.

How did I become a baking enthusiast?, since I migrated to US and discovered an Oven in the Kitchen. There was no stopping to my experiments. Mistakes were made, but lesson are learned eventually.For the event, I baked a simple bread with all the seeds I could gather from my pantry. I hallowed a pumpkin recently for a pie and saved its seeds,roasted it for snacking and used some in this bread recipe. Also used Sesame seeds and Flax seeds to add more crunch and loads of nutrition to the bread.Recipe is that of an Italian bread with standard ingredients Yeast, flour and Olive oil.

Ingredients
3 cups Whole wheat flour(Fine ground) or Whole wheat pastry flour
1 active dry yeast pack,about 1 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 tsp sugar
1/3 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon Flax seeds
3 tablespoon Olive oil
1 cup warm water
3/4 teaspoon Salt


Method
Prepare the dough
Dissolve the yeast in warm water, stir in the sugar and allow the yeast to get frothy, about 10 minutes.In a large bowl combine the flour, 1 1/2 teaspoon sesame(reserve rest for topping), Flax seeds and pumpkin seeds(reserve 2 teaspoon for topping). Add the yeast mixture and olive oil and knead until well combined.Apply some more oil on the sides of the bowl cover and allow to rise until double it size about 3-4 hours or leave it overnight in a dark corner.
Bake
Preheat oven to 450F.
Shape the dough in to a circle and place on a greased baking sheet and brush some egg white and sprinkle the reserved sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. Proof for another hour by covering allowing to rise one last time before baking.
Place in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.Cool for at least 10 minutes on a rack and slice with a serrated knife.
Slather some spread or fruit preserves.

Or Make a sandwich for lunch


Nutrition facts
Pumpkin seeds >>Excellent source of minerals Magnesium, Manganese and Phosphorus. Good source of Iron, vitamin K,zinc,protein and copper.
Flax seeds >> Its a super food with excellent health benefits of lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Good source of Omega 3s ,calcium ,Iron and antioxidants.
Sesame seeds >>Its an alternate calcium source for milk allergic. Also a good source of Iron and minerals like magnesium ,copper and zinc.

Similar tempting bakes :

Sweet Focaccia


Spicy Veggie Buns

Low Sugar,Sugar-Free Chocolate Cherry Almond Biscotti

Low–sugar or Sugar–free is the latest health trend, given the health risks of all the sugar in the average diet.Responsible experts say to use artificial sweeteners sensibly and certainly natural sweeteners are better choices.
Some Common Sugar substitutes chart with Glycemic index(GI).

SUBSTITUTE	NATURE	Glycemic Index
Agave nectar	Natural	Low
Stevia	Natural	Low
Splenda	Artificial	Low
Sweet N Low	Artificial	Low
Nutrasweet	Artificial	Low
Pure Honey	Natural	Medium
Pure Maple Syrup	Natural	Medium
Brown Rice Syrup	Natural	Medium
Barley Malt	Natural	Medium

Substitutes with low GI is best for diabetics.Substitutes with medium GI when used in moderation are good for a low-suger diet.Adding fruits to your recipe is also a healthy way to substitute sugar.Stevia is considered best substitute for diabetics.

Biscotti,the toasty twice-baked biscuits with sugar substitutes are just the right start for a healthy low-sugar or sugar-free diet.
(Following recipe with honey\maple syrup\brown rice syrup\barley malt is low in sugar and with a natural\artificial sweetener is sugar-free)
Ingredients
3/4 cup Whole wheat flour
1/2 cup All-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder(Aluminum free)
1/4 cup pure honey or 1/2 cup agave nectar(also available in health stores) or 3/4 cup artificial sweetener(Splenda)
2 Organic eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries(unsweetened)
1/4 kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil.
Method
The method is same as the Biscotti recipe I posted earlier.
See Recipe

Make the dough
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sift the flours,cocoa powder and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend then stir in the almonds and cherries\cranberries. Beat the eggs,sugar, Olive oil, and salt in a large bowl . Mix the flour mixture and egg mixture until blended.
Form the dough into wide log shape and place on the baking sheet.
Bake
Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes.
Cool and cut
Cool for at least 30 minutes on a rack.Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet.
Bake Again
Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely. Enjoy this crunchy delight with tea ,coffee or milk

Enjoy this crunchy delight with tea ,coffee or milk. Gift them to some one health conscious and let them know about the sugar secret of the recipe.

Other Low-sugar wonders to try :

Fig Linzer Cookies	Blueberry Almond Banana Muffins
Fruit Dark Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars	Whole Wheat Biscuits with Apple Butter
Plum Clafoutis	Nutty Fruity Granola
Cherry Blueberry Scones

All of the above Low Sugar and Sugar free recipes are off to Sangeeth's Eat Healthy : Fight Diabetes Contest.