Methi Kheema(Fenugreek Minced Meat)

Ingredients
1 pound Minced lamb\veal\Beef\goat(99.9% lean)
1/4 cup Methi(fenugreek leaves) chopped
1 small onion finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon each of Garam Masala and Coriander Powder.
1/4 cup chopped Mint or Cilantro
Whole spices 2 Cloves ,2 cardamom,1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoon Olive oil
Salt for seasoning.

Method
Marinate meat by mixing the meat with all the spice besides the whole spices,greens and oil and set aside for about 15 minutes.
Heat oil in pressure cooker or a saucepan.Add the chopped onions,whole spices and saute until golden brown. Add the marinated meat ,chopped methi,season with salt and stir until meat has no lumps. Add 1/2 cup of water and cover. Let cook for about 10 minutes in a pressure cooker or 30 minutes in a saucepan. Serve with Rice and Sambhar.

Whole Wheat Biscuits With Apple Butter

Indulge in the great taste of biscuits made from combination of whole wheat flour,for heartiness and fiber, and all-purpose flour, that keeps the dough light and airy. Top them with home-made fruit butter like apple butter(No dairy butter in apple butter)
(recipe is an adaptation from Mayo clinic Williams-Sonoma Cookbook)
Ingredients needed for Whole Wheat Biscuits
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon of Pure Honey or Maple syrup
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 tablespoon cold unsalted butter,cut in small pieces
3/4 cup low fat milk.

Method
Preheat Oven to 425F. To keep the biscuit bottoms from getting too dark,line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
In to a bowl,sift together the whole wheat flour,all purpose flour,sugar,baking powder and salt. Add the butter and using a fork blend it in to the ingredients. Add the milk and stir briskly. Do not over mix, the dough should be a little sticky.Turn the dough onto a floured surface, dust top with flour and gently fold the dough over on itself 5 or 6 times. Press into a 1-inch thick round. Cut out biscuits with a 2-inch cutter, being sure to push straight down through the dough. Place the biscuits on a baking sheet . Repeat the same with remaining dough.
Bake until lightly brown and risen to twice their unbaked height,12-14 minutes. Serve warm with some home made fruit butter


Fruit Butter
Fruit butters are made by gently simmering fruits purees until much of their water content evaporates resulting in intensely flavored spreads that are almost as thick and smooth as softened dairy butter,but with none of its fat.
Fruits butters can be made from apples,pears and peaches.

Ingredients for Apple Butter
4 medium apples(any kind)
3 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
pinch of salt

Method
Wash and chop the apples. Transfer them to a pot with about 2 cups of water and drop the whole spices. Allow to simmer for about an hour till the mixture is thick. Fish out the whole spices. Process the apple mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. Pour through a sieve in to a clean Sterilized Jar. Stores in fridge for a month.
These biscuits are my entry for WBB combi Breakfast hosted by Latha.

The Fruit Butter is my entry for Roma's Long live the Shelf

Yellow Carrots and Avocado Pasta.

Carrots come in many colors - Yellow,Purple,Maroon,Orange and white. The Yellow variety taste less sweeter.

picture Source Wikipedia

Pasta with carrots is quick and simple lunch . Creamy avocado on top add more flavor and nutrition to the meal.
Ingredients Needed
1 lb Whole Grain fussilli or rotini or penne pasta
2 ripe tomatoes
6-8 Yellow Organic Baby Carrots cut length wise
Quarter of Green pepper sliced
1 big clove Garlic
1/2 teaspoon chilly powder
1 tablespoon chopped Parsley or Cilantro
2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 ripe Avocado.
1 teaspoon lime juice

Method
Heat olive oil in saucepan and add the chopped garlic. Saute until aromatic and lightly brown. Add the chopped tomatoes and chilly powder. Cook until tomatoes are tender about 8 minutes. Stir in the cut green peppers and yellow carrots. Let cook for another 5 minutes.
In meantime fill a large pot three-quarters full of water ,season with salt and bring to a boil. Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al-dente(with a bite to it),8-10 minutes.Drain thoroughly.
Slice the Avocado and sprinkle some lime juice over it to prevent discoloration.
Mix the pasta in the tomato mixture and toss to combine. Stir in the chopped parsley or cilantro. Transfer pasta to serving plates and top with sliced Avocados.


This is my entry for Ruth's Pesto Pasta Nights Event . This week PPN is hosted by abby at Eat the right stuff

Learn about Carrots Nutrition

Garlic Herb Challah

Challah is a traditionally prepared without garlic. I'm using garlic and herbs to add flavor to the bread.I choose whole grain wheat flour to add essential vitamins and fiber to the bread.Braiding the challah reminded me of braiding my long hair as a school girl. There are number of ways to braid the Challah,choose the simplest one to start.Braiding bread for the first time ,my challah wasn't exactly perfect .Hopefully more practice can improve my bread braiding skills.
Ingredients Needed
3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1\2 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon honey
1 large organic egg
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped herb(Parsley or Cilantro),if using any dry herb use 1 teaspoon of that.
1 tablespoon sesame seeds.
Method
Combine water and sugar in a small bowl.Sprinkle the yeast over the top. Set aside until foamy,about 8 minutes
Put 2 cups of flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Whisk honey with egg,1 tablespoon olive oil and salt in a small bowl and pour into the well.Stir to combine. Add yeast mixture and knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until soft and supple,about 10 minutes.
Shape dough in to a ball and place in lightly oiled large bowl. Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size,about 1 hour. Turn dough on to a lightly flour surface knead for just a minute and shape in to ball and return to bowl. Cover and let rise again until double in size,about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375F
To Braid the Challah
Prepare garlic oil mixture by whisking together chopped herbs,1 tablespoon olive oil and minced garlic.
Turn dough on to a clean work surface and divide in to 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece and spread some garlic oil mixture and shape each piece in to a rope. Arrange ropes side by side on the work surface.
Starting at the far end braid the ropes. When the braid is finished,tuck both ends under and pinch to seal. Place loaf on a prepared baking sheet.Cover and let arise for another hour(that's total of 3 hrs of rising!).

After an hour brush loaf with egg and sprinkle the sesame seeds. Bake until golden brown,about 35 minutes.Cool on rack and slice,serve with any soup or stews.

Mint Lentil Soup

A quick ,simple , nutritious soup ,good for hydrating your body at the end of fast(in Ramadan) or start of any meal.
Ingredients Needed
1/2 cup Yellow Mung Lentil
1/4 cup chopped mint leaves
2 tablespoon chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
optional garnish Boondi or sev.



To make this Simple Soup
Wash and Soak lentil for few minutes.
Heat the oil in a saucepan or pressure cooker. Add the chopped onions and saute until lightly brown. Add the g&g paste and saute some more for another minute. Add the turmeric ,chopped mint and lentils.Cook the lentils in a cup of water until lentils are tender. May take 8-10 minutes in a pressure cooker or 20 minutes in a covered saucepan. Now blend it in a food processor or blender along with a cup of water ,until smooth
Put back in the saucepan and simmer for few minutes until the white foam forms at the top. Serve warm ,garnish with crunchy Boondi or Sev.

Fruit Chaat

Preparation
Just chop up your favorite fruits and depending on the quantity of fruits ,mix in the Chaat Masala(blend of spices - coriander seeds, cumin seeds ,ajwain (thymol),dried red chilies ,black salt ,mango powder (amchoor), salt , garam masala, white pepper ). Chaat masala can easily be spotted in an Asian or even Middle-eastern stores.

Completely Nourishing Nursing Moms Recipes

Zucchini Garlic Curry

Badam Harira(Almond Drink)

Fruity Nutty Mix(Panjeri)


Methi Kheema(Fenugreek Minced meat)