Croutons

Ingredients: 

fresh or leftover bread of any kind

olive oil - depends on how much bread u have...

following Seasonings as per taste:

salt

dried basil leaves

dried oregano leaves

dash of garlic powder

black pepper or paprika (optional)

Directions:

• cut bread into 1 inch thick chunks. no need to discard the edges at all.

• in a bowl add bread chunks to this add olive oil, garlic powder, and rest of the seasoning.. u can add your choice of seasoning too...mix well...bread should be coated well with oil and all other mixture...
• preheat oven to 350 degree F. in a baking sheet spread the bread pieces in a single layer and put in oven...
• u need to keep an eye on bread as it might burn and also turn from time to time..till it becomes crisp and light golden brown
• taste it if it crunchy.  then the croutons are ready, allow it to cool down and store in air tight container or Ziploc bags.
• serve with soups, salads or eat just like dt...i bet, u will never buy croutons from store ever.

Quick and Healthy Pizza

Ingredients:

7" flat bread or store brought pizza  base or Naan

red onion - 1/2 thick sliced lengthwise

Green Bell Pepper - one

few spinach leaves cut length wise

few black olives
3-4 cherry tomatoes

pizza sauce, grated cheese (optional)

garlic powder

black peeper powder,salt, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 400 F. now chop all veggies length wise
• lightly brush the flat bread with olive oil, then apply any pizza sauce , then sprinkle some garlic powder
• now assemble all the toppings over the pizza base (use any of your desired toppings) black peeper and some salt
• bake in oven for 10 min or till veggies are tender 
• once out of oven sprinkle red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning 

  For Desi style pizza u can add chopped green chillies, cilantro leaves, corn, green peas to your toppings..it tastes great. 

Gucamole

            
              Few years back I got this fruit Avocado as some one told me its very nutritious. It was new for me then...after coming home I peeled its skin and sliced it...I didn't like it...it was so sticky and buttery..guess I needed to develop my taste buds for this...so I googled for how to use this fruit and there were tons of recipes...and followed this one.  This is a super easy dip recipe which is widely used in Mexican Cuisine.  The nutritional benefits  of this fruit are endless and the taste is undoubtedly good.
 
Ingredients:

Ripe Avocados: 2 nos

Red Onion: 1/2 finely chopped

Roma Tomatoes: 1-2 nos

Cilantro: few strings

Jalapeno pepper  - 1 finely chopped

Fresh lemon Juice: 1 tbsp or as per taste
Cumin powder - 1/4th tsp Roasted 

Dash of garlic powder

Black pepper as per taste

Salt as per taste

Dierections:

• Cut the Avocados and mash with fork till it forms a paste. u can use blender for smother paste. i prefer little chunky.
• Now throw one by one all the remaining ingredients and mix well...
• Your home made guacamole is ready.  Serve it as dip with nachos or use with burritos or simply enjoy the scoop.  

Palak Paneer

          
          I must confess that as a kid i never liked Green Vegetables. In fact i hated all vegetables on earth..
But now i love most of them...Thanks to my evolving taste buds.  One such green vegetable which i often make is Spinach. This green is widely used in various cuisines.  Today i made our very own Indian Palak Paneer.
           I follow this recipe of Vahchef...u can check his video online...Chef has show it so well.  It is the same recipe..but in smaller quantity. Its the best recipe..have tried and tasted several times.  I might have skipped few ingredients but the method is same...so Thank you Sanjay Thumma:-)

 Ingredients:
Spinach/ Palak - 1 bunch pureed  
Onion - 1 medium size finely chopped
Tomatoes - 1 large or 2 medium finely chopped
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Green chili(optional) -  1no. finely chopped


Whole Garam Masala:
 Cinnamon stick - 1/2
 Bay leaves -1 no.
  cloves - 1 no
  Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp 

Dry Masala:

Kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves:  crushed and pinch full
Turmeric- pinch
Red chili powder - 1/2 tbsp
Corriender powder - 1/2 tspn
Garam Masala powder - 1/2 tspn
Nutmeg powder - pinch
Salt - to taste
oil - 1-2 tbsp
 Paneer - Cubed into 8-10pieces

Directions:

•  Boil water in a pot and add washed spinach in it for 1 min and then remove the leaves and grind it well in a blender...u will get nice green spinach puree. 
• Heat oil in a pot and add whole garma masala and let it sizzle till nice aroma comes out.
•  Immediately add the chopped onions and saute till they are translucent.
• Now add ginger garlic paste,chopped green chillies and cook it till the raw smell vanishes, then add dry kasuri methi and stir again 
• Add chopped tomatoes and cook till the oil is separated from the gravy.
• Now add the remaining dry ingredients except gram masala and salt
• still well for 1 min so the masala gets cooked.
• To this add the spinach gravy, salt and let it boil. do not cover it anytime
• When the gravy boil add garam masala powder and cubed panner again mix well
• You can add Cream or milk and boil...its optional. i skip this step
• Mix well check salt and spice and serve hot with Naan or Paratha.

         
           

Masoor Dal

Ingredients:

Red lentil- approx. 1/2 cup

Tomato chopped - 1

Toor Dal - approx. 1/4th cup

Turmeric- 1/4th tsp

Green chili - 1/2 chopped

Coriander pwd - 1/2 tsp

Crushed red pepper flakes - 1/2 tbsp or taste

Hing - pinch

Cumin seeds- 1tbspn

Garlic-1

Ghee/clarified butter - 2tbspn

salt to taste


Directions:

1.wash lentils thoroughly.   pressure cook these lentils along with tomatoes,turmeric,coriander pwd and green chili.

2. pressure cook approx 3-4 whistle

3. make tadka of ghee.. add chopped garlic,when changes colour add cumin seeds,curry leaves,hing,and crushed red pepper flakes

4. Mash the dal and put the above tadka...add water if dal is too thick

5. Finally  add salt and boil,  garnish with cilantro.

9TGRCUCWDVWN

9TGRCUCWDVWN

Ragi Vermicilli Upma

Ingredients:
1 cup - ragi vermicilli
1/2 medium size - chopped onion
1 no. - split green chilli
8-9 no. - curry leaves
1 1/2 tbsp - oil to cook
1/4th tsp - mustard seeds
1/4th tsp - cumin seeds
pinch of asefotida
salt to taste
1/2 tbsp - lemon juice
few cilantro leaves to garnish
1 1/2 cups of water or as required 

Directions:

• Dry roast vermicelli in a pan with few drops of oil for 1 min and keep it aside

• For tadka - heat oil in a pan on medium flame add mustard seeds and when they pop add  cumin, curry leaves, green chili, and asafetida. 

• Now reduce the flame, now add onions and sauté it till translucent

• Pour water and let it come to roaring boil add salt to this

• Then add vermicelli, stir well. then cover and let it cook till water evaporates.

• Vermicelli should cook by now add lemon juice and garnish with cilantro leaves and serve.

Moist Banana Nut Bread

       The first and best banana bread i ever had was from Fremont  Farmers market. i use to look forward for Sundays...i enjoy shopping at Farmers market..its fun for me...bet any foodie will agree with that.  
        Alas! left Fremont and now in New Jersey...all i experienced here was snow storm so no question of farmers market in winter...So, decided to make banana bread.                  
        This recipe will make one loaf of bread. the Pan size i used was: 8in.*3in.*2 1/2in.  want more than one loaf just double the amount of all ingredients. The result is not bad at all...so here is simple and easy Moist Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup - all purpose flour

1/2 cup - sugar

3/4th stick - melted unsalted butter

1 - large egg

2 - over ripe bananas (medium size)

1/2 tsp - baking soda

1/4 tsp - baking powder

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp - vanilla extract

1 tbsp - honey (optional) 

1/4 cup - chopped pecans (or any other nuts)

some cooking spray oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F 
2. Add all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well
3. Now add melted butter, egg and mix it well for 1 min using hand mixer or spatula
4. Mash bananas and add to the above mixture along with vanilla extract and honey
5. Again mix well all these ingredients.  Batter should be moist and not too lumpy.
6. Now add chopped pecans and stir well
7. Grease loaf pan using cooking spray or butter and pour all the batter into it
8. Keep in oven for 1 hour. After 45 mins, check by inserting toothpick or knife. If the tooth pick comes out clean then bread is ready
9. Once bread is cooled, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices or just dig in. Enjoy!