Breakfast

Posted in Breakfast, Continental, Quick n Healthy, Snacks

Spinach Pancakes

Hearty and Healthy twist to traditional pancakes Imaging a light fluffy pancake topped with butter, maple syrup, whipped cream and fresh berries…. Yum! Pancakes are great for breakfast pleasures but they are not healthy! Today I decided to transform this classic American breakfast into a savory, healthy dish with Indian touch. I used multi-grain flour instead of all purpose flour. I substituted sugar with salt and red chili powder, stirred in lots of  veggies like finely chopped spinach, cilantro, tomatoes and red onions with some coriander-cumin powder together with fennel seeds and ajwain seeds for an extra kick. The result? Outstandingly tasty and…

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Posted in Breakfast, Continental, Snacks

Homemade Granola Bars

I had a bunch of plain oatmeal packets stacked in my pantry and I used to wonder there has to be a better way of having original/old fashioned oatmeal. I saw this recipe by Ina Garten on Food network and I was so happy to discover my new favorite snack – “Granola Bars”, healthy and delicious  Here is a slight modified version of the original recipe –   Ingredients – 5-6 packets of old-fashioned instant oatmeal 1 cup sliced walnuts (or almonds if you like) 1 cup shredded coconut 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2/3 cup honey 1/4 cup sugar (or brown…

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Posted in Breakfast, Maharashtrian, Snacks, Upvasache Padarth

साबूदाण्याची खिचडी / Sabudana Khichadi

Scrumptious Maharashtrian Delicacy It was the very first time, since our marriage, when my husband was visiting me in Pittsburgh; I wanted to make something he loves. He asked for “साबूदाण्याची खिचडी” (Sabudana Khichadi). I somehow managed to serve him what he wanted but I was not at all happy with my attempt. I knew I had to learn the trick from my mom to make him happy. And now I have excelled it 🙂 I made it again after almost a year and I am really proud of myself 🙂 [purerecipe] The most important part is amount of water used…

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Posted in Breakfast, Quick n Healthy, Smoothie, Spring - Summer Special

Blackberry Smoothie

Nutritious yet delicious delight The easiest way to enjoy fresh blackberries is to have thick creamy blackberry smoothie. Add fresh washed blackberries with thick greek yogurt, honey and some milk and give it a quick whisk in a blender. Nothing can be more filling than a glass of sweet creamy blackberry smoothie loaded with antioxidants.   Blackberry Benefits – 1. Blackberries are one of the top ten foods containing antioxidants. The anthocyanin, the antioxidants give blackberries their deep purple color help in memory retention and prevent the risk of hypertension. 2. Blackberries are packed with polyphenols helping to prevent cancer and…

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Posted in Breakfast, Continental, Desserts, Jams & Pickels, Spring - Summer Special, Superfoods

Blueberry Jam / Compote

I look at Jam as a way to preserve summer in a jar 😛 Every summer my mom used to make mango jam at home. She did the same thing with strawberries last summer and now I am following her tradition with yet another awesome superfood of this planet – blueberries. Ingredients: 2 pounds fresh blueberries 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1/8 cup lemon juice That’s it. Wash blueberries and let them dry completely. No need to chop blueberries, they are so tender they break down easily once heated. In a sauce pan, mix blueberries and sugar and mix it…

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Posted in Breakfast, Rice & Dal, South Indian

The Pongal

It was a Saturday morning, 11 am; my friend and I were waiting to be seated in a room packed with people and filled with aromas of Sambar and Madras Coffee. The heavy rains did not have any effect on turnout at this small local restaurant, ‘The Pongal’. As soon as we settled down, my friend ordered two plates of pongal. Wait, what? Isn’t it a name of a festival? Before he could explain, the food arrived. And oh my god it was nothing less than a festive moment. On a big banana leaf, there lies a big serving of ‘pongal’,…

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Posted in Breakfast, Superfoods

My New Affection: Oatmeal

When I saw my friend eating oatmeal at Starbucks, I literally laughed at him. It looked like baby food to me. But the price and especially the three toppings – brown sugar, dried fruit and nuts caught my attention. Since then I have become a big fan of oatmeal. Chinese tradition believes that the most important meal of the day is the first meal. So why not make it nutritious and delicious? I like to start my day off with this big bowl of warm and hearty old-fashioned oatmeal topped with fresh fruits such as strawberries, banana, red apple and walnuts and…

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