Lebanese salad recipe...

A cool fresh salad is perfect for a sweltering summer day.Who wants to cook when it is so hot..Me and my hubby love eating an abundance of salad all year round.We started loving the salad only after hearing precious advice from our family doctor...Agarwal....Thanks for his valuable guidance...Really this habit of eating salad has proved very very helpful to us...I am always looking for a different recipe to try as eating same kind is boring...One of our favorite salad is the Lebanese salad though...It makes a delicious lunch or a light dinner meal.

Request you all to include variety of salads in your everyday meal as it is highly nutritive and very important.Try to make it delious by adding variety of raw veggies and simple homemade dressings with your amazing innovative cap...I follow the same procedure which makes it unavoidable in our dinner! Also salad helps in replacing vegetables during dinner time...so also lessens our efforts and time of cooking as salads can be made easily and quickly.

How to Make Lebanese Salad Recipe...

The Lebanese cuisine is rich with a variety of salad recipes that are unique from other Mediterranean cuisines, and learning how to make the Lebanese salad recipe is not that difficult and requires very little effort.

The Lebanese salad recipe is a great appetizer and a complete vegetarian’s meal. It consists mainly of natural vegetables such as; Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and bell pepper and a few other ingredients. It is a good refreshing appetizer and a substitute to other types of Lebanese salads that require more time to prepare. This recipe takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.

Lebanese people widely makes use of...Bulgur in their recipes.

Right after seeing this event,I was amazed to see something new...As I failed to obtain good recipe on net I forced my husband to take me to local library. There I searched lot many cookery books ...while majority of the Middle East food falls in the non-veg category, I was lucky to find a book that included some good vegetarian dishes. “Cooking the Lebanese Way” written by Suad Amari focuses on the Lebanese cuisine.Same book was introduced to me by my friend...Thanks dear its really worth reading this book.

The author lovely describes lebanese cuisine...he starts off with an alluring description of the land and history of Lebanon. My Geography knowledge got a lift when I learned that Lebanon is the smallest country in the Middle East; it is about 30 miles wide and 135 miles long. Lebanon produces almost all of its food. The farmers cut flat fields out of the steep hillsides and mountain slopes. The Lebanese population contains a blend of Muslims and Christians. All festivals from Eid to Easter are celebrated in the company of friends, family, and food. Lebanese do most of their shopping in street markets called souks in Arabic. Different types of goods are grouped and sold in souks. There are different streets for spice sellers, perfume sellers, meat sellers, and vegetable and fruit sellers.

The writer then explains the different cooking utensils used in Lebanon. Colander, sieve, and slotted spoon are some common cooking utensils. After this, the author takes us straight to a Lebanese table, emphasizing that it is always crowded. A table is crowded with friends and family and also with a vast array of dishes. Dishes of all shapes, sizes, flavors, and aromas greet the guests. The writer then presents recipes grouped under lunch or dinner. After leafing through the book, I short-listed what I wanted to make for the event. I had heard about Bulgur from the first time in this book.so also it explains how very widely it is used in salad..so I asked all my friends going for grocery shopping to fetch me some “Bulgur”. Absolutely no one had heard about this grain before and I had a jolly good time pronouncing it for everyone. No one could locate bulgur in any of the shops and my enquiries to the shop helpers yielded blank expressions. My joy new no bounds when my husband located bulgur in medditerrian section of Meijer ...thanks to him.Because of him only I was able to prepare this salad and participate in this event...so also got lot of information of "Lebanese Cuisine" from this very good book.

Bulgur is one of the most popular foods in Lebanon. Here’s the recipe for a refreshing salad that is part of Lebanese.After Reading this book I recognized that this bulgur is unavoidable for these people...

This goes straight to simply. food as the entry for the "Flavours of the Lebanon" ..Thanks sara for hosting this wonderful theme!

LEBANESE SALAD

Ingredients:
2 cups bulgar
1/2 cucumber finely chopped
1/2 tomato or 2 roma tomatoes finely diced
1/2 red onion finely minced
1/2 grated carrot
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
little cabbage as per your likes and dislikes.
1emon juice as per your taste
2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves finely minced
1 tbsps chopped fresh mint (optional)
few olives sliced(optional)
crumbled cheese as per your taste
salt and grounded pepper again as per your taste.
Parsley and scallions are optional if available readily at home and if you like then you can add as per your taste.


Procedure:
1.Place bulgur in a colander and rinse under cold running water. I did not have a colander, so I simply washed the bulgur in a utensil. Press bulgur between your hands and remove excess water. Return bulgur to colander and let it drain over a bowl for one hour. Discard the drained water.Now place in a container in which you are going to prepare your salad.Cut the cabbage in half. Cut away the hard core and slice the cabbage crosswise into 1/2-inch strips, then crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces.Quantity is as per your liking. Place the cabbage in a mixing bowl.
2 Add the tomatoes, cucumber,parsley and scallions, and toss with a fork to combine.
3 Also add grated carrot,lettuce,onions,olives as per your choice and mix everything together thoroughly.
4.In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, garlic and salt until the salt dissolves. Mix in the oil.
4Season the dressing to taste with pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad, toss for 1 minute to coat it well, then let sit 10 minutes for flavors to meld. Serve immediately.

Serves 3-4 people.

I  moved to  USA the country where everybody around me was using bottled salad dressing with names like Ranch, Thousand Islands, French..the readymade food; that  was  bewildering to me; I did not understand why someone would buy a bottle of these rich  concoctions when it was so easy to whip up a salad dressing at home.

I never adopted this custom and stuck with my Lebanese dressing of fresh lemon juice, fresh mashed garlic and lots of olive oil.

What do you use? Do you make your own?

Here is mine. Time used is less than what it would take me to find a bottle in the supermarket, throw it in the cart, wait in line at the checkout stand and pay for it. It takes 56 seconds (or less) to make. It is  used  on everything, cold and warm salads alike.

Lebanese Salad dressing:

consists mainly of Olive oil, fresh lemon juice and mashed garlic.

Ingredients:

1 clove of garlic, chopped and mashed with salt
1/2 large lemon, squeezed
1/3 cup of olive oil
salt, to taste
sprinkle of dried mint (optional)

METHOD:

Peel and dice the clove of garlic, 10 seconds
Mash the clove of garlic with a pinch of salt in a mortar, 25 seconds
Transfer to a small bowl; squeeze half of a lemon over the garlic, 6 seconds
Add the olive oil and whip the mixture, 11 seconds
Add  a dash of dried mint if desired, 4 seconds

TOTAL: 56 seconds

Cook's Notes:

Serve this dish within 30 minutes after preparation since some vegetables such as tomatoes start to lose their vitamins after being chopped.
The Lebanese salad need not be restricted to the above vegetables and the unique taste is devoted to garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice.
Please don't hesitate to ask any question and do let others know what you think about this Lebanese Salad recipe in the comments below

Toddler Lunch: Samo rice with Sweet potato...

This sweet recipe is for my sweet friend in Louisville...she had requested me for posting some toddler recipes as both of us sail in the same ship...we have sons who will be turning 2 yrs old within 3 months and we are always in search of great toddler recipes...

so here is the great healthy and nutritious recipe for toddlers of 1 year and above...

I like to think that healthy eating is as simple as feeding your Toddler a Rainbow every day!

Think of the colors of the rainbow and then think of the vegetables and fruits that match those colors! Granted, it will be very hard to feed your Toddler "blues" and "purples" every day however, the general idea of following the rainbow should be helpful.
Red - Apples, Cherries, Strawberries, Watermelon, Tomatoes
Orange - Oranges, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots
Yellow - Bananas, Summer Squash, Pears
Green - Avocado, Green Beans, Zucchini, Mango, Papaya
Blue - Blueberries
Purple - Grapes, Eggplant

This recipe goes in category of orange color.Basically it is tricolor...white one-samo seeds,orange is sweet potato and green is very little chilly to taste.

Samo seeds or mario seeds popularly known as bhagar in india are seeds of a grass namely echinochloa colonum that grows amongst the rice paddy as it requires damp and moisture laden soil.With digestible fibers, high nutritional content and excellent nourishment, samo is immensely popular amongst the indian majority.

It is similar to rice in taste and texture.It resembles semolina and daliya.It has a rich source of minerals and vitamins, providing essential ingredients.It is proved very much helpful for baby as it is excellent source of calcium.

In fact in India it is eaten in every spiritual fast.It is also called as Samo rice, Samak rice, Varyacha tandul, Vari Tandul, Bhagaror Kodri, jungle rice,varai bhat etc It provides the nourishment and energy that rice does and it forms a heavy and a filling meal.

Also sweet potatoes has loads of nutrients in them.They are high in vitamin B6,are a good source of vitamin C,contain Vitamin D and iron,triggers white blood cell production, provides resistance to stress, enhances proper immune functioning, and plays important role in metabolizing of protein.

Sweet potatoes plays an important role in building our energy levels, moods, and helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, and it supports the thyroid gland.

Sweet potatoes are a good source of mag­nesium, which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral. Thus they are too much helpful.

so try this recipe for your toddler he will surely like it as toddlers get bored eating same food everyday and like change in food...Always there is question what is to be made? Whether he will like or not?
but do try this may be your child will love it...

This will be proved as an easy idea for lunch of your Toddler.  Feel free to substitute any ingredients you feel may be inappropriate for your Toddler! Because you yourself better knows what exactly your baby likes and what he/she hates...dont ever force feed your baby...he/she may eat sometime later...you yourself only knows how much quantity is required for your baby...try this,,, may be change is food leads to increase in appetite of your child at that particular time at least.

This one goes for the event "Healthy food for healthy kids"-Toddler Lunch" hosted by Priya...thanks for the amazing theme dear...Being a mother of 20 month old toddler I loved the theme as Iam always in search of new recipe with new experiment...Nice event Nithu..I loved it...

SAMO RICE WITH SWEET POTATO

Ingredients:
Samo Rice (Variche Tandul, Bhagar, Kodri) – 1/2 bowl
Green Chilly (Mirchi) – 1 (cut into very big pieces..as food is for toddler and here green chilly is used for color enhancement only)
Cumin Seeds (Jeera) – 1/2 tspn or cumin powder as generally babies hates entire cumin seeds.
Clarified Butter (Ghee, Tup) – 1 tbsps
groundnut powder-1 tsp
Salt to taste
cooked and mashed sweet Potato  – 1/2 one or 3 tbsp or as per you desire initially add little slowly increase the quantity as your baby likes it.
You can replace sweet potato with potato/batata-but it becomes less nutritious then as compared to sweet potato but tastes good.
Water as needed (approximately boil 3 cups of water as they generally swallow and gulp food but never chew and also prefer food in semi liquid form)
sugar is not required when you add sweet potato but yes if potato is used then you add as per your taste.

Method:
First of all roast samo seeds in pan for a little while as you do for rava while preparing upma and keep it aside.
On one side keep 3 cups of water for boiling.
Heat clarified butter or homemede ghee in a skillet or a non-stick pan
Add samo seeds to it and fry it nicely
Now add cumin seeds or cumin powder and chillies; saute for a minute.
Stir fry mashed potato or sweet potato in it.
Add salt and groundnut powder to it.
stir fry samo rice for few mins continuosly on a medium to high flame.
Add more than half boiling water to the skillet and mix well and cover it with a lid.
Check after 2 mins, if the water is soaked and samo is still raw then add some more water.
Now after 5 to 6 min samo will be puffed and cooked.

Please feel free to drop a comment...if your toddler enjoys it...I will be most happiest person to learn that your baby enjoyed it!

Palak Makai Malai...

A vegetable specialty preparation, palak makai malai has makai or corn kernels mixed with palak or spinach puree,spices and cooked in a creamy(malai) rich gravy.

Easy and yet a delicious recipe, which can be enjoyed with roti or paratha.

Sweet corn kernals being tossed in an aromatic spinach gravy has a brisky flavour which makes it mouth-watering.Corn can also be substituted with cubes of fresh paneer, baby corn or a combination of garden fresh veggies of your choice.

The richness of moong dal and spinach reflects on its nutritive value. The vitamin C from lemon juice adds on to its iron content by having a helping hand in its absorption.

Request you to cook this vegetable in a traditional Indian deep iron pan called "handi". It is believed that cooking in iron utensils increases the iron content of food, however spinach is also naturally rich in iron/heme, so you can be double sure that this recipe will boost your hemoglobin levels.

Rich in iron and fibre this vegetable is also a healthy treat.A simple delicacy, rustled up in a jiffy to enrich your diet with iron.

Iron being needed to make blood and deliver oxygen to the cells, its deficiency results in lethargy and slowed mental function. This one is apt to keep anemia at bay. It has the goodness of spinach,and lemon. Spinach and lemon act as iron builders whereas corn impart little sweetness. Again lemon is added to benefit from its high vitamin C content, which in turn has a helping hand in enhancing the absorption of iron.

Linking this one with the event-Show me your HITS -with iron rich foods hosted by Julie, an event by Sangee...Brilliant idea dear...Being a science especially BIOLOGY-LOVER,I was very much delighted and happy on seeing  this wonderful event.Good one!

Also linking this recipe to CWF-Spinach hosted by Vardhini, an event by Kiran...

Thanks for lovely event..again spinach is my favourite vegetable I love experimenting lot many things with it...Here is one of the recipe tried and tasted at home which is easy and can be quickly made so would like to share with you all...

Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 25 mins
Makes 4 servings

PALAK MAKAI MALAI

Ingredients:
2 cups chopped spinach
3 green chillies finely chopped
1 tsp grated ginger
1 medium sized chopped onion
2 tbsp moong dal (split green gram)
1/2 cup boiled sweet corn kernels (makai ke dane)
1/3 cup heavy whipped cream
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Red chilli powder
1 tsp of lemon juice or 1/2 tsp of amchur powder.
salt to taste
3 tbsp ghee

Method:
1.Combine the moong dal and spinach, turmeric powder, cloves, cinnamon powder, onions, ginger, chillies and 1 1/2 cups water and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Or till the dal is soft.
2.Allow the steam to escape before opening the lid.
3.Now Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan, add the boiled corn, spinach mixture, salt, amchur/lemon juice, garam masala and saute till the mixture becomes thick.
4.Add the cream and mix well.
5.Heat the remaining ghee in a small pan and add chilli powder and pour over the vegetables and mix well.
6.Serve hot with naan, roti, etc.

Enjoy it as main course.....healthy,nutritive,quick,easy,delicious and iron rich recipe only for you all!

Kerala Moru Curry...

Happy B'day to the cooking doctor!

This one’s for you Jehanne.. as you celebrate your blog's b'day. Since the time I have seen your blog, I have admired it for the plethora of recipes and the superb photographs.

Many thanks for this lovely theme of Kerala . Most of us (including me) likes South-Indian dishes a lot. But when it comes to competition or event.. idlis,dosas,appums,imli curries these very common ones should be avoided and something different should be made..so also when I saw kerala cuisine I remembered our honeymoon trip to Munnar...there we ate puttu...

As I remembered those exciting golden days...I informed my hubby that I would surely like to participate in this wonderful event...

Thus I started haunting for recipe as I could think only common recipes...and I wanted to learn and cook something different..

All the while I was thinking that maybe there’s something popular that I am not remembering right now but will remember later. I waited for a few days, hoping for a miracle to happen but.. Alas, nothing did.....
I also tried the following options:-
1.Ate my hubby’s head to come up with something that we tried during our trip but alas he suggested same options idlis and dosas…
2.Also asked my mother-in-law...I thought she would surely suggest one as she is south indian but Again, no positive outcome as she knows karnataka cuisine well.
3.Searched for good one from cookery books but found nothing suitable.
4.Google search showed some positive results...there I came to know that there are many yummy recipes which are worth trying...but I was unable to choose good one as majority of them were non-veg recipes which I didnt wanted...so it was again disappointing for me.
5.Then I thought of cheating and renaming some dish, but again couldn't think of any:(
6.Finally my mom suggested me with brilliant idea...that you can ask your school's best friend S who is from kerala.Her mom would surely provide you with one...

I remembered ohh la la those amazing days ..Everytime when we were done with our exams we used to visit her house.Her mom used to cook various delicacies from kerala..we simply used to admire and enjoy those..I decided this weekend I would call her and ask for some good recipe and would jot it down.But the sad part was that her mom could hardly speak and understand Hindi or English and Marathi toh was out of question...So we set about my interview by me asking my friend questions in Hindi, she translating to her mom in Mallu, her mom replying back in Malyalam, and S translating back in Hindi. Meanwhile, I was furiously scribbling all this information in my notebook for fear of forgetting it. Here's what I learned about kerala cuisine from them...

Me:I explained my friend about my participation in the event...and asked her initially...What kind of dishes are famous in kerala cuisine?
S:Kerala cuisine has a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and meat.

Me:What kind of spices are generally used?
S: The main spices used are cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, green and red peppers, cloves, garlic, cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, and so on.Owing to the weather and the availability of spices, the Kerala cuisine is richly spicy especially the hot ones -chili, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon.

Me:How would you define a kerala breakfast?
S:Kerala cuisine offers many delicious vegetarian breakfast dishes that are often relatively unknown outside the state. These include Puttu (made of rice powder and grated coconut, steamed in a metal or bamboo holder) and kadala (a curry made of black garbanzo beans chana), idli (fluffy rice pancakes), sambar, dosa and chutney, pidiyan, Paal-Appam, a circular, fluffy, crisp-edged pancake made of rice flour fermented with a small amount of toddy or wine, etc. Idiyapam and Paalappam are accompanied by mutton, chicken or vegetable stew or fish moli (the most common dish is black pomfret in a coconut based sauce).

Me:Ok...What does typical kerala lunch and dinner consists of everyday?
S:The staple food of Kerala, is rice.Many people in Kerala prefer parboiled rice (Choru) (rice made nutritious by boiling it with rice husk). Kanji (rice congee), a kind of rice porridge, is also popular. Tapioca, called Kappa in Kerala, is popular in central Kerala and in the highlands, and is frequently eaten with fish curry.

Rice is usually consumed with one or more curries. Accompaniments with rice may include upperis (dry braised or sauteed vegetables), rasam, chips, and/or buttermilk (called moru). Vegetarian dinners usually consist of multiple courses, each involving rice, one main dish (usually sambar, rasam, puli-sherry), and one or more side-dishes. Kerala cooking uses coconut oil almost exclusively.
Popular vegetarian dishes include sambar, aviyal, Kaalan, thoran, (Poduthol (dry curry) etc. Vegetarian dishes often consist of fresh spices that are liquefied and crushed to make a paste-like texture to dampen rice.

Me:Wow its very nice and informative dear....So also name few desserts ..This is all for my event...
S:Kerala does not have any indigenous cold desserts, but hot/warm desserts are popular. The most popular example is undoubtedly the payasam: a preparation of milk, coconut extract, sugar, cashews, dry grapes, etc. Payasam can be made with many base constituents, including Paal payasam (made from rice), Ada payasam (with Ada, broken strips of baked starch from various sources), Paripu payasam (made from dal), Pazham pradhamam (made from banana), Gothambu payasam (made from wheat) etc. Ada payasam is especially popular during the festival of Vishu and Onam. Jaggery or molasses is a common sweetening ingredient, although white sugar is gaining ground. Fruit, especially the small yellow bananas, are often eaten after a meal or at any time of the day. Plantains, uncooked or steamed, are popularly eaten for breakfast or tea.

Other popular sweets include Unniappam (a fried banana bread), pazham-pori (plantain slices covered with a fried crust made of sweetened flour), and kozhakkatta (rice dumplings stuffed with a sweet mixture of molasses, coconut etc.). Cakes, ice-creams, cookies and puddings are equally common. Generally, except for payasam, most sweets are not eaten as dessert but as a tea-time snack.

Me:oh...Iam really amazed to hear all this...Now as I got lot of information about kerala cuisine...I remember ur mom cooks the best...so please suggest me some recipe for my event.It should not be too common but should be easy one..and also loved and like by maharashtrian people also
S:You can opt for...Kerala style chutney for idlis or dosas,Kerala Moru Curry,Easy Batata Palya or Kerala Easy Potato curry and list goes on.these all for marathi people like you..but among all these I would prefer you go with Kerala moru curry which is easy simple quick and tasty...every-one will surely love it...I will mail recipe to you today itself.

Me:Ok...Thanks a lot dear for your valuable information and time both.Its very nice that I called u and got in detail information about kerala cuisine...Iam really very happy to know this all...
S:Bye then

whole credit of this goes to my dear mom...thanks a lot mama...love you!
Well, I am sure you have a lot of information after reading this and finally I got the recipe and my mission was accomplished.Thanks to S mom also.
This is my entry for the amazing event...The Kerala Kitchen... hosted by Jehanne.. .Also linking the same with The Kerala Kitchen Page

Initially I was having very little bit knowledge about kerala cuisine, but we all took great efforts to dig up one mouth-watering recipe.
Here is the recipe of Kerala Moru Curry(Buttermilk curry with coconut)

KERALA MORU CURRY

 

Ingredients:
Buttermilk
Grated coconut-1/4th of entire coconut
Small onions refered as Kunjulli-3 or 4
Cumin seeds or Jeerakam-1 tsp
Red chilles or Kollamulaku-2 or 3 in number
Turmeric-1/4th tsp
1 tbsp of oil or coconut oil
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Fenugreek seeds or uluva-a pinch
curry leaves-2-3 strings
salt as per your taste.

Procedure:
1.Grind Cumin seeds,coconut,turmeric curry leaves in a blender to a fine paste.
2.Pour this to a vessel which contains curd or diluted buttermilk with salt.
3.Heat it on low flame and keep stirring.
4.See to it that it has become warm dont boil it.
5.Heat oil in another pan.
6.Add mustard seeds and allow it to splutter.
7.Now fry onions in it untill they are brown.
8.Add curry leaves,fenugreek and red chillies and saute it again.
9.Add buttermilk to this
10.Serve hot with plain rice.



It tastes awesome!

Plush Purple Beauty....

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely ready for summer! For those lucky enough to be living in the southern half of the US, spring has arrived and that means season of fruits! After a winter full of earth-toned root vegetables, seeing amazing juicy fruits with their sweet perfume at the market is like seeing the light of a warm fire in the middle of a blizzard..

And with all these juicy, sweet fruits I’m looking for lots of delicious ways to enjoy them especially smoothies in summer..Smoothies are ideal for replacing meals, for a nutritious treat or even for a fast meal on the run.

A smoothie is a delicious drink made with various fruits and vegetables blended perfectly into a smooth liquid. It's just like a milkshake packed with nutrients...and it's healthy for you.This smoothie, however, has all the flavor of the traditional poolside drink also.

with this you can enjoy the perfect afternoon treat! This is my contribution to the event cool summer sips hosted by Jyoti....this one is for you dear Jyoti...Enjoy your virtual treat with grapes smoothie...great event..perfect for summer...

Grapes, “queen of the fruits” are storehouse of numerous health promoting phyto-nutrients such as poly-phenolic antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. So, include them in your regular diet, be it in the form of fresh fruits, juice or in salads!The combination of unique texture and sweet, tart flavor has made grapes an ever popular between-meal snack as well as a refreshing addition to both fruit and vegetable salads.

Botanically, they are small round berries;that feature semi-translucent flesh encased by a smooth skin. grow in clusters on a perennial and deciduous woody vine of the genus: Vitis.Like blueberries, grapes are often covered by a protective, whitish bloom. Grapes are native to Europe and Mediterranean regions but now widely cultivated all over the planet.

The health benefits of grapes include its ablity to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration and prevention of cataract. Grapes, one of the most delicious fruits, are rich sources of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate in addition to essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium. Grapes contain flavonoids that are very powerful antioxidants, which can reduce the damage caused by free radicals and slacken ageing.

I think smoothie is the perfect delicious way to consume fruits and derive maximum energy from them.I recommend this as a powerful way to start the day or an amazing post-run energizer.

Here is the recipe for you all...You will surely enjoy it...just try it once!

PLUSH PURPLE BEAUTY

Ingredients:
1 cup Red seedless grapes
1/2 cup unsweetened grape used:I used welch's grape juice.
1/2 cup heavy whipped cream.
2 tbsp of sugar or honey as per your taste.
4-5 scoops of vanilla ice-cream:I used french vanilla
7-8 Ice-cubes:I used crushed form of ice.

Method:
1.Blend nicely only grapes first to a smooth paste.otherwise its peels(outer skin) does not tastes good.
2.Add grape juice,whipped cream and sugar.
3.Now add ice-cream,ice-cubes both
4.Your smoothie is ready you can add milk if you like but without milk also it tastes good.

Enjoy Cool drink!

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Also linking this to the event: "Jump' N Jive @ Icypritz"...Thanks preeti for hosting this wonderful event.

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Dates cup-cake containing no egg......

Cakes...hmmm Yummy! Who doesn't like cakes and pastries? Hearing the name only our mouth starts watering..Cake is My husbands favourite evening snacks..I dont have sweet tooth but cakes and gulab jamuns are two exceptions to it.

He simply loves cakes and I get to experiment a lot.After coming to US... toh puchoo hi mat..we dont even wait till first cake is over and we make another one..seeing the oven,availability of cake mixes in shops and other raw materials..we are always excited to make cakes...We generally prefer readymade cake mixes but this cupcakes.. we tried everything from scratch..and was trilled. I can say my baking skills have improved in last few weeks.

Yesterday as usual I was chatting with my mom on phone..everyday I complain my mom about sweet mischeifs played by me dear son ARNAV...because she is the only one who can understand both me and my cute monster.Indeed time flies like anything..I remember few days before I was just packing things for my journey to US and had just celebrated my son's 1st b'day and now within 3 months he will be turning two yrs old...I cannot believe it sometimes. We are busier than ever, but at the same time he is keeping us happy with his little mischiefs. I get choked up when I hear him talking in his baby words and when he learns something new – like today when he jumped from his high chair all by himself...I was terribly afraid but seeing everything is all right I was relieved...I thought... My baby is all grown up!

As I informed this to my mom she started reminding me about nutritional facts that I should include in my baby's diet so that he will be more stronger...Also she gave lecture on values of dates and almonds both . Every time we discuss about it, I go and buy one pack of almond and dates. Last week, I found I had a huge pack of dates and almonds at home. So I just plonderring about what is to be done..?

Dates were sadly looking at me as they were kept unattended...Feeling pity on dates I thought of making cake with them.So also while updating my blog just glanced through the events and was amazed to see this theme...I was so very excited with this theme as I got another chance to make my husband happy by gifting him with his all time favourite cake!Thanks to you a lot!This is my entry for CEED..... As Iam new to this bloggy world initially I didnt understand many terms used by other bloggers but now I have started becoming familiar with it..so happens with word CEED anyways...

This is my contribution to cook.eat.delicious-desserts:"Dates" and giveaway.. hosted by Nithu...Thanks dear for the lovely event..and I think giveaway makes it more interesting and competetive both...Also as per your request linking to CookEatDelicious.com.

The cupcakes turned out to be awesome.Do try it I promise it will be delicious in taste.This sweet is also for a sweet little princess. My sister got engaged last week and though I was not there to share the special moments, I celebrated in my own way by eating these cupcakes.Here's the recipe for you all..

This one is dedicated to all veggie lovers who does not even looks towards eggs...like my mom.

DATES CUP-CAKE CONTAINING NO EGG.....

Cake prior to baking

Cake after baking is done

Ingredients:

20 dates.

1 cup milk.

1 cup sugar.

1 cup maida or all purpose flour.

1 tsp of baking soda.

1/2 cup butter or oil

1 tbsp cashewnut,almonds,walnut,pecans or dry fruit of your choice-I used cashewnuts and almonds.

1 tsp of baking powder.

Procedure:

1.Soak dates in warm milk overnight or for 7-8 hours so that they become soft and easy for grinding.

2.Or if you are in hurry you can heat milk in microwave and allow dates to soak for few minutes and they you can easily grind it.

3.Add sugar will grinding itself.

4.Grind all to a smooth paste.

5.Now add melted butter or oil to it-I used oil while doing it.

6.Sieve together maida,baking soda and baking powder.

7.Now add this mixture little by little to above made smooth paste.

8.Mix everything slowly and nicely at least giving 30-40 rounds either with hand or with blender.

9.Add dryfruits to it and mix again.

10.Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare your cup-cake tray.

11.Pour the prepared batter in cup-cake tray.

12.Allow it to bake in oven for 30-40 minutes.

And you will be amazed to see the result....the brown color looks so very good that you cannot wait even till your cake is cooled so that you can enjoy eating!
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Also linking this article to the event Lets Bake Cupcakes and Muffins.. lovely event....

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Healthy Muskmelon Chiller...

Introduction: Muskmelon, commonly referred to as cantaloupe, is a fruit in the same family of cucumbers. This fruit has orange flesh and a beige, netted skin, as well as a musky, sweet scent.

Applications: Muskmelon commonly finds use mixed with other fruits in salads, served alone, or wrapped with prosciutto as a savory appetizer. It offers a range of nutritional value.

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Muskmelons :

1.Muskmelon comprises of a significant amount of dietary fiber, making it good for those suffering from constipation.
2.Since the fruit is not high in sugar or calories, it serves as a good snack for all those who are trying to lose weight and maintain a healthy body.
3.The potassium present in muskmelons makes them quite helpful in the lowering of blood pressure.
4.The fruit has been associated with regulating heart beat and, possibly, preventing strokes.
5.Researches have suggested that muskmelons might reduce the risk of developing kidney stones and age-related bone loss.
6.Being rich in Vitamin C, an antioxidant, the fruit has been believed to be good for preventing heart diseases, cancer and other chronic ailments.
7.Muskmelons have been found to have sedative properties, making them beneficial for the people who are suffering from insomnia.
8.The fruit has almost zero cholesterol and thus, is safe for the people who suffer from the problem of high blood cholesterol.
9.Regular consumption of muskmelon juice can help treat lack of appetite, acidity, ulcer and urinary tract infections.
10.Since it has high water content, the fruit can help reduce the heat in the body and thus, prevent heat-related disorders.
11.The fruit proves to be a good source of vitamin A and thus, helps maintain healthy skin.
12.The folic acid present in muskmelons helps create healthy fetuses (in pregnant women) and can even prevent cervical cancer and osteoporosis. It also serves as a mild antidepressant.
Thus it has many health benefits.

If you are feeling too tired on a hot summer day, consume a muskmelon and you will find yourself refreshed and energized.Very true...now that we are suffering badly from scorching heat of the sun we will be happy if anybody  offers  us cool sherbet or ice-cream so as to get rid of heat..
Yesterday I offered cool muskmelon sherbat to my husband when he returned from the office after tiresome work and seeing that he was so very delighted that I cannot express it in words...I thought this is perfect for my blog so that others can also make their husbands happy...so also was excited to see the event spotlight:summer cooler:Thanda Thanda, cool cool as it is golden oppurtunity for me to post my article...Thanks for the superb event...

This is my contribution to Summer Cooler : Thanda Thanda, Cool Cool. hosted by Indrani.

I learnt this recipe from my mother-in-law which is very easy,can be done quickly and is very much refreshing  during summer...Please try it you will surely love it...

Here is the recipe for you all..

HEALTHY MUSKMELON CHILLER

Ingredients:

1 muskmelon chopped into pieces.
1 tsp of cumin powder
1/2 lemon
salt as per your taste.
water
7-8 Ice cubes or crushed ice

Method:
1.Blend the pieces of muskmelon in the grinder.
2 Dont add water initially while grinding make only pure pulp of melon.
3 Now add little bit of salt,Jeera powder and lemon.
4.Crush7-8 pieces of ice to it.
5.Now you can add water in as much quantity as you want.
6.Remember this being sherbat it contains water is large amount.
7.Taste it add little more salt if you want and serve chilled.

You are bound to enjoy it.....

Strawberry Banana Delight....

For me Fruit=taste+flavour+nutrition+satiety!

Fruits are readily available and good source of vitamins and minerals A fruit will boost you instantly. It is something which can quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger at the same time,specially in summer,Fruits are guardian angels for all the busy bees. Since its handy they can be eaten even on the move.

Fruits are meant to be nutritious and are our sole companion which makes them our best friends! When it comes to the uses of fruits, it is never-ending! Fruits give you all the essential nutrients and are rich in vitamins like C and A.

Hence try to include them in your daily diet....I love fruits unconditionally...especially strawberries so you will find many recipes in my blog are related to strawberries...Hence Iam trilled on seeing this theme...This is my contribution to event Bon vivant#4-Fruit recipes...hosted by sumee...Thanks for this superb event...Hugs to you, sumee...

Strawberries, the small red fruits clad in scarlet red, dotted with tiny seeds and wearing green little caps, make one of the most deliciously attractive fruits on Earth!

Interestingly, strawberries are not fruits. They are enlarged receptacles of the flowers and are hence known as a secondary fruit.Strawberry is the only berry that has seeds on its external surface. The other berries have seeds inside. A single strawberry has 200 tiny seeds. They are also the first ones to ripen in spring.Strawberries used to be the darling of spring's transition into summer, with local varieties only available for the month of June. But now, with farm-fresh produce available year-round, you can enjoy this fruit anytime your strawberry-shaped heart desires.

Strawberries are low in fat content and calorie. They are rich in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid as well as potassium. They can reduce the risk of cancers and heart attacks. Strawberry intake helps in the reduction of systolic blood pressure. Fresh juice from strawberry pulp helps in recovering from fever. Strawberry juice, if combined with honey can reduce inflammation. It has a curative effect on sunburns.

Heart-shaped and as juicy as a good love story, a bright-red strawberry is a natural symbol of love.Thus Strawberries have since long been associated with love. Some consider strawberries as a symbol of Venice, the Goddess of Love. During the olden days, newlyweds were served strawberries. During the medieval times, strawberry designs were painted on altars and pillars of churches to symbolize righteousness. Some believe that on splitting a double strawberry into two and sharing it with the opposite sex may lead you to fall in love with him/her! A recent survey has revealed that those who love strawberries are of a fun-loving nature while those who hate strawberries are weird morons. You love strawberries, don't you?

Also bananas has wide applications in our life...

Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy.

Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading to improved mood thereby reduces depression.

Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function.

Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. They also contain pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the digestive tract.

Banana plays major role in Eyesight Protection.Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon.

In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are very nutrient to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective tokidney health. It has ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn,try eating a banana for soothing relief.Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid).

Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.

Bananas are high in B vitamins that have been shows to improve nerve function.

Many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is very effective in reducing itching and swelling.

Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the body’s water balance. During periods of high stress, our body’s potassium levels tend to be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using drugs eating bananas as part
of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

seeing these many benefits of banana I can say that..

Instead of eating an apple each day for optimum health, the adage should state that a banana each day keeps the doctor away.

There's nothing any simpler than this...It is refreshing and easy to make and super quick...

STRAWBERRY BANANA DELIGHT

Time required:10 minutes
serves:2

Ingredients:
4 strawberries
1/2 cup milk
1 ripe banana
2 tbsp strawberry yogurt
5-6 ice cubes
1 tbsp sugar or 1/2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp of whipped cream
2 scoops of french vanilla ice-cream

Method:
1Using a blender grind strawberries
2.Peel banana and break it up
3 Add milk,banana,yogurt and whipped cream to above mix.
2.Ice blend it until perfectly smooth that is blend it to perfect consistency.
3.Add sugar or honey if required
4.blend it for 1 more min
5.Place mixture in glass and add scoop of french vanilla on it.
5 Immediately serve it as if kept for long time banana may turn black in color and ice-cream will also start melting.
So enjoy.....

Strawberry Cake

Yeah we baked a cake...After getting comfortable with cooking vegetables, somewhat getting accustomed to make round chapatis.. I deceided it was time to try my hand on baking....so when I saw this theme I smiled to myself...Perfect I had prepared the cake just two days before and now I have golden chance to upload it.Unlike my baking experiments in which everytime I purchase readymade cake mix from the store,this time I baked it from scratch like my mother-in-law.For all those who have never tried strawberry cake before please try it ...as it tasted wonderful.This one is my contribution to event showcase -desserts hosted by Divya...Its an amazing event for an(boulangere meaning female baker) and also who are fans of desserts...Thanks for an oppurtunity dear...

 

I dont know why but I its really pains me a lot if I see fruits decaying...I think Iam murdering them and snatching their life so also wasting money...I hear crying sound from them which panics me a lot...hence I usually see to it that we consume it as soon as they are brought from the market..but sometimes it may happen that we concentrate on eating other stuffs ,dont feel like eating it or wait till it gets ripened leaving it as it is on table or fridge.This time there were few strawberries that were demanding our attention.I was pondering what to do with this then I remembered that my hubby loves all types of cakes a lot and I wanted to carry out my first  baking expt also so deceided that I will bake strawberry cake..I searched a lot for recipe... on google it yielded many results but fianlly I jotted down this easy recipe ...

This being my first experience to bake each and everything from scratch..I sent my husband to bring few things from the store that are common for almost all cakes-sugar,blender,baking powder, baking pan(13*9 inch),measuring cup etc... with this i was all set up and ready to start my first baking adventure on afternoon of 11th MAY 2012 .Here's the recipe for a wonderful strawberry cake

STRAWBERRY CAKE

Ingredients:
7 tbsp of unsalted butter
2 &1/2 cup All purpose flour or maida
1 cup Sugar in cake batter & 2 tsp for strawberries.
1 cup milk
2 cup strawberries
few drops of lemon juice for strawberries.
5 tsp of baking powder.
little bit of salt say 1/4th tsp.
3 Eggs

Method:
1.Wash and chop finely 2 cups of strawberries
2.Sprinkle 2 tsp of sugar and few drops of lemon juice on chopped strawberries.
3Take melted butter in big vessel and start pouring sugar on it and mix it thoroughly.that is cream it nicely.
4.Take baking powder,salt and Maida.Mix it nicely.
5.Now add little above made mixed flour little by little to creamed butter and sugar.
6.Also add little milk and mix it.
7.This way add flour and little milk and egg which has been beaten nicely and mix it everytime you add milk.
8 when u mix it thorougly giving at least 40 to 50 rounds by blender add strawberries to it.
9 again mix it nicely.
10.see to it that strawberries are inserted inside cake batter.
11.Now grease baking pan with butter and little flour.
12.Preheat oven to 375 degrees
13.Bake it for 30-35 minutes.
14.Your cake is ready...Enjoy it with chilled milk..
15.Store it in refrigerator and enjoy it chilled.it tastes more Yummy!...

Storing it in refrigerator increases its shelf life...Recent research has shown strawberries to be a surprisingly fragile, perishable, and delicate fruit. On average, studies show 2 days as the maximal time for strawberry storage without major loss of vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants. It's not that strawberries become dangerous to eat or invaluable after 2 days. It's just that more storage time brings along with it substantially more nutrient loss.But when u make cake of strawberry you can enjoy it at least for 10 days....sn't it amazing!

Strawberry Blast

Have You ever visited a farm and picked sweet ripened strawberries in as much quantity as u desire? No na...In India you wont but here in USA We got an oppurtunity to pluck and eat it as much as we want...

Last saturday-5th May 2012 we visited Huber farm.This farm grows seasonal fruits and veggies and offers free pick and eat facility.This being spring-strawberry season, we enjoyed strawberry festival in orchard.There is a tractor that takes you to the farm which is free of cost.Here you are supposed to collect as many fresh, delicious, mouthwatering strawberries as you want directly from the bush.We had never seen strawberry bushes before so were very amazed to see rows and rows of small bushes.All u have to do is start plucking strawberries in the tray provided for collection and eating as many as you can and buy rest of the berries at minimal cost.I visited along with my friends in Louisville... we were competing who would collect best berries and who would consume maximum berries? This competition gave us a chance to enjoy  tastiest juicy plumiest strawberries never tasted in life before.

We also tasted homemade strawberry ice-creams over here.Also I felt in love with cherry vanilla flavoured ice-cream that I had never seen before but enjoyed to full extent.Me and my hubby---ice-cream lovers tried lot many flavours.Nikhil tasted for the strawberry wine at local winery.Well during our checkout we payed the bill and purchased strawberries that we collected  in a tray along with blue berry pound cake which was also amazingly good.

When we returned home I promised Nikhil to do variety of starwberry recipes as I can within 2 days only as stawberries are very perishable and spoils very soon.We prepared strawberry sundae,strawberry banana smoothie with ice-cream,strawberry muramba.I searched for many recipes on internet like strawberry shortcake,Strawberry jelly cake,strawberry jello pie,strawberry jam and many more,.seeing delicious strawberries Nikhil invented new dessert-strawberry blast which was too good as it consists of whipped cream.This solved our strawberry consumption problem and it turned out to be one of the best recipes we ever tried .Here is the recipe for u all...Hope you all will enjoy it.

STRAWBERRY BLAST

Ingredients:

10-12 strawberries.

Whipped Cream bottle.

2 scoops of French Vanilla ice-cream.

2 spoons of honey(optional)

Time taken:2 minutes

serves:2

Method:

1.Chop each strawberry in to 4 pieces.

2.Arrange it in circular manner in a bowl

3.Pour whipped cream on it

4.At the center place 1 scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

5.Add few drops of honey on it.

Enjoy it...u can add more ice-cream if u like ...u can try with strawberry ice-cream also...

Its perfect and easy dessert to enjoy in summer...

Linking this recipe to the event..Bon Vivant #4- Fruit recipes hosted by Sumee.Thanks for the lovely event-perfect for summer...

Lasuni Peas-Palak

I Love... Greens...

I remember my childhood days when my mom used to run behind me to eat green vegetables.I used to hate palak, methi and other leafy vegetables as they are stringent in taste.Mom used to make parothas puris or used to mix in some rice or would do something ...she used to try her level best so that at least some part goes in my stomach....but now time has changed.I have started loving palak very much as I grew.Because now I realized the hidden truth about why my parents were behind me  and were forcing me to eat green veggies...so here's answer for you all..

Spinach or indian palak needs no introduction  as it is the first edible green about which a child learns. Thanks to Popeye!

Palak being full of nutrients, no mother rich or poor would want her child to miss on it. It contains Vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, magnesium, folic acid, manganese, iron, calcium, fibre, copper, protein, phosphorous, zinc, omeg-3 fats, niacin selenium and oxalate.

Consumption of spinach helps in—
Preventing cancer.
Forming strong bones and teeth.
A healthy heart due to it’s anti-oxidant properties.
Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Reducing the frequency of migraine.
Preventing muscular degeneration.
Night blindness improves eye-sight.
Controlling blood pressure.
As very good laxative due to the fibre content. It also prevents constipation.
As a good source of folic acid for the pregnant women.

Now I am a big palak fan and love preparing and experimenting lot many different dishes with palak..seeing this beautiful theme I deceided I will make something out of palak only as it is easily available in large quantities here in USA..Iam always behind it to finish in some or the other way...from refrigerator as it pains me a lot if it gets decayed and wasted....so here's my contribution to the event-Dish name starts with L- hosted by Akila

Now that you are aware of its benefits try to incorporate it in your diet.Here's recipe you can try out with respect to palak...Iam sure you will all like it......

LASUNI PEAS-PALAK

Ingredients:
1 entire bunch of spinach
1 cup lentil curry(cooked Toor dal)
1 tbsp Rice flour
1/4th tsp Cumin seeds
3-4 Green chilles
handful of cooked peas.

For making Tadka:
1 tbsp Oil
A pinch of asafoetida
8-10 Garlic
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
3-4 Red mirchi
Method:
1.Cut palak finely and wash it thoroughly under running water.
2.Cook spinach on heat in a pan without adding oil or water at all.
3.Within very few minutes automatically it starts cooking and water starts releasing from leaves.
4.Finally without adding water also it is cooked well and leaves become soft textured.Crush those leaves finely with spoon.
5.In between while it gets cooked add few cumin seeds along with few finely chopped green chilles.
6.When palak is cooked completely... add cooked toor dal(varan) mixed with 2 cups of water to it.
7.Allow it to boil for few minutes.
8.Mix rice flour in small quantity of water and pour that mixture in cooked vegetable.
9.Mix it thoroughly.Now add cooked peas to it.
10.When it appears to be thick place it in another vessel.
11.Now prepare tadka or tempering in Oil with the addition of asafoetida,cumin seeds,mustard seeds,turmeric,crushed garlic pieces and red chillies.
12.When garlic turns red or brown add this hot tadka on vegetable...when u will hear sound as suuuurrrrrrrrrr ...then its done.

The flavour of lasun or garlic tastes so nicely that you will surely enjoy it as an weekend menu....

Cucumber Lassi

Being a new blogger, Iam slowly getting accustomed to all the blog events.Its really fun participating it.

Here is my entry for the event Tomato Blues-Summer Spirits-

Its an event where all the food bloggers especially from USA look forward to it.I loved this theme as after coming to US only I discovered my Love towards Summer... as I was fed up with winter and that freezing Jacket..I have realized that Summer is only the perfect time of enjoyment!

It has really made earth come back to life after a long cold winter."And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."

Humans have ended their hibernation phase and are seen out on Jogging track moving along with their cute pets.Sun has made nature to wear a beautiful green gown.Variety of pansies have started blooming.Flowers are dancing on vernal winds,Bees and butterflies have started humming.Also Summer-season to have the king of fruits - mango, reminds us with lovely recipes of ice-creams,cakes, pastries,juices and lot more....

Cucumber Lassi is a very refreshing drink and perfect way to end your dinner as during summer due to scorching heat of sun our hunger is reduced to some extent.We love if somebody offers us glass full of coolant,after spicy dinner.So here's recipe of cucumber lassi-to be enjoyed in summer..Before I start chattering on my recipe..I would like to quote here that cucumber has wide applications in health benefits.Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

Fresh and crunchy cucumbers(Botanical name-Cucumis sativus) even though mostly composed of water, they still pack a lot of nutrition.The flesh of cucumbers is a very good source of vitamins A, C, and folic acid which is widely used in this recipe thereby making it highly valuable.Also The hard skin is rich in fiber and a variety of minerals including  magnesium, silica, molybdenum and potassium.It is an excellent source of silica, which is a trace mineral that contributes to the strength of our connective tissue and promotes joint health.

Cucumbers are effective when used for various skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn.It helps splitting and spoiling of nails of fingers and toes.Also due to presence of sulphur and silicon it stimulates hair growth.  They also contain ascorbic and caffeic acids.  These acids prevent water retention and keep our body hydrated,acts as diuretic.Cures diabetes and reduces cholesterol levels in the body. That may explain why when cucumbers are applied topically they are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns, and dermatitis.  They fight cancers,controls Blood Pressure,Is beneficial for teeth and gums.Cucumbers aids digestion and treat tapeworms that harbour our stomach.It relives gout and arthritis.It aids in weight loss due to its large amount of water content.

Enjoy and celebrate summer with this beautiful recipe-Cucumber Lassi-in order to derive maximum health benefits and live healthy life!

CUCUMBER LASSI

Ingredients:
3-4 small cucumbers.
2 cups sweet curd.
5-6 Pudina leaves or Coriander sticks.
salt as per your taste.
1/4th tsp of Black pepper powder.
1/4th tsp of Cumin powder.
5-6 Ice cubes

Method:
1)Peel 1 cucumber and cut it into small pieces or cubes.
2)Now make slices of remaning cucumbers.
3)Cook these slices on heat by adding 2 cups of water untill they change their color and appear to be cooked and become soft in texture.
4)Remove it from heat and Allow it to cool.
5)Grind those slices in mixer or blender..
6)To grinded mixture add blended sweet curd,salt,chopped pudina leaves or finely chopped coriander leaves.
7)Mix everything together nicely.
8)Add ice -cubes to it.
9)Now add pinch of cumin powder and Black pepper powder.
10)Pour it in glass.
11)Now decorate your drink by placing chopped pieces of cucumber on top of it.
12)Enjoy your drink chilled...and offer it to your guests...Iam sure they are bound to love it.

Note:You can also add buttermilk masala to it. This adds more taste to your lassi.You can buy masala readymade from any Indian shop or can prepare at home.
Method to prepare it at home.(Take all ingredients in the quantity as per your taste-Iodised salt,Black salt,Cumin,Dry ginger,Black pepper,turmeric,asafoetida...all must be in powdered form)

Oreo Brownie Earthquake...

Finally after biding Bye-bye to winter,summer has knocked our doors...I was looking forward to it as I was terribly tired of snowfall and wanted to enjoy summer of USA.With the onset of spring... trees are gifted back their dresses,birds have started coming out of their hiding places,flowers have started blooming and sun have started peeping in...and we can go out without those heavy jackets....but this time we need to protect our skin from scorching heat of the sun...still I love summer...because summer reminds us of desserts..like cakes,pastries,ice-creams,smoothies...oh la la yummy! and lot more.

This is my article for Showcase-Desserts hosted by Divya

 

Thanks Divya for this lovely theme...I think its perfect for summer....I liked the theme as dessets are very dear to me....Last sunday I had an oppurtunity to visit St Mathews mall near our apartment...It was afternoon and for the first time we experienced scorching heat of sun here in US...we took the advantage of the situation and enjoyed special dish...OREO BROWNIE EARTHQUAKE-It is beautiful combination of crushed oreo cookies with chewy chocolate brownie pieces blended with hot chocolate fudge and creamy french vanilla soft serve.It was too good.We deceided that we are going to try this at home...the very next day we did it and it tasted fabulous..so would like to share this recipe with u all....u will surely love it!

Components:-

3 scoops of french vanilla ice-cream.
1 oreo cream biscuit.
1 Brownie.
Chocolate sauce as you desire.

Method:-
1.In a bowl take 3 scoops of ice-cream.
2.Add crushed pieces of Oreo cream biscuit.
3.Now add brownie pieces over it.
4.Pour either hot or cold chocolate sauce on it
5.Mix together and enjoy....

I know surely you will be thinking what I have prepared here...nothing...but yes you can surely make brownies at home ..My blog with provide you with the same.still my blog being in testing phase may take some time.Else you can buy brownies from store and make this dish at home within very few minutes and enjoy....no need to waste dollars on this simple but sweet and easy dish on shop which can be made at home within no time.