PENNE IN ALMOND SAUCE

Ingredients

• Penne -1cup

• Almonds-1/2cup
• Garlic flakes-3
• Chilli flakes-1/2tsp
• Parsley-1tsp
• pepper-1tsp
• salt to taste
• olive oil-2tbsp

Method

• Boil 4-5 cups water with salt and add penne.
• Cook for for about 8 mins till cooked but not very soft.
• Drain ,add1 tsp oil mix to coat and keep aside
• Blanch almonds  and grind with garlic.
• Add enough water to make it thin.
• In a pan heat remaining olive oil,add chilli flakes,cruhed parsley and stir for a minute.
• Add the ground almond to it and cook till the sauce becomes thick.
• Add cooked penne and pepper powder ,mix well.

TOMATO CHUTNEY(SAUCE)

This tomato chutney goes well with idli/dosa or toated bread/rolls.If you didn't find any ingredients use the substitutes.You can never go wrong even if you try!
Ingredients

• Tomatoes-4
• Onion -2
• Mustard seeds-1 tsp
• Urad & gram dal -2 tsp(instead you can sprinkle coarsely powdered peanuts before serving )
• green chillies-2
• Red chilli powder or flakes-1 tsp
• Roasted gram dal powder-2tbsp.(you can use white sauce)
• Salt to taste
• Curry leaves and coriander(parsley) for garnishing
• Oil-1 tbsp

Directions

• Finely chop onion & tomatoes
• Blend the tomatoes to a puree.you can use 1&1/2-2 cups of ready puree also.
• Heat oil in a pan and add mutard seeds .
• When the seeds splutter add dals,if using.
• Add chopped onion and saute till it turns glassy.
• Add 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil.
• Add tomato puree and salt.Boil for a few minutes.
• Add little water to the  roasted gram dal flour, mix and pour in to the boiling mixture.
• Garnish with curry leaves and coariander leaves.
• Serve with toasted bread,rolls,idli,dosa.

GARLIC BUTTER

Ingredients:
      •1/2 cup butter
      •1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
Preparation:

• Beat 1/2 cup butter and blend in garlic.
• Spread on bread for garlic bread .
• Use this garlic butter on barbequed steaks, pasta, rice,seafood,vegetables or potatoes.
• You can use any butter or margarine if you like.
• Adjust the amount of garlic to your taste

CREAM OF BROCCOLI SOUP

Broccoli is a highly nutricious vegetable.
One cup of broccoli gives you-2 grams of heart healthy Omega3 fatty acid and is one of the highest vegetable sources of omega-3. You get considerable amount of vitamin C,K,A and Folate.
So everyone should try and make broccoli a part of their regular diet.
Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups steamed broccoli
• 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 cup white sauce 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

• In a large pot heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onion, celery, garlic, carrot, and broccoli.
• Pour broth over vegetables and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 minutes.
• Using an immersion blender, puree until smooth (you can use a regular blender if uyou dont have one).
• Add white sauce and  heat through. 
• Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Serve garlic bread,toasted.(apply garlic butter on sliced rolls/bread)

Microwave White Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Put the butter in a microwave safe bowl
• Melt on High for 15 to 30 seconds.
• Stir in the flour until blended and micro High 30 seconds or till bubbly.
• Stir in the milk, salt and pepper.
• Microwave on high for about 2 minutes.
•  Stir and microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes more or until thickened.

MEATBALLS WITH MINT DIPPING SAUCE

Meatballs with Yogurt Mint Dipping Sauce

• This meatball appetizer recipe is a great party finger food.
• This is a ground lamb recipe,but you can substitute with other meats.
• Mint & yougurt sauce goes well with it.
• The meatballs can be cooked earlier and frozen weeks ahead of time.
• Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving

Ingredients

• 500 grams ground lamb
• 2 beaten eggs
• 3/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 3/4 to1cup bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
• 1 teaspoons minced garlic
•  Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Oil for frying

Mint Sauce (dip)

• 1 cup curd  (plain yogurt)
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

Method

• Combine the yogurt, mint, green onions, garlic and ginger; cover and chill.
• Mix all the meatball ingredients together by hand until well-combined.
• Form the mixture into balls either by hand or with a meat baller.
• Pour just enough oil into a non-stick frying pan to cover the bottom and heat.
• Add the meatballs, in batches if necessary, and cook through, browning them on all sides.
• Drain them on paper towels.
• Serve hot with chilled Mint Dipping Sauce.
• Makes about 20 appetizers.

BROKENWHEAT SALAD

This  is a healthy and delicious  recipe prepared with cracked wheat(bulgar), mint, garlic, tomatoes, spring(green) onions, olive oil and lemon.
 It tastes great chilled, a vegetarian meal in itself.
Ingredients

• 2 cups cracked wheat (bulgur,dalia)
• 2 cups very hot water
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 2 small tomatoes, chopped
• 1 bunch green onions,sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh chopped mint (reduce if you like)
• 2 cups fresh chopped parsley
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste

Method

• Soak the cracked wheat in the hot water until the water is absorbed, about 30 minutes.
• Drain any excess water.
• Prepare the vegetables for the salad and mix the dressing ingredients together. 
• Stir the prepared wheat, other salad ingredients, and dressing together in a medium bowl.
• Serve chilled or at room temperature.
• Makes about 8 cups, 12 to 16 servings.

Broken Wheat

PROTEIN SHAKE

Protein shakes are a safe way to ensure enough protein, when used as part of a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.One will have fewer infections, less heat exhaustion, and less muscle soreness.

PROTEIN SHAKE
Ingredients:

• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 banana, cut into small pieces
• 1 small kiwi, cut into small pieces
• 1 tablespoon toasted wheat germ
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

Method

• Put banana,kiwi and sunflower seeds in a blender and blend till smooth.
• Add milk,yogurt,juice,peanut butter and wheat germ blend for a minute.
• serve chilled.
• Use flavoured yogurt or sugar if you like.

This shake goes to an event hosted by Madhuri's ’Summer Soothers I: ‘Juices, Shakes, Smoothies’

CHOWCHOW VEGETABLE(CHAYOTE SQUASH)

An indian receipe using chayote squash.

Chayote squash vegetable(subzi)

Ingredients:

• 
  
  2 chayote squash(chow chow), peeled and diced
  
  
  
• 1 onion
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
• salt to taste

Roast and powder coarsely:

• 2 tbsp white sesame seeds
•  3-4 red chilies

  Seasoning:

• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp urad dal
• few curry leaves
• few sprigs green coarinder(cilandro)
• 1 tbsp grated coconut.

Directions:

• Cook diced squash,turmeric powder and salt.
• Heat oil.
• Add the mustard seeds, when it pops add onions, and saute till translucent.
• Add the cooked squash.
• Mix well,sprinkle sesame powder,coconut,curry leaves and coariander.

DIET BURGERS

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 pound lean ground meat
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/3 cup choppedd onion
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 2 tablespoons cottage cheese (paneer)
• Salt and pepper  to taste

Method

• In a large bowl, whisk egg.
• Add everything else, mixing it until well blended.
• Form into four patties.
• Place burgers in a grill pan or nonstick skillet that's heated over medium-high.
• Cook 6 minutes per side or to desired level of doneness.

GREEN SMOOTHIE

Green Smoothies

The healthiest of all  smoothies, green smoothies are the best way to consume leafy greens.
A powerhouse of nutrients for you with minimum effort.
Use a good amount of dark leafy greens  in smoothie form, greens are more palatable and you can therefore consume more of them.
Ingredients
Spinach leaves-1cup
A handful of  coariander leaves
Seedless greengrapes-1cup
2 cups water

Sugar or a pinch of salt

Method

Blend all ingredients in a blender till smooth and serve immediately.


This smoothie recipe goes to an event-‘Juices, Shakes, Smoothies’

Cucumber Mint Smoothie

Have this for breakfast it will keep you going all morning .It was one of the lightest and most refreshing  smoothies loaded with nutrients 

Cucumber Mint Smoothie

Ingredients.

• Cucumber-1
• Fresh mint leaves -1/4 cup depending on how strong you want  you can take less. 
• Honey-2 tbsp
• Yogurt/curd-1/2cup
• Salt a pinch.

Method

• Peel and slice cucumber.
• Put in a blender and blend till smooth.
• Garnish with aslice of cucumber and a sprig of mint and serve immediately.
• Use chilled ingredients.

CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE

Smoothies are the easiest-and one of the best-possible meals you can make. Dump a few ingredients, push a button, then swig. This smoothie recipes take more of a dessert twist to satisfy your late-night or postdinner sweet craving.

Ingredients

• 1 scoop low-fat chocolate ice cream
• 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
• 1/2 cup low-fat  milk
• 1 tablespoon chocolate whey protein powder or any drink powder
• 1/2 banana
•  ice cubes

Method

• Put all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth.
• For extra volume, add more ice.

GARLIC POWDER

GARLIC POWDER(PODI)
Use garlic powder with idli or dosa or sprinkle on raitas,salads etc.
Ingredients

• Red chillies-4
• Roasted gram-1cup
• Garlic flkes-6 peeled
• Salt to taste
• Tamarind-optional.a liittle

Method

•  Roast red chillies with 1tsp oil.
• Grind red chillies,dal,salt and tamarind to afine powder.
• Add garlic in the end pulse for a few seconds till the garlic is blended.