Savoury Spinach Muffin

                             


      The original recipe is here. That is actually a cup cake recipe, I added salt and pepper instead of sugar and added shredded carrots and chopped walnuts instead of pine nuts.

       This one is ideal for evening snacks. The measurements in this recipe make 8 muffins which can be stored in an air tight container for a few days, and is quite satisfying for an evening snack, especially for people like me who raid the kitchen every evening! :(
                   
                                          

Recipe:

11/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 tsp of salt (adjust as you like)

1 tsp of black pepper (adjust as you like)

1 tbsp baking powder

11/4 cup milk

2 tbsp olive oil

1 lighly beaten egg

2 cups chopped uncooked spinach

1/2 cup chopped red onion 

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

 Preheat oven to 175 degree celcius.Mix together, chopped spinach, carrots, red onions,baking powder, flour, salt and pepper. Make sure the flour is coated over all the chopped veggies. In a separate bowl whisk together egg, oil and milk.

Pour the wet ingredients slowly over the dry mixture and fold everything together. Grease a muffin pan. Pour the mixture onto 8 cups in the pan, add the chopped walnuts on top and bake for 25 mins.

Once done, (till a knife inserted comes out clean), let it sit for 5 minutes and cool before serving.

Beets and Sprouts Salad

This is just an easy snack for those mid afternoon cravings! I know!!!! Salad for a mid afternoon craving??! Instead of those bar chocolates and short breads!

Not crazy!! I also served a slightly sweetened apple tea on the side, though it cant be a real substitute for chocolates and bread crisps, at least something sweet for the sad soul! :p :) It did help!

Just throw in together some beet sticks, some sprouts (I used alfalfa and bean) and mix in some olive oil, salt and pepper and squeeze some lemon on top. I dint have croutons then, that would've been good too! Serve fresh with some hot herbal tea!

Veggie sticks with Avacado dip!


 To make this you will need:

One big ripe Avacado, 1 chopped green chilli, abt 1/4 tsp black pepper powder, 1 tomato chopped into smal cubes, one small onion, chopped into small cubes, few cilantro leaves, chopped. salt to taste. juice of 1/2 a lemon and a tsp of Extra virgin olive oil. 


 Scoop out the pulp from avacado and mash it very well, combine all the other ingredients and mix well.

Serve with Carrot and beet sticks. This is a very healthy and tasty evening snack. Make sure you use a big avacado, or the dip wont be just enough! :)

Karamani Vadai/Black eyed peas Fritters

One of my friends made this for a potluck and that was the first time I had it. It tasted soo good and I also make it frequently as this makes a very healthy snack too!

Ingredients:

Black eyed peas - 2 cups

toor dhal - 2 tbsp

onion - 1, chopped

curry leaves - chopped

green chillies - 4

cilantro leaves - few,chopped

salt, and a pinch of asafoetida and a pinch of turmeric

Method of preparation:

Soak the black eyed peas in water for about 3 hrs. Heat a pan, add a tsp of oil and fry all the remaining ingredients (Onion, toor dhal, chopped green chillies, turmeric, salt,curry leaves and cilantro.) just till the raw smell goes off. Add this with the soaked and drained black eyed peas and add the asafoetida, and coarsely grind the mixture. Make small balls and deep fry in oil. Serve hot with cilantro dressing! I also added a tbsp of rava to add to the crispness. Tastes yumm!!! :)

Rava Pakoda

This is one of my Mom's quick and easy recipe, especially for guests who turn up suddenly without notice! Not to mention its very delicious though very simple, with handy ingredients.

I used white semolina for making this, just like my mom. Preparation time is a little less than 20 mins.

Ingredients:

White rava (semolina) - 2 cups
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Ginger, Garlic - 1/2 tsp each
Chopped Onion - 1/2 cup
Green Chillies - 6
Salt - to taste
Turmeric powder - Just a pinch
Oil - To Deep Fry
Water - As required

Method to Prepare:

Roast the Rava and keep aside.

Take a skillet and pour 1 tbsp of oil and add the mustard seeds and Cumin seeds. Once they splutter, add the onion and green chilles and saute them for a minute and add the ginger and garlic paste.Add a pinch of turmeric and a little salt.Adding salt at this point helps to remove the moisture from the onions very quickly. Saute the mixture till the raw smell of the onion goes off.

Put off the stove and add the mixture to the rava. Add salt to taste and add water and form a dough, consistent enough to form small, small lumps. Form small lumps of this and start deep frying. If the pakoda is little hard, add some more water to the dough.

Chick peas Sundal (Kondakadalai sundal)

- Recipe is yet to come! :) -