Banana Bread - Low Calorie cake

You will never regret it, it's nutritious and low calorie as it is made with whole wheat flour, you will never go to any store to buy, as you can make better now.

Ingredients

· 1 ½ cup of whole wheat flour
· 1 tsp. of Baking Soda

· ½ tsp. of Salt

· 1 ½ cup of Sugar

· 3 eggs lightly beaten with 3 tsp. of Sugar

· 2 large banana’s mashed

· 1 cup of canola oil

· 2 tsp. of orange Tang flavor

· 1 tsp. of chopped almonds

Directions

· Preheat oven at 400 degrees।

. Take one bowl and combine eggs and sugar till they are bright golden color and thick.

· Now combine mashed bananas to eggs and stir gently.

· Take another dry bowl where mix all dry ingredients wheat flour, baking soda, salt and
sugar with fork so that you don’t have any lumps.

· Now mix Oil slowly and keep on stirring to dry ingredients.

· Now add Eggs and Bananas to the mixture and stir continuously so there are no lumps.

. Add almonds to it and stir.

· Pour the mixture to greased loaf pan.

· Sprinkle sugar on top of the mixture for crusty texture on top.

· Bake until lightly browned and bread bounces back to the touch, about 55 minutes to 1
hour.

· Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before turning out in a plate to cool
completely.

· Enjoy with tea, coffee or have as a snack.

-Chitra

Bell Pepper Cup Cakes

This will be your favorite appetizer just try this...invite your girlfriends over or try it as a picnic snack.....everyone will love it


Ingredients

· One boiled potato
· Two Red Peppers, cut the top off
· ½ cup of roasted peanuts
· 2 tsp. of olives (black and green)
· Salt and pepper to taste
· 1 teaspoon of red chili flakes
· 1 cup of diced onions
· 1 tsp. of diced green chilies
· 3 tsp. of shredded skimmed Mozzarella Cheese
· 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds

Directions

· In a non stick skillet add 1 tsp. of oil.
· Add Onions and green chilies
· When onion turn golden brown add potatoes
· Now add Salt and pepper and red chili flakes
· Cool down the mixture for 5 minutes and olives to it.
· Add mozzarella cheese to the mixture now
· Now fill bell peppers with the mixture.
· Preheat the oven for ten minutes 350 degrees.
· Now bake the bell peppers until they are little soft from outside light brown color from
outside.
· Coat with sesame seeds and serve hot.

-Chitra Pal

Mint Chutney

Savory treat for all of you :)

Ingredients:-

· 1 cup of soaked seedless tamarind in warm water
· 2 bunches of mint / pudina
· 1 bunch of cilantro / dhaniya / corriander
· 1 jalapeno or green chili
· ½ chopped red onion
· 3 tsp. of sugar (sugar free preferred)
· Salt to taste
· 1 teaspoon of red chili powder
· Water


Directions:-

· Separate Mint and Cilantro leaves from stems.
· Now mix them in blender with onions and green chilies. If the mixture is thick to mix add little bit of water.
· Now slowly add soaked tamarind.
· When it is mixed well add salt, red chili powder and sugar.
· Enjoy mint chutney sandwiches by spreading over any kind of bread, crackers or nachos,

even with paranthas, puris or pakoras

-Chitra

Chana Daal Bhel Puri

 

Chat Pati Chaat in five minutes.....


Ingredients

1. 1 pound Roasted Chana daal/lentils ($5 per pound from Indian Store)
2. 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion
3. 2 tsp. of chopped cilantro/dhaniya
4. ¼ cup of lemon juice
5. 2 chopped green chilies
6. ½ tsp of ginger
7. ½ cup of cucumber
8. ½ cup of finely chopped tomato without seeds
9. Salt and pepper to taste
10. ¼ vinegar (optional)
11. 2 tsp. of hot sauce
12. 3tsp. of Ketchup (any brand)

Directions

1. Take a big bowl and add Chana Daal with all dry ingredients. Mix together and keep it aside before your guests arrive. You can make this ahead of time and keep in cool place.
2. Now before serving add Lemon juice and hot sauce and garnish with chopped cilantro.

   -Chitra

   
   

Veggie Paradise Pizza

Who does not love pizza..........It is not Italian favorite anymore, but everyone loves it......kids love it and adults enjoy as much as kids.

So, here we make our own fresh veggie pizza at home in just 30 minutes.

All ingredients

Ingredients

• Store brought fresh pizza dough
  
• ½ cup diced red bell peppers
  
• ½ cup dice green bell peppers
  
• ¼ cup of sliced red onion
  
• ½ cup black pitted and diced olives
  
• ½ cup of mushrooms sliced thinly
  
• ½ tsp. of oregano
  
• ½ cup of skim milk/ low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
  
• Red chili flakes to taste
  
• 1 tbsp. of olive oil
  
• 2 tsp. of pizza sauce or you can make your own (recipe follows)

Directions:-

• Roll the Dough with some dry flour on wooden base or kitchen counter until it is your desired shape (round or rectangle)
• Preheat oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Spray some Oil on baking sheet and out your pizza on it.
• Spray some olive oil or brush olive oil on first side and dig small little holes with the help of fork in pizza so that olive oil flavor can come in bread.
• Repeat this with the other side after one side has been cooked or turned light pink brown (usually takes 10 minutes each side on 450 degrees)
• Now take the pizza bred out and cover the top with sauce and some cheese, heat this for 10 minutes or till the cheese melts.
• Now at last is toppings time, which are vegetables or Chicken etc. and some more cheese. This recipe is for All Veggie Surprise, but if you want you can use Chicken or Pepperoni. It is just cooking time of vegetables will be lot less then any kind of meat.
• When the vegetables turn little brown and cheese melts you pizza is ready.
• Take out the Pizza and let it sit for 3-4 minutes, it will be hot to slice it. I know it is not easy to wait after that. Grab your slices and enjoy with your family.

Pizza Sauce: - Heat 3 tsp. olive oil and add thinly diced onions and two cloves of garlic. When Onions turn little brown add can of diced tomatoes. Let it cook for 10 minutes until sauce is little reduced and then add salt and add 1 tsp. of oregano and red chili flakes. Let the mixture to cool down and now mix it well in your blender with 1tsp. of hot sauce and salt and pepper to tatse. Your sauce is ready. Store it in glass bottle or can. You can use the same as any kind of pasta marinara.

You can get your kids involve in choosing and putting the toppings on your bread, it will be family Pizza time and for health conscious people now you know how much fat and calories you are serving your family. If you are living alone, it can be treat for yourself doing something great or celebrate anything, it can be bad day as cheer up day, njoy :)


-Chitra

Asian Style Fish Sticks / Pakoras

Ingredients

· Two wheat bread
· 2 tsp of Olive Oil or olive oil spray
· One Lemon
· One tsp of fresh cilantro/dhaniya

For Marinating

· 1/2 cup soy sauce (preferred-low Sodium)
· 2 cups of fresh orange juice
· 2 tsp. of sugar
· 2 tsp. of fresh chopped cilantro
· 1 tsp. of fresh chopped ginger
· 2 cloves of minced garlic
· 2 fresh fillets of Salmon (preferred – Atlantic)
· 1 teaspoon of hot sauce
· 1 teaspoon of hot chili flakes or red chili powder

 

Marinated Fish in Sauce

Directions:-

• Cut two fillets into bite size pieces (approx. 6-7 pieces)
  
• Marinate them into zip lock bag or plastic container from 4-24 hrs and keep it aside in fridge (preferred overnight)
  
• Take out the fish 20 minutes before cooking to allow them to come in room temperature.
  
• In the mean time grate the bread slices into fresh bread crumbs and take them out in separate bowl or tray.
  
• Heat oil in a non stick pan/skillet.
  
• Take out the fish and roll it over bread crumbs until they are all coated with it.
  
• When the pan has turned hot turn down the heat to medium and put the fish piece one by one. Turning heat to medium will not smoke into your kitchen.
  
• Do not flip the fish until it has been cooked to 5 mins. Or the breaded fish has turned golden brown each side.
  
• Take another small pan and pour the marinating sauce into it and reduce it till it turns thick.

When the fish is cooked sprinkle fresh cilantro/dhaniya and lemon juice over it and place it over the marinating sauce. Serve hot.

-Chitra

Grilled Chicken with Rice Pulao

This is amazingly healthy dish for our chicken lovers. It is fusion of tandoori and grilled version with low fat and high protein. I hope you will enjoy eating in same way my family and I enjoyed it.



Ingredients

For Rice:-

1. 2 cups of Boiled Rice
2. 1 tsp of cumin seeds
3. Salt Pepper to taste
4. 2 cups of Peas

Directions

1. In a non stick skillet/pan add 2 tbs. of olive oil and add cumin seeds.
2. As soon Cumin seeds splutter add salt and pepper and peas.
3. When the peas turn little brown add boiled Rice to it. Make sure there is no water left in boiled rice before you add this to the pan.
4. Your pulao is ready.

Ingredients

For Marinating Chicken:-

1. ¼ cup of olive oil
2. 1 Jalapeno/green chili sliced thinly
3. Salt to taste
4. 1 tea spoon red chili flakes or powder
5. ¼ cup of Yoghurt/Curd
6. 3 tsp. of Lime Juice
7. 2 tsp of fresh chopped cilantro/dhaniya
8. 2 Chicken Breasts (boneless and skinless)

Directions

1. In a zip lock bag or plastic container marinate the chicken breasts with all the ingredients from 4-24 hrs. and keep them aside in fridge.
2. For cooking, take out marinated chicken from fridge 20 minutes before cooking, so that it comes down to room temperature.
3. Spray some olive oil in non stick skillet or two tsp. of oil and turn the heat onto medium high.
4. When the pan turn hot add your chicken breasts without marinating liquid.
5. Let the chicken cook each side to 5-8 minutes each or till it turns golden brown without flipping in between.
6. In the mean time, on low heat add leftover marinating sauce and reduce it till it is thick. this marinating sauce will be our gravy for our chicken and rice.
7. Take one lime or lemon zest and add to your reducing sauce.

Serve hot and crispy Chicken breasts with Rice Pulao and garnish chicken breasts with the marinating sauce turned gravy with any kind of roasted vegetables on sides.

-Chitra

POHA LAJWAAB

 
Poha/ Powa/ Chidwada/ Flattenned Rice :-

From western India, Poha, made from flattened rice, is an easy-to-cook, very nutritious snack. It is often eaten for breakfast or brunch. Add extra zing to Poha by serving it with Vinegar or Mint-Coriander Chutney! My Mom use to make this many times when we were kids, it is loved by all kids and all moms as it is quick lunch meal for their kids.

Ingredients

· 4 cups Flat/Pressed Rice/Chidwada/ ppha mix
· 1 cup Roasted peanuts (without oil)
· Salt & Red chili powder to taste
· 3 tsp. of Vinegar
· 1 cup mix vegetables
· 1 chopped onion
· 1 tsp. of cumin
· 1 teaspoon turmeric powder

Directions

· In a non stick flat deep dish pan heat 2 tsp. of oil and add cumin & onion to it.
· When onion turns pink add mix vegetables.
· Till mix vegetables get little fried wash your flat rice and soak for 2 minutes in warm
water.
· After two minutes drain water from flat rice and add with Mix vegetables.
· Now add all dry spices.
· Now in last add peanuts and let all mixture cook till 5 minutes. Just remember this
mixture should have no moisture.
· Now serve hot or cold by garnishing vinegar and Jalapenos (optional)

-Chitra Pal

Irani Pulao blended with bell peppers, garnised with Spicy Vinegar sauce

Here is the recipe I learnt from my mom, she cooked it for my brother and me a lot when we were kids. After getting married now, I miss her food so much, so I am just trying my best to do this. This one is for you Mom, I miss you.

Ingredients

For Pulao:-
· 2 cups of Rice
· 3/4 cup of Whole Masoor daal
(You can get this ½ kg from any Indian store for 4-5 $)
· 1 tsp of Cumin/Zeera
· Salt & black pepper to taste
· 1 teaspoon of red chili powder

For Sauce:-
· 1 yellow and 1 green bell pepper chopped roughly in size
· 2 tsp of vinegar
· 2 tsp of hot sauce

Vegetable/Canola/Olive oil (except mustard oil)
Water

Directions

For Pulao:-
· Soak Rice and Daal for 30 minutes before you make pulao
· In non stick skillet add 2 tsp of any oil (you use for cooking) on med heat
· Add Cumin/Zeera seeds
· When Cumin seeds splutter add salt and red chili powder
· Now add soaked rice and masoor daal without water.
· Stir for 2-3 minutes and now add 1 ½ cups of water
· Pulao will be ready in 10-15 minutes

For Sauce
· In another non stick skillet, add ½ tsp of oil.
· Add chopped bell peppers.
· Now let them cook 5-10 minutes till they turn little pink brown on low heat.
· Now add ¼ cup of water and let it cook for 5 minutes.
· After they are cooked keep them aside and add salt and pepper to taste and let it sit till pulao is ready.
· Now add hot sauce and vinegar to them and stir it so that each bell pepper is coated with
Sauce.

Serve in individual serving dish and garnish Pulao with sides of bell peppers with sauce drizzled on top and enjoy.

-Chitra Pal

Grilled Atlantic Salmon with Tangy Tomato Rice or with a Tasty Side of Hot and Sour Vinegar Sauce

Two in One Recipe :-

This recipe is for Grilled Salmon served with tomato rice or with a tasty side dish of tangy bell pepper sauce. It’s just few more ingredients and you can make a little variation in your next dinner or lunch.

Serve it to your loved ones instead of waiting to go a fancy restaurant for this fabulous dish or invite your friends over and believe me they will be your fan after this.

Ingredients

· Two cups of soaked rice ( soak only for 30 minutes before cooking)
· 1 cup of tomato sauce
· 1 cup of fresh mix vegetables- for different colors ( Capsicum, Carrots, Peas, Corn)
· Vegetable/Olive Oil
· 1 tsp. Cumin/Zeera powder
· Salt to taste
· 1 tsp of red chili powder
· Fresh chopped cilantro/coriander/dhaniya

For Marinating Fish:-
· Two Fillets Atlantic Salmon (cut in two pieces each- Dinner for four)
· Juice of 1 Lemon, and take lemon zest for same.
· 1 tsp. lime zest
· 2 garlic cloves minced very thinly
· Salt & Pepper to taste
· 2 tsp. of Olive oil
· ½ tsp. of red chili powder
· 1 tsp. of vinegar1 tsp. hot sauce.

Directions

Rice:-
· Mix all the ingredients for marinating and marinate the fish for 1 night before
or 7-8 hrs before you cook.
· Take a non stick skillet and add zeera/cumin seeds to 2 tsp of vegetable/olive oil.
· Now add salt and red chili powder.
· Add mix vegetables and let them cook till they turn crispy light brown.
· Now add tomato puree/sauce to it and let it cook for 2-5 minutes.
· Add soaked rice to it without water and stir it for two minutes until each rice grain is

coated with your mixture.
· Now add 1 to 1 ½ cups of water and let it cook till 15-20 minutes.


Cooking Fish:-

Till Rice cooks start with fish.
· Spray non stick oil spray on a grilled pan/plate (if you don’t have a grilled pan you can

use non stick skillet also)
· When it is medium heated add the fish, do not add sauce just fish. Let the fish cook on

each side for 3-5 minutes until it is golden brown. If you flip before this fish will not be

cooked properly and will break while flipping. For Sauce
· Heat on low heat leftover marinating sauce and 2 tsp of vinegar and 1 tsp. of
vinegar.

Serve rice with Salmon in individual plates and garnish with spicy and sour sauce on it.

Next Day Lunch or Dinner :-

Now you can make this as next day lunch or next day dinner with slight additions. Cook Fish as referred above and cook tasty side dish with it.

Ingredients

For Sauce:-
· 1 yellow and 1 green bell pepper chopped roughly in size
· 2 tsp of vinegar
· 2 tsp of hot sauce
· Vegetable/Canola/Olive oil (except mustard oil)
· ¼ cup of Water

Directions

. Take another non stick skillet, add ½ tsp of oil.
· Add chopped bell peppers.
· Now let them cook 5-10 minutes till they turn little pink brown on low heat.
· Now add ¼ cup of water and let it cook for 5 minutes.
· After they are cooked keep them aside and add salt and pepper to taste and let it sit

till pulao is ready.
· Now add hot sauce and vinegar to them and stir it so that each bell pepper is coated with

Sauce.

Serve with Grilled Salmon on hot and sour bell peppers bed and garnish with the sauce.

This could be romantic dinner special for Valentine's Day :)

-Chitra Pal