Healthy recipe- Spinach pesto pasta

Pesto is a very versatile sauce that can be used as a sauce for breads, sandwiches, pastas and whatever else you desire!!! This recipe even convinced my kids to eat spinach because of how delicious it was! All of its ingredients are healthy, and they are readily available in stores and in your pantry. 

Ingredients needed for the Pesto

3 cups of Spinach- I used baby spinach

A squeeze of Lemon- To taste

Salt-To taste

Black Pepper- To taste

1/3 cup of Walnuts- You can toast it lightly if you want

1/2 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano or Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup of Olive Oil

2-3 cloves of Garlic

Optional- Dried Basil  

How to make it

 1) Use a food processor and put the garlic, walnuts, parmigiano cheese, black pepper and salt 

 2) Add the Spinach and lemon and slowly drizzle in half cup of olive oil blend it until you have reached the desired consistency of chunky or smooth

 

Combine it with the Pasta

1) Boil 454 grams of desired pasta and cook it according to the instructions given on the package- (I used Whole Wheat, but the normal variety is good to)

2) Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta

3) Add the pesto to the cooked pasta and use some of the pasta water to get the desired consistency

Notes

*If you want to use a blender instead follow the instructions above but add cooled pasta water to the blender to make the blending process more efficient

*I love adding red chili flakes to it on top

*Because you salt the water, make sure you keep that in mind as you salt the pesto

* Experiment!!! You can substitute and mix and match different greens like basil and Arugula and more. Almonds and pine nuts are also popular choices 

 

Super Soft Idlis with Turmeric Leaf

I may not be able to eat chat everyday but always happy to eat idlis irrespective Im down with fever or jumping energetically! I do get bored with regular recipes and wanted to try something better and make it more mouth melting:-).

You may have used these ingredients before but a slight twist on how you use it will make that difference.

Ingredients

 3 cup rice ( i used sona masuri)

 1 cup urad dhal

 1 cup thick poha

 1/2 tspn methi seeds

 Salt to taste

How to make it

Get water in a big pot enough to soak the 3 cups of rice . Turn off the heat just before the water starts to boil. Please note that the water should NOT boil but you would turn of the heat just before it starts to boil and remove it from the stove top . Add the rice now and cover it and leave it for 7 hours.

Separately soak urad dhal+methi seeds and poha for 4 hours . I just did it at the same time as rice so I dont forget later :-).

After 7 hours, separately grind all the ingredients and mix well with salt to form a thick batter.

Let it ferment overnight.

Arrange the idli stand, pour the fermented batter on ghee smeared idli stand. Steam it for 16mins .I also used olive oil smeared turmeric leaves on the idli stand for some authentic healthy turmeric leaf idlis.

Tips: Grind it smooth, sometimes i also use this batter for making dosa.

Your Feedback

Your feedback is very important me , that is the driving force for me to post.So please comment/share your feedback and any other tips:-).I guess we all learn from each other!

Black-eyed Pea Masala Vada

Ingredients:

Black -eyed pea soaked overnight......2 Cups
Rice floor.............................................2 Tbspn
Onion chopped ...................................1 Cup
Green chilly finely chopped................2
Ginger grated.......................................2 inch
Garlic grated........................................4 cloves
Cinnamon powder................................2 pinch
Asafetida..............................................2 pinch
Curry Leaves chopped.........................1 string
Mint Leaves chopped...........................2 Tbspn
Salt to Taste
Oil to deep fry

Procedure

• Grind the soaked black eyed pea preferably without water or sprinkle a Tbspn water so it is easy to grind.Transfer it to a bowl.
• Add chopped onion,chopped green chilly,grated ginger garlic,cinnamon powder,asafetida,chopped curry leaves, mint,salt to taste and give it a mix.
• Next add the rice floor at last and start making vada.
• Vada making - Have a cup of cold water handy.Dip your palm with cold water everytime before you make vada and pat it to shape it as vada and slowly carefully drop it in medium hot oil.
• Fry until golden and crisp! and let me know how it comes out:-)

Notes 

• Cinnamon -I grated cinnamon while i did ginger,garlic ...it was a little difficult but worth the fresh taste.
• Onion, mint leaves- I added a little more as I like it.

Carrot Rasam - A Healthy Rasam

South Indian meals are incomplete without rasam.

Irrepective of which part of Indian they belong to kids love well cooked rice , rasam and a little ghee.

Now, along with my kids I love rasam too. Easy to make and after eating varieties or frequent parties, I just want some rasam rice and that set :-)

Wanted to try a more healthier option and tried this and kids just loved it .

Ingredients

Carrots chopped ...............1.5 Cup
Tomoto chopped...............1 Cup
Grated Coconut
(Frozen or Fresh)...............1 Tbspn
Jeera...................................1 tspn
Tamarind............................1 tspn
Turmeric.............................2 pinch
Rasam powder....................1 tspn
Jaggery...............................1 tspn ( optional )
salt to taste

Tadka :

Ghee..................................1 Tbspn
Mustard seeds....................1/2 tspn
Asafetida.............................2 pinch
Red Chilly ..........................1
Curry leaves........................1 String

Procedure :

1) Combine carrots, tomato, coconut,jeera,tamarind,turmeric .Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook 2 whistle.

3) Once at room temperature, blend it.

3) Take the blended puree, add rasam powder, salt to taste and water to adjust the consistency of rasam you may like. Bring it to boil. Later add jaggery.

4)Next is tempering : Heat ghee in a small pan.add mustard seeds- once the popping sound tend to stop,add red chilly,curry leaves and pour it on the boiling rasam.

5) Hm...Serve with some rice and papad and enjoy your healthy lunch.

Notes : The carrots I used were not sweet and had to use jaggery for taste.
             You can also use 1/4 cup toor dool to add protein while you pressure cook.

Strawberry Picking

Hello my dear viewers,

Welcome to Spring Season!!

I am sure a lot of you love fresh fruits and vegetables like I do.My favourite past time
is to look for  seasonal fruits "u pick" farms.March means it's time to pick some STRAWBERRIES in Florida.The u picked pink juicy fruit tastes so very different than the store bought one's.

U picks are a good add on for kids spring break,summer break activities.

How do you find the u pick farms??
You can visit Pickyourown.org to check what is in season and the nearest farms which offers u pick.But as the website suggests please call the farm before you plan to travel.
The second way to find the farms is when you go to your local farmers market/flea market you can ask the sellers and sometimes they do have those information.

Preparation for U pick
It is very important to well prepare for your picking trip so you can enjoy to the fullest.
Check the weather and dress up accordingly.
Have cash ready as some farms do not accept credit,debit cards.
Pack some snacks,cooler,juice,water as some farm might not have snack bar or even vending machines.
Some farms do have picnic tables so you can even pack your meal
Hat,Sunscreen lotion,bug spray will definitely help.
Extra clothes for your kids.

Brown's Farm in Northeast Florida,Hawthorne FL
Address-18120 FL-26 ,Hawthorne FL 32640. Approximately 90 miles SW of Jacksonville FL is Brown's farm.My 4 year old was in Spring break..and she loves strawberries so thought this would be great spring break activity.They opened up for u pick on March 14th and usually runs for 1.5 months.Big farm and berries were big enough  and you could fill the buckets soon.The lady their was kind enough to show us which part of the farm had plenty to pick.They also sell fresh vegetables picked from their farm,honey,jams.

Here are some pictures..

This artistic vegetable is called Romanesco and tastes like a mix of cauliflower and brocolli.Yum

RECIPES tastes great when you use the u pick fruits and vegetables.

Let us make some STRAWBERRY ICECREAM WITHOUT ICECREAM MAKER andSTRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE this strawberry season and impress our friends and family.

5 Minute Sidedish - SweetCorn Fry

Calling all the busy mommies!!

Here is a super simple easy "Sweetcorn Fry/Usali"

I am sure kids would love this!This would be a good side dish /salad for back to school lunch boxes.

As its Festival season now,you can make this usali for pooja offering and share it with your friends.

This could be a tasty add on for your meal plate.

Ingredients

Sweet Corn kernels Frozen/Fresh..................2 cups
Oil.................................................... .1 Tbspn
cumin seeds + mustard seed............. .1/4tspn
Lemon juice...................................... .1/4 tspn
Cilantro chopped.................................1 Tbspn
Green chilly chopped..........................2
Grated coconut(frozen or fresh)..........1 Tbspn
Salt to taste

Procedure

1.Take a frying pan,add oil.When oil is hot add cumin seeds and mustard seeds.
2.When the cumin and mustard sizzles add the frozen corn.
3.Fry for 1 min.
4.Add grated coconut,salt to taste and fry for 1 more min.
5.Add lemon juice ,cilantro fry for few seconds and ready to serve.

Tips

1.I used frozen corn,If using fresh corn - Run a knife and scrape the kernels and preboil or microwave for 3min.

2.You can skip green chillies and add pepper powder or mix them both.

3.Top it with a tsp of butter

Panner Vegetable Fry-Simple and Tasty!

I am always in hunt for quick and tasty sidedishes for roti/chapati/paratha.

Just tried a simple vegetable panner fry today and everone including my picky eater daughter loved it .

This simple dish is good for busy mommies!

I used potato,carrot,bellpepper,cucumber.You can opt out cucumber and add green peas.Try ur variations and share it in comments :-)....

Ingredients

Large potato peeled cut into pieces.................1
Large carrot  peeled cut into pieces.................1
Bellpepper cut into pieces.................................1
cucumber cut into pieces...................................1 cup
Grated Panner...................................................4 Tbpsn
Coriander powder...................................... ......2 tspn
Garam masala...................................................2 tspn
Oil.....................................................................1 Tbspn
Cumin seeds.....................................................1/4 tspn
Turmeric...........................................................2 pinch
Jaggery powder(optional).................................1/2 tspn
water.................................................................1/4 cup
salt to taste

Process

1)Take a deep pan,add oil,when hot add cumin seeds,turmeric & wait for 3 sec .
2)Next add vegetables except cucumber and water let it cook for 5 min
3)Now add masala powders,salt,cucumber and allow it to cook for 8 min or till 3/4 th done.(Sprinkle water if necessary)
4)Lets add jaggery,it gives nice taste.
5)Lets add grated panner and allow it to cook for 2 min.

 Enjoy with rotis