Spice Up Your Cooking

What a whole lot of information I discovered recently when browsing through a newsletter sent via my email.At times newsletters become a pain,when they  are delivered  to our inbox one after the day.Surprisingly,this time it proved me wrong with this information.Newsletters in a way, pass on to us things we are not aware of . I am very fond of spicy food,but I didnt realize that it had a lot of benefits  eating them. Spicy foods imparts  and enhances flavour and taste to the food we eat ,but I was n’t aware of it’s  advantages. Using the fiery stuff like red chilly could do a lot of good  to the body.Aside the burning sensation to the mouth,lips and tongue,Spicy food actually raises  the body‘s  metabolism due to the chemical compounds  found in spices like red chilly..Adding a lot of red chillies or red chilly flakes to your cooking  can be a good thing if you want to boost your metabolic speed. Go ahead and spice up your cooking and your life as well.

I love to add red chilly to my chicken curry.

Cooking With Tomatoes

Tomatoes are full of nutrients like carbohydrates,calcium and vitamins.You get a lot of benefits eating tomatoes.Most relish them when eaten raw as salads or cooked in various meat and vegetable dishes and the most favourable among children is the tomato ketchup and sauce.Wondering what to do when you are left with an abundance of tomatoes.I guess you might have got fed up of making the same dishes over and over.Why not try making something new this tomato season,when you have a huge bag and don’t know what to do with them..Well! try making tomato chutney,which you can bottle them and store in the refrigerator for longer periods and eat them when tomato is off season.Or you can show off your culinary efforts by taking delicious chutneys to the next potluck organized by your circle of family and friends.Wait till they get a taste of it..They will definitely ask for more. Tomato Chutney,is something like jam but with spices added. It is delicious eaten with toast bread or rice alongside other dishes.

The Wondrous Spice Cinnamon

A number of studies advocate that cinnamon may have an unyielding outcome on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. According to a report in the the Readers Digest,cinnamon the aromatic  spice that impart that extraordinary flavor to our food can actually keep our sugar levels healthy.This naturally scented spice diminishes blood sugar swings  that can lead to type 2 diabetes according to studies. Adding a dash or just sprinkling  ½ a teaspoon a day of cinnamon to your yoghurt,cereal or fruit can bring down your raised sugar levels to a normal range.The powdered  spice can be also sprinkled on your  toast, juice or coffee.There are also other benefits using cinnamon in your daily diet .It is a great source of manganese,fiber, iron, and calcium.Studies have also shown  that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.When added to food, it restrains bacterial growth and keeps the food from getting  spoilt, making it a natural food stabilizer.

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Delicious Date Muffins

The weather here is so cold and it makes the children hungry more often .The other day,a little later after we had our lunch,the children wanted me to serve something for dessert.Since I didnt have any prepared ones in my refrigerator,I decided to make something from scratch.I  really enjoyed adding some new ingredients to a recipe that I had tried earlier.I had  first tried this recipe with plums. Since then,I have made with various other  fruits like apples,bananas and raisins and nuts However this time I  thought I will  try with yet another kind.So I added Dates to this recipe.Believe me,this was really, really good.The aroma was so irresistible that we were all waiting with plates and spoons to eat it straight from the oven.Trust me,don’t postpone, try making  them  immediately.It was so delectable eating it still warm and with a steaming cup of tea..This is something    wonderful   to  delightfully indulge  on a cold afternoon.

Date Muffins

1 and 1/2 cups flour

250 grams sweetened condensed milk

60 grams butter or ghee (room temperature)

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2teaspoon vanilla essence

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup chopped dates (seeds removed)

cake sprinkles ( I used chocolate sprinkles)

Method

Sieve together the flour,baking soda and baking powder.

Put the above  sieved ingredients in a large bowl.

Now stir into it  the condensed milk,butter or ghee,vanilla essence and water.

Thorough mix and then fold in the chopped dates.

Grease the muffin tray and pour in  the batter ( do not fill to the top)

Sprinkle with  chocolate (sprinkles)

Bake in a hot oven till done ( about 15-20 minutes)

( Makes a dozen large size muffins)

Enjoy!

Colourful Bell Peppers

Bell peppers have a lot of nutrients.They are loaded with vitamin c and folic acid.They are tangy and crunchy and have a very smooth texture.They can be used in salads,sandwiches,pastas and meat.Bell peppers come in a variety of colours like red,green,orange and yellow.Recently I bought bell peppers from the supermarket  to make a special dish for my daughters birthday.I fried beef and then cooked it with all the colourful  bell peppers.Not only was this dish  presentable at the table,it was greatly relished by  the party guests who were all in their teens.I  used  a lot of spices and herbs to give it an unbeatable aroma and flavour.

You could also use bell peppers  to garnish food.I love to top them on pizzas and my meat curries.The coloured peppers actually tempt your tastes buds and  your senses too.I cannot wait to try another recipe using these colourful peppers.

You can follow this beef recipe and add the colourful bell peppers in the final stage of cooking.

Dinner Rolls

This is a curry made out of onions,bell peppers ,tomatoes and potatoes.Whenever I have left over dinner rolls that was bought from the baker ,I make a new  curry as a filling for the buns.When the children get tired of eating the same food ,they relish  a change of flavour.This is something I usually make for breakfast or dinner with the left over buns.This meal is made in  a jiffy .I am sure all you vegetarians out there will enjoy trying  this recipe. I also make use of these buns to make hot dogs.

This is prepared according to the amount you need to fill up the buns.I will give you the recipe to roughly  fill 3-4 buns.

You will  need: one big sliced onion,a big green pepper sliced hoarsely,one tomato chopped roughly and  a small potato cut in tiny pieces.Saute the onions,bell peppers,and potato in a tablespoon of oil.When it turns pale in colour, add 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder and the chopped tomatoes.Add salt to taste and cook until the onions  and the  green bell peppers start to wilt.You can also add a dash of soya sauce and a spoonful  of tomato ketchup to get an extra zing.

Serving Suggestions:

Food Eaten At Lunch Time

The children come home from school late in the afternoon tired and hungry.Everyday I see that they are given a well balanced home cooked meal.As a stay at home mom I can afford to spend some extra time in the kitchen planning out the day's menu and cooking: rice,vegetables and meat  to satiate the taste buds of my children.The meat is always cooked a little spicy  with enough gravy,sometimes the children love it all marinated and fried. The vegetables are relished when done  in mild spices and coconut milk.If I have some carrots,lettuce and any other leafy green in my refrigerator I tear them and throw into a bowl.To make a salad in an instant. Rice and curry is the  typical lunch eaten at home everyday.Once in a way the children  would want to eat something other than the usual food.I eat  my Lunch  with the children but my hubby has his lunch when he  comes home after office in the evening.I serve him everyday and discuss the days events with him..If I am hungry I have a second serving  along with  hubby ( of course in  small  quantities) ..

Pan Toasted Bread

During the cold season cooked meals  become chilled after sometime.Even the bread becomes a little soggy thus making it a little cumbersome to make firm and fresh sandwiches.So the only alternative is to toast the bread.Bread toasted on an electric toaster is easier than pan toasted or grilled .But it gives out  a different taste and texture when toasted on a hot griddle.The children love it and so do I.So when ever there is bread available at home ,I try to make something new for the children to relish on.

Last morning for breakfast I pan toasted slices of bread and to eat with those, made two items to spread on or dip with the toast.Pan toasting  gives a unique taste and is a lot  more crunchier.

I scrambled three eggs and after it came down to room temperature added to it some butter,cheese, mayonnaise ,pepper and salt.One on toasted slice of bread I spread a little of this mixture.Then I covered it with another slice and reheated it. This binds the slices together.

This is a creamy paste made with tuna fish,butter,cheese, pepper, mustard cream and salt.Whip all the ingredients to a fine paste and dip with toasted bread.

Food For Thought

Life is so brief that we should not glance either too far backwards or forwards…therefore study how to fix our happiness in our glass and in our plate.”
- Grimod de la Reynière

Mix And Match Recipe

A number of dishes can be tried with dry fish.This is a recipe  made from dried and salted fish which is then  fried in hot oil.The recipe I have for you  is fried dry fish sambal.This is generally eaten with red rice,dhal curry,a greeny leaf  mallun ( minced salad) and pappadam, a thin crispy savoury  wafer.This  specific recipe and the above dishes make  an ideal Lunch on a cold winter day.This is a typical  lunch in most homes in Sri Lanka.The neighbouring homes know you are cooking this dish because of the tantalizing  aroma that wafts from your kitchen. 


The recipe ( Dry Fish Sambal)
Fry dried fish pieces,any kind .( 8-10 pieces) Set aside.
Then slightly  fry  two sliced  onions,3-4 green chillies ,a tablespoon red chilly flakes and a few curry leaves in a little oil.
Add one large chopped tomato and salt to taste.Mix in the fried dried fish.Squeeze in the juice of a small lime.


You can also mix and match this recipe  with a few  other dishes as well  ...mix it with deviled potatoes.

... or simply add it to fried brinjals ( eggplant)

A Specialty Bun

A Food festival is underway in the Kingdom and there is this hustle and the bustle amongst the folks where they are preparing to exhibit different foods from all parts of the region.The food that is dominating the news is Kleja a Saudi Arabian food which is very similar to a large cookie or a bun. It is a nourishing food made with flour,sugar, eggs and a diversity of favorable herbs like ginger ,cloves and cardamoms.The combined nutrients in the food makes it a good choice for children to snack on.Most Saudis relish this with cups of tea or coffee.It is said to have its beginnings in Al-Qassim in the Eastern region of the Kingdom.This specialty bun was well liked even in the olden days.Because of it’s high nutrient values it was a popular choice for travelers, pilgrims, and businessmen who would travel by camel to Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Iran and Egypt for trade.

These delectable biscuits are made of whole wheat flour and have a firm covering.They are filled with a flavored paste and can be stored without refrigeration for upto three months.This is also served during Saudi weddings and other functions.An ideal food for weight watchers to snack on due to less calories.

Picture source Internet-AN photo

Refreshing Tea

"Tea tempers the spirit, harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens the thought and prevents drowsiness."
(Lu Yu, The Classic Art of Tea)

Smorgie

Eating out is an easy alternative when we are tied up with a busy schedule.However to enjoy good food one must know of a good restaurant within our reach..More so it isn’t possible to remember a good spot in an instant unless of course if you are any where within the  reach of  Smorgie.com.This website is exclusively designed to make life easier for the gourmet lover  with a host of fabulous features and tools that one could have never dreamt of.This network  helps  save precious time with  their  customized services.

This wonderful site Smorgie provides the internet user the opportunity  to  create a free  account and  record a list of favourite restaurants in town. It avails the user the opportunity to check with a lot of restaurants listed by member users. Smorgie.com is a kind of a social  networking for foodie lovers.Once you become a member of this valued website you  can make use of their services to schedule your lunch  and dinner plans   via   recommendations by other  member users.This site allows foodie lovers to plan well in advance how much they are going to spend financially and time wise,eating out. Lets say that  you are  entrusted to organize your home or  office parties or just a girls night out and all you got do is   browse your way into Smorgie where you will be guided  to a host of  distinguished restaurants .

This wonderful site allows users to make  routine lists of restaurants they’ve visited and create another list they prefer to go in the future.This way we can help our circle of friends to choose  restaurants based on our listed recommendations  whenever they prefer to dine out.With just a click, this user friendly website helps you  select some of the best restaurants in town in the most fastest and easiest way.

Next time when you plan to celebrate your  anniversary,in addition to surprising your loved one  with a bunch of  roses or a box of  chocolates, delightfully  guide her to Smorgie and help her select  her favourite restaurant. Hence you  may enjoy a cherished moment together.This is a unique solution to all your dining  out problems as  nothing can beat the convenience of going online with Smorgie.com .In a few easy steps you are well on the way for an extensive meal. So take this shortest route via Smorgie to dine in style and share your wonderful eating out experience with  friends on Smorgie.com

Bon Appetit!

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Scramble Me-Omelette

This is an easy to do breakfast. This is like an omelette but chopped into chunks or wedges while still  in the cooking process .

You will need

2 eggs

2 medium tomatoes ( chopped )

1/2 oz butter

1 oz chopped chicken sausages ( previously sauteed)

1 oz  chopped bell peppers 

1 oz chopped onion 

salt and pepper to taste

Method

Melt the butter in a pan and add all the ingredients except the eggs and  cook for about 5-10 minutes.Then add the beaten eggs and stir it well with the rest of the ingredients.Once it begins to thicken cut it into chunks.Remove from pan  and serve immediately with buttered toast.

Warm And Refreshing

“Plain fresh bread, its crust shatteringly crisp. Sweet cold butter. There is magic in the way they come together in your mouth to make a single perfect bite."

- Ruth Reichl

Cooking Beans

 A few days ago I was assigned to do a pot of beans for a farewell party. Since it was a large quantity, my daughters helped me with the cutting and chopping. I was glad I had some extra help. Beans could be cooked in many different ways. I decided to  do a curried dish.

I had to fry the beans in batches as the frying pan couldn't hold a lot at the same time. Once all the beans were fried, I put them into a  large platter lined with paper towels for  the excess oil  to be absorbed.

The beans went through many  cooking stages to reach  the finish product. First it was fried and cooked on the stove and then went into the oven to simmer. A lot of tomatoes, onions, garlic and a few spices were added to bring out the flavour. This vegetable curry is a good side dish with  rice cooked in saffron.

Eating Crabs

Last night my Husband bought crab curry from the local mall which was holding a sea food fiesta.We hadn't eaten crab for awhile and I was all agog to taste it again.The children of course didnt dare to take a bite.They were put off by the crab shells. It was scrumptious. The sauce was thick and delicious.The sweet and sour taste of the sauce was tantalizing. Crabs should be eaten with caution as the shells could injure the mouth.It's time consuming too.My son was so  amazed at the way I was eating them.Instead of using a fork or a spoon I had a big wooden hammer with me.It was very difficult to break open the shells to get the flesh out, so I had to make use of a hammer to crack open the shells.The flesh inside was so juicy and extraordinarily tasty.It was worth the effort and the time.

Food For Thought-In Winter

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire:  it is the time for home. 
-Edith Sitwell-

Savoury Rounds

Winter has approached again here.When the weather is cold and chilly the children get hungry very fast.Here is an easy to make recipe to feed the hungry ones during teatime or TV time.


Try this
Cut circles out of sliced bread.butter the bread and apply tomato ketchup on each piece.Mash boiled eggs :2,3 or 4 ( depending on the slices of bread you prepare) with cream cheese, mayonnaise and pepper.Spread this mixture  on the bread and bake for about 5 minutes.Serve warm on cold wintry afternoons.The kids love this..


Optional:garnish with grated cheese,parley or fried onions