HCF: July 2013

Monday, July 29, 2013

Spinach and Sun Dried Tomatoes Quinoa

We all know quinoa is in thing now a days. I like its texture and above all its easy to prepare and take any flavor you put. One weekend afternoon, was thinking what to make for lunch and I have one box of quinoa in my pantry looking at me saying use me, So I use it. One plate of quinoa and one glass of OJ, done with lunch, out to play with kids. I told you before that I have always full stock in my pantry so its always easy to make some quick lunch or diner. For this dish you need spinach puree and sun dried tomatoes so if you dont have that you can skip one and make it with other, only little color and flavor will be different but it will be new dish.

Ingredients:

1 packet Quinoa
2 cups vegetable stock
2 big spoon ful of spinach puree
4 big sun dried tomatoes (chopped)
salt and pepper to taste
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 cup shredded parmasean cheese

Method:

In a sauce pan , add olive oil and add onions and garlic till its translucent.
Then add spinach puree and cook for two minutes.
Add 2 cups of broth and bring it to boil.
Add quinoa, sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Broth also have salt so add salt after checking it.
Cover and reduce to a simmer for 25 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked and the water is nearly gone. In the last 5 minutes, carefully mix in the Parmesan.
Remove from heat, fluff and serve along with your favorite juice or tea or as it it.

Pooja's Event
Manju's blog and Gayathri's blog

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin / Kodha nu Shak

My mom makes this subji amazing, we always had it with plain khichdi and it taste awesome. But after coming to USA I never made it and to my last visit to supermarket I saw one small block of yellow pumpkin was saying please take me home and I can not resist to buy it and it was dirt cheap too. It was perfect portion for me cause my dear husband won't even try it and above all I was missing my mom too. So all emotional things get together and this dish I made it.

Ingredients:

1 cup chopped in cubes yellow pumpkin
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder
2 tsp chili powder ( use more than you usually use to go with sweetness of jaggery)
2 tsp grated jaggery or as per your taste
salt to taste
2 tsp oil

Method:

Heat oil in pan. Add mustard seeds.
As soon as it crackles, add all powder masala and mix it well.
And add pumpkin and add enough water to cook pumpkin.
Add salt and cover it till pumpkin becomes soft.
When its almost cook, add jaggery and cook till it melt and well mixed in gravy.
Take it from heat and serve hot with khichdi or rice or roti.

Manju's blog and Gayathri's blog

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Waffle Pizza

During Memorial Day weekend in May we went to Montreal and Quebec city in Canada. It was nice small vacation we had it. Kids had fun to go to the another country by car was fascinating to them. But weather was not good that weekend but we were out there so we have to make it up. We didn't wanted to eat what we can get it in USA , we wanted to try those places specialty and thanks for my husband's research we ended eating up so many goodies. On our stay in Québec city, he found this amazing waffle place, we went there and the smell of nice hot waffles with famous Canadian Maple syrup filled our noses. But we were looking at the board and one particular dish catch our attention, it was Waffle pizza, since my family is Pizzaholic, we get that one and boy we fell in love and it become our instant favorite. So one fine Sunday evening , which is usually Pizza day, my husband wanted to make that, so he made the waffle and I made just pizza out of it.

Ingredients for Waffle : (makes 4 waffles)

1 cup Whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tbsp. Baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup full fat or 2% milk
2 tbsp. oil

Method:

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
Add Milk and oil in it and mix it together.
Mix it until its nicely combined, if should be pourable consistency, if you think it's too think add little milk in it.
prepare the waffles as per your waffle maker's directions.
cook until its done perfect.
Keep it aside.

Ingredients for Pizza :

1 red onion
1 green capsicum
few black olives
cup of mozzarella cheese
one chopped Jalapenos
1/2 cup Marinara sauce

Assemble :

Preheat your toaster at 400.
Take one waffle , apply sauce on it.
then add onion, capsicum and cheese.

Cook it till cheese is melted nicely , take it out and put olives and jalapenos on it.
Serve it with your choice of juice or as it is.

You can use ready made waffles too but it is sweet so if you have no problem eating sweet and savory then go ahead.
You can add eggs in waffle ingredients too, just skip the milk and add one egg.
Take your choice of vegetables for toppings too. Generally we don't cook olives so I add it afterwards, but you like it cook, then add everything before baking.

Pooja's Event
Mansi's Page
Manju's blog and Gayathri's blog