An Apple a day keeps a doctor away

Ingredients
Apple (1)
Kraft Cheddar cubes (3-4)
Salt & Pepper

Preperation
Slice the apple into cubes. Add cheese cubes to the apple slices. Sprinkle pinch of salt and pepper and mix well. Enjoy you snack anytime of the day.
A great way to eat apples for all those who dread them.

Stuffed Eggplant (Guttonkaya - Andhra recipe)

Guttonkaya (traditional telugu recipe)

Ingredients:

Small Indian Eggplants(10)
Roasted peanuts (1/2 cup)
Ginger garlic paste (1tsp)
Medium sized Onion (1)
Tomato (1)
Green Chillies (1 or 2)
Chilli powder
Turmeric
Coriander

Stuffing Preperation:

Chop onion and tomato into big chunks and saute them with green chillies.
Mix roasted peanuts, ginger-garlic paste with sauteed onion and tomato, chillies. Add salt and spices (chilli and turmeric) to the paste as required.

Main Preperation:

Slice each eggplant into four without seperating the crown. Stuff the eggplant with the stuffing and keep them aside. (If the stuffing is leftover, keep it aside for the gravy)
In a deep pan, add 2 tsp oil. When hot add the stuffed eggplants. Pan fry them (keep turning them to cook on all sides) until cooked. Once eggplants are cooked add the remaining paste and cook it in low simmer for a while. Sprinkle coriander leaves once done.
Serve it hot with rice. Enjoy.

Great Greek Salad

Ingredients:

1. diced Cucumber
2. diced Carrot
3. diced tomato
4. 1/2 tsp lemon juice
5. 1/2 tsp balsamic vineger
6. 1/2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients together and enjoy it with bread or any other main course.

Andhra Pulihaara - Lemon rice

My recent stint of Lemon rice reminded me of my mom's tasty and delicious breakfast we enjoyed as kids. I dont know why i didnt make this dish all this while. So for all those in need of this refreshing recipe, read on.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup cooked Rice (any rice variety that is non sticky, i would suggest basmatic rice or south indian raw rice)
2. 1 medium size Lemon
3. Peanuts (quantity depends on as much crunch as you prefer)
4. cumin seeds and mustard seeds (quarter spoon)
5. Turmeric (1/2 tsp)
6. Green Chillies (2)
7. Curry leaves (4/5)
8. Onions (1 small diced)


Rice preperation:
To the cooked rice, add turmeric, salt and lemon juice. Mix the ingredients with the rice gently.

Saute preperation:
Heat the pan and add 1tsp oil.
When the oil is slightly hot, add cumin and mustard seeds. Once the seeds start sizzling, add peanuts. Let the peanuts roast for a while.
Add green chillies, curry leaves and onions. As the onions turn slightly pinkish, add the prepared rice.
Mix everything together in the pan and fry the rice for about 2 mins so that the spices blend into the rice.

This is an easy and fast recipe. Even better if you are using left over rice from dinner. So hope you will enjoy the dish.

Roasted Eggplant (Aubergine) Panini

For all those who hate veggie sandwiches but are trying to be healthy, here is a quick recipe that will give a new taste to healthy.

Ingredients:
(Serves 2)

Small Eggplant (2)
Tomato (1)
Mushrooms (4)
Garlic clove (2)
Cheddar slices (2)
Baguette or sandwich bread

Preperation:

Cut the tomato, eggplant and mushrooms round and flat. Place in a baking tray.
Chop the garlic and sprinkle over the vegetables.
Sprinkle salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil to taste.
Roast for about 5-7 mins in high temperature.

Slice the baguette and place the cheddar slice on each. Bake them for 2 mins.
Place the roasted tomato slice then eggplant slice and then some mushroom slices and top it with the toasted bread.

Enjoy it for lunch or dinner!

Healthy and Quick Baked Salmon

Ingredients

Salmon

Chilli powder (paprika)
Turmeric
Coriander powder
salt to taste

Preperation

Marinate the salmon with all the ingredients for about 10-15 mins.
Bake for 30-40 mins until done.
Oil is not needed since Salmon is an oily fish.

Once done, it is crispy with oils coming out of it similar to fish fry but healthier :)

This dish can be served with baked veggies like asparagus/broccoli/brussel sprouts/beans/potatoes or pasta/rice or cold salads.

Tips: While baking veggies drizzle little olive oil as they can stick and dry out

Tradition and Trend - so different so alike

Tradition and Trend are two things that rarely cross paths.

While tradition might be something tried and tested, trend is usually peer pressure. But what makes them so alike is how everyone just obeys them without a question.