Vegetable Flowers

Overview
You can make these flowers to decorate your dish. The roses are made with Tomato, lemon and orange peels. The Lily is made with cucumber.

Vegetable Flowers

Tomatoes
Oranges
Cucumber
Lemons

Broccoli Corn Bread

Overview
Moist and delicious corn bread made with frozen chopped broccoli. Made with Jiffy corn muffin mix this recipe is easy to make. I got this recipe from food network and is so easy to follow and end result is really great. This is a great tasting way to add broccoli to your meal.

Broccoli Corn Bread

Ingredients
2 8.5 oz Jiffy corn muffin box
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cloves garlic finely minced
8 oz cottage cheese
4 large eggs
1 cup+ 2 Tablespoons grated cheddar cheese
1 stick unsalted butter
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 packet 10 oz frozen chopped broccoli

Steps
1. Heat oven to 375
2. Thaw the broccoli  do not squeeze out water.
3. Melt the stick of butter and let it cool to room temperature.
4. Mix all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and pout to an oiled baking pan.
5. Bake at 375 for about - 20 - 25 minutes till it is cooked.( When a tooth pick inserted in the middle portion comes out clean the bread is cooked)
6. Let it cool for little while and then cut into pieces and serve.

Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Pears

Overview
A  homemade delicious Cranberry sauce made with Apples and Pears to go with your turkey for thanksgiving. The tart taste of the cranberries is compensated by the sweet taste of apples and pears. Orange juice cinnamon and fresh ground ginger gives a extra spicy touch and flavor.

Cranberry Sauce with Apples and Pears

Ingredients
Fresh Cranberry  - 6 cups
Orange juice - 2 cups
Cinnamon sticks 3 - 3 inch pieces
Fresh grated ginger  - 2 tablespoons
Apples - 2 large
Pears - 2 large
Orange zest for garnish
Salt - 1 teaspoon
White sugar - 1 1/2 cup
Brown sugar - 1 cup

Steps
1. Clean the cranberries in plenty of water and drain. Add the 2 cups of orange juice and cook on stove stop till the cranberry's begin to burst.

2. Chop the apples and pears into bite size chunks and add to the cranberries along with cinnamon sticks, Brown sugar, White sugar, fresh grated ginger and 1 teaspoon of salt.

3. Bring it to a boil and simmer on low heat for about 20 - 25 minutes till the apples and pears are cooked well and can be mashed.

4. Mix well and let it cool. Remove the Cinnamon sticks and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with Fresh Orange zest.

Serve with Turkey or any meat.

Broccoli Thoran

Overview
A simple and delicious Kerala style thoran made with broccoli. Broccoli is finely chopped for this recipe just like cabbage for cabbage thoran. Fresh grated coconut is optional but it does add a special texture and sweetness to the dish. Fried Urdu Dal does add a nutty aroma to this dish. This is a very healthy and delicious side dish that can be served with Rice or any Indian breads.

Broccoli Thoran

Ingredients
One head of Broccoli  finely chopped
Red onion one thin sliced
Green chilly - 4 - 5 split at center
Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
Fresh grated coconut  - 1/2 cup(Optional)
Mustard seed - one teaspoon
Urdu Dal - 2 teaspoons
Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1. Wash the broccoli well and finely chop. Even the stem of the broccoli can be used. I just peel the thick skin of the stem and finely chop it. Keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot add the mustard seeds. When the seeds splutter add the Urdu Dal. Fry till the dal is brown.

3. Add the onion, green chillies and curry leaves to this and saute till onions are light brown. Add the finely chopped broccoli, salt and turmeric.

4. Mix well and cover with lid and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir well and add the freshly grated coconut if using.  Cook till broccoli is cooked and all liquid has evaporated.

Serve hot with rice or any Indian breads.

Almond Pedda

Overview
Pedda is a very popular sweet in North India. Usually made with milk and sugar.This is a very easy to make almond pedda recipe. Though it just takes few minutes of heating in the microwave it is very tasty and the end results are just the same as making it from scratch using whole milk. Cardamom powder adds a  very delicious aroma to this sweet.

Almond Pedda

Ingredients
Condensed milk - 1 can 14 oz
Dried non fat milk powder - 2 cups
Unsalted butter - 1 stick
Almonds powdered - 1/2 cup( Skin removed)
Cardamom - 8 - 12
Blanched almond pieces - 3 tablespoons

Steps
1.  In a microwaveable container with lid, add the condensed milk, milk powder and butter. Microwave for 2 - 3 minutes( time depends on your microwave so try 2 minutes first)

2. Remove from microwave and stir well

3. Microwave again for about 2  - 4 minutes. Stir well and make sure you get a fudge like consistency.

4. Allow to cool for about 3 - 5 minutes. Add powdered almonds and powdered cardamom seeds. Mix well.

5. Make into desired shape. Add fried blanched almond pieces on top for decoration.

Black Beans and Rice

Overview
Beans and rice is very common dish found in many countries. Any kind of beans can be used for this. I have used black beans here since I like the creamy texture of it. Green bell peppers, tomatoes, garlic and onions mixed with rice and beans with the mild aroma of  cumin makes this dish a medley of flavor and texture.

Black Beans and Rice

Ingredients
Long grain Rice  or Basmati rice 1 1/2 cup
Black beans 3/4 cup
Cherry tomatoes 1 cup chopped
Red onion one large finely chopped
Green bell pepper 1 large diced
Garlic 4 cloves finely chopped
Cumin seeds 1 teaspoon
Crushed red pepper flakes   1/2 to 1 teaspoon
Cilantro fr garnish
Salt to taste
Olive oil 4 tablespoons

Steps
1. Cook the rice in double the amount of water and salt to taste. When it boils keep the heat in low and cook covered for about 10 minutes.  Fluff up the cooked rice and keep aside

2. Soak the beans in water overnight and cook in a pressure cooker with twice the amount of water till one whistle or in a pan covered till the beans are cooked well. Drain the liquid and keep aside.

3. In a pan add One tablespoons of oil and saute the diced green peppers with a little salt. Keep aside

3. Heat oil in pan. When the oil gets hot add the cumin seeds followed by the finely chopped garlic and onions. Saute few minutes till the onions sweat. Add the red pepper flakes and saute again for few more minutes.

4. Add the chopped cherry tomatoes to this . Add salt cover and cook till the tomatoes are cooked well.

5. Add the rice, beans and green peppers to this and mix well.  Add salt as needed.

Serve hot garnished with fresh chopped cilantro

Okra Yogurt Curry

Overview
Fried okra mixed with spiced yogurt gives this dish  a very unique texture and flavor. The crispy fried okra should be added to the dish juts right before serving so that it doesn't lose its crispy texture. A very good side dish for plain or any kind of rice.

Okra Yogurt Curry

Ingredients
10 medium size okra
 2 cups Plain yogurt
Green chillies finely chopped  4
Curry leaves 2 sprigs
Garlic 2 cloves finely chopped
Ginger 1 inch piece finely chopped
Mustard seeds  1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds  1/2 teaspoon
Fenugreek seeds   1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Oil - for frying okra + 2 tablespoons

Steps
1. Wash and dry the okra. Chop into thin rounds mix with salt and deep fry them till they are crispy and light brown. Keep aside.

2. Whisk the yogurt well with half cup water. Add salt and keep aside.

3. In a pan heat 2 tablespoon oil. when the oil gets hot add the mustard seeds let it splutter then add the cumin and fenugreek seeds to it and saute few minutes then add the finely chopped turmeric powder, ginger garlic and curry leaves to this and saute well.

4. Add the sauteed mixture to the yogurt and mix well. Just before serving add the fried crisp okra to it and mix well .

Can be served with any kind of rice dish.

Black Bean Curry

Overview
Black bean adds a lot of flavor to any dish and is a rich source of protein and fibre. Here I have cooked black beans with garlic, ginger  tomatoes and spices which makes this dish very flavorful and aromatic. You can adjust the amount of red chillies and black pepper to your taste.  This dish goes very well with Chapati or plain white rice.

Black Bean Curry

Ingredients
Black beans dry - one cup
Cherry tomatoes chopped - 1 cup
Red Onion large finely chopped
Ginger 2 inch piece - finely chopped
Garlic  6 - 8 cloves finely chopped
Whole coriander seeds - 4 tablespoons
Whole red chillies - 4
Whole black peppers - 1 teaspoon
Cumin - 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Cilantro for garnish
Salt to taste
Olive oil - 4 tablespoon

Steps
1. Soak the black beans overnight in plenty of water.

2. Cook the soaked black beans in  2 cups water in a pressure cooker till one whistle or until it is cooked well.

3. In a heavy bottom pan dry roast the coriander seeds, red chilly, black pepper and cumin one after another and grind it in a blender to a smooth powder and keep aside.

4. In the same pan heat the oil. When the oil gets hot add the finely chopped onions, garlic and ginger to this. Saute till the onions turn light brown.

5. Add the ground spice mixture along with turmeric powder to this and saute well. Add the finely chopped tomatoes to this a pinch of salt and cook covered.

6. Add the cooked black beans to this and bring to a boil. Add salt as needed. Simmer and cook for 5 minutes and mix well.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh chopped cilantro. Can be served with any Indian bread or plain white rice