Salad style shrimp

Light and easy

Ingredients:

10-12 cooked shrimps

2 tbsp Thai curry paste/powder

1-2 minced garlic

1/2 tsp minced ginger

1/2 cup sliced onion+bell pepper

4-5 red radishes sliced

1 tsp lemon

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp honey

few lettuce leaves

1 tsp schezwan sauce

1/4 cup water

Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Mix thai curry powder, lemon, honey and schezwan in water and keep aside.

2. Heat oil in a pan, add the vegetables and saute for 2 min.

3. Add ginger and garlic and now add the thai curry mixture. Add the shrimp and cook for not more than 1 minute.

4. Garnish with lots of lettuce and serve hot with steam rice.

Brown rice

Simple brown rice can be served with your choice of meat/veg/curry

Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice, washed and soaked for 1 hr

2 1/2 cups of water

1 tbsp soy sauce

salt and pepper to taste

half lemon

1/4 cup chopped carrots

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 big clove minced garlic

1 tbsp low fat butter/oil

Procedure:

1. Heat the butter/oil in a large vessel. Add onions, carrots and saute for 1-2 minutes. Drain the rice(preserve the water) add garlic and saute for 2 minute.

2. Now add the water, lemon, salt and pepper.

3. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Check every 15 min.

4. Server hot.

Anytime Toast

Enjoy this bread anytime

Ingredients:

8 Bread loaf slices (I used jalapeño & cheddar)

8 Small lettuce

Salt & Pepper to taste

Butter

Olive oil

6-8 Mushrooms sliced

2-3 Tomatoes sliced

Cheese of your choice

Procedure:

1. Preheat the oven at 400 degree F.

2. Sprinkle salt and pepper on sliced tomatoes and mushrooms.

3. Butter the bread slices.

4. Place the bread slices on a tray brushed with some olive oil.

5. Arrange the vegetables as required. Add salt, pepper, drizzle some olive oil and lastly cheese.

6. Bake for 5-7 min and serve hot with meat, salad or soup.

Note- You can also grill this bread on a skillet. Optionally you can also add Bacon/Ham.

Radish and cheese savory muffins

This savory muffin gives a great punch for breakfast and snacks

Ingredients:

1/4 cup red radish, chopped

2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup spring onions

1/2 tbsp pepper flakes

1 tbsp chopped garlic

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup oatmeal

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons brown sugar/honey

1 tsp honey

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1 egg

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup grated Colby jack cheese

Procedure:

1. In a bowl mix radish with 1 tsp honey and keep aside.

2. In another whisk egg and add milk.

3. Combine flour, oatmeal, baking powder, salt, brown sugar,pepper flakes. Now slowly combine the egg and milk mixture, butter and the dry ingredients.

4. Finally combine radish, garlic, cilantro, onions and cheese (Do not over mix).

5. Fill in the mixture (up to 3/4) in a greased mini muffin pan and bake in a preheated oven for up to 14-18 minutes (at 375 degree F) or until the inserted tooth pick comes out clean.

6. Allow it too cool and then serve. Makes about 20-24 mini muffins.

Caramelized Onion Rice

This aromatic rice is a complete dish in itself

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati Rice

1 cup sliced red onion

6-8 black peppercorns

1 small cinnamon stick

1 3/4 cup water

2 tbsp oil

4-5 cloves

3-4 cardamom

1/2 tsp cumin

salt to taste

1/2 tbsp sugar

Procedure:

1. Wash the rice 2-3 times in cold water and then soak it in water for 20 min.

2. In a large thick pot add oil, peppercorns, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, cardamoms and oinions and fry until the onions are pink. Add sugar to caramelize.

3. Now drain the water from the rice, add to the pot and stir for a minute on high (Dont throw the water).

4. Finally add water and salt. As it boils cover and simmer at slow for 10-15 minutes.Check occasionally but don't over mix.

5. Serve as it is or with meat/vegetables/curry etc.

Baked vegetables with beans

This baked dish is a great mix of flavors.

Ingredients:

Cheese sauce

Butter- 2 tbsp

Milk- 2 cups

White flour- 2 tbsp

Cheddar cheese- 3/4 cup

Mixed vegetable- 2 cups (I used onions, carrots, mushrooms, red bell peppers, green beans, cauliflower)

Chill red beans- 1 can(drained)

Garlic- 2 cloves (chopped)

Salt- to taste

Pepper- to taste

Hungarian sweet peppers- 2 tbsp (chopped)

Salted crackers- 1/2 cup crushed (I used garlic butter crackers)

Cheddar cheese- 1/4 cup (garnish)

Oil- 2 tbsp

Potatoes- 1 large (thinly sliced)

Lettuce leaves- 1/4 cup( chopped)

Procedure:

Sauce:

1. In a saucepan melt butter, add flour and stir in milk slowly until smooth.

2. Let the sauce thicken, remove from heat and add cheese, salt and pepper.

Vegetable Bed:

1. In pan heat oil, stir fry garlic and vegetables and sweet pepers for 2-3 minutes.

2. In another pan take little oil and toast the sliced potatoes until it is brown and crunchy.

Arrangement:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degree F. Butter a baking dish.

2. Place the beans, and half of the lettuce.

3. Next place the bed of vegetables, topping it with cheese sauce.

4. Lastly place the potato rounds, other half of lettuce leaves, grated cheese and the crushed crackers.

5. Drops some butter dots and bake for 20-25 mins unitl bubbling.

Raspberry and plum sauce

This fruity sauce has a little tart flavor and works well with steak/lamb

Yield- 1 cup

Ingredients-

Plum- 2, diced

Raspberry- 1/2 cup

Honey- 4 tbps, or more for more sweetness

Rosemary- 1/2 tsp

Water- 3/4 cup

Butter- 1 tbsp

Procedure-

In a saucepan add butter, plum, raspberry and rosemary. Let it cook for 2 min. Add the water and honey and cover and let it cook unitl the sauce is thick. Strain the sauce in a cheese cloth and server with your choice of meat.