Avocado Deviled Eggs

 

INGREDIENTS

6 peeled hard boiled eggs
1 ripe avocado peeled and pit removed
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise (light or regular)
1/2 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley
1/8 teaspoon ground mustard
Salt and pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS
Cut eggs lengthwise and remove yolks. Set aside.
In a medium bowl combine egg yolks, avocado, lime juice, mayonnaise, parsley, ground mustard and mash using a potato masher or two forks until nice and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add mixture into egg whites with a spoon or pastry bag and garnish with a chopped parsley.Enjoy!

chicken pakora

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup chicken strips or cubes

1/2 cup sliced onions

2 green chilies chopped

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

1/4 tsp turmeric

Salt to taste

15 to 20 curry leaves chopped

7 tbsp flour

2 tbsp semolina

Oil to deep fry

INSTRUCTIONS

Cut chicken to thin strips. Wash and drain up the water thoroughly.

Mix together chicken, onions, curry leaves, ginger, green chili, red chili powder, masala powder, turmeric, lemon juice and salt. Set aside for 20 to 30 mins.

Add in the flour, semolina as needed to make stiff moist dough. If needed sprinkle little water to the dough and do not make it floury either. Just use enough flour to bind them.

Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.

When the oil is hot enough, drop these chicken pieces one after the other along with the onions. Keep stirring and fry till they turn golden brown.Enjoy!

Tomato rasam

Ingredients
2 large tomatoes
1 large onion
6 pods garlic
1/2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tbsp turmeric powder
Curry leaves
Coriander leaves
2 tbsp rasam powder
2 Green Chilies
1 tbsp mustard seeds
pinch of asafoetida
1 tbsp of urad dal
1 large dried red chili
5 tbsp of oil

Instructions

Chop tomatoes, onion, green chilies, garlic, coriander leaves. Keep it aside.In a pan add 5 tablespoons of oil and add mustard seeds, curry leaves, red chillies, urad dal and turmeric powder. When the mustard seeds splutters then add garlic. Salute for a minute or two till the raw smell of garlic goes away. Now add chopped onion and fry until they turn translucent. Add tomatoes and chili and fry on medium flame. Add 1/2 table spoon of sugar and cook tomatoes on a medium flame.Now add salt to taste. Fry tomatoes until they turn mushy by adding some water. The consistency can be adjusted as per your choice by adding less or more water. Some people prefer thick and some thin consistency. Now add 2 tbsp of rasam powder and mix well. Add chopped coriander leaves and turn off the flame. Serve hot with white rice. Enjoy!

Cauliflower Pizza

Ingredients

2 cups shredded cauliflower
1 large egg
1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pizza souse
Baby tomatoes
Green chilies, sliced

Directions
Once all the cauliflower is shredded, place into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for about 8 minutes until cauliflower is soft. No water is needed for the cauliflower to steam in the microwave.Set aside.Cauliflower crumbles,egg,salt,parsley and cheese together in a large bowl and mix until well combined.Preheat the oven to 450°F ( 232°C ) and prepare a baking sheet or pizza pan for the crust. Lightly spray with cooking spray.When the mixture is ready, pour onto baking sheet and “pat” into a round crust. Brush olive oil over the top of the dough.Place crust in oven for about 15-20 minutes until golden and edges have become crispy.Remove from oven and top with pizza sauce and your favorite toppings( tomatoes and chilies).Top with the shredded Mozzarella cheese. Turn oven (392° F -200° C) to broil and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15 minutes.Enjoy!

MACARONI BITE

INGREDIENTS
1 cup elbow macaroni
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheese
2 ounces cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg beaten

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
Cook pasta according to packaged directions and set aside.
In a medium size pan combine butter and flour over medium heat. Whisk until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Slowly add milk and bring to a simmer. Add 1 1/2 cups of the cheese, cream cheese, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy. Remove from heat.
In a large mixing bowl, carefully stir pasta, cheese sauce, and egg until evenly mixed and pasta is evenly coated.
Spoon mac and cheese into mini muffin tins and top each with a small pinch of remaining cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Allow to cool 5 minutes before gently removing the bites.Enjoy!

CARROT AND CHEESE BITES

INGREDIENTS

1 shredded carrot
1 egg beaten
3 tablespoons butter
1 cups milk
4-5 tablespoons flour
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray.
In a medium size pan combine butter and flour over medium heat. Whisk until butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Keep aside. In a separate bowl, combine milk , egg, carrot,salt and pepper. Add ‘butter and flour’ mixture and mix well.
Spoon mixture into mini muffin tins and top each with a small pinch of mozzarella cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15- 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Allow to cool 5 minutes before gently removing the bites.Enjoy!

ULUNDU VADAI

INGREDIENTS

1 cup urad dal
2-3 green chilies ,chopped
1 onion , chopped
2 tbs curry leaves , chopped
1 tsp crushed red chilies
2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
Salt – to taste and Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Soak urad dal for 1 hour. Drain water and keep aside .Now grind it to a fluffy texture while sprinkling water. Don’t add much water as the batter will become runny. Once the batter is ready, add green chilies ,chopped onions,curry leaves, red chilies, cumin, pepper and salt to the batter, mix well and keep aside. Just wet your hands (before making each vadais) and take a medium ball sized batter in your hand. Just pat the batter slightly and make a hole in the center. Heat the oil in a pan. The oil should be very hot. Just carefully place the vadai in the batter and keep the flame in medium. Flip it over after 2 minutes and fry till golden brown. Drain it in a kitchen towel.Enjoy!!

Avocado Salsa

INGREDIENTS
1 Avocado,chopped
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 Tomato diced
1 green chili, chopped
⅛ cup coriander , finely chopped
3 Tbsp. lime juice
Salt
Pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine the chopped avocado, red onion, tomato, green chili, coriander in a medium bowl. Add lime juice, pepper and salt.
Toss and lightly stir to combine flavors.Enjoy!!

Macaroon Kisses

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 3 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tsp. almond extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 5 cups flaked coconut, divided
• 48 milk chocolate kisses

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar together.

Beat in egg yolk and almond extract until well combined.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and mix well.

Stir in 3 cups coconut.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until dough is easier to work with.

Roll into 1-inch balls and roll in remaining coconut.  Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

After removing from oven, immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie.

Let cookies cool on pan for 2-3 minutes or until chocolate is softened, then transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely

Creamy Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS

3 cups of pasta

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

3 ribs celery, finely chopped

8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

1 cup mayo

1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

*Optional – add in chopped fresh broccoli

DIRECTIONS

Cook pasta according to package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water until the pasta has cooled. Drain well. In a large bowl combine mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar, black pepper and dried parsley. Combine the pasta with the dressing, then stir in chopped red bell pepper, celery, finely chopped onion, and chunks of cheese. Chill for one hour before serving. Enjoy