CREATIVESANYUKTA

And the Winner is...........

2011-08-03T21:53:00.000-07:00

And the Winner of 2 CSN giftcards is Ms Chitchat ..Congrats dear ,check ur mail for promotional codes..

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY:-)))))))))))))))

2011-07-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Nothing WOW,I have a small giveaway or say 2 CSN giftcards which i wont be using.

CSN has a choice of thousands of attractive products tht you can pick for yourself or your family and friends range from Dining Tables, housewares, toys, kids furniture, home decor,Kitchen gadgets,bedroom furniture,chic totes,shoes, health and fitness etc. Shop at the comfort of your own home from their 200+online stores.
I love CSN and have ordered countless items for our home over the past year. I've been collecting a variety of kitchen gadgets (I just love cooking tools!),utensils,cookwares,kitchen decor..etc.

Giveaway-
One is $10 and other is $4 which can be used separately at any of the CSN websites.

Comments close Tuesday,Aug 2nd,2011(midnight,CST) I will pick a winner by the random number generator thereafter and soon announce the lucky winner and pass him/her the promo code,which he/she can use against 2 separate orders)cannot be combined)

The giveaway is only open to residents of the US(Bloggers/Non bloggers)

Please leave a contact/email in your comment or email (creativesanyukta@gmail.com)it to me if you wish to be included in the giveaway.Keep in mind that the Two promotions cannot be used on the same order.

Good Luck!

To enter,there are NO rules:-)

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

And the Winner of CreativeSanyukta's Bloggy Bday Giveaway is...........

2011-05-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

I had a small giveaway for all my US readers on CreativeSanyukta's 1st Bloggy Birthday,It was just as a token to thank all my dear friends who always stop by and leave inspiring comments which is the best best reward for my work...
Thanks all for participating..But there can b just one winner,Randomly chosen, the Winner of the Giveaway of 2 Nonstick Knives with Safeguard and a Bamboo Cutting board is Priya of MharoRajasthan'sRecipe..Congrats dear and enjoy a small gift from me...Mail me ur address at creativesanyukta@gmail.com ,so tht i can ship it to u...
More cutting n chopping for u that means more food posts Priya...Hv fun and do keep me posted...

Looks whts next @CreativeSanyukta-
A sneak peek of my upcoming post-

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Asparagus BellPepper Subzi and Awards

2011-05-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Going ahead from my Garlic Herb Asparagus Rice post,we made different variations thro years with this versatile veggie like Asparagus and Paneer lollipops,Roasted Asparagus with GG topped with sesame ,Grilled Asparagus with herbs n tahini,Creamy Asparagus Soup,Asparagus Pizza with Pesto,Lemony Asparagus-Bellpepper Pasta,Asparagus curry in nut paste,Asparagus with lentils,Kolhapuri Asparagus curry, n so on...From this u all hv come to knw how much we love Asparagus,yes so much tht as asparagus is in season we eat asparagus three times a week in different forms...Today Sharing another simple quick preparation -Asparagus Bell Pepper Subzi.

Asparagus Bell Pepper Subzi-

U need-

Asparagus-1 bunch,white hard ends trimmed off and chopped

Bellpepper-1,chopped

Shallots-2,chopped

Garlic-4,chopped

Tomatoes-1 big,chopped

Mustard Seeds-1 tsp

Curry leaves-Few

Red chilly powder-1 tsp

homemade Spice Mix(or garam masala powder)-1/4 tsp

Cuminseed powder,Fennel powder,Dry Mango powder-1/2 tsp each

Jaggery-1 tsp,grated

Salt to taste

Olive Oil-11/2 tblsp

Method-

Heat Oil add Mustards seeds,curry leaves.Allow seeds to splutter.

Add chopped garlic and shallots .As they change color add Fennel seed and cumin seed powder,Saute.

Add Tomatoes,red chilly powder,mango powder,Mix and Cover till tomatoes r soft n cooked.

Finally add Asparagus,Bellpepper,homemade spice mix,salt and jaggery saute for some more time(about 7-8 mins).

Serve hot with phulkas/chapati.

Note-the asparagus n the bellpepper should be tender and crisp, not overcooked and mushy.

Now comes the bunch of sweet awards from my loving friend JAY

I’d like to thank Jay for these wonderful Awards! Do Check out her space for mouthwatering array of recipes from around the world...
I have to pass this awards onto 15 blogger frnds…But i feel all my sweet friends deserve these awards...so sharing with u all..Pls collect it as u drop by...Thanks..

This entry goes to Hearth and Soul Blog Hop

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Happy Mothers Day,Lets Celebrate with Mango Flavored Rava Kesari/Saffron Mango Semolina Dessert

2011-05-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

I Salute n wish a very Happy Mothers Day to my mom,mothers,grandmom,would b moms...
and would like to dedicate a song for my sweet mother-
"Ae Maa Teri Surat Se Alag,bhagwan ki surat kya hogi"
(O mom ur face and Gods statue are the same to me."
It preety much means that I respect God as much as I respect u and love u.)

As a mother,my mom was never alone in her thoughts.She always had to think twice,for us kids and for the family,for our wellbeing n good future.
She worked 24x7 to make our house a home ,a beautiful place to live with our near n dear ones.She managed everything our good Upbringing ,schooling,studies,household chores.But we never saw her scolding us,shouting @ us.
She taught some realities of life n drew distinction between achievement and success. She said that 'achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that's nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success,as Success is not a destination...it's a journey ,which we are following til date and now it feels how right she is.
She taught us to walk proud and tall 'as if the world was ours.At every opportunity in life she said “Don't tell me the sky is the limit, there are footprints on the moon. Jump at de sun.' We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.
My mother's best advice to me was: 'Whatever you decide to do in life, be sure that the joy of doing it does not depend upon the applause of others, because in the long run we are, all of us, alone.So true mom.

She is a very calm,pious,softspoken,patient yet strong and courageous lady.And i m very very proud n lucky to hv a loving caring mother like her...hugs n love u mom.
Mummy,For everything we shared,
The dreams, the laughter,And the tears,
I love you with a "Special Bond"
That deepens every year.
Always be with me "MA",Need u always.U are the anchor that hold me to life.
My moms birthday falls this month,so Delighted to celebrate this special day and my moms birthday with one of her favorite desserts-Kesar Aam Ka Halwa which she used to always make when fresh juicy mangoes were in season...As this halwa brightens our tastebuds ,u have brightened my life always with ur presence whenever i needed,unending love,care,affection n sweet talks.MOM,With every bite of this heavenly Halwa remembering u and hoping to meet u soon mom..Advance Birthday Wishes.

And now as i m living in this wonderful feeling of Motherhood,enjoying every bit of my sons milestones,my fantasy turns into reality as his journey starts as a newborn and singing a lullaby to him,A crawler and being a ride on horse with him,his first steps holding his soft little fingers and now as a toddler..his mischiefs,his fussiness, his abc's tacking with this but @ the end of the day its Motherhood and i strongly believe that there is no greater creation of God in the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.
When I pick up my son and cuddle him, all the strain and stress of life temporarily disappears. There is nothing more wonderful than motherhood and Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs since the payment is pure love n affection.Above all Being a mother has made my life complete.

A Mother understands what a child does not say....so true

Kesar Aam Ka Halwa-
U need-
1 cup - Semolina/Suji/Rawa
1 cup- Pureed Mango Pulp from ripe mangoes/Store bought Mango Pulp
1/2 cup or more Sugar,adjust according to the sweetness of Mangoes
1 cup Water
1 cup Milk(2%)
1/4 Tsp Green Cardamom powder
1/4 tsp Saffron strands ,crushed
less than a pinch of Salt
2 Tbsp - Choice of nuts and dry fruits( I used cashew and almonds)
3 tblsp or more of Homemade Ghee/Clarified Butter

Method-
Soak Almonds and Cashews in water..Remove skin of Almonds and grind into a smooth paste adding little milk.Keep aside.
Soak saffron in water plus milk mixture for 15mins and heat up to one boil.Keep aside.
Select Ripe mangoes,remove skin ,discard the seed,chop into chunks and blend into smooth puree.
In a wide pan, melt a 2 tblsp of ghee add sooji and roast til it turns slight brown and u smell the aroma.
Now add mango pulp and nut paste slowly and mix thoroughly into the sooji.Mix till all the mango puree is incorporated into the sooji.
Add sugar,salt and saffron milk+water mixture and mixwell till sugar caramelizes and dissolves into the mango sooji mixture.Add cardamom powder.Finally add the remaining ghee and continue mixing till the kesari leaves the surface. Remove from heat.Serve warm topped with desired nuts.

Notes-
1)Store bought Mango pulp can also b added.
2)A pinch of salt brightens n enhances the flavor.
3)Chopped nuts can also b added instead of nut paste.Just roast them slightly in ghee and add.

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Garlic Herb Asparagus Rice with homemade Spice Mix

2011-05-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks friends for being a part of my joyous moment celebrating CreativeSanyukta's 1st Bloggy Birthday(last post)..
Ok,now Over to the todays post.
My Parents visited us few years back...Weekends always ended up shopping groceries,farmers market and bringing colorful fruits,veggies n flavorful herbs..

My mom was so pleased with the wonderful fresh herbs,and ended up taking big batches of dried herbs on her way back to India.My mom created innovative indian recipes with aromatic herbs n fresh veggies and pampered me with delicious food..The fusion did yummy miracles..

We were amazed that bland veggies can taste yummy too...Never to forget one secret special ingredient added-Mothers love..

There onwards my produce list was packed with Avocado,Asparagus,Artichokes,Brussel sprouts,Brocolli,(which we hated to eat)fresh n dried herbs..Amongst all,One such Veggie we fell in love with @ the very first sight n taste was Asparagus.

Mom made different recipes with Asparagus right from stirfrys,salads,curries,grilled ,in fried rice n noodles n pastas n soups adding herbs like Basil,Oregano,Rosemary,Thyme..and we enjoyed all her dishes...

Those were the beautiful,fun n fond food memories...

This tender veggie is one of the most nutritionally well-balanced vegetables -- high in folic acid and a good source of potassium, fiber, thiamin, and vitamins A, B6, and C. A 5-ounce serving provides 60% of the RDA for folic acid and is low in calories.

Sharing one of her(moms) recipes...simple n quick with her easy Spice Mix..
My husbands reaction when my mom made this Garlic Herb Asparagus Rice for the first time-wow,delicious,mouthwatering,yummy,i never tasted sumthing good like this before...in short-he had no words left prasing her...and These were copied and pasted everytime my mom cooked sumthing for us..
We love this so much tht i make this every week as i see Asparagus in season...Thanks mommy...

U need-
Asparagus -1/2 lb,trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
Cooked Rice-21/2 cups
Garlic-3-4 fat cloves, finely grated
Herbs-Rosemary/Oregano-1 tsp each,powdered
Lemon zest-1 tsp
Salt to taste
Red Chilly powder-1 tsp
Homemade Spice Mix-1/2 tsp(see notes) or Garam Masala powder can also b added
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Dried Cranberry -1 tblsp,chopped
Raisins-2 tblsp,chopped
EV Olive Oil-2 tblsp(divided)
Notes-
Spice Mix-*
1 tblsp ground coriender
1/2 tblsp each of ground cinnamon,cumin,green cardamom
1/4 tsp each of ground black peppercorns,cloves and nutmeg
pinch of ginger powder
(dry red chillies,star anise,black cumin seeds,mace,bay leaves and black cardamom can also b added)
Dry roast all and grind it separately in a spice grinder and store in airtight container..Mix and Use accordingly.
(*We use this spice mix in dry sabjis,curries,biryanis and even pastas...)

Method-
Trim tough ends @ the bottom of Asparagus,discard ,everything else is edible and cut each stalk into 1" pieces.
Marinate cut Asparagus with a tblsp of Olive Oil,Herbs,Lemon zest,Turmeric powder.
Cover n Refrigerate for 20-25mins.
Heat remaining tblsp of Oil,Add Marinated Asparagus n saute for sometime until tender n crisp.
Add Cooked Rice,Salt n mix well..Finally add remaining ingredients,dry powders,homemade spice mix,raisins and cranberries.Stir-fry until its well incorporated.
Serve Hot with Raita..(I served with Peach-Strawberry Raita)..

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY and Celebrating 1st Bloggy Birthday with Carrot Milk Pudding

2011-04-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

CreativeSanyukta turned 1 (22nd April 2011)..Yes Posting it late due to some net issues..anyways better late than never..
Hurray 1st Bloggy Birthday..Celebrating this joyous moment with my inspiration, my sweet MOM n DAD,my beloved husband and naughty son,my family n my sweet blogger friends whose words ,there bonding,chatting,sharing hv always inspired me to do the best..and also those anonymous n silent readers who wil surely write a word after reading this..Thanks to all beautiful people in my life,bcos of whom i hv reached my 1st milestone..hugs
So friends as a token of gratitude i hv a small giveaway for my friends who are in US(Sincere apologies to everyone residing elsewhere).
Giveaway of Nonstick Knives with safeguard and chopping board-

The package says the knives have a non-stick coating, a sharp edge, and are dishwasher safe and comes with a safe guard for easy storage and handling..I m using it for a while and loved it.Perfect with the bamboo cutting board.

(Giveaway applicable to US readers only)
1)To participate ,Let me know what you like or dislike about my blog Creative Sanyukta.(leave a comment)

The winner would be randomly chosen and announced on "13th May 2011".

To Celebrate this wonderful occasion today i m sharing a Milk pudding i grew up eating.As a kid i was a fussy eater,would love anything colorful and my mom kept tickling her mind to feed me healthy n colorful dishes..This is one of them and the same is with my toddler,he is the fussiest n picky eater,but this has become his fav dessert til date...This is one pudding which is liked by my whole family..Handy ingredients n comes together in minutes....Whenever i make this kheer i see a big smile on my sons n husbands face too...
So heres easy n quick dessert-

Carrot Milk Pudding/Gajar Ki Kheer-

Oats have a higher level of soluble fiber and Carrots on the other hand provide insoluble fiber and also rich in beta carotene and Milk has 9 essential nutrients(Calcium,Protein,Potassium,Phosphorus,Vitamin D,A and B12,Riboflavin (B2) and Niacin.

U need-
Milk- 3 cups(i used 2%) or more
Organic Peeled Baby Carrots-1 cup
Rolled Oats-1/4 cup
unsalted,un roasted Almonds/Cashews-4-5 nos of each
Sugar- 1/3 cup or +/-
Cardamom powder-1tsp
Nutmeg powder-pinch
Ghee/Clarified Butter-1 tblsp(optional)

Method-
Soak almonds and cashews in hot water .
Peel off the almond skin and grind almond and cashew to a paste adding a little milk.Keep aside.
for 15-20 minutes.
Soak Oats in milk for 5-10 mins.
Pressure cook or boil the baby carrots til fully done. Cool ,chop the carrots and grind carrots and soaked oats to a smooth paste adding milk as needed.
Add sugar to the remaining milk and bring to boil. Reduce the flame and blend in the nut paste and pureed carrot n oats, stirring continuously.Simmer for 5-10 mins till the kheer is thick n creamy.
Switch off the flame, stir in Ghee,cardamom and nutmeg powder.Serve warm/cold.

Comes lets celebrate CreativeSanyukta's 1st Bloggy Birthday with a 3tier Guiltfree Fruit Cake..
Inspired by Martha Stewart

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Veggie Patty topped with Apple Raita

2011-04-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

Appetizers r always hit in my family...Be it kebabs,dhoklas,khandvi,idlis or chaats.I usually make teatime snacks filling but healthy and head with light dinner.Mostly we go for kebabs,and sprout bhel and sumtime crave and go for guilty pleasures like ragda pattice and dabeli too...
I always try n taste healthy recipes which wil b good for my toddler as well and can be enjoyed by my whole family at the same time.When i saw Manjula aunty's April contest i started tickling my mind how i can use carrot,banana,cucumber,apple in an appetizer and thought whts better than a veggie patty.
As u all know how good are Plantain(Green Banana),Cucumber,Carrot,Apple for ones body...Tissue building elements,protein,vitamins and minerals are packed in banana,whereas cucumber has Vit A,C ,fiber,mineral and Carrots are good for vision packed with Vitamin A,C and K,fiber and potassium.And what do i tel abt Apple(An Apple a day keeps a doctor away is enough to count the health benefits)..
So i thought of mixing these ingredients(excluding the same old potato) and make into a patty...And it was guiltfree appetizer which was liked by all even my toddler ate 1 whole patty topped with apple raita (after having his berry milkshake), that was a big relief as i innovated one more trial recipe for my son which i can make once a week(wil reduce the spicyness though) and seeing his satisfied belly with happy burp bought a glow n smile on my face.Thanks to manjula aunty for the inspiration.

Veggie Patty-

U need-
Raw Plantain-1(Boiled,Peeled,Grated)
Baby Cucumber-1 grated
Baby Carrots-7-8,Boiled and Grated
Ginger-1 tsp,finely grated
Onion-2 tblsp,finely chopped
Bread Crumbs-2 tblsp
Toasted Walnuts,Dried Cranberries-1 tblsp each,chopped
Dried Mint-1 tblsp
Oil for panfrying
Spices-
Tandoori Masala powder,Red chilly powder-1 tsp
Chat Masala powder,Coriender powder-1/2 tsp each
Turmeric Powder,Black Cumin seeds-1/4 tsp
Salt to taste

Method-
In a bowl grate Plantains and keep aside.Grate cucumber and carrots and squeeze the excess liquid, and add to plantains.Add Ginger,Onion,Mint,Spices,chopped walnuts n cranberries.Finally add bread crumbs and salt and Mix well.Oil hands and take small ball and shape into Round Patty's.Shallow fry on hot skillet both sides with little oil..Top with Apple Raita.

Notes-
1)Its Great as a kids snack,skip red chilly powder and reduce quantity of tandoori masala.
2)For more heat,chopped green chillies can b added.
3)Garlic n Herbs(Cilantro/Parsley) also gives a added flavor to the tikkis.
4)U can saute carrots and plantain with spices in a tsp of oil and then add the reamining ingredients,Cool and shape into patty n panfry.

Apple Raita-

U need-
Green and Red Apple-1/4 cup each,chopped
Hung Greek Yogurt-1 cup
Dried Mint-1/2 tsp
Ginger-1/4 tsp,grated
Cumin Powder-1/4 tsp
Toasted Walnuts-1 tblsp,chopped
Salt to taste

Method-
Add all the ingredients to hung curd(yogurt) except apples and walnuts,mix well.Finally fold in apples n walnuts.Chill.
Top on Patty n serve.

This entry goes to ManjulasKitchen-April Contest
and to
Naynas event Create n Carve-Fruit and Vegetable

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

CWF-WF/WV-TOMATO Roundup

2011-04-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,
Firstly i would like to thank Kiran for letting me host this wonderful event Cooking with Whole foods -Whole Fruits/WholeVegetables with Tomato..I loved all the yummy entries...
Sorry but If i missed anyones entry pls mail me and i wil add it rightaway..
Without further delay lets begin the mouthwatering Roundup and thanks to all those who participated...

1)Deeksha from Dee's Kitchen has sent TAMATAR KI NAVRATAN CHUTNEY(TOMATO CHUTNEY)

2)Rumana Rawat from SpiceUrSenses has sent Tomato and Potato Curry

3)Priya Mahadevan from Now Serving has sent Arrabiata Sauce and Staple South Indian Sensation aka Sambhar

4)Priya Sreeram from Bon Appetit has sent Cashew Mushroom Masala

5)Raina from The Garden of Yum has sent Italian Beef Stew

6)Savitha Ramesh from Savitha's Kitchen has sent Vegetable Pizza

7)Rumana Rawat from SpiceUrSenses has sent Tomato and Potato Curry

8)Suma Gandlur from VeggiePlatter has sent Tomato Sev

9)Raksha kamat from Raksha's Kitchen has sent Easiest Tomato chutney

10) Panchpakwan has sent Pasta Sauce

11)Harini-Jaya from Tamalapaku has sent Chow Chow - Tomato Curry

12)Usha from MySpicyKitchen has sent Tomato Pickle

13)Sudha from Malaysian Delicacies has sent Bukhari Rice, Ayam Masak Merah(Red Chicken Curry) and Tomato Salsa

14)Sheetal Paliwal from Nicks n jits kitchen has sent Stuffed Tomatoes

15)Priya Sreeram from Bon Appetit has sent her 2nd entry Tomato Paneer Kadhi

16)NEERU'S has sent SPICY TOMATO SAAR

17)NEERU'S has sent her 2nd entry Tomato Rice

18) Sravani from Srav's Culinary Concepts has sent Tomato Bajji

19) Krithi from Krithi's Kitchen has sent Tomato chopps

20)Smita from My tasty treat has sent Arabiata Sauce

21)Richa Priyanka from Ambrosia has sent Tamatar bharta

22)Sona has sent Tomato-Date chutney

Priya from Priya's Easy N Tasty Recipes has sent the following entries
23)Shallot Sambhar
24) Flaxmeal Tomato Paratha
25) Belgian Endives & Tomato Sambhar
26)Mattar Paneer
27)Prawn Tomato Pulao
28) Tomato Ginger Rasam
29) Tomato,Wheat Rava & Brown Rice Adai
30) MW Mushroom & Soyachunks Tomato Pulao
Thanks Priya for the same...

31)NEERU has sent her 3rd entry TOMATO CORIANDER CHUTNEY

32)33)Suma Gandlur from VeggiePlatter has sent Tomato Sev and Sev Tameta Nu Shaak

34)Priya Sreeram from Bon Appetit has sent her 3rd entry Tomato Onion Thokku (Pickle)

35)36) Kalyani from What's Cooking has sent Healthy Tomato Soup and Pav Bhaji

Aruna from Veggie Paradise has sent following entries-
37) Tomato - Green chilli Thokku
38)Instant tomato chutney
39)Tomato Chutney with chana dal
40)Tomato Kurma
41)Tomato Soup
42)Carrot Tomato Soup
Thanks Aruna

43)44)Usha from MySpicyKitchen has sent Tomato Pickle and Tomato Soup

Shama from Easytocookrecipes has sent the following entries
45)Tomato Dosai
46)Tomato Soup
47)Tomato Rasam and Egg dosa with fried tomato chutney
48)Tomato rice
49)Coconut milk tomato rice
50)Araitha Tomato Kuzhambu
51)Tomato sambar
52)Tomato dal
53)Spicy Tomato omelet
54)Egg in tomato sauce
55)Tomato chutney
56)Green Tomato Chutney
57)Tomato kurma
Thanks so very much Shama

Kiran from Sumadhura has sent the following entries
58)Tomato & Bottlegourd Peel Chutney
59)Bottlegourd & Tomato Rice
60) Tomato Yogurt Chutney
61) Simple Tomato & Cucumber Daal
Thanks Kiran

62)Madhusmita Patra from RedSpice has sent Mango-Tomato Salsa

63)Sanyukta(me) from CreativeSanyukta has sent Tomato Basil Soup

64)Panchpakwan has sent her 2nd entry Tomato Rice

Entries from Non-Bloggers-
65)Tomato Granita from Swathi Desikan

Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup Sugar
2 small bright red tomatoes (Diced)
1 tsp Lemon Juice
1 pea size ginger
Mint Leaves 2 to 3

How I made it?
1. Boil water and sugar together till syrupy
2. Add ginger piece,Mint leaves ,tomato pieces and cover with a lid(In this way tomatoes get cooked in the steam).Let it cool.
3. Remove the ginger piece and mint leaves after giving a good squeeze
4. Grind into a puree and then add lemon juice
5. Pour the mixture on a baking pan and keep it in freezer
6.Scrape the mixture every 20 minutes with a fork .
7. Do it at least 3 to 4 times to get a nice ice shaving texture.
Serve with few mint leaves and Orange or Lemon Zest.

TIPS:
1.Serve the granita in ice cold serving glasses so that they wont melt fast.
2. Some people like to add Liquor like Rum,wine etc . ( If you prefer you can add at the 4Th step )

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES) http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

2 in 1-Cluster Beans with Cilantro/Eggplant with Cilantro and won Its Spring Event

2011-04-06T21:35:00.000-07:00

Firstly i m happy to share with u all tht i won the colorful "Its Spring Event" @ Zesty flavors hosted by Vaishali with a $35 CSN giftcard..I thank Vaishali and her family for the same.....Feels so good when ur work has been credited with inspiring words...Pleasure was totally mine participating in this wonderful event...Do Visit her blog for such upcoming events and innovative n amazing recipes...
Coming to todays recipes,dont laugh but yes again my moms recipe,this is very basic paste we use in day to day sabjis...Just we replace ginger with garlic or add coconut and dry red chillies to the ground paste...
So we wil go ahead and see 2 in 1 recipe-Eggplant with Cilantro and Clusterbeans with Cilantro using the same ground paste...

Eggplant with Cilantro-

U need-
Eggplant/Small Indian Brinjal : 7-8,sliced lengthwise
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Pinch of Asafoetida(hing)
Red Chilly powder and Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp each
Red Onion-1 medium finely chopped
Amchoor powder(Mango powder)-1/4 tsp
Grated Jaggery(gud)-1 tsp
Olive Oil-2 tblsp
Salt to taste
Roasted Cashewnuts(broken)-1 tblsp
To Grind-
Green chillies : 3-4
Grated Ginger-1 tsp
Cilantro/Coriender leaves-handful
Cuminseeds : 1 tsp

Method -
Firstly make the masala by grinding To Grind ingredients to a coarse paste.Keep aside.
Heat Oil,add the mustard seeds,Hing and allow it to splutter. Add onion and saute til it turns pink.Add Turmeric powder and eggplant and saute for 5mins.Add salt ,red chilly powder and cover n cook till the eggplant becomes soft n cooks well.
Add the ground paste,amchur powder and Jaggery.Mix well and cook for some more time.Finally add roasted cashews and saute for another min..Garnish with cilantro and Serve hot with phulkas.

Cluster Beans with Cilantro-

U need-
Gawar/Cluster Beans : 1/2 lb,ends discarded and cut into 1" pieces.
Mustard seeds-1 tsp
Red Chilly powder and Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp each
Red Onion-1 big finely chopped
Pinch of Asafoetida(hing)
Amchoor powder(Mango powder)-1/4 tsp
Grated Jaggery(gud)-1 tsp
Olive Oil-2 tblsp
Salt to taste
Roasted Peanut powder(coarse)--2-3 tblsp
To Grind-
Green chillies : 3-4
Grated Ginger-1 tsp
Cilantro/Coriender leaves-1 big handful
Cuminseeds : 1 tsp

Notes-
1)In the ground paste u can replace green chillies with dry whole red chillies,add more and skip adding red chilly powder.
2)For more flavor few curry leaves,whole red chillies can be added in tempering after mustard seeds.

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Garlicky Okra/Lahsuni Bhindi

2011-03-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Like many veggies Okra is one such vegetable which my mom can transform into atleast 20 yummy preparations with different variations.She makes this simple stirfry,crispy okra,fried okra,okra kadhi,okra curry,okra raita and many more..just soon be trying Okra in desserts..haha...

Till then Enjoy this Simple stirfry with lots of Garlic ...Tastes good with phulkas,chapathis,dal/rice..Red Bellpepper flavors the dish and add beautiful color to the dish.

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Kids Friendly and Guilt Free Sweet-Peanut-Oats Balls/Moongphali-Jau ke Laddu

2011-03-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

My Toddler is up for his playtime(running throughout the house,jumping on bed/sofa) by having his fav laddu with a Glass of Milk.This is one such laddu -healthy and powerpacked with good fats,proteins,Vitamin E from Peanuts,Fiber from Oats,Potassium,Vitamin E and healthy fats from Almonds which is the perfect way to start off your day.What better way to gain the strength and energy to carry you on through a hectic morning schedule .This doesnt mean u can eat more, as too much peanuts are not good for ones body,it increases pitta (body heat-Ayurveda).Sharing this healthy sweet with my sandart(rangoli)...

Peanut-Oats Laddu-

U need-
1 cups roasted unsalted Peanuts(without skin)
1 cup Oats
2 tblsp Roasted Almond
¾ cup plus 1 tblsp Grated Jaggery
½ tsp Cardamom powder

Method-
Roast the unsalted Peanuts,Oats and Almonds separately in a heavy bottom pan til light brown and let them cool a bit..They should not be hot but warm.
Powder the almonds and Oats.Keep aside.
Grind the roasted peanuts in a food processor into coarse powder.
Do not run the processor continuously or u wil end up into a sticky mess.
Add Grated Jaggery and Pulse 1-2 times.
Remove in a bowl ,Add almond powder,powdered oats and cardamom powder.Mix and Form into tight balls.
Stays good for a week .Serve @ Room temperature.

Note-
The Oil from peanuts is suffiecient to form balls...If u feel the mixture dry,u can splash couple of tsps of warm milk..But as ladoos has milk in there they wont stay good for long...

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

This entry goes to
MLLA33 started by Susan and hosted by Dee of Ammalu's Kitchen

and to
Sameena's Event-Oats recipes

and to
Ayeeshas Event-Anyone Can Cook-Series 20-FB/WLI/WMT

and to
Akheela's Food Palette Series-Brown

Healthy n Hearty Spring Beans Salad with Muhammara Dressing

2011-03-18T07:47:00.000-07:00

This is not just a salad,its a full meal in one which u can enjoy BLD(breakfast,lunch,dinner) packed with nutrients like B-vitamins,calcium,folate,potassium,fiber,minerals.It has goodness of beans,veggies,dry fruits n nuts.
Salads are regular part of our weekday meals.I make simple salads with veggies,fruits,beans normally with Olive Oil,Lemonjuice,Honey,Herbs,salt n Pepper,sumtimes with herb dressings like lemon-cilantro,basil-mint-lemon juice,Pesto,Roasted Tomatoes,Yogurt,Hot Thai dressing and above all the simpler mustard and mayo.
We try different cuisines like Thai,Chinese,TexMex,Italian..but nowadays we r in love with Middle Eastern,Mediterranean food (from western asia).I always love to T&T @ home with a twist n as per our tastebuds .Some of our favs r falafel,pitas,hummus,parsley salad..I also innovated Hummus with Fruits like strawberries,bananas and Couscous with Apple and Raisins for my toddler
But One such dish which is my top fav. is Muhammara..
Muhammara is an roasted red pepper dip originally from the southeastern part of Turkey it is also common in Lebanon, Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.Its a dip for bread and pitas.But i thought of mixing with this salad...and to my surprise it was a big big hit in my family..Me n my husband finished this salad in one take and there was no room Left to go ahead for main dish..And good good surprise which made my day was tht even my toddler loved it...Believe me he ate 5-6 spoons of this salad after his finishing his dinner..Try it and i Bet u wil never say NO to Beans n Veggie Salads anymore with this Flavorful n yummy Dressing.

Healthy n Hearty Beans Salad-
U need-
-Fava Beans(frozen )-1/2 cup(cooked)
-Black Beans/Blackeye Beans/Green Chickpeas-1/2 cup(cooked)
-Roasted n Cooked Wheat Pearl Couscous-1/4 cup(cooked),Homemade Vegetable Stock
-Romaine Lettuce Leaves
-Garlic-finely chopped-2 cloves
-Onion,Tomatoes,Red/Orange/Yellow Bell Pepper,Baby Cucumber,Yellow Squash,Asparagus-1/4 cup chopped into small similar size pieces.
-Mint Leaves-few,chopped(dont skip),Dried Oregano-1/2 tsp
-Dried Cherries or Cranberries,Raisins-1 tblsp each
-Olive Oil-1 tsp
-Muhammara Dressing-as needed

Muhammara(Dressing)-

U need-
-1/2 cup toasted walnuts
-1 roasted and peeled red bell pepper(refer notes-1)
-2 tblsp plain Panko bread crumbs
-1 tsp red pepper flakes,1/2 tsp paprika,1/2 tsp cumin seeds,Salt/Black pepper to taste
-2 small cloves of garlic
-1 tblsp each of lemon juice,pomegranate molasses(refer notes-2)
-2 tblsp extra virgin Olive oil
-1 tblsp Honey(optional but balances the tastes-sour n spicy)

Method for Dressing-
-Toast walnuts in a pan or in 450 deg oven for 8-10 minutes.Let it cool.
-Add all the ingredients in a food processor, blend until smooth.
(I prefer using Food Processor instead of Blender as i like my muhammara smooth but with a bit of texture).
-U can Store the remaining in an airtight container in the fridge.Stays good for 3-4 days.

Method For Salad-
-Soak the Beans overnight and Pressure cook with some salt til cooked.
-Cook Frozen Lima Beans with some salt in a microwave safe bowl for 8-10mins.Keep aside.
-Heat Oil in a pan Roast the Couscous til golden brown.Remove and Cook in vegetable stock/water as u boil ur pasta for 10-12mins til soft.keep aside.
-In the Same Oil add Oregano,Garlic,Onion and Saute for a min.
-Add Squash,Asparagus,Tomatoes,Colored peppers,Beans,Raisins,Dried Cherries,Salt n Pepper followed by Cooked Couscous and saute for few minutes(veggies should not loose there crunch and color).
-Remove and let it cool @ room temperature.Finally add cucumber n mint.
-Mix in Muhammara Dressing n toss well(if its too thick add leftover beans/pasta water to thin out a bit)
-Serve as is warm/cold or Top the Lettuce Leaves with this gorgeous salad and enjoy every bite of protein rich,fibrous,filling salad.

Notes-
1)To Roast Red Bell pepper for Muhammara-Brush them with Olive Oil,place them over a gas burner, on a grill or under a broiler.The skin should be completely blackened.Remove the peppers in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap.Once cool,peel the skin and use it.
2)Pomegranate Molasses-1 cup pomegranate juice,1 tblsp sugar,1/2 tsp lemon juice
In a saucepan, heat pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice to a medium heat. Allow to cook for 15-20mins, until a thick molasses consistency.
3)It does need some prep work.But once its ready u can make big batches of Salad and Dressing and keep refrigerated.Stays good for 3-4 days..

This entry goes to
The creative n innovative cooking queen ,manjulas aunty's event who always brings thoughtful and interesting contests every month..
Manjulas Kitchen March Event-Bean salad with spring colors
also visit her space for mouthwatering n easy to adapt recipes from around the world.

and to
MLLA33 started by Susan and hosted by Dee of Ammalu's Kitchen

and to
Vaishali's event Its Spring

and to
Nayna's event Create n Carve-Fruit and Vegetable hosted by FussFreeFlavors

Wishing my friends a COLORFUL and SAFE HOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Kids Friendly Tomato-Basil Soup with homemade Herb Garlic Croutons

2011-03-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Few days Back my toddler was not doing well and was down with cold...He was nt really happy to eat anything.He got bored with turmeric milk,lentil soup,khichadi.There i thought to give him sumthing delicious(tangy and sweet)and healthy too (with Veggies and Fruit)with Basil(good for colds/cough).. .and to my surprise he liked this fruit/veggie combo with Herbs and the homemade croutons was a hit with him..he loved to munch on with a spoonful of warm Tomato Soup.

Tomato-Basil Soup-
U need-
7-8 ripe Roasted Tomatoes,
Onion,Celery,Carrot,Beetroot and Apple-1/4 cup each,chopped
2 tsp olive oil
Salt to taste
5-6 garlic cloves,whole
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Big Handful of fresh Basil leaves
1 tsp Dried Oregano
Homemade Vegetable Stock -as needed
2 Dried Bayleaves,5-6 black peppercons
1 tblsp of Milk(2%)

Method-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a bowl Toss together the tomatoes,tsp of olive oil , salt, oregano,garlic. Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.
Heat tsp of Olive Oil and add bay leaves,peppercons,ginger,onions, red pepper flakes and saute for few minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the celery,carrot,beet, apple and saute for a while.
Now add basil, and vegetable stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes with the liquid. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 25-30 minutes.
Take the bay leaves out and blend it til smooth.Sieve and add to the same pan,now add salt and more vegetable stock as per the consistency u like.As it comes to roaring boil,take off the gas and finally add milk ,mix and Serve hot with homemade Herb and Garlic Croutons or Crackers.

Notes-
1)Adding Beetroot is healhty as well as it imparts a gorgeous red color to the soup.
2)No Need of Adding sugar to the soup as carrots,beet and apple do the job perect to give the soup little sweetness it needs.
For Herb and Garlic Croutons-
U need-
Leftover French Bread-cut into 1" cubes(2 cups)
EV Olive Oil-2 tsp or more
Mixture of Dried Oregano,Parsley,Rosemary,Basil and Thyme-1 tsp
Garlic Powder-1/4 tsp
Salt/Freshly Ground Balck Pepper- to taste
(Also can add 1 tblsp of Parmesan cheese)

Method-
Preheat the Oven to 350deg.Crush the herbs with a rolling pin ,keep aside.
In a bowl add bread cubes,dried herbs,garlic powder,salt and pepper .mix and add olive oil and spread it evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 15-20 mins until light golden brown.Enjoy with warm soup.

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Pls Note-
I knw Many of my friends must be eagerly waiting for the Bful Roundup of Color Your Palate-A Visual Treat Event,i received entries above my expectation .
Travelling,Packing,Moving,Unpacking .All these things ended and my laptop caused a problem and is waiting for a repair.I saved all the entries there.Yes i do hv mails in my inbox.but those wil take long as my inbox is flooded with maills,unwanted mails...Not getting enough time to clean them up as i butter my hubby and borrow his laptop to post recipes,check mails and my naughty son comes in betn to do his task..so all buttering goes in trash.So Pls Pls bear with me for some more weeks til i get my my best friend(my laptop)back.Also my mischevious toddler is keeping me busy 24x7..so nt getting enough time to post recipes like before and also missing my dear frnds wonderful posts..Wil visit u all soon...Love u all...Thanks for reading.

This Soup goes to CWF-WF/WV-Tomato,started by Kiran and guesthosted by me.

Refreshing n Cool Spinach-Walnut Dip/Raita

2011-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

My Family simply loves Raita be it Boondi,Cucumber or Beet raita..But Spinach raita is one such which is quite close to my heart...We used to eat it mostly everyday with our lunch..or can say i grew up eating this...and why nt it has my fav green in it-Spinach...and now it has become my toddlers fav too... What Else can a mom like me want when she is 100% sure tht my kid is getting a whole bowl of goodness,packed with nutrients,vitamins,iron and calcium..So go ahead and make this Simple raita and Believe me it wil soon b ur family fav too..

U need-
2 bunches Organic Spinach, washed and chopped fine(around 5 cups packed )
2 cups fresh, thick unsweetened yogurt(nonfat) - whisked till smooth
Pinch Asafoetida(Hing),1 tsp cumin seeds,1/2 tsp black mustard seeds,1/2 tsp cuminseed powder
5-6 cloves garlic chopped very fine,1/2 tsp ginger, grated
2-3 dry red chilli(whole)
Toasted Walnuts-2-3 tblsp,roughly chopped
Salt/Pepper to taste
1 tsp Olive oil

Method-
Heat a nonstick pan,add tsp of oil and add asafoetida,mustard and cumin seeds.
As the seeds splutter add red chillies,garlic followed by ginger..saute for a min.
Add spinach,salt,pepper.Cook til spinach is wilted and soft and the water dries out completely.Let it Cool.
In a bowl Whisk together yogurt,salt,cumin powder, add cooled spinach.Finally mix in walnuts.
Served chilled with Parathas/Pulao/Biryani.

Notes-
1)After adding ginger/garlic,1/4 cup finely chopped Onion and 2-3 chopped green chillies can be added.
2)Walnuts can be replaced with Roasted Coarse Peanut powder.
3)For more taste and presentation,1/2 cup finely chopped spinach can be deep fried and added on top as garnishing.
4)Adjust chillies and spices when making for kids.
5)Simply spread this raita on a piece of bread or dip steamed veggies(carrot/beans/brocolli) and enjoy.
by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Guest Hosting -Cooking with Whole foods(Whole Fruits/Whole Vegetables)-TOMATO

2011-02-09T22:34:00.000-08:00

Cooking with Whole Foods is brainchild of Kiran of Sumadhura..And now its my turn to host this wonderful and healthy event with Cooking with Whole Foods-Whole Fruits/Whole Vegetables-TOMATO (STARTS 10TH FEB ,ENDS 10TH APRIL 2011).
I m honored and thank kiran for giving me opportunity to host this bimonthly lovely event.
We all use Tomato in everyday cooking and its a very versatile fruit/vegetable.So friends start bragging ur mind and send me some new innovative entries from around the world..
CWF-WF/WV-TOMATO (STARTS 10TH FEB ,ENDS 10TH APRIL 2011)

Image Source-http://www.free-extras.com

1)Create any dish using TOMATO and post the recipe in your blog. You can use any variety of Tomatoes(grape,roma,pear,plum,cherry,campari and even white and green tomatoes are in).
Bloggers-Please send your recipes to creativesanyukta@gmail.com by April 10th 2011 with the following details : Your Name / Blog Name / Recipe Name / Recipe URL

Non-Bloggers can send their recipes with the details to the same id- creativesanyukta@gmail.com

2) Please link ur entries to this announcement page in your posts with my name and blog name and u also need to link to Kiran's Announcement Page..Usage of the logo is very much appreciated.

3) Multiple entries per person is allowed..

4)Archived recipes are accepted, but must b reposted.

5)Send in as many recipes as you can with the main ingedient.( Vegetarian, Non-Veg,Eggs).

6)When you mail me the recipe in the Subject mention :CWF-WF/WV-Tomato.

Just a brief on Benefits of Tomato-
Source-organicfacts.net
Health benefits of tomato include eye sight, good gut health, low hypertension, diabetes, skin problems and urinary tract infections. Tomato is considered both a fruit and vegetable and forms an integral part of the cuisine all across the globe especially in the Mediterranean region. Daily consumption of tomato provides a great boost to health apart from improving the flavour of food. It consists of a large number of antioxidants which have been proven to fight different forms of cancer. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and exerts a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases. It also improves eye health and prevents hypertension and urinary tract infections.
Health benefits of tomato have been known to mankind since ages. Tomato is a rich source of antioxidants that have been proven to be effective against many forms of cancer. Some of the other health benefits of tomato are as follows:
Abundant Source of Antioxidants
Reduces Cholesterol and Protects Heart
Rich Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Improves Vision
Keeps Digestive System Healthy
Lowers Hypertension
Alleviates Diabetes
For Healthy Skin
Prevents Urinary Tract Infections
Prevents Gallstones

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)
http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Sesame-Jaggery Brittle/Tilgud,Reposting for events and i won CSN giveaway

2011-01-27T22:54:00.000-08:00

Here i m again after long long pause..Happy New Year, Makar Sankranti and Happy Republic Day to all my Darling Friends,Yes its my first post this year,quite late,Jan is almost ending.Days went fast unpacking,setting into new place, and things r still moving slow n steady...

2011 started with big smile on my face which took me to cloud 9...
Firstly i won ONLY-Greens Event @ Pari's Space hosted by Sara with a $60 CSN Giveaway
and
secondly won Food Palate-White Event @ Akheelas Space with a $55 CSN Giveaway.
Thanks to both Pari and Akheela.Do checkout there space for wonderful ongoing events and mouthwatering ,innovative recipes...

Heading to todays post-Sesame Seeds Brittle/Tilgud..Healthy ,Guilt free sweet which keeps u warm in this changing weather,loved by all from kids to adults..I m nt a sweet person as u all must hv noticed til date but this is the one i crave the most when i think of sweets and brings back my childhood memories.This is specially made on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti,Sweet,Nutty and easy to make in less time with some handy ingredients...There r different variations its made omitting jaggery completely and adding sugar,adding coconut,peanuts,dried fruits n nuts,..this is again how my mom makes and within seconds it vanishes..

U need-
1 cup Lighlty Roasted Sesame seeds(White/Brown)
3/4 cup Dark brown Jaggery,grated/crumbled
1 tsp Ghee (clarified butter) and more to grease
pinch Cardamom powder and pinch of Nutmeg powder..optional

Method-
Roast the sesame seeds til light brown and u smell the aroma.
Grease back side of a plate with a little ghee. Also grease a rolling pin and knife with some ghee. This prevents the hot mixture from sticking to the surface and the pin.
In a heavy bottom pan,Add Jaggery .Once jaggery has completely melted,Add Ghee and mix well.
(My moms trick to see if the jaggery syrup is done-Do a test check by dropping a little mixture into a bowl of room temperature water,and roll it by hands,if the mixture forms into a ball,its ready)
Add the Roasted sesame seeds,cardamon and nutmeg powder and quickly mix it. Do this as fast as you can.
Now pour the Jaggery-Sesame seeds mixture onto the greased plate and start rolling it out with the greased rolling pin . Roll it to ur desired thickness.
Take the greased knife or a pizza cutter and mark out into shape u like(square or diamond). This has to be done before the mixture hardens completely.Allow it to cool for 30 minutes.Once the mixture hardens break out the individual pieces.
Store these in an airtight container.Serve @room temperature.

Note-
1)Can use a cake pan with Wax or parchment paper, and pour the mixture and press dowm with a greased backside of the bowl.Cut into desired shape.After cooling and once hardened..Lift the paper out and pieces can easily b snapped out and separated.
2)Add few drops of milk to the syrup if u like softer brittles.

This entry goes to Ayeesha's event-Any One Can Cook Series 13-WLI/WMT

REPOSTING FOR EVENTS-

1) Badam-Pista Sevai Kheer and Sabudana Thalipeeth
goes to Create n carve-Fruit n Veg event started by Nayna and hosted by Mina

2)Dill with yellow lentils and Methi Matar Malai
goes to Akheelas event,Food Palate-Green

3)Kiwi Summer Salad and Green Chickpea Veggie Fruit Salad
goes to Only-Salads,started by Pari and hosted by Pratibha

by
SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES) http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Mexican Green Rice/Arroz Verde and GoodBye 2010

2010-12-26T14:15:00.000-08:00

Wish all my Family n Friends a Happy New Year .

GOODBYE 2010 and WELCOME 2011

Its my last post this year.So,whts better than saying Goodbye 2010 with a healthy Vegan GoGREEN post,so u wake up healthy n energetic to welcome lovely first day of the year 2011... Todays post-Mexican Green Rice,can b made with assorted greens ,lettuce,spinach,scallions,arugula,green bell pepper or simply cilantro.With a twist i made this yummy preparation which was perfect for our taste buds.With homemade beans and Indian style Tacos we had a satisfying belly. U need-

1 cup Rice

1 Onion, trimmed, peeled and halved and the other half finely chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and kept whole

2 jalepeno, trimmed and halved

2 cups baby Spinach,washed

1/4 cup each of parsley and fresh coriander leaves (cilantro)

11/2-2 cups of Water

Salt and black pepper to taste

Cumin seeds-1tsp -optional

1 tblsp EVOO(extravirgin oliveoil)

1 Ripe Avocado ,chopped to garnish Lemon juice -1/2 tblsp

Method-

Pre-heat the grill on medium heat.

Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Soak in cold water while you do ur prep work.

Oilspray the griddle and Place half onion, garlic, and chillies turning them occasionally until they are blistered and have black patches on their surfaces.

Remove from the grill, and cool a little.

In a food processor, add the grilled vegetables with the spinach, parsley and cilantro. Add 1/2 cup of water and make into a fine paste.

Heat Oil in a wok ,add cumin seeds,as they splutter add other half onion chopped and fry til it changes color.Now Drain the rice thoroughly and add it to the wok. Sautee until the grains are shiny and translucent.

Add the green vegetable sauce and remaining water to the rice, and mix well.Add salt,pepper.Bring to a boil.

Now Lower the heat to minimum, cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid, and cook the rice for around 10-12 minutes.(or simply transfer it to a rice cooker and follow instructions)

After 10 minutes or so, check to see that the grains have absorbed the sauce and indentations have appeared on the surface of the rice.

Remove from heat, and let the rice stand with the lid on for 10 minutes. Then fluff it up, and serve hot.Mix in lemon juice and top with chopped Avocado pieces.

Enjoy with tacos,beans,enchiladas,burritos or as is.

SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

sending this to

Paris event Only-Greens hosted by Sara

Rajma-Palak Paratha

2010-12-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all my Friends.Hope u had fun filled Xmas and unwrapped lots of Santas gifts.Coming to todays Post,Rajma-Palak Paratha, its been loved by me and my family for years now(even my 2yrs old son)..So heres sharing with u all One Dish Meal,Healthy and Satisfying to ones belly.

U need-

1 cup boiled Rajma (Red kidney beans)

1 cup Chopped Spinach leaves
11/2-2 cups whole wheat flour (gehun ka atta) or as redq

2 tblsp GramFlour(Besan ka atta)
1 tblsp Curd/Yoghurt

2-3 Garlic cloves,finely grated
1 tsp green chillies,minced
1 tbsp chopped coriander/cilantro leaves (dhania)

1/2 tsp Carom Seeds/Ajwain,crushed

1 tsp Sesame seeds
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp chilli powder
salt to taste
Ghee/Oil to roast parathas

Method-

Grind Kidney Beans along with all other ingredients(except Wheat flour,Gramflour,Sesame seeds,Carom seeds,Salt,Spices,Yoghurt) into a coarse mixture.

Remove in a Large bowl,Add ground Rajma mixture,Add Spices,Salt,Yoghurt,carom seeds and sesame seeds.

Mix well ,add Gram Flour and Wheat Flour(as reqd)and make into a Dough.

Keep aside for 20mins.
Make balls from the kneaded flour .

Roll it in to paratha.

Heat the griddle and roast the parathas from both sides brushing with oil/ghee til brown spots appear on both sides.Top with Ghee.

Serve with raita/yogurt/ pickle.

SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

sending this to Paris Only Greens Event hosted by Sara

and to

Susan's MLLA30 hosted by Priya

Dill with Yellow Lentils/Savaa-Moong sabji

2010-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

Today i m coming up with my dads fav recipe,he can eat bowls and bowls of this green goodness...We usually serve this sabji with sorghum flour rotis and garlic chutney...

U need-

2 bunches of Dill/Savaa/Suwa Sag/Shepu,chopped

1/2 cup split moong lentils / moong dal

Frozen Green Peas-1/4cup-optional

2-3 tblsp finely chopped red Onion

1 tsp black mustard seeds

7-8 cloves of garlic chopped

2-3 green chillies chopped

Asafoaetida-pinch

Turmeric Powder-1/4 tsp

Coriender-Cumin powder-1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

1 tblsp vegetable oil

Lemon juice-1 tsp

Method-

Soak the moong dal for 20 mins.

Wash and chop the dill in the meanwhile.

Heat a tblsp of oil in a wok, then add the mustard seeds and asafoaetida .

When the mustard seeds splutter add the garlic and green chillies and saute for a minute .

Add onion and saute til light golden brown.Add green peas and fry for a min.

To this add chopped dill and moong dal. Cover and cook on low heat till the moong is soft and the dill is cooked (Do not add water) .

Add Turmeric and Coriender-Cumin powder.Add the salt and give it a good stir.

Switch off the gas and mix in lemon juice and Serve with chapati..Tastes great with sorghum/millet rotis..

SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

sending this entry to

Susans event MLLA30 hosted by Priya

and to

Paris event Only-Greens hosted by Sara

and to

Naynas Create and Carve,Fruit n Veg event

along with

Spiced Tomato Cocktail

and

Sprouted Green Gram Fritters/Ankurit Hare Moong ke Pakode

Details abt the carving in the todays post-

1)Core the apple,slice rounds and carve into a flower using a regular kitchen knife and fill center with yellow lentils and use the top and bottom of an apple and make into a flower shape and place a green pea in the center.

2)Core the apple,slice rounds and then cut triangular pieces and arrange them like a flower with yellow lentils in the center and peas arranged @ ends.

3)Slice thin long slices from a cucumber and carve leaf shape.

Note-

Dear Friends,I m facing lot of problem with blogger these days..I m nt able to edit pics..the pics r getting arranged on top and nt where ur cursor is and where u want them to place and the text goes off @ the botton of the post and then i hv to arrange all ..The updated editor is nt working ,did this with old editor..

Another thing is tht some of friends told me tht the page is taking long to load...

If this is the case God,in near future seems like i hv to b off from the bful blogging world...

Again sorry for delay in posting the roundup of Visual Treat event,Draft is ready just hv to upload pics ,once i get rid of the above problem wil post ...Pls bear with me

Saffron n Nut Kulfi

2010-12-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Kulfi is a popular frozen milk-based dessert from India and Pakistan that is often described as "traditional Indian ice-cream".It comes in various flavours, including cream (malai), rose, mango, cardamom (elaichi), saffron (kesar or zafran), the more traditional flavours.

This time for diwali we just made savoury snacks like chakri,chiwda,cumin crackers and more,and no sweet stuff other than nut barfi for goddess laxmi..So thought of going NUTS this diwali and made this decadent dessert-Saffron n nut Kulfi...Its more than a month for diwali and the taste,the goodness still lingers on my lips....

U need-

Fat free Condensed Milk-1 can,14oz (1 3/4 cups)

Fat free Evaporated Milk- 1 can,12 oz (1 1/2 cups)

Fat free Whipped Cream Cool Whip-8oz ,thawed/room temperature

Fat free Half n Half or heavy cream-16oz (2 cups)

Rose essence-1/4 tsp..optional

Cornstarch-1 tsp

1 tsp Ground Green Cardamom(seeds only)

1 tsp Saffron and 1 tsp Sugar

2 tblsp regular milk to dissolve saffron

Roasted and coarsely ground Pistachios and Almonds-handful

Roasted and coarsely ground Cashewnuts and Walnuts-1 tblsp each

2 dried Figs,chopped finely

Method-

Mix sugar and saffron and grind them together with the use of mortar and pestle. Then, add sugar on it.mix until they become one powder.Soak in warm milk and keep aside.

Soak Chopped dried figs in warm milk for 15mins.

Roast nuts(cashews,almonds,pistachio,walnut), and make coarse powder.Keep aside.

In a blender jar Add soaked figs,Evaporated milk, condensed milk,half n half,Cornstarch,Saffron milk and blend until smooth.

Add whipped cream and blend slowly until no lumps remain.

Then, add ground powders(cashews,almonds,pistachio,walnut), ground cardamom,rose water and mix well into the mixture.

Pour this mixture into individual serving cups/popsicles.

Put into the freezer to freeze for about 5-6 hours ,preferably overnight.

Garnish with chopped nuts/powder.Njoy chilled

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)

http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

sending this entry along with

Coconut Chutney

to Akeelas colorful event Food Palette Series-White

Methi Matar Malai/Creamy Fenugreek with Peas

2010-12-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

Dear Friends,whts better than eating greens during winter,tht too my fav fenugreek leaves/methi and adding Legumes - Green peas which provides vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber n protein,and i bet this bitter green wil taste yummy n delicious yet healthy and u eat spoons n spoons of this tempting sabzi just like tht without any chapati or bread then u knw its Heaven on Earth.

There r different methods to prepare this amazing dish.I make it in 2-3 different ways.This is how my mom makes it.So Enjoy -MMM(Methi Matar Malai)..........

U need-

Fresh fenugreek leaves (methi) - 2 cups

Frozen Green peas (matar) - 1/2 cup

Fat free Evaporated milk(cream) - 1/4 cup

Turmeric powder,Cumin seeds-1/4 tsp each

Salt to taste

Onion ,finely chopped-2 tblsp

Green chillies,slit n chopped-1

Tomato Ketchup-1 tsp-optional

Ghee - 1 tsp

Water as required

To Fry n Ground to paste-

Heat a tsp of oil add whole garam masalas(2 cloves, 3-4 black peppercons, 1" piece of cinnamon stick,1 tsp cumin).To it add 2 chopped green chillies and 1 sliced small red onion,saute til brown.Add tsp each of grated ginger and garlic.Saute for a min.Finally add 2-3 tblsp of frozen and thawed peas(optional).Grind to smooth paste adding water as needed.

Method-

Heat Ghee Add cumins seeds,let it splutter and add onion,green chillies,turmeric powder and fry til brown.Add ground masala paste n saute till oil oozes out.Add Ketchup n saute nicely.Now add fenugreek leaves and peas. Fry until the leaves wilt.Add evaporated milk and water as per the consistency u like.Finally add Salt to taste.Cover n cook for 10 minutes til the sauce thickens. Serve warm.Tastes awesome with chapatis/naan/phulka/rice .

SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES)http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

sending this to

Only Greens event hosted by Sara and started by Pari

and to

MLLA30 hosted by Priya and started by Susan

Aloo Methi Sabji(Potatoes with Fresh Fenugreek Leaves)

2010-12-08T08:20:00.001-08:00

Today i m coming up with easy,healthy yet tasty side dish with Fresh Fenugreek leaves which tastes good with anything b it rice,indian flatbread/chapati/rotis or even with bread ...

U need-

2 Bunches Fresh Methi (fenugreek leaves),washed and chopped

2 Boiled Red Potatoes,peeled and cubed into bite size pieces

1 Red onion, chopped 1Tomato,pureed

5-6 Garlic cloves,roughly chopped

2 Green chillies,chopped

1/2 tsp each of Red chilly powder,Turmeric powder and Amchur powder/Mango powder

1/4 tsp Garam Masala powder

1 tsp each of mustard and cumin seeds

1 tbsp oil

Salt to taste

Method-

Heat Oil, add mustard and cumin seeds,as they splutter add garlic and green chillies and saute for a min.

Then add chopped onion and cook until golden brown.

Then add all remaining masala (except garam masala)in it and mix well.

Add Fenugreek leaves and saute til leaves r wilted and all moisture is gone.

Now add potatoes and mix nicely.Add Tomato puree,Salt,Garam Masala powder.

Mix well,Cover and cook for 5-7mins until it dries out and tomatoes r cooked.

Serve with chapati/phulka..Tastes great with Millet Flour/Sorghum Flour Rotis..

Along with this entry

Broccoli Garlic Cashew Stirfry

Spinach-Fenugreek Paranthas

goes to Paris event Only-Greens hosted @ SarasCorner

Note-

Friends i m still getting problem with the blogger to upload pics...the tab insert pic is nt working with explorer 9 ,i switched to chrome and old editor...still the images r loading on top of each other..very difficult to edit and sort.any suggestions wht do i do..So,Sorry friends i knw its taking me long to post roundup of Visual Treat Event...Kindly bear with me wil try n do it soon as i get rid of this problem...

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES) http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Spiced Tomato Cocktail

2010-12-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

Here the weather is Hot/humid somedays and raining the other day..So i was thinking of making sumthing two in one which we can drink as per climate changes...warm/cold..so whts better than a tomato cocktail which can b served warm/cold..Before I sound like a weather forecast channel..Lets move on to todays post-Spiced Tomato Cocktail...

U need-

8 Red Tomatoes, chopped

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 tsp grated ginger

1 dash hot sauce

1/4 tsp cumin powder

Salt to taste

1/4 teaspoon pepper

3 tblsp packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. Lemon juice

Method-

In a large saucepan, combine the first eight ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let the mixture cool slightly and Blend it in a blender,Sieve the juice stir in lemon juice. Top with Freshly ground Black pepper..Serve warm or cold.

Note-If serving chilled,can add soda with juice before serving..i skipped it..

sending this entry to

Akheelas colorful event Food Palette-RED

Note-

Dear friends,i m having problem with blogger to insert images and when i go to other blogs,my lappy hangs off...Pls help or comment if u guys r having the same problem..Tried using Google Chrome and switching to old editor...but nothing helps...Really frustrating...

SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES) http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

Cranberry Chutney and I m Back my Dear Friends

2010-12-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

Hello all my darling frnds...Long time..huh...Yep After travelling travelling finally thought of moving to new place...Still Unpacking things and trying to set fast..Missing LA and my blogger frnds there....
And great newsFirstly-I won the domestic drawing for September's MLLA(MLLA27)..But as i was on tour,Susan replaced The Hurst prize with Barnes and Noble Gift Card..So sweet of u Susan,i appreciate and thanks for doing so,i bought a Alphabet Book for my Toddler...
Secondly i won a Flash drive as Participation/Appreciation award in ZESPRI’s Kiwi A-Go-Go bloggers' contest..
Sorry frnds for the delay in posting the Color Your Palate-A Visual Treat Roundup and the creative winner..Wil do in a week or two..Stay Tuned..
Now over to Todays recipe..
Chutneys r staple in our house-saw Fresh Cranberries in the produce section and in excitement bought a big bag of this little cuties..Made Cranberry Rice,Pickle,Jam and then realised tht my tomato and zucchini chuneys r over,from there this recipe was created,with ingredients on hand,tried and tasted in my own kitchen and to my surprise the result was simply lipsmacking tht i m looking for more fresh cranberries next time i go to bring my produce and make a big batch of Cranberry Chutney...We enjoyed this chutney as side with curries,rice/dal,on chats/crackers ..tastes minblowing with everything...

U need-
2 pounds fresh Cranberries
1 shallot,chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
4-5 garlic cloves
1/2 cup or more packed grated jaggery
1 tblsp chopped ginger
curry leaves-5-6,chopped
Cilantro-2 tblsp chopped
Oil-1 tblsp
Indian Five spice/panchporan-1 tsp(equal quantities of mustard seeds/rai ,cumin seeds/jeera ,fennel seeds/saunf,fenugreek seeds/methi,kalonji/nigella/onion seeds)
Salt to taste
Toasted Almonds-2 tblsp,chopped

Method-
Add oil in a big Saucepan,Add Five Spice,as it splutters,add curry leaves,garlic and jalapeno peppers,stir for a min and add ginger and shallot,,saute and add fresh cranberries ..
Stir and bring to a boil over high heat. Simmer, stirring often, until the cranberries have broken down,add cilantro,jaggery and salt ...mix and stir until the mixture has thickened somewhat, 8-10 minutes. Let it cool completely.
Add in the blender,add almonds and blend into a smooth paste.(Can add tempering on top if u like,i skipped it ). Ladle the chutney into clean jars and refrigerate in airtight container .

This entry goes to Akeelas event-Food Palette-Red

by SANYUKTA GOUR(BAYES) http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/