Monday, July 6, 2009

Grilled Vegetables Wild Rice Salad


Wild Rice has splendid qualities that would make any diet-conscious go wild about them.It out beats brown rice in protein and richness of minerals.See the comparative nutritional values here. The unusual conditions it grows "wild" in isolated lake and river bed areas mostly in Wisconsin and California and laboriously harvested in Canoes,makes this a rare and expensive grain.Wild rice was of immense important produce to Native Americans.
I was delighted to find a small box of this amazing grain in a natural food store,though I can't afford to buy it as often as brown or white rice,I'll reserve this for some very special dishes like this Salad with juicy grilled vegetables.It takes longer to cook this whole grain when compared to white rice,soaking for 15-20minutes can lessen the cooking time.Mix with other grains and relish them in soups,salads,Casseroles and Pilafs.

Recipe
Serves 2
Ingredients
1/2 cup wild rice
1/2 cup brown rice

Vegetables
1 small zucchini
1 small yellow squash
1 small red\green pepper
1 medium Onion
use any other summer fresh vegetables like asparagus or corn
Marinade
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of dry herbs,rosemary or thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon chilly powder

Salad Dressing
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dry herbs and spices mix
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 cups of fresh dark greens,chopped(I used Beet greens)

Method
Cook the rice
Wash and soak the rice in cold water for 15 minutes.Cook in 2 cups of water,season with salt,until cooked through,35-40 minutes.Keep aside

Grill or Bake
If using bamboo skewers cut the peppers and onions to smaller size squares or cut in to strips otherwise.Combine all the marinade ingredients. Transfer all the vegetables in large bowl and toss them with the marinade. Set aside for 10 minutes.
Heat your grill or grill pan on medium high heat.
Either thread the vegetables on the bamboo skewers or simply place on heated grill about 6-8 minutes. or Bake in 400F oven for 15-20 minutes.

Prepare the dressing
Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in big salad bowl.Stir in cooked rice,grilled vegetables,combine well.Finally mix in the dark greens.Serve.


This wholesome grain salad is off to No Croutons Required :Grains over at Lisa's Blog.

Show me Your Breakfast.
Muffins ,home made granola ,pancakes or scones with fresh seasonal fruit along with Eggs and cuppa hot coffee or green tea is my usual breakfast.I'm glad to sharing this breakfast with Divya at Dil Se...


Whole grain Fruit Chocolate Muffins,Scrambled Organic eggs and Instant Coffee.And a ray of sunshine adds to the warmth.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

16 Bean Stew with Whole grain Dinner rolls


3 days since sun shined ,been pouring like never before,dampening all the summer fun.If only I could enjoy the rain like Aish in Barso Re....
Nanna re that would leave me sick with sniffles.Slurping a warm stew seemed more enjoyable till the gloomy clouds pass.

My pack of Goya 16 bean soup mix had been sitting in the pantry for too long and so was the trusty old slow cooker.Now seemed to be the best time to make a Spicy bowl of stew.

Slow cookers are very convenient for busy lifestyles,set it and forget it,unlike pressure cookers,the slow cookers can be left unattended for long hours at low heat.Moist and gentle heat from slow cooking gives ample time for the flavors to infuse yielding a better tasting meal.

Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups beans mix,soaked over night
1 big onion,finely chopped
2 Ripe Medium size Tomatoes
1 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
2-3 Whole Spices Cloves ,Cardamon and cinnamon Sticks
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
3/4 teaspoon Chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 cup fresh herbs like cilantro ,mint or parsley.
1 tablespoon Extra virgin Olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice,freshly squeezed

Method
Heat oil in a skillet and add the cumin seeds along with other whole spices. After a minute add the ginger and garlic paste. saute until ginger garlic is aromatic and roasted,then add the chopped tomatoes,rest of the spices ,herbs and the beans.Transfer the mixture to the slow cooker,add 4 cups of water.Set the temperature at low,cover and let cook for 6-8 hours OR at high for 4-6 hours.Stir occasionally.If using pressure cooker,cook on medium-low heat for about an hour.
Mix the lemon juice,garnish with some more fresh herbs ,Serve warm with whole grain bread or dinner rolls.

Whole Grain Dinner Rolls


Ingredients
2 cup of Whole wheat flour
1/2 cup All-purpose flour
1 tablespoon flax seed meal
1 pack rapid rise yeast,about 2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Olive oil
2 tablespoon black or white Sesame seeds for topping
1 tablespoon milk for brushing.
3/4 cup warm water

Method
Combine flour with yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl.Add water and oil ,mix well and knead the dough until smooth.Grease the bowl with some oil on the sides and cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place until double its size.punch the air out and transfer on the flour work surface.
Make walnut size balls off the dough and form them in to small rounds,place on a greased or lined baking sheet.The balls of dough should be 1/4 inch apart .Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425F,while they rise.When the buns have puffed up,brush them with some milk and sprinkle them with sesame seeds.Bake them for about 15 minutes until lightly brown on top.

This slow cooked bean soup and the Chicken shorba are my entry for Rahin's slow cooker food event.
Soup will also be served at Susan's My Legume Love Affair,13th helping ,hosted by Sunshinemom of Tongue Ticklers.


Thankfully ,mostly sunny with clear skies is the forecast for the weekend and I'm hoping for a spectacular July 4th.


Have a fun and safe July 4th :D

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I love Cilantro! :Cilantro Coconut-milk pasta.


Cilantro(Coriander leaves) used in many Asian ,Middle Eastern and Mexican cooking, does more than just enhance the flavor or presentation of the dish.Cilantro is nothing less a Wonder herb, rich in nutrients, with antimicrobial properties,health benefits such as controlling blood sugar, lowering cholesterol and fighting inflammation and free radicals.Above all cilantro facilitates the ability to remove mercury and other heavy metals from our bodies,how amazing is that?
Always add it towards the end of the cooking process to get the most of its taste and health benefits.A fresh herb Pesto sauce that requires no cooking is one of my favorite recipes with fresh cilantro.I always loved its sharp distinct flavor in any dish my mom used it in.I continue to devour it in my cooking whenever possible.
Growing your own
You can easily grown your own cilantro from the coriander seeds and regularly enjoy the fresh herb.Take a look at Mona@Zaiqa's lovely lush green Cilantro in the pot,learn some tips.

In this recipe I pair this fabulous herb with creamy coconut milk.Even though coconut milk is a high calorie food,the saturated fat in it is actually considered as good fat.Using it in moderation should do no harm to the body.

Ingredients
1 cup fresh cilantro,keep the tender top stems on along with the leaves
3/4 cup thin Coconut milk
1 lb Whole grain or multi grain pasta
1 Big clove garlic
1/2 a medium onion ,finely chopped
2 small green chillies
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Method

Puree the cilantro with green chillies and 1/4cup of water(add less water for thicker sauce) in a blender or food processor.keep aside.
To Cook the pasta ,fill a large pot three-quaters full of water and bring to a boil.
Add pasta to the boiling water and cook until al-dente(with a bite to it),8-10 minutes.Drain thoroughly.

Meanwhile heat oil on medium heat in a pan,add onion ,saute until translucent then add garlic and the other spices,after a minute or two ,stir in the coconut milk.Bring to a slow boil,mix in the pureed cilantro and cooked pasta.cook for a another minute.Turn off the heat.Serve warm.


I'm submitting this recipe to Weekend Wokking, a world-wide food blogging event created by Wandering Chopsticks celebrating the multiple ways we can cook one ingredient. This month's secret ingredient is the Cilantro,the hostess of the month is Darlene of Blazing Hot Wok.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Blueberry Almond Butter-Oats Bar.Agave Nectar,the Low GI Sweetener


The best part of the summers are the surplus gorgeous berries,melons and stone fruits brimming in the local markets,all at affordable prices.After picking your favorite kind of berries ,how do you use up these delicate fruit with short shelf life before spoiling?I say,make preserves that can go great on a toast ,biscuits or for baking. Or enjoy them whole in a cooling yogurt smoothie ,blend it in the Nature's best drink,parfait,fruity pancakes or sprinkle over the morning bowl of cereal.


I've made bars before with whole oats,for this recipe I use ground oats and didn't use any wheat flour keeping them gluten-free bars.With crumbly texture, blueberry filling and soft almond butter topping these were totally enjoyable.You could even use mangoes or plums or which ever fruit is in season in your part of the world.

Agave Nectar,the Low GI Sweetener
I use Agave Nectar as a sweetener.Agave is extracted from the heart of the agave plant.It is a low glycemic sweetener,best suited for diabetics,as it is slowly absorbed in to the body preventing spikes in blood sugar.It is 25% sweeter than sugar,so you need less.The sweet mild taste is perfect for sweetening beverages,baking and as a multipurpose sweetener.Read more more other natural sweeteners with low GI in my post here.Agave is available in many natural food stores,I bought mine from Costco.

Recipe
Ingredients
For Blue Berry Filling
3 cups Fresh blueberries
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water.

For Bottom Oatmeal layer
2 cups Whole rolled oats
1/4 cup Flax seed meal
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon Olive oil or vegetable oil
1 Organic egg (Vegans could replace with 1/2 cup applesauce or tofu)
1/4 cup Agave or 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup reduced fat milk or soy milk

For Top Almond Butter Layer
1/2 cup Almond butter
1/2 cup whole rolled oats
2 teaspoon Agave or 1 tablespoon sugar

*If you can't use almond butter,use 1/2 cup roasted ground almonds,blend with 3-4 tablespoon of water to smooth paste .


Method
Prepare the filling by Cooking the berries and water,until bubbly and soft,then mix in the cornstarch dissolved in water,stir constantly until thickened.Let cool.

Grind the oats used in both the layers to a coarse mixture in a food processor or blender.Grind together then measure and use separately.Approximately 3/4th for the bottom layer and rest for the top layer.

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 8X8 inch baking dish with oil or line with parchment paper.

Mix the bottom layer in medium bowl,whip egg or tofu with agave or sugar,then stir in rest of the ingredients.Spread evenly on the bottom of the baking dish,next spread the blueberry filling.
In the same bowl mix the ground oats ,almond butter and sugar.Spread over the blueberry filling using a spatula or with fingers.
Bake in the middle rack of the oven,for about 25-30 minutes until the top is nice and brown.Cool completely and cut in to squares.Enjoy these nutritious bars with morning or evening cuppa tea or coffee .

These bars are my entry for Heart of the Matter : Best of June's produce

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Plum Bakewell Tart......er.....Pudding



The June Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Annemarie of Ambrosia and Nectar. They chose a Traditional (UK) Bakewell Tart... er... pudding that was inspired by a rich baking history dating back to the 1800's in England.

This sensational pudding like tart is local confection of a charming small town in Derbyshire(England),can easily be put together with a fruity filling over shortcrust pastry shell and topped with sponge-like filling with ground almonds(Frangipane).Baked to perfection this is an absolutely succulent fruit and nut tart...er...pudding.
I used my home made plum Jam for the fruit filling and honestly I prefer mildly sweet desserts,hence had to reduce the sugar from the suggested recipe.This dessert is mildly sweet ,as the home made Jam is was also low sugar, add a little more sugar if desired.Adding cocoa to the pastry crust isn't very traditional,but I decided to slip in some ,for a touch of chocolate to the tart.Also for those on No eggs diet, these can be baked without eggs,check the recipe for the substitutions.


Recipe
Makes one 23cm (9� tart)
Prep time: less than 10 minutes (plus time for the individual elements)
Resting time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes
Equipment needed: 23cm (9�) tart pan or pie tin (preferably with ridged edges), rolling pin

You'll Need
One quantity shortcrust pastry (recipe follows)
250ml (1cup (8 US fl. oz)) jam (I used home made Plum Jam)
One quantity frangipane (recipe follows)
One handful blanched, flaked almonds

Assembling the tart
Place the chilled dough disc on a lightly floured surface. If it's overly cold, you will need to let it become acclimatised for about 15 minutes before you roll it out. Flour the rolling pin and roll the pastry to 5mm (1/4�) thickness, by rolling in one direction only (start from the center and roll away from you), and turning the disc a quarter turn after each roll. When the pastry is to the desired size and thickness, transfer it to the tart pan, press in and trim the excess dough. Patch any holes, fissures or tears with trimmed bits. Chill in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200C/400F.

Remove shell from freezer, spread as even a layer as you can of jam onto the pastry base. Top with frangipane, spreading to cover the entire surface of the tart. Smooth the top and pop into the oven for 30 minutes. Five minutes before the tart is done, the top will be poofy and brownish. Remove from oven and strew flaked almonds on top and return to the heat for the last five minutes of baking.

The finished tart will have a golden crust and the frangipane will be tanned, poofy and a bit spongy-looking. Remove from the oven and cool on the counter. Serve warm or cold with sliced fresh fruit

When you slice into the tart, the almond paste will be firm, but slightly squidgy and the crust should be crisp but not tough.



Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Resting time: 30 minutes (minimum)
For Cocoa Short Crust Pastry Dough
Ingredients
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup Whole wheat flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 organic egg yolks(exclude the eggs for eggless crust substitute with a tablespoon extra oil or butter)
2 tablespoon cold butter
3-4 tablespoons cold water
1/2 teaspoon almond extract or use 1 tablespoon of Orange blossom water

Method
Sift together flour, sugar and salt. Grate butter into the flour mixture, using the large hole-side of a box grater. Using your finger tips only, and working very quickly, rub the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Set aside.

Lightly beat the egg yolks with the almond extract (if using) and quickly mix into the flour mixture. Keep mixing while dribbling in the water, only adding enough to form a cohesive and slightly sticky dough.

Form the dough into a disc, wrap in cling and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes


For Frangipane

Prep time: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients
3 Organic eggs (or use 2 tablespoon of cornstarch for egg less frangipane + 1 cup of Tofu)
1/2 teaspoon almond extract or 1 tablespoon orange blossom water or rose water
3/4 cup(125g) ground almonds
1 tablespoon Sugar(add a tablespoon more for little more sweetness)
1 tablespoon softened butter
2 tablespoon(30g) all purpose flour

Cream butter and sugar together for about a minute or until the mixture is primrose in color and very fluffy. Scrape down the side of the bowl and add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. The batter may appear to curdle. In the words of Douglas Adams: Don�t panic. Really. It�ll be fine. After all three are in, pour in the almond extract and mix for about another 30 seconds and scrape down the sides again. With the beaters on, spoon in the ground nuts and the flour. Mix well. The mixture will be soft, keep its slightly curdled look (mostly from the almonds) and retain its pallid yellow color.

Peak in to many more delectable variations of this Tart..er..pudding at the Daring Bakers Blogroll

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A Year of Healthful Blogging.Cherry-Blueberry Crumble.Announcing the event ,Health Nut Challenge


Oozing with healthful recipes Health Nut completes a year this month.My mission here was to get the message of out about nature's best foods that heal,encourage more variety in diet ,look for alternatives for food intolerance or restricted diets.So far so good,I see this a beginning to my life long commitment to a take care of a gifted good health.I must thank all my visitors for the encouragement and the thoughtful awards that keeps me going.

The Cherry Blueberry Crumble seemed to be a perfect dessert to celebrate the first blogiversary of Health Nut.
Adapted from a an inspiring Baker,Deeba@PassionateAboutBaking,this simple dessert is the best way to enjoy the berrilicious season.
Recipe :Cherry Blueberry Crumble
for 6 medium ramekins or an 8X8 inches baking dish
Ingredients
3 cups(about 1 pound) blueberries
2 cups(about 3/4 pound) cherries,pitted and halved
2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar or 2 teaspoon agave nectar
For Topping
1 tablespoon brown sugar or 2 teaspoon Agave nectar
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup whole rolled oats
2 tablespoon butter, cold ,cut in cubes

Method
Preheat oven to 375F.
Combine the flour,sugar and fruits in a large mixing bowl.Transfer them in to the baking dish or individual ramekins.
Prepare the topping by combining the flour,sugar and oats.Cut the butter in to the mixture using a fork.Now Sprinkle this mixture over the fruit mixture ,about a tablespoon on each of the ramekins,press gently.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until the crust is lightly brown and the fruit is tender and juices are bubbly and oozy .Serve warm with a dollop of low-fat ice cream .

Health Nut Challenge

I would love to go a step further with my purpose here ,by a food event that encourages healthy eating and cooking with variety of foods.Health Nut Challenge calls all the cooking enthusiasts to participate in this exciting event and share their creative recipes.To begin with,the first challenge is to cook a "Well Balanced 3 course meal".

What's a Well-Balanced Meal?
A healthy meal prepared with wide variety of different foods from five main food groups.A Well-balanced diet helps in optimal growth,development and maintenance of our bodies.
The five main food groups include :
Carbohydrates or grain group -Includes food from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley or another cereal grain.Choose whole grains over the refined grains.
Proteins or Meat&Beans Group -All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds are considered part of this group. Trim excess fat from meats and choose healthier cooking methods like baking or grilling over deep frying.
Dairy Group - Milk ,yogurt and cheese should be fat-free or low-fat.Look for alternative sources of calcium if lactose-intolerant.
Fruit and vegetables Group - We need at least 5 serving of these every day.Eat more variety.
Fats and Oils Group -Vegetable oils contain essential fatty acids unlike the saturated fats like butter or shortening or margarine. See the chart of limitations of fats with age and sex.
Read here more information on Food pyramid and steps of healthy eating.

Rules and Guidelines
Vegan,Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian all entries are acceptable in the Challenge as long as the meal adheres to the rules and guidelines below :

1.Prepare a totally satisfying well-balanced three course meal,keep it simple and combine your favorite foods which your family would love to eat.
First Course Appetizer or Soup or Salad:Use good amount of fresh vegetables.Can also include lentils\legumes or Tofu or low fat\lean meat* or seafood
See some of the soups and salads posted on Health Nut.

Second course Main Entree: Whole Grains are added bonus with Lentils\Legumes or Tofu or low-fat\Lean meat* or Seafood.Don't forget to add spices and herbs.
some of my recipes to get the idea :
Black Eyed Peas Sprouts Pasta,Soba Noodles tofu Vegetable Stir fry,Carribean Kabobs with Beans and rice,Green Mung Khichdi with Sesame Chutney,Harissa Chicken with Freekah\Couscous\Bulgur wheat & Greens,whole Grain Parathas with Dal Makhani,Hachapuri with Olives Mung Stew.

Third Course Simple Dessert or Pudding or Smoothie :The fruitier the better,use as many fruits and nuts as you can.And keep the sugar in moderation and saturated fat butter\Shortening\Ghee to the minimum.
Honey glazed Plums\Peaches,Dark Chocolate Strawberries,Beet Cheese Treats,Almond Stuffed Dates,Easy Carrot Pudding,Saffron Orange Basundi,Avocado Mango Cream,Flax Berry Smoothie.

*Low-fat\Lean meat or poultry ,includes Lean beef,low-fat chicken ,goat,lamb or turkey.

2.Any number of entries are welcome .Use the logo and link back to this post .Mail me your entry with following details by September 20 2009 to email address YasmeenHealthnut[at]
gmail[dot]com
:
**Your Name and blog\Website(if you have one)
**Recipe link(Non-bloggers include the complete recipe)
**A Picture of all the 3 courses together or 3 Separate pictures of each course.
** Old entries are allowed as long as reposted.
**Your Location


Not to worry about perfect presentation of food,focus on the nutrition.
Here is an example of a well-balanced 3 course meal.

Appetizer : Vegetable Cutlets Similar to the Fish vegetable cutlets,made with just vegetables(potatoes,peas,carrots and broccoli),hint of spices and herbs.
Main course: Edamame Almond Mint Brown rice Pilaf\Pulov similar to the Vegetable Pulov,in this entree I used brown rice ,Edamame(soybeans) ,mint and nuts.
Dessert : Tofu Berry pudding ,a blend of summer's best berries and silken tofu,a recipe inspired by Sunshinemom@Tongueticklers


3.In celebration of the first anniversary of the blog,I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky entry.


Get thinking and Cooking Healthy! I'm excited to see what the creative foodies can dish up for this Challenge.



Current Health Nut Challenge - 7