No Cream Of Broccoli Soup

A much healthier version of the cream of broccoli soup. A must try for the weight watchers.

Here is what you need 

• 1 lb broccoli florets
• 1 medium white onion cut in cubes
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp butter
• 3 cups water /vegetable stock
• 1 cup low fat milk 
• 1 tsp cornflour
• a pinch of nutmeg powder
• 1/4 cup walnuts chopped
• Salt and freshly ground pepper corns

Here is how you do it

1. In a pressure cooker , heat butter .Add garlic and saute the onions.
2. Add the sugar and saute on medium flame till the onions are caramelized . Take care not to burn the onions
3. Then add the broccoli florets. Saute well.
4. Add stock and and cook for 2 whistles.
5. Cool the mixture and blend till smooth.
6. Blend milk and cornflour and add to the soup. 
7. Now heat the soup in another vessel .
8. Add nutmeg , salt and pepper. Adjust as per taste
9. Add walnuts and  Serve hot. 

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Yes , a pound cake with cream cheese. This is one of the best pound cake recipes I have come across. The original recipe is from a cake book which I recently found at a free book store near my place.http://bayareafreebookcoop.com/default.aspx
Made a few changes to the original one to adapt to my taste buds and the ingredients that were readily available.
Here is what you need.

• 3 Cups All purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs ( room temp)
• 2 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 
• 1 cup butter ( room temp)
• 1 package ( 8 oz) cream cheese ( room temp)

This is how you do it..

1. Pre heat oven to 325 deg F 
2. In a stand mixer or bowl( if using hand mixer) beat sugar , butter  till smooth and creamy. 
3. Then add cream cheese and beat again at medium speed for about a min .
4. Then slowly add eggs one at a time and cream well at medium speed
5. Add vanilla essence
6. Then add sifted flour and baking power slowly.
7. Mix well . Don't over beat. 
8. Pour the batter in a greased baking pan ( 9 to 10 ich) and bake for 50 mins -1 hour or till the cake is done . To check if the cake is done , insert a tooth pick and check if the pick comes out clean. If not then bake till done.
9. Cool the cake on a wire rack for 10 mins before removing from pan. 
10. Completely cook the cake before cutting.
11. You can also pour orange syrup over the cake to give it a slight tangy taste. 
12. For the orange syrup , heat 1/2 cup sugar in a pan . Add 1 tsp orange rind and juice of 1 orange to it. Let the syrup boil till the sugar dissolves completely and the syrup thickens a bit.
13. Pour this hot syrup over the cake ( cake should be warm so that it absorbs the syrup well)  before slicing it. Cool completely.
14. Dust some powdered sugar over the cake( optional). 

Very berry Bran muffins

These muffins are easy to make , they stay moist and yes they are extremely healthy. High in fiber and low in fat. This recipe is adapted from the one posted on the back of my regular cereal box.

Here is what you will need.

• 1 1/3 cups Bran flakes cereal.
• 1 cup low fat milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice.
• 1 egg beaten
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/3 packed cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup wheat bran / oat bran
• 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 cup fresh /frozen berries ( blueberries /cranberries / raspberries or simply raisins )

Here is how you do it

1. Preheat oven to 400 deg F . Grease or paper line muffin pan .
2. Mix egg , oil and milk well.
3. Add the bran flakes to it. Let it sit for 10 mins till the bran flakes have very soft.
4. Combine flour , bran , sugar , baking powder and Cinnamon powder in a separate bowl.
5. Now combine 3 and 4. Dnt whisk Just mix.
6. Fold in the berries. Dnt thaw if using frozen berries. Dust the berries with some flour if using fresh ones.
7. The mixture will be thick.
8. Divide equally among the muffin cups.
9. Bake for 20 to 25 mins or till done.
10. Makes 12 muffins.

Irish Cream Tiramisu

After trying my hand at the easy tiramisu . ( Recipe posted earlier ) I went through recipes online and came out with this one. Turns out very authentic. A must try.!!

Here is what you need.

• 2 packets of lady fingers. ( These are authentic tiramisu biscuits which you will find in any grocery stores. )
• 2 x 8 oz Mascarpone cheese. ( Trader Joe's carries the best and cheapest one. )
• 1 x 8 oz Cool whip
•  6 egg yolks.
• 6 egg whites
• 1 tsp instant coffee
• 1/2 cup Irish cream ( or any coffee liqueur like Kaluha )
• 1 cup brewed dark coffee ( You can use the instant coffee as well. Mix 2 tsp in 1 cup water)
• 2 to 3 tsp Irish cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Cocoa for dusting

Here is how you do it.

1. In a double boiler , add the egg yolks , Irish cream and sugar. Add the instant coffee powder. Keep stirring till the mixture becomes creamy and of custard consistency. Cool the mixture.
2. In another bowl , whisk egg whites till they form  stiff peaks. 
3. Mix mascarpone cheese , cool whip and the custard mixture.
4. Then fold in the egg whites.
5. Make a concoction of coffee and irish cream .
6. Dip the ladyfingers one by one till they are slightly damp and not soggy.
7. Arrange the biscuits in a glass bowl.
8. Add half of the tiramisu mixture on the layer of biscuits.
9. Repeat Step 7 -9
10. Now dust cocoa powder on the tiramisu using a strainer. ( Put cocoa powder in a tea strainer and slightly tap it as you dust the tiramisu
11. Refrigerate overnight
12. Serve chilled.
13. This recipe makes Tiramisu for a group of 10 or more.

Warm CousCous Salad

CousCous salad is a typical mediterranean dish. Usually served as a salad , this is one of the healthiest grain you can have, Here is a simple and quick recipe which I recently tried.
Here is what you will need

• 1 cup dry couscous
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup boiled garbanzo beans ( you can use the canned one. Wash them before you use to get rid of the extra sodium )
• 1 tbsp pesto sauce
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Crushed pepper corn
  
• 2 tsp lemon rind
• 2 tsp lime juice.
• 1 tsp finely chopped garlic
• Feta cheese,
  
• Salt to taste
• Spring onions to garnish
• handful of roasted and roughly chopped nuts ( almonds , walnuts , pine nuts - your choice )

Here is how you do it.

1. Bring water and stock to a good boil. Add some salt and 1 tsp olive oil and dry couscous.
   
2. Cook on low flame. Couscous doesn't take very long to cook.
   
3. Once done , transfer the cooked couscous to a salad bowl. Add garbanzo beans , lemon rind , lime juice and nuts.
4. In a small bowl , make a dressing of pesto sauce , garlic , olive oil and balsamic vinegar
5. Toss the salad with the dressing . Crumble the feta cheese and add to the salad.
   
6. Garnish with spring onions.
   
7. Serve warm
   
   

Home Made Ghee

Yes!! Making ghee at home is one of the simplest things that I have come across. I dnt know why it took me two years in the US to realise that making ghee at home is more convinient and economical than running to an Indian store nearby . But I didnt realise this until I was running out of ghee for making diwali sweets and had no time to run to an Indian store.
So here is how you do it

• 1 lb of unsalted butter . I used Trader joe's . But any brand works

And here i show you do it

1. In a heavy bottom pan (vessel), heat the butter on a medium flame.
2. After all the butter has melted , bring it to a boil.
3. Then reduce the flame to low and let the butter boil.
4. You will see froth developing on the butter.
5. Blow air over the froth to check the butter. You will see milk solids settling at the bottom .
6. Now remove this froth slowly without disturbing the ghee,
7. After some time the butter will stop boiling , this is when you know that your ghee is ready.
8. At this point either remove it from the flame or simmer it on a very low flame for a more brown color,
9. Cool it and then strain using a strainer or a cheese/muslin cloth.

Dill Aloo

Dill is actually Shepoo(in marathi) and Sowa ( in Hindi) . The combination with potatoes is really great. Trust me , you have to eat it to believe it. The aroma of dill is what gives the preparation its distinctiveness. Dill potatoes can be eaten as an appetizer or as a regular sabzi.
So here is what you need

• 2 large /4 medium potatoes diced
  
• 1/2 -1 cup finely chopped dill.
• 1 tsp jeera
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• A pinch of hing
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
  
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp curry powder ( substitute curry powder with 1 tsp jeera powder , 1 tsp coriander powder and 1/2 tsp garam masala)
• 1/2 tsp amchur powder / juice of 1 small lime.
  
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt to taste

Here is how you do it.

1. Wash , peel and dice potatoes.
   
2. In a pan add oil , crackle jeera , mustard seeds , hing and turmeric
3. Then add the potatoes. Saute for a min.
4. Sprinkle some water and cover and cook the potatoes on a low flame.
5. Keep sauteing once in a while to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the pan.
   
6. The potatoes will take around 10 to 15 mins to cook.
7. Check the potatoes by inserting a knife.
8. Then add red chilli powder and curry powder.
   
9. Add salt
   
10. Now add the chopped dill and saute well.
11. Cover for 5 mins.
12. Add amchur powder or lemon juice.