Okra Fry / Bhendi Eguru - No oil

What do you need:

1 tsp Mustard seeds

1 tsp Cumin seeds (Jeera)

1 tsp Turmeric
3 tbsp Sambhar powder
Coconut oil/ Pan spray/ Ghee (as required per preference)
1 tsp Amchur powder (if you want taginess - i love this addition)

Salt to taste

1.5 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste ( I prefer fresh ginger and garlic, throw them in the blender with a few drops of water)
Okra or Bhendi's (slit vertically just on one side)

1 tbsp Coriander Powder

2 tbsp Chili Powder (adjust to your spice level)

Coriander leaves (chopped for garnish)

Initial Prep:

• Wash and Clean the bhendi and cut off the heads and tails and make vertical slits on one side so that you can stuff the masala
• In a bowl, Make a smooth paste by adding water to Sambhar powder, salt, corriander powder, amchur powder (if you want tanginess), turmeric, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, garam masala if required
• Stuff the bhendi's with the masala. 

How to make:

• In a large non stick skillet, put the oil or the pan spray, i used ghee to enhance the flavor, just enough to help bhendi's not stick to the pan 
• Add the chili's to the pan and fry them. (to kill the spice fry the Chili's for longer)
• Add the bhendi's to the skillet and pour a few drops of water and close the skillet to let them steam
• Keep checking to make sure they do not stick to the pan
• Instead of deep frying in oil, to keep it healthy and flavorful, i keep adding water little by little so that the bhendi gets steamed and soft. You can add a little oil or  ghee and start frying.
• Bhendi will start changing color and beautiful aroma of the bhendi will be in the air
• Add Salt to fit your taste
• Add coriander to garnish. 

Serve with Pulka's or chapati's!

Nutritional Facts:

• Okra or Bhendi as we call it, contains an abundant source of potassium, Vitamins B, C; Folic acid, calcium.
• It has a high dietary fiber and has been suggested to help manage blood sugar in cases of type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes
• Ghee is a form of clarified butter but is filled with great health benefits
• Ghee is rick in Vitamin A, E; K2 and CLA; a great source of energy for athletes, proved to be a great weight loss aid and is greatly used by Ayurveda medicine

Raspberry/ Blackberry Ricotta Cake

What do you need:

Non Stick vegetable oil spray
1.5 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
3/4th tsp salt
3 large eggs (if you are a vegetarian, egg substitute can be used)
1.5 cups low fat ricotta
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick or 1/2 cup unsalted melted butter
1 cup frozen raspberries and blackberries (I used raspberries)

How to make:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Line a 9" - diameter cake pan with parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick spray
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl
• Whisk eggs, ricotta and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth; 
• Fold into dry ingredients just until blended. 
• Fold in butter, followed by 3/4th cup berries, taking care not to crush berries.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan and scatter remaining 1/4th cup berries over top.
• Bake cake until golden brown and a knife or fork inserted into center comes out clean. This usually takes 50 - 60 mins. 
• Let it cool for at-least 20 mins before unmolding
• To store the cake, tightly wrap it with clear food wrapper at room temperature. Usually stays upto 2 - 3 days.

Yummmy in my Tummy :)

Tilapia Curry - Andhra style

Fish curry has always been one of my mom's specialties. I have found an easier version without compromising the flavor and not having to deal with the bones.

What do you need:
Oil (as required)
1 tsp Mustard seeds
1 tsp Cumin seeds (Jeera)
1 stem Curry Leaves
3 Cloves
3 Black Cardamom
2 Bay Leaf
2 Red chili's
2 Onions (Cut into small pieces)
2 Green chili's (If you like your curry spicy, do not fry the heck outta them Lol)
1 tsp Turmeric
Salt to taste
1.5 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
2 Tomatoes (Cut into small pieces)
Tamarind (1/4th cup if solid. 3 tbsp if concentrate)
6 Tilapia/Salmon Filet's (can use any other fish as well)
1 tbsp Coriander Powder
2 tbsp Chili Powder (adjust to your spice level)
2 tbsp Aachi Egg curry Masala or Homemade Meat Masala
Coriander leaves (chopped for garnish)

Initial Prep:

• Cut the fish into 1 inch pieces. (Since tilapia is a very delicate fish, to keep it from becoming mushy, we saute them initially)
• Take 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan and saute the fish until the pieces look white in color. This should take less than 10 seconds on each side
• Take some tamarind and soak it in hot water. If you use the concentrate then you can directly use it. (Soaking is done to get the complete pulp). Squeeze the pulp and keep aside.

How to make:

• When fish pieces are sauteed, set aside. 
• Take 4 tbsp oil in the pan. Add cumin and Mustard seeds and let them splutter then add cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, red chili's and curry leaves. Fry them for around 5-6 secs.
• Add the chili's to the pan and fry them. (to kill the spice fry the Chili's for longer)
• Add the onions, turmeric and a pinch of salt and fry them until they turn golden. Add the ginger garlic paste and mix it well with the onions and fry until the ginger garlic fragrance is felt (10 - 15 seconds)
• Add the tomatoes, chili powder, coriander powder and the egg/meat masala and fry them for a few seconds.Sprinkle some water and cover the pan for the tomatoes to cook well. This takes a few minutes. Keep an eye out to the pan to ensure onions and tomatoes don't burn.
• After the tomatoes are well done, add the tamarind solution to the pan and bring to boil. 
• Add the fish to the pan and mix well. Add salt to taste and let it cook for around 8 to 10 mins.
• stir carefully to make sure fish does not break into pieces.
• Add coriander to garnish. 

Serve hot!

Nutritional Facts:

• Fish is a high-protein, low fat food that provides a range of health benefits. 
• They are high in omega-3s and low in environmental contaminants.
• The omega-3s fatty acids found in fish  help with overall body growth and development as well as enhance healthy brain function. 
• Human body does not naturally produce these fatty acids.

Love for Coffee

 "Given Enough coffee, I can conquer the World."

 If you thought you knew how a perfectly crafted coffee tasted like then probably you have not tried this one. One of Mom's original. Our favorite! Kick starts my morning.

What do you need:
1 cup Milk Whole fat (you can use skim or 2% or non fat)
1 Table spoon BRU Instant Coffee powder (increase the quantity to make the coffee stronger)
2 Table spoons sugar (or equivalent)

How to make:

• Take the milk in a vessel and turn on the heat.
• Add sugar to the milk. Let the milk boil.
• On the side, take the coffee powder in a cup
• When the milk starts to boil and forth is formed, turn off the heat
• Pour the milk into the cup while keeping 4 inches gap between the vessel and the cup (to enable foam formation) sprinkle little coffee powder on the top of the foam to enhance the fragrance and flavor.

Cheers..!
Nutritional Facts:

• Whole Fat Milk is healthier than Skim or 2% or fat free milk:
• Our bodies cannot digest the protein or absorb calcium from milk without the fat
• Healthy Dietary fat will not make you fat
• Vitamins A and D are Fat- soluble. So your bodies can't absorb them from Milk when all the fat has been skimmed off
• Milk fat contains glycosphingolipids (types of fats) linked to immune system health and cell metabolism
• The worlds healthiest foods are whole foods