Cheese and Herb Sweet Peppers

Mini sweet peppers are available in plenty in summer time. They bring vibrant color to any dish. They are good to grill and are great to serve as hors d'oeuvres.

Ingredients:

30 red,yellow and orange sweet mini peppers
18 ounces goat cheese,cottage cheese or crumbled paneer
1/4 C chopped fresh chives,tarragon ,basil, or thyme
crushed red chili flakes(optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Wash the peppers, dry them, and cut a slit along the top of the each pepper, leaving the stem intact.  Remove the seeds.
3. In a small bowl, combine the cheese and herbs.
4. Spoon cheese mixture into the prepared peppers. Arrange filled peppes close together on a baking sheet

5. Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted through and peppes are crisp tender.  Serve warm.

southern Style Vegetarian Jambalaya

Beans are a good source of fiber. I made this delicious southern style rice dish with black beans and vegetables.

Ingredients:

1/2 C chopped oinion
1/2 C chopped green pepper
3 tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
1 C frozen corn, thawed
1/4 C Worcestershire sauce
1 T vinegar
1 t chili powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 t dried thyme
1/2 t rubbed sage
1/2 t ground red pepper
1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
1/3 C tomato puree
2/3 C long-grain rice, uncooked

Method:

1. Heat a large saucepan with 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat until hot.
2. Add onion, green pepper, and garlic; saute until tender.
3. Add tomatoes and the next 11 ingredients, and 1 2/3 cups water. stir well and bring the mixture to a boil.

4. stir in rice. Check for salt.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender.
 

Lemon Pickle

It's summer time. we can find fresh lemon in the farmer's market at a good price. It is easy to make juicy pickle from the lemon to savor with yogurt rice.

Ingredients:

6 lemons(washed)
5-6 T fresh red chilly powder
1 t powdered feneugreek
1/2t asafotida
1t turmeric powder
salt to taste
sesame oil(required )

Method:

1. Heat a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil. Place the lemons in the pan, roast them by turning them from time to time. You will know they are done when water spurts from the lemon. The lemon may become brown in some spots. That is alright. remove from the the heat and cool.
2. Cut the lemon to desired size, while discarding the seeds and place them in a large bowl.  Add salt  for every few pieces.  Add the remaining spices to the bowl and mix well.
Heat the sesame oil, season the mustard. Allow it to cool completely. Pour the oil to the lemon. Mix thoroughly. Let it sit for a day.  Check for salt and spice before  bottling  the pickle. Make sure that there is enough oil floating above the pickle.

This pickle can be consumed the same day. Refridgerate it immediately.

Eggless Pancake

This morning my son wanted to have pancake for breakfast. I decided to try making them without eggs this time. I found a vegan recipe in a book and decided to make it vegetarian instead. The kids loved it. I had one too even though I don't like pancake.  Hope you enjoy making this delicious pancake.

Ingredients:                                                           
11/2 C milk
1T+1t lemon juice
2 C all-purpose flour
1 T+1t baking powder
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 C plain yogurt
1 T safflower oil or coconut oil
2 T pure maple syrup
Butter for cooking

Method:
1. Pour milk in a large cup,add lemon juice, stir gently and allow it to sit for 10 minutes to curdle.
2. Meanwhile,sift the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together. At this point heat the griddle and oil it and keep the heat on low.
3. Add the yogurt, oil, and maple syrup to the buttermilk and whisk until well incorporated. Use a rubber spatula to combine the liquid with the flour mixture. stir until just blended. There may be lumps.
4. Pour 1/4 cup of the batter onto the lightly oiled hot griddle. Just pour the batter and it will spread on its own. If it doesn't, you may need to add little more milk to the batter. Wait till the top is bubbly on top and then flip it over. The pancakes are ready when you see steam coming out from the bottom.  Enjoy with your favorite toppings and syrup.

Variations:
You may add fresh berries(chopped) to the batter.
You may add nuts or chocolate chips to the batter.
I used coconut oil for the batter and mixed some berries to the batter.

I did it

Finally I created my own blog to do the thing I have wanted to do in a long time.. sharing recipes with friends.
I'll post my first recipe soon.