Greek style bread sticks with Zattar

5 ingredients 5 minute flatbread garlic butter bread sticks.

Really easy to make for busy collage kids in their apartment for a quick filling meal. Goes well with salad or soup or as is.

1 flat bread Greek style

1 tbsp garlic butter ( available at most middle Eastern stores)

1tbsp

Zattar seasoning ( available at most middle eastern stores)

Crushed pepper optional.

1/4 tsp olive oil.

Method:

Brush olive oil on both side of pita bread and roast it on a skillet over gas on medium heat.

Cut pita into desired shape with pizza cutter or scissors. 

Spread garlic butter over pita bread, sprinkle zattar and crushed pepper and it's ready to eat.

Majadra daal fry

Majadra daal Fry

2 cup middle eastern majadra lentil 

5-6 cups water

(cook majadra on stove top with 5-6 cups of water until tender. It takes about 20 minutes)

For gravy:

1 large onion

7-8 clove garlic

2 cube ginger

1/4 tsp fennel seeds

1-2 green chilies

1/4 cup cilantro

2-3 mint leaves ( optional)

Take all the above ingredients and finely crush them in food processor. 

2 tomatoes (crushed in food processor separately) 

4-5 tbsp olive oil 

1 tsp cumin seeds

1/4 tsp asafetida 

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp methi masala

1/3 tsp crushed roasted coriander seeds

1/2 tsp red chili powder

1/3 tsp turmeric powder.

Salt to taste.

Cooking method:

Heat 4-5 tbsp olive oil, add fennel seeds, cumin seeds and asafetida. Add the crushed onion, garlic, ginger, green chili and cilantro mix to the hot oil. Stir often till the onions turn brown. Add garam masala, methi masala, salt, turmeric, red chili powder, cherished roasted coriander seeds and stir for 2 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes to it and stir. cover with lid and let it cook until tomatoes are well cooked and blend into the onion gravy. Add this prepared gravy to cooked majadra daal. Add a cup more water if necessary. Continue cooking daal for another 10-15 minutes. Eat with rice or roti or as daal soup. 

Garnish daal with butter, cilantro and lemon ( optional) 

Henna designs by Vidhya jain

Peal Millet Bajri sweet and savory multiple combination!

Basic Bajri ( pearl Millet) moong Khichidi!

1 cup Bajri 

1/2 cup green moong dal

3 cup Water

Pressure cook all the ingredients  for 3 whistle. 

You can use this base Khichadi for the following combinations.

1. Hot Khichadi + honey+ ghee.

2. Hot Khichadi+ hot milk+ honey +cinnamon+ cardamoms+ nuts

3. Hot Khichadi + Kadhi.

bajri provides us with disease fighting phytochemicals that lower cholesterol, antioxidants, plenty of fibre, folate, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, vitamins-E and B-complex, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. It is a gluten free grain and rich in iron. 

Honey Aspirin Coconut oil face scrub!

Honey aspirin coconut oil Face cleanse/wash/scrub!

1 cup coconut oil

1 cup honey

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup tbsp powdered aspirin ( took half a bottle of Un coated regular strength aspirin and powdered them in coffee grinder)

20 drops of tea tree oil ( optional for acne prone skin)

10-30 drops of pepper mint essential oil. (Optional)

Blend all ingredients in a large bowl with fork until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. Store in 3 to 4 glass or plastic containers. Makes enough and lasts for months at room temperature. 

Apply all over face and neck with fingertips. Use few drops of warm water if the scrub is too hard especially in winter. scrub gently with a warm wet wash cloth or jut with your fingers for couple seconds. Rinse face with warm water. Towel dry. Skin will feel soft, shiny and glows naturally. 

You can also take about one tablespoon of this wash and add turmeric. keep this wash on your face for 15 to 20 minutes couple times a week and scrub as above. 

Aspirin:Unclogs oily pores, lightens blemishes and acne scars, and is anti inflammatory.

Baking soda: antibacterial properties, abrasiveness removes dead skin thus exfoliating,results in skin tightening thus minimizing appearance of pores.

Honey: anti microbial, anti bacterial, anti aging and acts as a moisturizer. 

Tea tree essential oil: helps heal and prevent acne outbreaks.

Peppermint oil: contains numerous minerals and nutrients including manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, and copper. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. It also improves blood circulation, thus helps in nourishing dull skin, has cooling effect. 

Almond Rose Chia seed Lassi (yogurt drink)

Almond Rose chia seed Lassi!

Makes about 3-4 glasses. 

Soak 3-4 tbsp of chia seed in 1 cup water over night or couple days early and refrigerate it. 

10-15 Almonds

8-10 Ice cubes

6-8 drops of Rose water

5-6 tsp Sugar

2- 3 cup Yogurt

Blend all ingredients except chia seeds. Once the lassi is ready to be served add chia seed mixture. Mix with spoon. Pour in glasses and serve chilled.

Pineapple Chia Lemonade.

Pineapple Chia lemonade!

1 quart 100% pineapple juice not from concentrate with no added sugar.

3 tbsp chia seeds

Juice of 3 lemons

1/4 tsp lemon rind

2 drops of mango essence or 1/4 cup of mango pulp.

Soak chia seeds in 1 cup water overnight.

Pour lemon juice, pineapple juice, mango essence( or mango pulp) and run through blender. Add soaked chia seeds and gently with spoon mix the juice. Serve chilled. Stays well for 4 to 5 days. The more the chia seeds soak the more the juice is thickened. It taste refreshing. 

Bromelain in pineapple is anti inflammatory, has protein digesting enzyme, and pain relieving properties other than all other vitamins.

chia seeds: They are loaded with fiber, protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and various micronutrients, antioxidants, roach in calcium. Really good for diabetics. 

Chia seeds Falooda drink!

Chia seeds soya noodle Falooda

1 tbsp chia seeds soaked in 3/4 glass milk.

1/3 stick falooda sev or I used soya bean thread available at Chinese store

2 tbsp Rose syrup 

2 drop rose essence

1 scoop of Vanilla ice cream 

Chopped nuts ( almond and pistachios)

Break soya noodles into 2-3 inch long threads with scissors. Place them in a large bowl and pour hot boiling water over them. Let them soak for 15-20 minutes.

Drain soya noodles completely and soak them in rose syrup.

Soak chia seeds over night in milk in refrigerator ( not freezer) if Chita seed soak up all the milk or form lumps just add more milk and gently break them apart with fork.

Take a tall glass, layer soya noodles, chia seeds, rose essence, milk, vanilla ice cream. Drizzle some more Rose syrup and sprinkle nuts. 

Summer 2015 flower arrangements

Some flower arrangements from the flowers around my house.