Almond Butter Biscuits

This is a very super easy recipe that anyone can make.

Ingredients:

All purpose flour - 1 cup

Sugar (powdered) - 3/4 cup

Almond (powdered) - 1/4 cup

Butter (unsalted) - 3/4 cup

Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Method:

1. Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla extract with butter in a bowl

2. Add the dry ingredients (flour and almond powder) into the bowl

3. Pre-heat the oven to 350F

4. Make the dough and place the shaped dough (round balls) on a baking sheet and bake it for 10-15 mins

5. Cool the biscuits completely and then serve

Coffee Shortbread Cookies

Yum...Very thin and very light baked coffee shortbread cookies.

Ingredients:

All purpose flour – 2 cups
Powdered sugar – ¾ cup
Butter (unsalted) – ¾ cup
Vanilla extract – 2 tsp
Coffee powder (instant black coffee) – 3 tsp
Salt – a pinch

Method:
1. In a bowl cream the butter and add sugar, coffee powder, vanilla extract, salt and beat well
2. To the above mixture add the flour (give no room for lumps)
3. Form a dough and refrigerate it for about an hour
4. Preheat the oven at 350 F
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into favorite shapes (or use a cookie cutter)
6. Place the cookies on the parchment sheet and bake for 10-15mins in the preheated oven
7. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely
8. Store the cookies in a air tight container

Palak Paneer

Have lots of spinach?? Make this easy recipe and enjoy with chapathis.

Ingredients:

Spinach - 1 pound

Onion - 3 medium sized

Green chillies - 3 slit

Paneer (cubes) - about 15 to 20 cubes

Coriander powder - 2 tbsp

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Cumin powder - 1 tbsp

Chilli powder - 1 tsp

Salt to taste

Oil - 2 tbsp

Cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Ginger paste - 1 tsp

Method:

1. In a medium heated skillet, heat the oil and add cumin seeds, slit chillies, ginger paste and garlic paste
2. Add the diced onions to the skillet and cook it for 10 mins

3. Add the spinach to the onions and cook for 5 mins

4. Add the above into a mixer/blender and form a paste

5. On a medium heated pan transfer the above paste and bring it to boil

6. Add the coriander powder, turmeric, chilli powder and salt

7. Fry the paneer cubes with a little oil in a separate small skillet

8. Transfer the paneer to the paste mixture and bring to boil

9. Remove from heat and serve hot with chapathis

Chocolate truffles

Truffles!!!! very delicious (more when its winter :) )Just have it everytime along with few dry fruits...very yummy

For best results, use good quality dark/bitter sweet chocolate and organic cocoa powder.

Ingredients:

Chocolate (melted) - 1 cup

Butter (unsalted) - 4 tbsp

Heavy whipping cream - 6 tbsp

Vanilla extract - 2 tsp

Cocoa powder or almonds(chopped) for coating

Method:

1. Melt the butter, chocolate and heavy cream in a pan until all the ingredients are well incorporated

2. Add the vanilla extract and remove from the heat

3. Chill the mixture for atleast 3-4 hours

4. Roll the chocolate mixture to desired round shapes

5. Coat the chocolate balls with cocoa powder or almond pieces

Carrot Kosambari

You can eat this as a snack or as a side dish along with lunch and dinner. And the best part is, you can eat more, more and more (very low in calories). Green grams used here is optional.

Ingredients:
Carrots shredded – 2 cups
Green grams (soaked overnight) – 1 cup
Green chilies finely chopped – ½ tsp
Oil – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cilantro for garnishing

Method:
1. In a mixing bowl take the shredded carrot and add the soaked green grams(separate it from water)
2. On a heated skillet add the oil and then mustard seeds
3. Once the mustard seeds pops, add the green chilies
4. Transfer the oil mixture into the mixing bowl with carrots and green grams
5. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix it
6. Garnish with Cilantro

Black Bean Brown Rice

This is a very quick recipe if you have left over rice (White/Brown Rice). Brown rice is very healthy and has a chewy texture which I like.

Ingredients:
Black beans – 2 (canned)
Red Bell pepper chopped – 1 cup
Onion chopped – ½ cup
Tomatoes chopped – 1 cup
Raw peanuts – 4 tbsp
Corn/vegetable oil – 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Chilli powder – ½ tsp
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cilantro and Curry leaves for garnishing

Method:
1. Prepare the skillet at medium heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds
2. Add the chopped onion, red bell peppers, tomatoes and then the canned Black beans
3. Now add turmeric, coriander and chilli powder
4. Mix the above mixture with the cooked rice and add salt accordingly
5. Garnish with cilantro and curry leaves before you serve