Roasted Potatoes with fresh Fenugreek

This recipe originated from northern India; you will not find them in Indian restaurants though. Despite having potatoes in this recipe, it is quite healthy due to the ingredient, fenugreek. Fenugreek leaves, seeds and sprouted seeds are used in various Indian recipes. They are also used to treat several ailments.

An interesting fact is that many of the overpowering, spiced up oily foods that list Indian restaurant menus taste quite different when prepared at home, especially the healthy southern Indian dishes.

Try this potato with fresh fenugreek recipe from vidyaswamy's kitchen. 

Make canned soup healthier, tastier

We all reach out for that quick food soup for an easy, filling meal especially when we are out of ideas, or need that satisfying something to keep the day going.

Here's a recipe I think you'll love. Need not be made from scratch and hardly takes any time. Prep times is about 7 minutes, stove to table is about 20 minutes. Now that's hard to beat!  Check out this recipe from vidyaswamy's kitchen.com.

A yummy bengali dessert called Chum Chum

One of the best Indian desserts I've had. It is made of milk and light sugar syrup. Try this recipe from Vidya's kitchen.

Bengalis have a way with their desserts and somehow they never taste as good if people from other parts of India make it. I would say mine comes close.

Try this nutritious vegetarian recipe called Bisi Bela Bhath

The origin of this Kannada dish is Karnataka. It has unique, likable taste. The main spice ingredients are coriander, cumin, red chilies and cinnamon. What makes it nutritious are the vegetables and lentils.

Try this recipe from Vidya's kitchen.

Lightly-spiced toasted pumpkin fillets

The spiced pumpkin fillets are perfect as appetizers or as an extra side dish at the dinner table.

Extremely easy to make. Try them from Vidya's kitchen.

Roasted Eggplant with Tahini sauce

The recipe sounds lovely and the photograph is appetizing. I'm sure it tastes great too! - http://online.wsj.com/articles/einat-admonys-recipe-for-roasted-eggplant-with-tahini-sauce-and-herb-salad-1409168285

Buckwheat pancakes. Mmm Yum.

Photo courtesy from 'The Internet'

I am becoming a big fan of buckwheat pancakes. Several people I know are staying from gluten. What better way to start off the day than with buckwheat pancakes. It is filled with nutrition, some carbs, protein, vitamins plus a lot of taste. Extremely satisfying.

Start off making your pancakes just with the flour. You can then enhance the taste even more with fruits, nuts, cinnamon, etc.

Here is the nutrition fact I picked off Wiki.

1. Nutrition Facts
   BuckwheatBuckwheat
   

   Amount Per 100 grams1 cup (170 g)1 cup (170 g)

   Calories 583

2. % Daily Value*

   Total Fat 6 g	9%
   Saturated fat 1.3 g	6%
   Polyunsaturated fat 1.8 g
   Monounsaturated fat 1.8 g
   Cholesterol 0 mg	0%
   Sodium 2 mg	0%
   Potassium 782 mg	22%
   Total Carbohydrate 122 g	40%
   Dietary fiber 17 g	68%
   Protein 23 g	46%

   Vitamin A	0%	Vitamin C	0%
   Calcium	3%	Iron	20%
   Vitamin D	0%	Vitamin B-6	20%
   Vitamin B-12	0%	Magnesium	98%

Crockpot Lasagna

If you want rich taste and a satisfactory palette, then this Crockpot lasagna does complete justice.

Absolutely delicious, try it from Vidya's kitchen.

Mayuri - Looks like they are back

Today being a special day I decided to give Mayuri, the Indian restaurant in the suburbs of St. Louis one more chance. After the last experience months ago, we had decided never to eat at Mayuri again. However, there aren't places around that are any better either.

We were pleasantly surprised right from the start. First of all, the display of the buffet tables were better with more space to move around. Secondly, the place looked cleaner. Thirdly, the vegetarian dishes were quite delicious. The spread consisted of pakoras, vadai, pongal, idli, sambaar, a few different types of chutneys, pulav, a variety of southern indian curries, some northern indian specialities, the usual salad, pickles, condiments, non-tart plain yogurt and desserts.

I was not sure if the chef or the ownership had changed. Nobody we spoke to had a clear answer. I went there with low expectations but came back quite happy.

Would give this place 4 **** stars.

Exotic cluster beans sabji - side dish

There aren't too many dishes you can prepare with cluster beans. I usually make the traditional south Indian ones such as usili, plain curry with or without coconut, puli kootu (my mom's special recipe), or add them in aviyal. Of course there is the cluster bean vatthal that my mom use to make at home. But, that's for another day.

This is a northern Indian preparation with a bit of garlic, cumin and red chillies. I have not added onions, you may test it with or without onions. I use the same recipe to make okra sabji as well.

Try this one from Vidya's kitchen and post your comments.