Almond Honey

As I stepped out this morning at 6am for my Yoga class, I could feel a cool breeze and a slight nip in the air. I think we are finally approaching the so called Mumbai winter where late nights and early mornings are pleasant.

As the weather cools one feels more energetic, hungry and in the mood for more outdoor activities. But all of these need us to be fit and strong, eating a nourishing and healthy diet.

I'd like to share a very simple, age-old family practice which will help to keep you healthy. My mother introduced this to us as children and it has continued to become a practice followed every winter.

Fill a glass jar to 2/3 level with almonds and fill it up with honey. Let the almond soak in the honey and every morning with your breakfast have a tablespoon of the almonds and honey (5 - 6 almonds). It's delicous, easy to eat and great for your system. I am getting my jar ready today. Will you too?

Cream Apple Cookies

At our weekly Bridge game at my friend Neilu's home day before yesterday, as usual she served us delicious snacks with tea, which included brown-bread sandwiches with cheese and capsicum filling, light and crisp veg rolls and Cream apple cookies, an innovative sweet snack. Finely chopped apples were stewed with very little sugar and cinnamon and used as topping on Britannia cookies, over which she had poured a little fresh cream.

Methi

Last weekend when I went for my vegetable and grocery shopping, I picked up very fresh methi (fenugreek) and decided to use it a number of ways for guests that I was having over.

Over two days, Methi found its way into a nice fish main course, paneer, as well as parathas that could virtually be had with any dish or just by themselves with a bowl of yoghurt and papad.

Methi has a rich flavour, but can make the dish a little bitter if not used in the right quantity. When used in the right proportion, it can give a very distinctive flavour.

Here are my two recipes with Methi.

Fish In Methi


Ingredients

4 - 6 slices of Surmai / Pomfret
2 medium sized tomatoes finely chopped
1 tsp finely chopped ginger garlic / paste
2 green chillies chopped
1 small bunch Methi leaves (Fenugreek)
1/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander powder
3 tsps oil
Salt to taste
Few coriander leaves chopped

Procedure

Wash the fish slices, sprinkle salt on both sides and keep aside. Take out all the Methi leaves from the stems, wash and chop finely. In a kadai heat oil. Add ginger garlic and green chillies. Reduce flame and stir for a minute. Now add methi leaves and cook in open kadai for five minutes. Add chopped tomotoes and dry spices. Cover with fitting lid and cook for a few minutes till tomatoes and methi are well cooked and soft. Now put in the fish, add a little salt and cook on medium flame for 3 - 5 minutes. Serve hot decorated with fresh coriander leaves.

Methi Paneer



Ingredients
250 grams paneer (cottage cheese)
2 medium sized tomatoes finely chopped
1 tsp finely chopped ginger garlic / paste
2 green chillies chopped
1 small bunch methi leaves (Fenugreek)
1/4 tsp garam masala
1 tsp coriander powder
3 tsp oil
Salt to taste
Few coriander leaves chopped

Procedure

Cut paneer into one inch pieces and keep aside. Take out all the Methi leaves from the stems, wash and chop finely. In a kadai heat oil. Add ginger garlic and green chillies. Reduce flame and stir for a minute. Now add Methi leaves and cook in open kadai for five minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and dry spices. Cover with fitting lid and cook for a few minutes till tomato and methi are well cooked and soft. Now put in the paneer, add salt and cook on medium flame for 3 - 5 minutes. Serve hot decorated with fresh coriander leaves.

HAPPY DIWALI!

Wishing all my dear friends a fun-filled Diwali weekend and great year ahead. Enjoy the goodies and all the lovely food without worrying about the calories. Also, let's a spare a moment to think of those less fortunate who cannot experience any of these pleasures and do our little bit to bring joy to them in our small way. Let's all get back to the healthy food and exercise regimine with excitement Monday onwards.

A wonderful Diwali to all!