Spicy Carrot-Broccoli Rice

Adding Broccoli florets and baby carrots in rice with spices is very healthy and delicious. It is really easy way to serve vegetable who doesn't like to eat vegetables as a side side or salad, especially kids. Broccoli and baby carrots have lots of health benefits. Broccoli is high in fiber, which helps in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating. Broccoli also contains magnesium and calcium that help regulate blood pressure.It contains a high amount of potassium, which helps maintain a healthy nervous system and optimal brain function, as well as promotes regular muscle growth. Baby carrots are low in calories. It is a good source of both vitamin A and lutein. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps keep the surface of your eyes healthy. As an antioxidant, Lutein protects your eyes from oxidation and  help to prevent cataracts.

INGREDINETS:

Basmati  Rice – 2 cups

Broccoli florets – 10 nos

Onion, ( big sized, Thinly Sliced)– 1 no

Baby Carrots –  15 nos (cut lengthwise)

Green chillies , (slit lengthwise) – 5 or 6

Ginger, crushed – 2” piece

Garlic pods, crushed  – 2 nos

Bay leaf – 1

Cloves – 3 nos

Cinnamon stick – 1” piece

Fennel Seeds – 1/8 tsp

Cardamom pods – 2 nos

Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp

Meat masala – 1/2 tsp (optional)

Bell Pepper ( Thinly Sliced, orange, yellow red, or green color) – 1/8 of a bell pepper

Salt: to taste

Oil/Ghee/Butter  – 2 tbsp

Warm water – 4 cups

METHOD:

• Soak basmati rice for 10 minutes, drain the water completely and keep it aside.
• Place broccoli florets in salted, hot water for 5 minutes. Wash well and place them in a bowl.
• Wash the baby carrots well and cut it lengthwise and place in the same bowl. Keep it aside.
• Slice Green chillies lengthwise, slice bell pepper lengthwise, slice onion and keep it aside.
• Heat Butter/oil/Ghee in a pressure cooker, add bay leaf, cloves, crushed cinnamon stick, Fennel seeds and cardamom pods. Fry for a few seconds .
• Now add turmeric powder  and Meat masala to the pressure cooker and mix well.

• Add the onions ,bell pepper, green chillies and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Now add crushed ginger , crushed garlic  and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

• To this add the Broccoli florets and baby carrots and salt and mix well.

• Now add drained rice, 4 cups of hot water (check for salt now by tasting the water), mix everything well  and pressure cook for 2 whistles.When the pressure subsides, open it and fluff it with a fork.
• Delicious Spicy Carrot-Broccoli Rice/Carrot-Broccoli Pulao is ready to be served.
• Serve warm with raita or any curry of your choice.

I collected some  information about health benefits of Broccoli and baby carrots from the sites http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-broccoli.html and http://www.livestrong.com/article/407967-health-benefits-of-baby-carrots/ . If you want to know more, go through these sites.

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Chapatti and Chilli Chicken

Chapati is also known as Phulka or Roti (unleavened bread). It is a common staple of cuisine in South Asia  as well as amongst Indian expatriates throughout the world. is the staple diet of Indians. Basic ingredient of Chapati is whole wheat, having lot of health benefits.

Chilly Chicken is one of the most famous chicken preparation. It is a Popular and delicious indo-Chinese dish. It is quick and easy to prepare. Chilly Chicken goes well with Fried rice,  Paalappam, Chappati or Naan.

Recipe is here :: Chapatti and Chilli Chicken

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Chilli Chicken

Chilly Chicken is one of the most famous chicken preparation. It is a Popular and delicious indo-Chinese dish. It is quick and easy to prepare. Chilly Chicken goes well with Fried rice,  Paalappam, Chappati or Naan.

INGREDIENTS:

• Chicken – 1 lb,  boneless, cut into 1-inch pieces
• Onion – 2, medium size, thinly  sliced
• Tomato – 1, big , fully ripe, pureed( alternatively use 2 Tbsp of tomato sauce)
• Ginger, finely chopped and crushed – 2” piece
• Garlic, finely chopped and crushed – 2 pods
• Green chillies, sliced lengthwise – 5 nos.
• Red bell pepper, thinly sliced lengthwise – 1/4
• Yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced lengthwise – 1/4
• Red chilly powder – 1 tsp
• Black pepper powder – ½ tsp
• All purpose flour – 2 Tbsp
• Soya sauce – 2 Tbsp
• Vinegar – 2 Tsp
• Salt – to taste (½ tsp)
• Oil – 2 Tbsp
  

 METHOD:

• Wash well  & cut the chicken breast into 1-inch pieces.
• Place the Chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl and mix well with the All purpose flour, Red chilly powder, Black pepper powder, Soya sauce, Vinegar, Tomato puree, Ginger, Garlic, and salt.
• Marinate it covered for 2-4 hours in refrigerator.

• Heat oil in a deep bottomed pan and when the oil is very hot, add the onions and sliced green chillies, Red bell pepper, Yellow bell pepper and sauté till onion become golden color.

• Add the marinated chicken pieces and sauté on low heat for 30 minutes or until the chicken is tender, taking care not to burn the chicken pieces by stirring continually.
• Sprinkle 4 or 5 Tbsp of hot water only whenever needed while cooking.

• Garnish Spicy Chilli Chicken with lemon wedges, tomato slices,onion rings, and/or fresh green chillies.
• Delicious Chilli Chicken Ready!!!!
• Serve you tasty, Spicy Chilli Chicken as a main entrée or as appetizing snacks or with Appam, chappatti or Naan.

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Banana Muffins

 

This is  a simple recipe is for breakfast or dessert.  Successful and delicious, soft Muffin making depends on 3 important activities – measuring, mixing and baking. It is quick and very easy to prepare. It is so soft , sweet and truly delicious one. Making Banana bread or muffins or pancake, is a great way to use very ripe bananas in your fruit bowl. Both Kids and adult can enjoy this Muffins. With a high fiber content, muffin can be a part of any well-balanced diet.

INGREDINETS:

• All purpose flour – 2 cups
• Baking Powder – 1 tsp (10mL)
• Baking soda – 1/2 tsp (5 mL)
• Sugar – 3/4 cup or 1 cup ( deepens on sweetness you want)
• Large eggs – nos
• Butter (at room temperature) – 1/2 cup (125mL)
• Ripe Bananas, crushed – 3 or 4 , medium

METHOD:

• Measure and place all the ingredients in your work place to make Banana Muffins.
• Preheat oven to 350 degree F.
• Grease one 12- cup muffin pan or two  6-cup muffin pans
• In a large bowl combine together All purpose flour, Baking powder and Baking soda. keep it aside.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with an electric hand-held mixer, beat butter at high speed until it is soft and smooth, about 20 seconds. (if you don’t have Standing mixer, place butter in a large bowl and mix well using a hand mixer )
• Add sugar to the bowl and  beat well, at medium speed, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Scarp down the bowl with a large rubber spatula once or twice in between. Total mixing time is 20 seconds.
• Now add the eggs one at a time, beat in medium speed, only until well blended. Scrape down the bowl once or twice.
• Add the dry ingredients (All purpose flour, Baking powder and  Baking soda) and beat until the mixture is smooth.
• Now add the crushed bananas  and mix just until incorporated.
• Spoon batter to prepared muffin pans, dividing evenly.
• Bake in preheated oven for  20 to 25 minutes or until done. Regular size muffins bake in 18 to 20 minutes, mini-muffins bake in 10 minutes. Muffin bake best on the middle rack in the oven.
• Muffins straight from the hot oven are very fragile so don’t remove them immediately from the pan, allow them to cool about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Serve your  Banana Muffins immediately with hot tea or coffee or store in airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

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Vintage Lucite Red Moonglow Half Round Button Earrings

This lovely, elegant Lucite Red Moonglow Half Round Button Earrings feature beautiful Vintage Lucite Red Moonglow Half Round Button connected with 8 mm Gold plated Pendant Pinch bails and it is attached to lovely Gold plated Fish Hooks Findings Ear wires.

Lucite Red Moonglow Half Round Buttons, originally manufactured for the garment trade and seen commonly on vintage sweaters and dresses today, these Red Moonglow Half Round Button with shank, 12mm, make perfect closures for jewelry designed with vintage Lucite beads.

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Long Crystal Clear Glass Pendant/ Spear cut Clear Crystal Glass Beads Earrings

This lovely, elegant Long Crystal Clear Glass Pendant earrings feature beautiful sparkling Long Crystal Clear Glass Pendant connected with 8 mm Silver plated Pendant Pinch bails and it is attached to lovely silver plated Fish Hooks Findings Ear wires.

 

 

 

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Oats Banana Walnuts Milk Shake

INGREDIENTS:

Oats – 1 cup

Very ripe Jamaican bananas – 2 nos

Water – 1 cups

Fat free milk – 1  cup

Chopped walnuts – 1/2 cup

Cardamom Powder – 1 pinch

Honey – 2 Tbps (optional)

METHOD:

• Place all ingredients in a blender /juicer and blend on high until creamy and smooth.
• Chill in refrigerator or pour into glasses and enjoy.

Notes:

• If you want, you can cook oats by adding 2 cups of water in a small pot for a minute or two, stirring often until it becomes thick and bubbly.
• Remove from heat and allow  it to cool.

• Then place in a mixer/blender with other ingredients and blend well.

• Even though ripe Jamaican bananas are so sweet,  if you want more sweet, you can add sugar or honey.
• Instead of Cardamom powder you can use Vanilla essence. Usually most people using Vanilla essence to get nice flavor. But I like  cardamom flavor.

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Long thin Cayenne hot Pepper

Long Thin Cayenne is a variety of Chilli Pepper.Cayenne pepper produces very hot, thin-walled, curled twisted pointed fruits that reach 5 to 6” in length, but only a 1/2" wide. Fruits is dark green turning bright red at maturity.

Start seed indoors eight to 10 weeks before planting outdoors. Wait until the soil temperature is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit before transplanting outdoors. Keep seeds moist in full sunlight or sow them directly in garden in sunny area.Plant 2 seeds every 18 inches. High yielding plants grow up to 24" tall. Water them regularly, but do not overwater. Sporadic watering stops growth and too much water can damage the plants.Thin or transplant 1 plant every 18 inches it become 3 inches tall. Use a balanced fertilizer when 6 inches tall to increase production. Bonemeal is a natural source of phosphorous that is known for boosting blooms and does well for peppers too.

It will take about 70 days to maturity. Plant hot and sweet peppers in separate areas to avoid cross-pollination. Harvest the peppers regularly to encourage the plants to continue to blossom and produce more peppers. The peppers that are left on the plant longer will be hotter and will have a better taste. Never pull or tear the pepper off the plant because you can disrupt the root. You can cut peppers from the plant using a small scissor or a knife.

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