Mediterranean green beans

So, there was the school picnic for the kids and we HAD to go, else there would be so many tears and flooding at home due to those tears. So my theme for the picnic was Mediterranean (No surprise there) and here is my elaborate menu.
1. Pita bread
2. Hummus
3. Sheek Kabab
4. Mediterranean roasted potatoes
5. Mediterranean green beans
6. Brownies for desert

But the green beans were my favorite this time. They take some time to cook but they were absolutely delicious. Do try them and let me know

Mediterranean Green Beans (Green beans slow cooked with tomatoes)

Mediterranean green beans

Ingredients:

1. 1 pound fresh green beans trimmed
2. 1 tablespoon olive oil
3. 3 big or 4-5 small garlic pods sliced thin
4. 1 large tomato chopped
5. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
6. 1 teaspoon dried dill 

Boil water in a pan and boil the green beans for 2 minutes. Drain

Put a pan on the stove on the lowest heat setting. Add oil and the garlic to it. Add the drained green beans. Add the tomatoes and cook it for 40 minutes. Stir occasionally. Sprinkle salt, pepper and dill and enjoy

Roasted Broccoflower with fennel seeds

Broccoflower is one of those things I like, especially when they have all kinds of colored cauliflower one beside the other in the super market. So, the other day I got it and thus begins the search to make something with it. And I made this roasted broccoflower dish mainly because I had all the ingredients for it and it turned out great. They just flew off the roasting pan.

Roasted Broccoflower with fennel seeds

Roasted Broccoflower with fennel seeds

Ingredients:

1. 1 head broccoflower cut into florets
2. 1 anchovy can chopped fine
3. 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
4. 1 tablespoon olive oil (I used the oil in which the fish was packed)
5. 1/2 teaspoon salt if the fish oil has no salt
6. 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Pre heat the oven to 400 degrees.

Mash the mush with the oil and lemon juice and mix salt if using. Mix the broccoflower with the oil and the fennel seeds and roast for 40 minutes. Stir mid way. Enjoy

French toast roll ups

Lots going on around here these days...Last few weeks of school so the kids are having a ton of activities where the parents are expected/needed to be present. Otherwise there will be a humongous melt down. So , lot of running around the house, scrambling to get ready for those events and everything else .

Anyway, so...as usual getting bored with the usual breakfast makes me look for something new. And this breakfast is yummy delicious old breakfast in a new look. so...enjoy

French Toast Roll Ups

French toast roll ups

Ingredients:

1. 4-6 bread slices (white is best but I used wheat)
2. 1 egg beaten lightly
3. 1/4 cup milk
4. pinch salt
5. 1 teaspoon cinnamon + 1 tablespoon sugar
6. 1/4 cup cream cheese softened + 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional cream cheese filling)
7. Butter for frying the french toast

Mix the cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Beat the egg along with salt and milk

Roll the bread slices to about 1/8 inch thick. Add about a teaspoon of the cream cheese filling if you are using it else sprinkle the cinnamon sugar and roll the bread as tightly as possible.

Heat a griddle with some butter. Drip a french bread in the egg mixture and fry it on the griddle until golden brown. Sprinkle powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup or as is

Sriracha lime chickpeas

Recently I have been craving chick peas and gobbling the Wasabi chickpeas. I can't make the wasabi chickpeas at home because I do not have the wasabi but I just got a new bottle of Sriracha sauce and so I made the Sriracha Lime Chickpeas. The main reason here is I can control the heat. The chickpeas I get from the super markets are not spicy enough for me

Sriracha Lime Chickpeas (Chickpeas smothered in Sriracha and baked crisp)

Crispy spicy Sriracha lime chickpeas

Ingredients:

1. 1  can of chickpeas, rinsed well and drained
2. 1 tablespoon sriracha
3. 1 tsp each of olive oil, garlic powder (optional), corn startch
4. 2 tablespoons lime juice
5. 1/2 tsp sea salt

Rinse the chickpeas and dry them and try to remove the skin by lightly rubbing them between your fingers or between paper towels .

Pre heat oven to 450 degrees

Mix all the ingredients together and add the chickpeas and mix well. On a baking sheet spray some cooking oil and layer the chick peas into one layer and bake for 20-25 minute. Let cool to room temperature and enjoy with friends

Banana Pancakes

These days looks like I am making pancakes and waffles from scratch with all kinds of fruits and roots. These Banana pancakes are another of the very delicious pancake recipes

Banana Pancakes

Banana Pancakes

Banana and strawberry cane

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups all purpose flour
2. 2 eggs beaten
3. 11/2 cup milk
4. 2 ripe bananas mashed
5. 1/2 teaspoon salt
6. 1 tablespoon sugar
7. 2 teaspoons baking powder
8. 2 tablespoons oil
9. Extra bananas for serving

Mash the babanas and beat the eggs with salt. Add the rest of the ingredients and and mix with a light hand until bater is smooth. Heat a griddle and drop some butter and add a ladle of batter to the griddle. Cook for 5 minutes or until bubbles form. Carefully flip and add some more butter at the edges and cook for 3-4 minutes. Serve with syrup and more banana

Sweet Potato Waffles

Sweet potatoes are one of my favs. I can eat them in any kind. And the sweet potato waffles i made are sooo super delicious and good for you.

You can either steam you own sweet potatoes or use the unsweetened canned sweet potatoes

Sweet Potato Waffles 
Ingredients:

1. 11/2 cup mashed steamed sweet potato (or canned)
2. 2 cups all purpose flour
3. 2 teaspoons baking powder
4. 1/2 teaspoon salt
5. 1 egg beaten
6. 1 cup milk
7. 2 tablespoons butter

Mix all the ingredients together until you get a little bit thicker batter than a pancake batter.

Spray a waffle iron with cooking spray, let it heat and add a ladle of batter to it and cook until golden brown.

Serve with your favorite syrup

Okra scrambled egg

Recently I have been trying to incorporate more vegetables in our meals. And I have been searching for recipes which will have protein and vegetables mixed ...so the meatasaurus in my family would eat it without fussing. And this is one of the best recipes to incorporate some vegetables along with egg.

Okra Scrambled egg

Ingredients:

1. 8 oz okra trimmed off the edges and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2. 4 eggs beaten
3. 2 tablespoons oil
4. 1/2 cup chopped onions
5. 1 teaspoon each of ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of salt, turmeric powder, cumin powder, chilli powder
7. 1 large tomato chopped
8. Coriander for garnishing

In a pan heat the oil and fry the onions till they start becoming brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add tomatoes and okra and on medium heat cook for 15-20 minutes. But 10 minute mark add all the spices and stir well. Add the beaten eggs and stir well. Cook for 5 more minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice and dal or roti