Spaghetti Squash with Onions and Garlic.

This is a wonderfully easy way to make a healthy quick meal.

Ingredients:
1 x Spaghetti Squash
1/2 onion finely chopped up
3-5 cloves garlic finely chopped up
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup water
2-3 tablespoons grated cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375C.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and the fibre from the middle.
3. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or aluminium foil.
4. Place the squash cut side down on the baking dish. Add the water to the pan. Cook in a pre-heated oven for about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and using a fork scrape out all the squash - it will come out in spaghetti strands.
5. In a pan heat the olive oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook on MEDIUM for about 3-4 minutes or until the garlic is slightly brown.
6. Add the squash and stir. Season with salt.
7. Serve hot and sprinkle some cheese on top.
8. Add pepper to taste.

Potato Gratin in a Muffin Tin

Quite a unique idea that I picked up from one of the TV shows on Food Network and changed it to suit our tastes.

Ingredients:
2 large potatoes
1/2 cup grated cheese (use any that you like)
3-4 cloves garlic - very finely chopped
1/2 cup cream

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375C.
2. Grease a non-stick muffin pan very well .
3. Peel the potatoes and cut into paper thin slices (I use a mandolin for this).
4. Mix the chopped garlic with the grated cheese.
5. Line the bottoms of the muffin tins with the thin potato slices. Add a layer of cheese mixture, then a layer of potatoes, then cheese and continue till you have used up all your potatoes and cheese mixture.
6. Pour the cream on the top of the potatoes.
7. Place in the pre-heated oven and cook for 35-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
8. To serve, use a butter knife and remove each individual "gratin" per serving.

Bollywood Borscht

As an Indian married to a Russian - I have been trying to figure out how to make a decent borscht for ages. Finally - I decided to re-invent the dish and here is my "desi" version of the Russian classic.

Ingredients:
9 medium beets
2 medium potatoes- boiled with the peels on
2 medium onions - roughly chopped
5-6 cloves large garlic
2 bay leafs
2 cups chicken broth or 2 cups water+ 2 teaspoons dried chicken broth
2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoon curry spices (mix of cumin, turmeric, coriander, garam masala, chili powder)
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons olive oil
sour cream
chopped chives

Method:

1. Wrap beets in foil and roast in an oven at 375F for 30-35 minutes. After this, leave to cool and then remove skin, head and tails and cut into large pieces.
2. Boil potatoes and remove peel. Chop large.
3. In a large pan mix the water,chicken broth, bay leaves, onions and garlic and boil for 15 minutes.
4. Add the potatoes and beets and cook for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the bay leaf. And using an immersion blender, puree the rest of the soup till it is smooth.
6. In a separate pan, heat the oil - add the spices and cook for about 30 seconds - add immediately to the pureed beets. Stir.
7. Add the honey.
8. Allow to cook on low for about 5 minutes so that the flavors blend.
9. To serve ladle the soup on a bowl, add a generous spoon of sour cream and a teaspoon of chopped chives.

Sauteed Apple Chicken

Ingredients
3 chicken breasts cut into slices
2 apples cored and cut into thin slices
5-6 large cloves garlic
1 tsp soy sauce
5-6 basil leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
Grated cheese for garnish

Method:

1. Heat oil in a pan over high heat.
2. Add apple slices, stir and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes
3. Add chopped garlic and stir. Cook for another 3 minutes
4. Add chicken and stir - lower flame to MEDIUM and stir occasionally.
5. When chicken is cooked (about 10 minutes) and a bit brown add the basil and stir.
6. Add soy sauce and stir.
7. Salt to taste
8. Serve immediately on a slice of bread with cheese on top.

Mango Ice-cream

This is the Emperor of all Ice-Creams. You do need a good ice-cream maker for this. Make sure the freezer compartment of your ice-cream maker is kept in the freezer for at least 72 hours before you use it. It's also good practice to make sure that all the ingredients are very cold (not frozen) as well. Don't be tempted to lower the calories by using lower fat cream and/or milk - it really does not work and simply is not worth the effort.

Ingredients:
1 large can Alfonso Mango Pulp (they have this at every Indian grocery store)
1 500ml container of 35% whipping cream
1 250ml container of 18% table cream
3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons white sugar
4 tablespoons pasteurised egg whites (optional)

Method:

1. With the ice-cream maker running, add the Mango Pulp, whipping cream, table cream, and sugar.
2. Allow it to run until the ice-cream is almost set.
3. If you are using pasteurised egg whites add them now and allow the ice-cream to complete the process. The egg whites will prevent the ice-cream from freezing too hard.
4. Keep a watch on the ice-cream. The moment it's done remove it from the ice-cream maker into a thick plastic container. Cover with clear-wrap and then cover with the container lid. Put directly into the freezer.
5. Freeze for at least 8 hours before you eat.

Bateta par Indu (Eggs over Chips)

This is an adaptation from Niloufer Ichiporia King's recipe of traditional Parsi cuisine.
Ingredients:
2 teaspoon olive oil
1 small onion chopped fine
5 cloves of garlic mashed up
1 inch piece of ginger - remove skin and mashed up
1/4 cup finely chopped coriander leaves
5 cups potato chips (get the regular -non flavoured but salted kind)
3 eggs
a few drops of water

Method:

1. Heat the pan and add the oil, onions, ginger and garlic and saute till cooked but not brown.
2. Add the coriander and stir.
3. Add the chips- loosely crushing each cup as you add them.
4. Stir and allow to saute for 1 minute.
5. Make 3 nests in the potatoes.
6. In each nest add 1 egg (sunny side up)
7. Add a few drops of water along the edge of the pan to create steam.
8. Immediately cover the top and allow the eggs to cook on MEDIUM-LOW.
9. Cook until the eggs are done to your liking.

Carrot Apple and Pear Salad

Ingredients
4-5 carrots finely grated
1 large (2 small) apples chopped up small
1 pear chopped up fine
1/2 small onion chopped up fine (about 1/4 cup)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Taste and add more lemon juice or olive oil as needed.

Hasu's Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients:
6 chicken breasts
6-7 cloves of garlic very finely chopped
1 inch piece of ginger which is grated
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon all-spice
4 tablespoons Patak's Tikka Paste (sold in glass jars)
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
salt to taste

Method:

1. Remove all visible fat from the chicken breasts.
2. In a bowl mix together the ginger, garlic and dry spices
3. Rub the mixture on to the chicken breasts.
4. Add the Patak's Tikka Masala and the yogurt - make sure the chicken is properly covered.
5. Marinate for at least 2 hours.
6. Grill either on a BBQ or on a George Foreman for 7-10 minutes until it is cooked and browned on the top.
7. Serve with Cucumber Raita and slices of lemon.

Carrot-Banana-Blueberry Bran Muffins

Ingredients:
Dry ingredients:
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup wheat bran
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup white flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

Wet ingredients:
2 bananas- finely chopped
1 cup finely grated carrots
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup yogurt
2 eggs - lightly beaten
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup oil

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F.
2. Line a cup cake pan with cup cakes liners.
3. Mix all the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
4. Add all the dry ingredients and mix until just blended - do not over mix.
5. Using an ice-cream scoop - add the mixture to the cup cake liners.
6. Bake in the hot oven for 5 minutes.
7. Turn down the oven to 350F and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted inside comes out clean.

Easy-Peasy Whole Wheat Soda Bread

This is as awesome recipe for someone who wants some good bread in 35 minutes.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup yogurt

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 F . Keep a pan with a parchment paper handy.
2. In a mixing bowl mix together the dry ingredients.
3. Add the yogurt - mix until it forms a dough - add more flour if necessary.
4. Form into a ball. Make deep incisions on it to let the steam escape.
5. Bake in the hot oven for 15 minutes.
6. Turn the oven down to 400F and bake for 15 minutes.
7. Allow to cool for 15 minutes and eat warm with butter or clotted cream.

Brazilian Avocado Chocolate Shake

This is the low cal version of the milkshake my Brazilian friend told me about.
Ingredients
1 ripe avocado
2 tablespoons unsweetened drinking chocolate (like Caotina)
1/4 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 cup milk

Method

1. Cut the avocado in two and scoop out the flesh.
2. Add the chocolate and the rest of the ingredients.
3. Blend until uniform - it will have the texture of melted ice-cream.
4. Drink immediately.

Variation
You can even make it with berries and bananas instead of the chocolate powder.

Stawberry Banana Bran Muffins

My daughter ate 7 of the 12 muffins I made. This is definitely a keeper.

Ingredients:
1 cup strawberries cut into small pieces
2 ripe bananas chopped up small
1 1/4 cup white flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup wheat bran
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt

Method:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F.
2. Prepare a muffin pan by lining the slots with muffin cups.
3. Mix together the strawberries and the bananas. Add the oil, honey, brown sugar , vanilla and salt.
4. Add the oat bran, wheat bran, and flour. Mix together.
5. Add the eggs and mix until it is just all combined. Do not over mix.
6. Pour into the muffin cups (the easiest way is to use an ice-cream scoop).
7. Put into the hot over - after about 5 minutes lower the heat to 350F and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a knife inserted in it comes out clean.

1. Add the

Poached Chicken Balls

This is my spin on Annabel Karmel's Chicken Apple balls. It's great for kids.
Ingredients:
200g ground chicken
2 stalks of spring onion very finely chopped
1 clove of garlic minced
1 tablespoon coriander finely chopped
1/4 apple peeled and very finely chopped
2 drops sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 egg
1 slice of white bread without the crust -broken into very small pieces
breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder(like the Maggie Soup Base)

Method:

1. Put a pot of water to boil with about 1.5 liters of water. Add the Bouillon and allow to come to a boil.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients (except bread crumbs)together in a bowl and mix well. Leave to rest for about 15 minutes (this allows the bread to soak in some of the excess miquid). If the mixture is still a bit "soft" add some breadcrubs - the end mixture should stil be soft but you should be able to make balls in your hand.
3. Make balls and put directly into the boiling water.
4. Reduce heat to MEDIUM.
5. Allow balls to cook for 5-6 minutes until done.

Rosemary Pepper Lamb chops

Ingredients
6-7 lamb chops
3 tablespoons rosemary finely chopped
1 tablespoon thyme finely chopped
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon paprika
4 cloves of garlic finely chopped
2 teaspoon soy sauce
flour to thicken
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup Mirin (or use Sherry, sweet wine etc)

Method

1. Mix together in a plate the chopped rosemary, thyme, pepper, garlic and paprika.
2. Trim all the fat off the chops. Wash the chops, then roll them in the herb mixture.
3. Heat the oil in the pan until it is hot (but not smoking).
4. Add the chops care fully in the hot oil. Fry for 1 -2 minutes on one side. Then flip over to the other side. Allow to cook for 2 minutes on HIGH.
5. Reduce heat to MEDIUM HIGH.
6. Add the Mirin and cover.
7. Allow to cook for about 12 - 15 minutes for well done lamb chops.
8. Remove chops using tongs and place in a plate.
9. There will be some liquid in the pan. Turn the heat to HIGH.
10. Add the soy sauce.
11. Add a little bit of flour to thicken. Stir constantly. After 1-2 minutes it should be thick.
12. Serve the Lamb chops with the sauce.

Orange Chicken

Ingredients:

3 x boneless chicken breasts - cut into 1 inch squares
2 tbsp oil
5 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1 inch ginger finely chopped
3 spring onions finely chopped
zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup green beans cut into pieces (or sugar snap peas whole)
1 red pepper chopped up into 1 inch pieces
1 cup peeled and finely chopped cucumbers
2 drops sesame oil

For the sauce:
3/4 glass orange juice
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp soya sauce
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar (or whatever white vinegar you have)
3 tbsp mirin (if you don't have it use grape juice, sherry or even white wine)
1 tsp cornstarch mixed in 1/4 cup water
2 dried red chillies or 1 fresh jalapeno pepper

Method:

1. Heat the pan and add the oil to it. When the oil is hot add the chicken pieces and cook on HIGH until golden brown on both sides- about 3-6 minutes.


2. Add the spring onions and saute for 1 minute


3. Add the ginger, garlic, and orange zest and saute for 1 minute


4. Add the red peppers and beans and saute for 2 -3 minutes.


5. Mix all the ingredients of the sauce except the cornstarch into a glass.


6. Add the sauce mixture to the chicken and cook on HIGH until the sauce starts to bubble and boil. Allow to boil for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly.


7. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir - the sauce will start to thicken immediately.


8. When the sauce is as thick as you want it to be, add the chopped cucumbers.


9. Add the sesame oil and give it a good stir.


10. Serve immediately with rice.

Chickpea salad with Yogurt

Ingredients:
1 can chickpeas
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon whole cumin
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
2 dried whole red chillies (or use 1 fresh green chili)
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1/4 cup finely chopped herbs (basil, cilantro or mint)
salt to taste

Method:

1. Open the can and rise well the chickpeas. Allow all the water to drain out. Place in a large bowl.
2. In a small pan heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds, whole cumin and chillies and fry until the mustard seeds pop. Make sure not to burn the mixture.
3. Add spice mixture to the chickpeas and mix.
4. Add the yogurt. Mix well.
5. Add the chopped herbs and mix well.
6. Add salt to taste.
7. Can be served cold or at room temperature.

Israel's Peace

I am laughing as I write this blog. Laughing at how low humanity has become. It's the feeling that comes after you cry about the downfall of something, when things continue going down and crying seems redundant - you laugh. Today I am laughing about Israel's pathetic claims of peace.

For those of you who have been reading the news, in the past few days, Israel has blown up a hospital which housed one of only 2 neonatal units and intensive care units in Gaza, children on incubators were taken on the street and most of them did die. While I am now beyond outraged at the brutal genocide that Israel is committing, I am also deeply saddened by the international community's inability to stop it. What does this mean? It means that legitimate forms of world governance are useless. The only things that matters is who is stronger and who will persevere. While it is true that in the middle east Israel is stronger, it is also true that the the Palestinians and Lebanese have a way of persevering over this neo-Nazi country.

But this is not what I want to talk about today. I want to talk about this pathetic 'unilateral cease fire' that Israel has agreed to. Firstly, Israel UNILATERALLY COMMITTED GENOCIDE, Israel UNILATERALLY COMMITS APARTHEID and Israel UNILATERALLY MURDERS INFANTS (Oh how the Israelis must be so proud of their sons who have turned into baby killers!). And now Israel wants "unilateral cease fire". The problem with this statement is you cannot decide something unilaterally - not when you destroy a land, take away all the resources and treat the legal owners of the land as slaves. You also cannot make unilateral peace with the US because the US is not at war with you. It would be like me making a unilateral agreement with my friend in which I agree to stop killing those I was killing earlier - it has no value. On one hand, Tzipi was signing a document in Washington and at the same time, the IDF put a missile into a high rise building which was FULL of residents sleeping. What kind of cease fire is this??

Also, I want it stated here first - ISRAEL HAS LOST THE WAR IN GAZA. The unilateral cease fire is no more than a surrender notice to Hamas. Israel said at the onset of this genocide campaign that they would remove Hamas. They will never be able to succeed and they have not been successful. Hamas can only be neutralized when the need of a militant organization fades, and that is when there is real peace and statehood for the Palestinians. The Israelis committed despicable acts of war crimes, became baby kills, undertook a "cleansing" that equated to genocide and of the 1200 people that they butchered, more than 800 were women and children. You could argue that the rest were Hamas - but this would imply that every male Palestinian over the age of 15 is a militant - which if it were true, Israel would be fighting with an army as big as it's own. So likely the number of actual Hamas fighters killed are pretty low - and low enough to not really matter.

So what happens now? Israel has been unable to destroy Hamas (as it was unable to destroy Hezbollah), Israeli troops will continue to stay in Gaza and kill more kids (because even though they signed the cease fire - it doesn't actually apply to the IDF) and Hamas will grow stronger. I believe it is a fair statement to make that Israel has exponentially increased the risk for it's population and the diaspora because of the genocide it committed. If Israel hoped to achieve anything with these acts of genocide in Gaza - it has failed. It has once again proved that Israel has only the muscle but not the brain to actually protect it's own people.

Israel has also shown the world that it is capable of using weapons of mass destruction (the white phosphorous), that it does not value life or democracy and that basically it is a rogue nation that should really be on the list of AXIS OF EVIL and boycotted by all self respecting democratic states.

We, as human beings have lost our morality if we accept any more of Israel's lies, murder and ethnic cleansing. Speak up world! Speak up for Humanity!

Getting Old

Something has been happening with me and I finally put my finger on it - I am in a mid life crisis. For those of you who know me and start to laugh - I'm serious this time! Sometime in the next 10 days I will turn 37. hmm. 37! What kind of age is that? You are neither celebrating 40 (which is now the new 20) or moaning about turning 30 (which is now a very hip age to be)- you are there in the middle - limbo- just falling apart and going grey.

Ever since I turned 30, my body has slowly been falling apart. At age 31 you start to feel your joints, at age 32 your knees, 33 started back problems, at 34 I fell in love so the problems seem to not bother me. At age 35 with a new born baby- along with extreme sleep deprivation, my body started to rebel. And now, at 37 it's already telling me- Hasta la vista Baby - nice knowing you.

There are so many things I would like to accomplish. I feel most unaccomplished - I mean, at age 37 Napolean was well on his way to being King of France. Having said that, I do not wish to be King (or Queen, Princess or Royal Consort) of France or any other country. But it does keep things in perspective about how much you can accomplish by age 37. But on the other hand, I have accomplished a lot more than I thought I would have - I mean, I actually managed to find a nice guy and convinced him to marry a ranting-political activist-plus part time artist-plus part time chef-plus compulsive planner (a feat I often find unbelievable at times), and I am even more surprised that I have a child who at age 2 is still pretty normal given that I had no exposure or interest in actually taking care of children before mine was born.

But the sands of time are showing. I have wrinkles on my face, my hair is grey and added to my list of ailments is tendinitis. The one thing I wish I had and really miss are spectacles. I had them from the time I was 16 and all of a sudden when I was 35 and pregnant they said I don't need them anymore. While it was liberating at first, soon I started to miss them, and now I am downright lonely without those wonderful things that rest on your nose and make you look ever so sexy.

I guess I could always fix my hair and get rid of my ponytail, buy a pair of fake glasses and invest in some anti-wrinkle cream (Emy had one which seems to be working well). But then I would be all fake - which is exactly what women suffering from a mid life crisis become!

A sad ending

I heard some news today that seems to have really shaken me. It's a story of courage, of faith, love and pure grit and yet even though there is a lot of success, in the end it looses.

This is a story of a young woman called Jane. She had just given birth to a little boy and while breastfeeding found a lump on her breast. Sadly, this turned out to be breast cancer. They removed the lump and did a mastectomy. Presumably she got the all clear because she ran the Toronto marathon and spent Christmas in the Dominican. Unfortunately, Mrs H just emailed to say she had passed away - of a brain tumor. How can someone so determined to lead a normal life and be there for her children not make it? What happened to those divine creatures that were supposed to be there for those who really tried? Why didn't she get a second chance?

I do not know this young lady. Have never met her. Yet for some reason her life seems to resound with me. Maybe it's the way she also never seems to quit or maybe it's because she was also just trying to get on with her life like all the rest of us. Nonetheless it feels wrong.

Over the past hour I have questioned how it is even possible that a cancer patient who is being checked continuously for relapses would not be checked for a brain tumour? On the other hand, even if she had known she had a tumour - what can they do?

It just seems like a completely wrong ending to life that had so much to offer this world.

Terrorism

I would like to define what I call a terrorist - A terrorist is anyone who for an ideological reason kills innocent people.

Here is a list of some organisations I call "terrorist organisations"
1. The Israeli Defense Force and it's activities since inception.
2. The Indian Army with it's activities in Kashmir.
3. Al-Qaida and all its activites (I equate them with the IDF).
4. The US Army with their activities in Iraq.
5. Militant wings of Hamas, Hezbollah and all the other Islamic organisations that seem to think killing civilians furthers their ideology.
6. Stern Gang and Irgun
7. The militant wing of IRA and all it's activities in Ireland and London
8. Babar Khalsa and Khalistan groups
9. The Order
10. Suicide bombers all over the world

Boycott Made in Israel and my New Years resolution

My New Years resolution this year is quite simple -stay stress free. For all those who have been following my life, last year was a very challenging one. This one I hope to keep fairly uneventful and full of fond memories.

Part of keeping my life stress free is to remove any items which constantly cause me to question my ethics. This is where the Boycott Israel comes in. I have always found Israel's use of brutality and it's flagrant disregard for not only International Law but also disregard for judgements by Israel's own Supreme Court extremely unpalatable. Married to a Jew (Not a practicing one, but one that has been nonetheless brainwashed into believing that the IDF is a legitimate body and the pitiful Jewish excuse to their nazi like behaviour which is "all Palestinians are terrorists") has made it a bit difficult to avoid getting "Made in Israel" goods in the house. However, every time I tasted those jams and juices (which I have to admit are tasty) it felt like I was perpetuating the mindless murder of more innocent civilians at the hands of the most organise terrorist organisation there is - the IDF.

I don't know what other goods Israel produces other than jams, cookies and juices (and of course illegal nuclear bombs and other items to perform genocide), but I am going to save myself from going through this moral dilemma every time I want to enjoy my toast.

I have seen and heard enough of Israel and it's apartheid policies. Indiscriminate killings of innocent Palestinian children has got to stop. Israel needs to understand that there are real repercussions when they kill civilians who simply want to live their lives. And as for my beloved brainwashed husband who believes "All Palestinians are terrorists" - I would like him and the rest of his brainwashed fascist Israeli supporters to explain to me how a child of 2 years is a terrorist.

I ask all people to join me in boycotting all goods "Made in Israel" - boycotting South Africa forced them to stop their inhuman policies towards blacks and maybe together we can make a difference and bring rights to the people of Palestine and liberation from the brutal occupiers.