Recipes With a Twist
Quick Meal
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Apr 11th
Moong Dhuli Dal Khichdi with Mustard Greens and Spinach
Khichdi is a popular dish all over India specially Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Bengal. It is usually made with rice and lentils (there are several variations using different types of lentils) as a base and vegetables such as carrots, cauliflower, peas, sqash, spinach, potatoes, etc. are added in different combinations. Rice and lentils are cooked until very mushy and vegetables usually seem to disappear. It is considered as a very healthy dish – carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins all in one dish and is traditionally offered as early food to babies/ toddlers when they first More >
Quick Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Apr 8th
Chinese Vegetable Fried Rice
Here is a 15 minute meal that tastes great and is loaded with great stuff- assortment of vegetables, garlic and rice. This recipe is based on ‘Indian style Chinese’ food we get in local fast food/restaurants in India and I am sure is different than any traditional Chinese fried rice recipe. But these are the flavors we have grown up with and still enjoy even living thousands of miles away from India. It tastes best if you have cold leftover rice. I usually plan ahead and cook more white rice couple of days before I want to More >
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
Apr 1st
Cheese tortellini in creamy spinach sauce
I make this creamy spinach sauce when I am just not in a mood for regular heavy alfredo or even any store bought pasta sauce. I also put lot of spinach and it is in disguise so ‘not so spinach lovers’ may not even notice. Although, I think I can put even little bit more spinach than what I put last time I made it. My little one also likes this sauce with rice.You need: 1/4 cup cream (whipping cream/fresh cream) 1 cup chopped spinach (I used frozen, thawed) 1 cup tomato sauce (you More >
Toad in the Hole
Mar 5th
By Heidemarie Swanepoel
Toad in the hole
I wanted to surprise my husband with breakfast in bed this morning, and wanted to make something quick and easy to prepare that would steal his heart. They do say: “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, don’t they. Well, with this morning’s breakfast in bed, I proved them right.Ingredients – Per person:
1 slice of bread 2 slices tomato 2 hotdogs 1 egg Salt and pepper to taste A little sugar
Directions:
Cut thick slices of tomato, and roll the slices in flour. Set aside.
Cut a shape out of the centre of the bread. Reserve More >
Hawaiian Toast
Feb 23rd
Recipe by Heidemarie Swanepoel
Hawaiian Toast
Today we visited Gran, and she dished up my childhood favourite treat. When we came home from school, on a cold or wet day, she would be standing by with a delicious slice of Hawaiian Toast. My kids love it now, just as much as I loved it then (and still do!)Ingredients: (per slice of toast)
1 slice of toasted bread 1 slice sandwich ham 1 pineapple ring (canned) 2 – 4 slices cheddar cheese Butter (optional)
Pre-heat your grill. Toast your bread, and butter it. Start off by placing your ham on the toast. Place the pineapple ring More >
Tangy Tomato Spinach Rice
Feb 19th
Here is a healthy dish for both kids and adults. Couple of days ago my son was not in a mood to let me do anything for dinner. I just spent 5 minutes of prep time and voila I had a healthy home cooked dinner for my son and a nice side for ourselves. Once again pasta sauce comes in handy, you save time and yet get added nutrition and taste. I made the rice very mushy for my son (Indian khichdi style) but you can reduce the water quantity by half to make them like regular rice.
You need:
1 More >
Toasted Avocado Sandwich
Jan 31st
By Heidemarie Swanepoel
Avocado Sandwich
I found a few yummy looking Avocados in the supermarket today, and my mouth literally watered for them. So when I got home I made these toasted sandwiches. I prefer sweet and my hubby prefers salty, so I made two variations. Let me know which one you prefer.
Ingredients: (per person)
- 2 slices of toasted bread
- 1 Avocado (small), or ½ if it is large.
- Sweet Variation:2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
- Salty variation:Salt and pepper to taste
- A good swirl of sweet chilli sauce, or regular chilli sauce
Method:
- Pre-heat your grill.
- Toast your bread, and butter it.
- Mash the avocado, and spread generously on the toast.
- For the More >
Chicken Roulade
Jan 24th
By Heidemarie Swanepoel
As I looked through my freezer this morning, I really did not feel like same old, same old. When I saw the chicken breasts, I came up with the most brilliant idea – A roulade! It was wonderfully quick and easy to prepare, and everyone loved it. I will have to make it again, sometime soon.
Ingredients: (per person)
- 1 chicken breast fillet
- 1 slice of cheese (easy slice works well)
- 1 tablespoon chilli relish
- 1 gherkin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for frying.
- Toothpicks for securing.
Method:
- With a mallet, flatten the chicken breast as much as possible.
- Fry in a heated pan for no longer than More >
French Toast Pizza
Jan 19th
By Heidemarie Swanepoel
Sometimes we get into a real bind, and don’t have time to cook a full meal. But if you’re anything like me, you want to give your family something wholesome to eat. Just because it’s quick and easy to prepare, does not mean it has to be unhealthy.
Tonight was just such a night. We got home, and knew we would have to fly again early morning. So I made French toast with a bit of flair: I crossed it with a pizza.
Ingredients: (Per Person)
- 1 slice of bread
- 1 egg
- 2 – 3 tablespoons milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tomato relish or More >
Lemony Yellow Lentils (Moong Dhuli Dal)
Dec 12th
Lentils are staple in North Indian households. There are several types of lentils and severals ways to cook them. Yellow lentils are low in calories, easy to digest and fast to cook. I served them as a soup to my son and tex-mex style with salsa for me and my husband.
You need: 3 cups water 1 cup split yellow lentils (Moong Dhuli Dal) 1 teaspoon ground turmeric salt to taste red/black pepper powder to taste (although I did not use any) 1 tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
For tempering:
1 tablespoon ghee/ or cooking oil (clarified butter) 1 teaspoon cumin More >
