White Sauce 

This is the simplest white sauce you can ever make. 

And it is with no butter or oil . So for those who are health conscious, its a great way to enjoy vegetables and pasta minus the fat.

1. 800 ml milk (low fat or fat free)
2. 4 heaped tablespoon white all purpose flour
3. Oregano
4. Pili Pili
5. Black pepper powder
6. Nutmeg Powder
7. Salt to taste

• In a large pan, blend together with a hand mixer. 
• Keep whisking for few minutes on a low/medium heat
• The mixture will soon become thick
• add oregano, pili pili flakes, salt to taste ,black pepper powder and nutmeg powder.
• whisk for further few minutes.

Add your choice of steamed or sauteed vegetables .

And /or

Cooked,drained pasta

Cloves

Cloves (Lavang)

Its supposed to have :

• Antimicrobial
• Antifungal
• Antiseptic
•  Antiviral properties

It is considered helpful in relieving toothaches.

It aids in blood circulation and digestion.

Toothache:

Place 1 clove near the painful tooth and gently clamp with your teeth. Let the juices seep in slowly to help relieve toothache.

CORIANDER CHUTNEY

                                                              CORIANDER CHUTNEY

You will need a blender which can grind fine. 

Washed ,roughly chopped fresh coriander        2 bunches
( Use the tender stalks)

Green Chillies ,washed,roughly chopped          1  or  2 

Lemon juice                                                   1 tsp

salt to taste

                                 Water - just enough to enable the mix to grind with ease.

Optional: 

Dalia (roasted split gram dal ) OR roasted Peanuts  1 tbsp. powdered
Ginger    1/2 inch piece peeled and chopped
Garlic      1 or 2 peeled and chopped
Cumin powder 1/2 tsp.



Method:

1. Grind dalia ( or Peanuts) into a powder
2. Add garlic,ginger ,green ,chillies and grind further.
3. Add coriander in batches ( if the grinder is small) and grind till you get a fine paste.
4. Add salt to taste, lemon juice and cumin powder and grind so that its blended properly.
5. While grinding, add water as required to help grinding with ease.

Variation:

If you like,you can add:

Mint leaves
Sweet neem(adhi patta/Limda) leaves
Sunflower seeds in case you don't have dalia
Dessicated coconut -a tablespoon or two.

Bhindi Masala 

(Punjabi Style)

 Don't be afraid to try without all the optional ingredients. 

It will be way better than any shop bought food anyways!

Bhindi  250 gms
Onion       2 medium
Tomato     1 medium (optional)
Ginger      1 or 2 inch piece(optional)
Coriander leaves few sprigs (optional)
Green Chilli       1        (optional)
Lemon juice       1 or 2 tsp (according o your taste) (optional)

Cumin seeds  1 tsp
Asafoetida  a pinch (optional)
Turmeric        1 level tsp
Red chilly powder  1/2 tsp (or less according to your taste)
Coriander cumin powder (Dhana jeeru powder)   2 heaped tsp. (Optional)

Oil  2 tbsp
salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Wash and wipe the bhindis with a tea towel. Cut and discard the end bits. Cut into halves and then lengthwise into four parts. Discard if you notice any black bits in any.
2. Peel onions, rinse and cut in half and then cut into long thin strips or chop.
3. Wash and cut tomatoes. Discard the green bit.
4. peel and grate or pound ginger.
5. Slit green chilli lengthwise.
6. Wash and chop coriander

In a wide non stick pan:   

1.  On a medium heat, add oil in the pan. 
2. Add cumin seeds, green chilli .
3. When the cumin changes color,add asafoetida and turmeric.
4. Give a quick stir and add onions.Mix. Cook till softened.
5. Add ginger, red chilli and dhana jeeru , a quick stir and add tomatoes.
6. Lower the heat and let it cook covered for a minute.
7. Add the bhindi. Mix well. 
8. Cover and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
9. Uncover and mix and cook further for 5 to 7 minutes. Stir if needed so it cooks evenly.
10. Poke a sharp knife through a bhindi, if it cuts into it with ease,its cooked.
11. add coriander, lemon juice salt and mix well.

TURMERIC

It is an antioxidant,antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
It aids in digestion and is very beneficial for a clear and glowing skin.


Acne: Mix turmeric powder with gram flour (besan) and make a paste with lemon juice or water.Apply to the face and wash away after 10 minutes.

GINGER
Medicinal Value:  

Reduces cough,inflammation,congestion,cold etc. 
It also aids in suppressing nausea.

Boil water.
Add a 1/2 inch piece of ginger( pounded or grated)
a little cinnamon(dalchini) powder 
and 1 teaspoon of honey.

Strain and drink at regular intervals to relieve discomforts of a sore throat.

Dahi Bhaat

Dahi Bhaat or Curd Rice

If you like yoghurt, you will definitely enjoy dahi bhaath.

Cold or Warm !

Whenever you are making rice, just always make it a point to make extra to come in handy for just one more meal. 1 cup rice needs 2 cups water to cook. Refer to the Plain Rice recipe on the blog.

Cold Dahi Bhaat  

Serves 1 person

• Leftover rice  
• Yoghurt
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp oil
• Green chillies (chopped fine or slit in half, optional)
• Curry leaves (a few, optional)
• Mustard seeds 1/4 tsp.
• Split white udad dal  1/2 tsp (optional)
• Coriander leaves ,chopped , 1 tsp.(optional)

1. Add and mix enough yoghurt into the rice to get a consistency of your liking.
2. Add salt 
3. In a pan, heat oil on a low temperature. Add mustard,green chillies and udad dal . (They splutter ,so cover quickly or else you have to clean the stove!)
4. Uncover and add curry leaves and stir in.
5. Pour over the rice and yoghurt mix and stir in.
6. sprinkle coriander.

Warm Dahi Bhaat

1.           Heat a bowl of rice in the microwave oven.
2.           Add yoghurt according to your liking. 
3.           Add salt.
4.           Add cumin powder.
5.           Mix well.
6.           Add ghee if you want to.
7.           Just eat!

I'll add more variations to this post soon....