What is Mexican Rice? As such traditional Mexican Cuisine didn’t feature rice on their menu. Corn was the staple at that time till the Spanish Colonizers introduced rice in Mexico around the 1520s. It was prepared in a similar way to the Spanish Rice but instead of saffron, cumin and red chili were used. Thus the main difference in the rice is the colour, while Spanish rice is yellow, Mexican rice is orange reddish. These days Mexican rice is served as a side dish with tacos, enchiladas, quesadilla, chili con carne, as stuffing for burritos, with soups,etc. Main ingredients for a Mexican rice are onion, garlic and tomatoes. This rice dish that I have prepared is more from the Tex-Mex Cuisine. Popularly known as red…
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Chilli Garlic Pasta Chilli Garlic Pasta is an easy, quick and flavourful pasta dish that comes together within 10-12 minutes. While the pasta is boiling, get the green chilli, garlic and olive oil base ready. This is my go to dish when I don’t want to spend too much time cooking, need a meal in front of the telly or for those lazy days when I don’t want to cook elaborate meals. Memories This recipe first came alive in my kitchen one extremely lazy Sunday evening. Didn’t want to get dressed and go out for a meal. Back then who had heard of home deliveries. Suggestions were thrown around … cereal, toast and tea, popcorn, no meal, etc. Hubby suggested pasta. I was in …
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Githeri Githeri is a one pot traditional Kikuyu dish that is made from beans and white maize (corn). It is a delicious, easy to prepare, protein rich dish which can be enjoyed on its own, with Ugali or Kenyan Chapati. A Bit About Githeri Pronounced as guh theory, Githeri is a typical Kikuyu dish. Both the beans and maize used can be fresh or dry. Nowadays some add curry powder, garlic and other spices. Traditionally, both are boiled in water till well done and the water has evaporated. Add salt and oil or fat just before serving. Here, my reference to the maize is the white variety and not sweet corn. Originally from Central Kenya, it is now a popular dish all over Kenya.…
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Continue ReadingApple Cucumber Salad Apple Cucumber Salad, the name in a way doesn’t include all the other ingredients. However, I had to shorten the title. But yes, the main ingredients for this salad are apple, cucumber and onion. The rest are what I add depending what is available in my fridge. Apple Cucumber Salad is so easy to put together. It is a healthy, filling and crunchy salad. Several times I’ve made big batches of this salad for pizza parties, potlucks, picnics, etc. The orange vinaigrette adds a deliciously sweetish fruity taste to the salad. Whenever I have to make a larger quantity, I chop the salad ingredients a day before except for the apple. As apple turns brown I prefer to chop it when required.…
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Continue ReadingApple Carrot Salad Apple Carrot Salad is a delicious, crunchy, tangy and refreshing salad that is perfect as a light lunch option or as a side dish. With homemade lemon vinaigrette, this is my go to salad for picnics and potlucks. An easy salad which does not require too many ingredients. While one can easily grate both the apple and carrot to make the whole process of preparing the salad faster, I find that if I am making it for picnics, potluck or cookouts, after a while the salad goes limp and too watery. If we are going to enjoy the salad straight away then I grate both. Homemade Lemon Vinaigrette adds a tangy, refreshing flavour to the salad. However, if you want to prepare…
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Continue ReadingTropical Pasta Salad Tropical Pasta Salad is a colourful, refreshing, filling and different. The stars of this delicious salad besides the pasta are ripe mango, avocado and fresh pineapple. Easy to put together, this tropical pasta salad is perfect as a summer time light meal, for potluck parties and for picnics. Tastes really good with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing. However, add any dressing you like. Sharing This Recipe With Sunday Funday Group I like how this group members come up with different themes every Sunday. For this Sunday, Sue suggested we make a salad using pasta or noodles. Perfect theme as for the past few days the temperatures have soared to 18°C -20°C. Ideal weather for picnics and light lunches. Let’s Check What Kind…
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Continue ReadingPineapple & Banana Sorbet Pineapple & Banana Sorbet is the easiest, most flavourful, cooling, guilt free summer treat. With no refined sugar used, enjoy this sorbet to your heart’s content. Since I had maple syrup at hand, I used added it to the sorbet. Therefore, this sorbet is vegan. Over Ripe Bananas Hot weather means that bananas tend to ripen faster. Instead of throwing the over ripe bananas, I chop them up and freeze them for later use. Sometimes I’ll use them for the following recipes: So many options, so please don’t bin those over ripe bananas. Pineapple & Me I love pineapple and can eat bowlfuls of it. Unfortunately, hubby is not a big fan of enjoying pineapple on its own like…
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Lemon Rice Lemon rice or Chitranna as it is known in Kannada, is the easiest but yummiest rice dish. With spices and lemon, this spicy tangy rice is best enjoyed with some some rice papad. Makes an excellent lunchbox or travel food option as it tastes equally good whether hot or cold. The other good thing about this rice dish it that you can use leftover plain rice. Refreshingly Lemony The first appealing thing about lemon rice is the lovely fresh yellow colour and secondly it definitely the lemony taste. Eat it alone, hot or cold, have it with sambhar or yogurt it tastes yum. A good way to create a new dish with leftover rice. Simple ingredients make it tasty. Memories The first…
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Homemade Garam Masala Homemade Garam Masala is a blend of spices that is an essential part of the Indian Cuisine. Garam means hot, not temperature wise but as in taste. However, it is not that hot, but adds a subtle heat to any curry or masala. Masala is spices in Hindi. While garam masala is easily available in the market, I find it lacks the flavour and aroma of certain spices. To me it usually tastes of just coriander powder and cloves. Uses Of Garam Masala Mostly garam masala is used in curries, be it fresh vegetables ones, with lentils and beans or in non vegetarian curries. I love adding them to the following: Why Make Garam Masala At Home? Every Indian household…
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Continue ReadingRecipe: Pak Choi Noodle Soup Pak Choi Noodle Soup is a comforting, filling, delicious soup that comes together within 20 minutes. Make it more wholesome by adding your choice of protein like chicken, fish, meat, tofu, eggs, etc. What Is Chinese Lantern Festival? Also known as Yuan Xiao, this festival is celebrated in China and other SE Asian Countries. It honours the deceased. This festival falls on the 15th day of the first month(yuan) of the lunar year. It also marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and the appearnace of the first full moon of the lunar year. Colourful lanterns are an integral part of the celebration, thus the name Chinese Lantern Festival. Coming to food, small glutinous rice balls filled with…
