Celebrate Color With Spicy Lemony Buttermilk

India today is celebrating the festival of color-HOLI. This is one of my favorite festival, because irrespective of race, religion, cast and creed every body today is playing and painting each other with colors.
WE may not be always aware that colors play a very important role in our life .We are drawn to colors- needed to bring balance in our lives, which is the main goal of every healing. The use of color as a therapy is a truly holistic and powerful for thousands of years.
In our world color dominates our live from reading sign in the roads to seeing a fruit whether ripe or not or the vegetables are in good condition or not color play a vital role.
It affects our mood blue is claming while red can make us tense. We are living in a colorful world but some time we forget to appreciate this gift of life. But today in India and all over the world where there are good number of Indians (like US,UK, South Africa, Trinidad and many more) along with the citizens, will celebrate color with great passion.
HOLI in India signifies light , life and surge of energy. Earth cast off her darkness and is ready to entrenched in the bright color of life.
This is also an important religious festival in India because it also signifies the love of Lord Krishna and Sree Radha. The mischievous cute Krishna took different colors and colored Radha and the Gopis . He also used to play with pichkaris ( big syringes tusked to sprinkle colorful water). This instance thus become an occasion of merry making every year. It is this mischievous spirit of courtship that enters this festival. Holi thus honors the Divine love of Lord Krishna and Sree Radha.
Shed the black from your life and take the red, yellow and greens . Discard pessimism and take a view on the brighter side. It is the time to sing ,dance ,laugh ,love, color all, color yourself , color your life – says Holi.
Wishing you all A Very Very Happy Holi!
A favourite drink of ours during Holi which a neighbour hood aunt used to make for us. It is really tasty and healthy and refreshing during the summer months.



INGREDIENTS:

Yoghurt     3 cups plain
Cold water  1 cups
Lemon juice 2 tbsp
Black salt      ½ tsp
Pepper         according to taste
Sugar           1tsp
Coarsely grind 
roasted cumin seed   ½ tsp
Cilantro and 
mint leaves to decorate
Crushed ice to serve

PROCEDURE:
Pour the yogurt and water into blender for 1 min.
Add in the cumin, season to taste with salt and pepper and bled together.
Serve over crushed ice
Garnish with a sprinkle of cumin powder and finely chopped cilantro and mint.
So enjoy, and those who are far from India and want to drench in real color then India is welcoming you with open arms to visit during Holi festival and return with a lifetime experience of love and color.

WISHING YOU AGAIN A VERY VERY HAPPY HOLI!

Enjoy this favorite holi song from the Indian film you will get the idea of the festival and surely enjoy.



BE IN COLOR, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.

*Help Japan- In midst of all this happiness how can we forget that our brothers and sister in Japan is going through  enormous trouble due to the gigantic earthquake and Tsunami. I have created a squidoo page,  from there you can send  your donation to the legit organisation who are working for their relief.Please make some time to visit Help Japan. Every single money earned from this page will go to Save the children . So please visit and  share this page with your friends  in whatever way you can. Thanks for all your help and support .

Mexican Chickpea Soup

Wish you all A Very Happy Belated Women’s Day.
On Women’s day I cook a hearty Mexican Chickpea Soup for my friends. I never knew that it will come out so wonderful because I missed one of the main ingredients that is chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. I could not find them nearby and I have to use my foodie brain to make a substitute. I use pickled green chilly instead and that take away a portion of Mexico but it taste great. Take a look of the recipe.
Ingredients:

Butternut squash   1 bowl peeled, cut into 1 inch square
Red Bell pepper    1 cut into 1 inch chunks 
Onion              1 cut into wedges
Garlic             5 to 6 cloves peeled
Oregano            1 teaspoon
Cumin powder       1 teaspoon
Ground cinnamon    1/2  teaspoon
Olive oil          2 table spoon
Chickpea           1 can, rinsed
Corn               1 can,  drained
Tomatoes           2 ripe, diced
Salt and pepper    to taste
Chopped cilantro    1/2  cup

For pickled Green chilly
Green chilly   4 to 5 deseeded 
Salt           1/4 teaspoon
Pepper         1/4 teaspoon
Paprika powder  1/4 teaspoon
Tomato sauce    1 tablespoon
Vinegar         1 1/2 table spoon
Oregano         1/2  teaspoon
Onion chopped   1 teaspoon
Garlic chopped  1/2  teaspoon
Mix all this ingredients for pickled green chili and leave it for  8 to 10 hours.When you use it in soup just chop them and add.

Procedure:
Put all the fresh veggies in a roasting pan now sprinkle salts, pepper, add chopped garlic and onion and one tablespoon of f oil in it. Coat well. Heat the oven to 425°F then roast the vegetables stirring just once for 15 minutes or until they are lightly browned and tender. Place a saucepan over a low heat then put the remaining oil in it add cinnamon powder, oregano and cumin powder stir for few second then add 5 large cups of water. Then add the chickpeas, tomatoes, corn and pickled green chilly with a spoonful of the mixture in which you dipped the chilies or you may use 1 teaspoon of minced canned minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. Bring to boil then simmer and cook for 10 to 15 minutes till the flavor blend. Stir in the roasted vegetable and chopped cilantro.
You can sprinkle little bit of cheese if you like and garnish with a lemon wedge. Serve with bread rolls or corn tortillas. Your delicious Mexican Chickpea Soup is ready.

Be Happy And Stay Healthy.
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Sautéed Spinach with Garlic

Today I thought to spend some time making a very easy and healthy veggie which will be awesome to taste. So I make sautéed spinach with garlic . If you don’t have much time in hand and want something that will be quick to make and great to taste then this sautéed spinach with garlic can be your choice.
Ingredients:

Spinach      10 ounce (tough stem removed)
Garlic          2 table spoon chopped
Olive oil      2 table spoon
Pine nut      3 table spoon 
Golden raisin  2 table spoon
Lemon zest    1/2  tea spoon
Lemon juice   1/2  tea spoon
Butter         1/2  tea spoon (optional)
Salt  and pepper  to taste 

Procedure:
In a non stick skillet heat olive oil then add chopped garlic and pine nuts ( you can use less pine nuts but for me I love the buttery nutty crunch). Stir for few second then add the spinach and salt. Stir and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Then add  freshly ground pepper, lemon zest and golden raisin. Mix well. Remove from heat then add butter and lemon juice, mix it and serve immediately. Instead of butter you can use shaved Parmesan cheese. But as I am on my weight watch schedule so I avoid both butter and cheese. This is an awesome side dish, you can have it with grilled fish and chicken or simply with bread rolls. I am sure you will love it simple yet unbelievably satisfying taste.
Be Happy And Stay Healthy.
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