Beetroot and pineapple salad

In my opinion this is the tastiest way to eat beetroot. It is so full of nutrients but many people still don't relish it. Try this simple way to eat it and I assure that you will never stop eating it.

Ingredients:

Beetroot- 1
Pineapple canned- 1
Salt to taste
Water- 4-5 tablespoons
Coriander/ Cilantro- a handful

Process:

Peel and cube the beetroot.

Put it in a pressure cooker without the whistle, with 4-5 tablespoons of water. Cook for 10-12 mins.
Let it cool and add the desired quantity of pineapple.

Now add salt and coriander.  And it is ready to relish.

Carrot-Cucumber-Moong Salad

This one is healthy, light and delicious. It is an all seasons salad and full of nutrition.

Ingredients:

Carrots
Cucumbers
Washed Moong dhuli Dal/ Spilt and Husked Green gram
Lemon juice
Salt
Sugar
Oil
Mustard seeds
HIng/Asafoetida 
Coriander leaves (Optional)
Green chillies (Optional)

Procedure:

Grate equal quantities of carrots and cucumbers.
Squeeze some of the cucumber water and soak in washed Moong dhuli dal in this water for 20 mins. 

Mix the carrots, cucumber, coriander leaves, green chillies and the soaked dal along with the water. Add salt, lemon juice and a teaspoon of sugar. 

Now in a little oil fry mustard seeds and hing and add to this salad. Mix well and serve.

You can also add fresh grated coconut.

Banana-cinnamon Bread with a healthy twist

This is one of my favourite cakes/bread. I make it every time I have bananas that are turning soft and no one would eat. It is super simple to make and requires no artificial ingredients except for baking powder. There are more healthy twists than what I have just mentioned. I have used whole wheat along with white flour and Psyllium husk (Isabgol), which makes it healthier and full of roughage. 

Ingredients

2 Eggs

1/2 cup of white flour

1/2 cup of whole wheat powder (Atta)

2 ripe bananas 

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil or

125 grams Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)

1 teaspoon Cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon Baking powder

4-5 tablespoons of Psyllium husk

Almonds/ walnuts- handful, chopped

1/4 cup milk

The first few things I do when I am baking are:

A. Prepare the baking dish, 

Step 1-Apply oil or butter inside the dish

Step 2- Dust the dish with flour. Baking dish is ready.

B. Pre-heat the oven at 160-180 degree Celsius

C. Sieve the white flour and baking powder together. This is an important step for baking soft and fluffy cakes. Sieving makes sure that there are no lumps and that there is enough air in the flour.  

D. Mash the bananas

E. Mix all the powders including the husk.

Now it would be easier to prepare the bread batter :) 

• Beat the eggs till they are white and fluffy. I use a hand mixer but you can use your hands/ fork/ egg beater, whatever you are comfortable with.

• Add sugar to the eggs. Add half first, beat well and then add the rest and beat more.

• Beat the butter/oil with this mixture adding small portions at a time.  

The softness and fluffiness of a bread/cake depends on how well you beat it, so don't shy away from it.

Once the batter starts looking somewhat like this, keep the beater aside and take a spatula to mix the other ingredients. Add the mashed banana first, mix. Then the almonds or walnuts.

Next add the powders in small portions. Mix them using the cut and fold technique. The cut and fold method makes sure more air is added in the batter making the end result fluffy. In the end add milk, mix well and pour into the cake dish.

Bake for 20-25 mins or till the knife/toothpick comes out clean.

Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before you try to remove it from the baking dish. Slice and eat it all up- alone or with your loved ones.