Pineapple Salsa

The crunch of the bell pepper, mild tasting onions & sourness from lemon went hand in hand so well with fresh pineapple.  It goes well with tacos, Burritos, chips & salt biscuits.  We can use mangoes instead of pineapples.  

Ingredients :

1. 5 slices of pineapple, chopped
2. Onion, chopped - 1 medium sized
3. Green chillies to taste
4. Salt to taste
5. Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
6. Red bell pepper - 2 tbsp
7. Coriander leaves
8. Juice of 1 Lemon 

Method :

Mix  all the ingredients together.  It will have a sweet and sour taste from pineapple and lemon juice.  Garnish it with freshly chopped coriander leaves.  

Serve this immediately.

Frozen themed Red velvet cake

Ingredients :

1. Butter -  1 cup
2. Eggs - 6 nos
3. Red food colouring - 1 ounce
4. Unsweetened cocoa powder - 3 tbsp
5. All purpose flour - 3 cups
6. Buttermilk - 1 cup
7. Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
8. Salt - 1/2 tsp
9. Baking soda - 1 tsp
10. White vinegar - 1 tbsp
11. Whipped cream icing for decorating 

Method :

1.   Preheat oven to 170 C.  Grease and flour the baking pan.

2.   In a large bowl, cream the butter with sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Mix food coloring with cocoa and add to mixture.

3.   Add flour alternatively with buttermilk.  Add vanilla and salt.

4.   Mix baking soda with vinegar, and gently stir into mixture.  

5.   Bake it for 30 mins or until done.  Allow to cool.

6.   Decorate the cake with the whipped cream.  I made sugar candy for ice effect.

Enjoy baking :)

Capsicum Rice

Capsicum rice is best one pot meal that can be made in short time.  For this dish, we can use either green  or combination of red, yellow and green capsicums.  Flavours from freshly grounded spices and crunchiness from peanuts make this dish delicious.  

Ingredients :

For Dry roasting :

1. Red chillies - 5 to 6 nos
2. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
4. Corriander seeds - 1 tsp
5. Urad dal - 1 tsp
6. Peanuts -  4 tbsp
7. Curry leaves - 1 tbsp

Dry roast them and grind them to coarse powder.

For tempering :

1. Garam masala - 1 tsp
2. Capsicum - 1 nos
3. Cooked rice - 2 cups
4. Salt to taste
5. Oil / Butter - 2 tbsp
6. Coriander leaves 
7. Grated coconut 

Method :

1.   Heat butter in the pan.  Add chopped capsicums and sauté.  Add salt while cooking.

2.   Add the grounded powder and garam masala to the capsicum and sauté.

3.   Now add cooked rice, coriander leaves and grated coconut.  Mix together.

Serve hot.

Beetroot Salad (Koshimbir)

 A simple salad today is grated beet spiced with chillies and peanuts.  It makes for a pretty and delicious side with any meal.  This beet salad works well with any Indian spread or use it in wraps or sandwiches.

Ingredients :

1. Beetroot - 1 large sized, grated
2. Onion - 1 no, finely chopped
3. Green chillies - 2 nos
4. Roasted cumin powder - 1 tsp
5. Roasted peanut - 1/4 cup, roughly crushed
6. Salt to taste
7. Lemon juice - 1 tsp
8. Coriander leaves for garnishing

Mix all this ingredients together.  Chill for a hour and serve.