Strawberry - Banana Smoothie and Awards

At last Spring is here, can see colorful Tulips all over. We had a wonderful weather with 80 deg from past three days. It was very humid, felt as if it was summer already. Scared already how hot it will get this summer...Thought of having a something cool and which is also nutritious too for this humid weather... So prepared this smoothie yesterday, today already there was a sudden drop in temperature and is raining heavily. We were just talking yesterday to keep aside all winter clothing and remove our summer wear. Also were talking about drinking more liquids to beat the body heat and suddenly today we are all wearing all socks and sweaters. Just can't say anything.

Ingredients: Nonfat Plain Yogurt – 2 cups Medium Size Ripe Banana – 1 Sugar – 2 Tb spoon (optional, I have not used) Lemon Juice – 2 Tb spoon Frozen or Fresh Strawberries – 3 cups Flax Seed Powder – 2 Tb spoon Honey - 1 Tb spoon (optional) Method:

• Combine yogurt, banana, honey, lemon juice and flax seed powder in a blender.
• With the blender running, add strawberries.
• Process until smooth.
• Pour into glasses and serve.
• This makes 4 servings.

My Strawberry -Banana Smoothie, goes to Priya of "Priya's easy and tasty recipes" who is guest hosting "Food in Color-Pink", an event started by Harini.

Now coming to Awards, Trupti and Vibaas have showered me with these cute awards. Thank you both of you.

Vibaas has passed me "Circle Of Friends" and "You are a Super Duper Chef" award along with these cute awards.

I am really honoured and happy to receive these awards.Thank you. I would like to pass all these awards to each one of you. Please fell free to pick it up.

Dhal Idlis And Awards

This idly is something which is very healthy and can make it instantly..not that instant as the dhal's take time to soak..Only thing is you can prepare this as soon as you grind the Dhal's . No fermenting needed. No rice or urad dhal required for this idly. You can add any veggies to this. Great for kids and for us too.

Ingredients:

ಕಡಲೆ ಬೇಳೆ /Bengal gram dhal - 1 cup

ತೊಗರಿ ಬೇಳೆ /Thoor Dhal - 1/2 cup

ಹೆಸರು ಬೇಳೆ /Moong Dhal - 1/2 cup

ಸೊಪ್ಪು /Green leaves / Dill - 1 cup

ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ /Onion - 1 medium (chopped finely)

ಹಸಿಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ /Green chilly - 4 nos.

ಶುಂಠಿ /Ginger - small quantity

ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ /Garlic - 3-4 flakes

ಕೆಂಪು ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ /Red chilly - 4 nos.

ಜೀರಿಗೆ /Cumin seeds - 1 Tb spoon

ಕರಿಬೇವು /Curry leaves - small quantity

ಉಪ್ಪು /Salt to taste

ಎಣ್ಣೆ /Oil

Method:

• Wash and soak all three Dal's in water for 2-3 hours along with cumin seeds and red chillies.
• Grind them to a smooth paste along with ginger-garlic, green chillies and curry leaves (Do not add too much water)
• Add chopped onions , dill (or any greens) and salt to the paste. Mix well.
• Grease idly plates, pour this batter and steam for 5 min.

• Dal idly is healthy and ready to be served.
• Serve it with any of the chutneys or kurma or sambar or you can eat by itself.
• I have served mine with simple kurma.

My Dhal Idli goes to Lentils Mela hosted by Ashwini..

I'm also sending this recipe to Laurie's "My Legume Love Affair" started by Susan of The Well-Seasoned Cook.

PS:

• You can add and greens like Methi, spinach, coriander leaves..
• You can also add any veggies to it.
• Adjust the spice accordingly.
• You can add any other dhal to this.

Now, its time for Awards.. Nithya Praveen has passed me these beautiful awards. I am very humbled to receive them. Thank You so much.

I would like to pass them to all the blogger's who take time and visit my blog. Please feel free to take them.

Deepa has passed me this beautiful and lovely award..Thank You dear..

The award states that:

"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement (? big word, lol). Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Its really hard to choose just eight. There are many bloggers who deserve it. But since i have to do, i would love to pass this award to:

• Asha
• LG
• Maya
• Meera
• Poonam
• Nithya
• Smitha
• Pavithra

Dilled Salmon Cakes

There are so many wonderful things about salmon that it’s hard to know where to start. It’s a fish which, even people who don’t like fish can enjoy. It’s firm enough to grill, can be cooked in many different ways, and does not dry out as easily as many other fish.. Wild salmon can be eaten without fear of excess contaminants or mercury, and it has a very high nutrient profile, including the highly-prized omega-3 fatty acids. What’s not to like? Salmon is a highly nutritious food. Of course, it is high in protein, and the “good fats." But did you know that a 4 oz serving of wild salmon provides a full day’s requirement of vitamin D? It is one of the few foods that can make that claim. That same piece of fish contains over half of the necessary B12, niacin, and selenium, and is an excellent source of B6 and magnesium. We’ve all heard a lot about the heart-healthy benefits of salmon lately. Countless books by well-known doctors tell us that eating salmon two or three times a week will keep our hearts, brains and joints sound, and even erase our wrinkles and crow’s feet.

Though with all good nutritional value...I don't bring Salmon often, as my daughter does not like them. She likes other fishes except Salmon. So, thought of making something light and which tempts her to eat...We gave her saying it was Vada(she loves them), and she liked it :-). It worked this time..will see the next time.

Ingredients:

Dilled Salmon Cakes Pink Salmon (boneless) – 1 Lb Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked) – ¾ cup Far free milk – ¼ cup Egg whites – 2 (lightly beaten) Onion (finely chopped) – ¼ cup Fresh dill (chopped) - ½ cup Cumin powder – ¼ tsp Coriander powder – ½ tsp Chili powder – 1 tsp (according to your spice) Salt Method:

• With a fork just scrape the salmon to pieces or you can finely grind in a mixer.
• Combine all the above ingredients together and allow it to sit for 5 min.
• Shape into patties about 1 inch thick.
• Lightly spray a non stick skillet with cooking spray.
• Cook Salmon cakes over medium heat for 3- 4 min on each side or until golden brown and heated through.

PS: You can use canned salmon instead of fresh one. Use one 14 oz can.

I have just scraped the fish with fork, got uneven small pieces. You can also grind it in a mixer.

I have added the spices according to my taste..You can add your own spices.

You can add chili paste or chili pieces instead of chili powder.

You can replace dill weed instead of fresh dill.. You can also make patties and bake it in oven.

Dates and Grapes Covered With Cheese (Cheese Balls)

This is a simple snack for the evening, of course if you like cheese... You can use any cheese of your liking.

Ingredients:

Olive Oil – ¼ tsp Seedless grapes Ground black pepper Medjool dates, pitted Goat cheese – 2 ounces Salted pistachios, roasted and chopped – 2 ounces Method:

• Pour olive oil onto a plate. Add grapes and roll to coat.
• Grind pepper onto grapes.
• Slice open dates, flatten between hands and set aside.
• Divide goat cheese into 4 pieces. Place each piece in your hand and flatten with the heel of your hand.
• To assemble, place each grape on a flattened date and set in the center of the flattened goat cheese.
• Form the cheese around the date-grape, covering completely.
• Roll in chopped pistachios

This is my contribution to the Click Event -Cheese/Tofu hosted by BEE & JAI of Jugalbandhi.

I would like to thank Vidhas, Trupti for passing on the "Super - Duper Chef " award. I am very humbled to receive it.

I would also like to thank Archy for including me in her "Circle of Friends". Thank you Archy..Very glad to be one of your friend. Cute award..

PS: You can use any cheese of your choice. I had Goat cheese, so used that..It is little bland for this..You can use any shape cheese with little spice in it.

You can use any filling inside the cheese.

You can also use any nuts like walnut, pecans, peanuts etc..Instead of nuts you can also roll on fresh herbs of your choice.

You can also make savory cheese balls.