BAKED KALE CHIPS - MUNCH HEALTHY !!!

The beautiful leaves of the kale plant provide an earthy flavor and more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food around.  Like broccoli, cauliflower and collards; kale is a descendant of the wild cabbage, a plant thought to have originated in Asia.  Kale can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits.  Kale’s risk-lowering benefits for cancer have recently been extended to at least five different types of cancer.  Kale is now recognized as providing comprehensive support for the body's detoxification system. 

We love kale in any form like sautéing, steaming etc.  Munching Kale in the form of chips is another way of including them in your diet.  I am sure you cannot stop at just eating one. There are umpteen number of ways you can flavor the kale. But here is a simple flavoring for Kale with spicy garlicky flavor.  Hope you enjoy the healthy post!!!

BAKED KALE CHIPS

Ingredients:

Kale - 2 bunches

Olive Oil - 2 tbsp

Cayenne/Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Garlic Powder - 1 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp (Add according to your preference, usually I add very little)

 

Method:

1.  Tear the leaves from the stem/stalk to big or bite size pieces.( as it shrinks while baking).

2.  Rinse the kale in cold running water. Make sure there are no trace of mud or soil.

3. Dry them in the Kitchen towel.  There should not be any moisture.

4. Then mix the garlic powder, salt and Garlic powder with the olive oil.

5. Now massage the Kale leaves with this mixture until they are well coated.

6. Spread the Kale in the baking tray.

7. Bake them for 20 to 25 minutes in the 300f preheated oven, by flipping the Kale once every 10 minutes.

8. The time depends or varies in different oven.  Let it bake until it is crispy and make sure the edges are slightly brown but not burnt.

Note:

1. You can make chips with any type of Kale. The baking time depends on how thick the leaves are.
2. Play with your imagination by adding different flavors each time.  
3. You can also follow the same procedure with chard, spinach too

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BAKED BREAD ROLLS

When I posted the SOYA CHUNKS VEGETABLE CURRY in my last post, I said whenever I do it I make double the quantity for my small family the reason is this Baked Bread Rolls, the curry which we make will tastes excellent for stuffing in the bread, Either as a Bread rolls or Bread sandwiches. For Sandwiches just stuff the Vegetable curry in the bread and toast in oven or toaster.  Here is method for bread rolls....Before going Bread Rolls here is a quick glance for SOYA CHUNKS VEGETABLE CURRY to stuff inside the rolls.

 

BAKED BREAD ROLLS

Ingredients:

White or Wheat bread - as needed

Butter - 1 tbsp

Garlic- 1 individual pod minced

Salt - 2 pinch

Soya chunks vegetable curry - as needed

 

Method:

1. First fry the leftover curry in the pan till the moisture is absorbed, and let them cool.

2. Remove the crust in the bread, and using the rolling pin press the bread to make it thin and elongated.

3. Melt the butter in the microwave; add the minced garlic and salt mix well.

4. Add 1 1/2 tbsp of stuffing to one side of the bread roll it and keep it in the baking tray.

 

5. The end part of the rolled bread should be in the bottom otherwise it might open. (Insert a toothpick in the middle if it opens)

6. Now brush all the rolls using the Garlic butter.

 

7. Preheat the oven to 350 F and bake them for 15 minutes or until nice and crispy golden color is seen.

Note:

1.  Increase or decrease the stuffing quantity accordingly.

2. You can also use the oil instead of butter if you’re very conscious about the diet.  But my choice is butter.

3. Oven time can vary according to the bread and different ovens so keep and eye on them after 10 minutes or so.

 Serve them with your favorite salad, soup or starter for the party... Enjoy with Ketchup!!!

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MINT PESTO SAVORY BITES

This is very quick and perfect tea time snack or even you can serve as an appetizer.  Very refreshing aroma of Mint pesto with mild milky taste of Paneer of this mini savory bites tastes so delicious.  Herbs in everything tastes awesome right !!! Exactly this too ....Hope you all enjoy the Mini Savory Bites.  

MINT PESTO SAVORY BITES

Ingredients :

All purpose flour - 1 cup
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Milk- 1 cup
Paneer - 2 tbsp ( crumbled)

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Garlic Powder - 1/4 tsp
 

 Method :

1. Sieve the Flour with Baking soda and Baking Powder.

2.  Mix all the wet ingredients and give a whisk.

3. Add the sieved flour mixture, salt, Garlic powder and paneer.

4. Give nice whisk.

5. Spoon the batter 3/4 in mini muffin tray. Then spoon the Mint Pesto then again spoon the batter to cover the pesto.

6. Bake it in 350°f preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, nice golden brown or insert a toothpick and see.  If it comes out clean then it ready.

Serve Warm and enjoy your tea time snack !!!

MINT PESTO 

Ingredients :

Mint - 1 Handful

Coriander - 1 Handful

Walnut - 6 to 7 pieces ( substitute with any of your favourite nuts but not cashew)

Lemon - 1/2 tbsp

Green chilli - 4 or 5 ( Adjust according to your spice level, I wanted mine to be spicy)

Garlic - 1 pod
 

 Method :

1. Dry roast the walnut and make a coarse paste with other ingredient.

2.  Make the paste Thick and coarse.

Note :

1. You can enjoy this warm or slice to 2 half and toast in the butter.

2. As soon as you take out of the oven brush with little butter on the top.

3. The Pesto has to be really thick.

4. You can substitute the Mint pesto with Basil as well.

Enjoy with soup, tea and feel the refreshing flavors !!!

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GREEN PEAS SOUP, SESAME TWISTS/SAVOURY CRACKERS

"I WISH ALL MY FRIENDS HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR"

Here is simple and colorful delicious Green Peas soup. To serve with soup is sesame twists and cheese crackers which is perfect accompaniment. This is so easy to make and hope you all will enjoy this. Sesame twists recipe is noted from whole foods magazine and with slight twist to the recipe I made the savory crackers out of the same dough which tasted good too. Eat Healthy and Live Healthy !!!!!!!!!!!




Ingredients for Peas Soup :

Green peas - 1 cup
Tomato - 1
Celery - 1/2 stalk
Garlic - 1 pod
Onion - 1/2
Green chilli - 2
Cummin - 1 tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Milk - 1/4 cup
Pepper - as needed
Salt as needed

For serving :

Butter,sour cream or Cream can be topped while serving the soup.




Method :

1. Heat butter in the kadai add cummin, green chilli, onion , tomato, celery one by one.
2. Add the green peas and water let it boil until it is cooked.
3. Cool, blend it in the blender and strain it.
4. Dilute with milk and water to the desired consistency.
5. Heat it and add pepper and serve.
6. Serve with cream or sour cream or butter.



Ingredients for Sesame Twists/ Savory Crackers :

Wheat flour - 1 1/2 cup
All purpose flour - 1 1/2 cup
Butter - 1 stick
Baking powder - 1 1/2 tbsp
Butter Milk - 1/2 cup
Sugar - 2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Sesame seeds - 1/4 cup




Mix together for the crackers :

Parmesan cheese - 4 tbsp
Chilli flakes - few
Italian Herbs - few



Method :

1. Sieve the flour and baking powder. Add the salt and sugar, add butter milk make like dough. 2.Rub the cold butter into flour mixture with fingertips so that the texture will be like bread crumbs.

3. Stir in the buttermilk. Make like a dough. Let this dough rest for 1 hr or overnight in fridge.

4. Now divide the dough into two.

5. Take one part of dough, flatten the dough using rolling pin into 15 inch square and make 15 1/2 inch strips.

6. Brush with water and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds.

7.Twists each strip twice, set on the greased baking sheet or tray and gently press ends flat to prevent twists from unrolling. Bake in 425 f preheated oven for 25 minutes or until nice golden brown.

Savoury crackers:

1. Same way roll the dough in the flat surface.
2. Cut into desired shapes.
3. Brush with water and sprinkle the cheese mixture. Bake until crisp and cheese is golden brown in color.

Note :

For variation sprinkle , sea salt, garlic powder according to your flavour.
You can also use all purpose flour fully instead half and half.
Bake till crisp and enjoy with your favorite soup.


Once again " Wish You all Very Happy New Year ". May this new year bring you happiness, joy, peace and prosperity to you and your family.

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PITA CHIPS AND HUMMUS DIPS(3 FLAVOURS)

Hope you all enjoyed my Virtual Mediterranean Feast. And many of them have asked this question whether I did everything in same day. Yeah but not in one stretch did some in between other works and had for the Dinner. Today I am posting the pita chips which I made from the leftover Pita and Hummus. So simple and you can play variety of flavors in it. But what I am posting is which I do regularly at home. Sure you all like this flavored Hummus. Give it a try if you have not tried it. You can use this flavored Hummus for bread spread also. It really tastes great with wonderful flavor and also so healthy. So here is the variation of chips and Dips with some Tips.



Hummus (Click here to see the Basic Hummus recipe) - 2 cup (Divide to 3 portions)



Coriander Hummus - Just add 1/4 cup chopped coriander to the one portion of Hummus and grind it to fine paste or coarsely according to your wish.



Roasted Red Pepper Hummus- Broil one red pepper remove the outer skin and chop and add to Hummus grind to fine paste or coarsely.



Olive Hummus - You can use both black or green as per your wish just add 4 to Hummus and give it a blend.



Note :

1. If you are planning to do any one particular flavour Hummus before making basic hummus recipe just add those flavouring accordingly when you grind the boiled chick peas and other ingredients as mentioned in the basic method. Since I did with Leftover Hummus I am adding later to the basic recipe.
2. Other flavours which taste great for Hummus are roasted garlic, Mint.



PITA CHIPS

Ingredients :

Pita- 2 cut to triangles and split them.(Use scissors)
Roasted cumin powder - 2 tsp
Chili powder - as required
Olive oil - 2 tbsp
Salt
Garlic - 2 pod crushed and chopped very finely or u can use garlic powder too.

Method :

1. Whisk the olive oil with other powders and salt.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
3. Brush the pitas with the oil mixture.
4. Bake it for 7 to 8 minutes. Just keep an eye. It should be lightly browned and crisp.
5. Enjoy with any dips.



Tips :

1. Other flavors u can do is whisk olive oil with salt, pepper and some Italian dried herbs.
2. Just sprinkle the cheddar cheese powder for cheese flavoured pita.
3. For onion flavor you can use onion powder, salt and pepper.

For healthier version Use whole wheat pita too. Perfect for munching. Please let me know if u gals have tried any !!!!!!!!!!!! Still I have many more to try and will update you if it comes out tasty.

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