Mushroom Rice Casserole

Hi there, I've trying hard to keep my blog updated and to get back in form. Life is a little busy these days, well that happens!! Anyways, keeping it short, I love this rice recipe a lot, so today I am sharing it with you all. Hope you like it too!!!

Pear-Basil Smoothie

A smoothie a day keeps the doctor away!! Really I believe it, a smoothie is a very easy way to get maximum nutrition in minimum efforts. Just throw the ingredients into the blender and just mix mix mix!!!! Well this smoothie is one of my favourites. I love everything this smoothie has. Pear (the star ingredient in this smoothie) is a fibrous, fat-free, cholesterol-free, vitamins-minerals-antioxidant rich, delicious, juicy super fruit. Whoa!! too much about pear in a single line...haha!! Pears, along with the other ingredients in this smoothie, make this smoothie a must in my smoothie's list. The kick of ginger, the zing of lime and lemon, the creaminess of cashews and the herby hint of basil makes this smoothie a must-try! And it is vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free too!! So try it soon and always cook the natural way!!

Chimichurri Sauce

If you love fresh herb sauces or chutneys, then this is the sauce you must give a try to and I am sure if you try it once, you will make again. First of all,  I just love it's name "chimichurri" --say it, one more time-- it's fun, isn't it?....lol!!! Chimichurri, a green pesto- like sauce using parsley, coriander (cilantro), garlic with other ingredients, is originally from Argentina. Once I had a good amount of parsley and before it went bad, I looked for a way to use it, and then I came across this recipe. I love that fact that this sauce can be used in many ways.
Some of the popular uses are-
1. as a dip
2. as a marinade
3. as a sauce (popularly with grilled steaks but perfect with fish, chicken)

Now some of other way I use it, are-
1. Toss a tablespoon with stir fried veggies (not while cooking but as a final touch)
2. as a salad dressing.
3. as a sauce in sandwiches and burgers
4. a little drizzle on soups or gazpachos
5. with pasta too

There must be more, do share if you know. Well, I have used banana pepper as I find it perfect, not too hot and not too blunt. But if you like it spicy hot, use your desired chilli. Also I have added water to it, just to make it lighter, but you can use same amount of oil instead. With oil the sauce can be stored a little longer. Now just go and try this versatile sauce and cook the natural way!!!!

Broken Wheat Stuffed Bell Peppers

When it comes to satisfy my hunger, I prefer one or two chapatis (whole wheat flat bread) with any vegetables mix. But sometimes for a change and newness, I make these bell peppers stuffed with broken wheat (daliya). It serves me the same as chapati and sabji (vegetables mix). Broken wheat, as the name suggests, are broken berries of wheat. It has all the benefits of whole wheat flour, plus even more as it contains the outer bran and the wheat germ also, hence more fibres! This whole grain food is rich in magnesium and helps to control weight, diabetes and heart problems. The stuffing also has o cottage cheese and other vegetables, making it a healthy and satisfying treat.

Using every coloured bell pepper not only makes the platter looks attractive but also interesting, as they have their own unique taste. For a bell pepper lover, like me, its a feast!! The broken wheat gives this recipe a very nutty chewy texture and blends great with rest of the ingredients. And Parmesan cheese gives a nice cheesy kick to it! So if you like it, then try it AND always cook the natural way!!!