Healthy living

I believe I am a true mango lover! I love mangoes in all shapes and forms: raw, ripe, cut, curried, juiced... Pretty much anything.Check out  some of my mango recipes on my blog: During summer it is nice not to slave at the stove, to sit down on the terrace in the evening and enjoy the view. I made this mango salsa the other day to go with some leftover tortilla chips. This is very simple and easy to make and will vanish right in front of you. It is a perfect dish for your table during BBQ parties or to bring it to one.  Do try it before mango season is done! Servings: 3-4 Prep time: 5-10 mins  Cook time: 0 Total time: 5-10 mins Ingredients:  Ripe Mango, chopped : 2 cups Onion, finely chopped: 1/4 cup Chopped Bell pepper/capsicum: 1/4 cup.  Tomato, chopped fine: 1/2 cup Green chilli: 1 small, finely chopped( you may deseed the chilli if you don't want it to be spicy). Cilantro, finely chopped: 2 tbsp Lemon juice: 1 tbsp, can be adjusted based on taste. Sea salt:...

It finally feels like summer here!! Well actually too much summer!! It is officially not summer yet!!  It was so hot all weekend long!! I couldn't bear it! All I did was drink fluids all weekend long. I didn't feel like eating anything due to the heat.  I made this mixed berry smoothie using the berries I had in my refrigerator. This is the season for berries and I have atleast 2-3 kinds on hand all the time. The kids love yo munch on berries and I use them in my oatmeal. For the smoothie I used some overripe strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. I added a whole banana to give the smoothie thickness and sweetness. Just to be extra sure, I threw in a tablespoon of honey. I am aware that smoothies are made with milk but I blended the whole thing with water. You could use coconut water to give additional sweetness or to substitute for honey. You could strain it if you wish. I didn't strain it! The kids and hubby loved it! I am sure I will make this all summer long! It is ...

Most people shy away from Karela (bitter gourd or bitter melon in English). I for some reason love it. Every time I go get my groceries, if I see bitter gourd I will surely buy it. May be because I am aware of the immense health benefits and  the nutritional value of bitter gourd,  especially for diabetics.  People don't like it because of it's bitterness. I am of the opinion that either they have eaten a bitter gourd dish that has not been cooked properly. If a bitter gourd is cooked in the correct manner, there is little to no bitterness in the dish. Check my fried bitter gourd and the Masala Karela recipes. Today I am bringing to you another of my favorite, easy to make bitter gourd recipes that does not leave the Karela tasting bitter! This recipe was shared by my sister.  I have modified it to make it tastier and more convenient.  Do try it.. You may like it!!  Servings: 4-6 Prep time: 20 mins  Cook time: 15-20 mins Total time: 35-40 mins Ingred...

Pancakes are fun for kids and adults alike. But there are many who follow a gluten free diet due their intolerance to gluten. Buckwheat flour is a great alternative to regular flour. It is of course darker in color and may not appeal to all but it is definitely healthier and has a different kind of nutty flavor. For all those who are vegetarian and don't eat eggs, you can totally skip the eggs and make the pancake. The use of buttermilk helps leaven the butter and make the pancakes fluffier. Those who are vegan can use almond or soy milk and still make the pancakes. The only difference is that it won't be very fluffy. I also make it healthier by using honey instead of sugar. You can use maple syrup too. Sugar alternatives like agave can also be used. Servings: makes 5-6 medium sized pancakes. Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 25 mins Ingredients: Buckwheat flour: 1 cup Baking powder: 1 tsp Honey: 1 tbsp Salt: 1/4 tsp Buttermilk: 3/4 cup ( Vegans can use plant-ba...

The other day my friend and I were out running errands and we felt like going to a South Indian Restaurant. While the North Indian restaurants are ubiquitous, South Indian are harder to come by. I don't know exactly why.. However I think the western world relates Indian cuisine mainly to flatbreads ( rotis, paratha, naan), chicken tikka masala, tandoori chicken, aloo gobhi and chole than to the South Indian cuisine of dosas and idlis. Dosas are nothing but pancakes and crepes while idlis are steamed rice-lentil cakes both of which form the mainstay of South Indian Cuisine. Anyways, we happened to go to Dosa Hut ( translates as pancake hut) to eat some nice and crispy masala dosa.  While we were done, my friend ordered some Vaangibaath "to go" for her hubby and her for dinner. She doesn't know how to make it and was craving it. Her ordering Vaangibaath made me crave it too.. I realized I had not made Vaangibaath in a long time. I decided to make it. Vaangibaath or Vang...