Tofu-Veggie Sandwich

Making sandwich is like starting your creation from blank canvas.  You choose the bread, stuffing and sauces/seasoning and you literally can have endless possibilities.

We are a sandwich lover duo and well,  an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. My little girl now and then asks for sandwich and this is perfect way to sneak in tofu and veggies. 

I like tofu but was tired of old school tofu-bhurji and stir fried tofu. Then thought of making some sort of sandwich. Also threw in some veggies and Chinese Sauces. And voila, my fusion sandwich is born :).

Pair it with your favorite soup/juice and healthy meal is ready in minutes. 

Makes 8 pcs

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 lb extra firm tofu
1 large potato
1/4 cup cabbage,  shredded
1/4 cup carrots,  shredded
1/4 cup green pepper, finely chopped
1 tsp Ching's red sauce
1 tsp Ching's green sauce
1/2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp mayonnaise
Butter/margarine
16 slices of bread
Salt and pepper

Procedure
1. Boil the potato and mash it thoroughly
2. Remove excess water from tofu by pressing it gently in kitchen towel
3. Crumble the tofu using fork
4. Heat olive oil in skillet
5. Add cabbage, carrot and green pepper
6. Saute it for 5 minutes and then add tofu along with salt
7. Mix well and cook it on medium-high flame until water evaporates and mixture becomes dry
8. Add mashed potato and pepper
9. Once it cools down, add all three sauces
10. Apply mayonnaise and butter on each slice, put the stuffing and grill it

11. Serve warm with hot and spicy tomato ketchup

  

P.S. I didn't add any sauces for kiddie version. Instead I added Chat Masala.  

Mango Salsa

A nice, tasty meal is staring at you and you still want little something more on the side.  Does it happen to you? Well, it happens to me (rather us) all the time.

The other day I had Fajitas for dinner. Of course, had guacamole and lemonade on the side,  but still had nagging feeling of 'want something extra'. Then suddenly husband suggested to try Mango Salsa.  We love mangoes and consume almost everyday through out the summer. But my experiments are limited to aam ras, smoothie,  milk shake or ice cream.  But finally I decided to go little adventurous and I was not at all disappointed. 

A must try when you are bored of good old tomato salsa. Sweet mangoes combined with spicy jalapeno give just perfect boost to an entire meal.

Serves 2-4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: NIL
Cooling Time: 1 hour

Ingredients
1 medium ripe mango
1/4 cup red pepper, diced
1/4 cup cucumber,  diced
1 tbsp green onions, finely chopped
1 tsp jalapeno,  finely chopped
1 tbsp cilantro
1/2 tsp lime juice
Salt and pepper

Procedure
1. In a large bowl dice/chop  mango and all the veggies
2. Add remaining seasonings
3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it for at least an hour

Choco Kulfi

When every night is an ice cream night in this blazing summer, you need to get little creative,  don't you?  If your family is also like ours that can consume chocolate anytime in any form,  I am sure you would love this Kulfi. Treat yourself and your family with this 'ready in minutes' weeknight dessert. 

Makes 8 pc

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 6-8 hours

Ingredients
1 cup milk

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup dry milk/milk powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

Procedure
1. Mix all ingredients and whisk thoroughly so there are no lumps
2. In a thick bottom pan pour this mixture and cook it on low flame
3. Stir continuously until raw taste of milk powder disappears (about 10 minutes)
4. Once it cools down, pour it into kulfi mold and freeze it for 6-8 hours

Kulcha

These days I stock up my freezer with frozen roti and paratha. Don't know when I would need to use this treasure with two kids running around! Usually, I dig into it during weekend when we have lazy start of the day and I also have plans to cook elaborated curries. But once in a while, when I am in 'Good Food Mood', I go an extra mile to make them from scratch.

Today was my first attempt to make kulcha. This soft and butter loaded delicacy from Punjab region of India goes best with Chhole.  But we like them with any North Indian Curry. They are usually stuffed with potatoes/paneer/onions. But this being my first attempt,  I decided to play safe.

Final outcome was short of my expectations,  but definitely way better than frozen ones. I replaced half quantity of plain flour with whole wheat flour and I baked them. So here is my version of healthy kulcha.

Makes 6 kulcha

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup plain flour

2 tsp oil

1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup yogurt

1 tsp kalonji

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tbsp coriander leaves

Salt

Butter (I prefer Amul)

Procedure

1. Mix flour, salt, sugar,  baking powder,  oil and yogurt.  Knead soft dough using warm water

2. Let it rest for at least couple of hours

3. Knead again with little oil and divide into 6 equal portion

4. Gently roll it using your fingers

5. Apply kalonji, red pepper flakes and coriander leaves

6. Now roll it again using rolling pin. It should be little thicker than paratha

7. Pre heat oven at 350 F and bake kulcha till they puff up and turn into light brown color

8. Apply butter and serve hot

Evergreen Smoothie

Looking for a light brunch or an evening snack but don't feel like making something?  Then this quick and healthy smoothie is your perfect rescuer. Not only it satiates your hunger, but also recharges you.

Eversince my husband had this organic juice at local deli, he was after me to make it at home. I tried to replicate it without knowing the exact ingredients and it turned out quite close to what he had.

The best part is that kids don't usually eat salad but they would love to drink it in juice form. My little one gulped this down within seconds.

Serves 2-4

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: NIL

Ingredients
1 cup pineapple cubes
1/2 cup orange juice
1 orange
2" seedless cucumber
2 cup kale leaves
10-12 mint leaves
1/2 inch ginger
Lime juice
Salt

Procedure
1. Mix all ingredients and blend smoothly
2. Add water and ice cubes as per desired consistency