Healthy Archives – Page 2 of 2 – Sweet & Spice Odyssey

Healthy Cranberry Granola

in on 15th March 2020 16th March 2020

Hello, foodies fellow how are you all? Looking for a healthy start for your day? What about crunchy breakfast treat with homemade cranberry granola, is ultimate. A simple and healthy way to start a new day with soulful breakfast.

This cranberry granola is completely vegan and healthy (no sugar) sweetened with pure maple syrup and spiced up with cinnamon. My granola loving family eats it straight out of the jar but I like to sprinkle granola over my fruit yogurt. Actually, this is a favourite way to eat your breakfast without skip, in less time you can eat with milk as well.

Making granola at home is easy but hard to believe to be without adding refined sugar in your important meal of the day. A healthy, vegan, delicious, crunchy granola that we eat daily, and you could too. So guys, don’t skip breakfast.

Stay healthy, stay humble!

Roasted Garlic Asparagus Salad with Quinoa

in on 13th February 2020 4th March 2020

Fresh, healthy and crunchy garlicky asparagus salad paired with quinoa along with zingy lemony coriander, and mint dressing. This asparagus quinoa salad is an awesome side dish in any season. It does not spring yet but I found these fresh asparagus in the farmer’s market. Without having second thought I picked a whole bunch of asparagus. I thought I should make a curry but, salad is always the better option.

Well, it does not spring yet but, but days are a bit warmer than last year and salad is my all-time favourite. In India, we eat asparagus as in curry made in clarified butter with lots of garlic, but today I want to share a simple salad recipe with a special dressing that is a kind of fusion. This dressing is Indian dip or you can say green chutney; it is fresh and spicy tangy. Choose your favourite green mix and these roasted asparagus, peas, carrot julienne, and shaved zucchini.

As a base, I have chosen quinoa because it is a gluten-free grain that has protein, dietary fibres, and dietary minerals. You can also serve this roasted asparagus healthy green salad over rice or any other cooked gluten-free grain with this special green dressing.

It’s comforting and mouth-watering, mid-week side dish and easy way to eat your greens.

Oats Chiwda

in on 30th January 2020 4th March 2020

Chiwda is a wholesome and healthy alternative to authentic fried snacks. This oats chiwda is completely irresistible and quick. It is the kind of snacks made during the festivals along with the sweet dessert.

This wholesome lip-smacking, sweet and tangy snack can be made within less than 10 min and I love to have with my masala chai. As an Indian, I like sweet and spicy both types of taste. So, I made various kinds of chiwda throughout the year; doesn’t need any festivity.

You can enjoy it any time of the day. It has a crispy texture from roasted oats along with the nuttiness from the dry fruits, sweetness, from sugar and sultanas, lots of spices, flavoured with asafoetida, curry leaf (used dried ones but fresh can also be used) and tangy-ness from anardana.

It’s always best to make homemade chiwda, tastes better than store-bought ones and also more healthy. I love to make my kind of snacks because my meal plate is not completed without namkeen or chiwda and papad, achar. In some way, I am a typical Marwari.

It’s just utterly delicious, I couldn’t stop myself from making this beauty again and again with lots of variations. Enjoy this quick and healthy snack when you have tea/coffee parties with your friends ( like I used to but not now). One of my best memories of home.

Happy Friday 🙂

Turmeric Latte (Haldi wala doodh)

in on 31st December 2019 4th March 2020

The last hours of the year are full of melancholy memories and thoughts about the people who are not with me today.

Again a year has come to end and folks are doing celebrations by cutting the cake and having drinks with friends. I would like to wish you all a very 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 and thank you for support. May your life be full of happiness and good health, and yeah same wishes for your loved ones too.

Honestly this year, really was not so good for us. There were two unpleasant events in our family. First, my baba died and then my mother-in-law lost her battle against cancer. It’s really difficult to keep moving but sometimes you don’t have any other option.

I hope this Lil bit of time left, the clock will punch the twelve and I wish for a magical time to make a change in my life.

My baba was a great home cook and a great mentor too. He was the one who thought me cooking and this is the reason for my love for sweet and spices. In the Indian family used to say start your new year with good thinking and good food will bring good fortune for the whole year.

On this new year eve, I am just sitting next to my window and drinking my turmeric latte. We all are drinking this magical golden drink.

In India, this beautiful latte is known as “Haldi wala doodh” which is our special winter drink and made with fresh turmeric.

Actually, Indian food is incomplete without turmeric. We also make fresh turmeric curry in clarified butter. It’s a classical veggie to eat in especially winter.

It’s always important to do something special each day for yourself, even if you find yourself in the middle of a crazy time. So, do pampering yourself with good care of your body and mind.

Turmeric has antibacterial, antiviral, anti fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. In the Indian kitchen, turmeric is an essential spice to fight with cold and boost immunity. It also gives a calming and soothing effect.

I give a treat to myself a hot cup of golden beauty “Haldi wala doodh” when I am tired from the busy day.

Many of the people even don’t like the smell and I am also one of them. But I make my drink with nutmeg, ginger and Lil bit of dates as a sweetener and yes, of course, black pepper also. Heat up your winter with the warmth of this drink.

I propose a toast for the new year with a new beginning of life to family and most importantly for the person, I loved most who is absent but can’t be forgotten.

Wish you all a very happy new year… Stay tuned.