Spinach Quiche

Ingredients:
1/2 package 5-8 ounces spinach, roughly chopped
1 medium size onion, finely chopped
1 medium size tomato, finely chopped
4 eggs beaten
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 teaspoon garlic paste
2 cups cheddar or feta cheese shredded/grated
6-8 ounce cottage cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder
Note:Salt is usually not required as cheese is salty

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pie or quiche pan with butter or oil.

Heat butter in a pan, add onions, and garlic.
Cook over medium heat with continuous stirring until onions are soft and becomes translucent.
Add spinach, tomatoes and black pepper powder. Stir for 3-4 minutes until spinach is lightly cooked. Drain off extra liquid.
Let the mixture of spinach cool. Add eggs, heavy cream, cottage cheese and cheddar or feta cheese.
Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes.
Remove from oven and serve as such or serve it with any sauce of your interest.

Honey Roasted Pecans and Almonds with spices

This nut recipe is very easy to make and is liked by everyone including kids. It is not only healthy but serves as a good snack for any time.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole pecans and whole almonds
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon butter unsalted
1 teaspoon water
A pinch nutmeg powder
A pinch cinnamon powder
A pinch clove powder
A pinch green cardamom powder

Preparation:
Add butter in a saucepan, heat it on a medium heat.
Add pecans and almonds. Stir continuously until they change color to light brown.
Add nutmeg powder, cinnamon powder, clove powder, and green cardamom powder. Stir well for a second or two.
Add honey, sugar, and little water into the mixture. Continue to stir until honey and sugar starts to caramelize and coat the nuts evenly.
Cool it and serve as snack.

Gulab Jamun

Gulab jamun’s are the most delicious and popular dessert amongst Indians which is perfect for all occasions, weddings, festivals, or parties. They are also considered as Indian version of donuts immersed in sugar syrup and are loved by everyone.

Ingredients:
2 cups mawa (khoya)
1/2 cup chenna
4 tablespoons all- purpose flour (maida)
1/3 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate (soda)
1/3 teaspoon green cardamom powder
1 tablespoon water
Oil or ghee for frying

Alternate Method if you don’t have mawa and chenna
I prefer to use mawa because it tastes better and gulab jamun’s are very soft
2 cups carnation milk powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/3 teaspoon green cardamom powder
Enough water to make dough

For the Sugar Syrup
2 cups Sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder
4-5 drops rose essence

Preparation:
Mix khoya, chenna, all- purpose flour, green cardamom powder, soda and water to make soft dough.
Alternatively you can mix carnation milk, all-purpose flour, green cardamom powder, soda and water to make soft dough.
Divide the dough into 15-20 equal portions and shape into smooth balls by gently rolling each portion between your palms.
Place the balls on a plate by covering them with a damp kitchen towel or a muslin cloth.
Heat ghee or oil in a pan or a kadai.
Add the balls into the oil from the side of the pan gently one by one.
Fry balls on medium heat till they are golden brown.

Note: Make sure the temperature of the oil is not too high. This will leave gulab jamun’s hard in the center. The balls should be fried very slowly and gently under medium -low temperature ensuring complete cooking from inside.

Add fried gulab jamuns directly into the warm sugar syrup. Leave them in sugar syrup overnight at room temperature for best results.
Serve warm, cold or at room temperature.

Sugar Syrup
Add sugar and cardamom powder into the water.
Keep the mixture on medium heat for 10-15 minutes. Let it boil and remove sugar syrup from the heat.
Add rose essence.