Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 5 medium sweet potatoes (10 oz. each)
• 1/2 cup cranberry relish
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, snipped or chopped
• 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Scrub sweet potatoes and pierce all over with fork. Place on oven rack. Bake for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until tender. Set aside to cool slightly.

2. Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop pulp from each potato half, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch shell. Place pulp in medium bowl. Set aside shells.

3. Using a potato masher or fork, mash potato pulp until smooth. Stir in relish, cranberries, butter, and salt. Spoon potato mixture into each potato shell. Place, filled sides up, in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with walnuts.

4. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Makes 10 servings.

Sponge cake - Christmas special

Maida --125 Gms

Sugar ---125 Gms

Vanilla essence ---1 teaspoon

Baking powder ---1 teaspoon

Eggs ------ 5

Beat eggs and powdered sugar together, till it is stiff. Mix Maida, sieved 3-4 times with baking powder. Add vanilla essence. Transfer into a greased baking tray. Bake at 180 C for 20-25 minutes.

Chicken Drumsticks with Tomato and Mushroom

Cuisine: Italian
Course Type: Main Dish
Recipe Type: Poultry, Baked
Serves: 6-8 persons
Preparation time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil
15 pieces (11/2 kg) chicken drumsticks
1 medium onion, diced
200g fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup black olives, pitted
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. hot chili powder
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
2 cubes MAGGI Chicken Stock
1 sachet MAGGI Secrets Bolognaise Mix
2 1/2 cups (625ml) water

Preparation:


Heat oil in a pot and fry chicken until golden brown. Remove and place on an oven tray.
In the same pot, fry the onions, mushrooms and garlic for 6 minutes.
Add tomatoes, olives, oregano, basil, black pepper, hot chili, cardamom, MAGGI Chicken Stock, MAGGI Secrets Bolognaise Mix and water.
Bring to boil and then simmer on low heat for 6 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the chicken drumsticks and cover.
Bake in oven for 25 minutes at 180¼C, or until chicken is well cooked.
Serving tip: Serve with cooked pasta, or cooked rice with vermicelli.

Kerala Biriyani Recipe

Ingredients

Whole Chicken Legs - 4lbs
Onion - 3 nos.
Green chillies - 5nos
Ginger - 2 inch piece
Garlic - 5 cloves
Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
Salt To taste
Water - 10 cups
Butter - ¼ cup
Oil - ¼ cup


Ingredients for Masala:

Onion - 5 nos
Ginger - inch piece
Garlic - 4 cloves
Tomato(skinned and chopped) - 5 nos
Green chilli - 5 nos
Chilli Powder - 11/2 tsp Coriander Powder - 1 ½ tsp
Jeera Powder - ½ tsp
Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
Garam Masala - ½ tsp
Cloves To taste
Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
Salt To taste
Oil - ¼ cup

Ingredients for rice and garnish:

Rice - 5 cups
Saffron - 1 pinch
Onion(sliced thinly) - 3 nos
Raisins - 1 handfull
Cashew nut - 20 nos(optional)
Butter - 1/4cup

Procedure:

Soak the rice in lightly salted water for two hours and remove the water. Grind the masala for the marinade except oil, butter, and water. Clean the chicken (no skin) and cut into big pieces. Put the butter and oil in a big cooking vessel . When it melts, add the cinnamon stick and cloves. Then add the paste into it. Fry the masala till it turns it color to a very light brown. Add the chicken, cook for 5 minutes. Add the water and salt. Cook till the chicken is done. Remove the chicken and keep the liquid for cooking rice. Remove the bones from the chicken and make into small strips and keep.

For masala, sauté the onion, garlic, ginger, green chili in the oil. When it turns light brown add the dry spices and chopped tomato. Sauté the masala till the oil separates. Add the chicken stripes and mix. This is a dry mix.

For cooking the rice, put some butter in the pan and add the rice. Fry for 5 minutes. Add the liquid (if the liquid is not 10 cups, make it up to that level by adding water). Add the saffron and enough salt.

For garnish, fry the onion, raisins, and cashews, separately in butter and keep.

Now take two aluminum or any baking trays, and butter them thoroughly. Put one layer of rice, then one layer of masala, then rice. Go on alternately like that and finally end with rice. On the top, spread the garnish. Cover it and bake for 10 minutes at about 300 degree Fahrenheit.

Coconut Cake - recipes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 cups corn oil

1 1/2 cups milk

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 dash vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 cups flour

4 cups of shredded unsweetened coconut

Syrup

2 cups water

2 cups sugar

1 dash vanilla

Preparation

First make syrup by boiling water and sugar for about 5 to 10 minutes
depending on how heavy you may want it but it shouldn’t be any thicker
than pancake syrup in consistency.

You may also add a tsp of rose water or orange blossom to it to give more
of a traditional Middle Eastern dessert taste

When done with that process set syrup aside to cool.

Start on the Harissa by combining sugar, eggs, oil, milk, vanilla, lemon juice
and mix them together until blended.

Then add flour and baking powder to mixture and blend well.

Lastly you want to STIR coconut into batter.

Then its time to add to greased and floured pans an oblong pan will do.

Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 digress or more until
a light/medium golden brown.

When cake is done and still hot pour syrup all over cake in pan.

You don't have to use all the syrup but at least 3/4 should be used on the cake.

Let cool, then cut in slanted squares.

Then, remove each piece onto a tray.

You can garnish with a little shredded coconut on top for presentation

Ramzan Recipe -- Badham Milk

Ingredients

Badham ------ 15 nos

Milk -------- 500 ml

Sugar ------ according to taste

Rose water --- 3 teaspoon

Preparation

Keep badham one hour in warm water and remove the skin. Add milk and grind it well. Add sugar and rose water. Serve chilled

SPICY PANEER Recipe

Recipe type : Low Fat
Preparation time : 20 minute
Ingredients :

• Paneer (Cottage Cheese), 1 cup mashed
• Onion, 1 chopped
• Green chilli, 1 chopped
• Coriander leaves, chopped, 1 Tbsp
• Oil for frying, 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder, 1/8 tsp
• Coriander powder, 1 tsp
• Lime/lemon juice, 1/2 tsp

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a non stick pan. Add onion and cook for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add all the spices and stir for 2 minutes.
3. Add paneer and mix well. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve with naan, roti, bread or use as a filling in sandwich.

Balti-Vegetable-Curry Recipe

Balti-Vegetable-Curry

 COOKING SPRAY
·  4 to 5 cups of vegetables (spinach, mushrooms,
 cauliflower,potatoes and peas) 

      ·  2 cups Balti Sauce 

·  Salt to taste 

·  chopped fresh cilantro and garam masala for
 garnish 

·  Heat spray in pan, add mixed vegetables and
  stir fry for about five minutes.  

·   Add Balti Sauce and stir-fry until hot and
bubbling.Lower heat, covers, and simmers
ten to fifteen minutes until vegetables are
cooked.If sauce looks dry, add 1/4 cup of
vegetable stock or water.Add salt to taste.
Garnish with cilantro and garam masala.

 Serve it over some basmati rice,
 and you've really got something.

Balti- Sauce 

COOKING SPRAY

·    3 Serrano peppers, roughly chopped

·    2 large onions, sliced

·    1 teaspoon garlic, minced

·    1 teaspoon ginger, minced

·    1 teaspoon turmeric

·    1 teaspoon garam masala

·   1/2 oz can chopped tomatoes

·    1/2 cup cilantro leaves

·    1 teaspoon salt

Heat spray in pan, add next four ingredients
and stir-fry until onions are soft.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a
boil.Lower heat and simmer for twenty
minutes.Let cool. Puree in blender.
Sauce can be refrigerated for a week or
frozen up to two months.
If your unfamiliar with garam masala,
it's a spice mixture including cinnamon,
cloves, and black pepper.

Vodka Cream Sauce and Pasta Recipe

Elegant and indulgent, this main dish is perfect for company. Try the iVillage recipe finder for a great dessert to wrap up this meal.

Serving: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup vodka
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup romano cheese, grated
1 cup heavy cream
1 14.5 ounce can Italian crushed tomatoes, drained
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound pasta (shell type or tubular, like penne)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, melt butter over high heat until bubbly; add red pepper flakes. In a slow smooth stream add vodka; simmer for 2 minutes. The alcohol burns off, but makes tomatoes "come alive".

2. Add the tomatoes and cheese. Simmer with the two cheeses for three minutes, then add 1 cup of heavy cream and simmer for an additional minute.

3. Combine prepared, drained pasta with sauce and mix completely, serve immediately. Enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Based on individual serving.
Calories: 700
Total Fat: 37 g
Carbohydrates: 63 g
Protein: 19 g

Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe

Serve this sweet cake at a party - whether its New Year's or to celebrate a Tuesday! Kids love a cake with mini chocolate chips.

Serving: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 65 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 Box of Duncan Hines Yellow Cake Mix
2 eggs
1 regular sized box vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 (8 oz) container of sour cream
1 bag mini chocolate chip morsels
Non-stick cooking spray
white flour to dust pan

DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine first five ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix with an electric beater for five minutes.

2. Stir in morsels. Spray Bundt pan with cooking spray and dust with flour. Pour mixture into pan. Bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes or until done.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Based on individual serving.
Calories: 561
Total Fat: 39 g
Carbohydrates: 61 g
Protein: 5 g

Ramadan Kerala Chemmeen (Prawns) Masala Recipe

Chemmeen - 500 gm
Onion - 1
Ginger - 1 piece
Garlic - 5
Tomato - 2
Red Chili Powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
Oil, Curry Leaves - As required
Salt - As required

Clean the prawns and keep aside.

In a pan heat oil, add sliced onion, ginger garlic paste and sauté well. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, sliced tomato and sauté. To this add prawns with required salt and water. Close the pan and allow it to cook. When cooked add curry leaves and remove from fire.

Ramadan Chicken Masala Recipe -Kerala Style

Ingredients

chicken 1 (cut in medium sized pieces)
coriander leaves 1 (whole bunch chopped)
onions 4 (sliced)
garlic 6 cloves (sliced)
ginger 1 1/2 inch (finely chopped)
lime 1/2
coconut 1 (freshly grated)
oil as required
Salt as per taste


Grind together to a smooth paste
red chillies 12
poppy seeds 1 1/2 tbsp
coriander seeds 2 tbsp
cumin seeds 1/2 tbsp
turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
garam masala 1 tbsp
cashew nuts 1 tsp


Method:

* Soak the grated coconut in 1/4 cup of hot water and extract the thick coconut milk.
* Then add additional glass of hot water and extract the thin milk (2nd milk).
* Add 1/2 cup of hot water and extract the last diluted milk. (Grind and extract)
* Heat oil and fry the onions ginger, garlic till brown.
* Add the ground masala and fry for few minutes, now add the coriander leaves.
* Now put the chicken pieces and fry, cook over a low flame till the chicken is well browned, add the last milk and cook. keep adding the 2nd milk simmer for a while.
As chicken cooks fast be careful while adding the coconut milk, if you find the water is more in the curry don't add any more of coconut milk, and keep the lid open and evaporate the water
* After the chicken is cooked, remove from fire. Let there be enough gravy.
* Finally add lime juice and the first extracted coconut milk.
Never boil after the thick coconut milk is added

what diabetics should do the next time they go to a restaurant:

There is no reason why you cannot make the same healthy eating choices

in a restaurant that you make each day at home. And there is no reason
why you need to think of eating out as ?going off? your usual eating
plan.


Most restaurants today?even fast food ones?offer at least a few healthy
alternatives on their menus.


The first step you can take is to plan ahead. Know what food groups you
need to include in your meal out and the serving sizes for each. Try to
stick to your regular eating schedule too, at least as closely as you
can.


Here are a few tips you can follow once you get to where you are
eating.


** Eat the same serving sizes as you would at home. Restaurants often
serve large portions. Take the rest home; it can make a nice treat the
next day!



** Ask that high-fat sauces and salad dressings be served on the side.
Then you can use just the amount you choose.




** Try to stick with foods that are broiled, poached, grilled, or
sautéed with no extra butter added. Avoid deep-fried, breaded, or creamed foods.




** If you can, avoid high-fat ingredients, such as cheese, butter,
cream, avocado, and sausage.



** Ask if you can make a substitution for unhealthy foods. For
instance, ask for a baked potato or more vegetables in lieu of French fries.




** It is OK to ask for what you want. Don't be afraid to tell your
server to leave the potato chips off the plate or ask for whole wheat bread
instead of a croissant.




I hope you've enjoyed these diabetic tips as much as I've given you
the information that I've acquired over 25 years. If you're serious
about losing weight and want to know an easy way of controlling
your diabetes, please pick up a new copy of my ebook " Diabetic Diet
Secrets" I give a lot more tips on eating out and losing weight!