Ekadasi Recipes

As per Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada's standards for

Ekadashi.

NOTES:
check the label of the white chocolate to see that there are no grains, cocoa, E
410, E 412, 410, 412 etc. Also hing without any gums, wheat etc.,

PIZZA POTATOES
Serves: 4
Some steamed broccoli and a large tossed salad complete this simple meal.

Ingredients:
4 large baking potatoes
1 cup marinara sauce, or more as needed
1 to 1/2 cups grated part-skim mozzarella cheese

pizza sauce mix

1 can of chopped tomatoes or 4 medium tomatoes cooked skinned and chopped
2 tble spoons virgin olive oil
1 tsp sweet basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garam masala
1tsp salt

Bake or microwave the potatoes until done. When cool enough to handle, cut
each in half lengthwise. Fluff the inside of each potato half with a fork.

Spread about 2 tablespoons of pizza sauce on each potato half, followed by 2 to

3 tablespoons grated cheese. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 10
minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Serve at once.
Sabudaana Vada

Most fattening, but delicious !

Ingredients:
- 1 kg Potatoes, boiled, peeled, mashed
- 1 cup (150 gms) Saboodana (sago)
- 2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1 tbsp (heaped) Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped
- 1 tsp Green chillies, chopped
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Ghee (clarified butter)/*Oil for deep frying

*Peanut oil or Olive oil or Palm oil - not corn oils.

Wash saboodana till water clears. Soak in water, with level coming upto 3 cms /
1½" above the saboodana, for about 1½ hours.
Drain in a colander and mix in potatoes, salt, chilli powder, hara dhania, green
chillies and lemon juice.
Shape potato mixture into flat, round vadas 5 cms / 2" in diameter (grease hands
if it sticks).
Heat ghee/oil for frying. Fry vadas golden and crisp on both sides and serve hot,
with a chutney.

Sabut Aloo
Long list of ingredients, but simple to make !

Ingredients:
- 500 gms Potatoes (small, whole) boiled, peeled
- ½ cup (100 gms) Dahi (yogurt), beaten smooth
- 2 tsp Dhania (coriander) powder
- ¼ tsp Pissi kali mirch (powdered black pepper)
- 1 tbsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 2-3 Green chillies
- 2 tsp Ginger, chopped
- 2 tbsp Ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 sprig Kadhi patta (curry leaves)
- 1 tsp Zeera (cumin seeds)
- 2 tsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Laung (cloves)
- ½ tsp Daalchini (cinnamon) broken into pieces
- ½ tsp Choti elaichi (cardamom) seeds
Grind together green chillies and ginger.
Powder together sugar, laung, daalchini, choti elaichi.
Mix together, potatoes, dahi, dhania, kali mirch, green chilli and ginger paste, and
the salt.
Heat ghee in a pan, and add kadhi patta and zeera. When zeera splutters, add
potato mixture, and sauté till oil separates.
Remove from flame, mix in the powdered ingredients and serve immediately.

Paneer Mazedaar
Rich and creamy -- a reward for fasting !

Ingredients:
- 500 gms Paneer, cubed
- 3 tbsp Singhare ka atta (waterchestnut flour)
- 2 tbsp Magaz (melon seeds)
- 2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 2 tsp Zeera (cumin seeds), roasted, powdered
- 2 tsp Dhania (coriander), powdered
- 2 tbsp Ghee (clarified)
- 1 tbsp (or to taste) Green chillies, chopped
- 2 tbsp Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped
- ¼ cup (60 gms) Malai (fresh cream)

Mix together paneer, atta, magaz, namak, chilli powder, dhnia powder, well
enough to coat the paneer.
Heat the ghee, add green chillies and ginger to it. Sauté till slightly coloured, then
add paneer mix.
When the paneer is light brown, add enough water to cover the paneer and bring
to a boil. Leave to simmer for 3-4 minutes, until well blended.
Add malai and half of the hara dhania and heat through. Serve hot, garnished
with the remaining dhania.

Hare Nariyal Ki Chutney

Really adds zest to your fast !

Ingredients:
- 2½ cups (approx. 1 whole) Fresh coconut, grated
- 125 gms (2½ cups) Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped
- 25 gms (approx. ¼ cup) or to taste Green chillies, chopped
- 1 tsp Ginger, chopped
- 4 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 2 tbsp, or to taste Lemon juice

Grind all the ingredients together, to a fine paste.

Can be stored in a dry jar and refrigerated for a few days.

PEANUT CURRY

Ingredients:
1-2 cups finely ground, roasted peanuts
2 green chilies
tamarind or kokum to taste
ghee (clarified butter)
3-4 cups water

For paste:
cumin seeds
coriander
fresh coconut
2 sticks of cinnamon
2 cloves
jaggery
salt to taste

What you do:

Boil water, add ground peanuts and ground paste of cumin seeds, green chilies,
cloves, cinnamon, salt and jaggery .Add kokum or tamarind pulp to it according
to taste. After the curry is well cooked, garnish with coriander leaves and
coconut.

STUFFED BANANAS

Ingredients:
6 ripe, peeled rajali bananas
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh coconut
green cardamom
ghee for frying
What you do:
Cut banana into 3-inch pieces. Cook sugar and coconut with cardamom seeds
on slow fire, until sugar melts and the mixture thickens. Slit each banana piece,
and fill in coconut mixture. Hold together with a toothpick. Fry in ghee over
medium flame till golden brown.

SABUDANA KHICHDI

Ingredients:
2 cups sago (sabudana)
1 cup roasted, coarsely pounded peanuts
1 tsp. cumin seeds
6 green chilies
4 tbs. ghee
1/2 lemon finely chopped
fresh coriander for garnishing
1/2 cup freshly scraped coconut

What you do:

Wash sago, drain and set aside for one hour. Heat ghee. Add cumin seeds. Then
add green chilies, letting it fry briefly. Mix in sago, peanuts, salt and sugar to
taste. Keep covered and cook on slow flame for 5-10 minutes. You can add small
cubes of boiled or fried potatoes. Garnish with coconut and coriander leaves.
Serve hot.

SWEET POTATOES KHEER

Ingredients:
1 cup grated sweet potatoes (ratali)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh coconut scraped
5 cardamoms, ground
4 cups full cream milk

What you do:

Wash, peel and grate sweet potatoes. Cook in milk till it turns soft and the
mixture thickens. Then add sugar, cardamom powder and coconut and cook for a
few minutes. Serve hot or cold. This kheer looks like vermicelli kheer and tastes
excellent.
SWEET POTATOES KAP

Ingredients:
1 kg sweet potatoes
250 gm sugar
ghee for frying
cardamom powder

What you do:

Wash and remove skin of sweet potatoes. Cut into round thin slices and fry in
ghee. Take sugar (1/4 in equivalent volume of the slices) and make sugar syrup
of one thread consistency. Add cardamom powder to it. Place fried sweet potato
slices in syrup and stir lightly. Keep for some time and then remove. They will
turn crisp.

VARAI KHICHDI

Ingredients:
2 cups varai
1 cup roasted, coarsely pounded peanuts
salt and jaggery to taste
4 green chilies
1 tsp. cumin seeds
2 cloves and 2 pieces cinnamon, powdered finely
chopped fresh coriander leaves
1/2 cup fresh coconut
2 tbs. ghee

What you do:

Heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and green chilies. Then add varai and roast for a
while. Put 4 cups of hot water in the varai along with salt and jaggery.

When almost cooked, add ground peanuts and clove-cinnamon powder. Add a
little ghee over it and cover and cook a little more. Garnish with coconut and
coriander. Just before serving, squeeze lemon juice over it.

For variation, add small cubes of fried potatoes to the dish.

SAGO MILKCAKE

Ingredients:
Sachamoti Sago : 1 Cup
Sugar : 1 Cup
Milkmaid : 1/4 Tin
Milk : 1 Cup
Water : 1 Cup
Ghee : 2 tablespoon
May be add: Pista (Pistachio), Badam (Almond),
Cashewnut, and Saffron as per taste.

Method:
Mix 1-Cup Water and milk and boil them on a stove. Add the Sachamoti Sago
and mix till boiled. Add sugar to the boiled Sago and mix well. Add Milkmaid and
Ghee and mix them till it becomes a Semi-solid Mass. Transfer the content to a
plate, which is already given a thin coating of Ghee. Allow the contents to cool
and then cut to required shapes. Other nuts and additives may be placed on the
ready cake and it is ready to serve.

PANEER DELIGHT

Ingredients:
Sachamoti Sago: 250 GMS.
Paneer : 250 GMS.
Milk : 200 ml
Apple : One
Mango (Ripe) : One
watermelon : 1 Slice
Sugar : 4-Tablespoon
Strawberry Milkmaid : 1 Tin
jelly crystals : 85 GMS. ** Moshams chain stores throughout NZ carry bona-fide
jelly from Pakisthan
Desiccated Coconut : 50 GMS.
Food Colour: Red & Green
Ghee : Small amount to fry
Decorative : Almonds, Cashew and Raisins

Method:
Chop the fruits into small pieces and keep ready. Heat 200 ml of water and
dissolve the crystals in it. Add 200 ml. Coldwater & place it in the fridge to set in a
container. Cut it into small pieces. Beat paneer with sugar and milk in a mixer to
get a smooth paste. Add a little saffron dissolved in Milk. Bake the paneer till a
golden crust is not formed on the top. Fry Sachamoti sago in one tablespoon of
Ghee and enough water to boil. Cool it and add milkmaid to it. Place the baked
paneer in a round bowl and trim off the excess. Mix all the chopped fruits, nuts,
cardamom with the sago and milk mixture and pour it on top of paneer. Decorate
with coloured desiccated coconut pieces. Chill for 2 to 3 hours and Serve cool.

Avial - Curried Vegetables - South Indian style

Ingredients
Vegetables - Carrots, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Eggplant .
Coconut 1 cup
Green chillies 8
Red chillies 2
Cumin seeds 1 t.spoon
Tamarind paste 1/4 t.spoon
Salt 1 t.spoon (or to taste)
Coconut oil 2 t.spoon
Yogurt 1/2 cup
Curry leaves a few

Method
Chop all the vegetables evenly, and cook it with little water.
Add turmeric and salt to this.
Grind coconut, green chillies, red chillies, cumin seeds, and tamarind paste
finely in yogurt.
Add the ground masala to the cooked vegetables, and let it cook until the
flavour comes out.
Garnish with curry leaves and coconut oil.

Cucumber Pachadi - Raita

Ingredients
Cucumber washed, peeled & finely chopped
Yogurt 2 cups
Cilantro (coriander leaf) washed and finely chopped
Green chillies 1-2 finely chopped
Coconut grated 1 t.spoon
Salt 1/2 t.spoon
Mustard seeds less than 1/4 t.spoon
 Hing a small pinch
Cooking Oil 1/2 t.spoon

Method
Wet grind green chilles, salt, coconut and little cilantro in little yogurt.
Mix the above with cucumber, and the remaining yogurt.
Fry mustard and hing in little oil and add it to above.

ALU POSTO (POTATOES AND POPPY SEEDS)

A dry accompaniment to a meal of rice and curries.

INGREDIENT :
Potatoes - 500 gm.
Nigella seeds - a pinch.
Green chilies - 6 gm.
Sugar - 4 gm.
Poppy seeds - 20 gm. (heaped)
Oil - 30 ml.
Ghee - 25 gm.
Red chili powder - 5 gm.
Salt to taste.

METHOD :
Heat oil and add nigela seeds. Add diced potatoes and fry lightly for 10 mins.
Grind poppy seeds with a little water and add to the potatoes. Cover with lid,
stirring occasionally and adding 2 tbspn. of water. When water dries and
potatoes are done, add green chilies, sugar, salt and red chilly powder. Top with
ghee and allow to cook for one minute. Serve hot with rice.

Time taken -- 20 mins. Serves -- 4.

Spinach - Saak

Ingredients:
For a serving size of 4-5
2 packets frozen spinach, thawed
1" cube of ginger, finely diced
3 Shukhno lonka (dry red chilli)
Dash of Hing (Asafoetida)
Potatoes - about 4 medium-large ones
Kasoori Methi (Dried fenugreek leaves)
Mouri/Saunf (Fennel seeds)
Salt to taste

Method:
Cut the potatoes into small pieces, and then either lightly boil them or microwave
them for
about 8 min. Heat oil, preferably in a wok or kAdAi. To the hot oil, add ginger,
hing, and
fennel seeds. Add the spinach, and fry on a high flame. After about 5 min of
frying, add
salt, the dried chillies, and the potatoes. Mix evenly, and add the kasoori methi -
then fry
for a few minutes. At this point, you might add a little water if you so desire.
Serve hot.

SHUKTO: (bitter subji)

Ingredients:
Cut all the veggies in big chunks
2 potatoes
1 radish
1 raw green banana
1 bitter gourd
1 egg plant (medium)

grind to paste:
4tsp poppy seed
4tsp cumin seed
4tsp mustard seed
1 tsp chestnut flour (or kutu ata)
2 tsp mustard seed
salt
sugar
little oil

Method:
Heat oil, season with mustard seeds, after it starts spluttering, add the veggies,
cook till tender, after its soft add the ground paste, salt, sugar, water. Bring to
boil and this bitter dish is ready.
ALURDAM

Ingredients:
500 gms small sized potatoes
1/2 tbl spoon mustard seeds
2 twigs kurry leaves
50 gms tamarind
4-5 green chillies
salt according to taste
1 tbl spoon ginger paste
1 tbl spoon sugar
3-4 tbl spoon olive or peanut oil
Boil potatoes and peel them.

Method:
Soak tamarind in a cup of water for 10 mins.and strain the juice.
- Heat oil in pan and fry ginger, mustard, kurry leaves till brown.
- Then add the boiled potatoes & fry for a minute or two.
- Then add chillies, sugar & salt & add tamarind juice.
- Stir & serve hot

Korela Bhaja (Fried Bitter Melon)

5-6 bitter melon (korela)

1. Slice the bittermelon (like you would a cucumber) and coat the slices with
turmeric powder and salt. Leave to sit for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile heat oil for deepfrying in a karai or wok. Deep fry the slices;
some people prefer thicker slices fried til they are just cooked but still green
and soft - while others prefer wafer thin slices fried 'til they are crunchy and
become dark bitter melon chips.
3. Again you may remove the seeds if you like before eating.
Serve as a starter. Invokes digestion - Very delicious!

Sweet Lassi - yogurt drink

Ingredients:
1 scoop Ice
2 scoops Yoghurt
1 splash Lemon juice
8 handfuls Sugar
3 pinches Salt
1 squirt Rosewater

Mixing instructions:

Mix them all together in a blender. The measurements are not precise because
you oughtta just throw everything in to taste. This is mainly here to help out
those, like myself, who tried making the Sweet Lassi with the other Sweet
Lassi recipe, and found out that it was pretty bad - watery, not sweet, et
cetera. Ice is the key.

Pudina (Mint) Chutney

Ingredients:
2 bunches mint leaves
2 small mangoes
1½ table spoon sugar
5-6 green chillies
½ tea spoon mustard
salt to taste

Method :
Wash mangoes, peel it off and grate it nicely. Wash mint leaves and mix it
with grated mango. Mix all ingredients to it and grind without water. If needed,
add grated dry coconut for taste.

Misti Doi (sweet yogurt)

1 litre long life (UHT) full cream milk

1 litre long life (UHT) single cream
1 cup natural yogurt
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup sugar
That's it, mix them together ( no need to boil and cool the milk ) and put the
mix in the oven at very low temperature for 6 hours. by trial and error you will
find the correct temperature setting for your oven for the perfect DOI ! If it's
not setting up the temperature a bit.

Let me break the myth about GAMCHA BANDHA DOI. Any DOI, if it does
not set firm, put it on a gamcha like cloth and hang over a sink to drain for 6
hours. There you go, enjoy your Gamcha Bandha Doi - nice and firm.

Pesto (Italiano Sauce)

Equal amounts of (one good bunch):

Fresh Basil leaves
Fresh Mint leaves
Fresh Parsley leaves
200 grams + of Parmasen Grated Cheese
200 grams Almonds
4 table spoons Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
2 tsp sweet basil
2 tsp paprika
1 cup water
squirt lemon juice (half lemon)

Put it all into a blender and blend until thick and creamy

Serve at room temperature with salads

APPLE CHEDDAR SALAD

INGREDIENTS:
2 small red apples, quartered and thinly sliced
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 cup thinly sliced celery
6 oz. mild Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup mayonnaise
dash of salt and pepper
lettuce
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place apples in small bowl; toss with lemon juice. Add
celery and next 4 ingredients. Toss to coat. Serve on
lettuce-lined plate.

Sabudani Thali-Peet (Tapioca thali-peet)

Ingredients:
2 cups of soaked tapioca(sabudani)
1 cup of Peanut powder
1/4 cup of cooked mashed potatoes
2 to 3 Green chillies
1 tsp of Cumin seeds
1 tbsp of chopped cilantro
a pinch of hing
salt to taste

Preparation:
Mix the above ingredients in a mixing bowl with 1 tbsp of oil.Make a
dough(like Chapati dough) and it will be sticky.

Heat the pan(tava)on the stove top. Take the ball size tapioca mix and
pat it to a size of a thali on the tava. It shoudn't be thin nor thick. Pat
it evenly. Make 4 to 5 holes in the thalipeet and put a drop of oil in
each of the hole. After 5-8 min flip it over for a min or so. Then
transfer it to a serving dish.

MINTED FRUIT SALAD

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lemon juice from concentrate
1/3 cup water
1/4 tsp. peppermint extract
8 cups cut up assorted fresh fruit
Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except fruit; stir
until sugar dissolves. Place fruit in large shallow dish;
pour lemon juice over. Cover, chill 3 hours or overnight,
stirring occasionally. Refrigerate leftovers

Crispy Baked Potatoes - The Scottish Way

Ingredients:
-potatoes of equal size, preferably organic
-sea salt
-olive oil
-butter, salt and pepper to taste

Method:
-Pre-heat oven 400F/200C or gas mark 6. To appreciate the full flavour, choose
organic potatoes. Choose equal sized potatoes large enough to bake - you will
need potatoes that are large enough to scoop out the centres and refill.

-Clean the potatoes and wipe dry thoroughly using kitchen roll or a clean
teacloth. Pierce the potatoes 3 - 4 stabs.
-Sprinkle sea salt on a tray.
-Rub some olive oil on your hands. Roll potatoes in oil then roll in the salt on the
tray.
-Place on a lightly oiled baking tray and bake for approximately 1 hour. Test the
potatoes with a skewer on the half hour (turn if necessary).(As an alternative, you
may thread the potatoes onto a skewer and place on the top oven shelf.)
-When ready, cut the potatoes in half, leave for a few seconds to set, then scoop
out the soft centre, placing it in a bowl. Add fresh butter, salt & freshly milled
black pepper to taste. Mix and pile back into the shells. Serve with fresh
coriander and a light salad.

Blue Cheese Dressing

Ingredients:
4 oz. blue cheese
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp Hing
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill until ready to serve.

Angoori Petha
A variation of the famous Agra ka Petha that one finds in Vrindavan made of loki
squash.

Cooking Time : 30 mins.

Preparation Time : 30 mins.
Serves/Makes : Makes 40 pieces.

Ingredients
2 kgs white pumpkin (ash gourd)
1/4 teaspoon slaked lime (chuna)
3 cups sugar
a few drops yellow food colour
1 cup desiccated coconut

Method 1.
Peel and deseed the pumpkin. Using a melon scoop, scoop out balls from the
pumpkin. 2.
Prick each pumpkin ball with a fork at close intervals. 3.
Rub the slaked lime on the pumpkin balls and keep aside for 5 minutes. 4.
Wash the pumpkin balls thoroughly. Drain and keep aside. 5.
In a heavy bottomed pan, combine the sugar and yellow food colouring with 2
cups of water and bring to a boil. 6.
Skim off any impurities floating on the surface, using a slotted spoon. 7.
Add the pumpkin balls and cook on high flame for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove
from the fire. Cool completely. 8.
Drain form the sugar syrup and roll the petha balls in desiccated coconut. 9.
Cool completely.

Handy Tip(s) 1.
VARIATION : ANGOORI PETHA PIECES 2.
Cut the pumpkin into 25 mm. (1") squares and then folow the above recipe from
step 2. Do not roll in desiccated coconut. 3.
VARIATION : PETHA SLICES 4.
Slice the pumpkin into thin slices (approx. 15 to 20 slices) using a wafer slicer
and then follow the above recipe from step 2. 5.
Do not roll in desiccated coconut.
Coconut Sheera
A dessert made of coconut milk.

Cooking Time : 60 mins.

Preparation Time : 5 mins.
Serves/Makes : Serves 4.

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups coconut cream
1 litre full fat milk
1/2 cup sugar
5 cardamom (elaichi) pods, crushed
1/4 cup chopped cashewnuts

Other ingredients
ghee for greasing

Method 1.
Soak the cashewnuts in hot water for about 10 minutes. Drain and keep aside. 2.
Mix together the coconut cream and milk and simmer in a non-stick pan, stirring
continuously. 3.
When it reduces to half, add the sugar and continue simmering on a low flame
stirring continuously till it thickens and leaves the sides of the pan and resembles
khoya. 4.
Add the cardamom and cashewnuts and mix well. 5.
Pour into a serving bowl and refrigerate. 6.

Serve chilled.

Hariyali Tikki aur Chole

This potato and methi tikki is filled with cheese. The cheese just melts once the
tikkis are fried with the result that the tikkis taste best when they are hot.
Be careful while filling the tikkis with cheese and make sure that the cheese is
completely enclosed in the potato portion. Otherwise, the cheese will ooze out of
the tikki while it is being fried.
You can enjoy these tikkis with ketchup and can even make a burger out of it.
I love them with hot chole!
Cooking Time : 10 mins.
Preparation Time : 5 mins.
Serves/Makes : Makes 10 tikkis.

Ingredients
Main Recipe
1 cup grated boiled potatoes
1 cup chopped fenugreek (methi) leaves
4 green chillies, finely chopped
10 cubes mozzarella cheese [cut into 25 mm. (1") cubes]
salt to taste
oil for shallow frying

Main Procedure 1.
Combine the potatoes, fenugreek leaves, green chillies and salt in a bowl. Mix
well. 2.
Divide into 10 equal portions and shape each portion into a 50 mm. (2") diameter
circle. 3.
Place one cube of the cheese in the centre of each circle. Bring the sides
together in the centre so as to seal the cheese stuffing inside the potato circle.
4.
Roll the tikki between the palms of your hands in such a way that there are no
cracks on the surface. Press firmly on top to make flat tikkis. 5.
Repeat the procedure and make 9 more tikkis. 6.
Shallow fry on both sides in hot oil on a griddle (tava) until golden brown in
colour. 7.

Handy Tip(s) 1.
Two medium sized potatoes will give you 1 cup grated potatoes. 2.
Instead of mozzarella, you can use your favourite cooking cheese.

Lavender Mint Tea - Recipe

Excerpted from Excerpted from 500 Treasured Country Recipes, by Martha
Storey.
Lavender adds a pleasant but not too flowery contrast to the
sweetness of mint in this herbal tea that is refreshing hot or
cold.

Simple Solution:
There are teas for all occasions: for morning, afternoon, and bedtime, teas to
soothe, and teas to stimulate. In recent years, our appreciation of tea has
expanded to include herbal tisanes (some of which are centuries old) and a wide
array of green teas, barks, and spices. Taking a break for tea or making a pot to
share with a companion is somehow very relaxing.

Lavender Mint Tea

1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers or 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves or 2 teaspoons dried mint
1 cup boiling water
1. In a teapot, combine the lavender flowers and mint. Pour boiling water over
the mixture; steep 5 minutes.

Yield: 1 cup

Variation: For more interesting blends, add rosemary, lemon balm or lemon
verbena, and rose geranium.

Three ways to Make Iced Tea

Brewed Tea. Make tea approximately double strength and steep only 5 minutes.
Pour into a pitcher over an equal amount of ice. (If you are using a glass pitcher,
let the tea cool before pouring it in.) If you sweeten the tea while it is hot, you'll
need only half as much sugar.
Refrigerator Tea. Follow the procedure for sun tea, except let the mixture brew in
the refrigerator overnight. This method has two advantages: When it's done, it's
already cold, and no matter how long it sits, it doesn't get cloudy.
Sun Tea. In a glass jar or pitcher, place 1 teaspoon of loose tea or 1 tea bag per
pint or tap water (with sugar, if you wish). Cover and set in the sun for 1 hour or
so. Timing is not critical - because the water doesn't boil, the tea will not get
bitter.

Creamy Herbed Potatoes

Ingredients
12 small new red potatoes
2 tablespoons low-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons hing
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or parsley

Preparation
Scrub the potatoes and place in a saucepan.
Cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Drain the potatoes well.
Place the potatoes in a bowl and add the sour cream.
Stir gently and add the salt and pepper and hing.
Serve warm with a sprinkle of chopped dill or parsley or other fresh herb like
rosemary, sage or thyme.

Peach-Sweet Potato Bake

Ingredients:
6 Sweet potatoes
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cashew pieces
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Ground ginger
8 oz canned peach halves
3 Tbs. butter

Cut sweet potatoes in half, steam, and peel. Put these in a

greased baking dish with peaches. Mix other ingredients
together and sprinkle over top. Cover with foil. Bake for
30 minutes at 350 degrees. Uncover and bake for 10 more
minutes.

Aubergine Fold and Feta Rolls

Serves 4
Preparation Time 30 mins to 1 hr
Cooking Time Less than 10 mins

Ingredients
1 large aubergine, about 500g/1¼lb
120ml/4floz extra virgin olive oil
2 tsps Hing powder
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1 small beef tomato (beef tomato is just the name of the variety of tomato)
275g/10oz Greek feta cheese
8 large fresh basil leaves
8 sundried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and finely sliced
salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 fine metal trussing skewers or cocktail sticks soaked in cold water for 30
minutes.
Instructions
Trim off the stalk end of the aubergine and then cut lengthways into 8 x 5
mm/¼in thick slices discarding the ends.
Arrange the slices in a single layer on a large baking tray, sprinkle lightly with
some fine salt and set aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour - this will make them easier
to roll later on as well as draw out some of the water.
Rinse the aubergines in cold water and then pat them really dry with kitchen
paper.
Mix the olive oil with the Hing, lemon zest and some seasoning. Brush over both
sides of each aubergine slice then season with plenty of pepper. Place on the
barbecue over medium-hot coals and barbecue for 2-3 minutes on each side until
lightly charred.
Set aside and leave to cool a little. Cut the tomato into 4 thick slices, discarding
the ends and then cut each slice in half again to make 8 slices.
Cut the feta cheese into 8 slices. Place the aubergine slices onto the work
surface and place a piece of tomato in the middle of each slice. Arrange a slice of
feta on top, then roughly tear the basil and scatter on top. Sprinkle over the sun
dried tomatoes and season with plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Flip over
both ends to enclose the filling and secure with a cocktail stick.
Brush the outside of the rolls with the rest of the Hing and lemon oil and
barbecue over medium-hot coals for 1-2 minutes on each side or until they are
heated through and slightly golden.

Serve at once.

Kalakand
An instant version of the traditional dessert.
Cooking Time : 15 mins.
Preparation Time : 10 mins.
Serves/Makes : Makes about 16 pieces.

Ingredients
3/4 cup paneer, unsalted (milk curds - casien)
8 tablespoons whole milk powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cream
1/2 teaspoon cardamom powder

For the garnish

10 almonds, slivered
Method
1. Combine all the ingredients in a non-stick pan.
2. Cook over a medium flame, stirring continuously for approximately 10 to 15
minutes till the mixture thickens and leaves the sides of the pan.
3. Spread onto a 175 mm. (7") diameter pie dish. Cool and cut into 16 pieces.
4. Garnish with slivered almonds and serve chilled.

Handy Tip(s)
1.Use fresh paneer for best results.

NEW POTATOES WITH PARSLEY AND ALMOND PESTO

Serves: 6
While some savor the powerful flavor of the classic basil and walnut or
pine nut pesto, others find it overpowering. I like to think of this pesto
as a mellower alternative.

24 small new potatoes, scrubbed

1 cup firmly packed fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup toasted almonds
1 tsp hing
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Cook or microwave the new potatoes until tender but firm. Let cool to room
temperature, then cut in half.

Place the remaining ingredients in the container of a food processor.

Process until ground to a coarse, paste-like texture, adding 1 to 2

tablespoons of water to loosen the mixture. Toss at once with the
potatoes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Masala Chai - Recipe

Simple Solution:
Sally keeps a can of spice-infused unsweetened condensed milk in the
refrigerator; it is at the ready whenever the craving for chai surfaces. She just
puts on a tape of Indian music, relaxes, and savors the taste of India.

INGREDIENTS
1 14-ounce can unsweetened condensed milk (low-fat or nonfat, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1. Pour the entire can of milk into a clean, dry jar.

2. Add all the spices and cover tightly with a lid.
3. Place in the refrigerator. The longer it stays refrigerated, the better it gets.
4. To use, stir the mixture, and scoop out 2 to 3 tablespoons directly into a cup
of very strong, very hot black tea. Ah!
1 3/4 cups

We recommend Kaffree Tea or similar caffeine free teas.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients:
1 cup whole milk (or 3/4 cup water)
2 cups white sugar
Just over a pound of peanut butter

Preparation Boil sugar with milk or water.

Boil the milk and sugar until it reaches the "soft ball stage."
You'll know you've hit the soft ball stage when you take a drop of the mixture
between you thumb and index finger, pull your fingers apart, and see the drop
form a string.(kinda like pulling a slice of cheesy pizza and seeing a string of
cheese between slices.)

Take the pot off the stove.

Add peanut butter and stir vigorously until you see a stringy texture (kinda like a
paved road or neatly combed hair). While the mixture is still fairly liquid, pour it
into a pan and flatten it out to a uniform layer about 3/4 in. thick. Variations Put in
about 2 or 3 heaping teaspoons of carob powder into the peanut
butter mix. This makes the fudge really tasty and helps as a thickener too (this is
the best solution for vegans!). Try it with coconut milk instead of milk, or add in
shredded coconut in the final stage. The fudge works even better with almond
butter or cashew butter, and best with hazelnut butter.

Red Chile-Citrus Zest Pesto

More Healthy Food Solutions

Excerpted from Southwestern Vegetarian by Stephan Pyles with John Harrisson.

This is a decidedly US Southwestern pesto! Try whisking about 2 tablespoons
into a cup or so of plain vinaigrette for a flavorful and spicy salad dressing. I also
like to brush it on curd stakes before they go on the grill.

Ingredients
6 dried ancho chiles
2 tablespoons grated lime zest
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
3 tablespoons grated orange zest
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (coriander) leaves
2 tsp hing
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup grated queso fresco or crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt to taste

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

Place the ancho chilies on a cookie sheet and toast in the oven for 3 or 4
minutes, or until fragrant. Transfer the anchos to a mixing bowl, cover with warm
water, and weight down with a plate or pan so the anchos remain submerged.
Let soak for 10 to 15 minutes, or until just pliable. Drain the anchos; stem and
seed them under running water (this reduces the HEAT). Transfer to a food
processor and add the citrus zests, cilantro, hing, pumpkin seeds, sugar, and
cheese. Process until smooth, then drizzle in the olive oil with the motor running.
Season with salt to taste. Keeps, refrigerated, for up to 1 week or frozen for up to
2 months.

Makes 1 cup

Cream Cheese Mints

This recipe is made annually in the kindergarten classes in my hometown. The
mints are also very tasty and creamy.
Ingredients:
1 3-oz pkg cream cheese at room temperature (Philadelphia Cream cheese).
4 drops food colouring (mint - green, lemon - yellow, strawberry - pink)
1 tsp flavoring extract as above
1 T milk

Stir the above together until well mixed then add

1 lb confectioner's sugar or icing sugar (icing sugar in some places has wheat
flour in be careful)

Mix all the sugar into the cream cheese mixture, kneading it with your hands.
When completely mixed, roll into a large sausage. Break off small amounts and
roll into balls, about 1" diameter.

Place balls on waxed paper, and press flat with fork dipped in confectioner's
sugar. Let dry until tops are just dry, then flip and dry out underside. Store in
airtight container so they don't dry out any further.

Yields 80-90 mints.

Scrambled Curd - Great Vegetarian Dishes by Kurma dasa

This is the vegetarian counterpart to scrambled eggs. Fresh curd cheese (panir)
is scrambled with sour cream and sprinkled with black salt (which has a distinct
sulphur-like flavour), spices, and fresh herbs to produce a stunning result. Serve
at breakfast with hot gradually add the lemon juice and toast or Puffed Fried
Breads (Pooris), and Tomato Chutney.
PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME: 40 - 50 minutes
YIELD: enough for 4 - 6 persons

Ingredients:
6 litres (101/2 pints) full-cream milk
7 tablespoons (140 ml) lemon juice
2 tablespoons (40 ml) ghee or butter
1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) yellow asafoetida powder (in some places this also has
wheat or rice flour in - get the resin and grate it to a fine powder if you can
purchase it)
1/2 teaspoon (1 ml) turmeric
1/2 teaspoon (2 ml) sweet paprika
1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) coarsely ground black pepper
3/4 cup (185 ml) cream or sour cream
2 tablespoons (40 ml) coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves
1 teaspoon (5 ml) Indian black salt (kale namak), finely ground
1. Boil the milk in a heavy-based 8 - 10 litre/quart saucepan, stirring constantly.
When the foam rises, gradually add the lemon juice and reduce the heat to low.
Stir very slowly until the solid curd cheese separates from the yellowish whey. (If
separation does not occur after 1 minute, add a little more lemon juice.
2. Pour the curds and whey into a colander lined with a triple-thickness of
cheesecloth. Press under a heavy weight for 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Unwrap the curd cheese and break it into 21/2 cm (1-inch) chunks.
4. Heat the ghee or butter in a large pan or wok over moderate heat. Saute the
asafoetida and turmeric in the hot ghee. Add the pieces of curd cheese and stir
gently until the turmeric-coloured ghee is well distributed. Increase the heat and
add the paprika, salt, and pepper. When the curd cheese is well mixed, remove
from the heat.
5. Add the cream or sour cream and the black salt, stirring carefully. Add the
fresh herbs, mix well, and serve hot.

Bubble and Squeak

Ingredients
1 large King Edward potato, peeled and chopped
100g/3½oz Savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
a knob of butter
salt and pepper
freshly grated nutmeg
25g/1oz old used ghee dripping (full of flavour), for frying

Method
1. Boil the potatoes until tender, drain and allow to get quite cold.
2. Steam the cabbage until tender and plunge in cold water.
3. Finely chop and crush the potatoes.
4. Drain the cabbage well and mix in the potatoes.
5. Season with grated nutmeg and salt and pepper.
6. Take tablespoons of the mixture and shape into round cakes.
7. Fry them in hot old ghee dripping to a good crisp golden brown on both sides.

Serve pipping hot

ISRAELI SALAD (adaption)

Serves: 4 to 6
Ingredients:
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into 14/-inch dice
4 medium plum tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 medium red bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
1 tsp hing
1/2 cup finely diced radish, optional
1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed
Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon, to taste
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all the vegetables in a salad bowl. Toss together. Use enough olive oil
to moisten the vegetables, and add lemon juice to taste. Season to taste with salt
and pepper and toss again.

Mango-Fruit Salsa

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh mango, peeled and diced
2 cups fresh pineapple, diced
2 cups fresh kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup fresh cilantro (coriander leaves), chopped
Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp hing

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and allow to sit for a couple
of hours for flavors to blend before serving.

White Chocolate Pistachio Truffles

These delicious creamy white chocolate truffles will testify that nothing is as nice
as home-made chocolates.
(NOTE: check the label of the white choc to see that there are no grains, cocoa,
E 410, E 412, 410, 412 etc)

Cooking Time : 5 mins.

Preparation Time : 10 mins.

Makes 30 truffles.
Ingredients
For the white chocolate truffle
1 cup (125 grams) white chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup fresh cream
a few drops coconut essence

To be mixed into a topping

3 tablespoons coarsely powdered pistachios
3 tablespoons desiccated coconut

Method
For the white chocolate truffle
1.Heat the cream in a broad pan and bring it to a boil.
2.Remove from the fire and add the white chocolate and coconut essence. Mix
well to get a smooth mixture.
3.Refrigerate until firm.

How to proceed
1.Divide the white chocolate truffle into 30 equal portions.
2.Shape into even sized rounds.
3.Evenly coat the pistachio and coconut topping on the truffles by rolling them in
the topping mixture.
4.Refrigertate until firm.
5. Serve chilled.

SAGO JALEBI

Ingredients:
Sago (Soaked in Water)-1 cup
Potatoes (Boiled & Mashed)- 1 cup
Maida- 3/4 cup (use kutu atta or waterchestnut flour - Singhare ka atta)
Besan- 1 Tablespoonful (banana flour or arrow root flour)
Ghee- 2 cup
Sugar- 1 cup
Water- 1 cup
Saffron & Saffron colour- little amount.
Almond & Pista (in pieces)- 5-6 pieces of each.

Method:

Mix soaked Sachamoti Sago & boiled meshed potatoes in a mixer well. Add,
Maida & Besan in it. Add some water & prepare liquid mixture. Now, in a shallow
frying pan, put some Ghee & heat it. Put the liquid mixture in pikari (an
instrument to make jalebi) & make jalebi in light heat. After preparing jalebi, put
these in Chasni (a hot mixture of water & sugar). Mix some saffron colour & put
some cardamon powder in the Chasni as per your taste. Serve hot with putting
some Pista/ Badam pieces on it. You can decorate jalebi with silver foils.

Ekadashi Recipes
Aloo Tikki
Ingredients
3 large potatoes, boiled, peeled, mashed
coarsely, 1/2 cup Singhare ka atta, (water
chestnut flour)*, 1/4 tsp. kala namak (black
salt), 1/4 tsp. black pepper powder, 5 Green
chilies, finely chopped, 1 tbsp. Fresh
coriander leaves, finely chopped, Salt to
taste, Oil to shallow fry.
Method
Mix all ingredients (except oil) till smooth. Knead into pliable dough.
Shape into 2" round thick flat patties (grease hands if it sticks).
Grease griddle with a little oil, heat. Place patties, allow cooking on
low flame till golden. Flip and cook other side, drizzling more oil if
required. Serve hot with green chutney or peanut curd chutney.

Tip: If you are on low cal diet, just roast tikkias on nonstick tawa,
without using any oil.

Aloo Pakoda
Ingredients
2 large potatoes washed and thinly sliced, 1
cup singhara atta (water chestnut flour)*, 1
tsp. salt, 2 green chilies, finely crushed in
mixie, Oil for deep frying.
 Method
Mix together flour, salt, chilies. Add enough water to make a thick
pouring consistency. Batter should coat back of spoon well. Add 1
tsp. hot oil. Mix well. Heat oil to deep fry in a frying pan. Dip potato
slices in batter, one at a time, and let into hot oil. Allow to turn light
golden brown. Flip and allow other side to fry. Drain and place on
absorbent paper, to remove excess oil. Serve hot, with chutney.

Top
Sabudana Vada

Ingredients
Sabudana 200 gms, Potatoes 3 [medium sized],
Groundnuts 100 gms [roasted], Red Chili Powder -3
tsp, Coriander Leaves, Salt to taste.

Method
Wash the sabudana and then drain the excess water. Leave the sabudana for
at least 4 hours. Do not add more water as the sabudana will become very
soggy. Boil the potatoes and mash them. Grind the groundnuts along with the
red chili powder in a mixie till it turns into a coarse powder. Mix all the above
ingredients along with chopped coriander and salt. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed
pan. Take small portions of the above mixture and flatten them in between your
palms. Fry these in the oil till they become golden-brown. Serve hot with
Coconut Chutney / Tomato Sauce / Sweetened Yoghurt.
Sabut Aloo
Ingredients
500 gms Potatoes (small, whole) boiled, peeled, ½ cup (100 gms) curd beaten
smooth, 2 tsp Dhania powder, ¼ tsp powdered black pepper, 1 tbsp rock salt,
2-3 Green chilies, 2 tsp Ginger, chopped, 2 tbsp Ghee, 1 sprig curry leaves, 1
tsp jeera, 2 tsp Sugar , ½ tsp cloves, ½ tsp cinnamon broken into pieces, ½ tsp
cardamom seeds
Method
Grind together green chilies and ginger. Powder together sugar, laung,
daalchini, elaichi. Mix together, potatoes, curds, coriander, black pepper, green
chili, ginger paste, and the salt. Heat ghee in a pan, and add curry leaves and
jeera. When jeera splutters, add potato mixture, and sauté till oil separates.
Remove from flame, mix in the powdered ingredients and serve immediately.

Stuffed Bananas
Ingredients
6 ripe, peeled rajali bananas, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup fresh coconut green
cardamom, ghee for frying

Method

Cut banana into 3-inch pieces. Cook sugar and coconut with cardamom seeds
on slow fire, until sugar melts and the mixture thickens. Slit each banana piece,
and fill in coconut mixture. Hold together with a toothpick. Fry in ghee over
medium flame till golden brown.

Sabudana Uppittu

Ingredients
2 cups sabudana, 1 cup roasted, coarsely pounded
peanuts, 1 tsp. cumin seeds, 6 green chilies, 4 tbs.
ghee, 1/2 lemon, finely chopped fresh coriander for
garnishing, 1/2 cup freshly scraped coconut.

Method
Wash sabudana, drain and set aside for one hour. Heat ghee. Add cumin
seeds. Then add green chilies, letting it fry briefly. Mix in sabudana, peanuts,
 salt and sugar to taste. Keep covered and cook on slow flame for 5-10 minutes.
You can add small cubes of boiled or fried potatoes. Garnish with coconut and
coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Sweet Potato Kheer

Ingredients
1 cup grated sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup fresh coconut scraped, 5
cardamoms, ground, 4 cups full cream milk
Method

Wash, peel and grate sweet potatoes. Cook in milk till it turns soft and the
mixture thickens. Then add sugar, cardamom powder and coconut and cook for
a few minutes. Serve hot or cold. This kheer looks like vermicelli kheer and
tastes excellent.

Sweet Potatoes Kap

Ingredients
1 kg sweet potatoes, 250 gm sugar, ghee for frying,
cardamom powder

Method
Wash and remove skin of sweet potatoes. Cut into round thin slices and fry in
ghee. Take sugar (1/4 in equivalent volume of the slices) and make sugar syrup
of one thread consistency. Add cardamom powder to it. Place fried sweet
potato slices in syrup and stir lightly. Keep for some time and then remove.
They will turn crisp.

Varai Khichdi
Ingredients
2 cups varai (available at the Dharani store at ISKCON, Bangalore),1 cup
roasted, coarsely pounded peanuts, salt and jaggery to taste, 4 green chilies, 1
tsp. cumin seeds, 2 cloves and 2 pieces cinnamon, powdered finely chopped
fresh coriander leaves, 1/2 cup fresh coconut, 2 tbs. ghee.
Method
 Heat ghee. Add cumin seeds and green chilies. Then add varai and roast for a
while. Put 4 cups of hot water in the varai along with salt and jaggery. When
almost cooked, add ground peanuts and clove-cinnamon powder. Put a little
ghee over it and cover and cook for some more time. Garnish with coconut and
coriander. Just before serving, squeeze lemon juice over it. For variation, add
small cubes of fried potatoes to the dish.

Fruit Rabri

Ingredients
1½ liters of milk, 1-1½ tablespoons of sugar, ½ cups
each of apple, banana, orange, sapota,
pomegranate and slit grapes, 2 deseeded and
powdered green cardamom, 1 teaspoon rose water.

Method
Condense the milk by boiling to less than one-fourth quantity. Add the sugar
and boil for a couple of minutes more and turn off the heat. Sprinkle the
powdered cardamom. When at room temperature, mix in the rose water and
chill. Add the fruits just before serving as it tends to water.