One Day At A Time!

Howdy everyone! Hope your day is going well. My morning started with a 30 minute walk on the treadmill. Feeling quite refreshed. Today's menu is Tex Mex food. I love Quesadillas, Guacamole, Flan. Do tell me your favorite Mexican delicacy. Years ago,  I shared the Veggie Burrito Bowl . How about a Mexican Sea Food Shrimp Burrito Bowl? Ingredients: Shrimp / Prawn / Jhinga - about 30 Dry Black Beans - 1/2 cup Garlic Herb Seasoning - 2 tsp Paprika - 1 tsp Avocados - 2 Pickled Jalapeno Slices - about 8 Green Lime - 2 Tomatoes - 2 Red Onions - 1 medium Green Bell Pepper - 1 optional Cilantro/ Coriander Leaves - few sprigs Black Pepper Powder Cooking Spray or Oil Romaine Lettuce Tortilla Chips Salt How to make a Homemade Shrimp Burrito Bowl: Soak Black Beans in plenty of water overnight. Drain the water and wash the soaked beans a couple times. Add water and cook them. I cook soaked beans in my Presto pressure cooker. Canned pinto beans or black beans are great to save time. Season the ...

Hey everyone! Hope October is treating you well. Fall is my favorite season of the year. I miss Michigan fall around this time of the year. Airfryer and Microwave are my two favorite kitchen appliances. Home cooked meals become easy and hassle free. If you agree with me, you must try today's recipe. My way of cooking Meat and Potatoes . Ingredients: Skinless Chicken Drumsticks - 4 Juice of half a Green Lime  Garlic Herb Seasoning - 2 tsp Paprika - 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper - 1/8 tsp Salt - 1/2 tsp Oil or Cooking Spray Medium Potatoes - 2 How to Air fry Chicken and Potatoes: In a big mixing bowl, add chicken and juice of half a lime. Add garlic herb seasoning, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Mix well and refrigerate for 4 - 5 hours.  Grease the airfryer tray with cooking spray or oil. Airfry marinated chicken for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. Wash potatoes well. Dry the potatoes and microwave at potato setting for about 5 minutes. Flip the airfried chicken and now add microwa...

Hello everyone! Hope all is well in your world! Today's post is my kiddo's favorite American breakfast - Pancakes! Who doesn't like Pancakes? Right! If you wish to make Pancakes at home, do give it a try. You won't miss the restaurant pancakes. Once a week I make Whole Wheat Pancakes for our whole family. Serve these healthier Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Maple Syrup and you'll love them. Ingredients: Whole Wheat Pancake Waffle Mix - 1 cup Egg - 1 Whole Milk/ Full Fat Milk - 3/4 cup Chocolate Chips - 1/3 cup Cooking Spray or Oil or Butter How to make healthy Pancakes: In a small bowl, beat an egg. Add milk and mix well again. In another big bowl, add pancake mix. Slowly add the beaten egg and milk to the pancake mix. Stir the pancake batter well. Make sure there are no lumps. Add chocolate chips and your pancake batter is ready. Heat a cast iron pan and apply butter or oil. I sprayed a cooking spray. Pour a ladle full of batter on the pan. Cook both sides of the ...

My new favorite ingredient is feta cheese. There are so many cheeses in the market, but some you like and some you don't. Goat cheese is not my kind of cheese. Well, you all have read about cream cheese and ricotta cheese recipes. Now is the time for a refreshing summer salad with olives and feta cheese.

Who doesn't like restaurant style crunchy fries, onion rings? Of course, they are deep fried and loaded with calories. These days, baking such addictive appetizers in an oven is a healthy alternative.   To see it for myself, I tried baking onion rings once. Since then, it has become a regular side with baked  Veggie Burgers  at our place. Trust me, you won't miss the fried ones. Ingredients: Yellow (Vidalia) Onion - 1 big Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs - about 2 cups Besan/Chickpea Flour - 1/2 cup Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp Oil - about 3 tbsp Salt How to bake crunchy Onion Rings in an oven: Peel the onions and slice them 1/2 - 3/4 inch thick round slices. Separate them into rings. Sprinkle salt and fresh ground black pepper. Set it aside at room temperature for an hour or longer. Salt will soften the onions a little. Traditionally, onion rings are soaked in buttermilk to soften them. For me, just salt works fine. Line two baking dishes with aluminum foil...

Time for another breakfast recipe. But this time, its wholesome breakfast on the go. These homemade nutrition bars are perfect to start your day or as an anytime snack. It has whole grains, nuts and fruits. The best part about making it is, you get to pick your choice of fruits and nuts.

For our quick meals, I love sandwiches, wraps or cheesy quesadillas. The number of permutations and combinations with these grab and go lunches is endless.... protein rich beans, crunchy vegetables or lean chicken. Any leftover stir fry veggies and meat are good as well. And every time try it with some new seasoning. One of our favorite flavors for chicken is garlic and rosemary.  If you like it too, try these cheesy wraps. Ingredients: Boneless Chicken - about 1 pound Garlic - 2 big cloves Dry Rosemary - 1 tsp Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp Lemon Juice - 2 tbsp Carrot - 1 big Bell Pepper/Capsicum - 1 Green Onions/Scallions - 3 Oil - 2 tsp Salt Pepper Jack Cheese - about 1 cup Tortillas - 5 How to make Garlic Rosemary Chicken Quesadillas: On a big plate/tray, place the skinless chicken breast. Sprinkle rosemary, fresh ground black pepper, red chili powder and salt. Pour the lemon juice and rub it all over the chicken. Co...

When I say Popcorn, which word instantly comes to your mind?  I am sure its movies. Nothing makes the movies more fun than the crunchy salty popcorn, be it a theatre or at home. My family loves both kinds... the regular salty, buttery and this salty sweet caramel popcorn. If you love binging on this popular Christmas treat, you must give it a try. Though time consuming, its worth the effort. Ingredients: Popcorn - about 10 cups Light Brown Sugar - 1/2 cup (tightly packed) Unsalted Butter - 4 tbsp Water - 1/4 cup Vanilla Extract - 2 ts Salt - 1/8 tsp Cooking Spray or Butter for greasing How to make Crunchy Caramel Popcorn at home: I cooked 1/2 cup popcorn kernels in 4 tbsp olive oil in a very big vessel with the lid on. You can use microwave popcorn as well. Add popcorn to a very big mixing bowl and keep 2 big spoons ready for mixing. Preheat the oven at 300 degrees F and grease a big baking tray with cooking spray. Heat butter, water and sugar in a ...

December is here .... the holiday season with gifts, cakes, cookies and the festive spirit. Snickerdoodles are  Cinnamon Sugar coated soft cookies, especially made during this festive season of Christmas. When it comes to baked goodies, we enjoy the eggless version more. Hope you guys like it too. Ingredients: All Purpose Flour/Maida - 1 1/2 cups Sugar - 1/2 cup Sour Cream - 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter - 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) Vanilla Extract - 2 tsp Baking Powder - 1 tsp Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp Sugar - 2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon/Dalchini Powder - 2 tsp Ground Nutmeg/Jaiphal Powder - 1/8 tsp (optional) How to bake Eggless Snickerdoodle Cookies: In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients - all purpose flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add about 1/4 tsp salt too, if you like. Mix and keep it aside. In a big mixing bowl, add (room temperature) softened butter, sour cream, 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla extract. Mix all the ingredients well, using a whisk or a spoon. If y...

Baked Veggie Bean Burgers made of loads of vegetables and protein rich kidney beans.  Since its baked and not deep fried, this vegetarian or vegan burger turns out to be a low calorie, low carb heart healthy burger.

Roasted chicken drumsticks flavored with garlic and dry rosemary. Rosemary, an aromatic woody herb is quite commonly used in roasting chicken and other meats. This culinary herb is considered to improve memory. Ingredients: Chicken Drumsticks - 8 Garlic - 4 big cloves Onion (finely chopped) - about 1/2 cup Dry Rosemary - 1 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper/Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp Orange Zest - 1/2 tsp Unsalted Butter - 1 tbsp Olive Oil - 1 tbsp Salt How to cook Garlic and Rosemary Chicken: Sprinkle salt and black pepper powder on the chicken drumsticks. Finely chop onions and garlic. Preheat the oven at 400 degree F. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Heat butter and oil in a skillet. Add onions and sauté for a minute. Add the chicken and sauté at high flame until chicken turns slightly brown. Add garlic, cayenne pepper and orange zest. Sauté for another minute. Arrange the browned chicken on the baking tray. Bake the chicken for ab...

Spicy hot sauce flavored Chicken Wraps with veggies, pickled olives, jalapenos and fresh guacamole. Ingredients: Tortillas - 6 Boneless Chicken - 1 pound (453 gm) Hot Wings Sauce - 2 tbsp Spanish Paprika - 1 tsp Garlic and Herb Seasoning - 2 tsp Lettuce - about 1 cup Mini Bell Pepper - 1 Green Onions/Scallions - about 1 cup Pickled Olives - 1/2 cup Pickled Jalapeno Peppers - 1/2 cup Avocados - 2 Lime Juice - 2 tbsp Cilantro/Coriander Leaves - few sprigs Black Pepper Powder - 1/4 tsp Sour Cream Salt Oil     How to prepare Chicken Wraps with Veggies: Guacamole:   Cut the ripe avocado lengthwise around the seed which is at the center. Gently twist the two halves. Scoop out the avocado flesh with a spoon. Discard the seed and the outer skin. Add lemon juice, little salt, chopped cilantro and black pepper powder. Mix and roughly mash the avocado flesh. Set this guacamole aside. Dice chicken into bite size pieces. In a mixing bowl, add c...

Every fried appetizer can be baked in an oven, reducing the calories and without compromising its taste. These crisp Garlic and Herb Potato wedges are a healthy variation of the most loved French Fries or Potato Fries. Ingredients: Potatoes - 4 medium Oil preferably Olive Oil - 2 tbsp Vinegar - 1 tbsp Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper/Red Chili Flakes - 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder - 1 tsp Onion Powder - 1/2 tsp Italian Herb Seasoning - 1 tsp Orange Peel/Zest - 1/2 tsp (optional) Salt How to bake Crisp Potato Wedges: In a big mixing bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, fresh ground black pepper, chilli flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, orange zest and dry Italian herb (rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, savory, basil) seasoning. Mix all the ingredients well.    Wash/scrub the potatoes well. Soaking potatoes in warm water for about 20 minutes will make cleaning the potatoes easier. Pat the potatoes dry. Dice each potato lengthwise into half. Cut e...

Every weekend when we go for our weekly grocery shopping, I go on a hunt for new kitchen gadgets, local vegetables and spice mixes, salad dressings and stuff. So far, Cajun seasoning and Chipotle were my favorites. My new favorite is Garlic and Herb Seasoning. I make sure I pick the spice mixes with No MSG. I love these spice mixes for simple stir fry vegetables like Asparagus , zucchini and bell peppers .   The restaurant style crispy chicken sandwiches are generally deep fried. When I make it at home, I go for a low calorie baked version which is equally tasty. Ingredients: Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - 2 All Purpose Flour/Maida - 1/2 cup Garlic Herb Seasoning - 2 tsp Cajun Seasoning - 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper/Red Chilli Powder - 1 tsp Egg - 1 Milk - 1/2 cup Olive Oil - 2 tbsp Salt Chipotle Mayonnaise Sliced Bread or Buns Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions Salt How to cook Cajun Chicken Sandwich: In a small mixing bowl, ad...

Happy Friday Readers :)  Friday is kind of special at my place, especially in terms of food. I try not to think of calories for a day. Let me tell you about my menu for today - Green Bean Fries, Pumpkin Paratha with Dry Chutney , Yogurt.... and for dessert Shahi Tukda . Normally, when I make pakoras, its the desi style with besan/chickpea flour or rice flour. But, these fries are more like the American way, with bread crumbs and minus the egg wash. Ingredients: Green Beans/French Beans/Farasbi - about 200 gm All Purpose Flour/Maida - 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs - 1 cup Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper - 1/2 tsp Cumin/Jeera Powder - 1/2 tsp Salt Oil How to make Crispy Green Bean Fries: Homemade Bread Crumbs: Blend 3 bread slices in a dry blender to a fine powder. Bake the bread crumbs at 300 degree F for 10 - 15 minutes.  Discard the ends of the green beans. Heat about 5 cups water in a vessel. When water starts boiling, add the green beans and cook ...

Spicy Chicken drumsticks with red hot wings Sauce and zesty orange fragrance. Ingredients: Chicken Drumsticks - 8 Oil preferably Olive Oil - 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar - 2 tbsp Spicy Brown Mustard - 1 tbsp Spanish Paprika or Chili Powder - 2 tsp Cayenne Pepper - 1 1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder - 1 tsp Garlic and Herb Seasoning - 1 1/2 tsp Butter - 1 tbsp Buffalo Wings Sauce - 2 tbsp Orange Zest - 1 tsp Salt How to bake Buffalo style Chicken: In a mixing bowl or a resealable plastic bag, add oil, vinegar, brown mustard, paprika (for color), cayenne pepper (for heat), black pepper, garlic and herb seasoning and salt. Mix all the ingredients well. I used chicken drumsticks with skin, discard the skin for lesser calories. Coat the chicken drumsticks in this marinade well. Let the chicken marinate for 4 - 5 hours or overnight. Get creative and feel free to add your favorite seasonings as well. Preheat the oven at 375 degrees F. Use a baking tray with a mesh. Mix the c...