Fresh Fruit Tart

Fruit tart makes a perfect dessert for casual or formal event.
It takes less than an hour (with prep time) to put  together this colorful and elegant treat.
I made this simple and classy dessert on the occasion of my friends birthday.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
6 tbsp melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
a pinch of salt
8 oz cream cheese ( I used 1/3 less fat Neufchatel), at room temperature
1/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 tbsp sour cream
Cut up fruits -kiwis, strawberry, madarin oranges, blueberries

How it's made:

Grease a 9"pie pan. Pre-heat oven to 350 deg F.
Melt chocolate chips and set aside.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, salt and sugar. Once well mixed, transfer mixture to pie pan and press into the bottom and sides of the pan. Bake at 350 deg F for about 15 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
In the meantime, in a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and melted chocolate. Pour into cooled crust. Decorate with fruits and refrigerate for 2-3 hours before serving.

Minestrone Soup

Winter has been dull, gloomy and bitter cold this year. Initially, I thought I was the only one complaining about the weather, but then realized that many are awaiting for warmer weather. For a day in between, we had temperatures in the 70's and we spent our entire day out doors. It was a nice break from heavy winter coats and sweaters. We even managed do a little yard work.
Today was our first day of spring and I still don't see a break from winter. Although the day is a little longer, evenings are pretty miserable. I still cannot survive without my throw.
A hot bowl of Minestrone soup for was my favorite this winter season. I first tried this soup at "Olive Garden" many years ago and I think they serve the best.  I find it to be a complete meal with a combination of protein, vegetables and carbs.  I've made this soup several times and this recipe has been sitting in my inbox for a few months now. This one pot dish is a healthy and hearty dish for such weather. Hopefully, this will be our last one pot dish and we soon spring back to gardening and grilling.

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 celery stalk, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 medium zucchini, chopped

1 - 10oz box frozen spinach, defrosted

1 - 28 oz can diced tomatoes

1/2 can ( from 15 oz can)white beans (cannellini), rinsed under running water

1/2 can (from 15 oz can) red kidney beans (Rajma), rinsed under running water

3-4 cups vegetable or chicken broth

1 cup cooked pasta ( I used penne)

1-2 tsp Italian seasoning

a few basil leaves

Grated Parmesan (optional)

oil

salt and pepper to taste

How it's made:

In a large heavy bottom pan, add oil. Once it heats, add onions, garlic, celery and carrots. Cook for 5 mins. Add canned tomatoes, beans, Italian seasoning, broth, salt and pepper. Boil and then lower heat and cook on low heat for 30-45 mins. Add pasta, spinach and zucchini. Cover and cook for another 15 minutes. Add basil. Adjust seasoning. Ladle into bowl and garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Serves: 8

Note: This recipe works very well with slow cooker. Instead of cooking for 45 mins on gas, combine all the ingredients together (apart from pasta, spinach and zucchini) and cook on medium for about 3 hours. Then add pasta, spinach, zucchini and cook for another 30 minutes.

I like the combination of red and white beans. You may skip the red beans and add one can of white beans.

Happy Birthday - My Friend!

This past weekend, we celebrated my friend "B" milestone birthday and I volunteered to make this treat for her special day. Her husband along with her new born Princess were the first Indian family that I met when I landed in this foreign country. She remained to be one of my best friends although we now see each other a few times in a year. With her busy work schedule and her little baby, she was my big support when I went through a difficult pregnancy. I will forever be grateful for all that she did. I like to call her as my "Bold and Beautiful" friend.
Knowing her as a very affectionate, artistic, ambitious, creative (the list goes on...) and a multi-talented person, I knew she would cherish these cupcakes and she did!
I find it important to appreciate people when they make a difference in someones lives and I like to make them feel extra special on their special day. The party was one of the best- good food, music and loads of laughter. After a fun-filled weekend, birthday girl responded back the next day "Good friends can see the best in a person and that is priceless".

Happy Birthday!

It was fun making these cupcakes once my mind was stable after brain storming several thoughts. I was undecided with the design until the day before the event. "B" who enjoys art during free time (and also a writer), I thought this would be a perfect arrangement of cupcakes. She loved it and I got a big hug in return. It was 100% satisfaction for me. I only wished, I used fondant to make an edible paint brush.

Chinese Chicken Fried Rice

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked white rice (preferably left over from previous day)

1/2 cup vegetables (combination of carrots, peas and green pepper)

1/4 spring onions (I used both green and white portion)

1 clove garlic, grated

1/2"ginger, grated

1/2 cup chicken cubes

1 egg

1 tsp soy sauce

1/4 tsp sesame oil

1/2 tsp black pepper powder

salt to taste

2 tsp canola oil

How it's made:

Cut Carrots, green pepper and green onions finely.

In 1/2 tsp canola oil, saute chicken with a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry until well cooked and set aside.

In the same pan, add remaining canola oil. Once hot, add ginger and garlic. Fry for 30 seconds. Add veggies and spring onions. Saute' for a minute. Push veggies aside to the side of the pan. Crack one egg onto center of pan and cook until scrambled. Combine egg with veggies. Add cooked chicken, white rice, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir well until well until heated evenly. Drizzle sesame oil and give a quick stir. Serve hot. 

Serves: 4-5

Note: Add very little salt to rice since soy sauce is high in sodium.