Avocado Milkshake

Avocado Milkshake

The avocado is a tree native to Mexico and Central America. It scientifically classified in plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. Avocado or alligator pear also refers to the fruit, botanically a large berry that contains a single seed.

Avocados are commercially valuable and are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates throughout the world. They have a green-skinned, fleshy body that may be pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical. The fruit is not sweet, but distinctly and subtly flavoured, with smooth texture.

Avocado is  has  several B vitamins and vitamin K, with good content of vitamin C, vitamin E and potassium and also  phytosterols and carotenoids.  About 75% of an avocado's energy comes from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat as oleic acid. Other predominant fats include palmitic acid and linoleic acid. The saturated fat content amounts to 14% of the total fat.

 As high avocado intake, has in one study shown lower blood cholesterol levels in the tested patients I am trying to add avocado to our diet.

So let us begin with …

How do I choose an avocado?

A ripe avocado yields to gentle pressure when held in the palm of the hand and squeezed.

Want to get to the flesh of the avocado you brought wait …

A cut avocado browns fast, this is called enzymatic browning, exposure to air causes this to prevent this, lime or lemon juice can be added to avocados after peeling.

What can I make with avocado?

Avocado can be used in savoury and sweet preparations.

Generally, avocado is served raw, thought some can be cooked for a short time without becoming bitter. The flesh of some avocados may be rendered inedible by heat; prolonged cooking induces this chemical reaction in all cultivars.

Avocado is popular in vegetarian cuisine as a substitute for meats in sandwiches and salads because of its high fat content.

In Spanish-speaking countries such as Chile, Mexico, or Argentina avocado is used as the base for the Mexican dip known as guacamole, as well as a spread on corn tortillas or toast, served with spices. 

Avocados are also used to make salads, fillings in sandwiches, sushi, on toast, or with chicken or served mixed with white rice, in soups, salads, or on the side of chicken and meat.

Avocados in savoury dishes, often seen as exotic, are a relative novelty in Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, where the traditional preparation is mashed with sugar and lime, and eaten as a dessert or snack.

However the commonest way to serve avocado is in shakes. In different countries avocados milkshakes are topped and sweetened differently. The additions vary from milk, ice cream, flavoured water, chocolate syrup, treacle.

In Ethiopia, avocados are made into juice by mixing them with sugar and milk or water, usually served with Vimto and a slice of lemon. It is also common to serve layered multiple fruit juices in a glass (locally called Spris) made of avocados, mangoes, bananas, guavas, and papayas.  Sounds interesting….

(Courtesy: Wikipedia)

Today I made guacamole saved a medium slice and made a shake out of my avocado. Let meet the shake first.In the past I have made Guasacaca here.

Avocado Milkshake

Avocado Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 2 cup milk, chilled
• 1 slice of avocado
• 5 tblspn sugar
• 1tsp vanilla extract

 Method:

• Since I want to make a shake with milk lemon is a no-no.
• To prevent browning of the avocado what I did was added a cup of milk to my slice of avocado and blitzed it.
• Then added all the other cup of milk (so that I could adjust the consistency of the shake), sugar and vanilla essence.
• Serve chilled.

Avocado Milkshake

 Sending this to Srivalli's  Event Kid's Delight hosted by Harini.

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Country Wedges

Country Wedges

As my neck is playing up I am keeping my intros short!! After March you will dear reader get a full dose of my jabber!!

Starters that we love are French fries but I prefer country wedges that I had once in some restaurant.

Here I tried to replicate the flavours I remembered. Of course I could not get rid of my Indian tastes out and used chilli powder.

Country Wedges

Recipe Adapted  from here

Ingredients:

• 4 potatoes, washed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp rosemary
• ½ tsp sage
• 1 tsp chilli powder (optional)
• Salt
•  Freshly ground black pepper

Country Wedges

Method: 

• Cut the potatoes in half length ways, then cut each half into 1.5cm-thick wedges and place in a large bowl.
• Add the oil, salt and pepper and the spices and use clean hands to toss the potatoes until they are well coated with the oil.
• Let it sit and marinate for 15-30 minutes.
• Grease a baking tray.
• Spread the potatoes in a single layer over the greased tray and drizzle with any oil remaining in the bowl.
• Preheat oven 220°C.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°C and bake turn the potatoes every 10 minutes you need to bake for furrther 30-35 minutes or until tender and crisp.
• Serve immediately.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#50

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

No Bake Cheese Cake

No Bake Cheese Cake

Okay I made the mascarpone  cheese !!

What  do I make from it?

When I made the mascarpone the option was to make tiramisu but I did not have the time to make the lady fingers that are used to make it. Okay you can make tiramisu with cake but then I wanted something different.

So the next stop was cheesecake. Pradnya’s cheesecake was an option, okay a delicious option; to hell with people who are commenting on me and my size I am going to have my cheese cake.

So I went to buy the digestive biscuits brought everything else but the biscuits. Around this time I had this “pink velvet cake” that was masquerading as a red velvet cake that needed to be finished.  So I was seriously thinking of a trifle. But Pradnya’s no bake cheese cake kept calling me back.

So I made a mix of both.

You can actually make this in a big bowl but I made it in glasses … portion control you see….I have to control how much others eat. J

No Bake Cheese Cake

Recipe Source: here

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mascarpone
• 1 tsp sour curd (hung curd) 
• 1 cup whipped cream
• ¼ cup icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• I pound cake
• 1 packet of jelly of your choice set

Method:

• In the glass add the cake crumbled.
• In a bowl, beat the mascarpone with sour curd. Your cream cheese is ready.
•  In another large bowl, whip the cream and icing sugar to form stiff peaks.
• Add the cream cheese and fold it in.
• Add the vanilla essence and mix again.
• Pour this mixture on the cake base and let it refrigerate for an hour.
• Just before serving add the cut jelly pieces.

Linking to Varadha’s and Srivalli's Kid's Delight.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Devilled Eggs/Deviled Eggs/Eggs Mimosa

Devilled Eggs/Deviled Eggs/Eggs Mimosa

Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat boiled eggs?

I have!

Okay they are fit enough to eat fried eggs everyday but that too gets “boring”!

So I tried this eggs I have not made a long long time now.

Devilled eggs as they are spelt in UK and Deviled eggs in the US, these are also called eggs mimosa.

In the west they are served with the yolk mixed with mayonnaise and mustard, but many other variants.

Devilled eggs are usually served cold. They are served as a side dish, appetizer or a main course, and are a common holiday or party food.

Needless to say they disappeared as I was clicking pictures and elder one complained that she got none. Must be the younger one had finished her share also. So plan accordingly.

Devilled Eggs/Deviled Eggs/Eggs Mimosa

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs, hard boiled
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1 green chilli, chopped fine
• 1 tblspn tomato ketchup
• Salt
• Red chilli powder

Method:

• Shell the eggs and cut them in two.
• Remove the yolk and mix with onion, green chilli, ketchup, salt and red chilli powder.
• Check the seasoning.
• Stuff the egg yolks in the egg white cavity.
• Serve.

Devilled Eggs/Deviled Eggs/Eggs Mimosa

Linking to Varadha’s and Srivalli's Kid's Delight.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Roasted Beet Salad

Roasted Beet Salad

Does your child eat well?

You have tried many things to get the child to eat varied his diet, bribed him, cajoled him. Still no success?  

Have you tried using colours to attract a child to eat? This is true especially in the case of babies and toddlers.

Let me narrate a true incident.

My younger daughter was 7-8 months old she loved to rock. I used to generally sit with her on my lap and she used to look outside the window and rock all the while, of course  she needed support.

I had finished my meal and hubby dear had come back from the market with cherries. He had, as per our practice let them soaking in salted water, gave me some in a plate.

Hearing him kiddo turned round to smile at him and she saw the plate of cherries, red luscious berries!! She almost jumped out of my hands to get them. 

That is the power of colour!!

To add colour to your child’s plate read here.

This week I will try and include colour in our plate.

Roasted Beet Salad

Adapted from: Here

 Ingredients:

• 8 medium-size beets, tops removed and scrubbed
• ½ cup balsamic reduction
• ½   cup good olive oil
• 2 teaspoons mustard
•  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 oranges, separated in segments (I used baby oranges)
• Few cashew nuts
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds 
• dhania/ coriander leaves to garnish

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F.
• Wrap each beet in aluminium foil and roast them in a tray for about 50 minutes to 1 hour. Basically this will depend on the size of the beets. You have to roast them till a sharp knife inserted in the middle indicates that they are tender.
• Cool a little and unwrap and set aside till they cool down to allow you to handle them.
• Meanwhile whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and set aside.  
• Peel the beets and cut them to bite sized pieces/ wedges according to your choice in a large bowl.
• Add half of the vinaigrette (warm beets absorb more vinaigrette). Check the seasonings.
• Mix the oranges.
• Arrange on the serving platter and then add the cashew nuts, and the sesame seeds.
•  Drizzle with additional vinaigrette, salt and pepper if desired garnish with dhania/ coriander leaves.
• Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Roasted Beet Salad

Linking to Varadha’s and Srivalli's Kid's Delight.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Mac n Cheese

Mac n Cheese

The girls were thrilled when I choose “Say cheese “as my theme.

Mac n Cheese has been on the demand list for ages and so I had promised the girls. Now in my rush of jobs I forgot the “say cheese” is a kid friendly theme and did not remember my promise. When I realised it I made this Mac n Cheese with processed cheese and cheddar.

The girls are not too happy with the resulting Mac n Cheese but there are in-roads in it. I have kept the original recipe as it is for I feel it will taste better and plan to make it for them when I go to Chennai this month!

Mac n Cheese

Recipe Source:  here 

Ingredients:

• 500 grms macaroni
• Salt to taste
• 1 tblspn oil
• 4 cups white sauce
•  4 cups/340 grms gruyere, grated 
• 2 cups/227 grms cheddar, grated 
• ½   tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 340 grms/6 med. tomatoes
• 2 tblspn/28 grms unsalted butter, divided
• 1 ½ cups bread crumbs

Mac n Cheese

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C or 375° F.
• Add the oil into a large pot of boiling salted water.
• Add the macaroni and cook al dente. Drain and set aside.
• In the hot white sauce add the gruyere, cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper.
• Add the cooked macaroni and stir well.
• Pour into a 8 inch baking dish.
• Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top of the macaroni.
• Melt the butter mix well with the fresh bread crumbs and sprinkle on the top.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Linking to PJ's event "Say Cheese" for Srivalli's Kid’s delight.

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!

 

Cheese Toast

Cheese Toast

Most morning Monday mornings I find myself in a fix.

What to pack for the kid for snack?

Actually I should be better prepared but most of the times I am not. Maybe because half my Sunday is spent in trying to play catch… catch up with pending jobs, from washing to marketing, on the move.

Where is the time to get down to planning, even if I have I have planned the girls have some requests.

Okay let’s quit no more excuses I am clueless… call it Monday morning blues, whatever…

Monday mornings I generally pack Cheese Toast for the girls and their father and grandfather are very happy to have them too. So come Mondays you will see Cheese Toast on the breakfast table.

So let’s get down to making Cheese Toasts which I make with eyes that are barely open. Between my many visits to wash my eyes open breakfast and Tiffin box is ready in time. Ahhh what an achievement!

Why this syndrome of “barely open eyes” catches up with me on Saturday and Monday mornings only I don’t know but I am thankful to Cheese Toast!

To make a Cheese Toast you will need ideally a toaster, a sandwich toaster either electric or gas friendly. In case you do not  have both, do not despair use the non-stick tava/skillet and a heavy object to weigh down the other slice of bread. Works fine!!

Cheese Toast

For 1 sandwich

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of brown bread
• 1 slice of cheese
• 1 tsp of tomato ketchup( optional)
• Some ghee for the toaster

Method:

• Apply the ghee to the toaster.
• On  bread slice lay the cheese slice.
• Apply the tomato sauce and close the sandwich with the second slice.
• Cook till browned on both the sides till browned.
• Serve.
• Tastes best hot with a cup of tea or coffee.

Cheese Toast

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#49

Linking to PJ's event "Say Cheese" for Srivalli's Kid’s delight.

Hi! First time here? Well then you are Most Welcome! I hope you keep coming back for more here. If you are my regular visitor then Thanks, for you encourage me to experiment more!! I would like you to please click on my link below and like my Facebook Page. I will be happy if you can follow me on on Twitter too!