2 minutes in the microwave and it’s ready to devour…

Why do so many people frown upon seeing broccoli on their plate? Apparently, I get along with it quite well. I am not a fan of raw broccoli though. Soups, stir frying and baking have been my usual way of preparing broccoli. Last night for dinner, I grilled drumsticks and wanted to serve a veggie side with it. Broccoli was my pick and I tried microwaving it rather than baking or grilling it.

Over cooking broccoli(or any vegetables) will result in loss of the nutrients, so to retain the nutrients it’s good to steam cook or microwave it. This way broccoli won’t turn mushy, it will still have a crunchy texture. I wasn’t up for just microwaving the broccoli, I wanted it to be flavorful. I added fresh orange zest and orange juice to make it flavorful and juicy. My husband and I loved the orange flavor in the broccoli and it was refreshing.

Orange Broccoli – 2 Minutes Microwave Recipe

Ingredients:

• Broccoli, separated into florets- 1 small
• Orange Zest- grate the zest from half of the fresh orange
• Orange Juice, fresh-  squeeze the juice of 1 orange
• Garlic, minced- 1 large
• Olive oil- 1 tbsp
• Salt- little
• Ground pepper- 1/4 tsp

Preparation:

• Separate the broccoli florets and rinse it under running water.
• Combine all the above mentioned ingredients in a microwave proof glass bowl.
• Microwave in high power for 2 minutes.
• Remove from the microwave and serve as a side dish along with rice pilaf, baked or grilled chicken.

I am very picky when it comes to salad and salad has always been my last choice. When I make salad at home I make sure to hide the greens with delicious toppings so that I can forget the fact that I am having a salad. Last week, I made a sea food topping for the salad. I had bought a bag of sea food mix which contained shrimp, mussels, squid and calamari. All these are my all time favorite sea food. If only I had crab meat in my fridge, it would have been the perfect sea food mix.

I stir fried the sea food and made an orange sauce. Then combined the stir fried sea food with the sauce along with some veggies and topped this on the greens. Each and every mouthful of this salad was an “Aha! moment”.

Orange Sea food Salad

Ingredients:

• Sea Food mix (shrimp, squid, calamari and mussel)- 4 cups
• All purpose flour- 1/4 cup
• Chilly powder- 1 tsp
• Ground pepper- 1/2 tsp
• Salt- to taste
• Oil to stir fry- 4-5 tbsp
• Carrots, cut thin lengthwise- 1 large
• Celery, cut thin lengthwise- 2 stalks

For making sauce:

• Orange juice, fresh or canned- 3/4 cup
• Soy sauce, low sodium- 2 tbsp
• Ginger, minced- 2 tsp
• Lemon grass, chopped (use fresh or dried)- 1 tbsp
• Corn starch- 1 tbsp
• Cold water- 4tbsp, to dissolve the corn starch

For salad:

• I used lettuce and spinach
• Freshly grated or thinly cut orange peel-  1 tsp or 5-6 strands to sprinkle over the salad

Preparation:

• Wash the sea food mix under running water and pat dry using paper towel.

• Combine the all purpose flour, chilly powder, ground pepper and salt together in a bowl.

• Sprinkle the flour mix over the sea food and coat it evenly.
• You could also put the flour mix in a large plastic bag, add the sea food and shake, coating it evenly with the flour.

• Heat a wok or non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the oil to the skillet.
• When the oil turns hot, add the sea food mix coated with the flour and stir fry it till it turns golden brown and well cooked.

• Transfer the fried sea food on to a platter lined with paper towel.

• Stir fry the carrots and celery in the same wok or skillet till the veggies turn tender.
• In a bowl, combine together the orange juice, soy sauce, minced ginger and lemon grass.

• When the veggies have turned tender, pour the orange sauce over it and let come to a slight boil.

• Dissolve the corn starch in cold water and pour it over the sauce.
• Immediately stir the veggies and sauce together, the sauce will start to thicken.

• If the mixture is too thick you could add little water to thin it down.
• Add the stir fried sea food into the skillet and combine everything well.

• When the sauce has coated well over the sea food, remove the skillet from the stove.
• Place the greens: lettuce and spinach on a plate and top the greens with the sea food mixture.

• Sprinkle the freshly grated or thinly cut orange peel over the salad.
• For a nice presentation you could even place some orange slices and an orange rose.

Tips:

• You could try this with chicken as well.

There’s nothing more refreshing than fresh fruits. Fruits never demands any extra touch ups, its perfect the way it is. Just imagine how the fruits would taste when it’s given a little fancy makeover before you serve it to your valuable guests or for precious self. A little fancy makeover would double the joy and entertainment for sure.

My new hobby is collecting recipes from almost anywhere. It could be the recipes from the back of cans, boxes, bottles and jars, or from any food magazines found in the grocery stores or from a total stranger or even from a restaurant chef (if he’s willing to reveal his recipes). I will never let go anything which could provide me with free recipes and food ideas. I may or may not try these dishes in my kitchen, but I feel happy while collecting these and that’s what matters, right?

This is one such recipe from my collection, it’s a free recipe that I got from a grocery store near to my house. This morning I woke up with zero intention to make a heavy breakfast. When I opened the refrigerator for milk, my eyes met with the huge bag of oranges that has been sitting idle for the past few days. Suddenly, I recalled the recipe I had collected from the store which called for oranges. I looked at the recipe and voila, I had everything to make a refreshing orange salad. This recipe also matched well with my criteria of easy breezy preparation. If I come across any kind of quick recipes, I sure will try that in my kitchen without any hesitation. I didn’t have to make a heavy breakfast to jump start my Sunday, with an easy fancy orange salad I was uplifted

Start your day with this refreshing Orange salad or just have this whenever your body and mind needs some refreshment…

Orange Salad

• Serves: 4
• Preparation time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• Oranges- 2 large
• Granulated Sugar- 1/4 cup
• Whole cloves- 2
• Cinnamon stick- 1
• Fresh mint, finely chopped- 1tbsp
• Toasted shelled pistachios- 1/4 cup
• Fresh Raspberries- 1/4 cup
• Orange peel grated- 1 tbsp

Preparation:

• Using a grater, grate the orange peel and keep aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup water, sugar, cloves, cinnamon; bring to boiling and reduce heat, simmer until sugar dissolves.
• Stir in mint, remove from the heat and let cool.

• Remove the skin of the oranges and the white pith from it.
• Slice the oranges crosswise into rounds 1/4-inch thick.

• Place 3 to 4 orange slices on each of 4 plates, top with pistachios and raspberries.
• Drizzle with 2 teaspoons of the syrup and sprinkle with grated orange peel.
• Serve immediately.

I’ve made my Superbowl Menu, have you???

The big day everyone has been anticipating is just around the corner. Football fans have started their bets. Foodies have started thinking about items to set on their table for the Superbowl party.

This year I am way ahead and have already planned my menu. So I thought, by posting the recipes before hand might help some of my readers and friends to plan their menu and try some of my recipes.

So here’s what I have on my Menu: It’s a 5 course menu.

Don’t you agree that Superbowl is all about fun and food? So why not make it 5 course or more

Soup:

• Express Chili Soup: Click here for the Recipe

Chili soup is one of the best soups for Superbowl. This recipe tells you how to make chili soup in just 30 minutes. It’s easy to make, yet tastes restaurant style.

Appetizer:

• Baked Beefy Potato: Click here for the Recipe:

Snacks:

• Homemade Tortilla chips : Click here for the recipe

Homemade Salsa: Click here for Recipe

Main Course:

• Wingless Buffalo Chicken Pizza: Click here for the Recipe

Dessert:

• Orange Panna cotta: Click here for the recipe

Without dessert, the fun is never complete. After all the fun, you would crave for something sweet. Orange Panna cotta is the perfect dessert you could make which will please everyone’s taste buds. It’s easy to prepare and you could even make this a day ahead and refrigerate. Just at the time of dessert, take these stunning dessert out of the refrigerator and share with your friends and family.

So let the Superbowl party begin!!! Go Colts!

Which team are you rooting for?

Spruce up your salad by topping with chunks of Orange Chicken…

Are you tired of eating the same salad over and over? Then you should consider adding this new twist I’ve given to my salad. Here is the most delicious way of eating salad, top your favorite veggies with Chicken cooked in a Spicy Tangy Orange Sauce. When I came across this recipe, I never thought that this easy orange chicken would enhance the taste of the salad instantly. Now I can’t help having this salad almost everyday, and I really don’t mind having this even for breakfast.

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of salad and I go for salad only during worst situation when I really can’t find any other good alternative. And the funny thing is that while eating out with my girl friends, when my health conscious friends orders salad, on the other side of the table I will be seen surfing through the real food on the menu:p

When I made this orange chicken, I only had lettuce and carrots to give this chicken a company. Hence, I topped the veggies with chunks of orange chicken. A forkful of this salad, and I immediately bowed the salad with appreciation. It was way too delicious and I didn’t get the feeling of having a salad. This salad was healthy, protein rich, filling and flavorful. What more do I want? Now even I have the answer if someone asks me about my favorite salad, it’s none other than Orange Chicken salad.

Orange Chicken Salad:

Ingredients:

For marinating chicken:

• Boneless Chicken breast, cubed or cut thin long- 1 1/2 pounds
• White Vinegar – 2 tbsp
• Corn starch- 1 tbsp
• Ground pepper- 1/4 tsp
• Salt-to taste

For Orange Sauce:

• Orange juice- 1/3 cup
• Soy Sauce, low sodium-2 tbsp
• Sesame oil- 1tsp
• Brown sugar- 1tsp
• Crushed Red chilly- 1/2 tsp

Other ingredients:

• Garlic minced-1 tsp
• Ginger minced-1 tsp
• Green onions, chopped- 1 tbsp for garnish
• Oil for stir frying- 2tbsp

Preparation:

• In a bowl, combine the chicken, vinegar, corn starch, ground pepper and salt.

• Marinate the chicken for 20 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the sauce by mixing all the above mentioned ingredients for making the sauce.

• Heat the wok or wide skillet, add the oil and add ginger and garlic minced, stir fry it until aromatic.
• Now, add the chicken and stir fry it until cooked well. Avoid over cooking or browning the chicken.

• Add the prepared sauce into the chicken and stir fry it for another 2 minutes.

• Garnish with Green onions.

• Remove from the heat and serve hot with salad or Rice of your choice.

Tips:

• I added the orange chicken to lettuce and baby carrots sliced.
• Try to use sesame oil as this enhances the flavor of the orange chicken greatly.
• Leftover chicken can be  refrigerated. Reheat the chicken in microwave and top with your favorite veggies.