Nuts Stuffed Dates - Guilt Free Snack

Know What You Eat: If you follow a diet plan, no matter what kind, and you are starving for something sweet, I've got what you need - dates. They contain all healthy substances our bodies need and extremely low, almost zero amounts of fat and no cholesterol. Isn't it great - all we need + zero cholesterol? Dates can be chopped and tossed on a salad. They mix well with citrus, and are terrific with savory dishes. One trick to keep date snacking under control is to line up the pits as a visual reminder of how many you’ve eaten...as its way too irresistible specially when they are stuffed with your favorite nuts sauteed in less than a teaspoon of clarified butter and sprinkled with desiccated coconut and powder cardamom.

Nuts Stuffed Dates Recipe:

Preparation: 10 mins Cook: 5 mins, Serves 4

Ingredients:

12 Pitted Mejdool Dates
6 pcs Almonds, toasted
6 pcs Whole Cashew, toasted
1 tsp Clarified butter
2-3 Tbsp Desiccated Coconut
1 tsp Cardamom Powder

Method: 
1.. Stuff your favorite nuts, (I used cashews & almonds) in already pitted dates.
2.. Heat a teaspoon of clarified butter(ghee) and saute these stuffed dates for 3-5 mins.
3.. Sprinkle desiccated coconut and cardamom powder over it. Serve warm.
4.. Leftover could be stored in air-tight container, stays good for more than a week.

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Dates Figs & Nuts Roll | Vegan | Diabetic Friendly

Know What You Eat: Diabetic friendly, dried figs and dates can be used in a variety of dishes. Think of the mouth-watering desserts or drinks that can be made from dates and dried figs. Sorry for increasing your appetite, I myself couldn’t resist the thought.Apart from being rich in natural fibers, dates also comprise of a lot of other nutrients, like oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc. In fact, it is said that one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet Split chickpea a high protein content along with different nuts and flavorful coconut together makes this recipes naturally healthy, protein & fiber rich. Not to forget dates are good source of Iron too..Grab these flavorful lowfat, high protein, sugarfree vegan guilt free snack and feel fuller and faster.Sending it to Healthy Lunch Box Ideas Guest hosted by Arthi & started by Kalyani..

Recipe: Date Fig & Nuts Roll | Diabetic Friendly | Vegan 

Preparation time: 15 mins Cook time: 7 mins

Ingredients
2 C Dates, pitted
1/2 C Dry Figs,chopped
1/4 C Split Chickpea, roasted
1/4 C Mix Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Cashew)
1/4 C Desiccated Coconut
1 tsp Fresh Cardamom pwd
1 tsp Ghee (optional) (not for vegan version)

Directions

1.Microwave  diced figs, dates in a safe bowl, until  its done to soften figs so it works well in your food processor and also helps binding.
2. Coarsely ground roasted split-chickpea, and all the nuts, and keep it aside.

3. Churn dates & figs in the food processor first, as soon as it starts to form a lump, transfer it into a bowl. Now add cardamom powder, desiccated coconut,chickpea and nuts coarsely grounded powder .

4. Fold in everything like you make a dough and try to make a roll on your counter top,or using 2 ziplock bags, OR (non vegan version ) you can add 1 tsp of Ghee on your palm and rub it nice to make this roll..
3. Once the roll is made, put it in refrigerator for 15-20 mins, bring it out and then cut it into 1/4th inch or desired thickness. Enjoyy!!

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Cashew Carrot Kheer

Know What You Eat: Carrot are full of Vitamins, dietary fiber and healthy levels of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus, and also best known for their rich supply of the antioxidant nutrient called beta-carotene, which converts in Vitamin A in the liver.Most of you are aware of "Gaajar Halwa", this kheer is something similar but without lot of sugar in it. Addition of cashew and cardamom gives nutrition and very good flavor. Cashew Carrot Kheer is prepared mostly in winters at my home, with WholeWheat & Almond Halwa, & Methi Paak.Try Cashew Carrot Kheer for a sweet warm morning. Here is a quick recipe for Cashew Carrot Kheer.

Ingredients:

• 1 C Carrots, shredded 
• 2 C Milk 
• 1/4 C Cashew, substitute almonds, pistachios or mixed nuts. 
• 1/4 C Jaggery OR Honey 
• 1/4 tsp Cardamom powder 
• 1 tsp Ghee (clarified butter)(optional)

Preparation:

1. Heat ghee in a heavy bottom wok. Add cashew and stir until golden brown. 
2. Add shredded carrots, jaggery and milk.Stir occasionally.
3. Boil and reduce milk until carrots are cooked.
4. Add cardamom powder once done and serve warm in breakfast.

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Grandma's Cinnamon Spiced Peanut Brittle- A must for this Christmas

Know What You Eat: Jaggery (Panela) not only tastes great, easy to make and very easy on your waist line.It is a "natural" sweetener made by the concentration of sugarcane juice WITHOUT the use of any chemicals / synthetic additives or preservatives. It contains an enormous wealth of minerals / protein / vitamins and iron. On the other hand there are lot of blogs bluff about the usage of Agave Nectar, but if you read a bit that its spiking the triglyceride levels...whats the use of such as a substitute in your daily preparations, instead stick to natural products like Jaggery than having experiments done on your family just because you are influenced with the good talks. Peanuts make a classic brittle, but you can substitute it with your favorite nut like cashew almond or even pistachios. Offer these treats at holiday time for guests to enjoy with coffee or tea. Or give them out as gifts, broken into uniform pieces or uneven shards, wrapped in cellophane bags. You might also give lucky recipients a small hammer and let them do the cracking. Its not only fun, its loaded with all the goodness and a bit of holiday flavor making it just perfect for this Christmas. Here's how I made.

Ingredients:

• 2 C Peanuts, chopped & toasted
• 1-1/2 C Indian Jaggery (Panela)
• 1 Tbsp Ghee/Butter
• 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp Ginger powder

Method:

• Butter a rimmed baking sheet; set aside. (Dont worry you dont have to bake anything here..its only to yield perfect pieces)
• In a toaster oven toast peanuts for 5-8 minutes stirring in between till they are crisp.
• Once peanut is cool enough to handle, chop them into small pieces and keep it aside.
• Now heat a pan, add jaggery to dissolve it, start stirring and heat it till it bubbles, becomes thick and almost double the volume.
• Remove pan from heat. Stir in butter/ghee,cinnamon & ginger powder along with toasted peanuts. Immediately transfer peanut mixture onto buttered baking sheet.
• With a rolling pin or greased spatula quickly spread mixture to 1/2 inch thick. Keep it aside for 2 mins, with a knife shape up the brittle in square pieces. Once it is slightly cool, about 10 minutes. Break brittle into shapped pieces and enjoy these cinnamon & ginger spiced guilt free snacks.

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SugarFree Vegan Figs Chickpea & Coconut Balls/Ladoo

Know What You EAt: Diabetic friendly, dried figs can be used in a variety of dishes. Think of the mouth-watering desserts or drinks that can be made of dried figs. Sorry for increasing your appetite, I myself couldn’t resist the thought.Figs are a good source of potassium, a mineral that helps to control blood pressure and fiber that have a positive effect on weight management. Split chickpea a high protein content along with flavor rich coconut together makes this recipes naturally healthy, protein & fiber rich. Not to forget figs are good source of Iron too..Grab these flavorful lowfat, high protein, sugarfree vegan guilt free snack and feel fuller and faster.

Ingredients:
1 C Dry Figs,chopped
1 C Split Chickpea, roasted
1 Tbsp Honey/Xylitol (optional)
1/4 C Lowfat milk/water (eliminate milk for vegan version)
1/2 C Desicated Coconut
1 tsp Cardamom pwd

Directions:
1. In a saucepan on a medium heat, add diced figs and milk/water and put it on simmer. Its done to soften figs so it works well in your food processor and also helps binding.
2. Powder roasted split-chickpea, add cardamom pwd, honey, figs and churn everything well your food processor.
3. Transfer it into a bowl and make small balls. Roll each  ball in desicated coconut. You can also add coconut in mixture above and roll everything into a ball like I did to save some time.

   

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Beetroot & Oats Halwa / Pudding -- Repost

Know What U Eat: Both beet root and beet greens are very powerful cleansers and builders of the blood. 

Anemia: The high content of iron in beets regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body. The copper content in beets help make the iron more available to the body. A great blood builder.

Atherosclerosis: This wonderful crimson juice is a powerful solvent for inorganic calcium deposits that cause the arteries to harden.

Blood pressure: All its healing and medicinal values effectively normalizes blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure or elevating low blood pressure.

Varicose veins: In similar ways that it helps to keep the elasticity of arteries, regular consumption of beets juice also helps prevent varicose veins.

I made this beetroot halwa, adding some cooking oats, its entirely optional though, when I first heard of beetroot halwa, I wasnt sure how it would taste..but it ecxatly taste like carrot halwa, with just a twist of adding oats to give nice chewy, sticky texture to it with the benefits of having oats in a different way.. For now try this..Beetroot & Oats Halwa!! 
Sending it to  Nivedita's Celebrate Sweets- Halwa Event.

For 3 Cup Halwa you need:
4 C Beetroot, peeled & shredded
1/2 C Sugar/Jaggery (adjust according to your taste)
1/2 C Old Fashioned Oats (optional, it gives a chewy and sticky texture)
Handfull of nuts..( I used almonds, cashew & pistachios)
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
1/4 C Milk OR Half & Half
2 Tbsp Clarified Butter/Ghee





Method:
1.  Peel, shred/grate beetroot and steam for couple of minutes in microwave, just to quicken the cooking process. Its optional. 
2. On a medium flame, add ghee in a heavy bottom pan, fry nuts, then add shredded beets for 3-5 minutes on medium heat. 
OR Cook it more if you did not steam earlier.
3. As the water from beets, starts to evaporate, slowly start adding a tablespoon of milk, every 2 mins untill done.
4. Now cooking oats, sugar/jaggery and stir well, cook untill the sugar syrup evaporates.
5. Add cardamom powder at the end of the process and serve hot.

Also find this @ Raks Kitchen

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Methi Paak Fenugreek Barfi

Edible Gum: Gum Dhawada (Gond) is derived from gum tree branches in crystal-like form. These can be used in food and beverages, and have known to be medicinal. They are mostly used in bakery, ayurvedic and dietary items.Gondh or Gum Arabic is a resinous excretion from the acacia tree which is dried and sold as is..and is used in many traditional confinement specially made for lactating/pregnant women, this edible gum is added in ladoos with dry fruits, added in water and made into tea, and in wheat flour to make barfi..and is also reputed to be a cure for back pain.. I have made this "Methi Paak" "Fenugreek Barfi", especially a sweet winter delicacy for everyone in my family to consume everyday in morning before morning tea. Its bitter in taste with all the crunchiness from edible gum. Added pipramool, dry ginger and other nuts for added benefits. It is said to have this special version of sweet especially in winter, as it gives a lot of warmth in the body. This special Methi Paak" goes directly to CWS-Fenugreek, event started by Priya, and hosted at Denufood, also to Yasmeen for hosting Health Nut Challenge- 4 Bitter Better Health.

Ingredients:

2 C Wheat flour

1-1/2 C Grated jaggery (add acc. to taste)

1-1/2 C Ghee /Clarified Butter

1/2 C Powdered edible gum crystals (gondh)
1/2 C Dry Shredded Coconut + 2 tbsp to sprinkle on top

1 Tbsp Fenugreek seed powder (taste bitter after roasting, so add accordingly)

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

1/4 tsp Black pepper powder

1- tbsp dry ginger powder (recommended 3-6gms/day)

1 tsp grated almonds

1 tsp grated pistachio nuts

1 tsp grated walnuts 

1 tsp grated cashew nuts

Method:

1: Heat the ghee in pan.

2. Sprinkle powdered/chunks of edible gum in hot ghee and keep stirring it till the crystals puffs. Remove with the help of spatula and keep it aside.

2: On medium heat, in the same pan add wheat flour, mix well and roast. Now add fenugreek seeds powder and roast a little longer until it becomes pinkish-brown and it emmits nice aroma.

4: Turn off the flame and add jaggery, black pepper powder, dry ginger powder, all the nuts, cardamon powder, dry coconut,turmeric powder.

5: Mix this mixture quickly and thoroughly and pour it in a greased plate.

6: Spread very well with flat steel spoon.Garnish it with dry shredded coconut, Enjoy it right away. or let it cool..stays good for 2 weeks.

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