Medu Vada

Medu Vada	Preperation Time :30 Mins Serves :4
Ingredients
4 cups urad dal 1 cup ordinary rice 1 tsp. ginger grated 1 tbsp. coconut grated coarsely 8-10 whole pepper corns 1 tsp. cumin seeds salt to taste oil to deep fry		Medu Vada
Method
Wash and soak dal and rice together in plenty of water overnight. Drain, grind to a soft batter, a fine grain should be felt in it. Do not make the batter thin. It should be thick enough to shape vadas. Add all ingredients and beat well clock wise/ anti clockwise with hand to incorporate air. Heat oil, wet palm and take an idli sized lump on fingers palm side up. Make a hole in the middle with thumb. Put gently into hot oil, repeat the same for more. One can  use a medhu vada press. Fry on medium flame. Serve hot with chutney and sambar. Z9VGARTN8VVQ

Xmass Cookies

Xmas Cookies	Preperation Time : 25 Mins Serves :4
Ingredients
1 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 3 egg yolks 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 1/2 cups flour, divided		Xmas Cookies
Method
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Add well-beaten egg yolks and vanilla and almond extracts. Mix in half of flour, then turn on a floured board and knead in the remaining half of the flour. Roll out and cut with Christmas cookie cutters. Place on greased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes watching cookies very carefully. Decorate with colored sugar crystals, nuts, candied cherries or your favorite topping.

Tomato Rice with Veggies

Tomato Rice with Veggies	Preperation Time : 60 Mins Serves : 4
Ingredients
1 cup short grain rice 1½ cup water 1 stalk celery chopped ¼ tsp turmeric Peanut or sesame oil 4 diced tomatoes 2 tbs butter (optional) ½ tsp whole mustard seeds ½ tsp whole cumin seeds 2 cloves garlic chopped salt and pepper to taste 1 zucchini chopped 1 onion chopped some coriander leaves		Tomato Rice with veggies
Method
Cook the rice with turmeric added in a normal manner. While the rice is cooking, heat the oil and butter in a skillet on a medium flame. When the butter is melted, add the mustard and cumin seeds and cover. When the mustard seeds start to pop, add the garlic, cover again and let cook another minute. Add onion and celery, stir until onion starts to turn transparent. Add the zucchini and cook until zucchini is soft. Add tomatoes stir and heat until well hot. Mix in the cooked rice and cook for 3 minutes to blend flavors. Garnish with coriander and server hot.

Dill Tofu Dip

Dill Tofu Dip	Preperation Time : 15 Mins Serves : 2
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil 2 tbs lemon juice 1 clove garlic Salt to taste ½ tsp black pepper 2 scallions, roughly chopped 2 tsp dried dill 10 oz extra firm tofu, drained water for puree		Dill Tofu Dip
Method
Mix ingredients in a blender in the above order, and make smooth puree. Stir until you get the mix you want. That’s it.

Tofu with Spinach

Tofu with Spinach	Preperation Time : 20 Mins Serves :4
Ingredients
2-4 peanut oil & butter 1 small green chili chopped 1 medium onion chopped ½ tsp coriander salt to taste ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp cumin 1 10 oz firm tofu drained and cut in cubes 1 12 oz frozen/fresh chopped spinach 1 tsp lemon juice		Tofu with Spinach
Method
Heat the oil, cook the chilies in the oil for about 3 minutes. Add the onion and spices and cook on low flame until the onions turns golden the longer the better. Now add tofu, stir and cook while the tofu absorbs the spices. In the end add spinach, stir and heat. Add salt and lemon juice and serve.

Potatoes with Brown Mustard seeds

Mustard Seeds Potatoes	Preperation Time : 30 Mins Serves :3
Ingredients
1 tsp brown mustard seeds 3 tbsp peanut oil ¼ tsp turmeric 1 green bell pepper chopped ½ tsp coriander Salt to taste black pepper to taste 3 large potatoes cut in chunks ¼ cup water 1 tsp lemon juice		Potatoes
Method
Heat the oil in pan and cook the mustard seeds until they begin to pop. Add the bell pepper and sauté about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the spices with potatoes and water. Cover and cook on low flame until potatoes are tender. Put more water time to time to so that the mix does not burn. When the potatoes are done uncover and cook another few minutes. If you think the water is more than required, add lemon juice and heat another 2-3 minutes.