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New Year's Day Blackeyed Peas & Greens Salad

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Spinach & Blackeyed Peas Salad I love nutty flavorful blackeyed peas anytime; so it is easy to enjoy the Southern US tradition of including them and greens as part of the days meals. I have enjoyed the peas and greens in Soup or Stew or Curries but this time decided to use them in a new way. Et voila! New Year's Day Blackeyed Peas & Greens Salad is simple, quick to put together and very hearty. Ready to use baby spinach makes this salad very easy to do even on a busy day. The blackeyed peas salad maybe made a day ahead; it is quite delicious on its own too. We love varying the lemon/lime/vinegar; all are delicious.  For more recipes with Blackeyed Peas please check: Hoppin' John With Greens , Poricha Kuzhambu (Blackeyed Peas with Coconut) , Black-eyed Peas & Greens, Kerala Style . 2 servings INGREDIENTS: Blackeyed Peas Salad 1/2 cup dried Blackeyed Peas 1 small clove fresh Garlic, minced 14 small Red Onion, thinly slivered 1 Roma Tomato, slivered 1 small Green Chile...

Mango Launji (Sweet & Tangy Mango Relish)

Mango Launji, a delicious, tangy, and sweet pickle or relish, is fabulous served with any meal; we love  pairing it with Dosa, Adai, Roti, or Paratha, Rice or other grains, curries, and accompaniments. Delicious as a spread for toast or crackers with or without peanut/nut butters or vegan cheeses. Mango Launji with vegan cream cheese makes a tasty starter with crudit é s, warm breads, flatbreads, and crackers. It is very easy to prepare and is dairy, nut, oil, and gluten free.  Although most delicious prepared with green mangoes, slightly ripe ones are fine too to make Launji. Store the Launji in clean airtight jars in the fridge or in the freezer for longer storage.  INGREDIENTS: 1 firm Green Mango 2-3 tbsp sugar (to taste) 1 big pinch salt 1/2 tsp each fennel and kalonji seeds,  1/2- 1 tsp red Chile powder 1 Big Pinch Turmeric 1 tiny pinch Asafetida (Hing) METHOD: cut  mango, add 2-3 tbsp sugar, a big pinch salt and keep overn...

Fast & Easy Simple Dal Soup (Quick Red Lentil/Mung Bean Soup)

Fast & Easy it maybe, but this Simple Dal Soup is very flavorful and delicious too! It is hearty on it's own and goes with everything from Idli/Dosa, Rice, and fresh crusty bread or toast! Fast and Easy Simple Dal Soup is exactly that - add all the ingredients to one pot, bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes (a pressure cooker - Instant Pot or the stove top kind - makes it really a snap). Done! This lovely soup doesn't need a Thalippu/Tadka, the traditional finish, to complete it but certainly maybe added if desired. Awesome paired with Idli/Dosa/Upma etc instead of Simple/Masala Kadapa or Sambar for a nice and welcome change of pace. Fast & Easy Simple Dal Soup is naturally gluten, fat and dairy free. NOTES: The red lentils or yellow mung dal cook the quickest on stovetop; other legumes such as split peas or brown/green lentils maybe used if you have more time or use the Instant Pot or the regular stove-top pressure cooker. The carrots maybe grated instead of ...

Lettuce Wrap with Tofu Filling

Lettuce Wrap with Tofu Filling is wonderful for casual family/company dining as well as a lovely starter.   Use the smaller inner leaves from the lettuces; Belgian endives and green or purple cabbage leaves work well too.  Instead of the shiitake mushrooms, other mushrooms maybe used. Hoisin sauce (~1/4 cup) maybe used instead of the coconut aminos and tamari in the sauce given below; but it usually contains wheat so I don't use it. INGREDIENTS TOFU FILLING 1 tsp sesame oil 14 - 16 oz Firm/extra firm Tofu 3 oz fresh Shiitake/Other mushrooms, diced 1 Carrot, shredded 2-3 Tbsp fresh grated ginger 2-4 cloves Garlic, minced 1-2 Shallots thinly sliced Red Pepper flakes (optional) 1-2 heads Belgian Endive/Butter/Romaine lettuce SAUCE 1 1/2Tbsp Each Coconut Aminos & Tamari (Soy sauce GF) 1 Tbsp rice vinegar GARNISHES 4-5 scallions thinly sliced 3-4 Tbsp roasted Peanuts, chopped 2-3 Tbsp toasted Sesame seeds INSTRUCTIONS Wash lettuce, drain...

Easy No-Cook Instant Snack Pudding/Overnight Breakfast

Easy No-Cook Instant Snack Pudding or Overnight Breakfast is one of our favorite everyday go-to recipes. Although the Pudding maybe eaten immediately, I like to allow the chia seeds to soak and bloom so it can be enjoyed as a thick, creamy pudding. It is a perfectly filling and satisfying breakfast/snack rich in fiber/pre and probiotics for gut health, heart healthy fats, anti-oxidaents, as well as proteins and complex carbs. This works well with or without nuts and grains. I like adding a little or more of the oats depending on if this is a snack or breakfast. It is fat & dairy free; it is also gluten free when you use gf oats. Use the plant milk yogurt for the added bonus of gut-healthy and immunity boosting probiotics. For a sweeter snack or breakfast, add 1-2 chopped Dates. If you like, a scoop of protein powder maybe stirred in as well. I often make a mega batch = triple/quadruple etc = for the week to enjoy this lovely No-cook recipe for snacks as well as breakfast. Ano...

Easy Pumpkin Cornbread From Mix (Gluten, Dairy, & Oil Free)

Easy Pumpkin Cornbread From Mix is easy as it is wholesome; just put everything in a bowl, mix and bake.There's not much searching for the various ingredients or measuring involved. The pumpkin puree and the spices really take the muffins to another level of delectability.  The pumkin puree, coconut, and the flax/chia seeds eliminate the need for oil or eggs. GF cornbread mix is one of the few ready to go products that I like to have on hand for times when you need an easy way to make something fabulous to go with a lovely cup of tea. Although I am partial to crusty muffins, it is good baked as a loaf or in a 13" x 9" pan too. We love the added fragrance of the mild Sambar Powder spices in these hearty muffins. 12 Muffins/Servings INGREDIENTS: 1 box (15 oz) Gluten Free cornbread Mix  1 Tbsp Each - Flaxseed and Chia seeds, ground 3 Tbsp Water 1 cup Pure Pumpkin Puree, canned or homemade 1/3 cup dried finely grated unsweetened Coconut 1 cup Plant Milk 2-3 Tsp Sambar Powder ...

Quick Creamy Pumpkin Soup w/Thyme-scented Pumpkin seed Topping

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Creamy Pumpkin Soup Quick Creamy Pumpkin Soup is ready within 15-20 minutes! This is one of my go to soups anytime I need a quick, easy, homemade soup. A can of pumpkin puree, a little coconut milk, some simple seasonings, and Et Voila! - comforting and flavorful pumpkin soup is ready! Canned pumpkin makes this soup go fast but needs the help of spices and fresh herbs to breathe freshness. Pumpkin perks right up when smoky cumin, along with warming combination of ginger, red pepper (cayenne), and freshly ground black pepper. Thyme adds that fragrant freshness and a few sprigs can be added without a lot of fuss and the woody stems removed at the end. The dates add delicious caramel flavoer as well as a touch of sweetness. Don't forgo the topping; the delicious spice and crunch of the toasty thyme-scented pumpkin seeds amp up the flavors and adds the crowning touch! Thyme-scented Pumpkin seeds make a wonderful snack or starter in addition to making a lovely topping for ...