Guacamole

Hey...tired of having the same dips and relishs again and again?Try this mexican dip if you dont wish to consume harmful cholesterol and saturated fats..The main ingredient in guacamole is Avacado.. This fruit ranks highest in the certain key nutrients that can promote optimum growth and help protect against a variety of diseases!!!so next time u munch tortillas ..dip them in this buttery guacamole.One more secret.. avocados are good for your skin and hair too. Mashing an avocado and rubbing it into your hair for five minutes after washing will add luster to your hair.In South Africa, an avocado mask made of mashed avocados, honey, and lime juice is applied to the face as a moisturizing treatment to counteract the drying effects of the hot sun.Now ..now..why did i go to south africa...my best buddy(from god's own) says she has this tree at her backyard and has been using the same as a face pack!!!! additional info..she's becoming prettier day by day...lol.i bet you wanna try this:-)The fruit is called 'venna pazham' or 'mutta pazham' in malayalam and Butter fruit in english. The last two pics of avacado were sent by the same friend when she went home(kottayam).Thanks to her for making my blog green:-)

I Tried my first ever Guacamole at a friend's place...i still remember how this Mexican appetizer awakened by taste buds.This is how you make this..

4 large ripe avocadoes ,pitted and peeled.(pick those ones which have the stickers marked RIPE on them.They are the best.Or check for ripeness by gently pressing the outside of an avacado.)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 medium onion, diced
3/4 cup coriander leaves, finely chopped

1 large tomato, diced

2-3 green chillies

salt to taste

3 cloves of garlic(optional)

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin(optional) if you love these flavours add them too.

Adjust each of these ingredients to your own tastes and preferences.

Method:-

1.Using a fork,coarsely mash avocados in a bowl with lemon juice .

2.Add tomato,onion,chopped coriander leaves,green chillies,salt and stir to blend..Adjust seasoning to taste.

3.Serve with Tortilla chips.

Recipe courtesy-My friend Manju

Stuffed Mushrooms

Last week one of my friend came down with a packet of button mushrooms and mozarella cheese.Then it was experiment time.The end result was a stuffed mushroom.
what did we do exactly???we did this in two parts first ...cleaning the mushroom and then the stuffing. heres how we dealt wiht the mushroom.

Individually stem the mushrooms and scoop out the unwanted.The stems are to be chopped and used for the filling.
so what is left behind is a mushroom bowl.
Then boil half a litre of water with salt in it...once it starts boiling put the cleaned mushrooms into that.then drain out the water after 2-3 minutes(make sure that its just soft and has not become too spongy).Then jus absorb the water in the mushrooms by using a tissue paper .keep it aside.

Preparing the filling....


Buttoon mushrooms-20 nos
chopped onion -1
chopped green pepper-1
garlic-3 cloves
ginger paste -1/2 teaspoon.
turmeric powder-a pinch
chilly powder-1/4 tsp
soya sauce-3tbsp
tomato sauce-1tbsp
pepper-crushed-1 tbsp
coriander leaves-one small bunch finely chopped
mozarella cheese-1/4 cup(finely grated)
olive oil-to saute the above
salt -to taste

1.Heat the olive oil in the saute pan.
2.Followed by ginger /garlic
3.once its done bring the chopped onions into the pan...put in a little salt at this time.
4 Followed by green pepper,coriander leaves,chopped mushroom stem,masalas and the sauce. saute them for 4-5 mts till u get all the flavours
5.once its done keep it aside.

Spoon in this stuffing to the boiled mushrooms ..and then top it with the mozarella cheese .
use the cheese to completely cover the top portion of the mushroom.

Preheat the oven to 350 F .set the whole thing for about 20-25 mts..with an occasional peep to make sure that u take it out as soon as you see the cheese starts metling and gets sticky.

Then decorate with coriander leaves or dill.and NJOY!

Note:-mushrooms may cause indigestion for few..so if u have such problems avoid them.