Mango Salsa

Salsa is a Mexican dish used as a dip for chips. Its one of the popular snack in USA and Mexico.Its usually served as an appetizer and tastes yummy.I was so bored of eating the same old store bought salsa and it tasted the same every time.So i started to look for some other recipes and found this one, thought its a great time to try as there is plenty of Mango available in the market and its the season.For this recipe you need sweet Mango so i bought this from Indian stores as i wasn't sure of the mangoes in other stores.Its so simple and doesn't take much time to prepare.So it can be done way before a party and chilled in the refrigerator.



Best thing is its so colorful and attracts everyone to try a bite.The lemon juice in it gives a different sour taste.While buying Mango see to it that its not too ripe otherwise the mango in the salsa will become a puree while mixing.I sent this recipe for a contest in Orkut community and the theme was Mango.Do give it a try and let me know how it turned out.


Ingredients:
1 ripe and sweet Mango(chopped into small cubes)
1/2 onion finely chopped
1/2 Red bell pepper finely chopped
1/2 tomato small cubes
1-2 Green chillies finely chopped
Fresh cilantro for garnishing
salt to taste
1 tsp Paprika Powder/Red chilly flakes
1tsp Lemon juice(optional)

Method:
Mix all the ingredients and chill it in refrigerator for few hours and serve with tortilla chips/ pita chips of your choice.

[Note: Green chillies or Red chilly powder and pepper powder can be added to make it spicy.]

Coconut Burfi

Coconut Burfi(kobbari mitai) is a sweet made only with fresh coconut.I have seen some recipes with dry coconut which doesn't taste that great as the fresh ones do.The ingredients needed in this dessert is minimum and doesn't take much time to cook too.Make them before a festival or gathering, as they taste good when its in room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 Big fresh Coconut(2 cups of shredded coconut)
1.5 cups Sugar
1 tsp Cardamom Powder

Method:

Put the Shredded coconut and Sugar in a big frying pan(non-stick will be good so they don't stick to the pan) and keep in a low flame and keep mixing till the sugar melts.Now add cardamom powder and keep stirring.Meanwhile grease a plate with a little ghee and keep aside.Once the moisture evaporates and coconut starts to get hard to stir pour it to the plate and cut it to desired shape and let it cool for an hour.

Note: Store it in a fridge so it stays fresh for couple of weeks.

Baby Crochet Cap

Level: Easy
Time duration:1-2 hrs

This crochet design is very cute and very easy to make.Since its done on single crochet and its best for the beginners.I used white yarn thread for this and G needle as my yarn was very soft and thin.I saw this design on YouTube and here is the link.I just love this videos as its great for a beginner as u can pause and follow each and every step slowly.It fits a new born baby perfectly.Its a great gift when u visit to see a new born baby.

Benne Krishna

This is a Bala-Krishna Painting(an Indian god) eating butter, that's why its called "Benne Krishna"(in Kannada). I did this painting in 2004 during the Krishna janmashtami(a festival in India). I have used acrylic paint on a 16x20 size canvas board.First i traced the Picture to a tracing paper and then to the canvas board and painted it. Acrylic paints dry fast so its easy to paint and doesn't take much time when compared to oil paint. It took me 15 days to complete as i did it in a slow pace but i was satified the way it turned out.I was inspired from an other painting i did before this one, it was a Rajasthani Lady.Will post that painting picture soon as i presented that to my sister-in-law.

Veggie Quesadilla (with leftover Tortilla/Chapati)

"Quesadilla" is a Mexican snack, which means 'little cheesy thing' in Spanish.Its a very simple and easy recipe and best part is you can do it when u have some leftover Tortilla's/Chapatis. Its a kid friendly food as it is stuffed with cheese and veggies.

Ingredients:
[To make 4 quesadilla's]
2 Tortilla's/Chapatis
2tsp Salsa
1/4cup Onions finely chopped
1/4cup Bell Peppers finely chopped
1/4cup Tomatoes finely chopped
1/2cup Shredded Cheese(i used Mozzarella)

Method:
Heat the grill/frying pan on medium heat,put one tortilla/Chapathi and spread 2tsps of salsa over it and add the toppings one by one,Onions, bell peppers and tomatoes.Now add Cheese and cover it with another tortilla on the top and press a little and allow it to bake for about 4 minutes till in gets crispy.Now slowly turn the quesadilla with a wide spatula and bake for another 4 minutes.Take it off the grill and keep it on a cutting board and cut it into 4 parts.Quesadilla's are ready, Serve them hot.

[Note:Bake quesadilla's till they are crispy dont burn them.Any kind of cheese and vegetables can be added.]

Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread

Tomato soup is one of my favorite soup,its only because of its texture and wonderful taste. Drinking the soup with Garlic bread exaggerates its tastes.

Ingredients:

1 cup Tomato puree(take 2 tomatoes and blend it)
2-3 basil leaves(or 1/2tsp dry basil)
1/2cup Onions chopped
1 cloves Garlic
1 inch Ginger chopped
1/2cup Bell peppers chopped (Capsicum)
1/4cup Celery chopped(optional)
1 tsp Pepper flakes
1+1tsp Butter+ Oil
salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1tsp Heavy cream

Method:

Take butter and oil in a frying pan and when its hot add onions and saute'.Add ginger and garlic, then add bell peppers and a saute' few more minutes.Then add celery and tomato puree and let it boil for few minutes till the water in the tomato evaporates.Now add basil and salt & pepper, mix it well and allow it to cool. Blend everything in a mixer/blender and pour it back in the pan and boil it again for 2 more minutes and add a spoon of heavy cream to it ,pour it to a serving bowl with the store bought Garlic bread. Serve hot.



[Note: Garnish with a spoon of butter or the remaining cream.If you have a food processor then no need to cool the puree.]