Category Archives: Holiday Ideas
4th Of July Dessert: Vanilla Coconut Panna Cotta with Mango Lime Sauce
- 3 tablespoons cold water
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups plain yogurt
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup evaporated cane sugar
- 1 vanilla bean, sliced length-wise and seeds taken out
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 8 (8 oz) ramekins
In a small bowl dissolve the gelatin in the cold water. Keep aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the yogurt, coconut milk, vanilla extract and seeds from vanilla bean.
In a heavy saucepan, heat the cream and sugar on medium heat until just simmering. Remove from heat and add the gelatin mixture. Add the cream mixture into the cold yogurt mixture.
Pour into the ramekins and chill thoroughly- at least 6 hours if not over night. Dip bottoms of cups into hot water and invert into a serving plate. Serve with mango lime sauce.
Mango Lime Sauce
- ½ cup mango pulp
- 2 tablespoons evaporated cane juice
- Juice of ½ lime (1 tablespoon)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2-3 mint leaves
Combine mango pulp and sugar in a small saucepan. Add the mint leaves and heat over medium heat. Cook for 5 minutes and turn the heat off. Add the vanilla extract and lime juice. Take the mint leaves once the sauce is cool. Serve with the panna cotta.
4th of July Recipes- Thai Style Potato Salad
- 3 pounds red skinned potatoes, boiled, peeled and cut into ¼ inch cubes
- 3 sweet peppers, cut into ½ inch cubes (a mix of red and yellow or orange)
Add to a large serving bowl and keep aside.
Dressing
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ light coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- Salt
Mix the peanut butter, coconut milk, honey, tamari, sriracha sauce, lime juice, rice wine vinegar and salt. Mix well and add to the potatoes. Taste for seasonings and add salt if needed.
Garnish
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 cup green onions, chopped
- 1 cup salted peanuts, chopped
Top with cilantro, green onions and peanuts. Serve room temperature.
4th of July Recipes -Mushrooms and Cannellini Bean Burgers
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups Cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 14 ounces cannellini beans, drained
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
¼ cup dill, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ cup panko bread crumbs
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, garlic, salt and cook until the onion is translucent about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the veggies to a food processor with the rest of the ingredients. Pulse 5-10 times to combine- careful not to overdo it… you don’t want a paste.
Press mixture between fingers- if you can form a patty with it, you are good, if it is too crumbly, add some water 1 tablespoon at a time until it sticks together. If the mixture is too wet, add more breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon at a time until the right consistency.
Form the mixture into 8 patties (about 1/3 cup of the mixture each) and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate uncovered for 30 minutes.
When ready to cook, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non stick skillet over medium high heat. Cook 3 to 4 patties at a time until brown, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Add sliced cheese on top if desired. The left overs can be frozen. Serve in ciabatta rolls with tomato and cucumber relish and cumin mayo!
Tomato and Cucumber Relish
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup cucumbers, chopped
- 1 teaspoons salt
- Juice of half lemon
Mix all the ingredients and let sit for ½ an hour before serving with burger.
Cumin Mayonnaise
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup whole milk yogurt
- Juice of half lemon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
Mix all the ingredients and serve with the burgers.
Pumpkin Gelato
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup evaporated cane juice (sugar)
- ½ vanilla bean, split in half
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cinnamon stick
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons whole milk to mix in the cornstarch
Ice cream maker
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, vanilla bean, ground cloves and cinnamon stick on medium heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the edges, add the cornstarch mixed in with 2 tablespoons milk. Cook till the mixture begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes and forms a custard consistency. Add ½ cup pumpkin puree and mix well. Remove from the heat. Strain and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Freeze the gelato for at least an hour once it is done.
Pear and Ginger Crumble
Topping
- ¾ cup white whole-wheat flour
- 2/3 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into ½ inch squares
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an ovenproof dish that is approximately 13 X 9. Mix the seven ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the butter and rub in with fingers until moist clumps form. Keep aside.
- 2 pounds ripe yet firm pears, peeled, cored and sliced thin
- Juice of one lemon
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
Toss the pears with the lemon juice, sugar and flour. Transfer the filling to the ovenproof dish. Sprinkle topping over. Bake the crumble until pears are tender and the topping is golden brown- about 40 minutes. Cool for a few minutes before serving with vanilla ice cream.
Indian Style Latkes
Here is my take on potato latkes… !
- 2 large russet potatoes (about 3 cups)
- 1 medium shallot, minced
- 2 green onions, minced
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 1 serrano chile, minced
- 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt to taste
- 2 teaspoons coriander powder
- 2-3 tablespoons chickpea flour (all-purpose flour will be fine)
- ½ cup extra light olive oil heated to about 200 degrees.
Heat oven to 200 degrees. Place a small lined cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
Line a large mixing bowl with a cheese cloth. Grate the potatoes in the cloth and squeeze all the liquid out and put back into the bowl. Add the shallots, green onions, ginger, chile, cilantro, egg, salt and the coriander powder. Slowly add the flour, mix well until the mixture is thick.
Scoop the mixture with a ¼ cup measure. Place it gently in the hot oil and flatten it with the back of the cup measure. Cook on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes on both sides or till golden brown. Take out on a platter lined with paper towels, drain well and place in the oven to keep hot.
Serve with cilantro cream or apple chutney.
Makes 9-10 medium sized latkes.
Cilantro Cream
- ½ cup low-fat sour cream
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of one lime
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
In a blender, add the sour cream, cilantro, lime-juice and salt. Blend till smooth- you may need to add a couple teaspoons of water to start the blending process. Take out in a small bowl and serve with the latkes.
Apple Chutney
- One large honey crisp apple, cut into ½ inch pieces
- ½ cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 cloves
- ½ teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- Salt
In a small saucepan, add the apple, cider, vinegar, sugar, cloves, ginger, cayenne pepper and salt. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the apples till they are soft and the liquid is half the amount- about 10 minutes. Smash the apples with the back of a ladle and mix with the thickened liquid. Cook for another 5 minutes and take out in a bowl and serve with the latkes.
Manchego Smoked Paprika Mashed Potatoes
- 4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into small squares
- Salt
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¾ to 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups shredded Manchego cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pepper
- ½ cup green onion, chopped
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
Add the cut potatoes to a deep pot and cover with water. Add at least 2 tablespoons salt and the garlic cloves. Place a lid on the potatoes and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and garlic and put them through a food mill and add back to the hot pot. Add butter, half and half and smoked paprika. Check for seasonings, add pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and let cool all the way. Add the grated cheese and mix well. At this point, the potatoes can be refrigerated and made at least a day in advance. Once ready to bake, take out of fridge at least 30 minutes in advance. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or till heated through. Garnish with green onions and cilantro.