Straberry&Vermicelli Kheer/Pudding/Halwa

Ingredients for 2: about 20 straberries, half cup of sweetened condensed milk, half cup of regular or fatfree milk, 1-2 crushed cardamoms, 1 tbsp of roasted vermecelli (found in Indian and Middle Eastern stores or you can dry roast some angel hair), 10-12 almonds and any kind of nuts for topping.

Preparation: Blend the strawberries with milk, cardamom and almonds before pouring into a small pan. Add the vermellici and  keep stirring on medium heat. This will gradually thicken and in 10-15 minutes when the vermicelli is absorbed well  remove from stove; Top it with your favorite nuts and serve at room temperature or chilled. You might need to add more sugar if the strawberries are sour and more milk for the consistency.

Tip: You can replace the vermicelli with 1 tbsp of oats or cooked rice, Straberries with mango and cardamom with any other flavor you like.

Fat Free Sweet,Sour&Spicy Dip

Blend about 10-12 strawberries with one peeled and cut apple, 1/2″of fresh ginger and 1 small hot pepper and salt to taste.
Enjoy with anything you like: vegetables or pretzels or even some plain toast!

10 Minutes+10 Apricots to Cook up a Spicy Chutney for 10

Ingrédients: 10 apricots, 1 tsp of oil, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, nigella and cumin seeds, 1/2 tsp of hot pepper, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp or to taste of Garam Masala and 3 tbsp of brown sugar.

Preparation: Crackle the fennel,cumin and nigella seeds. 

Add the cut apricots and salt

Cook on medium heat for about 6-7 minutes 

Add sugar and Garam Masala and cook for another 2 minutes

Note: I needed to add 3 tbsp of sugar as my apricots were very sour so check the sweetness of your fruit before adding the sugar.

Coconut,Cilantro&Green Apple Dip

Blend 20cl coconut milk, 1 bunch of cilantro and i green apple peeled and chopped, 1 hot pepper and salt to taste. Easy and delicious it works as a great dip not only with chips and Samosas but also with grilled vegetables and meats. Serve chilled.

Ripe Mango Ketchup, Dip or Chutney

How to use a yellow mango which is ripe yet a little sour? Well, I just blended the pulp with a 1″ piece of ginger and salt & pepper and served it as a Chutney/Ketchup with Samosas. With no extra sugar added it will please adults as well as children.

Avocado,Apricot&Pear Chutney/Dip

Ingredients: 1 avocado, 4-5 apricots,1 pea, juice of 1 lemon, salt and if desired some green hot pepper, half cup of water

Preparation: Blend all the fruits with the salt and adjust the water to the consistency you like. Keep some apricot slices for the topping.

This is a good way to use up your fruit which ripens quickly in summer. Use this as a dip or salad dressing.

Water Melon and Peach Smoothy or Soup with Garam Masala

Ingredients for 4: 1 small watermelon de-seeded, 2 pears peeled and chopped,1/2 tsp Garam Masala, some mint leaves, salt&pepper
Preparation: Blend the watermelon and pear together. For the smoothy top it with some fresh fruits and almonds. For the soup add salt&pepper to taste, 1/2 tsp of Garam Masala and chopped mint. Easy to make and your guests can choose according to their taste!

Fig&Coconut Creamy Pudding or Kulfi

Ingredients  2 : 3-4 figs, half a cup of coconut milk, 4 chopped strawberries , 1 tbsp of sweet condensed milk  or sugar to taste and a pinch of cardamom or any flavour of your choice.
Preparation: Blend the figs and coconut milk in a blender. To make kulfis add some almonds and freeze.  For making little shot glass size desserts mix in the strawberries or layer them at the bottom and top it with a cherry or any other fruit of your choice or even some nuts.

Vegetable&Fruit Salad

Ingredients for 4: 1 large cucumber peeled and diced, 4 carrots peeled and grated, 1 apple peeled and diced, 2-4 apricots diced, 1 green lime,1  tbsp of roasted sesame seeds and  1 tbsp of roasted and powdered cumin seeds, 1 tbsp of mustard of your choice, salt&pepper, some fresh cilantro and mint leaves for garnishing.

Preparation: Whisk the lemon juice, mustard, sesame seeds, cumin powder salt and pepper and add the cut vegetables and fruits. Mix well and add the fresh herbs before serving.

By adding some yogurt this salad becomes the traditional Raita which accompanies our meals

Black&Bitter Chocolate Kulfi with Cardamom and Turmeric

Ingredients for 4 small portions: 1 slab of dark dessert chocolate, 1 cup of milk or cream, 1 cup of  coarsely pounded  almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts and pistachios; 1 tsp of cardamom and turmeric powder.

Preparation: Melt the chocolate in a microwave and then mix in all the remaining ingredients. Freeze for about 4-6 hours and sprinkle some turmeric before serving.