Christmas Is Almost Here!!

 I got a head start on my To Do list this year and already started checking things off. I'm nearly there even though timing is ticking away: 

• Put up lights outside of home - Check
• Decorate Christmas tree with lights and ornaments - Check
• Make edible gifts (Pumpkin Spice Bread & Chocolate Mexican Wedding cookies) and hand out to friends - Check
• Make Corn Flakes Mixture for big sis - Check
• Wrap presents and put under the tree - Check

We would love to hear from you. What do you have planned for the holidays? What treats do you make around this time of year?  

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

A Merry Christmas To All!!

HO HO HO Holiday Rice With Beets!!

 

Have we got a treat for you! We decided to spread some holiday cheer by cooking up this colorful and healthy rice dish for everyone to enjoy during the holidays. We call it HO HO HO Holiday Rice. We prepared it just in time for Christmas...so even Santa can have a taste.  I figured he's so used to eating cookies that he might like to try something new.

Main Ingredients

You can make 6-8 servings by using the ingredients listed below:

• 1 large Beet Root, peeled and grated
• 1½ cups Rice (prefer Basmati), washed and cooked
• ½ cup Carrots & Peas (frozen)
• 4 Green chilies, split lengthwise
• 1" piece Ginger, chopped finely
• 1/8 cup Fried onions
• 1½ tbsp MTR Vangibhath powder
• 4-5 leaves Curry leaves (optional)
• 1 tsp each Whole Mustard and Cumin
• 1 tbsp Black Gram Dal (optional)
• 3-4 tbsp Vegetable oil
• Salt, as needed

Procedure:

1) Cook rice with little less water than normal so that it separates individual grains. After the rice is done, separate it with a wooden spatula and add a tbsp oil to avoid sticking.
2) Heat oil in a saucepan, add mustard and cumin seeds, when they splutter, add the gram dal and stir until it is golden brown (1-2 min). Add green chilies and ginger and stir for 1min and add grated beetroot and ½ tsp salt mix well and place the lid and cook for 4-5 min.

3) Add another tsp of salt and cooked rice in portions mixing it with season until it is uniform. Mix in fried onions, frozen carrots & peas and vangibath powder, stir well and cook for 3-4 minutes.

4) Serve it hot garnished with fresh coriander.

Wishing You and Your Family 

A Very Merry Christmas!**!

We enjoyed the festivities of Christmas by opening up presents, wishing all our relatives,  and baking some cookies as well as some Indian dishes.