ruchi, Author at Recipe Treasure

Peanut Coriander (Cilantro) Chutney

Last Updated on August 28, 2015 by ruchi 2 Comments

My love for peanuts has no bounds. Apart from snacking on them during my leisurely hours, I am always on a lookout for a chance to use peanuts in a variety of dishes and enjoy them in every way possible. Whether I use them in desserts or blend them in a curry, peanuts seem to add a rustic essence to the delicacy and turn every helping into decadence. But it’s the simple peanut coriander chutney which pleased my taste buds the most! Its lip-smacking… it’s refreshing… it’s full of aroma – it has all the qualities one looks for in perfect chutney!

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Mushroom-Garlic Toast

Last Updated on August 25, 2015 by ruchi 2 Comments

Garlic and mushrooms go hand in hand. No wonder the classic dish of garlic-mushrooms on toast is popular all over the world. There is something about the combination of crusty bread, rustic-flavored mushrooms and the aromatic garlic which makes this simple recipe a winner! I took a step further and sautéed the mushrooms with parsley and lemon pepper for more flavors and the outcome was indeed super-delicious! Next time, I’m planning to add a dollop of crème fraiche or clotted cream on top to fill it with creamy goodness. [Read more…]

Cucumber Salad with Tomatoes and Onion

Last Updated on March 25, 2014 by ruchi Leave a Comment

My family loves to spend time in my sister-in-law’s place. Apart from her warm welcome, it’s her garden which serves as the prime attraction, especially for my little devils since they get lots of space to run around an materialize their mischiefs. But I fell in love with the garden owing to the luscious veggies growing in it. Each veggie always makes me wonder the wonderful dishes I could have whipped up if I had one such garden in my house. So, when she came to my house with a bag full of her garden-fresh Armenian cucumbers, I was delighted. So here I am with a cucumber salad recipe made from those very juicy fruits.

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Blackberry-Banana Protein Shake

Last Updated on August 28, 2015 by ruchi 2 Comments

My hubby Lalit is a health freak! He never fails to kick start the day with a rigorous workout session (unlike a lazy bone like me!) and needs his protein shake right after it. Indeed protein shakes are great for building up muscle masses as well as strengthening them too. It supplies him with the protein which he misses out in our vegetarian diet and keeps him charged up till lunch time.

However, a milk shake with just protein powder is too bland to enjoy! So I prefer to toss in few fruits to jazz it up and load with extra protein. Not to mention, a fruit-infused protein shake works as great refreshment for him after a sweaty workout.

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Summer Baking with Kids: Chocolate Cake with Frosting

Last Updated on April 28, 2014 by ruchi 4 Comments

Engaging kids into exciting activities is a great way to keep themselves away from video games and televisions for some time. These give them a chance to nurture their creative streak and make them realize that stuffs that don’t include a screen can also be super fun.

My kids love cakes (which kids don’t?) and when their babysitter proposed to them to try baking one, they grabbed the suggestion without any second thought! They rushed to the kitchen and the little cooks began their culinary venture. When kids are involved, things can get messy and lots of wastage might be involved. But the babysitter was an absolute angel! She took great care to keep things in control without compromising with the fun element throughout the baking session. To start with, she made a wise decision to go for a chocolate cake mix instead of baking it from scratch. This snipped down the number of ingredients and allowed the kids to mix them in any order they wanted. She measured each ingredient and added them directly into the cake pan to avoid any chaos. So, the kids were actually just blending them together with a spatula – a job they did with great joy. Sheena, my eldest kid, even dipped her finger once into the batter stealthily and licked it!

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Ginger Limeade Drink – Indian Style

Last Updated on April 28, 2014 by ruchi 8 Comments

Keep your chilled Cola aside and take a sip of some natural drink to beat the heat during summer. What about a glass of chilled limeade to cool you down? Lime being a common ingredient in your pantry, limeade becomes an obvious choice to churn up a quick, refreshing drink during summer. It’s super-simple and can be improvised by using additional ingredients to pleasure you with new flavors every time.

I like to keep my limeade drink simple. But my Indian taste buds coax me to spice it up and give it an Indian punch. When it comes to spices, a dash of ground roasted cumin or ‘jeera’ works best for such summer drinks. Its earthy flavor pairs well with the playful tang of fresh fruits (lime in this case) and turns each sip into a sensuous indulgence. Most people prefer to use club soda for their limeade. But I would suggest trying it out with ginger ale. This is because the exciting combination of pungent and a tad fiery flavor of ginger with tangy lime juice is simply mind blowing. [Read more…]

Low Fat Peach and Banana Smoothie

Last Updated on August 30, 2015 by ruchi Leave a Comment

I’m a smoothie fanatic and often blitz one up for a quick breakfast. After all, you hardly need any chef’s skill to chop some fruits and blend them in your food processor to create a rich, creamy drink. And it’s healthy too!

Banana smoothie happens to be my ‘go-to’ drink since it has my favorite fruit in it. No wonder, it was my first option for breakfast this morning. I also had some peaches with me and chose to toss one while blending my smoothie. It was rich and creamy, just the way I liked and looked somewhat forbidding for your waistline! But in reality, it’s low in fat, nourishing and an ultimate energy booster. [Read more…]

Veggie Pita Pocket Sandwich

Last Updated on April 28, 2014 by ruchi 2 Comments

Meatless Mondays are great to keep you healthy and save you from an overdose of animal protein. But choosing a meal which is both vegetarian and quick to make can be a tough job. An instant choice can be sandwiches but they are so unexciting! So here I am to help you whip up veggie sandwich with a difference! Veggie pita pocket sandwiches anyone?

A small handful of fresh veggies nestled snugly within the pocket of a pita bread carries the essence of a sandwich yet doesn’t look cliched at all. Rather the rustic flavors of the pita bread works perfectly with the crunchy veggies and a creamy dressing is the cherry on top. There are many options to go for when it comes to the dressing. Though hummus works best to bring out the Mediterranean zing in pita pocket sandwiches, you can also use usual dressings like mustard, Thousand Islands or ranch dressing too. I have used mustard in my version of pita pocket sandwich and it was delish! If you ask me, I didn’t miss the hummus at all. I find them the perfect way to enjoy fresh veggies and enjoy a flavorful meal at any point of time. [Read more…]

Spinach and Squash Quesadillas with Salsa

Last Updated on April 28, 2014 by ruchi 2 Comments

A successful party always calls for great finger-foods. Imagine a lively chat with your friends and family with a boring food for company! Doesn’t sound much appealing right? And that’s why spicy food with a playful tang is a must-have in parties, picnics, potlucks or casual get-togethers. And when it comes to flavorsome food, Mexican dishes work best to keep up with the dynamic spirit of such events.

Quesadillas happen to be one of my personal Mexican favorite. Their yum flavor is not the only reason behind my biasness. Making quesadillas never call for any particular ingredients. All you need are the veggies which you feel like eating (and have within your reach!), cheese and tortillas – the rest is a cakewalk. I love its versatility! [Read more…]

Veggie Hot Dogs

Last Updated on August 30, 2015 by ruchi Leave a Comment

Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean that you will be deprived of the lip-smacking flavors of hot dogs. During trips to supermarkets and grocery stores, you must have come across frozen faux-meat or tofu hot dogs in the processed food section. They might satisfy your hot-dog cravings to some extent. But if you ask me – I hate them! I find them unusually hard, chewy and obviously unhealthy (don’t forget the preservatives in them)! So, I prefer to make my own version of hot dogs at home. They are purely vegetarian, fresh, easy on pocket and definitely more nutritious alternatives to its fake store-brought counterparts. [Read more…]