Moong Dhal with Spinach

Its vegetarian week this week, so here is a super healthy and delicios recipe to get all my readers making the change for one day and eating a vegetarian dinner.

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Moong Dhal with Spinach

by Nayna Kanabar May-22-2015

Delicious protein packed Moong dhal with iron packed spinach makes this dhal not only delicious to eat but it is super healthy too.

Ingredients:

• 120g / 4 oz Moong Dhal (without husk)
• 360g /12oz Baby spinach (finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon Garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon Ginger paste
• 2 Small tomatoes (blended to puree)
• 600 ml Water
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• 1 teaspoon Chilli powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 Dried red chilli
• 1/4 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1 tablespoon Fresh Coriander finely chopped for garnish

Method:

1. Wash the moong dhal and soak it in water for 2 hours, after which boil it for 30 minutes until cooked but holding shape.2.In a large pan add the oil and heat it up on medium heat. Once oil is hot add the mustard seeds and red dried chilli wait for them to splutter. 3. Add the garlic and ginger paste and saute for 1 minute. Add the blended tomatoes, salt, chilli powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and turmeric powder and saute the mixture for 2-3 minutes. 4. Add the finely chopped spinach and add 100 ml water. Cook the spinach for 3-4 minutes until wilted.5.Add the cooked moong dhal with the cooking liquid to the spinach and bring the dhal to a slow simmer.Cook for 5 minutes.6. Add extra water to get the desired consistency.7. Transfer the dhal to a serving dish and garnish with fresh coriander. Serve with boiled rice.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 40 mins Total time: 50 mins Yield: 4 servings

Keys-To -Go portable keyboard.

Creating recipes and developing them is fun, but also important is accounting and keeping note of the measurements and preparation stages. I always keep a pad and pencil in my kitchen drawer for this, but the drawer is a nightmare with scraps of papers with scribbled recipes in ineligible writing. I needed an easier way to note my ideas and recipes. I tried typing my recipes on my phone whilst cooking, this was not a good idea as phone screen is too small and phones are not water proof; I had visions of liquids drowning my phone which would not be a recipe to success.

I also tried typing recipes straight onto the notes section of my ipad which has a larger screen. This by far was a much better solution but again I have the same problem, ipads are not  liquid proof and certainly not safe to be used on kitchen tops with so many ingredients laying around. I needed a solution that would alleviate my scrap paper dilemma and also make my life easier having the recipe typed in the correct stages straight on a device for editing. I was on the look out for a fail safe solution.

Finally I have managed to ditch my pen and paper and I have a wonderful solution that works well for me in my kitchen. I can still utilise my ipad but keep it away at a safe distance on my kitchen window ledge. You may wonder how this is possible, have  I suddenly grown longer arms? No I have not grown longer arms, neither do I have a PA (wish I had though) to do my typing  and take notes for me, instead I have a new friend the Keys - To - Go Logitech portable keyboard that I can use with my ipad.



This super slender keyboard is the best thing that has happened to me. It is totally portable, super slim, has a wireless blue tooth technology with a rechargeable 3-month battery with battery check indicator light. Its best feature for me is that it has a fabric skin that wards off dirt, crumbs and spills no matter where you are or what you do. Now I don't have to worry if my hands are dirty or if I spill anything in the vicinity of the keyboard as it is totally wipe able.

When I am not using it in the kitchen, the keyboard  works equally well  with all iOS devices including iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. This keyboard has certainly made my life  much easier in my kitchen and around my home, but there is only one problem and that is that all my family have discovered it too and one is not not enough for every one!!!!

I was sent the Logitech Keys - To - Go portable keyboard to use in my kitchen, all the views and opinions in this post are my own, I was not asked to write a positive review.

Butternut Squash and Kale Soup~ 5-2 diet

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Butternut Squash and Kale Soup

by Nayna Kanabar May-10-2015

Creamy and delicious butternut squash with healthy kale soup.

Ingredients:

• 400 g Butternut Squash
• Large handful Kale
• 1 Medium white Onion
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon Olive oil
• 500 ml Water
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Fat free Greek yoghurt

Method:

1. Peel the butternut squash and chop it into small cubes.2. Wash the kale and chop it finely.3. Peel and dice the onion finely.4. Peel and chop the garlic finely.5. Add oil in a pan and wait for it to heat up. Add the garlic and onions and saute the onions for 3-4 minutes, next add the butternut squash and 500 ml water and cook the butternut squash for 10 minutes until soft.6. Add the kale and cook for another 5 minutes.7. Transfer the soup to the Optimum 9400 blender and blend the soup for 1-2 minutes.8. Transfer the soup back to the pan and season with salt and pepper. You can adjust the consistency to your preference by adding a little more water if you like.Once soup has heated through transfer to serving bowls and swirl some greek yoghurt over it. Serve with fresh bread.

Details

Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 30 mins Yield: 2 servings

I made my soup in the Optimum 9400 blender, it is a great blender that will create amazing smoothies, ice creams, sorbets, smooths, nut milks in a jiffy. It also grates, slices and grinds. The Optimum 9400 is currently available at a special price of £ 329.00, it comes with a 30 day money back guarantee with free return postage of you are not totally satisfied with it. You can also get an extra 2 year warranty if you order through here using code "Special Ambassador offer"

Suitable for 5-2 diet
Bread not included in count.

Calories per serving	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
170	34	4	5	178	8

Submitting to:
In my VEG BOX ~ Buternut Squash event by citrusspiceuk, guest hosted by Mayuri's Jikoni

Kale, Kiwi and Orange Juice.

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Kale, Kiwi and Orange Juice

by Nayna Kanabar May-4-2015

Vitamin packed power juice made with kale, kiwi and oranges

Ingredients:

• 4 Oranges
• Handful Kale
• 4 Kiwi
• 1 cup Icecubes

Method:

1. Peel the oranges and keep aside.2. Peel the kiwi and keep aside3. Slightly massage the kale in your hands and then add it to the Optimum 600 juicer.4. Add the oranges and kiwi to the juicer.5. Pour the juice into two tall glasses and serve with ice cubes.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: NoneTotal time: 5 mins Yield: 2 servings

The Optimum 600 juicer is slow juicer that extracts juice keeping all the nutrients in it.To find out more about it and make a purchase You can check it out here.

Giveaway Kirstie Allsopp card making kits

Creating home made cards make giving cards a very personal touch. With these Kirstie Allsopp kits, making cards at home is simple and easy to do.The kits come with all the things you need to complete your project with detailed instructions as well. With this in mind I am hosting a giveaway for two Kirstie Allsop card making kits for two citrusspice readers. The kits contain everything  you will need with full instructions to make your cards.

How To Enter:

• Simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries
• 2 Kirstie Allsopp card making kits (one prize per winner)
• Entries can be via blog comment, Facebook, Twitter etc
• This competition is open to UK residents only over 18 years of age .Please read the rules below .
• Leaving a blog comment is mandatory and failure to do so will void any other entries.
• Closing date - 31st May 12.00 am

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Round up~In my VEG BOX ~Garlic

Thankyou to everyone who took part in this event , here are all the lovely recipes.

An InLinkz Link-up