Raungi ki Rasewali Subzi - Black Eye Peas cooked in gravy & Earth Day

The smallest action is a million times better than the noblest of thoughts!

My little contribution towards mother nature for Earth Day, being celebrated today :)
I like to carry bags from home for quick shopping trips, this way I do not have to use plastic bags for the grocery etc. I got mine from TJ's at about $1.99 a piece.
I like to tear & use only the amount of paper towel needed for a cleanup rather than the whole sheet, no shame in that! I've gotten stares for that, truth be told I used to feel a bit embarrassed at first, now I pity those who stare ;)

I've set up my heater/AC such that it consumes least electricity during daytime by simple use of a regulator timer.
I hardly ever switch on the AC in my car, believe me our bodies can take a little heat....lol.
I try to avoid plastic cups/boxes whenever I can, glass/steel works the best.
I think it needs a little conscious planning, but once you get used to it, it's a breeze!

Please feel free to leave your tips in comments section, would like to learn more from you!
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Now, lets look at the recipe of the day!

Raungi ki Rasewali Subzi - Black Eye Peas in gravy
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1 cup raungi/lobia/black eye peas/chawli/karamani boiled
(I pressure cook it for 3 whistles, make sure it does not get mushy)
2 tbsp oil
1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds
a small piece of Cinnamon
1 dry red chili
1 medium onion finely chopped
2 big cloves garlic grated/paste
1" piece ginger grated/paste
1/2 tsp chili powder (as per taste)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder/haldi
1 tsp dhania powder/coriander seed powder
1/4 tsp garam masala pwd ( more if it is store bought)
1/2 cup yogurt OR 3 tbsp sour cream
salt to taste
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1. Heat oil.
2. Add jeera, let splutter.
3. Add cinnamon, red chili and stir. Add finely chopped onion and saute till it turns brown.
4. Add ginger/garlic paste & saute till it gets incorporated in the onions.
5. Reduce heat, add all spices and stir a few seconds.
6. Add yogurt, little at a time and keep stirring well.
7. Add boiled raungi, salt and simmer on low for 10 minutes. Adjust consistency as per your taste.
8. Enjoy this healthy dish with rice or roti and maybe some Gulab Jamoon ;)

My contribution to Meeta's Monthly Mingle.
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As we know, Taste Of India has been experiencing problems in receiving feeds, you can subscribe to my blog by clicking on the top left corner of this screen! This way you will not miss any of my posts!

A few other beany posts on my blog:

Double beans & Gujarati Kadhi

Black Eye Peas Patties

Carrot and Orange Soup

Musambi/Sweet Lime juice was my juice of choice in hostel days. Sipping a large glass of Musambi juice with hot & spicy pav bhaji, late at night was a ritual I looked forward to :) But tastes change! Now it is orange & carrot juice which has taken prime place in my kitchen, sometimes I add pineapple as well. Also, the fact that musambi is not available where I live, made me move on to oranges.

When I came across a soup made out of carrots & oranges, I was intrigued and decided to give it a try. It is a very straight forward recipe, use of the pressure cooker makes it ever so fast. I like it more on the orangey' side, you may adjust oranges and carrot quantities as per taste, it is quite flexible. I would not recommend making it with store bought juice from the cartons! It makes for one absolutely beautiful colored soup :)
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Carrot and Orange Soup
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2 large carrots, chopped
2 oranges squeezed to get juice
1 tbsp oil/butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small onion chopped
2.5 cups water
salt & pepper to taste
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1. Heat oil/butter.
2. Add onion, garlic & carrots. Saute till they soften a bit.
3. Add water, salt & pepper. Cook till done. I pressure cooked it for 3 whistles, can be done in a saucepan too.
4. Let cool a bit and blend smooth, I used my indispensable hand blender. Let cool about 5mins.
5. Add orange juice and serve.
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Variation:
Ginger can be added for a different flavor.
Combining two power houses of nutrition sure makes for one healthy soup.

Into Green? Then check out my Avocado, Peas and Mint Soup

Time To Reveal The Mystery Ingredient --- Apple & Apricot Halwa

Apple and Apricot Halwa!

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I gave it a fancier name by shaping the halwa into apple like figurines - Apple & Apricot Apples, oiii
Many Thanks are in order to all who played along, with their guesses. Pistachio was easily identified by many of you. Rava/Semolina/Sooji got the maximum votes for the main ingredient. The ingredient in the depression of the sweet was guessed as some kind of jam/fruit puree.
Well, no one guessed the right ingredient, Apple!!!
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It is Apple & Apricot Halwa and uses just a teaspoon of sugar!
This was totally a spur of the moment creation of mine. A pretty jar of bright orange organic apricot preserves sat on my counter top for quite some time. I glanced at it every time I cooked but had to stick to my resolution of not opening it until I finished the other preserves languishing in the refrigerator ;) Yeah, looking at my pantry bursting at it's seams, there were some immediate steps that I needed to take, like displaying some jars on my counter top...lol
Secretly, I wanted to eat spoonfuls right out of that jar, but sense prevailed and I concocted this delicious dish which I'm really very excited and happy about, glad to share it with you all. It's going to be a regular at my place henceforth. The apples from the fruit basket helped me along. I had seen this delicious apple halwa amongst other drool worthy dishes over at Shilpa's and was thinking of trying it and then this idea took shape.......... Apples and apricots go extremely well together.
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3 apples grated ( I used golden del)
1 tsp ghee
1 tbsp milk powder
1 heaped tsp organic raw sugar
1.5 tbsp organic Apricot preserve (I used reduced sugar)
1/4 tsp ground cardamom/elaichi
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1. Heat ghee. Add grated apples and saute till water evaporates, about 10 minutes.
2. Add milk powder and stir till it all comes together in one mass.
3. Add sugar and let it mix well. The mixture will loosen a bit and then come together again.
4. Add the apricot preserves and cardamom, mix well. Saute a bit and switch off the stove.
5. Let cool a bit and enjoy a guilt free dessert. It is something that can be whipped up in a jiffy. It has a lovely sweet and a lil' tart taste from the apricot which is a pleasure to the senses. You can adjust the sugar as per your taste. If you want it fancier, make small peda/balls out of it, add some preserve in the depression on top of the peda & garnish with Pistachio. Milk powder can be replaced with ground almonds. I'm not sure if my mind was playing games with me, but it tasted just like dudhi/bottle gourd halwa :) Please note that this halwa does not have a cloyingly sweet taste, it is just too delicious!
Enjoy!!
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p.s. ever tried jack cheese with apricot preserves? sweeeeeeeeet :)
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Have you checked out my Dates & Pistachio Poli

G U E S S ------ What Ingredients Make Me So Pretty!!

So, what do you say it is ;)

Lets put the Guess-Meter in over-drive........