Geetha's Kitchen

When I wanted to make quick roasted sweet potatoes/yams, I just went along with my inspiration and it brought rave reviews. Everyone just adores them and they disappear quickly. Simply marvelous and satisfying, they are to live for :)! A quick note for those who might find the names confusing - sweet potatoes with moist orange flesh are marketed as yams in the U.S. to differentiate them from the drier cream colored ones and both belong to the genus Ipomoea batatas; albeit different types. They are in the same family as the morning glory (Convolvulaceae). They are not true yams at all. Sweet potatoes/yams are a nutritious addition to any type of diet and provide an amazing 120 percent of Daily Value for Vitamin A and 30 percent of Vitamin C (based on a 2000 calorie diet). They also have a lower glycemic index than regular potatoes. Roasted sweet potatoes are also great made with a sprinkle of red chile flakes or ground red pepper (cayenne) instead of/in addition to the black peppe...

Use a combination of both dark and golden raisins for a gorgeous presentation. This is a lovely sauce to add a finishing touch to lots of desserts and it is easy to make - takes just 15 minutes. It is to live for! Variation: Use fresh/dried cranberries as part of the raisin mix and 1 tsp orange zest and 1/4 cup orange juice for the thickening. Makes 1 cup Ingredients: 1/2 cup Apple Juice/Water 3/4 cup Raisins  1/3 cup sugar 1 Cinnamon Stick, about 2" long 5 or 6 whole Cloves Juice of 1/2 Lemon 1 pinch of Sea Salt 1/4 cup apple juice 2 tsp cornstarch 1-2 Tbsp Pure Maple Syrup 1 Tbsp Butter Substitute (optional) Method: Combine juice, raisins, sugar, spices, lemon juice and salt in a small pan and gently simmer over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Mix the cornstarch and the 1/4 cup of apple juice and stir into the raisin mixture and cook until thickened. Stir in maple syrup and the butter/substitute if using and stir ...

Fasolatha, a simple, but wonderfully flavorful and satisfying soup is served all over Greece. It is amazing tasting with just a few basic ingredients. Greeks are very generous with the olive oil; I prefer a moderate amount. I have also added turmeric to make sure we get our daily dose of curcumin to keep our brains healthy - as you know "a little turmeric a day keeps lesions away"! A variety of beans called "gigantes" are used in Greece; they look like large lima beans. I used Great Northern beans here but have also used large Lima beans with great results. A good quality tomato paste may be used if fresh tomatoes are unavailable. Use about 2 to 3 Tablespoons in the recipe. Fasolatha Ingredients: 1 lb Large dry Lima OR Great Northern beans 1 small sprig each fresh oregano, thyme and sage 2 to 4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 medium brown/white/yellow Onions 2 cloves Garlic 1 stalk Celery, with leaves (1 medium bunch) 2 tsp Sea Salt or to...