Geetha's Kitchen

Almond Butter Wow, talk about easy! Making almond butter is not only very easy, it is also economical. I use purchased roasted nuts for ease of preparation; but the nuts may be roasted at home in a skillet or in the oven. And since the roasted nuts are already salted, I do not add any additional salt.  If you prefer an unsalted product, by all means use unsalted roasted or raw nuts. I make small quantities to keep it fresh. I love almond butter just as it is and do not add anything else; but if you like, you may add cardamom or cinnamon for a bit of spice. Dates or raisins may also be added to make a sweet spread. Add spices or dried fruits to the food processor after the almonds have turned into butter and process a little longer until you have a uniform butter. I use the food processor to make the nut butters as I can scrape out every bit of it out (versus the blender) and it is so easy to clean too. Note:  This process takes about 15 minutes; at first it might...

Country Style Sweet Potatoes When Paji was on the Ayurvedic diet, he was quite worried as to how he was going to go without regular potatoes, his all-time favorite food!  I used sweet potatoes in all his favorite recipes and it has been an amazing success much to my relief and his delight. This simple recipe for country style potatoes is one of our particular favorites :).  Choose any type of sweet potato - all kinds work well. I have given the basic recipe here.  Other veggies that will work well here are carrots, zucchini, and corn.  I allot one sweet potato and bell pepper per person; you may use more/less if you wish. If you have a wok, get it working for you here - it is my favorite cooking utensil :) - even heat distribution, lots of room so the veggies are not crowded and mushed - what's not to like?!  Alternately, put the whole thing in a baking pan and roast in a 400 F oven for about 30 minutes or until done to your liking.  Bon appet...

  Chukku Kappi Chukku Kappi is a delicious and refreshing herbal beverage - in spite of the word Kappi (coffee), there is no coffee nor caffeine in the ancient recipe! I was reminded of this beverage when Keeshu found a jar at the Indian market and wanted to try it; it listed coffee as one of the ingredients - you are welcome to add ground coffee or tea leaves to this recipe if you like. I love the caffeine-less original recipe suitable for all ages, all times, and diets; so here it is :). Chukku Kappi is quite similar to Ginger Tea using fresh ginger; it is quite easy and simple to make. It is served as a home remedy for cold/cough or indigestion. I keep a jar of it in my cupboard and quickly make some as needed. Some recipes include cardamom, cumin, cloves, fennel seeds and the holy basil; add them to your "coffee" if you wish. Chukku Kappi ingredients   Ground Chukku Kappi   About 6 cups Ingredients: 2 T Coriander Seeds 1" Knob wh...

Roasted Cauliflower I had a huge cauliflower and a bunch of broccoli that I wanted to use up; since I was quite busy,  I wanted an easy option with minimal prep and came up with this idea. Cauliflower and broccoli are fantastic roasted; the wonderful Kerala spice combination of cumin, coriander and red pepper really compliments their flavors. The amchoor (ground dried green mangoes) or sumac adds the perfect tartness making a good thing even better. Turned out so delicious, that it vanished without a trace :). Broccoli and the stems from the veggies cook a little quicker; so add them to the pan after the cauliflower has been cooking for 10 minutes and finish cooking all the veggies. Another delicious option is to sprinkle the roasted veggies with Chaat Masala and fresh lime juice after roasting; if using chaat masala, use minimal salt while roasting as the masala has lots of salt in it. Note: Ground sumac is a middle eastern spice that adds a lovely tart flavor to sal...

Delicately spiced with nutmeg and with just the right amount of sweetness, Pear Muffins make wonderful treats for breakfast or snack time with a nice mug of chai or other beverage.  These muffins are the result of Paji's Ayurvedic diet of non-inflammatory foods.  If neither nutmeg nor ginger are available, add a tsp of vanilla to the batter for a variation on the fabulously delicious muffins - they turned out really Yum too!   Pear Muffins With Ginger & Nutmeg 12 large muffins Ingredients: 2 ripe Pears, peel and core 2 cups Whole wheat flour 1 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp Sea Salt 1/2 cup Organic Sugar 1/2 tsp freshly grated Nutmeg 2-3 tsp finely grated/ground fresh Ginger 2 Tbsp Coconut Oil 1 cup Almond/Rice Milk, about Method: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F while preparing the batter.  Prepare the muffin tin by oiling it - you might like to use a spray for ease of application. Place the pears in a large ...