Red Pepper & Eggplant Spread

Sheetal, this one is for you...

Ingredients:
Makes enough for bout 30 sandwiches
Red peppers: 3
Small eggplants: 8
Garlic: 1 whole head
Cumin seeds: 1 tbsp
Red onions: 2
Green chilies: 5
Turmeric: 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida: a pinch (ingua or hing)
Tamarind paste concentrate: 1.5 tsp
Olive oil: 2 tbsp (helps store it for longer)

Method:
To a large pan, add the oil, cumin seeds, asafoetida and turmeric.
Add garlic cloves, chilies and onions. Saute till onions are golden.
Add chopped red pepper and chopped eggplant.
Let cook uncovered for 15 minutes, till the vegetables are cooked through.
Add salt and red chili powder as per taste. Add the tamarind concentrate and grind to a fine paste.

Storage:
Place in clean and dry Ziploc freezer bags and freeze for up to 6 months.

Sandwiches:
Spread on bread. Layer with one or all your favourites, tomatoes, onions, or just plain cucumber slices. Top with cheese, or have it plain. Chock full of vitamins, and very filling... this has been my favourite lunch box meal.

Nutritional Information:
Per serving of 34 grams (1/30 of recipe):
Calories: 21
Calories from Fat: 9
Total Fat: 0 gm
Saturated Fat: 0 gm
Trans Fat: 0 mg
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 82 mg
Carbohydrate: 3 gm (1% of DV)
Dietary Fiber: 1 gm (3% of DV)
Sugars: 1 gm
Proteins: 1 gm

Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin C: 47%
Calcium: 1%
Iron: 2%

Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Actual values may vary based on individual dietary requirements.

Caloric Values:
Carbohydrates: 49% Fats: 45% Proteins: 6%

Cafe Mocha

Friend or Foe? Love coffee or hate it? The best thing to have on a cold day, or even a hot day for that matter... Rich and warm instant mocha!

Ingredients:
Milk: 3/4 cup
Almond milk: 1/2 cup (optional, can use milk instead)
Cocoa powder: 1.5 tbsp (I use Ghirardelli)
Instant coffee: 1 tsp, heaped
Vanilla Essence: 1/2 tsp
Sugar: 3 tsp (I like mine sweeet!)

Method:
Take a pan and heat milk, almond milk and cocoa powder.
Mix well. Heat till the milk starts frothing.
Add coffee and sugar. Let the coffee granules dissolve.
Turn off the stove and add the vanilla essence.
Use a frother to get froth over your coffee, or if you know the 2 glass method, this is the best time to put your knowledge to good use. To all those people who dont know the 2 glass method: take 2 steel glasses, pour coffee (from a moderate height) from one glass to the other till you are happy with the froth.

Happy Mocha Days!

I love my coffee too much to put a calorie tag on it!!!!!!