Soni's Food

Indian Inspiration!

Split Pea and Porcini Mushroom Soup #Guestpost from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

15 | 05 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

I’m off to India for ten days to see my Mom who has been unwell for sometime now and have some bloggers and non-bloggers (including my hubby) lined up who will be guest posting on my blog while I’m away!So enjoy all these delicious recipes in the meantime and I’ll see you all once I’m back!!

My first guest is my lovely friend Cindy from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings who has also guest posted for me in the past with this wonderful  Wheatberry Salad that’s super healthy and delicious!!Cindy is an accomplished chef and writer.Her published writings include contributing writer for three newspaper columns, “Garden Spot” in Pocono Record,”The Watering Whole” in Times News and “Lawn and Garden” in Pocono Xpress. Her articles have appeared in national publications including: Mother Earth News, Backhome Magazine, Fresh Magazine, Clamor, Inscriptions, Relish, Parenting Humor, Poor Mojo’s Almanac, The Muffin, Funds for Writers and several online newspapers and publications. Without further ado here’s Cindy!

I’m so excited to be guest posting for Soni at Soni’s Food  .

I cook for a living. I’m a chef, food writer and recipe developer. I never really tire of cooking but like my friend, Soni, I like to try new cuisines.Today I’m sharing a vegetarian dish. I try to make at least one meatless meal a week. This split pea moves up a notch on the soup ladder by adding reconstituted dried porcini mushrooms and barley.To thicken the soup I used Cream of Wheat also known as Farina. Cream of Wheat adds body without any grit. If wheat or gluten is a problem for you, substitute corn starch in the same amount and leave out the barley.

Split Pea and Porchini Soup

This soup is fast and easy. The flavors blend well without the need for added spices.Thanks Soni for letting me share a little something about myself with your readers!

Split Pea and Porcini Mushroom Soup

split pea and porcini mushroom soup ingredients

Ingredients:
1 cup dried split peas (green or yellow)
3 cups vegetable broth
3/4 cup cooked barley
1 cup dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted drained and chopped
2 Tablespoons Cream of Wheat or Farina
salt and pepper to taste
croutons (optional)

Process:
Bring split peas, mushrooms and broth to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until tender.
Add barley and cream of wheat.
Serve with croutons if desired.

 

 

 

Tribes-A-Dozen Voila!Hallah #review and #giveaway!

01 | 05 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

I have one confession to make.I’ve never baked Bread from scratch.Nope.Never.Ever.

But I absolutely love Breads.Brioche would probably be my favorite.I love the rich taste and that slightly sweet eggy flavor.In my opinion the perfect bread for my favorite dessert, Bread Pudding.I was very excited when Tribe-A-Dozen sent me their three amazing Hallah or Challah Bread Mixes to review and also agreed to give away a similar set to one of my lucky readers!!!Scroll down to the bottom to enter my giveaway!

tribes-a-dozen-boxes

Tribes-A-Dozen is about wholesome, all natural, kosher hallah (or challah bread) – -the classic egg bread – – also referred to as Barches, Brioche, Kalács, Osterbrot, or, simply, Twisted Bread.
In addition, these mixes are made using Organic Kosher ingredients so you can be rest assured that its good for the whole family.I now know that there’s a great alternative to buying store bought bread that is super easy and tastes absolutely delicious!

Tribes-A-Dozen manufactures a unique kosher (OU) line of three Voilà! Hallah Egg Bread Mixes –Simply Spelt, Traditional, and Wholey Wheat.

Traditional Egg Bread Mix-For those asking “what is hallah (challah) bread,” their Traditional is the classic egg bread baked at home for generations around the world. This blend of carefully selected premium ingredients bakes into a fragrant Hallah, a nourishment for the soul as much as the body.

Ingredients:Unbleached unenriched wheat flour, unbleached and enriched wheat flour (niacin, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, malted barley flour), turbinado sugar, sea salt, and organic flavor.
MSRP: $5.99

Wholey Wheat Egg Bread Mix-Nourishing and delicious,their Wholey Wheat is made from premium organic whole grain wheat flour. It bakes into a honey infused Hallah loaf rich with old-world authenticity.

Ingredients:Organic whole grain wheat flour, brown sugar, turbinado sugar, sea salt, and organic flavor.
MSRP: $5.99

Simply Spelt Egg Bread Mix-Their Simply Spelt is made from organic ancient whole grain Spelt flour. Spelt’s natural high content of fiber, vitamins, and minerals – combined with its unique, subtly sweet, nutty flavor — makes their Simply Spelt nutritious and delicious.

Ingredients:Organic whole grain spelt flour, brown sugar, turbinado sugar, sea salt, and organic flavor.
MRSP: $6.99

For more information on their products and store availability click  here.

Hallah has deep spiritual meaning in the Jewish faith, but traditional egg bread is enjoyed in many cultures and embraced by Kosher and non-Kosher households alike. Hallah, or egg bread, is perfectly enjoyed on its own, as sandwich bread, or as the ultimate base for French toast or bread pudding.Tribes-A-Dozen believes in baking the kind of bread your great-grandmother used to make!Whether you spell it challah bread or hallah bread, you will love this recipe.

So, what did I do?Finally I baked my own Bread using their Traditional Bread Mix and ate it too!!I loved how easy the whole process was.The mix included the yeast, and the flour mix.All that I had to do was follow the instructions and bake!I especially loved the braiding part!Something I’ve never done before :).It came out looking so professional and I was so proud :).Plus who can resist a warm freshly baked bread out of the oven.It had the perfect texture, so moist, soft and oh so melt-in-your-mouth delicious.My kids wanted it for all of their three meals!Really.Good.Stuff.

Challah 3

Not only that, I used the leftover bread to make an insanley delicious Bread Pudding!The recipe will be posted very soon :).

Thankyou Tribes-A-Dozen.

Challah Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

For more information about their products and availability visit their website.

Now for the exciting part!!

One of you lucky readers can win all their Three Bread Mixes by entering my Giveaway!!!Please note that this giveaway is only open to US residents!The more entries you get,the better your chances of winning!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Disclosure-Tribes-A-Dozen provided me with the samples to review and all opinions are my own.

Tofu Asparagus Jalfrezi

23 | 04 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

Good weather motivates me to get into my kitchen and create some exciting recipes!This time round gorgeous Asparagus are in season and that got me thinking, “why not use them in my Indian cooking?”.I love crunchy vegetables and Asparagus is one of my favorites.They’re super easy to cook, hardly require any preparation and they’re healthy in vitamins and minerals.Combine them with some Tofu and Peppers and you have one irresistible dish that’s to die for.Its an Indian stir fry that is super easy and makes for a great side dish.

Tofu Asparagus Jalfrezi

Jalfrezi is a dry stir fry that uses onion,tomatoes and peppers along with chilies and you can make it using your favorite meats or veggies.The vegeterain version is typically made using Paneer,but Tofu is a great alternative.My kids love Tofu and I’ve been using them instead of Paneer in most of my Paneer dishes of late.I love the taste and texture once they’re shallow fried in a little oil to get those crispy edges.

Tofu Asparagus Jalfrezi 2

My Tofu and Asparagus Jalfrezi has some amazing flavors going on with the onions,garlic,ginger and the spices.Adding Asparagus was a genius idea and once it gets coated in these flavors its out of this world.The Peppers along with the Asparagus add their lovely color and crunch and the Tofu absorbs all the wonderful spices.The whole dish has this lovely spring feel to it and its a new family favorite.Enjoy.

Tofu Asparagus Jalfrezi

Tofu Asparagus Jalfrezi

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Ingredients
  

  • Extra Firm Tofu-13 oz
  • Cumin Seeds-1 tsp
  • Whole Red Chili-2
  • Onions-2 sliced
  • Crushed Ginger-2 tsp
  • Crushed Garlic-2 tsp
  • Ground Coriander-2 tsp
  • Garam Masala-1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Red chili or paprika-1 tsp
  • Tomatoes-2 sliced
  • Sliced Red and Orange Peppers-2 cups
  • Asparagus-1 bundle chopped
  • Oil-2 tbsp plus 3 tbsp
  • Salt-to taste

Instructions
 

  • Squeeze excess water from the Tofu by pressing between your hands and cut them into long pieces.
  • In a wok add about 2 tbsp of oil and saute the Tofu on medium high heat until golden.Transfer onto a tray.
  • In the same wok heat oil and add cumin seeds until they splutter.
  • Add the sliced onions and chili.Saute until translucent.
  • Add the ginger and garlic and saute until the raw smell disappears.
  • Add all the spices and mix well until fragrant.
  • Add the tomatoes and cook for about 4-5 minutes until tomatoes are cooked.
  • Add the Peppers and Asparagus and cook for about 5-6 minutes until they're cooked through but not overcooked.
  • Add the fried Tofu and mix well.Check the seasonings.Serve hot.

 

 

 

 

Potatoes and Green Beans-Indian Inspired (Aloo Beans ki Subzi)

10 | 04 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

Spring is finally in the air after a torturous winter.The flowers blooming,the birds chirping and colors back in nature’s canvas.Spring is also the time when plenty of green vegetables like Green Beans,Peas,Asparagus etc are in season.For a cook like me nothing is more exciting than planning my seasonal recipes and sharing them with you here!

Potatoes and Green Beans-Indian Inspired 4

My recipe for you today involves Green Beans and Potatoes.This dish is a typical North Indian dish cooked in many households.Its a family recipe and you can substitute your favorite vegetable or a combo of vegetables if you prefer.Its a simple everyday dish that can be made in your busy weekdays but packed with nutrition.It pairs well with roti, rice and lentils (Dal).

Potatoes and Green Beans-Indian Inspired 1

The spices along with the basic North Indian masala blend of onion/ginger/garlic add their delicious layers of flavor and aroma to this dish.Its a semi dry dish, just the way I prefer my Indian veggies.The beans are cooked to perfection while still maintaining their crunch along with the potatoes and it just screams spring to me.Enjoy!

Potatoes and Green Beans (Aloo Beans ki Subzi)-Indian Inspired

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Ingredients
  

  • Medium sized Potatoes-2 peeled and diced
  • Chopped Green Beans-3 cups
  • Onion-2 finely chopped
  • Garlic-2 cloves crushed
  • Ginger-1/2 inch crushed
  • Ground Cumin-1 1/2 tsp
  • Ground Coriander-1 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric-1/2 tsp
  • Red chili or paprika-1/2 tsp
  • Tomato-1 finely chopped
  • Salt-to taste
  • Oil-3 tbsp

Instructions
 

  • In a wok or skillet heat oil.
  • Add onions and saute until golden.
  • Add ginger and garlic and mix well.
  • Add the spices followed by the tomatoes.
  • Cook on medium until the mixture is aromatic and oil separates from the sides (6-8 minutes)
  • Add the potatoes along with some salt.
  • Cook for about 5 minutes before adding the green beans.
  • Mix well, cover and cook for about 10-12 minutes stirring every now and then until all cooked.
  • Adjust the seasonings.Serve hot with Roti or rice and Lentils.

 

 

 

#Sponsored-Buffalo Ranch Fish Tacos #DeansDip #BuffaloRanch

28 | 03 | 2014
By Soni Sinha

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dean’s Dip. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don’t know about you, but I love to snack on chip and dip.It keeps me going throughout the day and I love to try different varieties.It’s the one item that you’ll always find in my refrigerator. From Ranch to Guacamole to Cheesy Dips I love them all.I love them as a snack, entertain with them and my kids have also picked up this habit of late. My six year old loves his Tortilla Chips with different dips for his snack too. Well then, imagine my excitement when Dean’s Dip sent me their new Buffalo Ranch Dip a week ago!

Buffalo Ranch Fish Tacos 3
Dean’s Dip has it all – taste, dairy-fresh texture, and variety of flavors! Their new Buffalo Ranch Dip is no exception.Who can resist the taste of spicy buffalo wings and creamy ranch on top of a potato chip? I have to tell you that we like spicy flavors round here and this totally hits the spot.Dean’s Dip is located in the dairy dip section of your grocery store.

Dean's Dip Buffalo Ranch Dip

Dean’s Dip is consistently cool and creamy every time and goes with just about everything. Potato chips and nachos are your standards, but also Dean’s goes great with carrot sticks and broccoli florets. And that’s not all. How about some amazing Fish Tacos? Yes, that’s exactly what I have for you today.

Buffalo Ranch Fish Tacos

My Tacos are bursting with flavors from the delicious Buffalo Ranch Dip and combined with some shredded cabbage and lightly seasoned pan fried fish, they make a satisfying meal for your family or even your guests! They couldn’t be any easier since all you really need is a pan to fry the fish. The different textures from smooth to crunchy all wrapped in a soft warm Tortilla is pure amazing and the dish comes together in no time at all. The creamy dip is spread at the bottom of each tortilla followed by the other layers and its out of this world.

Print
#Sponsored Buffalo Ranch Fish Tacos using #deansdip

Ingredients

  • Turbot or any other White Fish-4 fillets (150 gms each) cubed
  • Salt and pepper
  • paprika-1 tbsp
  • Oil-2 tbsp
  • Dean's Dip Buffalo Ranch Dip-3/4 cup
  • Shredded Cabbage-1 cup
  • Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas-4
  • Cilantro-for garnish

Instructions

  1. Mix salt,pepper and paprika over the fish.Heat oil and let it come to a smoking point.
  2. Add the fish in single layer.
  3. Let it develop color on one side (about 3 minutes) before flipping and cook for 3 minutes on the other side.
  4. Transfer on to a tray.
  5. Warm some flour tortillas and spread about 2-3 tbsp of Dean's Buffalo Ranch Dip followed by shredded cabbage followed by the cooked fish.(About 4 cubes in each)
  6. Garnish with cilantro.
  7. Enjoy!
https://www.sonisfood.com/2014/03/sponsored-buffalo-ranch-fish-tacos-deansdip-buffaloranch.html

Dean’s Dip can make eantertaining super easy and with the wide variety of choices there’s something for everyone.For more information visit their website Dean’s Dip.You can also follow Dean’s Dip on Facebook or on Dean’s Dip Instagram.

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