Chocolate Rum Balls

                         Rich, Gooey and Chocolaty... Just the combination for pure indulgence!!!

Crumbled Chocolate cake mixed with melted Dark Chocolate and a generous portion of Dark Rum. Bits of Butterscotch is stuffed inside and the chocolate balls rolled in Chocolate vermicelli. Dip these sinful chocolate balls in a rich Vanilla flavored Cream and INDULGE!

 

Step By Step Instructions:

1. In a pan melt Dark Chocolate with a few spoons of milk. 

2. Add crumbled chocolate cake. (I always make this when I have leftovers from cakes)

3. Add a generous portion of Rum to it. Mix well.

4. Remove from flame. Let the mixture cool a bit. Scoop out small portions with a spoon and roll into balls.

5. Stuff a walnut bit or Butterscotch nut in the center while rolling.

6. Roll them in a plate of chocolate vermicelli,

7. Refrigerate for 20 Mins.

Spaghetti and Roasted Bell Peppers in Tomato Mint Sauce

Spaghetti and roasted bell peppers are tossed in a mildly spiced tomato sauce, flavored with fresh mint and black pepper.

Ingredients:

Spaghetti (Whole Wheat)

Red and Yellow Bell Peppers - 2

Tomatoes - 5-6 (Big)

Onions- 2

Garlic - 4-5 Cloves

Mint Leaves - 20-25 leaves

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Method:

Boil pasta in salt water till al dente and keep aside.

Slice bell peppers into thin strips. Place the bell peppers in a baking tray, sprinkle salt and olive oil and bake at 180 Degrees C for 15 mins.

Blanch the Tomatoes. Peel and finely chop them and keep aside.

Wash the Mint leaves and chop roughly. (Keep few whole leaves aside for garnish)

Heat Olive Oil in a pan. Add the chopped onions and crushed garlic and sautee till the onions are golden brown. Add the Tomatoes and let it cook till the sauce thickens. Add Half a cup of water and let it cook for 10 mins on low flame.

Throw in the chopped mint leaves. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

When the sauce thickens, add the roasted bell peppers and Spaghetti. Mix well.

Check for Seasoning.

Plate the Pasta and garnish with roasted bell pepper and mint leaves.

*You can add some chilli flakes if you like it spicy!
*Garnish with Grated cheese.

*Blanch = Plunging tomatoes in boiling water for 2 minutes, remove and put it in a bowl of cool water.

Herbed Rice with Buttered Mushrooms and Bell Peppers

Buttered Rice sprinkled with basil and rosemary and spiced with freshly ground pepper. Served with buttered Mushrooms and Bell peppers sauteed with onion and garlic and spiced with chilli flakes!

Ingredients:

For the Rice:

Boiled Rice 

Butter - 1 Tablespoon

Dried Basil and Rosemary - 1 Teaspoon each

Salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Mushrooms:

Mushrooms (cut into 4) - 1 cup

Red, green, yellow Bell peppers - 1 cup (Diced)

Onion - 1 (diced)

Tomato - 1 (deseeded and diced)

Garlic - 2-3 cloves

Olive Oil/Butter - 2 Tsp

Dried Rosemary - 1 Tsp

Fresh Cream - 1 Tbs

Water/vegetable stock

Salt and chilli flakes

Method:

For Buttered Rice:

Heat Butter in a pan, add the rice and herbs and mix gently.

Add the seasoning to taste.

Arrange it in a plate in a ring shape.

*Keep a small bowl in the center of the plate and arrange the rice around it, forming a ring around it leaving a well in the center

*I prefer making the rice in advance as hot rice tends to stick to each other and form lumps.

For the Mushrooms:

Heat butter/olive oil in a pan. Saute the onion and garlic till onions are golden. Add the mushrooms and let it cook for 4-5 mins. 

Add the Bell peppers and cook for 2-3 mins. Throw in the tomatoes, rosemary and cook for 2 -3 mins.

Add stock/water , salt and chilli flakes and let it simmer.

Stir in the fresh cream.

*Pour the mushroom and vegetables in the center of the ring of rice.

*I prefer cooking mushrooms in butter. Substitute it with olive oil if that works better for your health!

Fig and Honey Crunch

Rich creamy yogurt blended with honey and fig, sandwiched between thin layer of vanilla sponge cake, topped with crumbled walnuts and  bits of ginger cookie...Garnished with bits of fig.

Choco-Berry Happiness

Sweetened, Vanilla Flavored Whipped Cream on a layer of crumbled dark chocolate cake, topped with strawberry slices, sprinkled with Lindt chocolate shavings and garnished with Mint leaf.

Strawberry Frogurt

This is one of my favorite low cal dessert. The yogurt based dessert is light, creamy, mildly sweet and is flavored with fresh strawberries.