Beet,bread and mint snack

Snacky food is a favourite with most people ,especially children...they go down far more quickly than regular meals do ! While it is a hard task to get them to not snack especially when they are in the age group of 10-18,what we can do is offer them healthier snacking options !

This recipe came about 1 evening when I had 6 hungry teens in my home after school...it had been a long day and I did not find the time to venture out to pick up any other ingredients with which I could've made some of their favourites ! However i wasn't going to let that deter me from whipping up a tasty snack ! Beetroots were a plenty in my home and my family love the flavours of beets,lemon and mint.You should've seen the curious glances and the questioning 'what is this ,aunty?' looks....they took one hesitant bite..they are all far too polite,to refuse anything outright and whadya know ,the platter was empty in minutes...nothing could've made me happier,especially hearing the accompanying sounds saying,"mmm" '"yummy", "oh yum"...so do try,you won't be sorry !Honestly it's occasions like this which motivate me to keep experimenting and sharing with you all !

 Recipe for Beet,bread and mint snack-serves 6
Ingredients
Beetroot-2 steamed with the skin on
Pizza bases-2 (you could even top this on toasted bread,roasted potato slices,on some mozzarella discs ...)
Mint leaves- a small hand full
Olive oil-5 tbsp (EVOO)
Salt ,pepper to taste
juice of half a lemon
 Garlic-1 clove

Method
Brush the pizza bases with a bit of olive oil and bake in a hot oven,until golden,set aside.
Now peel and chop the beetroot and add to the blender with the garlic,salt,pepper and lemon juice
Blend well and you will get a grainy puree'
Add the olive oil and blend again...it will turn smooth and silky
Check and adjust seasoning.
Now cut up the pizza bases into triangular wedges
Top with a spoonfull of beetroot puree' and garnish with a fresh mint leaf
Serve with some lemon wedges.

The colours look absolutely mouth watering :)))
 

Mini tartlets

Many a time while hosting a party ,deciding on a dessert can be quite a task...with people being very particular about counting calories  keeping in mind the vegetarian guests who may prefer egg less desserts...I tried this idea ,a few years ago and was a huge hit...to serve a selection of mini tartlets with a variety of fillings...something for everyone,the chocoholic , the fruitoholic,the calorie counters...no one wanted to say no to a mini tartlet ! You can  order the tart bases from a bakery or make them yourself if you have the time...they can also be assembled quickly just before serving if you are worried about a soggy base ! The other great thing about it is that it's stress free and fun for the host,to serve up something so pretty with little effort...I had fun thinking up of fillings, I know you will too...just as long as you are not partial to your taste preferences alone ;)))...ok...since you are doing all the work,reward yourself, 2 of your favourite fillings and 1 for your guest...lol !!!

For the short crust pastry base

Ingredients

 125g flour

 55g icing sugar

 55g butter 

Method

  You can use wholemeal flour if you prefer !

Sift the flour and icing sugar into a large bowl

Crumble the butter into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs

Add a bit of water, a tsp at a time and bring together without kneading ,to a dough

If it's too wet,sprinkle a bit of flour,too dry,add a bit of water.

Wrap it in cling film and flatten it slightly

Chill it for about 20 mts

Pre heat oven to 180 degrees C

When you are ready to use ,roll it out and cut into small rounds and place inside greased tart cases

Prick them slightly with a fork and bake until golden...about 10 mts or so

Let cool and store them in an airtight tin.

If you want to make chocolate bases,you can make it 105 g flour and 20g cocoa...or lessen the cocoa ratio ,if you prefer say 110g flour to 15 g cocoa powder.

Fillings

One simply has to have a chocolate filled tart...it's unthinkable not to...a simple filling of melted dark chocolate or a more complex mousse filling or a decadent nutella filling...up to you...mine is a melted dark choc filling-double boiling method !

Simply melt chocolate in a clean bowl over a pan of hot water

The second is a thick yoghurt and honey filling topped with strawberries

The third is a filling of mixed caramelised nuts,walnuts,almonds and cashew nuts ! YUM !

To 5 Tbsp of sugar,add a Tbsp of water and place on low heat,gently swirl the pan,until the sugar melts...when it starts turning colour,take off the fire and quickly add in the nuts and mix well through until well coated...these you need to fill into the tart bases right away as the caramel hardens quite fast !

Pop them on a platter...dust a bit of icing sugar for the ooh la la effect and you have dessert fit for a queen !

Uppma and curd shots

Whenever I plan a do or a party,the one thing that I positively need to keep me going is to have fun in cooking my food,sometimes it's not the cooking but the plating or presentation that brings so much joy...especially with simple foods and time tested combinations that most people enjoy like the wheat uppma and curd combo with a bite of vadumangai (tiny green mango) pickle...so why not present it in a chefy avatar...I enjoyed assembling it and loved the reactions of my guests even more...a discerning group of foodies and very good cooks,they have been masters of food flavours for decades and their childlike excitement so touched me to my very soul ! It was truly a pleasure cooking for such lovely human beings !

So,my suggestion is,if you are planning a party,add a dish or two which you are sure of the flavour combos and present it in such a way ,that it makes for a great conversation piece and is delicious at the same time...brings an element of cheer to your food table and that's all a host wants,happy guests !

This little shot glass is filled with a layer of wheat uppma,curd,chopped vadumanga pickle and a piece of roasted pappad...I was unsure if it would turn out all right after having refrigerated it for a few hours...it was perfect !!!!....so I decided to share it with you !
I'm sure all of you who read this will have ideas of your own...please do send me your comments,I would love to hear from you all,on my blog...your texts and phone calls are very welcome....I would also like to hear from you on PINK LEMON TREE ;)))