Healthy green apple curry

This is a side dish that can be made with green apples. We all know that "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away". So, this is another innovative way to give apple to kids and elders!

Ingredients:
(Makes for 4-5 people)

• Green apples - 4
• Olive oil - 4 -6 tblsp
• Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• Cut green chilies - 1 or 2
• Grated ginger - 1 tsp
  
• Chana Dal (Split Bengal gram) - 2 tblsp
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Chili powder - 2 tsp
• Coriander powder - 2 tblsp
  
• Salt - to taste
• Coriander leaves or curry leaves - for garnish

Method:

• Add the olive oil, chilies and ginger to the pan and saute them for 1 min.
• Next, add chana dal and let it turn golden brown.
• Mix in the green apples and other spices.
  
• Cook in an open vessel for about 5-8 minutes until the apples are completely cooked. Stir in occasionally.
  
• For seasoning, add spluttered mustard seeds and garnish with curry leaves or coriander leaves.
  
• Add lemon juice if needed and fold it in.
• Offer to the Lord and enjoy!!

Roasted Fall Vegetables

This recipe was requested by some of my friends when I made it at home for Varalakshmi Nonbu. This is originally from one of the devotees who I really admire at the ISKCON Hillsboro Temple, Bhakthirasa Mataji. My sincere thanks to her for her compassion in sharing this recipe!

This dish doesn't have onion/garlic as usual and also can be used on Ekadashis or other fasting days. It's simple, easy to make and very delicious.

Ingredients:

• 3 red potatoes (medium size) -
  
• 3 white potatoes (medium size - yukon or other varieties). Smaller potatoes available in Trader joe's is very good for this.
  
• 2 sweet potatoes or yam (fairly large)
• 1/2 lb butternut squash - peeled and cubed
• 1 parsnip (optional)
• Olive oil - 5-6 tblsp or as needed
  
• Lemon juice
• Salt - to taste
• Black pepper - 2-3 tsp
• Chili powder - 2-3 tsp or to taste
• Thyme leaves or powder (3-4 tsp)
• Maple syrup - 4-5 tblsp
  

Mix all vegetables, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, chili powder, thyme together in a glass pan and bake at 450 F for 30 min in a conventional oven.

Important: Every 15 min, check the vegetables and stir.

After the vegetables have cooked (approximately after 25 minutes), drizzle maple syrup on top, stir and keep it on the broiler part of the oven for another 5 mins.

Take the pan out, cool, offer it to the Lord and enjoy!!

Post your comments and let me know how you like it!

Happy cooking!!