Mango Ice Cream

Here is a recipe for yummy mango ice cream, I made yesterday. More than being particularly inclined to make ice creams was the necessity to use up that carton of fresh cream that stared at me from my refrigerator every time I opened it! I have used heavy cream and where heavy cream is not available, you can substitute with this... For 1 cup heavy cream, melt 1/3 cup butter and add 3/4 cup milk to it. Mix very well.
This recipe qualified for this 'healthy options' blogsite when I took a look at all the ingredients on any ice cream carton...there were at least 22 to 25 ingredients if not more. Chemicals to preserve, to keep fresh and whatever other reasons! My next attempt will be to bake my own bread rather than use the 'chemicalized' versions at supermarkets!
So here's to good wholesome ice cream that contains fresh fruit and good old cream and milk and NO chemicals!

You will need..
1 Ripe Mango
2 Cups Heavy Cream
1 Cup Whole Milk
About 3/4 cup sugar (adjust this according to sweetness of mango)

Peel and chop or crush mango to make puree. Blend with all the above ingredients in a blender.
Now you can make this ice cream in a churner or continue to whip for a few minutes then
Freeze icecream till softly frozen
Remove and whip again in the blender and freeze again.
Repeat this a couple more times till you get soft fluffy and light textured ice cream
Freeze and enjoy!

Can make this with any fresh fruit, chikoo, strawberries, figs ...your choice

Bachelor Food..Quick Sambar Bhath / Huli Anna

Many bachelors living in the US and other places far away from family especially if they are from South India crave a simple good Huli anna or Sambar Bhath or Sambar Saadam. And this is one dish you dont get in restuarants. Of course, you do get the famed Bisi Bele but it is too spicy for an everyday huli anna. So this post is for all those youngsters and olders . This is also good for families after a tiring day and you dont feel like an elaborate dinner. It is equal to khichdi chawal..maybe tastier.

Rice 1 cup
Tur dal 1/2 cup
Frozen mixed vegetables...like some peas and carrots, papdi lilva, drumsticks, beans, cluster beans and whatever.
Tamarind paste or soaked tamarind mixed with water...1/4 cup
MTR sambar powder 2 tablespoons
salt
oil 1 tablespoon
mustard 1/2 teaspoon
urad dal 1 teaspoon
red chillies 2
hing

• Wash tur dal and rice together and cook it together with the vegetables, add 3 cups water and cook in a pressure cooker
• Heat oil, add mustard, hing, urad dal, and red chilllies
• Once urad dal is light brown, add tamarind juice and sambar powder and allow to boil well for 5 minutes
  
• Add another 1/4 cup water to this and add the rice-dal-veg mixture and salt
  
• Mix very well, if mixture is too dry , add some water.and cook well.
• Sambar bhath is ready. Have it with the pumpkin raitha for a comforting dinner that will remind you of home.
  

Very Simple Pumpkin Raitha

This is one very tasty , healthy nutritious dish that will have you smacking your lips and craving more. Gone will be those fruity sugary yoghurts and in is this mildly spicy yoghurt. And NO SUGAR too! Have this as a pure snack or as an accompaniment to chapathis or bhaths.
Here is how...
Serves 2
Finely chopped pumpkin about 2 cups.
green chillies 2
red chilli 1
mustard seeds 1/2 teaspoon
urad dal 1 teaspoon
Cumin seeds 1/2 teaspoon
asafoetida a sprinkle
salt
oil 2 teaspoons
coriander leaves or cilantro, as much as u like or 2 tablespoons
Finally Yoghurt or Dahi 1 1/2 cups

• Heat the oil. Add asafoetida, mustard, cumin urad and red chilli
• when urad turns a light brown, add the green chillies and pumpkin. Stir
  
• Cook till pumpkin is tender but not squishy. Add salt and allow to cool.
• When it is at room tepmperature, add the well beaten yoghurt, mix well
• Finally add cilantro and serve cold.