Author: Tabassum

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Instant Pot Boiled Eggs

In my latest quest of being healthier, I am trying to eat two eggs for breakfast every morning. Protein is key to feeling fuller and that assists me in not snacking mindlessly until lunch time. It has worked so far and I will continue to do this. I save time by using the instant pot and it creates a healthy breakfast…this is a win win situation ya’ll! So if you’re struggling with mid-morning snacking (or just want to learn how to use your IP!), try this boiled egg recipe. I hope it helps you achieve your health goals!

Recipe:
2 boiled eggs (or as many as you need to make)

Method:

1. Add in one cup water to the instant pot.
2. Place the trivet in the pot
3. Place your eggs on the trivet
4. Place the lid on the instant pot and seal the vent (place the vent in the middle)
5. Select the manual button and adjust/decrease time to to 3 minutes
6. Set it and forget it! This is the perfect time to get ready for work or make a coffee
7. Once the instant pot beeps, it’s done!
8. Using a spatula, quick release the seal (be careful, this will be hot and steamy!)
9. Open the lid and remove boiled eggs
10. Place in bowl of cold/ice water for 5 or so minutes
11. Peel and enjoy the perfectly boiled eggs!

Here I’ve made a breakfast salad of greens, topped with cucumbers, apricots, the boiled eggs and blueberries. Feel free to add in your own favourites!

Happy to help!

Let me know if you try out this recipe and which milk you chose to use! I usually reply to emails within 24 hours 🙂

xoxo

Tabassum

@kashmirifoodie

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Vegetable Hash for Breakfast

Lately I’ve been trying my best to introduce a lot of vegetables into my breakfast meals. I have noticed that for a while now my vegetable intake had decreased….a LOT. I am going to change that now. So I’ve decided I’ll start with adding some vegetables to my breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day and sets the tone for the day! Here’s to new beginnings of being healthy!

WHY VEGETABLES?
They keep me feeling full for longer and I notice I don’t snack after -keeps me going until lunchtime. Here I’ve made a vegetable hash of zucchini and orange bell pepper. This pair with some eggs is a hearty breakfast that kept me going until my next meal! No more snacking!

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 zucchini, diced
1 orange bell pepper (or any colour!), diced
1 tsp butter
4 eggs

Method:
1.Sautée the diced vegetables in a pan in a tsp of butter
2.Once grilled, make 4 divets and crack an egg into each designated spot
3.Fry for approximately one minute and cover with lid. Cook until done.
4. That’s it! Enjoy your quick, delicious and nutritionally dense breakfast!

 

Happy to help!

Let me know if you try out this recipe and which milk you chose to use! I usually reply to emails within 24 hours 🙂

xoxo

Tabassum

@kashmirifoodie

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Dairy Free Iced Coffee

Summer is here…and so is Iced Coffee!

Hey/salaams! So I took some much needed time off after Eid as I was feeling a bit burnt out (ummm hi I wrote two e-cookbooks in less than a month!) but I’m back now!

I love summer and I love coffee. I just don’t like drinking hot coffee on a hot summers day though….cuz hello I’ll be a sweat ball LOL.

SO! I’ve been experimenting with iced coffee and guys- I love it!!! So easy to make and super delicious!

Dairy Free Iced Coffee!

I have recently started reducing the amount of dairy that I consume and I am just loving coconut milk and/or sweetened condensed coconut milk.  So yum.

Here’s the recipe:
1 cup freshly brewed coffee (I used my Nespresso machine to brew my usual coffee but you can use any coffee- even instant!)
2 tbsp sweetened condensed coconut milk
Handful of iceMethod:
1. Brew your coffee and place in fridge to chill. I brew mine and chill overnight.
2. Add in the condensed coconut milk
3. Mix together and add in ice.
4. Enjoy your iced coffee on a hot summers day :)Notes:
-any dairy can be used but you may need to add sugar
– sweetened condensed coconut milk is sweet so no need to add additional sugar
-the coconut milk gives this coffee a hint of coconut flavor which I love!
-I have also tried this with leftover condensed milk and it was incredible…however the calories in it increase with the additional sugar. Definitely worth trying !

Happy to help.

Let me know if you try out this recipe and which milk you chose to use! I usually reply to emails within 24 hours 🙂

xoxo

Tabassum

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Low Carb & Reduced Sugar Cheesecake Bites

During both of my pregnancies, I had gestational diabetes, which is a type of diabetes present in some women only during pregnancy. And like any diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how your cells use sugar (glucose). Anyways you can read more about that on my Postpartum Weight Loss Journey blog posts here.

I was diet controlled which meant I didn’t have to take insulin. I really craved and missed high sugar fatty desserts but could not have them due to this issue. So I got creative !!! I made the following:

LOW CARB CHEESECAKE BITES:

The crust:

  • 2 cups blended unsalted mixed nuts
  • mixed with 2 tablespoons melted butter and a dash of cinnamon.

The cheesecake portion:

  • 1 block of cream cheese,
  • 2 eggs,
  • 1 Tspn vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar. 
  1. In a food processor, blend the nuts together and add in the butter and mix until combined.
  2. In a muffin tin, evenly spoon out the nut base and press down with the back of your spoon.
  3. Pour in the cheesecake mixture evenly throughout muffin pan.
  4. Bake at 425 degrees for about 20-25 minutes.
  5. Cool on counter for at least an hour then refrigerate.
  6. Top with a mango and blueberry puree.
  7. Enjoy!

*Makes approximately 12 bite sized portions.

*Loved these so much AND they didn’t spike my blood sugar…score !

xoxo

Tabassum

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Vegetable Pulao using Handi Extreme Double Extra Long Grain Rice

Pulao has always been a staple in our house. I grew up eating more pulao than biryani. I think it might be a Kashmiri thing. Anyways,  the subtle yet flavour packed rice has been my favourite for many year and now it’s a highly requested dish by both of my toddlers. While we love beef pulao (recipe in my Ramadan eBook here) I like to change it up from time to time and make a vegetable pulao, especially when serving it with a main meat dish (re: kofte or a mutton dish)

This recipe comes together very fast, in under 30 minutes, which is essentially why I love it. 

Pre-soaking the Handi Handi rice is essential to this recipe but don’t worry I’m not talking hours, I just soak the rice for 15 minutes or the time it takes to makes the masala part of the recipe. The Handi Extreme Double Extra Long Grain Rice is the perfect rice to use. The long grains soak up the water, reducing cooking time a tad bit. First, I rinse the rice until the water turns clear after washing. Then I soak the rice in water for about 15 minutes prior to cooking (that’s when I brown the onions and sauté the spices!)

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

2 cups Handi Extreme Double Extra Long Grain Rice

1 tsp Handi Pink Hemalayan Salt

1 tsp Handi Garlic and Ginger Paste

4 cups water

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

6 black cloves

2 black cardamom pods

1 bay leaf

1 tsp whole black pepper

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 star anise

1 small onion, sliced thin

1 small cinnamon stick

                                                                                                         1 tbsp coriander seeds

                                                                                                    1 tbsp fennel seeds

 

 

Preparation:

  1. In a pot fry onions until very dark brown (but not burnt) 
  2. Take onions out, and put in mortar and pestle and grind 
  3. In the same pot add in the spices and fry until fragrant, about a minute or two
  4. Add in the Handi garlic and ginger paste
  5. Add in the frozen mixed vegetables and sautée for a five minutes
  6. Mix well for a few mins 
  7. Add 2 cups pre-soaked rice (but remove liquid by drawing the rice before adding to pot)  to 3 cups water when it boils first add in crushed onions 
  8. Add in Hand Pink Salt Grains (ground up using the mortar and pestle) and cumin seeds to taste 
  9. Cook on medium high heat until water evaporates 
  10. Cover and put in oven at 350 for 30 minutes 
  11. Optional-remove large pieces of whole spices at this point before serving
  12. Enjoy!

 

 

 

All of the products I’ve used can be found on the Handi Food Products website: https://www.handifoodproducts.ca

Handi ad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvJipWgS1Wg

 

I would love to see your Ramadan creations so don’t forget to tag me on instagram @kashmirifoodie

 

Happy cooking!