Is it just me or is breakfast really the most controversial of all meals? Some people believe it’s the most important one of the day, while others don’t even bother eating it. Personally, I belong to the former camp. Without breakfast, I’m cranky, fussy and completely ravenous by lunch time. I love to try new recipes almost everyday, followed by seasonal juices. Although watermelon and sweet melon is available all year around, domestic and imported watermelon is in its peak season from March until August. You don’t need a fancy juicer, just a blender. Scoop the watermelon into the blender, blend for about thirty seconds, and ta da! You have made the simplest slush ever. I gave a twist by adding sweet melon to enhance its taste. It’s high in vitamin A and adds a real boost of vitamin C and potassium.

Quinoa grains are gradually becoming trendy and have attained ‘superfood status’. It is gluten-free and considered as ‘whole grain’ food. Any meal without desserts is meant to be incomplete. My healthy cake recipe will satisfy any sweet tooth. The magical combination of walnuts, dates and fresh fruit works wonders. Walnuts are good for the heart and reduce inflammation. Adding some walnuts to your diet can help you to maintain your ideal weight over time. If added with dates, they can make an excellent and a healthy dessert and can save you from unhealthy sweet cravings.

RECIPE 1

CARAMELIZED APPLE CINNAMON PANCAKES

Serves: 2

Preparation and cooking time: 15 to 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

One egg

2 tablespoons of low fat milk

1 teaspoon of peanut butter spread

1 tablespoon of oats (roasted)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon of ground flax seeds

1 tablespoon of honey

METHOD:

1] Blend all the above ingredients in a deep bowl.

2] Grease a skillet.

3] Use a spoon to pour the batter in it (you may use molds of different shapes by placing them in the pan).

4] The batter will make around 4 to 5 mini pancakes.

5] Place an apple slice over each pancake.

6] Flip it and let it cook for a minute till the apple starts to caramelize.

7] Sprinkle cinnamon powder over it.

8] Dish it out and pour honey over it and enjoy.

RECIPE 2

WATERMELON AND SWEET MELON SLUSHY

Serves: 2

Preparation time: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

Few chunks of watermelon (deseeded)

Few chunks of sweet melon

1 teaspoon of black salt

1 teaspoon of raw honey

Juice of one lemon

1 cup of chilled water

METHOD:

1] Blend sweet melon and half a cup of chilled water along with black salt and pour it in a glass.

2] Blend watermelon and rest of the chilled water along with lemon and honey and pour it in the same glass, filling it up to the brim.

3] Two shaded slushy is ready to drink.

RECIPE: 3

QUINOA VEGETABLE PILAF

Serves: 2

Preparation and cooking time: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup multicolor quinoa (soak it for half an hour)

34 cup chicken broth

2 teaspoons olive oil

2 medium leeks, finely chopped (use white portion only)

14 cup red bell pepper (chopped)

14 cup yellow bell pepper (chopped)

14 cup green bell pepper (chopped)

34 cup carrot (finely chopped)

12 cup celery (finely chopped)

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons parmesan cheese freshly grated

14 teaspoon salt

14 teaspoon pepper freshly ground

14 cup fresh parsley chopped

DIRECTIONS:

1] Rinse soaked quinoa with cold water and drain it.

2] In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa and broth and bring to a boil.

3] Cover it with a lid and reduce its heat.

4] Simmer for 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed.

5] In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.

6] Add leeks, peppers, carrots and celery.

7] Cook for 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

8] Stir in garlic and cook for one minute.

9] Combine vegetable mixture and quinoa.

10] Stir in cheese, salt and pepper.

11] Sprinkle parsley.

12] Enjoy with raw veggies.

RECIPE :4

WALNUT AND DATES FLOUR-FREE CAKE

Serves: 3

Cooking and preparation time: 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

4 to 5 crushed walnuts

4 deseeded soft dates

Half cup of fresh orange juice

3 tablespoons of oats (later grind it to make powder)

1 bran slice (remove the sides)

1 egg

2 tablespoon of low-fat milk

1 teaspoon of ground flax seeds

Half teaspoon of baking powder

Half teaspoon of cardamon powder

METHOD:

1] Combine oats powder and cardamon powder and roast it on a dry pan for a while and keep aside.

2] Blend orange juice, bran slice and low-fat milk together and keep aside.

3] Beat an egg and add flax seeds to it.

4] Combine the beaten egg with oats and mix with spatula.

5] Add walnuts and dates and blended juice mixture.

6] Make sure that the consistency is good enough for baking (not too thick or thin).

7] Add baking powder and mix again.

8] Pour the batter in the baking dish.

9] Bake it in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 175 C.

10] Use a toothpick to see if it’s well done. Later unmold and dish it out to enjoy with evening tea.

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