A complete healthy meal in a bowl; a blend of wild and brown rice combined with beans,  fruits and nuts and tossed in an orange ginger sesame vinaigrette.

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This Saturday we had some magical weather in the midst of winter. It was gorgeous outside…January it is, but it was unbelievably warm. The sun was shining bright, birds cooing & chirping everywhere, the sky spotless & azure, and the temperature was 72 degrees F! It was almost as if Spring has arrived. I saw some buds on the pear tree outside which just shed its leaves.  On these days, we try to soak in as much fun as we can. The kids were let loose to play in the backyard.. we could hear voices from all over the neighborhood. Everyone was trying to absorb as much of the day as they could. Knowing how it is here, it could be 40 degrees tomorrow again.

Be it be spring time weather outside now, it is still officially winter & the grocery stores are full of winter goodies,  I found some whole hazelnuts the other day, & bought a bag full, & all of us have been cracking & snacking .. They are just delicious! Look how gorgeous these are!

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Christopsomo (Christ’s Bread) is  the traditional Greek Anise flavored Christmas Bread.  Baking a Christopsomo is considered a religious task in an Orthodox Greek household. The baker begins by crossing himself & asking for blessings for the household. The bread is baked on the Christmas eve and eaten on the day of Christmas. Only the best and the most expensive ingredients are used to bake this bread. Ropes of dough are used to adorn the bread with cross. Unshelled walnuts are used for decorations too. Here is the original recipe, I have almost followed it all except for the glaze.

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With the holidays around the corner, every one is in preparation mood I bet. I am seeing neighbors have started putting up the lights & christmas decorations (which is a constant reminder to me that i should start ours soon). The shopping malls are already decked up and sparkling… red contrasting with fluffy and shimmering white of the snowflakes, & Santa Claus doing his magic with the kids. Here in Dallas, one of the malls even has a machine which is churning up snow every few minutes, all over Santa’s North Pole and the children are running around so excited to get some flakes on them.  Everyone is enjoying…. It indeed turns magical at during this time of the year.

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This is an extremely easy but deliciously healthy recipe. I have used orange juice instead of the traditional lemon as a citric marinade. The orange does not make it as tangy, but gives it a smoother taste. The cumin in the marinade and the tomato, onion topping adds that smoky flavor. The chicken breasts can alternatively be grilled outside too. Have it at home or make it big in a barbeque cook out party!

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Chocolate Covered Farfel

This recipe used to be the favorite of not only the kids but also the parents in my daughter’s preschool. Chocolate covered Farfel would also be a part of all the Seder get togethers we had. This recipe had been given to me by the director of my daughter’s preschool. I have added the orange flavor to cater to the cravings of the grown ups! The combination of Orange and Chocolate had always been my favorite. However it tastes as good even without it.

I will be sending this to Meeta’s Monthly Mingle: Fruit and Chocolate.

 What is Farfel?

As the Wiki says…”Farfel  are small pellet-shaped noodles, made of flour mixed with egg. Farfel is most prevalent in Jewish cuisine. It consists of an egg noodle dough which may be cut or grated for use in soups, or served as a side dish.”

Ingredients:

1.   12 oz chocolate chips (Can use Plain Milk chocolate chips or combine 6 oz of milk chocolate and 6 oz of semi sweet choc. Chips)

2.   ¼ cup oil

3.   2 cups farfel (or broken matzah)

4.   1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel

5.   1 cup raisins 

Optional:

1.   1/4 teaspoon Orange Extract

2.   1 cup walnuts OR 1 cup mini marshmallows

Use less farfel or more chocolate if using more ingredients.

Preparation:

Melt chocolate in microwave or double boiler.

Stir in oil.

Stir in farfel or broken matzah. Add more farfel if mixture is too runny. Stir in the orange peel.

If using the optional ingredients add them now and stir them in.

Drop by spoonfuls into a cookie sheet (like a cookie).

I have done it in chunks. Whatever shape works out for you is good.

Refrigerate until solid.

Variations: I have used roughly crushed waffle cones instead of Farfel or Matzah.

Summer time is the peak time to enjoy fruits at its juiciest, freshest form. This is just a combination of different fruits/berries you can get your hands on.. add some berries & nuts & serve a healthy fruit salad. No dressing other than a squeeze of lemon or fresh orange juice & you are ready to go.

Ingredients:

1. 2 ripe bananas
2. 1 red apple
3. 1 nectarine
4. 1 orange
5. 2 teaspoons of raisins
6. 2 teaspoons of chopped almonds
7. 1 tablespoon of walnut/pecans/almond
8. ½ teaspoon Cumin Seeds (Jeera)
9. A pinch of salt
10. 1 teaspoon sugar
11. 2 teaspoons juice of lemon/lime/orange,  freshly squeezed

For this salad, any fruits or nuts can be used in any combination you want.

Preparation:

Chop all the fruits and nuts in to little pieces.

Take the cumin seeds in the palm of your hand and rub it to release the flavor. Add them to the fruits.

Add the salt and sugar and the lemon/lime/orange juice.Toss Well. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve Chilled.

Tips: You are free to sprinkle wheat germ on the fruit salad.

Sunrise Delight

This tastes as good as it looks!! Great for entertaining!!

Ingredients:

1.  2 tablespoons of rose syrup

2.  5 tablespoons of pineapple juice

3.  4 tablespoons of orange juice

4.  2 tablespoons of crushed ice

5.  7 up

6.  1 Slice of Pineapple or Orange 

Preparation:

In a glass pour the rose syrup.

Add ice.

Pour the pineapple juice.

Pour Orange juice.

Add about ½ cup of 7 up or enough to fill the glass.

Gently stir loosen the rose syrup at the bottom.

Garnish with an orange or pineapple slice on the rim.