V8 Rasam

I love this time of the year. Growing up in India I could only dream of seeing autumn with leaves changing to beautiful colors and the air cool and crisp with the right kind of nip. Some days do get unusually cold like the last weekend when the temperatures dipped to the low 30s. I remembered some of my close friends and family who have stood by me through the years and wished I could meet them more often. Weather always affects my mood and this one was in a pleasant way!

 To go with the cool temperature I decided to make some hot rasam and I often make it using the vegetable juice (V8). I like the spicy one. It takes less than a minute and tastes great. A side of lemon rice and pappadums would be wonderful with this bowl of soup.

 

Ingredients

(For one person)

2 small cans of V8 juice 

1 teaspooon mustard seeds

3-4 leaves of curry patta

1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi)

1 teaspoon red chili powder

2 teaspoons rasam powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon asafoetida (hing)

a pinch or turmeric

1 cup water

half a lime

salt as required

1 teaspoon oil

         Method

1. Heat oil in a pot.
2. Drop the mustard seeds, methi and asafoetida.
3. Add the curry leaves and cover the pot.
4. Quickly add the rasam powder and chili powder
5.  Pour the V8 juice,water and sugar
6. Cover and let it come to a boil.
7. Adjust salt according to taste. 
8. Squirt juice of half a lime just before serving.

Egg and cheese sandwich

Here is a delicious and quick sandwich for busy mornings. I made it with egg whites and sweet peppers. It is my version of dunkin donuts flatbread sandwich.

Ingredients

3/4 cup egg white

2 tbsp chopped sweet peppers or capsicum

salt and pepper to taste

chopped cilantro as much as desired

oil for cooking

whole wheat flat bread for serving

Method

Mix all the ingredients together. Do not beat the eggs, just mix everything in together.

Pour into a mini fried egg pan and cover. Cook till the top looks firm. Flip and cook the other side.

Take the flat bread and apply pesto or mayonnaise on one side. Keep a slice of cheese on the other and keep it under the broiler for a minute till it melts a little. Slide the prepared egg on the bread.