Water Melon Salsa

Summer is here and so are water melons!
On every other pavement there are mountains of water melons. Needless to say it has become the main ingredient in all my culinary endeavors this month- Hand crushed Water melon juice with pepper, melon scoop fruit salad …
Here is one of the recipes I tried for a get-together we had last weekend. I also decided to carve a water melon basket to hold the salsa gracefully.
It is easy to make and friends approved its good taste!
So here it is..

Ingredients

3 cups water melon (chopped fine)
2 cups Capsicum (finely chopped)
1 cup Yellow pepper (finely chopped)
2 firm and ripe tomatoes (cored and chopped)
2 cups sweet corn (steamed)
3 medium sized onions (finely chopped)

2 Tablespoons Olive oil
Dried Basil
Oregano

For the dressing
2 Table spoons vinegar
2 tsp sugar
Salt
2 table spoons red chilli sauce
2 table spoons tomato ketchup
1 tsp white pepper powder

Method

Sauté onions in olive oil.
Mix all the veggies in a large bowl except water melon
Mix all the ingredients in another bowl
Add the dressing and toss the veggies gently
Add oregano, basil liberally
Add the water melon just before serving as it makes the salad watery.
Again toss gently and serve with a smile !

You can fill this in the water melon shell or carve a basket and fill it with the salsa. You can top it with water melon balls scooped out using a fruit baller.

QED (Quite Easily Done OR Quite an Easy Dish)
PS: This recipe is for a party(15-20 servings) , so halve or quarter the measures if it is just for your family.

Sweet corn Macaroni Soup

This is one of the dishes I demonstrated on the cookery show on TV (etv-kannada).
Of late, I have developed a great weakness for sweet corn. In all the three shows I have done so far there was at least one sweet corn dish!
Ingredients
1/2 cup sweet corn
½ cup boiled and cooled macaroni
½ cup mixed veg chopped (carrot, capsicum, cauliflower florets)

2 cups milk
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp maida
1 tsp white pepper powder
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
Oregano (optional)

Method

Melt the butter and add the maida
After a minute add the milk little by little stirring continuously
Add the salt and pepper
If you want to make it more creamy – this is when you add some cheese spread (1 tbsp)
So this is your white sauce.
Meanwhile bring 1.5 cups of water to boil and add al the veggies and sweet corn in it.
Cook it for 5-7 minutes else they become too soft – we need them crunchy
Add the white sauce and macaroni slowly into this and bring to a boil.
You can add a dash of oregano for additional flavour if you wish.
I give it to my kids with dinner rolls or garlic bread
It is very wholesome indeed!

Sweetcorn Surprise

This is a healthy snack for children and adults alike ...
It tastes awesome with some tomato-onion chutney on the side !
Try this ...

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup sweetcorn (boiled)
  
• 1 cup semolina ( medium rava the one you would use for upma)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (capsicum) , carrot
• 1/2 cup curd (sour) - optional
• 1 tsp Eno fruit salt ( the antacid thingie ...)
• 1 tsp sugar
  
• 1 tsp white pepper powder
• salt to taste
• A dash of turmeric
  

Method :

1. Roast the semolina lightly.
2. Add the sweet corn, carrot and capsicum
3. Add curd , salt , turmeric , sugar and pepper powder and keep it aside for 15 mins
4. Add the fruit salt , mix well
5. put the mixture in greased cups or idli plate and steam it for 15-20 mins

Wow ! the sweet corn surprise is ready to be savored !

Tips :
Always keep the cups / plate for steaming once the water starts boiling
Put water in a deep plate and allow the cups to stand for 5 mins before unmoulding - use a plastic knife on the sides

Variation :
You can set this in mini idli plate and serve it as a starter too ...
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